A/N: This oneshot takes on the feelings of four characters (Katara, Zuko, Toph, and Sokka) after the fall of Ba Sing Se. It's a little long, but it didn't feel right to chop it up into chapters.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

She didn't even realize he was there until she turned around. It was all one swift movement – she turned to head back to camp, and suddenly his hand was covering her mouth and a sword was pressed against her throat.

"Don't move, don't say anything!" Zuko's voice hissed in her ear. "I'm walking away, and you're coming with me. Ah-ah-ah, no waterbending for now," he added, seeing her reach for her waterskin. He pulled it from her hip and flung it into the trees.

All Katara could do was glare at him, even though he couldn't even see her face. Before, she might have considered struggling against him, knowing that the others could always come to her rescue, and with it looking like Zuko was alone, they could easily take him. But she held her temper now – Aang was much too weak for her to fight with Zuko; he wouldn't make it through another attack from the Fire Nation royal. So she let herself be pulled farther and farther away from Toph and the sight of their campfire.

Finally, Zuko stopped in a small clearing. The near-full moon illuminated the two benders and the grass in the clearing, but the power of the moon couldn't help Katara to bend if she had no water. Zuko relaxed his hold on her mouth and on the sword across her neck and she jerked away from him.

"What do you want?" she snarled at him. She had not forgotten their last encounter – she never could. She would never forget the awesome fear that had filled her when she saw the lightning fly from Princess Azula's fingertips and hit Aang in the middle of his back. She would never forget the sinking disappointment when she realized that Zuko was fighting alongside his sister, and against Katara and Aang.

"I need your help." Zuko replied. He struggled to keep his composure. What he was doing was not easy at all – it was taking him all his self-control not to lose his temper, and even more not to break down in weakness. He made his voice brisk. "Word on the street is that the Avatar's alive and well – despite his recent encounter with my sister."

Katara was silent, fuming at him. Had word really gotten out that quickly? She wasn't sure if that was good or bad – on one hand, the fact would give hope to not only the residents of Ba Sing Se that had thought that the Avatar was dead, but to the rest of the world. It would also show the Fire Nation that Aang could not be easily beaten. On the other hand, the Fire Nation now knew that Aang was out there somewhere, weak and near-death. They would surely try to find him if she clarified his statement. So she said nothing.

Zuko acknowledged her silence. "He should have been killed after a blow like that. But still, he's healed." Still Katara said nothing, and Zuko continued. "I need to know who healed him."

"Why?" Katara snapped, defensive.

Zuko paused, then took a deep breath. "It's my uncle – General Iroh. He… he's badly injured." He was stammering now, and he hated himself for it. "Look, he's near death… I'd try anything to help him at this point… I need to know who healed the Avatar. A powerful healer like that could heal my uncle as well."

Katara held her guard, but she did feel a twinge of sadness for the older man who had helped her escape with Aang during the battle in the crystal caves. "I thought he was a traitor to the Fire Nation – why are you helping him?" she asked, anger still in her voice.

"He helped me become who I am today – he's more of a father to me than my real father ever was…" Zuko couldn't believe he was opening up to her like this again. What was it about this Water Tribe peasant that made him feel like he could pour out his entire heart and soul to her, and she would understand? "Look, I might not have done what he wanted me to do, but he's family."

Katara wasn't quite satisfied yet. "How did he get so injured? When I left he had just surrendered."

Zuko looked at the ground, as if searching for words. Katara suddenly realized he wasn't the haughty, proud prince of just a few months earlier. Living as a refugee had humbled him.

"It was Azula…" Zuko admitted. "She tortured him…"

Katara's sad feeling changed to one of horror. The Fire Nation royal family was known all over the world as being a crazy one – everyone knew of the cruel, calculating, and power-hungry Fire Lord Ozai, the strange disappearance of his wife, and the tale of the poor exiled, scarred Prince Zuko. But Princess Azula was a story unto herself – legendary for her cruelty as well as her awesome fighting and bending skills and razor-sharp mind. Having encountered and fought with the princess, Katara personally thought she was crazy, but torturing your own uncle had to be classified as pure insanity and malice.

Now, however, Zuko had resumed his confidant stance. He stepped closer to Katara and got in her face. "I need to know who healed the Avatar. Tell me who it is!" His tone was threatening, but Katara didn't back down. He supposed he had threatened her so many times before now that she was used to it.

Katara made the decision to tell him in a split second. "I did."

