Katara's whole body was shaking when they reached the ship. Her body was not in pain, but with her legs pulsing from all the walking her nerves were shooting the feeling everywhere. Inside her mind was cursing everything, the outside she kept her best neutral expression to hide anything and everything from the banished prince.

He seemed to have his mind on other things anyways. Anytime the water bender took a glance his eyes would be looking forward, but his attention was elsewhere. 'Probably on the Avatar' she thought causing herself to think about him and her brother. 'Were they still captured? If they were then by who?' Her brain was beginning to race with different possibilities of what may have happened.

"Are you listening?" The voice entered her thoughts. "Or are you thinking of escaping again?" Her eyes focused back to her surroundings. She saw a big ship in front of her, a clear sky above her, voices were heard around her, and an annoyed fire bender beside her.

"I never stop thinking of an escape" she responded before actually focusing on the prince. She watched as his harden gold eyes softened up, but his frown stayed.

"And how has that been working out?" she thought about it for a few. Remembering each time being a fail for the reason of having obstacles in the way then him truly stopping her. Being locked up with no other way out was what truly has been preventing her to continue on, plus her injuries seizing her bending at the moment.

Recalling her injuries bought everything back as she stared at the ship. This was why she stopped her walking. Staring at the ship's platform that would get you aboard looked tiring at the moment. Going up seemed to be a lot of effort for her poor swollen ankles then walking straight as they were doing before.

"Right now it is not going the way I want," her eyes never left the platform as she watched uncle Iroh walking up. "That does not mean you should let your guard down around me." Her view was blocked by a figure. When she looked up she saw Zuko looking down into her eyes. She imagined him being furious at her words, instead he was expressionless.

"Is that a threat?"

"Do you take is as one?" she watched as Zuko opened his mouth then close it when Iroh began speaking from the ship's deck.

"Zuko, why don't you help Miss Katara get on the ship?" Her eyes widen at the request, not expecting Iroh to say that. Then he seemed to be the only one looking out for her.

"Its fine," she quickly spoke up when she saw Zuko's eyes glance down to her ankles. "I am capable of walking on my own, thank you Iroh" she was starting to move around the fire bender, holding her mouth shut to keep the groans in, but an arm on her shoulder stopped her.

Automatically her body stiffened at the contact, preparing for a fight. When she turned her head to see what Zuko's attentions were the sight before her was unexpected. Zuko was on one knee with his back turned towards her as a silent gesture for her to hop on. Katara had to hold back a sarcastic laugh. She could not see his face due to his hair curtaining it, but she imagined him being embarrassed.

"I do not think so" she spoke in a flat tone.

"If you think I want to do this then you are off" she heard his unpleasant voice.

"Then let's both agree not to continue with this" Katara plan was to continue moving on her own, but Zuko was not done speaking.

"Let's both agree that my uncle will be disappointed if he saw I let you continue on your own" He was right. Uncle Iroh made sure she was comfortable here, even when it was against Zuko's wishes. The one thing Katara knew they were both able to agree on was neither wanted to hurt Iroh.

"I'm only doing this to pleas Iroh" also here body would appreciate the break, but she would die before admitting that.

"At least we agree on something" she heard him softly speak, not knowing if she was meant to hear. It was an awkward process trying to get on his back. Having to wrap her arms around his neck and then thighs so she would not slip. She felt him move his arms so he was also holding her up for extra support. That made her want to jump off him from the embarrassment, but in a way stay from the relief her body was starting to feel.

When he began to straighten up Katara unintentionally pressed closer from fear of falling causing her breast to press into his back. She did not let a second go by when she realized her breast squished against him that she quickly leaned back.

"Are you trying to make me lose my balance?" There was his annoyed tone. She did not care though. He was able to regain it fast and continue forward without her having to go back to the unwanted position. "Also, I never let my guard down when around you."

Zuko did not want to do it, but he knew uncle Iroh did. His uncle did not have to say a lot for Zuko to understand what he wanted. Instead of starting a fight that he would not win he gave in.

"I am capable of walking on my own" He watched the water bender start to leave, watching her hide the pain. 'She thinks she is good at concealing it' he thought. When his hand made contact to her shoulder he felt her tense with unknowing what would happen. Then he was as well with what she may pull. Letting his arm fall he quickly turned his back to her so he could kneel down as if ready to propose. "I do not think so" he picked up on her unpleased tone. Did she believe he was enjoying this? This had to be the most embarrassing thing he has ever done. He was basically offering his service to his prisoner.

