I swear, I have just about the worst luck with cats. My last cat, Skooshi, ran away because I was too lazy to take him to the vet to get his 'manhood' removed. And now prepare yourself for the saddest story ever. I got home from school today and my dad was mowing the lawn. he told me to grab my cat because she was laying in the way and wasn't willing to move out of the way of the lawnmower. So I picked her up and took her to the back yard. I put her down by her food dish and she fell over and began moving really funny. I grabbed my mom to come check her out and all we could figure is that she either got kicked by a horse or hit by a car. Both her front and back leg on her left side were broken. In fact they were shattered. I just didn't notice it when I picked her up earlier because I held her really close to my body with her legs tucked in. Then we noticed that her face looked funny. Her jaw was broken along with several teeth. It was really sad, but the most humane thing we could think of to do was to put her down. Otherwise she would have led a life in constant misery. But, I've written this chapter anyways. Here it is.
Katara183: Don't worry. I'll give you the credit if I ever use the name.
Lovergal1227: Hm, that reminds me that I desperately need to update my other story. I've kinda been ignoring it because I'm so psyched about this one.
Khazia: I'm sorry to hear your sick, but I'm glad you liked this last chapter because there were several who didn't. Including me. Yes, stitches are very very icky. Anyways, speaking of weird dreams, I had one about you last night which is really weird because I don't even have the foggiest idea of what you look like. You had a little sister in the dream, but other than that I can't remember anything else. How weird is that?
ZukoPunk: Ew, the smell is the only thing keeping me from owning 20 of the adorable little buggers.
Athenera: Now that I'm concious, I totally agree. Last chapter sucked like a monkey. I hope this one satisfies your craving for apple-pie-cinnimon-roll-whatever you called it.
Zukoscute2: Yes, I was a Zombie yesterday. I figure I'll just get all the sleep I need for the week on saturday and call it good.
Plutobaby494: Thanx for the encouragement. I'm depressed right now and it helps.
Katie flexed her arm nervously as she sat on her bed waiting for Zuko to return. She was torn in two places. She wanted desperately to help Aang, but she didn't even know the kid other than what she'd seen on the show. Besides, who knew what fate wanted to happen to him? Zuko wouldn't hurt the boy once he caught him, she knew that for sure. Maybe that's how it's supposed to be. Or maybe Zuko won't capture him at all and Aang will escape like he always did on the show. Katie grabbed her ukujo and plucked it absently. The sound didn't come out as it should because her left hand was still too weak to press down on the strings as hard as she needed to. After a half an hour of an inner conflict she felt like she was going to scream. She stood up with a sigh and wandered back up to the deck.
"SOKKA! KATARA! GET OUT OF HERE NOW!" Aang yelled as he blocked a blow from one of the firenation soldiers. He chanced a glance to his left and saw Sokka go down from a blow to the head. Aang blasted the soldier away with an air current and jumped over to where Sokka lay. Katara was standing over her brother's unconscious form doing her best to keep the soldiers away with a water whip. Aang blasted them away as well.
"Hurry, we need to get to Appa." Katara said grabbing one of Sokka's arms. Aang took the other and between them they hauled Sokka upright and ran as fast as they could to the bison that was watching the proceedings with mild interest. Aang halted for a second to send another powerful current at the pursuing soldiers. One soldier managed to dodge it and shot a fireball at the avatar. Aang grabbed the fire out of the air with his mind and threw it back at the soldier.
"HE CAN BEND FIRE NOW AS WELL!" They heard Zuko yell from behind them. Aang pulled Sokka up into the saddle when he felt a rope catch around his arms, pulling him away from his friends. Soldiers immediately fell on top of him, pinning his arms and legs to the ground, one particularly large fellow even sat down on his back.
"AANG!" Katara screamed. She began climbing back out of the saddle.
"APPA! YIP YIP!" Aang yelled before she made too much progress. Katara was thrown from her feet as the bison took flight.
