A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I had this planned out and some of your feedback made me rethink this chapter and amend it a little. Hope you enjoy!-hp

-o-

Eighteen: Father's Sons

"They've arrived," Toothless said over the com and there was a long pause as the implications sunk in. The hitman knew he was out of time.

"Leave," he growled over the com.

"Understood," Fishlegs replied automatically, though only Hiccup and the others on the mission could hear him. Hiccup had left his channel open so everyone could hear the confrontation and they had all heard that Astrid was captured...but every one of them knew that he was her best chance of survival.

In the surveillance room, he checked everything was downloaded, then took his secure and highly modified flash drive from the computers and slid another in. It was his final present to Dagur's Crime Empire and contained a very nasty surprise that he had been working on throughout the mission. Thick fingers dancing impossibly lightly over the keyboard, he smiled as he deployed the programme, initiated and watched the task bar filled and the screen went dead...and every other one blanked as well. There was a pause and the lights went out.

"What did you do?" Snotlout whined. Fishlegs pulled out a small pen torch and scurried to the exit.

"Wiped the system...and sent the virus to all associated systems," he smirked. "Meaning his friends are about to have a very bad day..." Shaking his head, Snotlout headed off into the gloomy corridor, scanty red emergency lights the only illumination. Two men stumbled in their way and though Snotlout tensed, the henchmen looked worried.

"You any idea what's happening, man?" the shorter one said.

"Er...no," Snotlout replied with a shrug. One skill he possessed in spades was looking uninterested. "The lights just went out and bam...we're lost..."

"Where're you going?" the fatter henchman asked, his bulging eyes sympathetic.

"Garage," Fishlegs squeaked. "I mean...it seems like a good idea to get outta here, right?"

"C'mon...it's this way," the short man said and beckoned. "We'll take you there!"

"Hey-thanks, man," Snotlout said cheerfully, fumbling in his pocket. "Gum?"

"Don't mind it I do..." the fatter one said, helping himself as they ambled towards the exit.

oOo

The twins were in a rictus of anxiety with Tuffnut accidentally chewing on a block of Quaken plastic explosive in his distraction. He then spent the next five minutes jumping up and down to see if he would explode...though Ruff was pretty sure he wouldn't because Quaken, though powerful, was pretty stable unless detonated by a powerful charge. Both twins were carrying a 'Smidvarg' unit-the master control to the Night Terror detonation system in case they got separated...or the worst happened. Of course, they were sitting determinedly in the van and refusing to budge, no matter how many henchmen tried to get in...though when the two who foolishly did heard Tuff rambling and Ruff grinning hopefully at them, they scrambled out, preferring to run for it.

Until Snotlout and Fishlegs arrived, grinning and chatting like old friends to two henchmen. To their shock, the men all ambled over to the van and all clambered in. The twins shared a shocked look and then glanced back to the intruders.

"Guys-meet Lars and Sven," Snotlout said cheerfully. "They work in the maintenance department. They helped us find our way back here and I said we could give them a lift...okay?"

"Oh Thor," Ruffnut groaned and face-palmed.

"Head east out of the house-NOW!" Toothless snapped over the com. "ASS agents are coming in through the west garage. Get out of there."

"And then?" Ruffnut murmured as she started the engine, slammed the gas pedal to the floor and shot back at full speed. Toothless paused.

"Blow the place," he said.

"But..."

"You know that was the plan, Ruff...unless Fury wants to change the plan?"

But there was no reply.

oOo

Dagur's face stretched in a cruel smile, his pallid green eyes locked on the hitman covering him. Astrid was struggling in his grip, the fact a gun was jammed under her chin not deterring her from fighting furiously. But her gaze was on Hiccup as well, seeing his face tighten in anger and concentration. The men Dagur had summoned were inching closer to him, flanking the hitman.

"Do you want to watch another woman die for you? Do you want to watch her to die for you?"

Hiccup backed up half a pace, his pistols level and locked on the gang leader, trying to ignore the words. But in his mind, he saw Cami, looking up at him from her knees, her lips moving in her final goodbye, absolving him from all blame. And his heart clenched in pain at the thought. But Cami was gone and somehow, Astrid had managed to thaw his frozen and shattered heart a little with her unique fierce, brave and dedicated attitude, tempered with her concern for her team and risking her own career, reputation and freedom to spring him and persist with the unauthorised mission.

