Disclaimer: I own nothing. Absolutely nothing. At all.

AN: You might recognize something familiar in this chapter. If not, that's okay. Thank you all for your reviews, suggestions, etc. You guys are really great.

And yes, I do hate Jet with a passion. Just like all of you, it seems.

Chapter 8

Katara and Jet fell to the ground in the absence of reality. The brilliant light of dawn battled against the raging glow of nearby wildfire, as though angels and demons made war in the dense foliage. And here were two! Both fallen, both stripped of their wings as they plummeted to their doom...

Jet struck Katara, his armored hands cutting scores into her cheek. But she didn't let go of his chest. There could be no chance of him escaping unharmed. She had to make sure he wouldn't be able to escape to the trees, that he couldn't run away. Because as much as she hated hurting people, she hated him more.

He used her, manipulated her, lied to her, kissed her. He had kidnapped Sokka and tried to slaughter a defenseless village, he had Zuko beaten and bound like some kind of animal. And always, always he said the same thing: Fire Nation. Blame the Fire Nation.

And frankly, she'd had enough.

They hit the ground with a terrible crunch.

Sokka and Aang stared into the fire. It had already spread to much of the valley, hastened by dry leaves and debris. But they both recognized the ruins of the wildfire's origin.

"Jet's hideout," Aang muttered. He turned to Sokka. "Did Zuko do this? Or did the Fire Nation finally catch Jet?" Sokka stared down at the wreckage.

"I don't know," he said finally. "And I don't care. All that matters is that Katara's down there somewhere."

Katara pulled herself away from Jet's still form. She was stunned, dazed, but not grievously hurt. Her 'cushion' had prevented the fall from doing any real damage. Jet had hit the ground before her, and she had landed on top of him. If the impact of the fall hadn't knocked him out, the second effectively did, and Jet now lay sprawled out on the ground, still alive, though not conscious.

This suited Katara perfectly. She rolled off him and staggered to her feet. She shook her head to clear it and started walking. Back to the hideout. Back to Zuko. And once they were together, they could look for Sokka and Aang. Nothing else mattered. Nothing.

Jet's eyes flickered open. They danced across the flaming forest, the rope that hung uselessly in the air far above him, slowly being consumed by fire, and rested finally on Katara just before she disappeared from sight.

He swore and tried to sit up. His head was pounding, but he could handle pain.

Katara...that treacherous filthy harlot...already running back to her monster prince... He drew his swords and used them as crutches to lift himself from the ground. She doesn't deserve a quick death...that kind of mercy is too good for a traitor like her. His eyes narrowed in satisfaction.

His hideout was surely in ruins by now. Tree houses could be rebuilt.

His team was no doubt scattered. They would be easy to find, and just as easy to replace.

But Katara was running right into the heart of the fire. Back to her precious lover.

You like playing with fire? Then you can burn.

Zuko pushed his way through the wreckage, his mind slowly being edged with panic. The fire was spreading quickly—too quickly, and he had yet to find Katara. But she was with Jet. That much was clear. And when he found him...

Save that for later, he reminded himself. Find them first. Kill him later. Brutal flames were already spreading through the canopy of the trees, casting an eerie light on him, though it was steadily diminishing, replaced by pale sunlight. The Fire Nation camp shouldn't be too far away...

Katara stumbled, nearly falling into a burning branch as it plunged into her path. Jet was at her heels; she could hear him shouting, catch a glimpse of his face as he pursued her. She only managed to come near the river once, and Jet was immediately on her, lashing at her with his blades before she could bend the water to her aid. He was keeping her away from water, and she knew it. He was keeping her defenseless, reducing her to a frightened child, running into the cover of smoke to escape her pursuer. She had to find Zuko. Zuko, or Sokka, or Aang...

She had to find them. They would know what to do.

Around her, the air grew thick and oppressive as the fires snaked their way down the trees' mammoth trunks. It was nearly impossible to see anything but smoke and fire, to navigate more than a few feet before her. Even breathing was becoming difficult as the smoke filled her lungs, drowning her in the tainted air.

