A.N. Part 2 of what is now a 3-Part One-Shot. Thank you for reading and reviewing! I hope it's alright.

Bolin's body feels like it's on fire. Every muscle in it seems like it's been stretched out and flayed then crammed back under his skin. His brain feels like it's trying to beat its way out of his skull and the edges of his vision are getting hazy. He's pretty sure the distance between where they wrecked and Zaofu has somehow gotten longer, because it definitely wasn't this far on the way there. He's reached the point of exhaustion and then some, but he doesn't slow down, because every second counts.

Asami's crouched down at Mako's side next to him. Right now, she's holding his brother as steady as she can. She'd taken her jacket off and Bolin had slowed down long enough to toss her his own and now she's using them both to try and staunch the flow of blood seeping around the jagged metal edges in Mako's midsection. Bolin hopes that his brother's closed eyes means he's unconscious, because he knows this isn't the smoothest ride even in the best of circumstances.

Bolin can't spare them much attention though, because it's taking everything he's got just to keep moving forward as fast as he can-which isn't nearly as fast as he'd like. He's starting to wonder if maybe he's been heading the wrong way to get to Zaofu when he spots a familiar metal dome peaking out on the horizon.

"Almost there," he breaths, relieved. He feels a spike of energy propel him forward even faster now with his goal in sight.

Even with his muscles pumping full tilt and his breath coming out in ragged gasps, it feels like ages before they finally make it to the city edge. It feels like even longer before they reach a landing platform for the railway system that can take them into one of the enclosed domes. Two men are standing guard outside the entrance, looking ready for a fight.

"Halt!" One of them, the shorter of the two, shouts before they're 20 paces away. "State your business!"

Bolin can barely suck enough air into his abused lungs to keep breathing, let alone speak. Luckily, Asami's there to take charge. "We're part of the group that came here with the Avatar," Asami says with the air of someone whose orders are always followed, "We were ambushed on our way from the city and one of our party was severely injured. He needs a healer's attention right away."

Instead of having the desired immediate effect, Asami's words only seem to set the guards on edge. The taller one says, "We've had no word about the Avatar leaving the city."

"That's because we left in the middle of the night in secret," Asami tells him, her calm exterior breaking ever-so-slightly with impatience, "You might've heard about a certain fleeing traitor who needs catching."

Both of the guards exchange a look at that, but they still look uncertain. "If you are who you say you are, you must know we've just had an unprecedented break in and cannot let anyone in or out of the city right now."

"I'm sure you can make an exception!" Asami says a little desperately, gesturing to Mako. She's not even trying to keep her voice calm now. Bolin can see the blood that's seeped through both his and Asami's jackets and he's gained enough breath to try and speak, but he's interrupted by one of the guards.

"If you wait with my friend here," the shorter guard says, "I'll alert Commander Beifong of your presence and see if she'll permit your entrance."

"We don't have time for that!" Bolin shouts, because they don't seem to understand, "If you don't let us in, Mako's going to die!"

"I understand, sir, but-"

"I don't think you do!" Bolin says furiously, and he's ready to tear this whole place apart if that's what it takes to get Mako to a healer, but before he can make any decisions he'll regret, Asami cuts him off.

"Listen," she says, obviously struggling to maintain a reasonable tone, "You can tell our friend here isn't going to be able to do much if you let him in, right? Bring him in so he can be treated and we promise we'll wait here. Just, please," and here her voice breaks, "Please. Help him."

Both of the guards seem to be at a loss now and they both glance at each other again, conflict clear on their faces. Bolin wants to shake some sense into them, but he knows that won't get Mako into the city and with a healer any faster, so he waits, grinding his teeth with his heart in his throat, afraid to breathe.

Finally, the taller of the two guards seems to come to a conclusion. "You," he says to Bolin, "Help me load him into the cart. And you," he looks at Asami, "Don't make any sudden moves unless you want Min here to send you on to your next life. Either of you try anything-and I mean anything-and you're as good as gone."

Both Asami and Bolin nod their assent eagerly. There's hope fluttering in Bolin's chest now, because they're here and they've made it and now Mako is going to be taken to a healing center. He takes his position at Mako's head and the guard goes to his brother's feet. "On the count of three, we pick him up," the guard says, all business. Bolin nods.