Zuko was taken aback. "What? You?-"

Katara's fury was back. She remembered how she almost wasted her precious water from the Spirit Oasis on him. To think what would have happened to Aang had she not had anything to help him. She said angrily, "I'm a waterbender – I have healing abilities, remember? I used my abilities to heal him, and then Aang's Avatar power kicked in and did the rest."

Zuko was still in shock, but he still felt his amount of respect for the waterbender rise. He had always known she was a gifted bender; she had proved it by beating him at the North Pole, and in their fight below Ba Sing Se. There didn't seem to be much that this girl couldn't do. He hadn't known her healing powers were so developed; otherwise, he might have been a bit hastier to have her attempt to heal his scar, back down in the caves.

"Well, will you help me- him?" Zuko asked, correcting himself.

"Why should I?" Katara spat at him, turning away.

Zuko smiled gently at her temper tantrum. "Well, not only because I know the location of yourself and the earthbender, two great friends of the Avatar, whom I'm sure would be willing to trade his life for your own, but I had also expected that you would want to, seeing as how this man helped you escape from Ba Sing Se."

Damn. He had her there. Katara simply couldn't let him die. She turned around slowly to face Zuko. "How do you expect to get him out here?"

Zuko smiled in relief, thankful. "Well, actually I was planning to bring you in there to him."

Katara gasped. "You want me to go into a city full of firebenders?"

"Ye-es… and into the palace dungeon, where my uncle is." Zuko said, very aware of how much she was not going to like this.

Katara simply gaped at him. No way was she going to do that. But wait – if Zuko could get her secretly in and out of the palace, surely she would be able to spy on Azula and the new Fire Nation occupation there? It was worth a try, and as much as she hated Zuko at the moment, she knew she was forever indebted to Iroh for what he had done. She took a deep breath.

"Alright – but it's not for you!" She said angrily to Zuko. "This is for your uncle, who's a good man. If you're lucky, you'll be half the man he is."

Zuko was angered at the comment, but decided not to push his luck with her agreement. He knew he had to say it, and he steeled himself to just blurt it out – "Thank you."

By the time Zuko and Katara were well on their way to Ba Sing Se, Toph had begun panicking.

"Oh crap – not good, not good!" she wailed. "Katara!" she called out again desperately. "KATARA!"

She was greeted by silence. She knew Katara wouldn't play this trick on her – Aang or Sokka would maybe, but not Katara. Toph couldn't see anyone in the surrounding area, couldn't feel any vibrations at all. Wait, that wasn't true – someone was approaching from the direction of the refugee encampment – and from the vibration of the swaggering walk, she could tell it was Sokka, approaching to relieve herself and Katara of their duty. Toph groaned. Could this scenario be any worse?

Zuko and Katara were quickly approaching the great earthen walls of Ba Sing Se. They had traveled mostly in silence. They were both riding ostrich-horses – it was the first time Katara had ever ridden one, and she was a little nervous. But she would never let Zuko see. She was just thankful he had brought two – she didn't think she could stand riding on the same one as him. She liked staying as far away from him as she could, though he wouldn't let her stray too far for fear she was trying to escape… yet there was also a part of her that wanted to be very near to him.

As the city wall approached in the distance, Katara was the one to break the silence. "You know, your uncle wouldn't be in this predicament if you had trusted him instead of your sister." she admonished quietly.

Zuko said nothing, but she saw his shoulders hunch in anger at her comment. It was minutes later before he said anything at all. "You know, I haven't met very many waterbenders, but from what I've heard about them, you're not like them at all."

"Oh!?" Katara snapped, her temper rising. "What's that supposed to mean!?"

Zuko kept his composure, an impressive feat. "I just mean that you really seem to have the temper of a firebender. From what I've heard, waterbenders are supposed to be compassionate and forgiving, but you've still got a grudge against me."

Zuko realized it was a weak argument as soon as the words left his mouth. Katara rode her steed in front of his, and stopped, forcing him to stop riding and look at her.

"How dare you stereotype me." Her voice was low and angrier than he had ever heard it. "How dare you even ask me for help. You betrayed me – you betrayed us all!" She didn't want to bring up their conversation from the caves, but it appeared she had no choice. "You – you still don't know anything about me, so don't think our little encounter in the caves means you can just speak to me as if the past few months never happened, as if you had never chased us around the world, and threatened our lives on a day-to-day basis, and hurt those I love!" Katara couldn't believe how angry she was. There were thousands of things she could reprimand him for, but she stopped herself. She turned her ostrich-horse and continued riding. "I thought maybe – just maybe – I might have figured you out, just a little. But you always have to go and be someone else – someone who is letting the expectations of others run their life."

