Author's Note: Wow I can't believe how many views this has suddenly gotten! Also thanks everyone for your enthusiastic reviews! I eat those things up I really do lol. This chapter is a bit more angsty and dark so be warned. Please enjoy.

~~~GW~~~

Chapter 3: Churning Nausea

The next morning Mako was awoken abruptly by Pabu pouncing on his chest. His breath whooshed out of him in a gasp and he startled awake, eyes snapping open as he realized with dismay that he'd fallen asleep. He sat up, his neck aching in a sharp twinge from the awkward position he'd been sitting in on the couch for the whole night. His back creaked like an old man's and with a twist and a pop he winced as he stretched and worked the kinks out of his shoulders. Pabu chittered in irritation on his chest and nipped at his fingers. Mako swore and yanked his fingers away before sighing and standing up. Immediately the fire ferret dashed towards the window and clawed at the pane of glass, a desperate look on his face.

"Alright alright Pabu, you probably haven't been out for a while now huh?" He asked, opening the window to a swirl of cold air. Pabu hesitated, nose twitching in the air as he debated on actually stepping foot in the snow gathered on the window sill. "Alright you're a fire ferret already, just go!" Mako shooed him impatiently and with an offended look Pabu took off to roam outside. Mako closed the window back, shivering in the cold air that had rushed eagerly into the dim room. With a grumble he rubbed sleepily at his eyes, still feeling rather exhausted and climbed up the ladder to the loft. The figure in the bed was alarmingly still and for a moment Mako hesitated at the last ladder rung, his eyes fixated unmoving on the large lump in the bed sheets.

"Bolin…" He whispered in a cautious voice. There was no reply, no ripple of movement or intake of air. His breath suddenly seized in his throat and his heart sped up, pounding fearfully in his chest as Mako scrambled the rest of the way into his room and dashed towards the bed. Those cold winter nights when they'd fallen asleep huddled together, clinging tightly for warmth with silent prayers that they'd both be alive in the morning. That ever present fear that one morning he'd wake up to find Bolin's cold dead fingers woven in his red scarf. He couldn't count the number of dead bodies lying like limp wet sacks that they'd witnessed huddled in alleys never to open their eyes to the light of day again. The number of times Mako had clapped a hand over Bolin's eyes and whispered for him to not look. How ironic was it he used to think that was the best way to go? When they were freezing and miserable and so starving their ribs prodded at their skin he'd almost begun to think if they were to die that would at least be a more blissful way to go. Maybe he'd dream of their mom and dad before he died?

Mako's knees hit the hard wooden floor and his hands seized handfuls of the blankets as he tore away at the layers.

"BOLIN!" He shouted, not caring who he woke up. "BO! Look at me! Hey! BO!" He cried and then in one moment he sagged against the bed, eyes focused on the bleary eyes of his younger brother blinking sluggishly at him. The fever was back in full force and his face was flushed with the heat, eyes glazed and just not quite there but he was alive! Mako almost felt like crying in relief. He swallowed thickly and hurriedly set about adjusting the blankets again to keep the cold off of his sick sibling. "Bo hey Bo, don't scare me like that! Answer me next time!" He murmured, hands shaking nervously. Bolin opened his dry lips, squinting in the light as he weakly turned his head to look at Mako.

"M-m….ako…?" He croaked out, his voice so rough and hoarse sounding that Mako could barely recognize it. Bolin cringed as a harsh cough ripped its way through his body, his muscles tensing up at the strain before he sagged tiredly back against the bed.

"I'm here Bolin, give me a second and I'll get you some water!" Mako hauled the pail over and dipped out a cup of cool water, propping Bolin's head up with his muscular arm. The dark hair stuck to his head in damp silken clumps as Mako tenderly tilted the water into his brother's dehydrated mouth. Bolin swallowed greedily and Mako scolded him softly before replacing the cloth on his head with a cool one. He smoothed the sheets around his brother's form and absentmindedly raked his fingers through Bolin's messy hair. "Hey Korra came to visit you." He told his brother quietly and a smile made its way onto Bolin's tired face.

"No…not like th-is…oh, my image r-ruined!" He rasped jokingly, screwing his eyes shut in mock horror. Mako grinned back at him and perched himself on the side of the bed.

"Hey the whole sick act might just improve your chances!" Mako teased, pressing the cup back against parched lips. "She promised she'd come back again later when you were awake." He informed him and Bolin nodded, his mood cheered a bit. His hand patted the blanket beside him where a small nest shape had been made and he frowned.

"Where's Pabu?" He croaked and Mako jabbed a thumb at the window.

"He wanted out for a bit but he'll probably be back soon. He's been stuck to your side like glue these past two days."

"He's the best…" Bolin grinned, closing his eyes tiredly. "When's the match?" He asked, brow furrowing in unfocused thought, eyes still closed.

"Don't worry about it." Mako inserted sternly, mouth pressing into a thin line. "You just focus on getting better Bolin, there's always next year." He stressed, pulling himself to his feet.

"But-"

"I mean it Bolin!" Mako cut him off quickly, pointing a finger down at him. "Don't stress about it! Your older bro will figure it out alright? Don't I always?" He demanded, a confident grin he didn't quite feel quirking at his lips. Bolin averted his eyes and nodded silently, guilt clearly stamped on his face. "I'll be back, let me heat you up some breakfast okay?" Mako smiled before heading back downstairs. He stirred the fire in the stove to life again and cooked up some thick broth before letting Pabu back in who was impatiently clawing at the window again. The fire ferret scrambled inside, pausing to shake snow off of its fur before he raced straight up the ladder again. Despite himself a fond smile tugged at Mako's mouth at the loyalty the ferret displayed for his little brother. He assembled a tray of food and herbal tea and took it up to the loft for his brother. Bolin managed to get a few spoonfuls of broth down before it all came straight back up again. His stomach churned and rolled and he heaved what little bit of liquids was in his body into the bucket Mako held out for him. Nausea hit him in waves and he swallowed rapidly, head bent over the bucket, fingers weakly curled around the rim. After that he refused to eat or drink anything, turning an alarming shade of green at the sight of food and Mako felt his desperation growing.

