I'm sure most would expect the re-detainment of Dan to be a dramatic affair, but reality is often disappointing.

Daniel Lásson, to use his birth name, was not captured as a result of a SWAT raid performed by the DDIS or DSIS, or by the likes of a gunfight straight out of an action movie like Taken or The Foreigner.

Instead, it involved a certain man with dyed hair posing as a customer in a certain mechanic's shop.

Said man arrived atop a motorbike, which he then dismounted and approached the only mechanic currently present, who was standing beneath a BMW which had been propped up by a scissor lift with torch in hand, in the midst of inspecting the undercarriage of the car.

After a few seconds, the mechanic glanced over. "Need something?"

The new arrival nodded. "Do you guys repair motorbikes here? Mine is getting old and I'd like to do a full service before I sell it."

The mechanic shrugged. "Not what we usually do, but I can take a look, Mr…?"

"Donnachie. Kyle Donnachie," the man with untamed ginger hair replied.

"Donnachie?" The man blinked owlishly. "Uh…?"

"It's a Scottish surname. I can write it down for you if you want."

"Oh, never been over there. Is it a common surname?"

"I wouldn't know. Was born there but grew up here."

"Right. Uh, let me find you a pen and paper."

The man retreated into the office at the back, and the so-called Kyle Donnachie caught a glimpse of Dan in the process, sitting at a desk with a computer chair for a seat.

Brief conversation was made between the mechanic and Dan, neither noticing as Kyle drew a gun.

Stepping closer just as the man turned around again, pen and paper in hand, and froze, wide eyed as he spotted the gun.

Henry brushed past him, stepping into the small office and advancing on Dan until he had the gun pressed to the underside of his jaw.

"Daniel Lásson, you are under arrest for the murder of Ingrid Hofferson."

There was a click, and Hiccup glanced over to see the mechanic had regained his composure and now had a pistol pointed at him.

"Drop the gun."

"Walk away. You seem like a nice guy, so just walk away."

"Can't do that, Kyle. He's my boss."

"That's a shame. I'd ask you to reconsider, but I have places to be at and things to do. And my name isn't Kyle."

A shot rang out and the mechanic slumped to the floor, screaming, having taken a round to the knee.

"Get up, Dan. We're leaving. The DSIS await. Get to that motorbike over there."

Dan slowly and carefully stood up, arms outstretched as he shuffled forward, with Hiccup moving the gun from his jaw so that it pressed into his back instead.

And so they left the office, stepping over the downed mechanic and approaching the motorbike Hiccup had arrived on. Then he tucked his gun against the waistband of his jeans and sat down, directing Dan to sit behind him.

"Why a motorbike?"

"Unlike in a car, if you try anything, I'll know immediately. So put your arms around my waist and hold on tight."

"As if I'd risk my own safety to kill you."

"I don't know. You've certainly done things that risk your own safety lately. That's why you're in this situation to begin with."

"Touché, Haddock."

…

Hiccup approached a checkout in Aldi with a basket of groceries. Emptying it, he set it with other baskets and then gazed ahead, at a familiar head of hair.

"Hey Sigrid."

She turned and smiled. "Hello dear."

"How is Astrid holding up?"

"As good as can be expected. Better even. Yesterday she spoke to Mala about you."

"Mala?" Hiccup checked.

"Mhm. She's definitely in your corner. Can't quite say the same about you."

"Seems like we both did things without informing the other then."

"Indeed."

The time came for Sigrid to pay for her groceries, but she remained after everything she bought was packed away in bags.

"I'll pay for him as well," she told the shopkeeper.

"You don't need to-"

"Nonsense," she retorted, leaving no room for argument in a way that only a mother could.

"Okay then," Hiccup shrugged.

When everything was taken care of, they left the supermarket together. Then, as soon as they were outside, Hiccup grabbed Sigrid's arm and pulled her aside.

"What exactly did Astrid say to the police chief?"

"Call her and ask her yourself. I'm not her spokesperson. And while you're at it, you can be there for her like she has you."

"Fair enough."

"Another thing: where are your colleagues?"

Hiccup blinked, a single eyebrow rising. "Why?"

"Yesterday, late afternoon, you killed Johann. We know where you are so we, and by we I mean the DDIS as a whole, won't arrest you yet. Fishlegs, Aage, Rebecca, Ludvig and Sandra however, are nowhere to be seen."

"You forget to mention someone."

"The DDIS knows where Bekker is. Yesterday, at around 2:25 pm, she entered into a plea deal. She agreed to give testimony against you in exchange for witness protection in case you come searching for her."

"Let me guess. She told law enforcement that I hit her?"

"No. Worse. You tried to kill her, allegedly."

"I see. Were her parents present?"

"Yes. I take it they don't like you very much. What exactly happened? Did you do what they claim you did?"

Hiccup grimaced, suddenly finding the ground very interesting. "Let's just say that it wasn't my best moment. Hindsight is 2020 and all that. Anything about Naja?"