"Any death is your choice, Dagur-you can't lay any blame on me...because you are a rabid dog who's a plague on the Archipelago!" he said firmly. The men were moving, closing his space. "And lest you forget, I have my guns trained on your head. The moment you shoot her, you're dead!"

As Dagur opened his mouth, he moved, the guns snapping laterally and firing a volley of shots that dropped the four henchmen and Savage before the muzzles snapped back to level straight at the gangster's head. The gangster hauled Astrid off her feet.

"So it looks like we have a stalemate," the man said. "So drop your guns or I will kill her slowly...or leave her maimed and disfigured. Wouldn't that be nice?"

"Ignore him!" Astrid gasped. "Shoot him. He can't be allowed to get away with it any more."

"Shut up!" Dagur growled, hauling her even closer against him. "Mmm...does this give you ideas, blondie?" She slammed her heel back into his shin and he yelled in pain. "Or I'll make you wish you had died..."

"Let. Her. Go..." Hiccup growled.

"You know-how could I have not recognised you?" Dagur asked him, his voice apparently friendly. "I mean...I saw you close to when I shot you and killed your family...of course, your hair was short and you were a soldier and of course, I thought you were dead and buried in the forest...but I was advised a hitman was after me and I never made the connection. How weird is that...?"

"It's between us," Hiccup snarled. "I killed your father as a serving solider under orders of the President...and then you somehow found out my highly classified identity, murdered my superior officer, my parents, my wife and son and tried to kill me. I followed orders-and the person you should have had issues with sits in the Granite Office in Berk...but you decided to commit multiple murder. And for that, you will pay."

Dagur jabbed the muzzle into Astrid's neck.

"Girlfriend here is my prisoner," he reminded the hitman snarkily.

"Not girlfriend," Hiccup snapped.

"Then you won't mind me killing her," Dagur sneered.

"You die a millisecond later," Hiccup promised, his eyes locked on the man, trying to line up a shooting solution that didn't hit Astrid. "She's the only thing saving your life."

"Then maybe I should keep her...possibly forever..." Dagur sneered, the barrel of the gun caressing her throat and stroking along the line of her jaw.

"So I'll take out Heather instead," Hiccup vowed. There was a sudden silence and Dagur's hand closed around her throat.

"You leave my sister out of it," he threatened. Hiccup gave a humourless smirk.

"Why?" he asked. "The callous bitch is hardly innocent. She's your sister and accessory to everything you do. She hurt me. Only fair I return the favour..."

A blur slammed into him as Astrid yelled "HICCUP!"...before the word was abruptly choked off.

"ASTRID! I will come for you! You hear? I will come for you!"

The huge shape that had slammed into him bore him to the ground, the guns skittering from his grip as a fist glanced against his jaw. Rolling away, he saw a blur in the corner of his eye and saw Astrid being hauled away by Dagur-but the bulky shape between him and the master of Berserk commanded his attention. The man was huge, powerful with a large wild black beard, scars on his face and dark brown eyes.

"Hey, Al," Hiccup said humourlessly as he recognised the henchman from the Compound in Berserk.

"Yer don't recognise me," the man said and then he smiled cruelly. "And I didn't-until the forest." He bunched his fists. "In fact, I bet yer thought I was dead...Lieutenant Haddock!" The change in tone from a rough Berserk accent to the clear precise tones that he recalled from his nightmare.

"General Utstoett?" he mouthed. "But...you were killed..." The former General gave a nasty smile.

"My apartment blew up with the body of a homeless man supplied by Dagur and about 100cc of my blood for the identification...though who else would be in my apartment in my uniform in the evening?" he scoffed. "Dagur made me a very generous offer and it dwarfed what I could ever make working for the army..."

"You were trusted," Hiccup growled. "Your men trusted you. I trusted you. And you betrayed me?"

"I have to admit...I laughed at the thought of you trusting to the confidentiality of Black Ops when I warned you were in danger," he sneered. "Especially when I knew exactly what time Dagur's men were due to arrive..." With a yell, Hiccup flung himself forward, using his momentum to bear Alvin to the ground, rolling away and dodging another hefty blow. And then he saw Alvin pull out a large knife.

