For the second time in recent memory, Hiccup was back in Berk and unable to visit Astrid - despite how much he wanted to - thanks to his job.
He and his team were already several hours behind in finding Aage, so a home visit for any of them was out of the question.
But suddenly his phone received a text, and upon checking it, a home visit seemed much more likely. Inevitable, even.
"Alright, here's the plan," said Hiccup, addressing the others in his office with him. "Sandra, you go and man the CCTV camera we've got set up at the docks. Fishlegs, you go to the cove and check for him there. Ludvig, you and your date, Rebecca go talk to the outcasts and the other factions. Lastly, Bekker, I want you to go to hospital, speak to our liaison and then get that leg checked out. Each of you call me if there are any developments. Any questions?"
There were none. Only silence and the shaking of heads.
"Get going then. Good luck team."
…
Less than fifteen minutes later, Hiccup was back home, in his living room and slouched on a couch that faced the other one.
Raising a finger, he pointed at one of the three individuals opposite him. "Fuck you. You crossed a fucking line. Cami, remind me again why I agreed to lie by omission to my colleagues and my boss and my fiancé?"
Cami was sitting next to the individual Hiccup had just pointed at, but it was the person next to her that answered him.
"Because we want to deal with Dan's organisation and he suggested a way to do it from the inside."
"Didn't know you changed your name to Cami, Tørp. Speak again and Interpol will be down another member. If it's not abundantly clear, I'm not in a good mood today."
"You don't say," Cami drawled. "Now, are you ready to begin the next step of this thing?"
"Depends. Is he-" Hiccup pointed again. "-able to pull it off? From what I've seen, I don't think he'll have any issues, but this is still his first rodeo, as you all know."
"I've been practicing," the individual defended, his angular face and tone serious.
"Well that just fills me with confidence," Hiccup rolled his eyes. "Alright, as soon as you're all done here, get the fuck out of my house."
Hiccup paused by the door and pointed one last time. "You especially."
"How often does he get like that?" He heard the guy ask as he left, and Cami reply in turn.
"He always gets like that."
…
"You're a bit far from any soap factory don't you think, Bella?"
The former security guard looked up and sat back on the bench that she was perched on. "That's not my name."
"I know. Don't care though; just like the name. Catch."
Hiccup tossed her a phone which she caught between her palms in an awkward, clumsy fashion, then looked at him quizzically.
"You got a text from Dan. Give it a read."
"Sorry, but you're dead weight. You'll just slow me down, so I'm leaving you here," she read aloud, then let loose a stream of expletives. "I'm going to kill him."
Hiccup laughed humourlessly. "Get in line. Now I did plan to beat you black and blue until you told me what I wanted to know, but I think you've suffered enough already. I'll be back some other day."
He left the holding cell, taking his phone out as he walked to text Cami.
She thinks Dan sent the text. Be sure to congratulate our guy on a job well done for me.
…
Hiccup then made his way over to Eir General Hospital. Signing in at reception he took a seat in the waiting room next to a certain individual. Well, the guy in question was the only person there for the moment.
"Haddock."
"Auðgeir. Keeping well?"
"Same as always. Anyone I should liaise with?"
"Yeah. Everyone. The Icelanders in particular. I want you to track down Dan. He escaped custody thanks to someone who shall not be named."
"He dropped the ball there Haddock."
"Yeah, he did."
"So how long do I have to find answers?"
"As long as it takes."
"I'll get started then. See you in 48 hours, Haddock."
"Yeah. See you then, Auðgeir."
All was calm for a few moments, but then a team of nurses and doctors emerged from a lift just left and behind reception with a stretcher, which was then wheeled away from reception in a hurry, down a corridor until Hiccup could see the group of five no longer.
With nothing better to do besides wait, Hiccup stood up and walked over to reception so he could watch the event better.
They soon returned, with someone on the stretcher who Hiccup couldn't identify thanks to the oxygen mask on her face, but he did notice an abundance of dirty-blonde hair.
What took up more of his focus, however, was the appearance of one Astrid Hofferson in a blood-covered police uniform, who spotted him as well and approached, visibly surprised to see him.
"Hiccup, what are you doing here? When did you get back?"
"This morning. But who is that?"
A tear ran down her cheek and she sniffed, saying nothing immediately while looking back to the stretcher team as they entered the lift and it started to close.
"My sister."
She wiped her face dry, then turned and hugged Hiccup, tightly.
"Thank you for b-being here, babe."
Hiccup gingerly patted her head. "Anytime. Tell me what happened to her?"
She sniffed again. "Okay."
