Author's Note: I repeat, don't read this last part if you want a happy ending. Don't make me say 'I told you so'.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the Guardians or How to Train Your Dragon.

By My Hand

Part 3

"Jackson Overland."

Hiccup joined in the modest applause as he watched the white-haired man ascend the stage to receive his degree. It was hard to believe that almost two years had passed since Jack had been released from prison and returned to college. Between his studies and Hiccup's new teaching job, they had managed to find time for each other and kept up their relationship. They'd even agreed to move in together once Jack had graduated, and they were planning on settling down in one of the small wheelchair friendly houses in Hiccup's old neighborhood.

It was late in the afternoon by the time the ceremony ended, and Jack wasted no time in getting himself to his boyfriend's side, eager to take him out to celebrate. "Hey babe," he greeted the brunet with an affectionate peck on the lips. "You ready to go?"

"Don't you want to change out of that first?" Hiccup gestured to his graduation gown.

Jack's eyebrows rose mischievously. "Is that an invitation, Mr. Haddock?"

Swatting his arm playfully, Hiccup was about to start wheeling his way over to the parking lot when he heard one of Jack's friends wishing him all the best in his new job placement. "What was that about?" he asked after the other graduate had left.

"I was going to surprise you after dinner, but I guess the cat's out of the bag," Jack admitted with a defeated smile. "Remember the internship I did with that accounting firm over the summer? I applied for a job there, went for a couple of interviews last month, and here's the bad news: I start work next week."

"That's great, Jack! I'm so happy for you!" Hiccup laughed excitedly, reaching forward to hug him tightly.

"Yeah, well, I couldn't have done it without your support." Jack blushed modestly and knelt down to the brunet's level to return the embrace. "Now come on, let's head out and celebrate, my treat. What would you like?"

Hiccup pretended to think for a moment as he pulled away. "Ice-cream?"

"God, I love you."

With a heavy heart, Jack sighed at the message typed out on the screen of his phone before pressing the 'send' button. He hoped Hiccup would understand; accountancy firms tended to become a madhouse at the end of every month, and even though he had been working there for less than a year, he'd found himself doing overtime more often than he'd like. Tonight was no exception, but he had planned to take Hiccup out on a dinner date at his favorite restaurant. With everyone in the office still hard at work - not to mention his boss watching them like a hawk - Jack had little choice but to cancel. He looked at his phone when it vibrated with a response.

:: That's okay. Maybe next time ::

:: I'll make it up to you, I promise. Lunch next week? ::

:: Sounds good. I'll see you at home ::

:: Don't wait up. I love you ::

:: Love you too, Snowflake ::

Smiling tiredly, Jack went back to work.

Hiccup looked up at the sound of a vehicle passing through the elementary school's gates and wheeled himself to the main foyer just as Jack pulled up in front of him.

"Have you been waiting long?" Jack asked, giving him a quick kiss in greeting before helping him inside the car. He was on probation given his previous record, but since he was living with an amputee, he was allowed to drive in order to send his disabled partner wherever he needed to go.

"Only a few minutes..." Hiccup trailed off with a frown, having tasted something foreign on his boyfriend's lips. His eyes widened in shock when he recognized what it was. "Have you been drinking?" he demanded.

Jack winced at the accusing look on Hiccup's face. "It's not what you think!" he denied hurriedly, trying to assure the brunet. "My boss just got a promotion, so he bought a few bottles of wine to share with the office. I only had one glass before coming to pick you up. That's all, I swear!"

Sighing, Hiccup reached out and took his hand, squeezing it lightly. "It's okay," he said with a relieved smile. "I trust you."

"I'm sorry for worrying you," Jack apologized, kissing him on the forehead. Folding up the wheelchair, he put it away in the backseat before driving them out for lunch.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Jack exhaled heavily as he rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck. It was another late night in the office, and he had just texted Hiccup to go to bed without him.

Sometimes he wondered why he chose to work in this lousy company. If he was honest with himself, it was a shitty job with an even shittier boss. The internship hadn't been too bad, but now that he was one of them, it seemed as if everybody had an excuse to start dumping their workload on him. Being at the bottom of the corporate food chain, there wasn't much he could do but roll up his sleeves, pick up the slack, and point fingers whenever people started hounding him for late work which someone else was supposed to have gotten done.

The only upside was the pay. With his salary together with Hiccup's generous wages as a teacher, they were able to live comfortably. But that wasn't enough for Jack, who was still plagued with guilt over the accident which had cost his boyfriend half a limb. Hiccup had helped him to get back on his feet after prison, and he wanted to repay him by surprising him with a prosthetic. Those things cost a bomb, and that wasn't including the extra physiotherapy sessions needed to help the brunet walk again. Saving for all the expenses would take a while, but this job was Jack's ticket in making it happen. The least he could do was suck it up and make his suffering worthwhile.

