Katara threw up a wave of water that burst into steam as Aika's fire hit it. She spun to the side, pulling more water over the side of the ship and slashed the water in a quick strike towards Aika. Aika's foot came up in a circle before stamping against the ground, flames shooting up.

Aika and Katara paused for a moment, both breathing heavy before Katara grunted and rushed at Aika, throwing her hands to her sides and calling water to her. As she approached Aika, she leapt, drawing a wave beneath her and riding it over Aika's head. She snapped it down towards Aika, throwing her to the ground. Katara lowered herself to the ship as Aika regained her breath.

Once Aika was on her knees, Katara pulled water into her arms in a tightly spinning sphere and dashed at Aika. Aika collapsed to her forearms as Katara came at her and Katara smiled, thinking she had won. Unfortunately, Aika wasn't out of tricks.

Shifting her weight to her arms, Aika swung her legs out as soon as Katara was in range, knocking her to the ground.

Aika leapt to her feet as Katara's head clanged against the ship's deck. With a swoop of Aika's arms, fire lit in her fists and she drove it towards Katara's face. Katara's eyes widened and she shoved herself out of the way.

The deck sizzled as the fire steamed against the water from Katara's attacks. Katara gritted her teeth and jumped to her feet. Both benders began circling each other, fists high, waiting for the other to attack.

Finally, Katara leapt into action. Swinging her whole body into the motion to get more speed and power, she pulled the same move Master Paku had pulled on her during their first battle. Water began streaming around her and Aika, cutting off any escape. With a yell, Katara threw her hands toward each other, water shooting past her and knocking Aika back. Aika didn't fall this time but she was thrown backwards many feet.

Katara smacked her palm against the deck, breathing out as she willed the water to freeze. Aika's feet became trapped for a moment, giving Katara enough time to call more water from the side of the ship. She raised it above her head grinning at the shocked look on Aika's face, knowing for certain this time she had won.

Something slammed into Katara from behind, breaking her concentration. The water crashed down on her and whoever had knocked her down. Sputtering and coughing, Katara and her attacker got to their knees. Wiping the water from her eyes, Katara found herself in shock to see a familiar face.

"Zuko?" she cried. "What are you doing? Why are you out of your room?"

"I could ask you the same question!" he snarled. "Guards, take her down!"

"Wait!" she tried, standing up.

"Prince Zuko!" Aika rushed over and put her hand on Katara's shoulder. "It's alright! She's not trying to escape, we were just sparring."

"What is she doing up on deck? What is she doing sparring with you?"

"Prince Zuko, you have awoken at last," one of the guards said.

"What is the waterbender doing up here?" Zuko demanded, throwing a finger in Katara's direction and wincing slightly.

"Careful!" Katara said. "You might pull out your stitches. You're not fully healed yet."

"She's right, Prince Zuko. You should still be resting," Aika said.

Zuko growled and grabbed Katara's wrist, making her yelp in surprise.

"I will rest when someone decides to tell me what is happening!"

Katara snapped the wrist Zuko was holding over her head, spinning and breaking his grip. Zuko, unbalanced, started to fall until Katara caught his shoulders, making sure to avoid getting anywhere near his injury. She helped him to straighten then relinquished her hold on him.

"Aika was helping me practice," Katara said, calmly.

"Why on earth would she be doing that?" Zuko huffed.

"Because my strength was limited. I couldn't heal you fully and Iroh decided it might help if I got in some practice time with my bending in case you got worse."

"You heal me?" Zuko snorted. "Not likely."

"It's true, Prince Zuko. She saved your life," Aika declared.

Zuko sharpened his gaze on Katara. A slight flush crept up her neck but she determinedly looked him coolly in the eye.

"Was this the deal for you saving me? You heal me and you get to go up on deck? I thought you would've bargained for more," Zuko said, spitefully.

"I didn't demand anything," Katara replied hotly.

"Then how else would you have been allowed up here?"

"Because I asked if she would like to," Iroh said calmly as he made his way over to his nephew.

"Uncle?"

"Katara did us a great service. It would have been dishonorable not to reward her. I asked if this was something she'd like to do while we waited for you to heal and she agreed."

"But…"

Zuko suddenly stumbled before he could finish what he'd been trying to say. Katara grabbed him again and helped ease him to the floor. Kneeling in front of him, Katara searched his face and could see exhaustion.