Zuko was silent, thinking. He knew she was right – he did always let what his father wanted, and what his sister wanted, and what his nation expected of him, get in the way of what he felt was right. Uncle had even told him that. He was also surprised that he didn't react angrily to her cold accusations. There was something about her that was genuine and true, something that made him see the truth, even if it took himself a while to accept it.

Once they had reached the wall, Katara again spoke. "And I am a forgiving person – I forgive those who I can trust and love, those who don't stab me in the back." Her eyes were glistening with tears.

Sokka sat next to Toph by the remaining embers of the fire. He looked at the little girl sitting next to him – she stared blankly ahead, her chin resting on her knees, her arms wrapped around herself. She was upset, he could tell, even though she would never lose it in front of him, or for that matter, anyone.

"It's not your fault, Toph. Really, it isn't." Sokka said softly. We've all been stressed and tired these days…"

"I'm so sorry, Sokka… I don't know what happened… I guess I just fell asleep for one minute, and then when I woke up, she was gone, and I couldn't see her anywhere." Toph buried her head in her hands, fearing for her friend, wherever she was.

Sokka sighed. He was angry at her. But Toph was such a baby sometimes – she really shouldn't have had to be held responsible for Katara's disappearance. Hours earlier, when he had come to the little watch-guard site to relieve Katara and Toph, he had started freaking out when he realized no one knew where his little sister was. The entire camp of refugees had started a massive search for Katara, with little results. The search party had, in fact, discovered her waterskin, abandoned, but had not informed her older brother of this for fear he would get a massive panic-attack.

Sokka sighed. "Don't worry about it, Toph. I'm sure she's fine." He lied, more for himself than for Toph. "We'll find her in the morning."

"Would you be angrier at me if I could see?"

Sokka was always taken aback at Toph's bluntness about her lack of sight. "No, of course not." He said. "Look, we're all tired – you didn't do anything wrong…"

"I just feel as though I've been more of a hindrance than a help to this group." Toph said sadly. "I mean, like when we lost Appa… Sometimes I wonder if it would be better if I weren't blind. I mean, I've never been really angry that I couldn't see, because I've always had earthbending. But, now I'm traveling the world, and I'd love to see things… especially friends when they're walking away from me!"

Sokka smiled weakly, then remembered to laugh gently, because Toph couldn't see his smile. He really was worried. They had so much to worry about – Aang's health, the comet coming at the end of the summer, the fall of Ba Sing Se into the Fire Nations' hands, and now Katara. He glanced up at the near-full moon, and silently asked Yue to protect his sister, wherever she was.

The moon was beautiful that night. But Toph still couldn't see it. She also couldn't see the sad look on Sokka's face, even though she knew it was there. And that was why this was one of those times she was wishing for eyesight.

Zuko silently led Katara down into the palace dungeons. She was reminded of her last stay here – even though she had been a guest in the palace, once Azula had taken control of the place, she had been chained up and questioned by Azula and her cronies Ty Lee and Mai. She shuddered, remembering the awful feeling of helplessness. As they walked on, Katara noticed the absence of any Fire Nation guards, or even worse, Dai Li members. As if reading her thoughts, Zuko spoke up. "I made sure this area would be empty for a few hours – an organized scheduling mishap, if you will. I'm hoping it'll give you enough time to do what you have to."

"That'll be fine…" Katara realized he spoke as if he was going to take her back after she was done – releasing a key bargaining chip. However, with a traitor like Zuko, she couldn't be sure. She decided to not yet bring it up, but wait and see. Katara could hardly believe the banished prince would forfeit any chance of capturing the Avatar.

Suddenly, Zuko stopped in front of a cell door, and brought a key out from a pocket in his robe. He slid the key into the lock, and Katara heard a moan come from inside the cell. She prepared herself for what she might see, but she still bristled at the sight of Zuko's beaten, bruised, and burned uncle Iroh, the man who had once been a great general. It was difficult to believe that the man the Fire Nation had once proudly dubbed the "Dragon of the West" was now a considered a traitor to his homeland.