"Still missing, but the metal door was guarding barrels of nerve agent. That mess most definitely got some nation involved. It's just a question of who. We'll figure it out in time. Now, your friends. Where are they?"

"Sigrid, you know why I can't tell you. And if paying for these groceries was a way to try and get info out of me, you shouldn't have tried."

"Dear, that was me being nice. I'm not a spy all the time. You should try not being you all the time."

"Y'know, it's starting to make sense why the DDIS is as incompetent as it is. Why exactly didn't I wake up to the door of my house being blown off its hinges and swarmed by SWAT? I killed your boss just yesterday and you all know where I live. You haven't arrested me yet."

"You're not the highest priority, since like you said, we know where you live. Also people don't tend to disappear after switching jobs. If you disappeared then we'd look for you. It would be the biggest manhunt since Drago. Luckily for you, you have someone in your corner who knows the loopholes in DDIS procedures."

"I wonder where someone like that could be. It's a mystery."

"Indeed it is. I wonder where she could possibly be."

"Yep. Anyway, keep me posted on Naja. I have someone to tend to in the meantime."

"Don't kill Dan if you find him. If you can bring him to us, he could be a way to get your name cleared."

"Unless you have hands on the same technology from Men in Black, there's no way you can pull that off. Everyone knows about me. It's why Bekker's parents hate me. Likely Bekker does too."

"There are still those on Berk that I can sway. We both know our kinsmen can be brought to believe things with relative ease."

"I'll believe it when I see it. Best of luck, Sigrid."

He turned and started walking away, but she called to him.

"I heard about a man who was shot in the knee. A mechanic. According to Throk, he claimed his boss was taken by a man with ginger hair. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you? Your hair seems a good bit more orange than I recall, but maybe my eyes need a checkup."

Hiccup didn't turn around. "You'll get Dan when I'm done with him."

…

Hiccup slid into the driver's seat of his BMW X5, sighed, started the engine then glanced at the occupant of the seat beside him as he drove away. "When you and Aage suggested I cut ties with Bekker after I mentioned both of her parents are alive and we found that neither have ties to crime, I expected her to be mad. I expected an angry phone call or for her to leave her home to travel north and come find me again. I didn't expect her to give testimony against me in exchange for witness protection."

"She what? Oooh, she's so lucky she's not here right now. You leave her safe and sound with her parents and she pulls this shit?!"

"I don't quite blame her, Cami. I did decide to knock her out because I knew she wouldn't stay put otherwise. And the morning after we got there, Johann had leaked info about me to the press as you know. So her parents aren't at fault for hating me."

"Regardless, she's working against you."

"Likely more due to being swayed by her parents."

"Who are biassed against you."

"And you are biassed towards me, Cami. I know you mean well, but the road to Helheim is paved with good intentions."

"Uh, actually it's Hell in that phrase…"

"Same difference, Cami. Now, did you find out what I asked you earlier?"

"Yes. The four men with Johann yesterday; his 'bodyguards', were named William Duus, Erik Meldgaard, Yannik Birch and Tobias Andreasen. They were brought over from Skagen earlier the same day."

"Skagen huh. What would you be willing to bet that at least one of them was involved in arresting Drago last year?"

"Who's to say?" Shrugged Cami.

"Regardless, they shouldn't have been there. It should have been me and Johann only. May he rot in Helheim all the more for bringing comparatively innocent people into this shit."

"That's not morbid at all. Well at least he can't do it any more. And now I'm being morbid. Thanks a lot, Haddock."

Hiccup snorted. "You're welcome. I regret nothing. Now about this next bit. Are you ready?"

Cami grinned. "I'm ready."

"Good. One final job before we're done."

"We, you and I, won't be done until you speak to Astrid. I know you haven't yet."

"One thing at a time; Dan first. Then I talk to Astrid. Not before."

Conversation halted then, as Hiccup stopped the car, as they had reached their intended destination, which was the marina. The car was parked and both got out.

Rounding the car to the boot, they hoisted one bound and gagged Daniel Lásson out and held him between them as they began to walk, along the path and among the various boats until they spotted one in particular.

Without a word passing between them, Hiccup held Dan while Cami knocked on the door, alerting the occupants within to his presence.

A buff man of height 6'4 emerged. "Morning Hiccup. Morning Cami."

"Morning Aage. How are you lot holding up?"

"Quite well. How's the package?"

"Surprisingly mute." Dan protested despite the gag in his mouth as Hiccup handed him over to Aage. "Ready on your end?"

The man didn't reply for a moment, as he secured Dan inside, then turned back to face the two visitors. "Yep. Fishlegs tells me he could do it right now."

"Well tell him I said tomorrow. No sooner than that."

"Roger that. Did you handle Johann? Was it difficult?"

"Surprisingly easy. Barely an inconvenience, though I did have to use the grenade Cami provided."

"Wish I could have seen it. Sandra, Ludvig, Rebecca and Fishlegs! Get up here!"

