Chapter Eighteen

"We can't just send, 'Hey it's Katara and Zuko! This is where we are, come get us!' What if that's intercepted?" Zuko frowned at the blank parchment scroll spread on the window ledge upstairs in the messenger hawk hut. He continued to bring the quill to the paper only to pull it away and frown some more.

Katara held out her hand. "Here, give it to me."

"Why?" He looked at her suspiciously.

"I know what to write." He hesitated so she snatched it from him. "I know what I'm doing Zuko." She hissed in frustration. "When you were Lee, who was Iroh?"

It took him a moment to process the question before he saw where she was going. "Mushi."

She gave him a derisive look. "Really?" The corner of her mouth twitching up.

"I didn't pick it!" He stopped and looked away. "Actually…"

"You didn't."

"I panicked! They wanted to know our names!"

"And the best you could come up with was Mushi?" She gave him a mocking stare.

"Just write the stupid letter." He muttered crossing his arms, leaning against the wall and looking away from her.

"Dear Uncle Mushi," Katara transcribed aloud. "It's Sparky and Sugar Queen!"

"Good to know those stupid nicknames came in handy for something." He muttered bitterly.

Katara ignored him and continued. "Sorry to run out on you so soon, but there was a family emergency. We stayed with Sparky's sister, though the place was like staying in a cave. Terrible accommodations really."

At this Zuko snorted derisively.

"But we miss you and twinkle toes. We were wondering if you could possibly pick us up? We're a bit tired from our stay, but we've met a lovely couple that have taken us in after a rather nasty argument." She proceeded to describe the town they were in. "Can't wait to see everyone again! Love your niece and nephew."

"Niece?"

"What else did you want me to say? We're supposed to be writing our Uncle." She read over it again, making sure she wasn't giving too much away if their message was to be intercepted. Feeling satisfied, she passed the scroll to Zuko who rolled it up, attached it to the leg of one of the messenger hawks and then threw it into the air outside the window. They watched it fly till it was merely a speck on the horizon.

"I hope they get it." Katara said breaking the long silence.

He gingerly placed his hand over hers, resting on the sill. "They will. Now we wait."

They had taken their time on the way back and the sun was beginning to go down. Katara examined her reflection in an age spotted mirror in the bathroom. Her cheeks were sallow and her eyes a bit sunken. She appeared paler then her normal tan and she had lost several pounds. She bended the last of the water from her hair and almost ran into Zuko on her way out.

"Sorry. You startled me."

"I didn't know you were in there."

"Just taking a bath before bed." He nodded and a moment passed in awkward silence. "Well, good night." She padded quietly down the hall for Jeong and Yori had gone to bed early. The last door on the left seemed to have been a sewing room at one point with a small bed crowded into the corner between bolts of cloth. She was truly looking forward to a good night's sleep on a real bed. Exhaustion pulled her immediately into sleep once her head hit the pillow.

It felt like she had just fallen asleep when she heard a sound.

"Thought you could get away peasant?"

Her blood ran cold as she recognized the voice. She tried to bolt from the room but rough hands caught her shoulders and threw her back on the bed. Cain's eerie smile glowed in the moonlight shining through the window.

"Leaving so soon? But we've only just begun." Azula stepped from the shadows, the crazed look in her eyes once more.

"Zuko!" She shrieked into the dark.

"How rude." The princess snapped. "I'm afraid Zuzu grew tired of playing." She made a motion and two dai li agents strode into the light, a dark haired body suspended between them.

"Zuko!" She screamed, trying to rush to him but thrown back again by Cain.

"Oh, he's not dead. Yet. Are you big brother?" Azula grabbed a handful of hair and yanked his head back, revealing his beaten and bloodied face. As she took in his appearance, the more she noticed. The darker parts of his clothing were either blood stains or blackened singed skin peering out of the burned cloth.

Katara made to lunge at Azula but stone cuffs shackled her wrists and ankles. "Help! Jeong! Yori!" Katara screamed, struggling in a panic as an earth bender shackled her to a heavy chair.

