Chapter 14: Recovery

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".....Iccup.... HICCUP!" Stoick shouted breathlessly, as he glanced around anywhere for a sign of his son, or the night fury in the endless fog of heavy dust.

The man's heart was pounding against his chest, as his wide blue eyes darted around his surroundings on high alert."SON!" He called, as his hope quickly began to run out.He was experiencing many different emotions all at once! Terror, concern, fear, sorrowfully, regret and hopeful.If anything happened to his son....his only son....by Odin, how much guilt he'd feel for the rest of his life.His breath was heavy, as he whirled round, about to call out again until he saw it. He froze as he caught sight of a limp body half a mile away, and he let out a breath. For all hope was not lost yet."Hiccup..." He breathed, as he began running, though he won't deny- he did stumble, quickly over to the body that lay on the pebbled covered Earth.

After witnessing two figures plundering down from the sky and into the fire, he wasn't sure what had happened to his boy. The chief stopped a few feet from the body, and instantly recognized it."T....T-Toothless..." He mummered, as his eyes wondered over to an empty, battered and burned looking saddle.Stoick let a breath in realization, as he sagged his shoulders, glancing at the burnt off prosthetic tail wing.He felt his legs begin to shake, and so he collapsed down onto his knees, blinking a few times as he tried to process what was actually happening...."On son....I-I did this..." The chief muttered.

The rest of Berk's warriors began to crowd around the small scene, in deep silence they all were witnessing their chief about go to break down.They felt deep pity towards the Viking, having to lose his wife, and now his son, who had just so recently returned from the unkown..Gobber, Snotlout, and Astrid all shoved their way towards the front of the crowd, letting small gasps Escape their lips at the small scene before them.Snotlout's breathing increased in realization of his little cousins fate...though they had a rough childhood together, and he wasn't always the kindest of heart...deep down he still really did care for Hiccup.There was so many things he wanted to make up to him...But now...?He has to suffer now, years of regrets of the horrible childhood  experienced he had set on his cousin...His eyes were slightly filled with tears, as his breath hitched. He could just so faintly hear Astrid gasp in shock...

Toothless slowly gained consciousness, as he lifted his head slightly opening his green eyes to face Hiccups father...He crooned slightly in question as he seacrched the man's facial expression, which showed sorrow, regret, and brokenness...He couldn't help but feel bad for the viking...Stoick gazed softly down at the Night Fury, as they stared each other down for a long moment before he opened his quivering dry mouth."I'm so.....I'm so s-sorry..." He whispered, loud enough for the dragon to hear. He knew he had owed the night fury an apology, for what had happened five years ago, and now the loss of Hiccup also...

Toothless's eyes dilated, as he heard the words come out of the man's lips, which he gladly accepted.Now...this calls for a small gift.And so,he glanced down as he slowly unwrapped his aching wings, and once they opened, they revealed an unconscious man with cuts and bruises all over his face and hands, his armor looking slightly destroyed from the fire and the accident with the Queen's tail.

At the sight of the auburn haired boy, his eyes widened almost popping out of his head as he scrambled onto his feet and collapsed right in front of the duo."Hiccup!" He cried, scooping up the small shape into his massive arms."Oh son...Hiccup Hiccup..." He muttered, as he brushed the boys bangs out of his bruised face.Hiccup's head lollied to the side, revealing blood pouring out from somewhere in the mess of his wild hair, his eyes closed gently and mouth opened slightly..."Oh son..." He repeated, before he brought the boy's chest up to his ears, prying.

Thu-thump......

Thu-thump....

Thu-thump....

At the faint sounds of his heart beat, he let out a huge breath as a smile of relief, replaced his broken look as he pulled away, gazing down at his son in his arms."He's...he's alive! You've brought h-im back al-ive!" He cried out, his voice cracking as tears of joy rolled down his face.

At the sound of their lost heir being alive, the Viking crowd broke into cheers and appluds, all dragons joining into the celebration, and roaring out in happiness at the sound of their saviors survival.Stoick planted a hand on his son's peaceful face, before looking over to the night fury, who was gazing back at him.The chief smiled warmly, as he reached out a hand, and gently laying it on the dragon's snout, receiving a croon in return."Thank you. For saving my son..." He mummered, Toothless purring in appreciation."Well! You know.... most of him." Gobber called, as he limped over to plant a hand on the Chief's shoulder.

At this, the Viking glanced down at his son's leg, his eyes widening...

*****

Stoick gently and carefully layed his still unconscious son down onto his  bed, in his old bedroom.

They had just arrived back at Berk with the only two remaining ships and surviving Vikings. Families reunited and began to celebrate back at the Great Hall, while the Hooligan tribe chief and  the night fury had gone to take the lost heir back home..Better yet?All the dragons had followed them back home- without attacking!What a surprise that would be for the boy!

The chief gazed down with his eyes filled with worry,as he stared into his son's face. He reached out a flattened Hiccup's hair, which did nothing actually...The man glanced down at the now wrapped up stump that was slightly below his knee, from his son's leg.They had found that it seemed to have been bitten off while his dragon was trying to save him. He would have to bring in Gothi later on to check it out, and also Gobber to sort things out.He sighed as he began to feel tiredness take over, letting out a yawn before walking slowly towards the door. A croon stopped him, and he turned to see the night fury's head turned back towards him, a stern look in his eyes, though it was mixed with the look of misery, tiredness and worry. Toothless made a rumbling sound deep in his throat as he turned back to stare down at his best friend.Stoick smiled lightly, "He'll be alright, boy. Trust me."Toothless only grumbled, sitting down beside the bed, his eye's never leaving Hiccup's face.The chief sighed again, to tired to argue with the dragon as he walked out the door, closing it quietly.He sauntered down to the fire place, and sat on his chair in front of it, gazing into the flames of the fire, deep in thought.

