Pain was the first thing she was aware of. It radiated from her middle and all she could think about was how uncomfortable she was. She tried to move but a sharp pain that stole her breath ripped through her at the tiniest movement and her eyes flew open. Her hands clutched at the blankets covering her middle and movement towards her caught her eye.

"Katara. You're awake." Zuko sounded stunned and he noticed the pain and panic on her expression as she clutched at the wound just above her stomach. He was at her side in an instant, his warm hands covering her chilled fingers. "It's okay, everything is going to be alright."

She stilled under his comforting attention, but the pain had only eased into that constant throbbing ache. She took a moment to focus on him and absorb what she saw. There was a shadow of a beard along his jaw and his shaggy hair was in a tousled mess. Zuko wore simple robes that were so wrinkled she could hardly believe the Fire Lord had been allowed to be left in such disarray.

Everything from before had been a blur. She searched her memory but couldn't clearly recall the events. "What happened?" She asked, trying to ignore the steady pulsing of pain.

"Cain…" He took a moment to swallow, his eyes closing briefly. "Cain snuck up on you after Azula had been captured. He had a broken spear and…" he trailed off and gestured to her lying in the palace's hospital bed. His hand tightened around hers.

Katara's free hand drifted down to absentmindedly cover the wound. She could feel the injury give an extra painful thud and with it the image of bloody wood and the remembered agony flashed into her mind making her lurch from the pillows and then cry out as the movement sent spikes of pain through her.

Worry masked Zuko's face and he crouched beside her on the bed. "Can you put your arms around my neck?"

She looked at him in confusion but looped her arms behind his neck, wincing but not daring to cry out again as the movement pulled at her stomach. His arms snaked under her legs and slid behind her back and he gingerly lifted her off the bed. The jostling made her suck a sharp breath through her teeth.

His fingers curled to grasp her tightly for a moment as guilt flashed across his face. "I'm sorry." He had carried her into the bathroom where the large, opulent bathtub was already half filled. "Just hold on for a moment." He tried to reassure her as he stepped into the tub, still fully clothed, Katara clutched in his arms.

"Zuko…" She winced again as even that brought pain to her. "What-?"

"It might be cold." He interrupted her, cutting off her pained speech. "I filled this tub a while ago. I was a little eager anticipating your recovery."

Suddenly it made sense. The fire nation doctors had done what they could for her, but nothing beat water bender healing.

As fluidly as possible, Zuko lowered them into the luke warm water and he very carefully adjusted Katara until she sat before him, his legs on either side of her and keeping her torso cradled to his chest. The tub was deep, and the water lapsed just below her neck. Zuko seemed to grow hotter and hotter beneath her and his heat warmed the water of the tub. The water was welcoming and some of her tension eased from being in her element. Soon the blue glow began to emanate from the water as it traveled up the length of her body until it reached the spot on her side just above her stomach. The glow blazed for what felt like a long time before it continued its scan upward.

In surprise, Zuko turned his hand over in the water. It had been stinging until the blue glow had neared the hand that had gone through the wooden dresser in the other room. Now there was no evidence on his skin that he had lost his temper when he had been terrified for Katara. Once the blue glow had disappeared, Zuko could feel all his minor aches and pains that he hadn't been aware of until they had stopped hurting, disappear as well. More importantly, he turned his attention to Katara. Her eyes were still closed, but she was starting to blink slowly. She sat up slightly, hand going to her middle as she moved slowly, testing the healing job she had done. Then she turned a little one way, then the other, checking her range of motion. She made as if to stand, but Zuko snatched her up and stood in the tub before she even had a chance to argue.

"Zuko!" She protested now and squirmed feebly. "I can manage…" She muttered sullenly. Zuko sloshed out of the tub, water pouring off the two of them. Katara became alert and quickly guided the water from their clothes and the rug back into the tub, leaving them both pleasantly dry and much more pain free.

"That may be, but you're still exhausted. You need sleep and food." Zuko instructed as he carefully laid her on the bed. He was pulling the covers over her as he said, "I can get you something to eat." He made as if to leave, but she caught at him.

