Trouble (Hijack)

Part 24

Hiccup was in the middle of examining the prosthetic leg that nearly killed him when his phone vibrated. He was a little shocked, considering it was two in the morning.

He opened his phone and gasped; Punzie was at the hospital with a bad virus.

He quickly called Jack.

The minute his boyfriend answered, Hiccup couldn't believe it was his Jack. This guy sounded defeated and awful.

"Jack? Is she okay?" Hiccup asked.

"Yeah." Jack said, tiredly, "They said it was a flu virus that's been going around. She'll be fine now, but they're gonna keep her here tonight to make sure her fever doesn't go back up." He explained.

"That's good." Hiccup nodded, "Nothing too serious. She'll be okay."

"Yeah." Jack said, his voice deflating more and more by the second.

"Jack? Are you okay?" Hiccup asked.

"I'm fine." He answered flatly.

"You sound awful." Hiccup said.

"Do I?" Jack chuckled weakly, "Well it is two in the morning you know."

Hiccup sighed, "You're not...thinking of...Pippa again, are you?"

Jack was dead silent and Hiccup wanted to kick himself for bringing her up at a time like this, "Gah!" he yelled, "Forget I said that."

"No..." Jack answered, suddenly choking, "No...I...you're right, I..."

"Jack?"

He could hear Jack sobbing quietly over the phone and he knew how scared Jack was feeling. Having Punzie in the hospital reminded him of losing Pippa.

"Jack, Punzie is gonna be just fine. I mean not even that slide at McDonald's could get her." Hiccup tried joking.

He heard Jack cough a little on his laughter.

"Hey." Hiccup said, "What happened to Pippa...you know it's not your fault. And I know countless people have told you that in five hundred different ways, but I'm telling you Jack...bad things happen. Look at me? I was born to an alcoholic father who killed my mom. But now I know none of that was ever my fault and that's thanks to you. You lost your baby sister because of an accident. But you're not losing Punzie any time soon."

Jack was breathing heavily, trying to contain himself.

Hiccup continued, "Remember that day when Punzie punched Merida?"

"Seriously?" Jack laughed weakly, "You're gonna bring that up again?"

"No, I'm just asking if you remember that day?"

"Of course I do...I met you that day." Jack smiled.

Hiccup smiled as well, "Why did you tell Punzie to punch my sister?"

Jack couldn't help but snort as he remembered being such an ordinary guy that day. Playing his video games, forgetting about a simple task, missing dinner...

"She was upset because Merida was picking on her." He said, "I remember sitting down next to her and thinking about how dumb it was, you know...and I remember just wanting to get her to the class without any problems...but I was also upset because I don't ever want anyone to pick on her. I know what it feels like to be bullied and I'd never want that for her. So I told her to take a stand."

Hiccup smiled, "She did take a stand, and she listened to you. Because you're her older brother and she loves you, no matter what. Do you remember McDonald's? The slide?"