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Seventeen: Sick Day

Seventeen: Sick Day

Light and sound returned slowly, accompanied by light and dark. Hiccup frowned and slowly opened his eyes-to see Gobber's face hovering over him.

He screamed in shock and tried to jerk away, slamming his head back against the wooden floor.

"Laddie-are you alright?" Gobber said in a concerned voice as Hiccup whined in pain and clutched at the back of his head. Grimacing, the boy rolled onto his side and clutched his head until a bout of coughing wracked him. "Oh, that doesnae sound good..."

"I'm fine..." Hiccup coughed, closing his eyes against the dizziness. "I just..." And then he stopped: there was nothing else to say because he couldn't remember anything more. Gobber's broad face moved into a sympathetic expression.

"Ah, laddie- I wish I could be the parent you need," he sighed. Then he helped Hiccup up. "I know yer missing yer parents something fierce and I promise I will do everything I can because I miss my best friend as well." As he talked, he led the dazed boy into the bedroom and gently helped him into the sagging bed. There was an awkward pause as Hiccup realised where he was.

"Um...Gobber..." he mumbled as the two-limbed man carefully pulled the duvet over him. The mechanic grinned.

"Yer get yer rest," he said warmly. "I'll bring yer some aspirin in a little while..." Managing a very small smile, Hiccup looked up with feverish eyes.

"I'll help you make dinner in a few minutes," he mumbled. "Gotta earn my keep..." But as he reached the door, Gobber could tell he was already asleep and he smiled.

"You've got plenty of credit with me, laddie," he smiled and gently closed the door.

oOo

Hiccup woke slowly, finding a glass of water, some almost stale cookies and a bottle of aspirin by the bed. A fit of coughing shook him and as he moved, he realised he was lying on his phone and he seemed to be fully dressed.

And he was in Gobber's bedroom.

He sat up and his head spun lightly as he peered round the dim space. The double bed was heavily sagging in the middle and the pillow was almost flat. The walls were covered with posters and pages of magazines, sellotaped to the wallpaper and all depicting cars, trucks or motorcycles. It was like his room when he was about thirteen.

He blinked and peered at his phone: it was 11:30am the following day and he was late for school. And then he realised that Gobber had made sure he had a day off-a day he desperately needed to recover. His head was aching and as he swiped the messy hair off his face, he felt the lump and bruise from the previous day. Then he sighed which turned into another cough. He probably had a slight fever but he felt much more clear-headed than the previous day and he got up slowly, had a shower and then sat with the dog.

The young animal was also much better, his eyes bright and tail wagging almost constantly as he sat with his new master. He was intelligent and his bright green eyes really gave the impression he was listening to Hiccup as he hoarsely chatted to the mutt. This time, he wolfed his biscuits down and was bouncing around the young man as he made himself some toast and beans and then drank some water.

The apartment was a tip-testament to Gobber's limited homemaking skills-and once he had eaten, Hiccup tidied up, washed the floor, changed the dog's paper and stripped the bed, taking the sheets and quilt down to the washer in the basement.

"I guess we better find a name for you, bud," he said, coughing at the effort walking up the two flights to Gobber's apartment. "Hmm...Jet? Night? Fang? Frisky? Help me out, bud...not exactly got much experience with this..." Tail wagging, the dog sat facing him, his mouth open displaying a fine set of teeth with a pink tongue hanging out as he gave the doggy equivalent of a smile. Hiccup tousled the ears. "Hmm, not exactly toothless are you?"