Jet retreated from the deadly fire, following the creek to safety. Katara was in complete panic now. By the time she realize that he was no longer chasing her, she would be trapped in the blaze and burn to death like the ugly witch she was. Assuming she didn't asphyxiate first.

A powerful sword suddenly cut into his back, shattering his thoughts.

"Where is she?" the blade's owner snarled, grabbing him by the shirt. Jet found himself staring into the hideous face of Prince Zuko. Instinctively he reached for his own swords, but he was stopped as the wind rushed from his lungs, driven away by a brutal fist now embedded in his gut.

"What have you done with her?" Zuko demanded. "Where is Katara?" Jet was silent for a few moments, regaining his breath in wordless dignity, all the while staring defiantly into his enemy's eyes.

"I've done nothing to her," he said at last, as smooth and calm as though he was speaking to his own teammates. Zuko snarled angrily and shook Jet by his collar.

"Liar!" The rebel permitted the attack, a confident smile slowly creeping across his face. "Where is she?"

"Don't you know?" Jet asked easily. "Funny. You should."

"What are you talking about?" Zuko demanded. Jet's smirk did not fade. His chains may be gone, he observed, but he's still nothing but a caged animal.

And I'm still in control.

"Because the little traitor went back to you. Just now. Or don't you remember?"

"What are you talking about?" Zuko asked again, his voice dangerously low. The Firebender was cornered and he knew it.

"Don't you? She went in there," Jet shrugged at the blazing forest. Zuko immediately turned slightly to glance over his shoulder, as though expecting Katara to walk out of the trees.

What's wrong, you disgusting monster? Do you miss your little mistress? You make a fitting couple. A witch and a beast.

"That's right," Jet continued smoothly. "If you hurry, you might still be able to find her corpse." His smirk widened as he watched the color drain from Zuko's face.

"What did you do to her?" he rasped.

"I didn't do anything. You did. You've already killed her."

"Shut up, you liar!" Zuko nearly screamed, trying to strike Jet again. But the rebel leaned back, evading the worst of the blow. The attack held almost no pain, and even that dwindled compared to the satisfaction behind it.

I've struck a nerve. Haven't I, Zuko? I've got you scared now.

"You heard me. I didn't start those fires. You did. I didn't force Katara to come with me. I didn't even make her stay. Not like you did. And now you've killed her."

"I didn't," Zuko protested. A tension clouded his voice that had nothing to do with anger. "She's still alive. I've done nothing to her." Jet easily broke his grip and stepped back.

"Nothing? Seduction, manipulation, deception... that's a lot of nothing, Zuko. You've taken her away from her family. You attacked her home. You made her life a living purgatory since you met her."

"That's not true!" He was weakening. It was obvious now. Zuko's own inner doubts, all of his fears, were now as plain as day to the rebel.

"And now you've killed her. But her death won't be in vain, Zuko. I'm going to make sure of that." With no other warning, he lunged forward, his poisoned knife poised for Zuko's throat. And, just as he had expected, Zuko did nothing. He only stared at the blade, looking numb and guilty as sin.

He wouldn't fight back if he believed himself deserving of death.

The Firebender's hand suddenly shot out, grabbing Jet's wrist, forcing the knife away.

"She's not dead," he said again. "And you won't ever hurt her again." A blast of flame rushed at Jet, but he dodged to the side, once more breaking free of Zuko's grip. He drew his swords and struck again at the Firebender. The attack was parried by the curved broadswords, and the attack returned, accompanied by another blast of flame.

"I see something!" Aang shouted to be heard above the roaring fires. Sokka followed Aang's gaze, his eyes resting at last on two figures dancing through the burning foliage below them.

"That's definitely not Katara," he said. A burst of flame reduced a nearby branch to ashes.

"But that's Zuko. She can't be too far away," Aang reasoned, steering Appa closer to the figures. They finally recognized the second fighter.

"What in the world is Jet doing there?" Sokka demanded.

"He lives here, doesn't he?" Aang pointed out.

"That's not what I mean. Why are they fighting? And now of all times?" Aang had no answer for this.

