A/N: Maintaining a two-chapter buffer is the name of the game. Enjoy this chapter now :)

…

"Captain Haddock, have you heard from the lieutenants in your platoon?"

"Yes. Fishlegs, Ug and Teeny have expressed wishes to come back home and visit me here."

"As expected. Have they expressed anything relating to the situation abroad?"

"No. I took that to mean nothing out of the ordinary is happening over there."

"I see. Honestly, I half expected your men to request temporary leave to check up on you."

"They would have, had I not talked them out of it."

"Hmm. How does it feel spending time like a celebrity, Captain?"

"I think you know already, sir."

"Aye. Carry on, Captain. I shan't keep you any longer. That said, I've sent you an email regarding another matter. Look over it as soon as you can."

"Yes sir."

"As you were, captain."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir."

Hiccup closed down the app that had provided the video call with his superior, and then lowered the lid of his laptop as he glanced past his desk, to the seat that was occupied by a silent individual. "Coffee, Lucan?"

The man who sported many freckles, partially concealed beneath his black hair nodded. "Yes please."

So Hiccup left the room, returning with a mug of the concoction.

"Here is your mug of poison, Lucan Dredge. Drink up; and if you die as a result of all that cream and sugar, please don't fall anywhere near my desk."

"Still hate coffee. Glad that hasn't changed."

"Why are you here, Lieutenant? Quite a long way from Manchester. You get lost? That's impressive, even for you."

Lucan groaned, setting down his coffee mug with a thud. "I made a mistake with that map one time! C'mon, how long are you going to remember that?"

Hiccup smirked. "Always."

Lucan suddenly looked serious. "You should know that they want you back. And not just as a reserve."

"I'm sure you've noticed why I can't."

"I did, yes. When did you get a prosthetic?"

"Three weeks ago. Drove too close to an IED, passed out, spent two and a half weeks in hospital learning to walk on crutches before they fit the damn thing and sent me back here. Then the head doctor assigned me a physical therapist. His choice was a little weird."

"Why?"

"He assigned me his niece. Said she was just starting out taking care of veterans. I think he's secretly playing matchmaker."

"If she's a looker then it's not all bad, right?"

"Of course, that's where your mind immediately went," Hiccup said, shaking his head. "Now kindly piss off back to Hereford. I'm down half a leg and I've got a platoon of soldiers to oversee here. I can't come with you."

With a sigh, Lucan knocked back the rest of his coffee and stood."Shame. I was hoping you'd come back eventually."

When he was gone, Hiccup opened his laptop again. Checking his emails, he found a recent message from his superior officer.

"Another busy day, then…" Hiccup sighed and got to work by typing out a reply.

…

Later, Hiccup, armed with a folder, knocked on the door of the office of one of his subordinates. "Second coming of Jack Harkness, you're needed."

The door opened and Eret stood in the doorway. "What is it, boss?"

"You and Aage are being deployed to Afghanistan. These are your instructions from my CO. Lucky you."

Eret sighed. "Not as lucky as you, getting to stay away from IEDs, permanently."

"You've got me there. Well, do your best to get back home in one piece."

"Yeah… Hey, do you want to go out drinking?"

"Sure, on two conditions: one, that you and Aage don't force me to drink until I'm drunk, and two, that you tell our paradoxically named friend that you and him are shipping out in two days."

"Deal."

…

Hiccup stepped out of the wide lift, of a sort that had doors that opened upwards, and into the hallway leading to the Orthotist department of Berk's main hospital.

Entering the department, Hiccup glanced at the waiting room area on his left, then approached the reception desk on his right, which was curved in line with the wall, with a gap for another stretch of hallway beside it and another wall continuing from beside that.

"Back again so soon, sir?" The woman sitting there chirped.

"Yeah. Sooner than planned. My physical therapist recommended I go see someone here to be fitted for a better prosthetic. Mrs Asp? Though she said she calls her 'Gothi' instead."

The redhead blinked. "Physical therapist, sir? Didn't know you had one, sir. They must have studied here if they know Gothi though. What's her name?"

Hiccup shrugged. "It's a recent development. Her name's Astrid."