"Don't feel able to finish me with you bare hands?" Hiccup said, dancing back as the blade swiped through the space where he head been. The backswing nicked his left forearm and he hissed, the fine line of blood soaking into his sleeve. He skipped round the far side of a black leather sofa and heard a door slam ahead. Concern for Astrid almost distracted him-but Alvin leapt over the couch and he skipped back, tripping over the coffee table and slamming to the floor. He rolled to avoid the knife ending in his back and stretched for a gun-but a hand stamped on his outstretched hand and he yelped. Alvin rose above him, the knife raised...and he grimaced, shaking the Grimora from its wrist holster into his hand and discharging all three shots into Alvin's black heart. The former General stared at him in shock...and then collapsed backwards, exhaling his last breath with a puzzled expression fading from his eyes.

Gritting his teeth as he gingerly moved his painful right hand. Hiccup grabbed his gun in his left hand and stumbled up, then sprinted off in the direction that Dagur had disappeared. He erupted into a bedroom with a SuperKing four-poster bed, several doors and an open pair of French doors out into the damp and grey afternoon. He touched his hand to his ear, realising his com had clicked off. Emerging, he glanced around-and saw the signs of someone moving over the grass with other marks from someone being dragged.

"Guys-if you can hear me-blow this place," he breathed as he sprinted off in the direction that Dagur had headed.

oOo

Ruff and Tuff shared a look, their eyes wide. They were slewing round the perimeter, trying to avoid the other vans, cars and motorbikes that everyone was escaping on and the two black sedans containing the agents. Lars and Sven were hanging onto Snotlout and Fishlegs and looking very anxious, wondering what they had got into.

"Fury? Thanks Thor! Are you alright?" Toothless demanded. "Speak to me!"

"He's got Astrid," Hiccup panted. "We're out the back and running towards that small outbuilding on the crest of the hill."

"We're on our way," Tuff promised.

"No! Blow up the house and get out of there!" Hiccup urged them. "You gotta stay out of this-and avoid those ASS agents. They're here to help Dagur. He's had an inside line to the government all along...and at least I found out who betrayed me."

"Who?" Toothless's voice was grim.

"Utstoett." The word was spat with hatred.

"But he was killed in..."

"He faked it," Hiccup cut in, breathing hard as he ran. "He joined Dagur...for an obscene amount of money. He tried to kill me-but he's not coming back this time. Now blow the bloody house!" Tuff pulled out his detonator as Sven and Lars stared in shock at the twins-especially since Ruff was also driving.

"Together?" the male twin asked and his sister grinned.

"Always," she confirmed, her hand closing over his. "One..."

"...two..."

...THREE!" they yelled together and twisted the button. There was a pause.

"Ha! I knew nothing was going to..." Snotlout began.

...and then the entire world filled with brilliance as the entire house, garages and cellars erupted into a confusion of flame, smoke and debris, blasting in all directions and vaporising anyone left in the house. The van shook and almost bowled over but Ruff grabbed the wheel and they managed to remain upright, slewing across the remains of the road.

"THOR ALMIGHTY!" Fishlegs exploded in shock and peered out the window as the debris continued to fall around them. "Gods-what did you do to that?"

"We had some really good stuff that we needed to use up-and H is worth our best," Tuff explained.

"Where is he?" Fishlegs asked as they saw the two black sedans veer and head towards them.

"North of the house-and moving fast..." the man reported.

"We're on our way...as soon as we can lose these ASSes," Ruff reported.

"Um...who are you people?" Sven asked warily. Snotlout grinned.

"We're the good guys," he explained. "And we gotta evade the other good guys who are working for the bad guys to collect the bad guy who is working for us before he gets himself killed by your boss-who is the worst guy of all..."

The former henchmen shared a look.

"Whenever you can drop us off, that would be fine," Lars offered. "I mean...not that we're not grateful but I think we wouldn't even know which side were were on..."

