Norm finally figures out what he's fighting for. I really like this chapter. It was kind of hard to write. I'm not so good with emotional writing, but I tried. Thanks again for comments :) Enjoy

xXOoOoXx

I lay awake in my bed looking up at the metal ceiling. I had a lot on my mind. So much stuff in fact, that it probably shouldn't be held in this tiny shack I'm presently in. I never thought that when I would come to Pandora that my life would change. I'm not talking about how I met new people and gained new friendships, but I'm talking about changing as a person.

Where I come from all you hear people talking about is money, our economy, someone's missing, somebody got shot, someone was killed, and at the end of the day we give no thought to it. The Na'vi are so much more than that. They are all one person. They're all brothers and sisters, and they fight for one another. My eyes have opened, since I've been on Pandora.

I turned my head to see Grace and Trudy on the bunk beds next to me, and I knew Jake was below me. I've made friends that aren't worth separating for, but I can't call them friends because they're so much more. They're family to me.

I looked to the metal wall that was on the other side of me. I ran my hand over the photo that was taped there, a picture of Neytikai and me. I smiled tears starting to form. I also learned I'm a big sissy, too.

Neytikai had taught me how to be a proper man. I look back on the world I used to live in. Guys back home would take advantage of woman. They would beat and hit them. They would abuse them sexually as well. I brushed my hand across Neytikai's face. How could someone ever do that. My teeth clenched in anger. I never wanted to go back to Earth. I never wanted to go back to the endless world of mayhem…

I awoke the next morning to Grace and Jake arguing as usual. Jake was more in a hurry to link, and to see Neytiri, these days. I walked in and sat at the metal table. Grace turned of the link and Jake argued. I just laughed and started eating.

"It'll be alright. Eat." Grace said placing a plate of eggs and bacon on his lap. He's never eaten so fast before. He chugged down a cup of coffee and then he was off. I laughed a little more to myself. I knew how it felt when you have someone you never want to be apart from. It would take Neytikai a few hours to get here. Hometree was a ways from here. I settled on playing cards with Trudy while Grace linked with her Avatar.

I waited and waited but she never came. It was a lot later than she usually came. I was staring out the window. I sighed heavily. What if she was in danger or hurt? I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"She'll be here. Maybe she got stuck in traffic." I heard Trudy say. I smiled a bit.

"Maybe…" I was strange though. I don't mean to sound like I'm bragging, but she's not one to stay away from me too long.

"Cheer up. At least you have someone to see." Trudy walked into the next room. I turned my attention back out the window.

Suddenly, something I feared wouldn't happen, came flying through the sky. "No. No this can't be happening." I stood up, looking at Jake's link. I heard the door burst open in the other room.

"No you can't interrupt a link in progress!" I tried to say as the general walked over to Jake's link. His underlings were holding me back. One of the other marines de-linked Grace from her link.

"You can't do that! It's dangerous!" I tried to get the message through his thick skull, but his pressed the emergency button anyway. Jake sat up panting.

"Are you out of your damn mind!" He yelled.

"You crossed the line." The general said as he punched Jake. They cuffed us and flew us back to Hell's Gate.

We were directed straight to the man responsible for all of this, the president of RDA. They showed a picture from one of the bulldozers cameras. It was Jake attacking the machine. I understood exactly what had happened to Jake. He had a breakthrough just like me. Grace tried to explain that the trees they were cutting down were nothing to mess with. They connect to all the trees on Pandora, which means it has more connections than the human brain. Still, it wasn't enough to open the eyes of the jerk.

We returned to the bio lab, none of us saying anything.

"Guys! Guys! Come on we have to go. They're going to hit Hometree." Trudy ran in. We all looked at one another and ran back to try to explain once more that Grace and Jake could get them to move. They gave them an hour. I just hope it'll be enough. Everyone eventually scattered into the main room to view what was going on. I walked slowly back to my quarters. Everything around me seemed to slow down all of a sudden. I unlocked my door and stepped inside. I didn't bother to turn on the lights. The darkness would help the headache I had. I sat down on my bed and placed my hands in my head. I wanted to help, I wanted to do something.

