Astrid sprinted through the hallway of the hospital, her eyes fixed on the signs for the Emergency Department. Hiccup had passed out and Eret and Cami had driven the boy straight here, leaving Astrid, Fishlegs, Heather and the twins to travel with Snotlout: even in his SUV, it had been a game of sardines. She had phoned her parents and her Mom had promised to meet them at the hospital but her Dad was in work. But the recording she had heard rolled around in her memory and she accelerated until she reached the door of the department and halted, panting, at the department.

"Hiccup...Haddock..." she gasped. The nurse on the desk indicated to a cubicle and the girl nodded thanks and sped over, pausing and timidly peeking round the curtain. The familiar shape was lying on the trolley, an ID band on his wrist and a standard hospital gown on. He turned his face to her of a second-and then he turned away, trying to shift onto his side, away from her. Astrid froze for a long second...because he looked so beaten...and so ashamed...

...and then she swooped forward, grabbing his hand that was still smeared with his blood, pulling him back to face her, her azure eyes filled with pity and concern. "Hiccup...oh, thank the Gods..." she whispered and flung her arms around him. He stiffened for a long moment...and then she felt his arms close around her and his face bury in her neck.

"Milady..." came the murmured greeting. "I was so worried..." She lifted her head to stare at the boy and saw his emerald eyes dark with pain.

"I heard..." she said softly and he closed his eyes, wincing.

There was a long silence. Then...

"Sorry," he breathed. "But I-I wanted t-to let you know where I was...not thinking too clearly..." He ghosted a smile. "Pain and concussion I think..." She stared at him.

"You went to see Mr Grimborn about my C," she told him. He nodded slightly.

"Um...yeah....didn't completely go to plan..."

"And you lost your escorts, you mutton-head..."

"Would a mutton-head record the conversation as proof?" Hiccup asked her thickly. She stared at him.

"For what?" she asked. There was pause and he grimaced.

"No what...who," he managed thickly. "Your Dad. He'll know what to do." He managed a small smile and beckoned her close. She smiled and pressed her lips onto his, feeling the splits from the blows he had taken. His hand stroked her cheek, holding her close until they had to break for air. Both started as the curtain was pulled back and the doctor entered. He was a youngish man with thick blonde hair and bright grey eyes which twinkled as they alighted on the two anxious looking teens, clearly just kissing.

"You'll live," he smiled. "And your leg is very badly bruised but there's been no more damage and no displacement of the fractures."

"Thank Thor," Hiccup murmured.

"But the police want to talk to you," the doctor told him gravely. "This was a serious assault, Hiccup." The boy nodded, his hand closing around Astrid's and latching onto her. She could feel the tremble in his grasp and knew he would have to relive the attack for the cops...but his next words made her immensely proud of him.

"I want to talk to them," he said slowly. "About the assault...who did it and who else is making threats against me and my girlfriend..." And then he paused. "And your records show that when I was first admitted, there were a lot of scars on my body from child abuse." He swallowed. "I want to talk to the police about them as well. It's time."

Time's up, Alvin...

oOo

The man sat forward, sliding the workbooks back across the desk to Martin Hofferson.

"Very crude," he commented. He was a heavyset man with hooded grey eyes and thinning brown hair. "I engaged several registered specialist teachers to check and the under marking is obvious with the Mathematics paper...though interestingly, the male's papers have been consistently under marked for months. Same for the English, History, Physics...your daughter's papers show signs of under marking for the last two weeks..."

"Since she revealed her friendship with the boy," Martin mused.

"The boy's marks are at least 10% lowered for all subjects meaning his final grades should be at least one grade higher. This is deliberate...but I would need other students' books for comparison." He sighed. "They may just be a really tight bunch of markers."

"And your instincts?" Martin asked.

"They were fair to your daughter until after Snoggletog and the marks were as expected," the man said. "But your daughter is extremely intelligent and her work is exceptional. I would really need more work for comparison..."

"I'll have Astrid obtain her friends' books for your analysis," Martin said, making a note. He paused and stared at the man. "Deliberate?"

"Certainly cultural," the man confirmed. "This is a calculated effort to ensure the boy underachieves...and your girl seems to be their next target..." Martin locked eyes with the man.

"Is this enough proof?" he asked. The man paused...then shook his head.

"On its own, no," he admitted in a frustrated voice. "But we need to fully investigate this. The School Board will have to know and intercede. This is frankly scandalous..."