When they emerged from below deck, Aage continued to address them. "The next part of our journey together will be long and it is uncertain when we will be able to dock again. What is a bit more certain is that by this time tomorrow, none of you - myself and Hiccup included - will be able to work for the DDIS and will most likely be hunted down and arrested if not outright killed. So if anyone would like to back out, feel free to do so now. I have no family to tend to, so I can go on the run with greater ease than anyone here, so I advise you to leave now if you have any misgivings about sticking with me. What do you say?"

"I'll go wherever she goes," said Ludvig, looking at Rebecca.

"Alright. Rebecca?"

"Think you can drop us off somewhere that won't extradite us back here? If whatever happens tomorrow is as serious as you imply, then I'd like to be prepared for the worst."

"I can't promise anything, but maybe Fishlegs knows some country like that."

"I'll find out," the man in question said, taking out his phone.

"Good man. Sandra?"

"If he can find somewhere we can go, then I'll stick with you. Otherwise… well, I don't have a choice. I'll have to go on the run."

"I can help you with that if push comes to shove," interjected Cami."

"…Alright, some options are Brazil and Venezuela, Russia and Ukraine. Apparently the former two never extradite people, but are obviously a long way away."

"Well we would have plenty of time to learn Portuguese on the way there. All of you up for it? Sandra, I mean you in particular, as the youngest person present."

"I'm going to have to pass. You can help me, right?"

Cami nodded. "On my life."

"Then count me out as well," said Fishlegs. "I'm not going to leave Heather like that."

"Then it's settled. Best of luck out there Sandra. May we meet again someday, Fred. Now I'm going to get supplies. Excuse me. You can say your goodbyes in the meantime."

Aage shook hands with Sandra and hugged Fishlegs before disembarking to procure the necessary supplies for the journey, bolstering what was already on board. As he left, a group hug took place between all boat occupants.

Later, Hiccup, Cami, Fishlegs and Sandra were heading back to the waiting car.

"So this is the last time I'll see you, probably," said Sandra.

"Seems like it. Sorry it had to end this way, but you were a great employee."

"And you were a great boss." To the surprise of Hiccup, Fishlegs and Cami, Sandra embraced him tightly, then just as quickly drew back. "Think you can teach me how to use a gun?"

"Not on the spot, no. I've only taught one person to use a sniper rifle before, and she already knew how to use a pistol. Would take a bit longer to teach you on the spot."

"Leave that to me and Fishlegs," said Cami. "Far be it from me to let you leave defenceless. Would defeat the point of escorting you out of Denmark."

Sandra nodded. "Alright."

The group continued on a little further to the car, when Cami got Sandra's attention. "Hey Sandra."

"Yeah?"

Cami tossed her a key fob. "Why don't you take a seat inside? There's something I want to discuss with your former boss for a bit."

"Sure."

Both waited until the car's left side rear door opened and closed.

"When and how did you steal that key fob?"

"When you were talking to Aage. You were distracted."

Fishlegs snorted, and like floodgates opening, all three started laughing.

"Right… so what did you want to discuss with me?" Hiccup prompted, when all laughter had dissipated.

Cami's eyes narrowed. "What exactly are you going to do to escape the future wrath of the DDIS?"

"If I told either of you that, you'd stop me. So I'm saying nothing. And before you ask again, yes, I will talk to my fiancé before all this."

"I'll hold you to that."

"Me too," added Fishlegs.

"Good. Oh and Cami?"

"Yes?"

"It's probably too late, but don't get attached to Sandra. You know, in case something goes wrong."

"Nothing will go wrong."

"I believe fate heard you say that. The gods too. They're coming for you now."

"…Yeah, I'm already attached to Sandra," Cami sighed. "Fuck."

…

It was late afternoon on Berk when Mala heard a knock on the door of her office.

"Come in!"

In came one Henry Haddock. "I've been told you wanted to arrest me. Well, you don't need to worry about any trouble I might cause anymore. I'm here to turn myself in."

"In exchange for what?"

"Nothing concerning my sentence; I'll leave that to the judge or jury. But I want Astrid to visit me as much as she can, to serve as a consultant on police matters and to have a bouquet of black tulips sent to the families of four men. William Duus, Erik Meldgaard, Yannik Birch and Tobias Andreasen."

Mala pursed her lips, then slowly nodded. "Your second request is an unusual one and unlikely to be considered, but I'll see what I can do."

"One other thing. Do you think you can get me in by tomorrow?"

"I can get you in, in ten minutes. But why? Why the rush? Nobody is ever that eager to be arrested and put in prison."

"Guess that's because I know firsthand how dangerous I can be."

…

Merry Christmas you filthy animals!

Bleary green eyes snapped open and glanced at a certain phone on a certain nightstand, but no attempt to answer the incoming call was made.

Hey, sorry to whoever is calling right now, but I'm either busy at work or busy at home. Leave a message and I'll get back to you.

"Hiccup, get over to your office immediately. I don't care if you were effectively fired or not. We need to talk. Meet me in my office as soon as possible."

Still no attempt was made to answer the phone, but the sole individual on the bed did speak at least.

Meow

Now if only Toothless was human and aware of the severity of the situation that was currently unfolding, brought about in part by his owner.