A/N: After finally escape from Azulas attack, Aang and Kya goes to the north pole to find help for Katara. This is chapter fourteen of book four. Katara is on a road to recovery, but it isn't easy for her. Aang and Kya tries to help Katara in her time of need. Aang feels the most upset, since he was with Katara and he failed to protect her, even since he's her boyfriend.

Chapter 14 - Recovery

Appa flies towards the North Pole. Aang looks back at Kya and Katara. "How is she doing?"

Katara is struggling. She's shaking in horrible pain, her eyes tightening shut. She is whimpering. Kya puts an ear on Kataras chest, her heart is beeping a little slow. "She's failing. We have to hurry."

Aang nods. Appa flies faster then arrives at the North Pole. Appa lands in front of the healing class. Aang rushes inside. Kya hops off of Appa with Katara in her arms, then hurries to the class. Aang barges inside, noticing Yugoda working on her lessons.

"Oh, Avatar Aang. I'm in a middle of a class." Yugoda mentions.

"I know, I'm sorry." Aang says fast. "It's Katara, she needs medical attention."

Yugoda widens her eyes hearing that. "Oh, the poor dear. Let me see her." Kya walks in with Katara in her arms. Yugoda takes a look at Katara, noticing the shaking and the painful whimpering. "What happened?"

"She got shot by lightning." Aang mentions. "She's hurt pretty bad. She's been struggling to stay alive on the way."

Yugoda nods. "Let's get her to the infirmary." Aang and Kya heads outside. "Class dismissed." Yugoda says to her students.

Aang, Kya and Yugoda hurries to the infirmary. When they arrive, they gently lays Katara on a mat. The other healers takes Aang and Kya outside, but they ask for staying for a minute. Aang is the first to see Katara.

"Katara?" Katara gasps a little. She struggles to look at Aang.

"I-I...I can't...hold on...any longer." Katara whispers painfully.

"Shh, shh. Just a little longer, Katara. Help is here." Aang says.

"I-it hurts...too much...I can't..." Katara gets cut off by Aang putting a finger on her lips.

"Shhh...just a little longer." Aang repeats. Katara just looks at Aang scarce. Aang sees no hope in Kataras eyes, she's in great pain cause of the lightning, and she fears that she might die just like Aang did once.

Kya is next to see Katara. She puts her hands on Kataras cheeks, helping for face her mother.

"Katara?" Katara moans a little. "Listen, sweetie. You're going to be okay...These people are here to help you. Just hang on for a moment, you're going to be fine."

Slowly, weakly lays her hand out. "I'm...scared..." Katara whispers, with tears escaping from her eyes.

Kya can feel tears escaping from her eyes. She always knew Katara was strong and brave, and now, she's the helpless little girl she was before Kya died. "It's okay, Katara. Don't be scared. Everything's going to be fine, trust me." Katara gives a small nod. "All right, me and Aang are going to be waiting outside, don't worry, we're not going to leave you. When you're fixed up, we're going to be right beside you."

A tear slides out of Kataras eye. She slowly, but weakly, raises her hand and places it on her mothers cheek. "I-I-I...I l-love...you...mom." Katara murmurs.

Kya smiles and lets tears escape from her eyes. "I love you too, sweetie." Kya leans in and gives Katara a kiss on the forehead. "Feel better, Katara."

Kya gets on her feet and she and Aang leaves the infirmary. Meanwhile, on the earth kingdom lands, the gang starts walking, Bato and the other water tribe warriors returns to the boats. Chief Hakoda goes with Sokka and his friends.

"I can't believe we have to walk all the way to Ba Sing Se." Sokka says, whining a little.

"Oh, stop complaining, Sokka." Suki says. "It's not that bad."

"Mightest will be, since Aang and Kya are taking Katara to the north pole on Appa, and I doubt they'll be coming back during Kataras recovery to give us a ride." Zuko says.

"How do you doubt it?" Sokka asks.

Zuko looks at Sokka with a look that tells him he should have known the answer. "Aang is her boyfriend who loves her dearly and Kya is her mother who hasn't seen her in eight years."

Sokka looks down, disappointed. "Yeah, I suppose that's true."

Toph rushes up to Sokka. "Hey, Snoozles. Check out what I ran into while fighting the Di Lee." Toph takes out a sword. Sokka smiles and gasps, it's his space sword.

Sokka rushes towards Toph and grabs it. "No way! It's my space sword!" Sokka hugs the space sword closely. "I missed you so much!"

Suki feels a little offended, then Zuko leans into her ear. "Seems like you've got competition." Zuko laughs a little, but then Suki decides to laugh about it.

Hours later, Aang and Kya sits outside of the infirmary. Aang is holding a bouquet of flowers. Aang looks upset, Kya notices. "What's wrong?"

