((Hey! Thanks for coming to read~ this is just a short fic without a major point to it. Just writing it for the sake of writing it. Fluff, I guess? Anyways, I'm not going to be putting a lot of pairing stuff into it. I know Mako and Korra hook up, but I'm not really into the show for the pairings. I love the bromances and friendships~ lol

Anyways, enough of my chattering~ Here you go!))

. . .

Despite the incredibly recent stress and the fact that Korra ran away from here in the first place, she enjoyed the visit home. She had reveled in the challenges and experiences she was faced with in Republic City, able to stave off the homesickness she had been feeling. At least, most of the time. At the moment, it was great to see her parents again. She felt a little bad for her terrible mood recently, and not showing as much happiness as she should have when seeing them. Now that her stress was alleviated from her bending returning to her, she felt unrestrained in making up for it.

Not to mention that it was fun having her parents meet her new friends. They were all important to Korra, deserving their hospitality and family activities. Sometimes… Korra could see the longing in Mako's eyes as he spent time among her parents. It was easy to tell that he direly missed what he lost ten years ago. Korra was fine with sharing her parents. But it wouldn't ever really be the same. Asami was a little sullen at times, though she did enjoy herself overall. It was just that the estrangement of her father was still fresh.

Bolin, however, was now having an excellent time. He enjoyed the home cooking, the over-abundance of snow, and even being given the chance to borrow a polar bear dog for a while to ride around on. Although it wasn't incredibly well trained by people following Korra's example, the animal managed to not throw Bolin off too many times. And though Korra could tell that he missed his own parents, he was definitely unrestrained in showing his joy over being around Senna and Tonraq. The couple were used to having the 'enthusiasm' of five children crammed into their only child, so three extras weren't that hard.

It was a bit disappointing to everyone that they were leaving in a week and a half. Besides Tenzin and his family, who needed to return on their sky bison a few days prior. She couldn't help but hope that the ship would get stuck on the way over. The ice was still breaking up, making it hard for the ships to come to the closer port. There was the farther port, but they weren't in that much of a rush. One more week or so wouldn't matter.

At least, not yet.

It started with a bit of a flush on his cheeks, as if from fever. The region they were in was cold, though, so it was equated to the cold. Then he grew a bit quiet at times, as his appetite also decreased. Then he began to shiver. Even in a warm room.

It truly became apparent that Bolin was sick on the day that he collapsed. Mako had noticed Bolin's declining state, keeping an eye on him despite his reassurances that he was absolutely fine. Korra and Asami didn't really pick up on it until Mako gave a passing remark about how he was acting rather…. un-Bolin-ish. They were instantly convinced when Bolin suddenly went limp and fell to the side at dinner. He had been very quiet, only picking at his food up until that point. Then his gaze grew a bit hazy and distant. Before anyone could notice and stop it, he was on the floor.

"Bo!" Mako shouted in heavy concern, wide-eyed and in a panic as he rushed over to his brother's side. Korra and Asami gave Bolin a bit of room to breath as Senna came forward to check on him.

She felt his forehead, easily declaring, "He has a serious fever. Tonraq, please bring Katara!"

As her husband rushed out into the cold night, Mako and Korra together helped carefully move Bolin to Korra's bed in the other room. They had been staying elsewhere close by while visiting, since Korra's home was a bit small, but that didn't matter right now. He needed to lay down on a more comfortable surface than the floor right now.

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Korra tried to reassure Mako. "It's probably just a nasty cold."

Mako didn't respond, just staring down at his brother as Pabu came up to cuddle by Bolin's neck. The earth-bender's breathing was raspy and labored, as he had a pained expression. Senna and Asami waited at the front door for help to arrive while Mako and Korra stayed by Bolin's side.

It almost felt like a year had passed before Katara entered the room. Korra breathed a sigh of relief, though Mako couldn't help but remain worried.

"I heard about what happened. Let me take a look at him," she said, joining them. Everyone gave her space as she checked Bolin. She took note of his temperature, how his pupils responded to light, how his breathing sounded, and the appearance of the back of his throat.

Senna had brought a bowl of water for her, assuming that the healing Waterbender could use it. Katara did in fact use it, keeping cold water around her hand on Bolin's forehead. "I know what this is…" she quietly let out, looking too serious for comfort. "He managed to catch an infection in his throat. I thought that the small epidemic here was done for, and sent the apothecary doctor back home to Republic City. It seems that it lingered."

"Is it something we can just treat with Waterbending?" Korra asked.