"If you think I want to do this then you are off"

"Then let's both agree to not continue with this" Zuko would love to stand right now and walk away. He could imagine what his crewmates were thinking. Only imagine his uncle pleased with what he was doing. 'Damn it uncle Iroh'

"Let's both agree that my uncle will be disappointed if he saw I let you continue on your own" uncle Iroh was the only family to stick with him through everything he went through and would continue so as he continued his journey to capture the Avatar and regain his honor.

"I'm only doing this to please Iroh" hearing her say that bought a tug on his heart of what he took as being happy that she agreed about Iroh.

"At least we agree on something" he whispered to himself.

Zuko kept himself balanced when he felt Katara start to wrap her arms lightly around his neck. 'She could easily choke me if she wanted' he thought with little humor. He was thrown off when he felt her thighs wrap around him, but ignored the feeling. When he felt she was ready he began to stand up. Her body was suddenly pressed hard to his back, but when he began to walk he started to stumble back.

"Are you trying to make me lose my balance?" He was easily annoyed at having to gain his footing. The water bender has been a pain ever since she was caught on his ship. "Also, I never let my guard down around you"

Silence was between the both of them while he carried the water bender onto the deck of the ship. Zuko wanted to drop her off in her room and get away from her. 'As if that is possible on the ship' he thought in disappointment.

"As he brings you to your room I will get the medicine to help with your pain" Zuko did not hear her response, but assumed she must have gave some gesture for uncle Iroh continued forward. Instead of wasting any more time Zuko proceeded towards where Katara was staying, but with each step he started to feel her slipping.

"Katara you need to tighten your grip" He waited for her to do so without actually stopping his pace. "Katara?" with her loosening from him it was becoming harder to walk properly. With the roll of his eyes Zuko did a quick jump to adjust her properly causing her to have her full body against his back.

"Ah" the soft moan could not be mistaken for anything else but a cry of pain. It was quiet, almost inaudible, but with her head resting on his shoulder he was able to pick the sound up.

"Are you falling asleep?"

"No" her voice was low though she held her tone strong.

"You know being tough all the time can get to be too much?" Zuko did not know why he was saying this. Katara had been doing the tough act since she got here. It was annoying at times he admitted, but it was expected from her.

"Like I said before-,"

"It's not an act?" he finished for her with a sigh.

"Mhm" He did not know if it was attentional on her part and he doubt it was, but she nuzzled her head a little on his shoulder before letting her own sigh out.

"We are here so I'm going to have to put you down to open the door"

"As he brings you to your room I will get the medicine to help with the pain" Katara heard every word uncle Iroh spoke to her, but she felt her body starting to numb causing a response on her part to be too much of a hassle. A simple head nod was all she could do for Iroh.

Trying to hold onto Zuko was also an effort on her part. With each step she felt herself loosening from him.

"Katara you need to tighten your grip" she heard the request from the fire bender and was not purposely ignoring him, but at the time she could not process how to adjust herself. "Katara?"

The water bender felt the fire prince balance starting to waiver with each step. She did not know what to do at the moment. 'Just put me down' she thought in her head, hoping he would somehow hear.

"Ah" Katara was not prepare to be jolted suddenly and slammed forward, but all the numbness throughout her body was replaced with a painful tingling. Her head rested on Zuko's shoulder praying the increasing discomfort would go away.

"Are you falling asleep?" How could he assume she would fall asleep when she was near him?

"No" Katara made sure to hold her voice strong even when she just wanted quiet.

"You know being tough all the time can get to be too much?" He really thought it was an act? She could laugh right now in his face.

"Like I said before-,"

"It's not an act?" he cut her off. 'At least he got it.'

"Mhm" Katara did not know for sure if it was her or the fact that she was close to the fire bender that her body was starting to warm up. Wanting everything to now be silent she imagined herself in bed with her head nuzzling into a cool pillow.

"Well we are here so I'm going to have to put you down to open the door" Zuko waited a few for a response from Katara to know if she was ready to stand, but nothing came from her. 'Irritating peasant' slowly crouching down so not to have to deal with her screaming at him he waited to feel her move away. The pressure of her being on him was not going away like his patience's. "Everything has to be difficult with you" while still couching he carefully lowered Katara to the metal floor making sure her back was against the wall, as if in a sitting position. "This cannot be good" having not heard anything from her while doing all that he knew something had to be up.

His assumption was clarified when he was staring at a sleeping Katara. "You could not wait till we got back" tone flat and his face erased from all humor he forced the thought of leaving her where she was away as he prepared himself to pick her up. It was not like she was a bother to carry, but the dislike towards her made it seem a hassle.

Zuko opened the door to her holding room to get it out of the way before showing the water bender attention. All thoughts left the prince when he spotted droplets forming on her forehead. 'It is not hot' he bought the back of his hand to her forehead.