Aang sighs disappointedly. "It's all my fault." Aang says. Kya looks at Aang with concern. "I was there, I saw Katara getting shoot, I didn't stop it. I didn't protect her, it's all my fault."

Kya puts a hand on Aangs shoulder. "It's not your fault. I'm sure even if you tried, you probably wouldn't make it. Aang looks at Kya with a sorrow look. "It's not your fault, even if it is, it doesn't matter. What matters is Katara's safe and she's recovering. Besides, if it's anyone's fault, it's Azula's."

Aang looks down then sighs. Just then, Yugoda walks out of the infirmary. Aang and Kya stands up and walks up to Yugoda. "How is she?" Aang asks.

"She's a little unstable, but she'll be all right." Yugoda says. "We're going to transfer her into a nearby hut. She'll need her rest, so let her sleep when she needs it." Kya and Aang nods. "We're gonna keep her around for a few days, just to be sure."

Yugoda returns to the infirmary. Aang and Kya stands outside for a few minutes. After then, a few healers walks outside carrying Katara on a stretcher. Katara is knocked out like a light, with a cover over her body. Kya and Aang follows Katara into the second hut near the infirmary. The healer gently removes Katara from the stretcher and lays her on the mat, then leaves.

Aang and Kya sits beside Katara. Kya puts a hand on Kataras forehead, then gently brushes away the loose hair in the way. Katara moans a little then slightly opens her eyes. Kataras vision is a little blurrry, then it starts to clear up. "M-Mom? ...Aang?"

Kya smiles. "Hey, Katara. How are you feeling?" Kya asks.

Katara moans a little. "I feel very weak and...less...painful."

"That's good, at least." Kya says. Kya gently stokes Katara from shoulder to arm. "Yugoda says you'll be all right. You're just going have to stay here a few days just to be sure."

Katara smiles. "All right."

Kya moves aside, then Aang kneels beside Katara. He lays the bouquet of flowers on Katara. "For you, Katara."

Katara looks at the flowers and smiles. "For me? Aww, Aang. They're beautiful."

"I'm glad you like them." Aang says. "We're staying here for you, Katara. Is there anything you need?"

Katara shook her head a little. "No, but I am a little tired."

"Then get some sleep. Yugoda says you'll need your rest." Kya says. Katara nods and falls back asleep. Kya leans in and gives Katara a kiss on the forehead. "Sweet dreams, my little angel."

On the next hour, Kya and Aang settles in with Katara. Katara is still asleep. Suddenly, Katara starts shivering, violently. Aang and Kya notices. Aang feels Katara, she's icy cold. "She's freezing." Aang mentions. "Are we allow to cover her up?"

Kya gets on her feet and starts leaving the hut. "I'll ask the healers, see what we could do."

Aang stays by Katara. Katara is shivering more, and her skin is turning light blue. Aang puts a hand on Kataras cheek. Katara opens her eyes and faces Aang. "A-a-a...Aang?" Aang nods. "It's so...c-c-c-c-c...cold."

"I know it is, Katara." Aang whispers. "You're mother is gonna get something to help."

Kya returns with a second cover and a winter coat. "The healers says we can cover her up if it's severe." Kya says.

"She's shivering like an earthquake and she's turning blue. I think it's severe." Aang says.

Kya nods. Kya and Aang helps Katara dress up. They put the winter coat on her. Aang walks to the fire place and uses his firebending to light up a fire. Aang holds Katara in his arms and lays her on his lap, by the fire place. Kya lays the second cover over Aang, spreading it around to cover Katara as well.

"You warm enough, Katara?" Aang asks. Katara nods a little. Katara lays her head on Aangs chest. "You comfortable?"

"A little." Katara whispers.

"I'm not hurting you, am I?" Aang asks.

"No, I'm all right." Katara murmurs.

Kya puts a hand on Kataras stomach. "Are you hungry?"

Katara moans a little. "Yeah...I am pretty hungry."

Kya smiles. "How about I make you your favorite: five-flavored soup?"

Katara is a little surprised to hear that, then smiles. "Yes, please."

Kya nods then leaves the hut. Aang looks at Katara a little confused. "I thought your favorite was sea prunes?"

"It is, but my mother makes the best five-flavored soup." Katara says. Katara closes her eyes and smiles, laying her head on Aangs chest. "I can't thank you enough for bringing her back."

Aang gives Katara a little hug. "You can try." Aang says, with a little laugh. Aang frowns a little remembering Azulas attack on her. "I'm sorry I didn't protect you from Azula."

Katara smiles a little. "It's okay, Aang...I guess you could say...we can call it even."

Aang looks a little confused. "What do you mean?"

