Chapter 45: Reunion

Medical bay

Fire Nation Embassy

After a couple twists and turns including a pit stop at a vending machine and a water fountain, Sokka found himself in front of the medical bay. With some trepidation, he nudged the door open, unsure of what to expect.

Inside, was a small operating room complete with the most up to date medical equipment and some form of telecommunication device. Opposite it was a dispensary and beside it, was a ward. Making a beeline for the ward, he scanned the room for his sister and picked out the first bunk on the right. In the dim yellow light, Sokka could make out large bruises on her wrists, as well as a faded mark on her face in the shape of a palm. Clasping his sister's hands, Sokka whispered "What have they done to you, little sis? I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect you like I should have. Can you forgive me?"

When Katara didn't stir from her sleep, he scrounged a piece of scrap paper and a pen, before scribbling a number placing it in the palm of her hand. Halfway out of the ward, something in him made him turn back and hug his sister. Naturally, this caused her to wake up in a panic.

"Get off me!" she cried, trying her best to shrug him off.

"Stop, Katara, it's me, Sokka!"

"S-sokka?" she timidly ventured, not really believing it was really her brother.

"Yeah, it's me, your meat and sarcasm loving brother." he replied. In response, she hugged him tighter, putting pressure on his ribs and more importantly, the bite wound from this morning.

"Oww sis, can you loosen up, just a little? You're pressing on my arm." Immediately, she released her hold. Lifting his sleeves, she saw wrappings bound around a patch of skin on his arm.

"What happened Sokka? Did Azula do this to you?"

"I, well, it's an embarrassing story. I'll tell you about it some other time." Looking over her cuts and bruises, he asked her back "What happened to you?"

"Me and Kiyi were in the hospital helping out after the attack on the Directorate. Next thing we knew, we each got thrown into a separate cell in some basement somewhere and…" she trailed off, before becoming silent. Seeing the pain and hurt in her eyes, coupled with her reluctance to talk, Sokka wisely didn't press further and pulled her into his chest "It's okay sis, you can tell me later at some other time. Or not, it's up to you. I'll always be here for you. After all, you're the only family I have left." he said, stroking his sister's back she sniffled quietly into his clothes.

"Come on, let's talk a walk okay?" he asked, to which Katara nodded.

Steadying herself on his shoulders, the siblings exited the ward, only to run into Ursa, the fire siblings and Aang.

"Katara, what happened to you?!" Aang cried.

"She got roughed up some along with Kiyi when we were out in the tundra." At the mention of Kiyi, Sokka could feel her immediately stiffen, but chose to keep quiet though given her reaction, he figured it would have something to do with their shared experience and Kiyi's current state. Praying that they wouldn't ask any further, he asked "So what now? We're two people short, Hahn and Bulan would probably be tied up with Arnook and we've got a kingpin on the loose with a ton of foot soldiers.", while pulling Katara closer to him.

"Until we talk with Arnook tomorrow, we don't really have many options. Also, I'd much rather have us all back at full strength considered we've been out running ourselves ragged for the past couple of days. Tired people make mistakes, and we can't afford any more mistakes."

"So what do you propose then Zuzu? We sit back and relax while some shit for brains gets away with whatever the fuck he's planning?"

"It wouldn't kill you to take a break, we just came back from the field. Besides, we need to get your head checked out after you knocked yourself out while summoning a lightning bolt."

"You did what now!" Ursa gasped.

"Mom, I'm twenty four, not two years old. Cut me some slack will you?" Azula huffed. Just then, a sudden burst of pain slammed into her like an angry komodo rhino and sent her reeling.

"Azula, are you alright? Hang in there, I'll get a doctor real quick!" Sokka exclaimed in a panicked tone, before rushing to find the nearest doctor. In the meanwhile, Katara unsteadily knelt to her level and asked "I need water, does anyone have any?"

"Here's some water!" Aang thrusted out a half drunk bottle of vending machine mineral water. Pulling out the contents, Katara formed it into a globe and started to work on Azula, whose facial expressions immediately relaxed as she manipulated the water. Returning with a doctor, he found Katara crouched over her head moving the globe of water around.

With a nod, they carried her onto the examination table and shooed out almost everyone except Ursa and Katara, who kept up her bending. Tapping on her shoulder, the doctor asked "Miss, if I may?"

"Oh, uh, yeah, sure." Katara replied, moving the ball of water into the sink.

"Thank you." she replied, and warmed up her hands, before massaging her head, trying to get a heatmap of what might be causing her sudden migraine. Seeing the doctor's face frown and her eyebrows furrow did little to inspire confidence. With a deep breath, she turned to Ursa and asked "Do you want the good news or the bad news?"

"Does it really matter which comes first?"