"He needs to get back to his room," she declared, feeling his forehead for fever. Zuko growled at her touch but was too weak to do anything else. "Someone bring me a bucket of water once he's there."

Two guards came up on Zuko's sides and helped to carry him down to his room. By the time they got him onto his bed, Zuko was breathing heavy and clenching his fists in pain. Katara lifted his head and placed his pillow beneath him as she sent the guards off for bandages and water.

"Is there where you extract your revenge, Waterbender?" Zuko said through gritted teeth.

Katara dropped his head against his pillows.

"Don't be ridiculous. I've spent too much effort trying to keep you alive and I refuse to let it go to waste. Now stop talking. You need to save your energy. Where are you in pain?"

"I thought I wasn't supposed to talk?"

"I don't have time for your snarky responses, and you probably don't either. I don't know how much longer you'll be able to stay awake, and I need to find out if I've healed you in all the places you've been injured."

Zuko almost smiled, she could've sworn he did, but then the smile turned into a scowl.

"I don't need your help," he said through gritted teeth.

"I sincerely wish you didn't but the healer you have here is useless for major injuries. Why you're hunting the Avatar with only him to help you is beyond me."

Zuko was beginning to pant from the pain.

"Banished princes don't get much choice when it comes to crew, waterbender," he hissed out.

Katara watched him for a minute, pity conflicting inside her, making her feel completely confused. It had been bad enough to find she was willing to heal him after everything that had happened. At least he was awake. As soon as he was well enough that there wouldn't be a relapse, she'd take off, forgetting everything that had happened.

The door opened and Aika appeared with the water Katara needed.

"Thank you Aika. Place it next to me, please," she asked.

Aika came to the side of Zuko's bed and set the bucket down before assuming the standard guard position. Katara arched her eyebrow at Zuko.

"Are you going to let me check your wound or do I need to take off your shirt myself?"

"Well seem to have recovered from seeing me shirtless," he mumbled.

"Ha, ha," Katara replied sarcastically before moving her hands forward in a threatening manner.

Zuko raised his in surrender before pulling off the tunic he wore. As he tried to toss it to the side, he gasped in pain and clutched his middle. Katara sprang forward, placing one hand over his and the other behind his neck.

"Back," she commanded, helping him lie against his pillows. Zuko eased down, sweat breaking out across his brow. Katara quickly recoated her hands and placed them against Zuko's chest. The blue glow that came with her healing began to light up the room and Zuko's pain began to ease from his face.

"While you're still coherent, I need you to tell me if you're hurt anywhere else," Katara insisted again.

"My head," Zuko grumbled. "I got hit in the head."

"Already checked. What else?"

"I think that covers it."

"Nowhere else is in pain?"

"My whole body's in pain."

"What did I say about smart remarks?"

"That was the truth!"

Katara smacked his arm.

"Ow!" Zuko rubbed his arm. "What kind of a doctor are you? You're not supposed to harm the injured!"

"You wouldn't be alive right now if weren't for me!"

"I'd almost be willing to take my chances without your help!"

A wicked grin appeared in Katara's face. "Almost?" she said, quietly.

Zuko's expression of dread was priceless. A cough sounded behind her and Katara turned to see Aika trying to hide a grin. Turning back to Zuko who was now glaring at Aika, Katara couldn't hold it back anymore and burst out laughing, prompting Aika to do the same. Zuko groaned which only made Katara laugh harder, and she clutched Zuko's arm as she bent her head, her stomach beginning to ache as she laughed and laughed.

"You done yet?" Zuko said with a roll of his eyes.

"Ad... admit it," Katara gasped. "You're glad I was here."

A wince from Zuko was all it took to bring Katara back to the present. She quickly coated her hands again and continued working on his injuries.

"I'm pretty sure the only places I was severely injured were my head and side," Zuko mumbled.

With a nod, Katara finished with his side and moved her hands to the sides of his head. He was healing nicely, but she was still worried. If Zuko tried to pull any more stunts like today, he might kill himself.

Iroh came into the room, a guard following with food. As Iroh excitedly exclaimed that Zuko was awake and asked him how he was feeling, Katara checked over Zuko once more before withdrawing her hands and shooting the water into the bucket. Sitting beside Katara, Iroh poured her a cup of tea and then one for himself and Zuko. She thanked him to which he smiled back. As she tipped the cup back, she noticed Zuko's intense gaze on her, causing her to blush for some unknown reason. She quickly finished off her cup and handed it back to him, refusing another cup.

