Summary: This story takes place just after the incident on The Boiling Rock. When Mai and Ty Lee escape from prison, will they be accepted with open arms by the Avatar as allies to end the war? Or will they be rejected for their past crimes?

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or anything pertaining to Avatar besides the plot to this story.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoy! Reviews are greatly appreciated!

Sleep, my sweetie, let the days expire

They've outnumbered you

Hold me sweetly, like the days we bled with love

A red so deep we sunk

~Cursive

The Intruders, Part 2

ZUKO

Ty Lee screamed, and knelt down beside Mai. The others still seemed shocked by Sokka and my actions, and stood immobile behind me.

''Mai!'' I cried, running to her side as well. I brushed Ty Lee aside, and lifted Mai into my arms. Her eyes were closed, her body completely limp and lifeless against me, her breathing low and rough. I turned around to face Katara, who was staring on with anger in her eyes, no longer in shock.

Aang seemed to come out of his stupor as well. ''Zuko… they're Azula's…''

''I know who they are!'' I snapped. ''Katara, she needs help-''

''No,'' Katara said, crossing her arms over her chest and turning away. My eyes widened in shock, and I turned to Sokka for help.

But before he could even speak, Ty Lee was on the move.

The others tensed and returned to battle mode, but relaxed again when Ty Lee collapsed to her knees a few feet away from Katara. ''Please, Ka…Katara! Please, we aren't here with Azula. We aren't here to hurt you anymore-''

''Like you could!'' Katara snapped, turning around to face her.

Ty Lee ignored her and continued. ''We came to join the avatar! We came to help you defeat the Fire Lord and Azula!''

''I don't believe you!'' she growled in response.

''Katara,'' Sokka said, coming to stand beside his sister, placing a hand on her shoulder to calm her. He looked at Ty Lee. ''I think we can trust them. I mean… I don't know about her,'' Sokka said, motioning to Ty Lee, ''But I know the other one, Mai, saved my life. I think they're worth hearing out at least.''

''Perhaps Sokka is right,'' Aang said. ''Let's wait until… Mai, wakes up, and then we can decide what to do.''

''It was hard enough accepting Zuko into our ranks, but more Fire Nation? They were with Azula herself! There's no way we can trust them!''

''So what are you going to do with us?'' Ty Lee asked. ''We came all this way to join you, and you want to just throw away the help we are offering, just because you hate the Fire Nation?'' I felt my eyebrows raise in surprise, as I had never heard Ty Lee speak so angrily before.

''Everyone needs to calm down,'' Aang interrupted, before Katara could respond. He turned to me. ''Zuko, take Mai and Ty Lee to one of the rooms until she wakes up. Let me know when she does.''

I nodded at him, but before I left, I cast a look at Sokka, who was talking lowly to Katara.

Neither of us, or Suki and Sokka's father, had spoken of what had happened at The Boiling Rock. We felt it unnecessary to tell Aang all the details, and he was just happy to have more people join him in his struggle to end the war.

He just smiled slightly, and nodded his head in my direction, at Mai. He mouthed the words ''Told you so,'' before he went back to trying to calm his sister down.

''That girl was so mean!'' Ty Lee said, eyes brimming with tears, when we were alone in one of the rooms in the air temple. I lifted the covers on the bed and slid Mai into them, before tucking her in slightly and sitting back to stare at her face. Her face completely relaxed, and it struck me suddenly just how peaceful she looked now that she wasn't frowning.

I reached down and brushed the hair from her face, and jumped when she moved slightly beneath my touch.

''She was really sad, you know,'' Ty Lee said solemnly. ''When you left. She would never admit it though, and she tried to hide it. But I could tell. There was just something… off, about her silence.''

''Her silence?'' I joked. ''She never shuts up about how bored she is all the time.'' Ty Lee giggled despite her tears, and nodded her head vehemently.

We both sobered quickly, and I turned back to Mai. ''Wake up, Mai.''

There was a knock on the door, and I was surprised when Katara entered. ''Aang asked me to come try to heal her, that's the only reason I am here.''

Ty Lee brightened slightly. ''Oh, thank you so much!''

Katara ignored her and moved to my side. ''I have to undress her, so you need to leave, Zuko.''

I nodded slightly, though I was reluctant to leave her.

''Don't worry, I'll stay with her,'' Ty Lee said as I passed her, and I nodded my head in thanks.

It seemed like hours I was leaning on the wall outside her door, even though it had been only minutes. I heard a gasp from inside, and horrified cry from Ty Lee.

I went for the door, panic bubbling in my chest, worried that something was horribly wrong with Mai.

''No!'' Katara cried when I opened the door, blocking my view of Mai entirely. ''Zuko, she's fine. Leave!"

I hesitated, before retreating and closing the door, but not before seeing Ty Lee's face twisted in grief and glazed with freshly fallen tears.

Author's Note: I hop you enjoyed this chapter! Please review!