Guys! I am so sorry! I have been non-stop camping for the past 3 weeks. I had girls camp, then trek, then camping with my cousins, then another girls camp, and just wow. I have been so busy and haven't been anywhere with service. But, I'm back for the summer. So prepare for more chapters! Please, read and review. I love hearing from you guys.

Chapter 4

The Virus

Katara rushed back to the palace, pulling Zuko. She was freaking out. So much had just happened in the last 20 minutes, and she understood almost none of it. All that she did know, was that her friend was sick. Very sick.

They finally arrived at the palace. She burst through the door, yelling commands at the guards. "Go get my friends, and tell them what has happened, and that we are not to be disturbed until I send for them." "Fill Zuko's tub with cold to lukewarm water, and get me rags, and any medicine you have in this palace." "Take me to the Fire Lord's chambers."

The next 10 minutes were a blur of guards, hallways, servants, and an incessant amount of questions, which she pointedly ignored.

Curse this huge palace. Finally, Katara arrived at Zuko's room. She was getting tired from half carrying, half pulling him for so long. The two hobbled to the bathroom, where a cold bath was waiting for them. A servant stood by the wall, holding a tray of bottles, jars, and wraps. The palace's medicinal materials were at her beck and call.

Katara lowered Zuko onto a stool. He was mumbling. Over the journey from when he started seeing things to now, he had gotten progressively worse. His fever was higher, he was mumbling, and seemed to not understand what exactly was happening around him. She pulled off his robe and lifted off his tunic.

She looked to the servant, and asked: "Can you help me lift him into the tub?" The servant set the tray down and ran over. Together they heaved the Fire Lord into the cold tub. Immediately, Katara gloved her hands in water and started working them through the water, trying to determine what was wrong with the Fire Lord.

"Hand me a rag" The waterbender demanded, and the servant complied. Katara dipped the rag in water, cooled it, and placed it on Zuko's head.

"Write this down." The servant ran out of the room, and then 2 minutes later ran back in, with a paper, bottle of ink, and pen. " 10 pm. His fever is very bad, and his body is shutting down. His pulse is erratic. He is hallucinating, incoherent, and not responding to stimuli." She pulled water into gloves again and started moving them around his head. If I can just break his fever, then everything can calm down. She concentrated hard, searching through the water, through Zuko, for the cause of the fever.

"Ah! I got it! I broke his fever!" Katara dropped the water gloves into the tub. She soaked the rag again and placed it back on his forehead. She settled onto the stool, preparing herself for a long night of healing, bending, and nursing.

Many hours passed, and Katara was exhausted. Breakfast was brought in for her, as the sun rose. She hadn't been able to sleep at all. The Fire Lord was in and out of consciousness, and she struggled to keep his fever down, and calm his convulsions so he didn't hurt himself. Zuko was sleeping now. She had taken him out of the tub a few hours before, put his shirt back on, and placed him in bed. He is doing so much better. Katara had worried that she wouldn't be able to help, but through the night he had gotten significantly better.

"Write this down please" Katara addressed one of the maids, and she hurried to get a quill and paper. "5 am. His fever has stayed down. He is responding to stimuli, he isn't mumbling anymore and his pulse is . He seems to be sleeping without disturbance now" This was her fourth report of his symptoms. She wanted to keep track of everything, so it could be documented, and used for further reference.

Katara sat on the corner of his bed, leaned again the post and looked at the Fire Lord. He hadn't had an outburst in quite awhile. He looks so peaceful… and vulnerable. I've never seen him like this before. Zuko turned in his sleep, and some of his hair fell in front of him. Before she could think, Katara reached out, and brushed the hair from his eyes.

He's so handsome.

Wait, what?! Where did that come from? Katara shook her head as if trying to forget she thought that. I must be more tired than I thought. Maybe I can just close my eyes for a few minutes… Katara was out in seconds.

"Well, what do we have here, hmm?" Toph's voice cut through the silence and Katara jolted awake.

"What? What's going on?" Katara was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes when she noticed where she was.

I was just asleep. In the Fire Lord's chambers, on his bed, next to Zuko. This did not look good for her.

"Toph, this is not what it looks like. I was healing Zuko. He was very… and I was just… and we weren't-" Katara's face flushed.