"Don't leave me yet." She wasn't sure why she asked. It felt childish and embarrassing, but she felt safer with him around and she was so tired, but the bloody shaft of the spear protruding from her front kept making an appearance at the forefront of her mind. "I'm not hungry anyways. Just… stay with me. Please."

Something softened in his face and a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Alright." He picked up her hand from on top of the covers and ran his thumb over the back of it.

Zuko was starting to pull away so he could sit in the chair, but her voice called out softly. "Would you sit up here with me?" She had stopped worrying about how she sounded. She was too tired and sore for that. She just wanted the comfort Zuko always provided for her. She wanted to curl up against his warm side, pillow her head on his strong shoulder and drift off with his scent filling her dreams. That was how she slept best since the cave.

She had drifted off almost as soon she had gotten comfortable. Zuko brushed a few strands from her face and finally felt himself able to relax. Katara was safe, his sister was no longer a threat… everything was as it should be. With this thought in his head, he too fell asleep curled around Katara.

There was a loud banging on the door that jolted Zuko and Katara upright. "Hey Zuko!" Sokka's voice echoed through the heavy locked door. "I've been waiting to see my sister, let me in!" Zuko shot out of bed and set about straightening his clothes, careful to keep his back to Katara, lest she see the red flush on his face. He ran a hand through his tangled hair and then cast a look back to see that Katara had adjusted the pillows and moved closer to the middle of the bed and was brushing back her hair as well.

"Zuko!"

Zuko ignored Sokka's bellow and met Katara's flickering eyes. "Ready?"

She shrugged but motioned for him to open the door, resigned to her brother's appearance.

"Sokka, Aang." Zuko greeted in turn.

"Let me see how she's doing." Sokka said, one tracked mindedly brushing past Zuko into the room. Aang gave Zuko an embarrassed shrug and smile at Sokka's behavior, but the fire lord stood aside and allowed Aang easy access to the room.

Katara tried to be annoyed as her brother stalked into the room, but when she saw his face, she realized how worried she had him. "Katara." Sokka said and he pulled her into a gruff hug and the last irritation melted away as her elder brother held her.

She patted him on the back. "It's okay Sokka, I'm fine now."

He pulled back and nodded, looking as if he would say more, but he just remembered they weren't alone in the room. He turned to the side to see Aang watching a bit awkwardly, hanging back and allowing the siblings to have their moment.

"Hey Katara."

"Aang." She said his name warmly and he stepped up to her and he too wrapped her in a warm hug. "I'm glad you're okay." He murmured before pulling away. Katara was grateful he didn't try to kiss her in front of her brother or Zuko.

"So, you're okay after…" Sokka trailed off, looking for a way to phrase it and failing as he gestured at his little sister's prone form on the bed.

"The doctors did what they could. I healed the rest." She reassured him. She tried to stifle a yawn, but healing had taken a toll on her, plus all the damage the spear had left had had taken a toll on her as well.

"Are you okay Katara?" Aang asked worriedly, peering at her propped on her pillows.

"I'm just tired, I'll be fine." She said off-handedly, but Zuko could see the dark circles under her eyes and he had seen her when she had first become conscious. He knew how bone tired she had to be at this point.

"Sokka, maybe we should go to the kitchens and get something to eat while Katara rests. Aang, you should join us." Zuko was trying for gentle subtlety, something he wasn't very good at, but Aang and Sokka seemed to accept easily enough, now that they had been reassured of Katara's condition.

"You guys should go. I'm fine, I'll just catch up on some sleep for a while." Her gentle assurance seemed to settle the matter as Zuko let the other boys filter out before him and they shared a look, one that said she would be fine if he left her, for this short time. Zuko gently closed the door behind him with a silent promise to return when he could and Katara slumped back on the pillows, sleep claiming her quickly.

Sarahplainntall here! I'm sorry it's a short chapter! I know I'm terrible about posting quickly (I am in school full time and working part time again ^_^) so thanks for being patient. This one was short because I know I left you on a cliff hanger and I didn't want to drag it out too long. I'll try to post again soon! Reviewing makes my day and I SUPER appreciate it! Thanks for reading.