The young woman's face lit up. "Astrid, ah, I see. She was Gothi's favourite while she was here studying. Anyway, you go wait over there and I'll let her know you want to see her."

Hiccup nodded. "Thanks," and turned to sit in the waiting area.

A half-hour later, a man dressed in the light blue of the hospital's uniform emerged, glancing around. "Henry Haddock?"

Hiccup stood and approached and the man turned once he noticed him, beckoning him along the hallway. "This way, sir. I'm Mark by the way, Gothi's assistant. Just in case you don't yet know, my boss is mute."

"So I've heard. How does that work? Does she communicate in sign language? That must make this job awkward, right?"

"It was difficult at first, but you get used to it. Knowing sign language is a prerequisite for working in her office in any case, which helped."

"I see."

"But she has other ways to communicate as a backup, particularly with doctors outside this department. Now here we are."

Mark knocked twice on the door before them both, then went in, while Hiccup stared, as the door hadn't been locked beforehand.

"That's just to let her know I'm back," Mark explained without looking at Hiccup. "She's a little hard of hearing as well. But she does her job so well, the hospital is willing to overlook the fact that she should really be retired."

The room included a window, a short woman - who Hiccup figured was Gothi - behind a desk, a filing cabinet between the desk and the window, a chair not too dissimilar to that found in a dentist's office, that could be raised or lowered, covered in a long sheet of paper, a chart on the wall next to the chair, a few cupboards filled with medicine and equipment and last of all, a bin for medical waste.

Gothi, from behind her desk, made a motion with her hands, to which Mark responded with his own signing. "Just explaining to Henry here, why I knocked on the unlocked door."

Said woman nodded and looked at Hiccup, who waved. "Uh, hey. Astrid recommended that I come here and get a better prosthetic from you. She wanted me to be checked out in case you guys could help with my phantom pains in any way."

Mark and Gothi glanced at each other. She signed something to him, then reached for a sheet of paper on her desk which she wrote on before, at last, holding it up for Hiccup to see.

We'll get you measured for a new prosthetic. In the meantime, go lie down on that bed over there and take off your shoe and sock. We'll need to see your foot for comparison's sake.

Hiccup nodded after reading it and approached the bed, which was covered by a long sheet of paper. Climbing on, he took off his shoe and sock as directed, then lay down.

Gothi left, and Mark approached, grasping his prosthetic and lifting it slightly for a better look. "I'm surprised you can cope at all with this thing. It's quite literally a placeholder for a better version. It's that basic. The surgeons who operated on you did a spectacular job."

"That's good then I suppose. I'll be sure to compliment them if I meet them again."

Mark laughed. "You do that."

…

"Hey. Fancy meeting you here."

"Likewise, Astrid. Are you waiting for friends? Because I am."

It was now evening, and the pair were in Gobber's bar.

"Yeah. You remember Heather, don't you?"

"Yeah. Snotlout would always flirt with either her or you."

"Ugh, don't remind me. Oh, did you go see Gothi like I suggested you should?"

"I did, yeah. She and her assistant, Mark, measured my leg. Then we talked about prosthetic limb options. It was quite technical."

"I'd imagine so-"

"Hey bestie."

Astrid glanced at Heather, who had snuck up beside her. "Hey. How are you? How was work?"

"Tired. Work was busy."

"You look tired…"

Hiccup took out his phone, feeling it vibrate in his pocket, Astrid and Heather's conversation fading into the general hubbub of the occupants of the bar.

He glanced at the screen.

Look to your left, boss.

So Hiccup did, seeing Eret wave at him from the end of the counter.

Hiccup sighed, then typed out a reply. You could have sat next to me as normal people do. But no, texting from less than ten meters away, it is.

Hiccup saw Eret laugh and then respond. You were clearly busy talking to that blonde looker over there.

Her name's Astrid. She's my physical therapist. Dating would be a conflict of interest, at least on her part.

Physical therapist? Since when? And touché. Now, I'm just waiting on Aage to get here. Any chance you see him anywhere?

You were supposed to go together. Aage is not my concern right now. I'm off duty at the moment. Find him yourself, please.

Tut tut. Are you abandoning your post, boss? I think I need to report that.