"Fair enough. Bad news is, she's going to have to deal with migraine attacks like this for the rest of her life, in addition to possible erratic mood swings and mild to moderate degradation of cognitive function in her old age. As for good news, her TBI symptoms seems to be on the mild end, which is very very lucky considering the bruise on the back of her head."

"Is there any way to cure it?"

"Not unless you're willing to experiment with the unconventional, experimental or esoteric, the last one I highly do not recommend ."

"My headache may be gone but I'm still here you know." Azula interjected, annoyance evident in her voice as she tried to get up.

"Ah, you're awake. Now lay back down, unless you want to trigger another round of migraines." the doctor ordered.

"It takes more than a headache to knock me out." she grumbled.

"I'm sure of that. Now, correct me if I am wrong, but that is a betrothal necklace you're wearing, no? If so, I'd like to have a word with your fiance."

"What exactly are you playing at? Is there something that you're trying to hide from me?"

"No, just that I believe he needs to be informed so he knows what to do. Whatever I'm telling him is the same as what you heard just now."

When they called for Sokka, he immediately hurried into the room, anxious and worried for her safety and wellbeing "Is she going to be okay?"

"For now. You are her fiance, are you not?"

Seeing Sokka nod, she continued "I believe she's suffering from the symptoms of TBI, of which sudden migraines are one of them. In addition, there is the possibility of erratic mood swings and minor to moderate loss of cognitive function in her older years."

"What do you mean, ' minor to moderate loss'? Either it's minor or moderate, there is no in between."

"It means exactly what it means sir. Each brain is different and adapts differently. I've seen long term cases where minor TBI resulted in almost 70% degradation of cognitive function while other more serious cases had maybe fifteen to twenty percent degradation."

"I see. But I still love all the same, ."

"Then I think she will be in very good hands for the rest of her life. One last question, how does the princess end up with a meathead like you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, doc? Also, I'll let this insult slide once and once only. Just so we're clear, I am the only one that can insult him, the rest of you can shut the hell up unless you want to end up like our former Crown Prince outside. Am I clear, doctor?"

"Whatever you say." she replied flippantly, making her fume.

"Why you little-"

"Little what? I've treated more than a fair share of dignitaries and officials with an ego the size of the Unagi. I'd watch that temper of yours if I were you, wouldn't want a migraine to hit you when you least expect it."

Sensing that perhaps kicking up a fuss wasn't worth the shitstorm, Azula begrudgingly backed off. As much as she loathed the idea of being suddenly treated like a porcelain doll, the fact that it was Sokka who was carrying her on his back took some of the sting out of it.

Then again, there were a lot of things that no mere mortal would ever get away with outside of Sokka. Deciding to keep her thoughts to herself, she merely nuzzled herself into the crook of his neck and hummed softly.

After some discussion, they decided that it was probably a good idea to spend the night in the visiting quarters, given that while the Agni Kai were bold, they weren't that bold as to attack an embassy as opposed to a safe house in the city. In addition, their status as royals (though Zuko and Azula suspected that there was some intentional oversight as to how they could keep getting away with it, not that they were complaining of course) allowed them to utilize the royal quarters, much to the staff's unhappiness.

Entering the compound within the compound, the gang entered into a medium sized central space, with a sunken area in the middle serving as a living room with a fully stocked bar off to the side. On the left side, was an equally stocked pantry with produce.

One wing led to a meditation chamber, office with secure communications equipment and two spacious bedrooms, whilst the other wing had three equally spacious sleeping arrangements. All in all, it seemed like a very sumptuous apartment, rivalling those found in the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se and the highrise penthouses of the URN.

As Kiyi, Katara and Aang soaked in the opulence, Sokka's hungry stomach growled again, drawing everyone's attention on him.

"What? I only managed to get a packet of fireflakes from the vending machine, cut me some slack here."

"There's your kitchen, just don't make a mess of things.", to which Sokka rolled his eyes.

"Is there anything you want?"

"Surprise me Sokka."

45 minutes later

"When I said 'surprise me' Sokka, I didn't mean poison me." Azula complained, rinsing out her mouth with a bottle of peach sake in an attempt to rid her taste buds of sea prune gumbo.

"It would be a surprise, no?"

"I'll try many things, but sea prune stew can go right out of the window."

"What if I made it spicy?"

Snapping her fingers, she summoned a wisp of hot blue flame and glared "What do you think?"

"So….no sea prune for Azula?"

Walking around the countertop, he suddenly wrapped her in a bear hug, rubbing the scent of sea prune all over her.

"Damn it Sokka take a shower before you hug me like this, you damn peasant! Now I smell like you!"

"How about taking a shower with me?"

"How about letting go of me before I roast your chestnuts?"

"That's not a no."

"Ughh fine. But no funny business. Am I clear?"

"Whatever you say firefly, whatever you say."