Katara solemnly shook her head. "Waterbending can alleviate the pain. But he needs medicine and treatment. And we ran out of the bit the doctor left behind recently. He also left the South Pole to retrieve more supplies. He isn't expected back in the area for another two to three weeks."

"How long… how long can we wait to get the medicine? Will the ship get here in time to take us back?" Mako hurriedly asked.

"It's unlikely. He needs the medicine and a doctor as soon as possible. Most likely, this infection itself can't kill him. The complications of it going untreated, however, can do much worse," she answered.

Korra bit her lip, staring at Bolin. Tenzin… Why couldn't you stick around to visit for just a little while longer? We could have flown him back…

But it wasn't his fault, and it did no good to dwell on the what-ifs. Now they had to focus on what to do. Korra knew the best option, though no one else would like it.

"So what do we do? What if he….." Mako trailed off, unable to finish his question. There were so many things that would happen, and thinking of all of the possibilities killed him inside.

"Isn't it obvious? He needs to be taken to the open port, and onto a ship to Republic City," Korra confidently spoke up.

"Korra, that's a four day trip on foot," her mother responded.

"That long? Are you crazy, Korra?" Mako let out after hearing that. "There's no way we could risk that trip. We can't take him four days through the cold!"

The young Avatar felt a bit frustrated, and even upset, that Mako spoke to her like that. She made herself disregard it, though, knowing that he was just very concerned for his little brother. "That's why I didn't say 'we' when I suggested it. I'll take him. He and I will ride Naga, and cut that time down by half with only the two of us on her, maybe even less," she replied.

"Both of you alone? Through the frigid weather and frozen land? That doesn't sit right with me at all," Mako protested again.

"What do you mean 'both of you alone'? You have a problem with the two of us traveling?"

"No, it's not that! It's just too dangerous! There are wolves out there! It gets way below freezing at night!"

"I know that, Mako, I live here! I know how to handle it!"

"You personally do, but can you handle yourself and a sick person?"

Senna cut into their conversation before the argument escalated. "Katara, what do you think?" she quickly asked, silencing the two youths.

Katara went silent, looking away as she thought. "Honestly… Korra's idea is the best chance that Bolin has right now. It has its risks, but I trust her. Bolin can't afford to wait another week or two," she said.

"… I just think it's too risky," Mako said. "Two days of rough travel in the cold with hungry, wild animals lurking about… It's not safe, especially with Bolin so weakened." Bolin was his little brother, so he believed he had the ultimate say.

"So what you're saying is you'd rather watch him die here," Asami harshly stated, looking towards the ill Earthbender. She flinched, looking away awkwardly.

Everyone turned to see Bolin was awake, listening to what they had been saying.

"Hey, Bo," Mako quietly and tenderly said. "How are you feeling?"

"… I'll go with Korra," he hoarsely let out.

Mako's brow furrowed at that. "I don't think that's the best idea. You need to rest, not be jostled around in the cold," he responded.

"I can do it… I can handle it…" Bolin weakly insisted.

"Bo…"

"Trust Korra… We can do this… I'm strong…" he slowly let out, though it was hard to believe him, with how terrible he sounded.

Mako looked to Korra with a pained expression as Bolin closed his eyes.

"Believe in me. And more importantly, believe in him," Korra tried to convince him without pushing too hard.

Senna was about to speak up for her daughter, but was silenced by her husband placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. This was between friends.

After a long pause, Mako finally responded. "Alright. I'm putting my trust in you to take good care of him."

Korra nodded. "We'll leave early in the morning," she said. The young Avatar left the room with her mother to start preparing for the trip. Katara followed to provide some extra advice.

Asami looked to Mako as he sat by his brother's bedside. Despite everyone's reassurances, he couldn't dispel the look of severe worry from his face as he watched Bolin sleep a bit restlessly. She approached Mako quietly, restraining herself from touching him. She didn't know what was acceptable in terms of interactions, now that it was over between them. Their friendship was a bit strained, but it would never truly break.

"Korra will safely take him to the open port. They'll board the ship back to Republic City, and she'll get him the help he needs. I know she will," Asami softly said.

"I wish… I could go with them… Waiting for the nearest port to reopen is going to be agonizing. I don't think that we've ever been separated for that long," he sighed.

"Well, maybe Korra can have Tenzin come back with Oogi, and take us back early. You… might want to suggest that to her, though. She tends to get over-focused on immediate tasks," Asami chuckled.

Mako cracked a slight smile. "I bet once Tenzin knows what's going on, he'll do it. But it's worth mentioning," he said.

Asami nodded, looking to Bolin.

This wasn't going to be easy on either of the brothers.