"You're calling for help from those pathetic old slobs?" Azula mocked and burst into a peel of insane laughter. "They can't hear you anymore. Cain made sure of that."

Cain stooped to sneer in her face and drew a finger slowly across his neck. Katara gasped in horror as she realized what had become of the elderly couple that had offered them shelter. "You can't! You monster!"

Flames shot from Azula's hands, blinding her in the sudden light. "Shut up!" She sent a stream of fire into the bolts of cloth and they were ablaze, quickly spreading through the tiny room. She spun on her men. "Take her to the lake." Azula stomped ahead, holding a flame to light her way through the trees despite the burning cottage behind them. A few yards from the cabin was a deep lake Katara had not seen before, yet it looked horribly familiar. Almost exactly like the one from the cave.

"No! You don't have to do this!"

"Take her bending!" She ordered.

The chi blocker had come along too for he suddenly appeared at Azula's side and struck Katara just so to rob her powers.

"Throw her in the lake!" She screeched.

"No!" Her eyes darted around wildly, looking for some way to save herself but all she found were Azula, her men and an unconscious Zuko. The chair was hoisted on small rounds of stone beneath each leg and then tossed into the middle of the deep dark water. She sank and the water hit her so hard and freezing it knocked the breath from her lungs. Bubbles floated to the surface, but it was too painful to keep her eyes open. Everything stung and ached from the icy water and her lungs burned, needing air she did not have. She held out till the last possible moment and the chilling water filled her mouth, stomach, nose and lungs. Suddenly she was ashore and coughing up lake water after a boot met soundly with her stomach.

"Again." Azula smiled gleefully, her smile cracking over white teeth and eyes glinting with such malicious intent, Katara was sure she was not fated to survive this encounter.

The chair plunged below the surface again, dragging her numbed body with it. It was precisely like her old torture sessions, only worse because Azula was here to enjoy it and add her torment to the mix. She was thrust below the surface again and again until she mentally screamed for some kind of release; either into unconsciousness or death. They pulled her from the water and sat her before Azula; dripping, stunned and defeated.

"Tired of playing?" She taunted.

Maybe if she admitted defeat, it would end things that much faster. She managed to lift her head and let it fall in ascent.

"Well that's too bad. Sorry Zuzu, my play thing has grown boring." She strode over to his limp body and lifted his head by his hair again. "I'm righting a wrong. You should have never been born." She hissed at his comatose body. She reached for her boot and withdrew a shining dagger.

Even though her throat was raw and bleeding from coughing up so much water, a shriek ripped from her with impossible strength. "NO!" But it was too late as the blade bit into flesh and released a torrent of blood.

A harsh gasp emitted from her as she bolted upright in bed, ripping the sheets off. She was drenched in a cold sweat as she frantically took in her surroundings. Everything was as it should be. Nothing was on fire or burnt, no sinister beings lurked in the shadows and she felt her bending strong within her in the moons glow. She bent the sweat from her and stood, chilled from the vivid dream. No way would she be able to fall asleep again. It had just been a dream, but the need to check on Zuko was overwhelming. She crept to his door and slowly turned the knob, pulling it open. He lay still in his bed. Too still.

It was just a bad dream. She chastised herself, but she couldn't not check on him. She crept to the bed side and watched his chest rise and fall with each steady breath. Feeling her stare he startled and propped himself up on an elbow, rubbing his eyes and focusing on her intently.

"What's wrong?"

She held her hands out in a soothing manner. "Nothing. Everything is okay."

He sat up, leaning against the headboard. "Really, what's wrong?"

She started feeling embarrassed. Of course it was just a nightmare. Now she felt like a frightened child running to her parents rather than the young woman who had traveled the world and done so many things. "It's nothing important."

"Come here." he beckoned her closer and when she approached he wrapped a hand around her elbow and let it slide to her hand where he gently tugged her down next to him. "What is it?"

"Bad dream."

He draped an arm over her shoulders and pulled her back to lean against the wall at the head of the bed with him. "Want to talk about it?"