"After we've rescued Fury and our leader," Fishlegs said, his eyes glittering. "Ruff-floor it! Time's running out!"

oOo

The marks led across the manicured lawn towards a brick built building about a quarter-mile away. The trail was obvious, scuffs and footsteps-but he couldn't see either the terrorist or his captive. And though he was acutely aware that he was exposed as he sprinted across the lawn, he knew Dagur had a lead and he had to take the risk. The man had a hostage and he guessed Dagur's sadistic nature would make him want Hiccup and Astrid to suffer for his defeat.

I promised you, Milady, he thought grimly. I promised I would kill him for killing you and Sam. No matter what happens to me.

Even if it costs Astrid her life? he asked himself pointedly. Is it worth it? Is your vengeance worth getting her killed?

It's an occupational hazard for an agent, he reminded himself as he approached the brick building. He heard the sounds of an engine roaring and a crash so he ducked down, running crouched as he hit the door of the outbuilding, breathing hard.

And she saved your life. She went to help you. Is vengeance for your wife and son two years dead worth killing her as well?

He calmed his breathing and checked his pistol.

I promised.

He dived in through he door, which was on the latch and dive-rolled to the side, rolling to his knees, his eyes and gun sweeping over the space. It was a garage with a jeep lined up with a dune buggy and a land rover while a handful of motorbikes were lined up against the opposite wall. And there was a space where a vehicle had just been opposite the door which was flung open with tyre tracks recently cut into the damp grass, heading arrow straight towards the forest. He could see the dune buggy vanish between the bushes into the tree line and he ran to the nearest bike, turned the key in the ignition and heard the engine burst into life.

This is for Cami, he reminded himself. I am sure she wouldn't mind...

But his heart knew otherwise. His wife had been a woman who was selfless, who loved him and their son with all her heart, who helped women abused and terrified and who believed that every life mattered. And who forgave him for getting her killed.

She wouldn't want you to die, wouldn't want you to give up on life...and she wouldn't want a young woman who is a dedicated officer of BHS to be killed in your quest for vengeance.

He accelerated out of the garage, the cold air slapping his face, squinting as he surged after Dagur. He changed gear as he hit the slope and raced up, fishtailing sideways as he aimed his entry point lateral to Dagur's, trying to avoid running smack into a wall of gunfire...but as he landed on a rough trackway, the mud marked by fresh tyre tracks, he knew that Dagur was drawing him into a trap. But he sped forward, bouncing over a spur and cutting the corner of the track as he raced amid the trees, racing parallel to the track. His eyes swept the way until he saw the dune buggy, sitting abandoned, the engine still running.

Angling the bike, he burst through the brambles and hit the track, seeing the vehicle abandoned and he forced the bike after the tracks, finally feeling he was closing on his prey. Jumping over a gulley, he surged up the steep slope and then threw himself sideways as bullets ripped above his head. The bike skidded on and slammed into a tree as Dagur erupted from behind the trees and threw himself at the hitman. Rolling to avoid a blow at his head, Hiccup was up and threw himself into the terrorist, his hands closing round the man's thick neck and slamming him back to the ground. Dagur clawed at his face and Hiccup jerked his head back, finding himself thrown away.

"Where's Astrid?" he breathed heavily, never taking his eyes off the buff gangster.

"I thought she wasn't you girlfriend," Dagur taunted him. "Were you lying?"

"She's a friend," he said automatically.

"Oh-ho...so you do care about her!" he sneered. "Pity."

His heart lurched and he glanced around, trying to see where she was.

"Where is she, Dagur?" he demanded. The Berserker grinned.

"Somewhere very safe," he smirked. "And you won't find her until it's too late..."

Thank Thor she's still alive...but she may not have long.

"Where is she?" Hiccup growled. "She is literally the only thing that can save your life..." Dagur's face darkened and he snatched at his gun-even as Hiccup was already throwing himself at the man. Hands closing on Dagur's, they wrestled, falling and rolling over the damp moss, brambles slashing at their skin and mud smearing their clothes.

"I will bury you along with her!" Dagur yelled and Hiccup head-butted him, pulling away and diving behind a tree as Dagur shot at him. Drawing his gun, Hiccup snapped a couple of shots back and paused, clearing his mind. There was a fog of anger and hatred that were blunting his judgement, making him want to rip the man apart with his bare hands...but he was a professional. And he needed to do what Astrid had done-act like a professional...