'For Hiccup' he told himself. Cracking his knuckles, Jack squinted at the computer screen and resumed typing.

Soft rock music played from the speakers of the alarm radio on the bedside table, stirring the sleeping figure on the large bed. Groaning, Hiccup pried his eyes open and rolled away from the sunlight spilling through the window. He frowned at the sight of the untouched half of the bed, and he immediately knew that Jack had pulled another all nighter at the office.

He hadn't said anything to the other man yet, but he was getting worried. As much as Jack tried to hide it, it was obvious that his job was stressing him out. At first things had been okay, but then the number of cancelled dates started to increase, and Jack started to come home later and later, sometimes not at all. Hiccup was barely seeing his boyfriend anymore, and he was beginning to miss him terribly.

It wasn't Jack's fault though. They both knew his job was demanding and time consuming, and Jack had often complained about his slave driver of a boss. When he did get a chance to stay home, he spent every waking moment of it with Hiccup, watching TV with him or simply cuddling on the couch. And despite his busy schedule, he always made sure to send Hiccup to and from the elementary school, even though he couldn't stay with him after dropping him home. Hiccup had to admire Jack's tenacity, but he didn't know how much more the white-haired man could take before he finally snapped.

Somehow, he had a feeling he was about to find out soon enough.

The sound of a key being inserted into the lock made Hiccup look up from his book, and his face broke into a wide smile when he realized that Jack had returned home. Granted, it was nearly midnight, but tomorrow was Saturday and they had the whole weekend to look forward to.

"Hey, did you manage to finish your reports -" Hiccup froze when Jack practically staggered into their bedroom, reeking of alcohol. "Jack, are you drunk?" he gasped in horror.

"M'not... Only had a few..." the white-haired man slurred, leaning against the door frame for support. "Colleague's birthday... Went out to celebrate..."

Hiccup bit his lip uneasily, not sure of what to do. Part of him was afraid that Jack had returned to his drinking habits during his college days before the accident, but another desperately hoped that tonight was a one-off thing. All those times he came home late, it was because he had been working hard in the office... right? Jack wouldn't lie to him, they both knew how much drinking meant to each other, and they didn't need a repeat of the past.

"Just - Just go take a shower and come to bed, alright?" Hiccup said quietly, not noticing the way his book started to tremble in his hands. He swallowed hard when Jack nodded and made his way to the bathroom, and he let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.

Couples fought all the time, but nothing could have prepared Jack for the biggest argument with the love of his life. To be fair, he wasn't completely sober during the fight, but that didn't mean Hiccup had to throw things at him. He barely managed to dodge a few magazines sailing in his direction before one managed to land a direct hit on his face.

"I can't believe you!" Hiccup screamed at him, reaching for another book and hurling it at his insensitive dumbass of a boyfriend. "You promised me you'd never come home drunk again!"

"So I had a couple of drinks after work, big deal!" Jack yelled back in frustration. "I don't get why you're so upset! You're the one who keeps saying I need to relax more!"

"Not like this! You know what would happen if you were ever caught drunk driving again! Just quit your stupid job and find another one!"

"I can't!"

"Why the hell not? It's making you - It's making us miserable!"

"I - That's none of your business! I have my reasons, okay?"

Tempers were rising fast, and things were quickly spiraling out of control. Jack felt a twinge of guilt at keeping secrets from Hiccup, but all the pent up stress from his job coupled with Hiccup's constant nagging for him to resign just made him lose it. Apparently the brunet had enough as well and started to wheel his way to the front door, saying something about crashing at a friend's place for the night.

Jack sighed in resignation, calming down somewhat. "Okay, I'll drive you -"

"Not in your state, you're not! I don't trust you not to crash us in the middle of the road," Hiccup shot back tartly, refusing to even look at him as he made his way out.

In a burst of anger, Jack slammed a fist against the wall and panted for breath, seething quietly. The front door was left wide open after Hiccup's departure, and in a split-second decision, Jack grabbed his keys before heading for his car, intending to get a drink to forget the past hour.

How could things have gotten this bad? Was it his fault? Did he screw up with his soul mate again?

A mixture of regret, sadness and frustration bubbled in his chest as he drove towards the bar, and his vision began to grow blurry as tears started welling up in his eyes. Every single thing he did, he had done it for Hiccup. So why had it backfired on him like this? Dizzy and confused, Jack choked out a sob and leaned his forehead against the steering wheel, unaware that he had inadvertently switched lanes and crossed over to the wrong side of the road.

He felt so tired, and he just wanted to sleep and never wake up again, but then there was this loud honking sound in front of him, and bright white lights -

"- accident along Bork Avenue last night, where a blue Sedan and a taxi were involved in a head-on collision. Two casualties have been reported so far, leaving the cab driver as the only survivor of the crash..."

Author's Note: I told you so. *runs away*