Shut up, Eret. Hiccup waved to Gobber. "One pint of your best whisky, Gobber."

"Good choice, laddie."

"You say that everytime I order it."

"That's because it's always true."

Hiccup smiled, shaking his head. "I won't tip you for that sass."

Gobber pressed a hand to his chest. "You wound me, laddie. Alright, I'll just need to charge double."

"Well played," Hiccup snorted, and then his smile dropped. "How is he?"

Gobber glanced left and right, then back to Hiccup. "Same as ever since you left."

Hiccup sighed. "How long can he keep it up?"

Gobber stared at him, eyes narrowing. "How long can you keep it up? It takes two to tango, Hiccup."

"…"

"Nothing to say all of a sudden?" Gobber prompted.

Hiccup shot him a stern look. "I regret asking. Get him to come here and apologise for what he did. Then we can talk."

"Laddie, that's not fair."

Hiccup got up off his bar stool before replying. "Neither was accusing me of you-know-what. Now, are you going to get me some whisky or do I need to leave and go somewhere else?"

Gobber sighed. "Whisky's a fiver."

…

Astrid and Heather had retreated to a corner booth in the bar during their conversation, and Astrid had let her friend go in first, so she could see the counter and more importantly, Hiccup.

But Astrid wasn't exactly subtle in her effort.

"He got the good side of puberty. I can see why you're staring at him so much."

"It's not like that," Astrid protested, and it might have convinced Heather, had Astrid's cheeks not turned red.

"Uh-huh. Sure. I'll pretend I can't see you blushing like a school girl staring at her crush."

Astrid was still staring at Hiccup and hadn't looked at Heather once since she started. "He's my first patient. It's really not like that, Heather."

"Again; you're blushing. It's really not helping your claim."

"Shut up and get us both beer."

She heard Heather sigh. "Fine. Conversation is dead anyway. Move."

Astrid stood up, Heather shuffled past and when the blonde retook her seat to watch Hiccup again, she found he was gone.

…

Hiccup sought out a table in a corner of the bar with his pint of whisky. After sitting down, he texted Eret. Found a table. If you want, you can join me. Or you can go find your girlfriend. She's talking with my physical therapist, I think.

I'll just stick with Aage. Found him now.

Alright.

So Hiccup sat alone, nursing his whisky and engaged in observing others. He often did it as a precursor to drawing those around him.

His gaze landed on a group of three who had just arrived. Three men, walked up to the bar, momentarily blocking Astrid's view of him, for which he was a tad confused.

Why are you watching me? Your job is over for the day, isn't it?

He shot her a glance that he hoped expressed his internal confusion, then ignored her, refocusing on the three men as he took out his notepad, and still he felt her gaze boring a hole in his forehead.

One man was bald and clean-shaven, with a leather jacket and a small scar on one cheek, another tattooed on his face and arms, shown through a plain black t-shirt and the third wearing a baseball hat and a thick beard, with a shirt and general physique of the sort that suited a lumberjack.

Hiccup took out a pencil and hastily drew an outline of each of their figures as they ordered and waited then took their drinks away.

Hiccup observed them closely as they found a table to occupy. And so, Hiccup resumed drawing, working from memory with the occasional glance at their table.

But then, sometime later, Hiccup became aware that he wasn't alone at the table anymore, as something bulky sat down heavily.

He looked up from his notepad, and his uninvited guest started to speak, his speech slow.

"Hey, dude. Do you know where to find any girls?"

His speech became slurred towards the end of his sentence and Hiccup caught a whiff of the alcohol on his breath.

Hiccup wrinkled his nose subconsciously, as he pointed past the man to Astrid's booth. "There's one staring at me right now. You can talk to her and her friend."

The man attempted to turn and look but swung a hand that struck the table and made Hiccup wince. "Awesome. Thanks."

The man then staggered off, very nearly collapsing face-first after catching his leg on one of those that were part of his own chair.

"Tell her to stop staring at me!" Hiccup called after him, then went back to his drawing, not noticing Gobber glance at him, his gaze traversed over to the drunk guy and then Astrid before sighing, his eyes zeroing in on the man once more.