Target: Dagur 'the Deranged' Oswaldson. Age 32. Son of the late Oswald Oswaldson, traitor and failed challenger for the Presidency. Head of the Berserker Criminal Empire. Wanted for about two hundred murders though no one has ever survived to testify against him. Controls an organisation that thrives on terror and specialises in murder, protection, gun and drug dealing, people trafficking, prostitution, gambling, corruption of officials, terrorism and treason. Loves soft targets especially parks, hospitals, theatres, malls... Ties to the top levels of government that remain live to this moment enabling access to covert and secure services that he should never be even aware of. And he killed my father, my mother, my wife and my son. Psych analysis describes him as a psychopath with profound sadistic tendencies. No respect for the law or for any life. Only seems care for his bitch sister. He's lived too long...

He slowed his breathing and listened, heard the man's breathing, the creak of his leather pants, the slight squeak as he shifted his weight, mentally locking onto the Berserker's location. And then he threw himself left and shot, the bullet ripping into the right side of Dagur's chest.

The man fell back, slamming against the tree behind him.

"Well that was unexpected," he commented as Hiccup rose, the gun levelled at his head. Slowly, he advanced, his eyes brilliant with hatred. It was the moment he had dreamed of, fantasised of for two years. To put a bullet between those mad, pale eyes. To silence the voice that taunted him in his nightmares. To finally avenge his beloved Cami and Sam...

...but Astrid wasn't here. And she was in definite and very immediate peril, with Dagur the only person who knew where she was. Every moment, she could be dying...and killing Dagur could condemn her to death.

Was his revenge worth that? Was killing this man to avenge those already lost worth losing Astrid?

There was no hesitation as he realised the answer.

He lowered his aim slightly, the muzzle pointing at Dagur's body, the hatred coursing through his veins but sanity gripped him tightly.

"WHERE IS SHE?" he yelled. Dagur chuckled.

"Same place as your wife," he sneered. "I'll show you...if you drop the gun." His hand was lying next to his own pistol and Hiccup shook his head.

"I will let you live if you give me Astrid's location," he breathed, the hatred in his voice almost choking his words.

"You'd give up your revenge for her?" Dagur scoffed. "Drop the gun."

"And let you shoot me? No," Hiccup snapped. He swallowed. "Give me Astrid's location."

"What are you prepared to give up?" Dagur taunted him. The hitman took a pace closer.

"You misunderstand me," he said in a toneless voice. "This isn't a negotiation. I have offered to allow you to live. But I want you to talk." The muzzle moved slightly and he fired once. Dagur screamed as his knee shattered. "Where is Astrid?"

"You can't do this!" Dagur grunted. "I am protected. You and your friends and their families will be annihilated for this! I swear that! I..."

Hiccup shot his other knee. The Berserker's howl echoed through the damp forest.

"Where is Astrid?"

"But you can't do this!" he protested. "My friends are on their way-and they will kill you all."

His elbow was next, the explosion of blood spraying a stand of bracken a yard away from the Berserker. The scream bounced off the clammy firs.

"Astrid. Where is she?"

"Where we all end up!" Dagur yelled, his words degenerating into a psychotic chuckle, eyes swinging wildly. And then he snatched at the pistol and raised it-until a bullet ripped through his wrist.

"WHERE. IS. SHE?" Hiccup said icily.

"Time's up," Dagur taunted him. "She'll be gone now."

"Then you have lived too long," Hiccup told him, lifting the muzzle. The bullet slammed straight into Dagur's heart. The man jerked, his pallid green eyes widening.

"But...you can't touch me. I was promised..." he breathed as his eyes closed and he went slack. Breathing hard, Hiccup stared at the dead man. The monster who had haunted his nightmares for so long was gone, defeated with unsatisfying ease once his organisation had been neutralised. Dagur seemed to have expected his allies to protect him and he had been surprised that no one had come to save him. And all that Hiccup felt was empty. His beloved Cami and the light of his life, his little son Sam, were still dead, his father had still spent two years dying in a coma and his Mom had been gunned down. And Dagur's death didn't alter any of that. Hiccup's life was still shattered, his heart was still smashed to pieces and he had lost everything. Dagur's death was revenge for all those hurts but it didn't alter anything. If anything, it had been too merciful.

