A/N: One more chapter to go! I have a couple "bonus" chapters that came up after I already had my chapters all planned out. I'll also be starting on the companion pieces for this series soon! This chapter in particular is one I can't wait to write the backstory for. Thanks for reading! Reviews always appreciated
Katara had left her patients in Sora's hands for the evening. She was honored that her mentor would trust her with such a task and kept checking in on the patient she knew Katara was most worried about. It had been 6 days since they had almost lost Toph Beifong.
She had retired as Police Chief a few years prior and it seemed that some of her old enemies took this to mean she was vulnerable to attacks. Thus far, Sora had seen more of the earthbender's would be attackers in need of healing than the woman herself. But nearly a week ago the Terra Triads had organized an ambush attack.
They had a bloodbender and whatever they had done had left the former police chief with numerous burst blood vessels and a cracked skull. It was a testament to Katara's healing ability that she hadn't died. Now, it seemed that she was luckily mostly out of the woods. With regular healing sessions she was expected to regain consciousness for the first time at any moment now.
3 days ago the Avatar and his family had gotten a note saying their youngest son and Lin Beifong had been taken. They demanded Toph Beifong be handed over or else their children would pay the price. Practically the entire city had been looking for the pair but had not had any luck as of yet.
Sora went to Toph's room to check her over. She looked peaceful as she slept. The healer carefully pulled the blankets up a bit further and made note to adjust the temperature of the room to be a few degrees warmer.
A loud commotion yanked her attention from her patient and she ran for the door, locking it behind her, just in case. Rounding the corner she was shocked to see a battered looking Lin Beifong practically dragging Tenzin across the lobby.
"Please! You have to help him!"
A couple of the other healers were already helping, getting Tenzin onto a bed and wheeling him away. Sora rushed to Lin.
"What happened? Are you okay?"
"I'm fi-"
The words died on her lips as Lin's legs buckled. Sora acted instinctively, catching her before she hit the ground. Her own legs nearly buckled from the weight of the metal armor that still encased Lin's torso. Many of the other pieces were missing but the chest plate was still firmly in place.
"We need another bed over here!"
"You can put her in here for now."
Sora directed the other healer to wheel a sleeping Lin into the same room her mother was in. She figured it would be easier to keep them safe if they were in the same spot. Avatar Aang and Katara were with their son and Sora decided to watch over the Beifongs.
She checked Lin's pulse and went to sit in a chair by the window when a voice made her nearly jump out of her skin.
"Is she okay?"
Sora turned to see Toph's unseeing eyes staring at her. The healer walked to her side and took the earthbender's hand, feeling for her steady pulse and smiling. Everyone would be so relieved that she had finally regained consciousness.
"She'll be okay. A couple fractured ribs but I think she's more exhausted than anything. Sounds like she saved both Tenzin and herself."
Toph smiled as her eyes started to droop again.
"That's my girl."