His son had come back from the dead.He rides a night fury.He can tame dragons.He's lost his memory, been through hell for five years, and almost died....Stoick closed his eyes.His only son had almost died....He shuddered slightly at the thought of his son not making it out. What would it have been like with him gone?He'd be so lost...Alone....Just like Hiccup was when he was with Ansgar.Aside from his night fury, he was all alone.No family no hope.He had nothing.

How long until the boy wakes?Days?Weeks?Months, years?There was no telling when the boy would wake....but he had to stay strong.Strong for Hiccup.He's done so much for this village, who's done nothing but treat him like an outcast since he was small....well small-er.Deep regret suddenly came upon the man, at how he and Berk had treated his son....He had to make it up to him.Everyone did!A sudden thought came in mind....What if-

The door bursted open, Gobber and Gothi bursting through, the old woman with her bag of herbs and medical supplies."Where is 'e?!" The blacksmith called in total panic, his eyes wide.Stoick instantly stood on his feet and pointed upstairs, the both of them rushing up with the chief right behind.Gobber slammed the door open, expsoing the sleeping Night Fury who jumped seven feet in the air, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets as he quickly back away from the vikings, growling as he backed away towards the wall, watching the people gathering around his rider.

Gothi checked the boy over, her eyes darting everywhere from his battered up face, his ripped up amor until she saw his stump and she gasped as she dug into her bag. Stoick paced for a moment, until he decided to join the grumpy looking Night Fury, sitting down beside him.The healer unwrapped the bandage, instantly disposing of the wrap, and dug deeper into her bag for some herbs, a needle and thread, and a  special tea- painkillers.She poured it into a small wooden bowl, gesturing for Gobber to lift his head which he did.Gothi carefully poured the liquid into his agape mouth until it was empty and she put the bowl away, turning to the chief who tensed.She narrowed her eyes and gestured for both him and Toothless to leave the room."WHAT?!? THATS MY SON! THIS IS MY HOUSE!" Stoick yelled, his frustration already taking over.Gobber turned to him, lifting a brow and crossing his arms.Stoick huffed, as he marched towards the door."Come on Dragon!" He hollerd.The night fury looked back from the chief to his best friend, grumbling before he too showed himself out the door.

Stoick faced the door where Gobber was holding it open, raising a finger and opening his mouth only for the door to be slammed shut right in his face. The man stared at the door for a second, before making harsh and violent gestures with his hands, grumbling before he calmed down and walked downstairs to sit at the fire place with Toothless....

*********

After what seemed like hours the door finally opened, Gobber and Gothi coming down the stairs with satisfied looks on their faces as they nodded towards the chief as they made their was to the front door."Well?" Stoick asked in a hopeful tone."Oh, he'll be alright! He's strong! And good thing I had that spare leg!"The chief stared at his friend for a second."How do you know?"In no offense, he hardly believed that his son could survive this kind of thing...The blacksmith let out a sigh as he went over to sit beside the Viking, as Gothi left the house."Because I know him, Stoick. Maybe more than you do."Stoick forward his brows in confusion.Sure the lad used to have worked for him as an apprentance, but that didn't mean that he knew him like that...right?Gobber shook his head."Stoick, Hiccup and I used to be so close that he sometimes called me dad!" He chuckled."What?""Yeah! You know...he used to always come straight to me when he was hurt, or something was bothering him. For example about....eh let's say about ten years ago, he bursted through my workshops door, covered in blood and bruises.He had a broken wrist, and before I could ask him what had happened, he threw his arms around me and he cried. He cried and cried. And The only thing he said, was Thank you. I was surprised! I had no idea what was goin on! So I asked him, For what? And he said, For being there. And soon after that... after we had a small talk, he went into his office, and locked himself in there. Some time later, he came out. His wrist wrapped, his wonds cleaned the best he could clean it...then he began to work on sharpening axes, smiling at me once in a while as though nothing had happened!" The blacksmith explained, a pitiful look on his face.Stoick stared for a moment, until he placed his face into his hands on sorrow and regret.He felt a hand land on his shoulder, rubbing it in confort which he was great ful for."Stoick," He sadly looked up into the eyes of his friend, who was smiling weakly."So as you can see from my small experience with the lad, and many other experiences.... he'll be fine. He's stronger than he looks." Gobber reassured, slowly standing to his feet, and making his way to the door."Get some rest, Stoick! You need it!" The Viking called, before leaving the house.The Chief stared at the door, and sighed deeply before turning to the concerned looking Night Fury.Stoick chuckled lightly, before smiling up at him lightly, "You can go up now, boy. You take care of my son, dragon. You hear me?"Toothless instantly flashed him a gummy smile before barging up the stairs, tonuge hanging out from his mouth.Stoick laughed at this before sitting back in his chair, and letting out a long sigh as he closed his eyes."Odin please be with Hiccup..." He mummered.