"Oh don't worry Sugar Queen. I won't tell anyone."

"But… There's nothing to tell!" Katara started yelling but quickly lowered her voice when Zuko stirred next to her.

"Well, if you're done cuddling with Zuko, we'd like an update on everything. We've been waiting all day." Toph turned to leave the room. "We're in the dining hall for dinner"

Dinner? Was I really asleep for that long? "Okay, I will be there soon. I have to go wash up, though."

Toph left the room, with a smirk on her lips.

Katara quickly checked on Zuko. His fever was gone. He responding to stimuli. He wasn't mumbling, and his pulse was strong and steady. She got up to leave, and addressed one of the servants in the room. "He should be waking up soon. Make sure there is warm food ready for him. Tell him he needs to eat everything, and drink at least 3 glasses of water. Doctor's orders. Then when he's full, he's welcome to join us, but he is to take it easy. Thank you." Katara bowed her head to the servant and left.

Katara went back to her room, quickly washed, dried (it's easy when you can just bend the water off of you), and dressed.

When the Master water bender made it to the dining hall, she found all her friends gathered around, talking quietly. She walked to her seat quickly and sat down. All eyes turned to her, and the conversation came to a stop.

"Um, let me just eat please? And then I can explain?" Katara asked quietly. She took their silence as yes and began to eat. She ate so fast she didn't even taste her food. She was so hungry.

A few minutes of silence passed, and Katara finally swallowed the last of her food. "Okay, so let me explain." With that she jumped into the tale of how she was walking with Zuko (she conveniently left out what they were talking about), they were "attacked", he became sick, and she spent all night and all morning healing him. Now that she was hearing it out loud, she realized how crazy it all was.

Just as she was getting to the part where she fell asleep next to Zuko, the man himself walked into the room. Oh, thank goodness. Perfect timing. Katara did not want to have to retell that.

"Good. I'm glad everyone here. I have a lot to tell you." The Fire Lord sat at the head of the table. "I'm guessing Katara filled you in on the past 24 hours or so. Most of which I don't even remember. So you'll have to fill me in later. But, as of now, I have pressing information that I need to discuss with you.

Things are going on in the Fire Nation that you should all be aware of. First off, Phoenix King rebels, my father's men, have been noted many times to be gathering and recruiting for some cause. They are slowly increasing in number. And second, an illness has broken out in the Fire Nation. It is very serious." Zuko paused, and went around the room, looking at everyone in turn. "Not only do they suffer from hallucinations and fever… they lose their bending."

Everyone in the room collectively gasped.

"Wait Zuko… Does that mean- " Suki started, but stopped as the Fire Lord snapped his fingers and formed a small flame.

"No, I am completely fine. And that is all due to this amazing healer, Katara." Zuko motioned down the table. Katara blushed. "But that can't be said for the many poor folks who weren't lucky enough to be near Katara at the time.

I understand if you all want to go back to your normal lives. This is the Fire Nation's problem, and I don't want to risk getting you sick-"

Zuko was interrupted by many snorts and gasps.

"Please Zuko, a little cough isn't gonna scare me away," Toph said.

"I'm staying too. I want to help. And I want to see what's going on with those Phoenix Rebels." Aang added in.

"And I am definitely staying. I want to figure out more about this sickness. And I know I can help relieve the symptoms of the sick." Katara had a stubborn look in her eye.

"Well, if everyone else is staying, then we will too. Nyra needs to continue her lessons with Katara, and I'm not that far along. I'll be fine staying and helping in any way that I can." Suki laid an affectionate hand on Katara's arm.

"Then it's settled. The Gaang is back in business! Whoo!" Sokka pumped a fist in the air.

Zuko chuckled to himself. How did I manage to get such amazing friends? I am so lucky.

The Gaang continued talking with each other until the sun went down. Then one by one, everyone disappeared back to their own rooms.

Zuko was the last to leave. He followed Katara out of the room.

"I wanted to thank you, for last night." Zuko walked alongside Katara.

"Oh Zuko, it's the least I could do. I'm just glad I was there to help."

"I think it's because of you that I didn't lose my bending. Because you healed me so soon." They turned down a hallway, towards Katara's room. "You saved me."

