apologies, i had writers block and then i didn't like this chapter but i don't see any way of improving it and just guuh! next chapter will be so much better. only roughly 2-3 chapters before a time skip then i don't know from there. anyway, read, review and enjoy.

It's time to wake up Lin. You've been asleep for a long time. Your family misses you. Open your eyes. That's it.

Lin's eyes were unfocused as they surveyed the room around her. It was still night, as evident by the stars and moon in the sky. The Chief of police sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, though when she attempted to stand, her legs collapsed and she was sent careening to the floor, causing her heart monitor to skyrocket, and nurses to flood her room. There was a stabbing pain in her chest as her vision blurred and she found herself in the familiar arms of unconsciousness.

Kya had never run so fast in her life. It was three in the morning when she received the call that her girlfriend was awake but she didn't care, she got out of bed as soon as possible and drove to the hospital. As she neared Lin's hospital room, she could hear someone yelling inside. Thrusting the door open, Kya found Lin sitting up in bed, fighting off a team of nurses who were prodding her in an effort to conduct their unnecessary checks.

"Chief Beifong, please stay still."

"You are not my doctor, I-"

"No, I am." Everyone stopped what he or she was doing to stare at the waterbender in the doorway. "And as her doctor, I would appreciate it if you would all leave."

The nurses averted their gaze as they filed out of the room one by one.

Kya let out a relieved sigh as she allowed her smile to return and embrace the metalbender before her, though her smile disappeared when the hug wasn't returned. She pulled away and cupped Lin's cheek. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Lin narrowed her eyes as she looked up at her partner. "You mean other than finding out I've been in a coma for the last two months? Hmm let's see, two of my officers are most likely dead, my best friend was burned alive, too which I was a witness to. I was shot full of lightning, how I'm alive I have no idea, and to top it all off, I could have prevented it all! Fuck!" Lin's heart rate monitor was beeping quickly as she tried to calm herself down again.

"Lin, you did what you could." The waterbender grasped the officer's hand tightly. "You followed the correct procedures, but unfortunately it didn't go to plan, which means you now have to improve on the system so it doesn't happen again." Kya took a deep breath; she had no idea how to handle this situation and she wasn't sure if she was making it worse. "Your officers aren't dead by the way. They found them on the riverbank alive. Partial drowning but other than that, they're fine."

"Great, now there's only two things wrong." Lin let out a hiss and clenched her chest. "I spoke too soon."

"You're still in pain." A statement more than a question.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"We used spirit water. I thought when you eventually woke, you wouldn't be in any pain." Kya motioned to the water pouch at her hip and gently manoeuvred the water to Lin's chest.

"Spirit water huh? Must have been pretty bad." Lin's eyebrows narrowed when Kya didn't say anything. "How bad was it Kya?"

"You uh, flat lined. A few times actually. Scared the shit out of me."

"Was Kuvira there?"

"No. I had Tenzin collect her from the house. She stayed with him until we were sure you were in a stable condition. She's only been to see you a few times. She doesn't completely understand so she's a bit uncomfortable. Suyin and her family is in town by the way, along with Toph. My mother had to go back to the South, she said it was White Lotus business."

Lin gave a nod as she tried to sit up. "I need to go to the bathroom, can you help me?"

"Oh, they removed the cath-"

"Yes! Please, I don't think we need to talk about that."

Kya bent down, allowing Lin to wrap an arm around her shoulders and stand on weak legs. "You okay?"

"No, but I'll get better, I always do. I want you to see about getting me released. I need to go home and see our little girl."

"Lin, I-" Kya looked away when she received a glare from her partner. "I'll see what I can do. We put a set of clothes under the sink. Are you going to be okay in there?"

"Fine." They looked each other in the eye before going in their own directions.

Lin used the walls to help her stay standing as she made her way to the little cupboard under the sink. She was relieved to find her usual casual wear and not something formal. She slowly took off her gown, hissing in pain as she stretched her arms out, and now she stood in front of the bathroom mirror, completely naked and frowning at what she saw. Her muscles weren't as toned as they used to be, her skin was a sickly grey colour and the scar just below her sternum was a deep pink colour. "Fuck, no wonder why I can't stand on my own and to top it all off, I look like shit." She slowly got dressed before exiting the bathroom, to see Kya waiting for her, holding a pair of crutches. "I'm not using those."

"I can't help you get around every time you want something. And I got you an early release, without any medical checks, it's the least you can do."

"Fine."

"Thank you."

"Kuvira! How much longer?!" Baatar Junior called out as he struggled to keep up with his younger cousin.

"Just near those trees!" A large grin graced Kuvira's face as she finally came to a halt and couldn't help but relish in the cool breeze that crossed the creek and into her tiny body.

Baatar finally made it and had to bend over to take in deep breaths. "Why, couldn't we, walk?" He finally stopped with the heavy panting to stand up straight with an awe struck gaze. "Wow, this is really nice. There's even a tiny waterfall."

"Yeah."