"Uncle, did she actually…" Zuko started.

"Save you?" Iroh smiled. "Yes indeed. Miss Katara offered of her own free will, to heal you when we could do nothing. You would've died without her help."

Katara squirmed with the praise. "Only probably. You might've survived."

Iroh smiled at her but shook his head at Zuko. "No, you would've died," he whispered loudly to Zuko.

Zuko rolled his eyes.

"I know!" Iroh called suddenly, making Katara jump. "This calls for a…"

"We are not doing a music night or creating any more teas, Uncle!" Zuko cut him off.

The look of disappointment on Iroh's face made Katara purse her lips to keep from laughing. As she turned her head so they wouldn't see her, she saw Aika by the door, in much of the same state.

"What's the verdict of my injury?" Zuko asked when she finally turned back, after grinning quickly at Aika.

"You got hit in the head and hit in the gut. You're injured," Katara told him with a straight face.

Zuko gave her a flat look. "So, you get to make snarky responses but I can't?"

"Doctor's orders, Zuko," Katara smirked. "Smart patients listen to their healers so that they can get better faster," she said as she tapped his forehead gently. Her grin fell a moment later. "It's still bad. I was able to heal most of the internal damage, at least now you won't bleed from the inside, but there's still a lot of bruising, and your wounds are delicate right now."

Zuko nodded, staring across his room.

"You need to stay in bed. Your head took a severe blow. It'll heal quicker thanks to my healing, but if you jar it or do too much with it, you might permanently impair it. So for at least a week, don't read, don't plan, don't do anything that causes too much concentration, ok?"

"Well isn't that just perfect for you," Zuko grumbled.

"Zuko," Iroh said, warningly.

Katara looked at Zuko in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"I mean now you get such a perfect opportunity to be saved. I apparently can't plan anything so your little Avatar friend is safe for me from now. Exactly how long are you going to incapacitate me like this?"

Katara's mouth dropped open in fury. Balling her hands into fists, she stood up from his bedside.

"I am a healer. I saved your life and now you accuse me of that? Just how heartless do you think I am?" she finished with a shout.

Zuko looked at her in shock as she leaned over him, hands on her hips.

"Don't you ever compare me with something you would've done," she hissed at him. "I would never be like you."

She turned away and tried discretely to wipe away the tears beginning to form. She was so distracted with her anger that she barely heard the bed rustling and jumped in shock when a warm hand touched her elbow. She whirled around to see Zuko extremely close to her. Redness began creeping up her neck as he gazed at her, so she scowled, hoping no one would notice her blush.

Out of the corner of her eye, Katara saw Iroh quickly shoving everyone out of the room before quietly shutting the door so that it was only Zuko and Katara left. Zuko scowled at the door for a moment before turning back to Katara, frowning slightly, his hand still on her elbow.

"Look," he began. "I'm sorry for what I said. You saved my life when you probably could've used this as a chance to escape. I shouldn't have said those things."

Katara blinked at him. "Are you apologizing to me?"

"Forgive me if I'm not very good at it," he said dryly, releasing her arm and sitting back down on the edge of his bed, clasping his hands on his knees. Katara kneeled in front of him, confused and concerned.

"From what I've seen from you, you care too much."

Katara opened her mouth to defend herself but Zuko beat her to the punch.

"I should know by now, you wouldn't do something that selfish after you'd healed me. You were right, that is something I would do and I'm sorry for comparing yourself to me," he finished through gritted teeth, as if the apology pained him.

Katara gazed at him for a moment before sighing.

"It's ok. Probably just your brain damage talking," she said with a quick smile before she became serious again. "I'm sorry too."

Zuko raised his eyebrow at her.

"What I said, about me never being like you? It's probably true, but I shouldn't have said it. Because I don't know if I'd be brave enough to do what you did to protect your soldiers. Zuko, you risked your life for them. There's hardly any leaders, Fire Nation or otherwise that would've done that."

"Don't try and use that to turn me into some type of person who can be saved from the dark path they're on," Zuko said. "Just because I care about the people I took from their homes in banishment with me doesn't mean I'm suddenly going to become some type of saint who tries to save the world. I'm still just trying to get home, and I can't do that without my crew."

