Chapter Ten: A Painful Duty
Toph didn't have to flash her badge as she walked up to the front of the jewelry store. It was some small consolation to her. If she had to bully her way up to the command tent like she had to do before Toph was certain that she would have hit someone. She pushed aside the tent flap where the Crisis Negotiation Unit was located.
It was a new style that had been instigated by the former Chief of police. When she saw how effective Unit was during times like this Toph made the case to the Council to keep funding them. Off in a corner negotiating for the release of one of the hostages was a man talking into a communicator that Sokka invented. Standing around a table was Flynn, Berk and two Unit captains.
"Talk to me. What's going on so far?" Toph prompted.
It was Flynn who answered her. "Unit has managed to negotiate the release of one hostage in exchange that we turn the heater back on…"
"What moron turned off the heater? I thought we had already established in previous cases that until the hostages are secure no one touches the building." She asked slightly outraged. Flynn looked down at his hands while the other officers pretended that they hadn't heard the question. Unimpressed by the reactions Toph raised an eyebrow. She made a circular motion with her hand a silent signal that they didn't have time for their stalling.
Reluctantly Berk answered. "Councilman Sokka reviewed all procedures implemented in Crisis Negotiation situations and decided that our tactics were too lax. He ordered that in future proceedings we cut the power."
Toph counted back from ten. Several angry curses ran through her mind before she felt calm enough to respond. "In the future any of Councilman Sokka's orders will be brought to me first before they are implemented. How many hostages are still inside?"
"Three Chief Beifong." Berk muttered. "If I may, Councilman Sokka had good intensions…" She cut him off with a raise of her palm.
"You may not…" Toph gasped in pain and put a hand on her stomach. Flynn and Berk started towards her but she stopped them. "Don't fuss, the baby is just kicking too hard."
"Maybe you should go get some rest Chief." Flynn suggested. She glared at him but didn't say anything. Toph bit down on her lip when another sharp pain consumed her attention. In an attempt to steady herself she gripped the table. The officers in the room looked at each other uncertainly, but with a stubborn huff Toph straightened up.
"I don't want to rest. I want to know what's going on." She snapped.
After a moment of panic the young earth bender pushed aside the pain and tried to focus on the situation at hand. Toph had to use a little more force than normal but she managed to get a general idea of the situation inside the jewelry store.
"Let's go over this one more time the hostages are hulled up in the back room with one guard. The rest are in the vaults stuffing their pockets. While Unit continued to negotiate for the hostages. I want you and Berk to sneak in and free the hostages. When they're free and clear you two are to send a signal and the officers will storm and capture all the culprits." Toph murmured.
She heard several sounds of agreement. The young earth bender raised an eyebrow when she heard the nervous shuffling of feet to her left. Toph turned her head in that direction so that she could address Flynn directly.
"Yes Commander?" She prompted.
"Can I speak with you privately Chief?" Flynn retorted.
Toph shook her head. "Not just now. Save it for when we finish this case."
Flynn reluctantly agreed. Together with Berk the two of them slipped quietly into the shadows. When they were out of sight the captain of Unit told Toph so she could follow them with her sight.
With share pains starting to become more frequent and painful it was becoming increasingly more difficult for Toph to keep an eye on what was going on. In an attempt to work through the pain and concentrate on the task at hand she bit down hard on the side of her cheek and readjusted her stance to keep a better eye on her officers.
"They've reached the back door." She muttered to the captain. Toph heard him grunt in acknowledgement before giving his subordinate instructions to distract the robbers while Flynn and Berk were inside. She took a deep breath as a large wave of pain overtook her. For a brief moment Toph lost all sight of anything and she swayed unsteadily on her feet.
She clenched her teeth and forced herself to focus on the vibrations around her. Toph ignored the worried murmurs and reported what she saw to the captain standing beside her. In the back of her mind she wished that Sokka was here to hold her hand to give her a focus point. He often did so when she was in situations where it was difficult for her to see. From sheer will she pushed aside those thoughts.
"Captain they severed the line on me! They know!" the officer yelled.
Toph's eye's widened in horror. Flynn and Berk had only just managed to knock out the guard. However from the furry of vibrations that were coming from the vault she could tell the robbers would soon reach them to start killing off hostages.
"Change of plans. We move in now!" Toph ordered.
Before the Unit Captain could argue with her. All officers on hand began to swarm inside the jewelry store, Toph included. As soon as they entered the building the robber's attention was drawn away from the back room where the hostages, Flynn and Berk were in still. Instead they fired on the officers that had entered.
With a reaction that appeared almost rehearsed Toph raised a wall of earth to block their attacks. Her officers fanned out behind her and began to go on the offensive. Toph felt the vibrations from the back room begin to move. As the last person to leave the room Flynn slammed his foot into the ground three times a sign that the hostages were clear. With a small triumphant smile Toph motioned for her officers to subdue their opponents.
Unable to concentrate on the aftermath of the arrests Toph handed off her duties to Flynn, who thankfully didn't comment. She staggered into the tent accidently running into Berk as she did. With a stream profanities coming from his mouth Berk caught her and steered her to a chair. Toph glared at him but didn't say anything as the sharp pain overtook her.
"Chief, I think you're going into labor." Berk muttered.
"Not possible." She groaned. "Still too early."
Toph loosened her grip on Berk's hand as she began to lose consciousness. Alarmed Berk roared for everyone to clear the room and a healer be sent in.
…
Toph's small living room was packed as her friends waited for news of her and the baby. However the most distraught of them all was Sokka. The water tribesman paced anxiously that no one dared to approach him. The occupants in the room were also uncomfortable to the tension that was between Flynn and Sokka who glared daggers at each other every time their eyes met. Aang tried to ignore the spectacle as he kept watch on the door leading to Toph's room.
The entire apartment stilled as the door to Toph's room opened. Looking exhausted Izu walked out closing the door firmly behind her. The old woman's eyes widened in alarm when suddenly the hallway was filled with anxious onlookers.
She waved them away from her as she spoke. "Honestly from the way you're all acting it's no wonder the poor girl doesn't want to see anyone."
"How is she? Is the baby alright?" Aang asked. The plea in his voice stopped Izu from forcing her way to the front of the door. She glared at the curious onlookers before turning back to the Avatar.
"She needs quiet and rest. That is all I am willing to say on the matter. If Toph herself wishes to tell you more on the matter than that is up to her." Izu said firmly. The hall parted to give the old woman enough room to exit. When the door closed behind her Aang decided to take control of the situation.
"Alright everyone you heard what Izu said. Toph needs rest, so out." He ordered. The Avatar began to herd everyone out promising that he would send word if anything changed. All but two left asking Aang to give Toph their well wishes. When he closed the doors Aang sighed as he turned back to face Flynn and Sokka.
"Flynn be reasonable, Toph needs you at the Station not here." Aang pointed out. The commander looked down at the glare at the floor torn between staying, or going back to the station. After a moment Flynn nodded his agreement and turned on his heel to leave.
Aang turned to Sokka and scratched the back of his neck uncertainly. With a long sigh the Avatar began to speak. "Sokka…"
"I won't bother her." Sokka muttered. "Go on home Aang, I'll stay and give Katara a ride back."
Aang was about to open his mouth to say no but the door to Toph's room opened again. Katara stepped out causing both of them to stiffen in alarm. The water bending master glared at them both before sighing in exhaustion.
"Toph wants to see you." Katara muttered. Before Sokka could barge in she put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "Before you go in there I need to warn you. Under no circumstances are you to upset, argue or do anything to cause her extra stress."
Sokka nodded and went inside to see his best friend.