"Come on Bolin ya gotta eat or you won't get better!" He insisted and Bolin groaned miserably.

"I don't want to!" He rasped, breath shallow and quick as he gulped in air to prevent himself from throwing up anymore. Giving up Mako finally sat back and slid the tray out of the way. There was no use in forcing him if it meant making him sick. That would only serve to weaken him more. He thought seriously with a loud exhale of frustration.

"Alright Bo, it's fine…" He sighed tiredly. Beads of sweat slid down Bolin's face, following the line of his round jaw before wobbling on the point of his chin and then dropping into the bucket below.

"Hey Mako…" He suddenly spoke up in a dreamy voice, expression distant.

"What is it?" Mako replied, watching his brother curiously. Bolin turned those hazy green eyes on him and a goofy crooked grin spread over his pale face.

"Have you seen Korra lately? She hasn't been around…" He rasped and then abruptly retched into the bucket again. Mako stumbled to his feet, wide eyes focused in panic on his little brother as Bolin clung to the bucket for dear life.

Tenzin sighed as he shuffled out of the council meeting room, a stack of loose papers clutched under one arm. The sound of scraping chairs and the swish of clothing as people stood and left the cathedral like room followed him out of the door. He could feel a stress headache coming on and his mind raced from all of the information and opinions that had been shoved into his head at today's meeting. Secretly he missed his wife and couldn't wait to get back home to a warm smile from her and a nice hot meal on the table. With a fond expression he imagined rubbing her swollen pregnant belly, feeling their baby kick and cradling his two daughters in his lap, Meelo perched on his shoulders. With a groan he turned his attention back to the most unsettling topic that had been brought up at today's meeting.

The hospitals were filling up.

Well, that is to say the number of patients being checked in had vastly increased in the past month or so. It wasn't anything too alarming yet but certainly an anomaly. Some of the council members brushed it off claiming it was just a winter cold of some sorts or a fluke while others insisted the medical practices of Republic City needed serious attention. Public health and safety was of course one of their top priorities but the debate had ended in an undecided standstill. The argument had been tossed around but in the end the question of What could we do? had stumped them all and they'd simply listed the issue as something to be covered in the next meeting. Tenzin lifted the reports in his hand, the papers crinkling noisily as he peered down at them. A majority of the patients suffered from some sort of fever the doctors had yet to pinpoint with bending incidents, satomobile accidents and the normal mixture of injuries making up the rest. The part that alarmed Tenzin the most though was the increase in hospitalized children. From newly born infants to teenagers it was certainly no silly matter to be easily breezed over. Mentally he made a note to himself to tell Pema to keep the kids close to her and to be extra cautious with her being pregnant and all. Her immune system was already hampered as it was.

Out on the streets of Republic City a dark figure stumbled its way down filthy back alleys. Its feet dragged along the smooth pavement strung with trash and sodden puddles of sludge. Its hands pressed against brick walls, shoulder sliding along the coarse stone as its hands braced itself in an attempt to keep itself from falling flat on the ground. The figure staggered from a dim alley, emerging into the soft glow cast by the streetlights and revealing the form of a small child. Her clothes hung several sizes too big on her starved frame and her brown hair was matted in clumps. Her body was covered in a sheen of sweat and her face shone a fevered red, her body reeking of stale sweat and vomit and death. A whimper escaped her mouth as she spotted what she'd been looking so desperately for and with an exhausted shuffle she dashed across the street, barely stumbling out of the way of passing satomobiles. Angry horns blared in her wake but the child ignored the petty anger of the healthy members of society. She scrambled onto the sidewalk of the opposite end of the street and hobbled her way painfully towards the large fountain positioned decoratively in the small square.

As she approached her hazy eyes traveled upwards, taking in the majestic arching figures of giant koi fish leaping through the air as if propelled by some invisible force. Their metal scales glittered marvelously in the flickering lights and jets of water spurted out of their gaping mouths. The little girl set her knee against the rim of the fountain, her feet sliding past a plaque that read Elephant Koi followed by the quote If you ever get the chance, try riding them. –Aang and then the artist's name. Weakly she hauled herself upwards until she lay on her stomach, her front half hanging over the water. She reached down, her shaking hands covered in an angry rash that inched up her arms, and cupped her fingers together. She brought a handful of deliciously cool water up towards her chapped and peeling lips, her tongue painfully swollen and red, and greedily swallowed rapid mouthfuls. Her hand dropped back down towards the shimmering liquid again but this time it flopped into the water, fracturing the perfect mirror image with a slight splash. Her body went lax, head falling downward until her dirty hair trailed the water.

She didn't move again.

For the next few hours she didn't move.

For the rest of her life she never moved again.

She lay there half in and half out of the fountain, her small frame draped over the edge. Above her body the Elephant Koi continued in their ethereal dance, water shimmering below them as their mouths parted in cheerfully bored expressions. It wouldn't be until someone finally showed up sometime the next day to fish her body out of the fountain that she would ever move again.

~~~GW~~~

Author's Note: Things are growing a bit more serious in the city. How are you supposed to survive a disease when you're slowly dying anyways? The streets are a cruel place to be… Reviews feed my enthusiasm and I read each and every one of them!