Katara frowned slightly. "But you had a majority of your crew already safe here on the ship. If you really were heartless, you would've let them die. So why did you save them?"

Zuko hesitated for a moment before answering.

"You remember when I snuck into the North Pole and tried to…"

"Tried to kidnap Aang? Yeah I remember that."

Zuko winced slightly. "Yeah well I did that because before the invasion, Admiral Zhou had stolen my crew. They were forced to serve him in the Fire Nation fleet. They were lucky enough to have been on one of the surviving boats that barely had any damage, they sailed away quickly once the Avatar did his Avatar thing."

Zuko's eyes widened a bit, still a bit shocked at the power he'd seen from the Avatar. Katara knew he had to be, since she still was. She nodded at him, prompting him to continue his story.

"After the invasion failed, my crew could've returned home. They had the ship, their current commander had vanished, and they had nothing to keep them here anymore. My uncle and I were shocked when the ship found us. My crew picked us up and we began our search again as soon as we could.

"The day I first set foot on this ship, I promised myself I wouldn't lose them. If they gave up a chance to go home for my uncle and me, then I wouldn't give up until I could return them to the homeland."

Zuko shrugged when he'd finished, finally looking at Katara who was looking back at him in surprise.

She opened her mouth but before she could say anything, a knock sounded on the door. Zuko swung himself fully onto his bed before calling for them to enter, Iroh poking his head in, smiling when he saw them.

He walked inside, the other two guards and Aika following. Iroh came up beside Katara and asked if she needed anything.

"I'm just going to get some rest," she told him, standing and walking over to the pad Iroh had brought in for her a few days ago, lying down on her side, facing the wall.

She'd barely closed her eyes when she heard Zuko say her name softly.

"Thank you," he said when she'd turned back around.

Katara nodded, and then flipped back over. She tried to fall asleep but found herself conflicted and sleep eluded her. She deepened her breathing to try and lull her to sleep, a trick she'd taught herself when Sokka's snores had been too loud at night, but it didn't help. She found herself struggling with her wish to care for Zuko. After everything he'd done to her, to her brother, and to Aang, she shouldn't worry about anything that happened to him, yet she couldn't stop herself from wanting to care for him, for wanting to see the proud Firebender standing tall on his feet again.

"She's exhausted," Katara heard Iroh say.

Her eyes snapped open.

"She's been caring for you every hour since we got you back here."

"Why?" she heard Zuko say, disbelief in his voice.

"Katara is a kind person. She's a healer."

"She's also a fighter."

"That as well. And she fought to keep you alive. You're both more alike than you know. You're both stubborn, and both always insist you're right."

"She shouldn't have healed me. All I've done is make her life miserable."

"It's who she is. Don't be upset she showed kindness and mercy to you."

"Kindness is a weakness. People only take advantage of kind people."

"Kindness is never a weakness. It is a choice."

"What's happened while I've been out, Uncle?" Zuko asked, changing the subject.

"We've managed to avoid the Avatar, but he is persistent to get his friend back."

"Good. Keep evading him. I'll need to be at full strength if I'm to capture him and her brother. Now that I'm awake, we can start setting up another plan to trap them. Which would've been easier if you hadn't let Katara up on deck to practice!"

"Prince Zuko, she saved your life. It was the smallest form of repayment I could give. And Zuko, you need to rest. If you want to be at full strength, you need to do as Katara requests. Wait until then before coming up with a plan."
"Fine."

Both men sighed.

"She should hate me," Zuko mumbled. "I just use her as bait and as soon as I don't need her anymore, I'll be dumping her off somewhere to fight her way home."

"You could at least let her have her brother when you leave her."

"No. I need her brother. If they're together, they'll come back for the Avatar. And I need a prisoner to use as leverage, and Katara is too powerful to hold down, especially if the Avatar were with her."

"You could still find another way."

"This is what I need. I have to get my honor back, whatever it takes," Zuko said.

Katara heard Iroh stand back up and closed her eyes again.

"I'll leave you to rest then. Aika, let's leave the Prince alone."

"Yes, sir."

The door opened and footsteps took everyone out before it shut again. Katara heard shuffling from Zuko and squeezed her eyes shut, anger beginning to take over as she processed what they'd said.

"You shouldn't have saved me," Zuko whispered before all noise in his room stopped. His breathing deepened and Katara knew he'd fallen back asleep.

Yeah, Katara thought. I really shouldn't have.