The woman led the boys into the house, she led Bolin to a sofa and told him to sit, then she rested Mako on the couch in the same room. She started to examine Mako, feeling his forehead, pressing her ear against his chest and other things Bolin didn't really understand. The whole time Bolin just watched Mako hoping that she could help him and make him feel better. She ran out of the room and returned with a cup of water and opened Mako's mouth to pour it in. "When's the last time he ate something?", she asked keeping her attention on Mako. Bolin though for a moment to remember the last time he saw Mako eat something, "Uhhh... four days." She turned her head around and looked at Bolin with complete shock and surprise from what she heard. She quickly ran out of the room and returned with red liquid and poured it down Mako's mouth.

After a few minutes of silence she pressed he hand against his forehead again and let out a sigh of relief. She stood up and pulled up a chair next to Bolin. "Well...", she started, "your brother is going to be okay." When Bolin heard the words he was begging to hear a smile spread across his face and started to cry tears of joy. He jumped out his seat and embraced the woman in a hug. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You helped my brother when no one else would. Thank you so much miss." She wrapped her arms around Bolin to return the hug, "Aww it was nothing, it was easy since I used to be a nurse before I met my husband...and please call me Taya." Bolin pulled out of the hug and looked at her still smiling while wiping his tears away.

"So do you and your older brother have names?" Bolin smile dropped and he was hesitant for a moment, should he tell her their names or would Mako be mad that he did. He thought about it was so grateful he figured Mako wouldn't mind. "M..my name is...Bolin...and that's my older brother Mako."

"Bolin and Mako, those are wonderful names."

Bolin smiled again and then turned his attention to his brother. "So what was wrong with Mako."

Taya's smile fell and she let out a sigh. "He had an extremely high fever. If what you said about him not eating in four days then that means his body was weak and at a time like winter that means the body can easily be infected with a fever. Another day or so of being untreated and I don't think he would have made it." A scared expression crossed Bolin's face and Tay quickly noticed it. "But don't worry", she said trying to calm him down, "I gave Mako some medicine to make him feel better and when he wakes up I'll give him some food so he can get his strength back but he won't wake up until tomorrow at the earliest so just sleep here until then. Okay."

Bolin smiled again and opened his mouth to say something but stopped when he heard a growling sound. He clenched his stomach as it growled reminding him how hungry he was. Taya looked at him holding his stomach, "Bolin...how long has it been since you ate." Bolin thought while his stomach continued to growl. "Counting today I think three days." Taya was shocked by his answer, she placed her hand on his back and started to rub it to comfort him. "I'm sorry Bolin but I don't have anything to eat right now, we usually just eat take out, but when my husband come tomorrow morning with breakfast after his night shift you can eat then, so just wait for a few more hours. Okay." Bolin nodded and smiled at the idea for food since he forgot the loaf of bread he found in the earth tent. Taya smiled and left the room again then return with two large blankets. She put one on Mako and put the other one on Bolin. "These are blankets that are from the Water Tribe so they'll keep you two warm. Now try to get some sleep. I'll be in the next room if you need me." After saying that she walked back into the other room leaving Bolin with Mako.

He got up from the couch and walked over to Mako. He wasn't sweating so much but his face was still pale. When Taya told him the reason Mako got sick he hid his emotions but since she was gone now he felt like he could let them out.

He started to cry.

He cried because he knew the truth. It was his fault. Mako was sick because he didn't eat, whenever they were able to find food he always made sure Bolin ate first. Bolin couldn't stop crying, he felt like such a nuisance. If he wasn't a nuisance then Mako would not have gotten sick. He only made things harder for Mako. If he were to leave now Mako would have an easier life.

Bolin stopped at that last thought and repeated it to himself in his head. If I were to leave now Mako would have an easier life. He knew Mako would be mad at him for even think of the idea but when he looked down at Mako he couldn't stand to see him like this when it was because of him. He put his hand in his pocket and felt Mako's damp scarf that he had forgotten about. He pulled out the scarf and looked at it but for some reason it just made him cry even more.

He kept repeating the idea over and over again in his head and now he made his decision.

He leaned forward and wrapped the scarf around his Mako's neck and then embraced his brother for one final hug, placing his head beside his.

"I'm sorry Mako."

He broke away from the hug, wiped away some of his tears and quietly sneaked out the front door.