Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar The Last Airbender.

It was a long ride back to the palace. Toph was asleep, her arm draped over Appa's saddle. It was the same way with Sokka, who was snoring softly and had drool on his chin. Zuko was just sitting there, deep in thought, trying to figure out what to do next. Aang was on Appa's head with Katara, who had her head resting on his shoulder. Aang yawned causing Katara to lift her head.

"Aang?"

"Mmmm?"

"You need to get some rest sweetie."

"Nah, I'm fine," Aang said, stifling another yawn.

"Aang," Katara said, laying a hand on his shoulder, "You need to sleep. I'll take over steering. Please, for me." Aang looked into her pleading blue eyes.

"Okay," he gave in, "But wake me up if anything happens." Katara nodded and took the reins as Aang scooted over. His head fell to rest on her shoulder as he fell asleep, and Katara smiled.

Aang woke up to someone gently shaking his shoulders.

"Aang. Aang, wake up. We're back at the palace." Aang slowly opened his eyes and smiled as Katara's face came into focus.

"We're back?" he said.

"Yeah," Katara replied. As Aang sat up, he winced.

"You okay Aang?" Katara asked worriedly.

"Yeah, it's just the old knife wound. It's a bit tender for some reason." What he didn't tell her was that he felt a bit dizzy and hot too.

"Oh, then we'll have a healing session when we get inside, okay?"

"Okay."

The two climbed back to the saddle and woke up Toph, Sokka, and Zuko, who'd also ended up falling asleep. The gang then walked into the palace, where Suki greeted them. Sokka immediately ran over to his girlfriend and kissed her passionately.

"Seriously?" Toph muttered to no one in particular.

"Come on. Let's take a look at that knife wound," Katara said, taking Aang's hand and pulling him to her room.

When the two got in her room, Katara instructed Aang to take off his shirt and sit down on her bed. While he did that, she got a fresh bowl of water. Aang smiled as she walked over to him and knelt down beside him. "Katara is so pretty," he thought, "She is practically sparkling today." He giggled. Sparkly was a funny word. Katara gave him a queer look. "Aang? What's so funny?"

"How do you sparkle?" Aang asked.

"What?" Katara asked, clearly confused.

"How do you sparkle?" Aang repeated, "Can you teach me how to sparkle-bend like you do?"

"Um, Aang? Are you feeling okay?" Katara asked worriedly.

"I'm feeling great!" Aang said giddly, "So will you be my sparkle-bending master?"

Katara put her hand on his forehead.

"Aang, you're burning up! Let me see that wound." Katara looked down at it and gasped. The wound was a yellowish green color and was oozing the same pus it had before, when it was infected.

"Oh no. The infection is back."

"But I don't want Infection to be my sparkle-bending master. I want you."

"Aang," Katara laid her hands on his shoulders, "You're delirious."

"I am? Okay."

Katara sighed. "I'm going to get the doctor. I'll be right back."

When Katara came back with the doctor, they found Aang laying on the ground.

"Um, Aang? What are you doing?"

"Who's Aang? I'm Delirious. You told me so yourself."

"No, I meant… oh never mind. So what are you doing?" Katara asked him.

"Talking to the floor." Aang said matter of factly.

"Okay then. How about you sit back down on the bed and let the doctor look at you?"

"Okay," Aang said happily.