Katara stood in the doorway as Zuko knelt down next to his uncle and spoke to him. "Uncle? Uncle, it's Zuko. I've brought you help." Zuko's heart sank at the slight frown that crossed his uncle's face at the mention of his name. Iroh squinted through bruised eyes at his nephew, but was too weak to say anything.

"Just hold on… You'll make it through this." Zuko said, his voice breaking. He realized Katara had come to stand next to him.

"I'll do all I can for him." She said, with real caring in her voice. Their fight from earlier was forgotten for now. She knelt down next to the limp form of Iroh, suddenly brisk. "I'll need water." she said to Zuko. He looked at her blankly. "For healing?" she pressed on.

"Oh, of course, yeah…" Zuko left, returning with a jar of water for Katara's purposes. "Will this be enough?"

"For now," she said, and got down to work.

Toph had been thinking a lot ever since the group had left Ba Sing Se. For someone who had just learned how to bend metal, helped rescue her friends, and save the Earth King (and his bear), she was being uncharacteristically hard on herself.

I should have done more, she thought, after settling down in her earth tent (Sokka had requested she get some rest). I should have fought harder, lasted longer. I should have done more to help save the Earth Kingdom. And now it's gone…

Toph shook herself mentally. What was she doing? She was always confident in everything she did, whether or not others thought she could have done more or not. What was her problem? It was Katara's disappearance, she realized. Katara walked right our from under me, and now I don't know what I can do.

Toph reached down in the darkness and clenched a handful or earth. It was hard earth, but in her small hand it was crushed to dust. This was like therapy to the earthbender. Knowing she had power over the earth, that it cooperated with her, always made her feel more confident. Toph took a deep breath, determined to shake this feeling of helplessness.

She was beginning to feel better. Think of all you can do, she told herself. You're an accomplished earthbender at only 12 years old. You're traveling the world with the best friends you've ever had, and they respect you, both as a fighter, and as a person – something you've never had before. And now you've learned to bend metal – only the world's greatest earthbenders have ever learned to do that!

Toph was definitely feeling better. Regaining the sort-of cockiness she always had, she pushed away her feelings of anxiety. Katara's smart and resourceful, she thought. She can get out of anything. She'll be fine…

Katara wiped her brow with the back of her hand and sat back against the cell wall. Zuko, who had been pacing behind her for the last half-hour, now advanced and knelt next to his uncle, who was still unconscious.

"He looks much better," he admitted. Seconds of silence passed. "Thank you."

Katara nodded. "You're welcome," she answered, truly happy she had done the good deed, but still strained from the intense concentration healing burns and cuts that bad had taken. Zuko was looking at her, concern on his face. "I'm fine," she said, before he could say anything. "But I've been wondering… how are you planning to explain this to your sister?"

Zuko opened his mouth to answer, then closed it. Truthfully, he hadn't realized that his Uncle's burns would be gone after the healing process. Of course Azula would notice the next time she paid a visit to their uncle. Katara was looking at him in scornful disbelief.

Zuko formed a quick plan in his head. "I can just take him with us – he can stay at our apartment until he's well enough to leave the city."

Katara was not yet satisfied. "But how are you going to get him out of here?"

"You don't have to worry about that. All you have to worry about right now is if I can get you out of here without being seen or not. The changing of the guards is supposed to be any minute now."

Zuko's words made Katara start to panic, but she never let it reach her face. Instead, she followed Zuko quickly out of the dungeons. They moved quickly and stealthily, back through the palace (Katara saw nothing she thought could be informative to the Earth King), and out onto the dark, empty streets of Ba Sing Se.

Katara thought it was rather chivalrous (and totally uncharacteristic) of Zuko to take her right back to the place where he had first caught her – right near the camp's watch post. He said nothing the entire way back – not of his choices, nor his family. She did not ask him about nor accuse him of anything. They had reached an understanding, but it was an extremely odd understanding, as it was the fact that they would perhaps never understand each other, no matter how many meetings destiny gave them.

It was time to part ways. Zuko turned to Katara, his eyes soft, and looking at the ground. He waited, and then: "Thank you – he would have died-"

"It was nothing." Katara's gentle tone made him look up. Perhaps she was more forgiving than Zuko had originally thought. She longed to say more, but couldn't find the words. Instead, she backed away, keeping her eyes on him, and they said all that her mouth could not. Finally, she had slipped out of the forest, and he could no longer see her. She was gone.

Hope you liked it! Get hyped for the premiere of the third season!

Please read and review! - thanks, Terra.