And he knew that his father would be ashamed of him.

And then his head snapped round and he cast around for Dagur's trail, his brain snapping back into gear. Astrid was still out there-Astrid who had saved him. Astrid who had rescued him. Astrid who had sat across a table from the most feared hitman in the Archipelago and calmly made a deal. She had never failed to do what she had promised. Now he had to do what he had promised her and he sped off down the slope, following the trail. The spoor was obvious, made by one person moving fast...meaning she was further down. He hadn't heard a shot and Dagur's words seemed to indicate that she was still alive...but maybe would not be now.

He almost dropped into the deep, steep-sided gulley that he had jumped over on the bike and he stopped, seeing half the side had collapsed and a stream was soaking into the fresh fall of earth.

Where is she?

Somewhere very safe. And you won't find her until it's too late...

I will bury you along with her...

"ASTRID!" Hiccup yelled and leapt into the gully, seeing the stream soaking into the heavy, damp black soil. "Astrid..." Urgently, he began to dig with his hands, clawing away at the heavy earth, seeing the water level rise, dammed by the soil and seeping into the earth bank. "Hang on-please hang on..." He dug frantically, conscious only of his own breaths, the heavy feel of the damp earth in his hands, the trickle of the water and the wild beating of his heart.

"Astrid..." he gasped, clawing the earth aside...and suddenly, there was a movement. Frantically, he dug away, moving earth to find Astrid's mud-smeared face and seeing her brow furrow. Her golden hair was soaked with mud and her clothes were absolutely caked with the mire. Tenderly, her wiped the earth from her skin, seeing the bruise swelling her face from where Dagur must have punched her. "It's okay...I'm here..."

Her eyes fluttered and she coughed hard, starting to struggle. Unconsciously, he moved the earth to free her, seeing her hands cuffed behind her back, rendering her helpless. Gently, he slid an arm under her and pulled her up, cradling her sodden body against his.

"It's okay-you're safe," he breathed roughly. She coughed hard against him and nuzzled into his neck, feeling his arms tighten around her.

"What too you so long?" she asked hoarsely.

"You know me...stopped for a snack, had a chat, killed Dagur..." he said lightly.

"Good," she growled as he gently helped her up, then pulled out his pistol and shot through the chain between the cuffs. His hand gently cupped her face and stared into her eyes.

"Are you okay?" he asked her gently.

"What is it with him and burying people?" she asked, wiping more earth from her face. "I think he meant for no one to find me...or for you to get to me too late..." He carefully helped her out of the gulley, clambering up the steep sides of the gulley, mud smearing all over them as they finally reached the ground level.

"Don't know...but he can find out what it's like now...not that he will know," he murmured, taking her hand as he saw her hesitate.

"You did it," she said in a distant voice. "Now go. ASS are on their way and you did what you promised. I just need to ask you one question..." His eyebrows raised. "Is it Huzaifah?"

"What?" I mean...is that even a name?" he spluttered, searching her face and seeing her lips curl in a small smile.

"Yup. Arabic. It means 'small sheep'," she told him with a hint of her usual determination.

"Oh-you think I look like a small sheep?" he teased her, feeling her hand tighten on his.

"More like a giant mole," she pointed out, gesturing at his incredibly muddy appearance.

"Right back at you," he retorted lightly, "and no." The walked a few more paces before she took a deep breath.

"By the way...thank you for saving my life," she murmured.

"I think you're still ahead in the score," he reminded her as she shook her head with a smile.

"I think we're quits," she said and looked up, her blue eyes meeting his emerald gaze and noting there was a new light in that stunning green gaze. "Now I just have to persuade Director Jorgensen to write out the cheque for four hundred thousand dollars..."

"FREEZE!"

The pair looked up-to see eight men in black suits and shades, their pistols levelled at the two. Both slowly raised their hands as Hiccup carefully dropped his gun to the earth with a loud thud.

"Boy, he really doesn't want to write that cheque," he murmured dryly. "I think we may be in trouble."