The fighters were perfectly matched. They moved like lightning, dancing around one another, striking with ethereal grace.

Zuko was the stronger. He had fire at his command, he had years of training and brutal force behind his attacks.

Jet was the swifter. He had prepared solely to battle Firebenders, had memorized every inch of the forest. Every root became a foothold for him, every branch became a shield. He could evade attack, could strike back when it suited him.

Zuko couldn't land a blow as long as Jet dodged away. Even with both of his hooked swords, Jet couldn't come close enough to harm Zuko. Jet was wounded. Zuko was exhausted. They were locked in a stalemate, trapped in a deadly dance. Only the clash of swords accompanied their movements, resonating through the hot air like the knells of a gong. No more breath was wasted on useless curses.

Because whoever faltered would die.

Appa landed in the shallow water of the creek, safely away from the fire, and from the whirlwind of steel and flame that swirled around Zuko and Jet.

Aang searched desperately through the smoky air.

"Sokka, she's not here," he said. Sokka shook his head.

"Do you think she got away?"

"I don't know."

Zuko felt himself begin to slow. His breath was becoming heavy, his steps unsteady.

I can't keep this up much longer.

A parried blow. A dodged burst of flame. A kick that struck only air. Jet was slowing, too. But that made little difference. Because Zuko didn't care about being Jet's equal. He needed to beat the rebel.

You'll never hurt her again.

He stumbled forward and stood there, unmoving for an instant. Jet recognized the opportunity and seized it hungrily. One sword shot out, delivering a crippling blow to Zuko's side--

But one of the Dao broadswords shot out, catching the hooked blades in mid swing, mollifying the attack. With his other sword, Zuko delivered an equal blow to his opponent. Not releasing Jet's blade, he turned the unhindered sword, smashing its blunt edge into the rebel's shoulder. He heard a sickening snap and a strangled cry of pain as Jet's collarbone broke.

A final kick sent the rebel to the ground in a heap. Zuko stared down at him. It would be so easy to finish it. There and then. He had one chance. Just one punch would destroy Jet, would keep Katara safe forever.

Safe from who?

'What happens when you lose control, Zuko? Who's going to 'protect me' then?'

"If you..." Zuko growled, trying to steady his breath. "If you ever touch her again... I will kill you. Do you understand?"

Jet nodded meekly, struggling to regain his breath.

Zuko said no more. He glanced at Aang and Sokka, but otherwise did not acknowledge them as he staggered away from the rebel.

"Zuko!" Sokka said suddenly, jogging to the Firebender's side. Zuko wouldn't meet his eyes. "Zuko, where is Katara?" Jet started to make a noise, but he was silenced by a cold glare from the Prince.

"I don't know."

"What?" Aang cried.

"I'll find her!" Zuko said, angry at everything. At Jet, at himself, at the stupid gash in his side...

"Not like that, you're not," Aang said. He bit his lip. "Stay with Appa. Sokka and I will look for her." Zuko shook his head.

"I'm coming too."

"No, you're not."

"I'm going to look for her!"

"Fine," Sokka said heatedly. "Then you can look from the air. You might see her."

"I doubt it," Zuko said. "Jet said that she ran into the fire."

"'Jet said?' What was she doing with him? Where were you?" Aang asked suddenly.

"I was tied up in his stupid tree house. And she was being held at knife point." Zuko was struggling to control his temper now. He sent a menacing glance at Jet, but the defeated rebel no longer lay on the ground where Zuko had left him. Jet was nowhere to be seen.

Unaware of this, Sokka groaned. It was clearly easy to tell what had happened.

"And then she got away and tried to get back to you?" he finished.

"According to the Worm, yes."

Sokka swore. "Fine. Aang, go follow the creek. Katara's smart, she'll head for water. Zuko, you get back to Appa. I'll look for her on the ground." Aang nodded and rushed to the water's edge, his pace quickened by the wind.

"That won't work," Zuko argued.

"Why not?"

"You have no idea which way she's going, and I don't know how to fly your bison—"

"Simple. Pull the reigns and say 'yip yip'."