"Of course" with no hesitation on his part he scooped the girl in his arms rushing her towards the bed. 'She could not just say anything' straightening from laying her on the bed Zuko studied her face. She had her eyes closed somewhat tight that bought the assumption she was in pain, beads of sweat were forming more which was why he placed her on top of the covers to not over heat her, and her skin tone looked to be pale.

He did not want to leave the bender, but Zuko had to inform his uncle of what was going on. He had no clue of what else to do. 'I just wanted the avatar' he groaned silently while heading to the door.

"Oh, thank you Zuko," His uncle spoke with a smile. "I was about to kick the door as my hands are full" a laugh followed as Iroh walked past a startled Zuko. "How is Miss Katara doing?" Zuko shook his head quickly while following behind.

"She seems to have a fever, but I'm not certain in all this" obviously something was going on which was why he was heading to grab his uncle.

"Her wounds must be causing her to have the fever. She is pushing herself instead of resting"

"You are the one who suggested her to come with us" Zuko studied the items his uncle bought. He recognized the brown liquid as the pain medication, but the other more green liquid he could not recall.

"I know I did," the prince's attention went back to his uncle. "I wanted her to get out of the ship for air, but I was not really thinking of her injuries" hearing his uncle's hurt voice made Zuko take charge.

"It's not you," he began as he picked up the cup with the thin green liquid. "I played a part in it too" it was supposed to be thought out so he was only to hear.

"I believe you are on a path of discovery" Zuko put down the cup with more force than intended causing some of the liquid to spill out. His uncle's words hit him hard in a bad way. He had one path that had been taking longer than needed.

"My path is to regain my honor," he had a calm voice, but he could only keep it low. His arms by his side he felt his fingers digging into the flesh of his palms, "I am to go and be the son my father wants" his eyes never left the nightstand holding the two cups. He was afraid to look away. Afraid of his anger to truly show. 'How could my father do this to his so called son?' his mind raged. 'Going against a child. Your own child'

"Hand me the cup with the green liquid" the sudden change bought Zuko out of his thoughts. Everything disappearing as he glanced back to the two cups.

"What is this?" he questioned with mild disgust in his voice. The smell coming from the glass bought him to hold his breath while he passed it along.

"It is medicine for her fever with cabbage mixed into it, thus the green coloring" 'And smell' Zuko silently added. "I had to put some nutrition inside so when she takes the pain medicine it wouldn't make her as nausea" Zuko understood his uncle's way of thinking.

"How is she going to take it when she is passed out?"

"I was hoping we would be able to wake her" though unknown to Iroh due to him facing the water bender Zuko gave a shake of his head.

"She was out before I got her to the room," he began explaining. "She did not even stir once, even as I was laying her down" the explanation alone had to be understandable that for the water bender not to put up a fight, physically or verbally, was not common.

"Sleep alone can help her fever reduce, but when she does wake I want her to take both, plus taking it easy" Zuko had no intention in letting her do as pleased on his ship, she was to stay in this room.

"Fine, then we will let her be" Zuko had other important things to focus on, like who had the Avatar. He watched his uncle place the green liquid filled cup back down on the nightstand before facing him.

"Make sure that both get mixed before she takes them"

"Alright" before Zuko turned to follow his uncle his eyes stopped to focus on Katara's face. A strand of hair was stuck out of place on her face. Without any thought Zuko gently brushed the strand back. When he was pulling his hand back his mind registered what he did. 'Damn water peasant' was all he could come up with without having to clarify to himself what he did.

While heading out of her room he bought his thoughts away from the water bender and back onto the Avatar. He knew only one person that has been going after him as much as he has. Stepping in many times and ruining his close shot.

"Admiral Zhao" the name bought heat to build up in his body. The fight to hold back from releasing the flames was tough, but he knew he had to take charge of confirming his suspicion.

If it was true then Admiral Zhao had to be close to his father. 'Damn it' Zuko's mind blew as he charged forward to the ship's driver. 'I'm so stupid!' he yelled at himself as he flew down the hall to a set of stairs.

His ship was heading the opposite direction from his father. As he was going further Zhao was getting closer.

"Turn the ship around!" his speech was quick while the force of him opening the door made is hard to hear. "Turn it around!" he repeated when he only got stares.

"Zuko where would we be heading?" the ship's driver asked with concern on his face.

"We are heading back to see my father"

Hey guys! I know it has been forever but Damn life just gets you at times, but I have not forgotten. I have been working on this during class and in between other stuff. I love you guys!

Please review.

I may go back to this chapter because I did this over my phone since my labtop is being stubborn...so once I post it I have to re read it to see how it turned out from doing it on my little galaxy phone lol

Thank you for understanding