Katara and Zuko sat there the entire night. Katara awoke first, and immediately realized she was in Zuko's room. She didn't dare to move. She glanced up and noticd Zuko, still asleep. And leaning on her. She didn't want to wake him up, so she pretended to sleep.
A few minutes later, Zuko awoke as well. The side of his face had become sweaty from leaning on Katara's head for so long. He noticed this and sat up, rubbing his face. He looked down at Katara, who had been awake for a while now, and said tiredly, "...Good morning."
Katara breathed out. "Good morning..." She wiped her eyes.
Zuko looked at Katara. "Umm... Katara?"
"Yes?" she yawned.
"There's something... I want to tell you.
"What?" What did he want to tell her? What didn't she know at this point? In a matter of seconds thoughts were already buzzing about Katara's mind. She silently awaited his answer.
Suddenly, Zuko's door slammed all the way open. Iroh's silhouette could be seen in the doorway. "Prince Zuko! The Avatar is on the deck of the ship!"
Both Katara and Zuko looked shocked. Zuko bounded up and raced to the doorway when Katara grabbed him by the arm. "Don't," she said.
Zuko yanked his arm and brought the two extremely close together. Their bodies nearly touched each other, with Katara pulling back being the only reseistance. "Katara..." he said. His breath gently warmed her face. He was about to pull her closer when she jerked away, letting go of his arm. They stared into each other's faces for a moment, then Zuko turned and dashed away.
Katara sighed. She stood for a brief moment, wondering if that actually just happened, then took off after Zuko.
"Where's Katara?" Aang shouted at Zuko. "We're not leaving without her!"
Zuko growled and attacked Aang with a flurry of firey punches. Aang avoided them easily, but one burned him on the shoulder. "Owwww!"
Katara rushed out to see Aang and Zuko duking it out. She watched in horror as both of engaged in the deathmatch... Sokka fought from the sidelines, keeping the other soldiers busy.
Using his staff, Aang sent a large blast of air in Zuko's direction. It sent him crashing into a wall, side-first. Crack. He fell to the ground, gripping his right-hand wrist. Aang said, trying to sound unforgivinng, "I'm sorry, Zuko, but I will fight until you let Katara go."
"...Never..." he growled. "Never!" He stood, wincing as his broken wrist ached, and ran at Aang, preparing to shoot a large fire ball at Aang. He succeeded, only to see Aang splash a large wave onto the deck and douse the fire and Zuko. Steam rose from his body. His wrist had begun to swell. "...Come with me, and I will let her go."
Aang stopped. What was he supposed to do? Go with Zuko and reunite Katara with her brother, thus surrendering the world to the Fire Naton, or leave Katara with Zuko... What was worth more to him? Defiant, he whooshed another blast of air into Zuko. This time he slammed into the wall back-first. While still in midair, he shot a very large blast of fire at Aang. And, it would have struck him, had not Katara doused it.
"Stop it!" she shouted. "Stop it, both of you!"