"Back in Ba Sing Se...I saw Azula getting ready to shoot you..but I didn't stop her...I failed to protect you." Katara says. "I...couldn't call myself a friend...letting you suffer like that...I spent every waking moment with you...trying to heal you...to wake you."

"It's all right, Katara...what matters is we're all right." Aang says, giving Katara a kiss on the cheek.

Meanwhile, at the Jasmine Dragon, Iroh and Usra works on serving tea. After all that, Iroh returns behind the counter, and Usra takes a sit on one of the bar stools. "I never realized your tea shop would be such a hit." Usra says.

"Neither does Zuko. Of course, he never appreciated tea back then." Iroh says. Iroh starts wiping the counter with a wet cloth. "Anyways, the ball is in two weeks. You going?"

"Oh, I don't know." Usra says. "My husband is still in prison and I doubt he'll want anything to do with balls...or earth kingdoms."

Iroh laughs a little. "Well, you can still have a fun time. Besides, don't you want to see your son with a special lady?"

"I guess that's true, he's told me a lot about him and Mai." Usra says. "It's just sad to hear how Azula ended up."

"Yeah, she's crazy and needed to be dealt it. If only she could have seen the truth like Zuko had." Iroh says.

Meanwhile, in the earth kingdom lands, Yakone does some work at a blacksmith shop, grumbling about Katara and Aang. "Took away my bending...walking out on me and my grandmother...I'll teach them a lesson to ignore the true path of a waterbending master."

"You too, eh?" the fainted voice says.

Yakone freezes hearing the voice. "Who's there?"

"We have something in common." The fainted voice echoes. Yakone looks around, searching for the source of the voice. "Come to Avatar Island...we must meet."

Yakone raises his shoulders then walks off.

Back at the north pole, Kya returns with a bowl of soup. Kya kneels beside Aang and hands the soup to Katara. Katara smiles and takes the soup. "Thanks, mom." Katara smells the soup. "Mmm...smells delicious."

Katara takes a spoonful of the soup, then smiles. "You always did love my cooking." Kya says.

"I missed your cooking." Katara takes, taking another spoonful of the soup. "I missed you so much, mom. I'm just happy to have you back."

Kya gently strokes Kataras hair. "I know, I'm happy to be back too. I missed you so much as well."

Kya smiles at Katara. Katara finishes the soup and Aang places the bowl aside. "You know what it was I missed the most?" Katara asks. Kya gives Katara a questioning look. "The song."

Aang looks a little confused. "I'm not surprised you missed that the most." Kya says. Katara laughs a little.

"What song?" Aang asks.

"There's this song I sing to Katara when she was little. I sing it whenever she's scared or sad." Kya says.

"It...always cheered me up." Katara says, with a smile. "Can you sing it again?"

Kya nods a little. "Of course." Kya wraps her arms around Katara, and takes her. "I'll take it from here, Aang." Kya lays Katara on her lap. Katara lays her head on her mothers shoulder. Kya wraps one arm around Katara, then gently strokes her hair with her other hand.

Kya starts singing the song, all quiet, a little slow, tender, sweet, just the way Katara loves it. Aang watches the whole thing, he smiles seeing Katara well relaxed and comfortable, the song is also beautiful to him.

Katara falls peacefully asleep in her mothers arms in the middle of the song. At the end of the song, Kya notices Katara asleep, then lays her on the mat. Aang kneels in front of Kataras head, leans in and gives her a kiss on the forehead. "Sweet dreams, Katara."

Katara gets some rest, to get a better recovery.

Meanwhile, on the island, Azula makes a boat out wood and some vines. Azula ties the vines tightly. "I don't know if I should bother seeing this voice that's calling me." Azula thinks for a moment. "All though, the avatar took away my bending and I'm stranded here on an island. So I guess I don't have anything else left." Azula pushes the boat into the water then hops on. Azula takes out the paddle and starts paddling. "All right, voice. I'm coming."

Meanwhile, at the earth kingdom lands, Yakone rides on a boat by the docks. the boat sails off. Yakone walks up to the captain. "Take me to this 'Avatar Island'. I have a meeting with someone."

The captain looks at Yakone. "Who? The avatar?" The captain does a crazy laugh at the end.

"Not sure. A voice just told me to go there and meet him." Yakone says. Yakone walks to the head of the ship and looks at the sky. "I'm coming, voice. Just hang there."

On the next day, Sokka and his friends and dad arrive at the house in Ba Sing Se. "Finally, we're home." Sokka says, crashing on the couch.

Toph walks in. "I don't feel twinkletoes or sugar queen anywhere. They're probably still at the north pole."

"Probably. When are they coming home?" Hakoda asks. Everyone raises their shoulders. "I just hope Katara's all right."

"Yeah, me too." Sokka says.