"—not that he'll let me steer. And you're sure to get turned around in the fire. I just came from there. I know where to go."

"For crying out loud, you're bleeding! You can't run around down here!" It was no lie. The gash on Zuko's side was long, though shallow, and it still bled freely.

"That doesn't matter," Zuko said. He was seething with pain that had nothing to do with the cut. "I'm responsible for this. Let me look for her."

For a silent moment, he and Sokka stared each other down, fighting an unseen battle between judge and defender.

You've already killed her, Jet's sneering voice echoed through Zuko's mind.

No. No. She's all right. She's still alive. I'll bring her back. I have to.

"Fine," Sokka said at last. "Hurry."

Zuko barely heard him, not pausing before he raced into the blaze.

Because Jet was still loose.

Katara ducked her head but kept running, trying desperately to escape.

"Sokka! Aang! Zuko!" she shouted again and again, interrupted only by coughing fits. Her throat and lungs burned, coated by the thick, acrid smoke, but she dared not stop calling for help. The trees around her were wreathed in flame, their dry branches igniting almost instantly, surrounding her in fire on nearly every side. But the inferno wasn't the only danger.

Jet was angry now. He was after her. And his earlier shouts made it all too clear that he would kill her if he caught her. His cries had silenced several minutes before, but that only fueled her fear. He could be anywhere, everywhere, lying in wait with his cold blades...

"Sokka! Aang! Zu-" her cry fell apart into desperate coughing. The smoke and fires left her dizzy, disoriented, and she was quickly losing her wit to panic. A flaming branch fell from the glowing canopy, blocking her path. She stumbled to avoid it, and turned to flee in another direction, but she saw only flames. Fire, fire, fire, on every side, creeping closer through the death shroud of smoke.

She was trapped.

Powerful arms grabbed her from behind, and she nearly screamed, only to be gagged by the smoke.

Jet.

She lost all control. She tried to scream again, she thrashed violently, clawing at her captor's arms, drawing blood, fighting like a wild beast to escape his grip.

Her opponent clapped one hand over Katara's mouth and nose, and she tried again to cry out.

And she realized that she could breathe.

Hot air filled her mouth and nose and lungs, sifted through a rough, thick fabric, filtering out the acrid smoke. The air that now streamed through her body tasted familiar.

"Don't move," she heard Zuko mutter into her ear. "I've got you. As long as you're with me, you're safe. Calm down. I'll keep you safe."

Katara felt tears well into her eyes. Relief and elation mixed within her, replacing the panicked rush that had once flooded her clouded mind. She felt suddenly drained, heavy, exhausted.

Her knees buckled and Zuko caught her, lowering her gently to the ground. She stared up at him, her eyes sparkling with happiness, gratitude, disbelief, and suddenly fear. Zuko looked up and saw flaming debris hailing down at them. His hand shot out, and a wave of fire reduced the rubble to harmless ashes.

The flames roared higher around them, licking at their clothes. Katara tried to scoot from their reach, burying her face in Zuko's chest. He wrapped his arms around her, shielding her face and torso from the fire. He emptied his mind of all fear and thought. Every fiber of his being focused on the surrounding flames, willing them lower, lower...

He drew in a long, deep breath, and another, another, with each exhale pulling the fires closer to the ground, blotting their heat. Katara drew away from him slightly, glancing at the diminishing flames in wonder. Zuko opened his eyes and rose silently to his feet, helping Katara up after him. Still wordless, still absolutely focused, he guided her to the edge of the flames, watching them recede at his approach, bowing to the earth. Katara tried to step over them, but they bit defiantly at her feet. She pulled in a sharp breath and pulled closer to Zuko. He gazed at her for a moment, then gathered her up in his arms, lifting her from the ground.

"Oh!" was Katara's soft exclamation, but she remained still. Zuko smiled softly and began walking forward, into the inferno.

Obediently the flames fell away, and he carried her safely out of reach of their sting. He wasn't sure how long or how far he carried her, but he didn't stop. Not until his feet brought him to the sloping bank of the creek.