"One...two...three." On three Bolin and the guard lift Mako simultaneously. Mako's eyes fly open and he groans, and he's suddenly panting now that he's once again conscious. He has that wild, pained look again and his eyes search frantically until he's looking straight up at Bolin. Bolin likes to think Mako's rapid breaths slow down at least slightly when he sees him, but he's not sure. He and the guard start making their way to the waiting cart.

"B-Bolin," Mako says between breaths, "I don't...I don't feel too good."

"It's going to be alright," Bolin says even though he's not sure, "We're going to make you better. Just hang on."

His breathing doens't slow, but Mako nods at that and his gaze slides down. But then Mako's eyes are going too far down because they freeze, widening at the sight of the metal protruding from his own stomach. His breathing speeds up and Bolin has to adjust his hold on his brother as Mako lurches weakly.

There's real fear in Mako's eyes when they meet Bolin's again. "Bolin..." He's still gasping, "I-I think...I'm dying..."

And more than anything that's happened so far, it's the sheer terror Bolin sees in Mako that scares him the most. He hasn't seen a look like this on his brother's face since the day they lost their parents. Mako's always been the cool, collected one of the two. Even when situations have pushed Bolin to panic. Mako's always been the one to ground him and help him come out the other side in one piece.

But now it's Mako who's scared, and Bolin who needs to ground him. "You're not going to die, Mako," Bolin says, surprised at the strength in his own voice, "They're going to take care of you and you'll be okay."

They maneuver Mako through the cart door and set him down gently across the passenger seats. Mako's eyes hold Bolin's as if he could keep his brother from moving by sheer force of will. "I have t-...have to tell you...something...before I..."

Bolin stops him from finishing his sentence. He doesn't want to hear how Mako might've ended it. "It's okay, Mako. You can tell me when you're feeling better."

"No!" Mako says, not angry but desperate, trying to reach up toward Bolin, but his hand only flops down uselessly, "I...have to." Mako's not calming down at all, "Was always...scared...afraid you'd...h-hate me..."

"No, no! I could never hate you, Mako," Bolin soothes, but he can't seem to get his brother to stop panicking and making his blood pump too fast. He turns to the guard who helped him to ask if there's something-anything-that they can use to sedate his brother. The guy must've been two steps ahead of him, though, because he's pulling out a pack from what must've been a sealed compartment. He opens it up and pulls out a strange-looking handheld device with a long cylindrical end.

"Dart gun," the guard explains at Bolin's confused look, "Supposed to be used to subdue troublemakers, but I think your friend here could use it right now."

Bolin nods his assent and the guard quickly loads the dart gun and aims it at Mako's arm. "Hold him still."

Bolin does what he says and the guard fires a dart right into the meat of Mako's shoulder. The sting barely seems to register for Mako and he's still looking up at Bolin. Bolin's not sure when it started, but he suddenly realizes that there are tears in Mako's eyes, "I'm...sorry..." Mako says, his breathing quickly losing its intensity as the sedative kicks in, "I'm so sorry...all my fault...Mom and dad..." Mako slumps and would've rolled over onto his stomach if Bolin didn't have a steadying hand on him. Something about what Mako said bothers Bolin, but he doesn't have time to dwell on it. The guard is already ushering him out of the cart and Bolin doesn't fight to try and stay with his brother because it'll only waste time Mako doesn't have.

Bolin flinches when the compartment door slides shut, feeling like someone's clamped a hand on his lungs. The train begins to move, and he wills it to move even faster as it seems to take forever to pick up speed. Finally, it disappears from view over a hill and whatever'd been holding him up before seems to leave him in a rush and he falls to his knees, exhausted.

Asami's at his side almost immediately. "Hey, are you okay?" She asks.

Bolin doesn't answer, just swallows deep lungfuls of air for a second and tries to keep from moving his head too much. Asami seems to understand, though, because she just sits quietly by his side, a reassuring hand on his shoulder. They stay like that, leaning against each other and settling in to wait.

That's all they can do now.

A.N. Okay, so I apologize. I meant for this to be a two-part one-shot, but it ended up becoming a three-part. I'm already started on part three, so the wait shouldn't be too long!