Martin's eyes flicked to the incoming text and he frowned. He raised a finger and flicked the voice note on. The two men listened to Hiccup's encounter with Mr Grimborn...and his effective confession caused both men to stare at one another. Martin was about to stop the recording...when he heard Hiccup ambushed. He forced himself to pause the note at the sounds of the boy being dragged away and conclude his business, though he felt a surge of concern for the boy's safety.

"And now?" he asked his agent. The heavyset man nodded.

"With this as well...yes."

oOo

Hiccup was exhausted after he finished with the cops and lay back, his eyes fluttering closed. Astrid had remained with him throughout, her hand locked on his and she had felt him clutch at her fearfully as he related portions of his tale. The cops had been shocked and horrified at the tales of his abuse at Alvin's hands and they had been very concerned about his attack by Dagur's gang in school. Hiccup had stressed that he was also worried about the safety of Astrid and her parents from Oswald's friends in the Berserkers. He had managed to supply names and the cops had contacted the station and headed out urgently to check the Hofferson home and look for them...while other men had been sent to arrest the boys who had attacked Hiccup.

Hiccup had quietly played the voice memo, which had detailed the whole of the assault and had recorded the threats they had made against him...and especially against Astrid.

"You liked this, did you?" Dog had growled, accompanied by the sounds of a punch and a faint groan from Hiccup, followed by a pained cough.. The boy had closed his eyes, shaking his head and his grip had tightened on Astrid's.

"I'm sorry," he whispered as the recording continued. She wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm gonna find your pretty little girlfriend and do this to her...at the very least," Dog snarled. "You stopped me from having her before...maybe we can make you watch when I F-..."

The cops' eyes widened at the threat and they stared at Hiccup. He was trembling. Astrid stared at him-beaten and battered and in pain...but doing this to protect her. He swallowed and his eyes swung up to meet hers...so she leaned forward and kissed him.

"It's okay," she whispered. "You saved me then..."

"Your parents may find out," he murmured thickly. She ran her fingers through his hair, resting her forehead against his.

"If it happens, it happens," she sighed.

"You're in danger because of me," he whispered.

"You're in trouble because you saved me, all those months back," she reminded him. "It's okay."

"Family Services will want to talk with you, Hiccup," the officer said and the boy nodded.

"I'm...I'm staying with the Hoffersons...Astrid's parents..." he said, a note of worry entering his voice. "Please...don't take me away from them..." He looked despairingly at Astrid...and then the curtain moved aside.

"Officers...my husband and I are very happy in keeping Hiccup living with us," Ingrid said, arriving, her eyes flicking over the patient. Her face fell in shock as she saw his awful injuries. "Gods! Oh, Hiccup..." He swallowed and looked embarrassed.

"Sorry, Mrs H," he mumbled, blushing. But she moved to his other side, gave her daughter a quick look then took his hand. With a very maternal look, she stroked his hair, then kissed his forehead.

"It's okay, Hiccup," she assured him. "We won't let you be taken away. Your home is with us for as long as you want it. We promised...and I really think my daughter would kill us if we let you go." She released his hand and turned to the cops. "I am happy to speak to Family Services and sign whatever papers are required so that Hiccup can officially be our foster-son...so there can be no question about where he lives or who is responsible for him. He needs safety and security...and we want to provide it."

Astrid stared at her with relief and gratitude. "Mom," she said softly, "thanks..." Ingrid smiled and beckoned the cops out of the cubicle to continue the conversation and check what Hiccup had told them. As soon as she was gone, Astrid stared at Hiccup.

"Will that make you my brother?" she asked him teasingly. He groaned.

"Oh Gods, that would be complicated," he muttered. She burst out laughing and swatted him on the shoulder. He groaned. "Careful, Milady. I'm not sure there's much of me that's not bruised right now..." She gave an apologetic look and he sighed. He lifted his left hand and waved his pinkie. "This bit maybe..." She gave him a small grin and kissed his finger. His eyes widened and he gave a small smirk. He pointed to his right shoulder and she ghosted a small kiss there as well.

"Anywhere else?" she asked him with a playful expression. He paused...then pointed to his mouth.

"Um...this bit isn't too bad..." he murmured as she lunged forward and kissed him deeply. Time stood still for a long moment...and he sighed in happiness as they broke apart.

"No, it isn't," she agreed, carefully clambering onto the trolley by him. He scooched over a little so she could lie alongside him. His eyes widened.

"Um...I must definitely have concussion..." he muttered. She wrapped her arms around him and he cautiously embraced her, resting his head against hers.

"Shut up and hug me," she told him, snuggling closer. He closed his eyes, finally feeling safe.

"Yes, Milady."