Katara just shrugged, feeling self-conscious about her reaction.

"What was it?" He asked lightly squeezing her shoulder, pulling her towards him.

"It's just…" She chanced a glance at him. "Azula."

He exhaled loudly. "What happened in it?"

"She found us and Cain was there. They put me back in the chair and… and they killed… she killed you." The words got caught in her throat. It was a hard concept to think about, even if it had been a dream.

He noticed her distress. "It's okay." He ran a hand down through her hair. "She won't hurt you. I won't let her."

"It was just a dream." She tried to shrug off the concern, even if it was gnawing at her.

He noticed how she was trying to brush it off. She didn't like to let things bother her or appear weak. Always having to be tough and the mature one, the role she had always burdened herself with. He wanted her to know she could lean on him; relinquish some of her problems to him to deal with. "It must have been pretty bad. You can sleep here if you want. It's not a problem."

"I don't know…"

"The bed is plenty big. You can have this half and I'll take this half. When I have bad dreams, I have a real hard time getting back to sleep. Maybe it will be easier if I'm here too?"

Katara nodded, already feeling sleepy again. "That sounds good." She scooted down under the blanket and Zuko pulled it up for her, a small smile on her lips as she immediately fell asleep again. A small smile touched Zuko as he lay down beside her, pulling the blanket over himself as well. After a bit, a breeze picked up and blew through the drafty room. Zuko was still awake, thinking about Katara's dream when she made a small sound in her sleep and rolled into him; snuggling deep into his side and the heat he provided. She draped an arm over his stomach and burrowed her head into his side.

Zuko smiled. She didn't like to be overly affectionate. Even with Aang, she would limit their kisses to a quick one, especially with anyone around. To think she was draped over him now made him smirk as she slept. The amused smile slid off his face. He wasn't Aang. Was this wrong? He was just offering an upset friend comfort. They had slept like this several times before in the cave for heat and reassurance. His thoughts drifted to Mai.

He missed her. She had been at the boiling rock prison with her family and Uncle trying to get things under control after the massive break out. She would never act like this. She wasn't as shy with affections as Katara, but they felt more fleeting. If fact the two women had very little in common, he thought, unable to help but compare them. Katara was concerned about everyone else. She wanted to take care of people, putting herself last. She had offered Cain anything in order to save him. His arm reflexively tightened around her as he thought of Cain sneering at him, threatening to do horrible things to Katara. Mai was quieter, kept to herself and was darker, but she had sacrificed herself to save him as well. When he and Sokka were escaping from boiling rock with Hakoda, Mai had turned against Azula just to let them escape. Mai had suffered at his sisters hands for his benefit.

He loved Mai, he really did. But things were strained, especially with her so far away. She enjoyed the privileges that came with his being Fire Lord, but she had no interest in helping the people. She claimed boredom and would lounge about, sharpening her throwing knives. There seemed to be two modes for Mai; bored and uncaring or sensual and cool. He sighed as the feelings conflicted. She was either hot or cold. It was hard to deal with the mood swings on top of all his duties.

Katara on the other hand was always caring and a sight to see when mad. An incredibly talented bender, always concerned with others well being. She was incredibly selfless. She was also Aang's. Aang was his close friend and trusted him. When Katara was in trouble, Aang trusted him to protect her and do the right thing. He couldn't betray that trust. He liked to think that so far he had protected her well enough, but was this right here crossing a line? He was just trying to protect her again, wasn't he? Or was he being selfish holding her so close for his own comfort as well?

What would Uncle say in this situation? Last time he had tried to imitate Uncle for his advice he had ended up talking confusing circles around himself that didn't even make any sense. His head was starting to hurt. He rubbed it tiredly with his free hand. Too much to think about now. I'll worry about it all later. Time for some sleep. He reasoned with himself. He curled on his side, Katara tucked against him and drifted off to a much needed sleep.

Sarahplainntall here! Soooo sorry for the update taking so long! My computer broke, so I've had to wait a long time to get a new one. Thanks for sticking with me for so long! Hope you enjoyed. Leave a comment.