Oblivious to where Gobber was looking, Hiccup sighed in turn and stood, feeling out of drawing all of a sudden. And so he turned, heading for the door.

…

Back home, Hiccup strolled into his kitchen and towards his fridge. Opening it summoned a small creature covered in black fur, otherwise known as Toothless, his pet cat, who meowed his approval when Hiccup held a few slices of ham aloft and dropped them before the feline to eat.

Stepping past the cat, Hiccup left the kitchen again, now heading for his bedroom, when his phone started vibrating with an incoming call in his pocket.

"Hello?"

"Hiccup? Where are you?"

"Back home, Aage. Why?"

"You're meant to be out drinking with me and Eret."

Hiccup rolled his eyes. "I'm hanging up now."

"Wait! I'm sorry, that was a joke. There's a girl here who's been attacked. You're going to want to help out, apparently, according to Eret."

"I'll be the judge of that. What girl?"

"Astrid, I think. It's what her phone lock screen says anyway. Is she really your physical therapist?"

"Yes. I'll be right over there."

"Hold on. Gobber wants to say something."

"Okay…? Put him on then I guess."

"Laddie, you should get over here. It's that lass you used to like."

"I've already figured as much, Gobber. Is that all you want to say?"

"You should make up with your father. Now that's all," the man replied, and promptly hung up.

…

When Aage told Hiccup that Astrid had been attacked, he assumed that she would have at most a black eye and that her attacker had received the worse end of the deal.

So when he arrived and saw her looking just as he used to, after an altercation with his cousin and the twins… well shocked was an understatement.

Her nose was bloody, her lower lip was split, and the rest of her face was bruised; particularly her eyes, which were ringed black.

Additionally, she was mostly still and quiet, such that Hiccup had to verify she was still alive with two fingers to her neck.

After recalling what he knew of first aid to put her in the recovery position, Hiccup turned to Eret, who had a guy; the same drunk guy who had approached Hiccup earlier, secure in his grasp.

"What's your name?"

"Fuck you. Tell this idiot to let me go!"

"Aage?"

Aage was standing off to the side. "Yes?"

"Make him talk. He had one chance and he blew it."

"With pleasure."

Hiccup turned away as Aage took his place, but listened to the wheezing of Aage's victim as he dealt with the introduction of a fist to his stomach.

The man in Eret's grip promptly threw up, but Aage knew it was coming and was therefore out of the way by the time the guy doubled over.

"Don't think we'll be getting anything out of him for a while. So what about this one, Gobber? Think he'll do the smart thing and tell us his name?"

"Doubtful, laddie," said the man. It is worth pointing out that Gobber had another man in his own vice-like grip, and his eyes did nothing to show his contempt for both individuals, who had likely attacked Astrid together after she and Heather parted ways.

Hiccup felt much the same.

"Maybe he will if I introduce myself first. My name is Captain Haddock; a soldier currently stationed at the local base. And you are?"

"Someone who doesn't care and didn't ask."

Hiccup smacked his lips. "Right then," and promptly buried a fist in the thug's gut.

As the man wheezed his lungs out, Hiccup lifted his chin, making him look at him.

"Let's try this all again," Hiccup jerked his head to where Astrid lay. "That there is my physical therapist. We have a mutually beneficial relationship. I want her in one piece," Hiccup let go of the guy to land a blow on the underside of his jaw. There was a crunch as the thug's teeth clicked together and he groaned painfully.

"Now tell me your names and why you did that to her, or you'll be wishing you look as good as she does."

…

Astrid awoke with a headache and in an unfamiliar room with the curtains drawn.

She looked around, finding a glass of water, painkillers and a note on the nightstand.

We need to talk. Come find me when you're up. You should find painkillers and water with this note - Hiccup.

Nodding to herself, she set down the note, dry swallowed the painkillers and left the room.

She found him in the midst of cooking something which was sizzling, and her senses told her it was bacon.

"Have a seat, Astrid," said Hiccup, without glancing her way as she stood in the doorway.

So she did, questions starting to bounce around her head. One more prominent than all others.

"Hiccup. What the fuck did you do to your knuckles?"

"You should see the other guys. Now, late-night bacon sandwich?"