A moment of silence passed between them, making Baatar a tad uneasy. "So, why did you bring me here? If you wanted to talk, we could have stayed at the house."

"Because this is a special place and you're a special to me so I had to share it with you."

"Oh, thanks I guess."

Kuvira took his hand and sat down, bringing him with her. "This was mine and Asami's place. We used to play here all the time after I finished with training and Asami finished with etiquette classes."

"What ever happened to her, your friend?"

The young earthbender picked up a nearby pebble a tossed it into the creek. "I don't know exactly. I woke up to the smell of smoke and I looked out the window to see Asami's house on fire, everything else is kind of a blur –

"Kuvira, look at me." Kuvira begrudgingly looked up at her dad, while her mother quickly put on clothes. "I want you to stay here and hide. I don't want you to come out for anyone, do you understand?"

The little girl nodded meekly before quickly running off to the laundry room, where she found a hiding space in one of the cupboards. She was shrouded in darkness as a faint scream was heard in the distance. It didn't sound as though it came from her parents, or at least she hoped. "Everything is alright. Mum and dad will keep me safe. They promised." A loud bang sounded, making Kuvira recoil and hold her knees tightly, trying to gain some form of comfort from the act.

It felt like hours had passed before a thump came from the front of the house. "Kuvira!"

The voice sounded familiar but she couldn't be sure so she kept quiet.

"Kuvira, please come out."

She could hear the intruder's footsteps come closer, causing her heart rate to increase. She was breathing heavily when all of a sudden, the cupboard door opened to reveal a man in silver armour. "Kuvira?"

"Saikhan?"

The strong officer had a pained grin on his face as he bent down and allowed Kuvira to wrap her tiny arms around his neck. "You're alright."

The duo walked out to the backyard, where Tenzin was landing on Oogi. "Goodness, is she alright?"

"She's fine," Saikhan handed the young girl over to her uncle, rubbing her back gently as he did so, "though I suggest you call the hospital when you get a chance."

"What happened? Kya was in a rush when she called, I didn't get anything helpful from her."

"It's not my place to say. I have to go wrap up the crime scene."

"Alright, I have things from here. Thank you Saikhan."

Lin's second in command gave him a nod before he walked away.

Tenzin looked down at the shaking mass in his arms, when he heard a whimper escape her. "Everything will be okay Kuvira, you can trust me." He felt her nod her head against his chest. He took it as an okay to move back to Oogi's saddle and then they were off, just like that.

"Just like that, and now my dad won't wake up, my friend's mum is dead, Asami and her dad has moved back into the city until their house is fixed and my mum is never home. I feel, alone."

Kuvira looked down when she felt a hand grip her own. "You'll never be alone."

"Kuvira! Junior!"

The two kids let go of each other's hands at the sound of their grandmother's voice. "Do you think we're in trouble?"

"I hope not." Kuvira quickly stood up and took off running, leaving Baatar to trail behind her.

"Wow Lin, you look, uh, good?"

Lin deadpanned at her sister's words, as she on tightly to the crutches in a desperate attempt to keep standing. "Gee, thanks Su."

The younger sister smiled as she embraced Lin gently. "It's good to see you awake."

"Thanks. It's good to be awake. Where's my kid? I can't wait to see h-" Lin didn't even finish her sentence when she heard little feet run into the lounge room and that beautiful face she had come to love over the past five years appeared before her. There was a moment where the two just stood still, looking at each other, when Kuvira took off running into Lin's legs, holding on as tightly as she could.

"Don't leave again."

"Kuvira's asleep. She didn't want to let me go, though I didn't really care." Lin let out a yawn as she hobbled over to the bed and quickly sat down and set the crutches aside. "So, it has been a couple of months since we, you kn-" The metalbender stopped talking when Kya rolled over in bed and presented her with a piece of meteor. "Kinky."

"Lin, I need you to bend this for me."

Lin's eyes narrowed as she used her bending to take the rock from her girlfriend, albeit with shaky hands while she tried to keep it in mid air. "Piece of cake."

"Alright." The waterbender resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow and make a sarcastic remark regarding the beads of sweat forming on Lin's face. "Make a diamond."

Lin grunted when she attempted the task, only to have the rock drop onto the bed. "Damnit."

"I knew this was going to happen."

"Nice to know I had your full support."

"That's not what I meant." Kya placed a hand on Lin's shoulder trying to gain her attention. "Lin, you were struck by lightning. Not everyone bounces back from something like that. You more than anyone knows this. The public hasn't been told that you are out of your coma and I think we should keep it that way until you're back to your full strength."

"Do you have something in mind?"

"I do but I think we should discuss it with Toph in the morning."

Lin gave her a nod as she laid down and attempted to pull Kya into an embrace. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, just, I just want to hold you for once."

The metalbender resisted the urge to laugh at the unusual request but rolled over none the less, allowing the waterbender to wrap her arms around her. "Kya, I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for not giving up on me."

"I will never give up on you. Thank you for saving me in the first place. I love you Lin."

"I love you too."

All was peaceful in the Beifong household once more.