"Oh please, that's what friends do. We look out for one another." Katara felt a small blush forming on her cheeks.

A few minutes passed, and neither of them talked.

"Oh, before you go to sleep, I need to check you again, just in case. And if you could answer some questions, it'd be great for future reference."

"Anything for you. Thank you." Zuko was pleased to see another blush color Katara's cheeks. She looks good in pink.

They made it to Katara's room, and she ushered Zuko in. "Just head into the bathroom, and we can get this done real quick."

Zuko found a bench in the bathroom, and Katara joined him soon after with a few bottles, and a jug of water.

"First, I need you to take off your shirt."

Zuko blanched. "Wh-what?"

"Oh shush. It's for healing purposes." But that didn't stop the blush from forming on Zuko's white face as he pulled off his tunic.

"Now, hold still," Katara commanded as she gloved her hands in water from the jug. She laid one hand on his chest, closed her eyes, and listened.

Bum bum, bum bum, bum bum.

"Okay, so your pulse is strong and steady, and your breathing feels good." Katara moved her gloved hand to his head. "And you don't have a fever again. Good. You seem all the way better. But just to make sure I want to check you twice a day for the next couple days. Okay?"

"Yes, ma'am." Zuko did a mock salute and chuckled.

"Oh goodness, Zuko." She giggled and swatted his hand down. "Now get your shirt back on and get to bed." Katara ushered Zuko out of her room, and then went back to the bathroom to start a bath. She poured a sweet smelling liquid into the bath as the tub filled up, forming bubbles. She slipped off her clothing, and stepped into the tub, relishing the feeling of the water against her skin. Water is the best element. Life. Comfort. Connection. Healing. Love. It is everything.

Katara laid in the water for a long time, swirling the water around, washing her body, her hair. She gloved her hand in water, and put it on the sore muscles around her body. Carrying Zuko really took a toll on me. After she loosened up her muscles, Katara sat up in the tub. I haven't had a bubble bath in so long. Katara scooped up a handful of bubbles, and blew them into the air. The bubbles burst and blew apart. They slowly drifted back to the tub. Katara giggled in delight. She felt like a kid again. She scooped up more bubbles, and threw them into the air.

Suddenly an idea struck her. How much water is in bubbles?

Katara brushed her hair back, and concentrated. She lifted her hands in the air, closed her eyes, and felt for the water in the bubbles. Slowly, she felt it; trace amounts of water were mixed in the bubbles. She moved her hands, and a trail of bubbles followed her movements. Katara moved her arms apart, and the trail of bubbles split apart. She moved her arms in a big circle, and brought her hand together and twisted her wrist. The bubbles came back together, and started forming into one big bubble. Let's see if this will work. Katara focused intently on the bubble. It was so thin it would be so easy to pop. She moved her fingers and wrists in intricate patterns, and slowly the bubble changed shape, from a circular blob, to a heart, to a five-pointed star. Katara breathed onto the star, and froze it. She caught the star, and examined her work. In her hands was a plate-sized hollow star. It was incredible. Katara couldn't keep it in anymore. She threw her head back and laughed. Oh gods, this is so much fun!

She stayed in the bath for another 10 minutes or so. When she got out, she dried off, dressed, brushed her hair, and slipped into her bed. Katara was asleep in minutes.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway. The guard stopped in front of a cell and knelt.

"Everything is going according to plan. The Avatar and his friends are still at the palace. People are still confused by the virus. Nobody suspects a thing. The recruits are doing well, we have almost 10 waterbenders now. What do you want to do next My Lady?"

Azula laughed and walked to the front of the cell. Her hair was long, almost to her waist. She was taller, thinner. But hatred still burned in her eyes.

"Good. Thank you Kusho. You have been loyal to your true Fire Lord. Once I am back on the throne you shall be rewarded. But as for the plan, well, I think you and your soldiers are gonna pay Zuzu a little visit…"

Well, what about that, huh? Azula's back! Did any of you guys see her coming into this story? What do you think she's gonna do? And what about that "bubble bending"? Was that just totally lame? (not even a little cool?) I enjoyed writing this chapter and hopefully you enjoyed reading it. Review, I'd love to hear from you guys.