"I want to end this. I want to help!" I screamed, pulling at my hair. "but what can a lonely, pathetic man like me do." I whispered. Tears started to pool in my eyes as a flashback came suddenly.

Neytikai was laughing and smiling. We were on that picnic that happened a few months ago.

"So why would a beautiful Na'vi woman pick such a weak scaredy-cat like me? I know most Na'vi woman choose a mate for their strength. So why choose me of all people?" I asked.

She laughed. "So you already decided to choose me as your mate?" She asked with a smile. I blushed. I didn't mean for it to sound like that. She patted my arm.

"It is fine. It is true that most Na'vi woman like a strong mate so they can protect them and their children. That's the only reason they want a mate like that. Most Na'vi woman will not tell you, but they would like someone that will help her with chores and children. Someone not so selfish." She said drawing in the dirt.

"So what about you? What do you look for in a mate?" I asked being a little outspoken.

"Me? I do not care for strength. I do not need someone to tell me I am weaker than them. I want someone who is kind-hearted and knows the ways of Eywa. I would rather have a clever and intelligent mate, than a mate with strength, who's dumb and moronic." She says looking up at the sky. "Eywa has already showed me the signs of who I should pick. I always listen to our Great Mother." She says looking back at me.

"Oh I didn't realize you already had your hearts set on someone. I'm so sorry for..." Her holding my arm cut me off.

"Hush. My Cheek is clever and smart. You should have figured it out by now." She said leaning her head on my shoulder. "I would like to be your mate, when you become one of the People, Norm." She said.

I smiled. "I thought you'd never ask." I said placing my head on top of hers.

Tears streamed down my face as I thought about that day. I had so many people to protect and I wasn't going to give up now.

I stormed out of my room into the link room to check on Jake and Grace's links. Everyone was safe and unharmed. I looked up at the monitors, but there it was a different story. Fire covered the screens. No! This can't happen. I don't know what to do anymore! Help, somebody just help me. Tell me what to do. I sank to my knees, the world slowing down around me. There was only one thing to do.

Eywa, please. Don't you see what's happening around us. We need your help and guidance. I don't know what to do anymore. Countless numbers of people are dying and we need you, Great Mother.

I was brought out of my pleading prayer by marines picking me up and trying to cuff me.

"No. You can't do this!" My emotions that I was trying to keep in suddenly found there way to my hand. I unconsciously punched the marine that was trying to de-link Jake.

The world stood still for a moment. So this is what happens when you put monsters on a precious paradise like this. Destruction. Pain. Sorrow. The bastards.

They threw us in a holding cell where we all just zoned out in our own wounded thoughts. I couldn't help but think about Neytikai and her family. Was she dead, alive, wounded? Hell I don't even know if I'm sane anymore. The one thing I want to know at the moment is if she's alright. I need to know. I didn't want to break the suffocating silence, but I had to ask.

"Jake…" I asked, my throat dry.

"What…" He asked not looking up.

"Did you happen to see Neytikai…" I asked. I knew tears would be running down my face right now, but I had cried them all out by now.

"No…" was all he said.

I knew asking would only bring me back to a dead end, but I had to try. I knew my mental health was about to die completely because I started to think about things I've never thought about. I started to think about how I would die, if I would be burned, and my ashes would be blown across space. I started thinking about Neytikai and becoming one of the People, I wondered if the training was worse than what Jake described, and would I ever be able to be one of the People after this. The one thing that told me I was loosing my mind is when I started thinking about is if Neytikai and I had a child together. If we did I would be the best father possible and I knew Neytikai would be the best mother in history of Na'vi mothers, but I knew I was loosing it if I thought that was possible. I'm a stupid human being, and she's a Na'vi. I would trade my life for the Na'vi's any day, though. I knew I was better than this. I sighed and tilted my head back.

I put those thoughts behind me and just thought if I did have a child and my wife by my side. I would teach my child to be a great hunter, not by strength, but with a smart mind. He would say I was the best father and he would take care of his mother just like I would. I would kiss Neytikai every waking moment and tell her I love her, until the words were imprinted on her heart. I would protect my family with my own life if the time came. I had a goal set in my heart at that moment, but I came back to reality and realized I'm still in this holding cell while a one-sided war was happening outside. Then I started thinking again… was Neytikai alright.