"DON"T LET THEM GET AWAY!" Zuko yelled at his soldiers. One soldier had already sent up a stream of flames at the bison causing it to swerve out of the way. Katara lost her balance completely and fell from the saddle. Luckily Appa hadn't been too high up and she managed to land in their heap of supplies.
"KATARA RUN!" Aang yelled. But before she could get to her feet a soldier had snagged her arms and held her firmly. Aang struggled feebly, trying to get his hands free, but it was no use. A bag was placed over his head and his hands were shackled behind his back.
"I have you now Avatar." Zuko murmured only a few feet away. Aang tried to judge where he was and shot a flame at the prince from his foot. But the prince dodged it easily.
"Prince Zuko, let my friend go. Take me but just let her go!" Aang cried.
"What? So she can stage a rescue. Wouldn't you rather have someone to talk to while you stay on my ship?" Zuko purred. "FALL OUT." He called to his men.
Katie had sighed in relief when she saw Appa soar from the trees in the distance. At least they had gotten away, even if it did mean Zuko would be coming back furious. She leaned against the railing and watched the path that led into the trees, waiting for a steaming Zuko to trudge through. But when he did walk into the open air, Zuko was grinning from ear to ear. Walking in front of him with his hands bound and a sack over his face was Aang. Several feet behind them was Katara. A white and brown blur flew up to Katie and perched on her shoulder, wrapping a long soft tail around her neck. But Katie was just too shocked to notice Momo who was trying desperately to get her to scratch his ears.
"Behold. The key to my honor and throne." Zuko said once he stepped onto the ship. He held out his hands and bowed to her. Katie felt herself force a smile and wrap an arm around his waist when he came to stand beside her.
"What are you going to do with him?" Katie asked trying to sound nonchalant. Aang's head was twisting back and forth inside the sack. Katara was staring at Katie with her mouth gaping.
"Nothing. I'll present him to my father. He'll do with him as he pleases." Zuko said. She could tell that whatever his father had planned for the avatar, Zuko didn't quite approve but wasn't admitting it to himself.
"And the girl?"
"Take them down below." Zuko said to the nearest guard. Then he turned and answered Katie's question, "I'll keep her here as leverage for the Avatar. Once we deliver him to the palace she'll be set free."
"Is it alright if I talk to them?" Katie asked looking into Zuko's face and giving him her best puppy dog impression. He looked dubious at first but finally nodded.
"Of course, but not tonight. Tonight we will celebrate. I'm sure my uncle could get a decent banquet underway in under ten minutes." He took her hand and pulled her behind him to find his uncle. She knew then and there that he really didn't want her to speak to Aang or Katara. The memory returned of music night. Zuko had told her that he didn't trust her, but was willing to try to get along with her. She realized now that he still didn't quite trust her and she didn't blame him. He really didn't know anything about her.
It was surprising how fast Iroh could get a celebration underway. The dinner table that night was laden with excellent food. The cook had grown used to Katie's taste for blander foods and had a plate set-aside for her. But Katie barely touched her meal. In fact she barely reacted to anything that evening except to take a bottle of liquor away from Zuko before he put it to his lips. Katie glanced around the table. All of the men seemed so happy to have finally caught the Avatar. She realized that they had all left their families behind to aid Zuko in his search. Now that Aang was in their custody, they had hope to see theirloved onesonce more. She began to feel a little better about Aang's capture at this thought, but then a pesky little voice in the back of her mind whispered: What are you thinking. This is a little boy's life. This is the fate of this entire world. It is NOT okay that he's been captured. Katie sighed and tried to shake the voice from her head.
"Are you feeling alright miss Lin?" Iroh asked from the other side of Zuko. "I almost forgot you said you were ill this afternoon." Zuko turned and gave her a look of concern.
"No, I'm fine. I'm just a bit tired I guess." Zuko stood up and offered her a hand.
"Yes, it's getting late." Zuko said. He pulled her to her feet and they left the dining hall. Once they got back to their room Zuko busted out laughing. He jumped on his bed, kicking his feet in the air in merriment as he laughed his head off.
"Someone didn't sneak you alcohol behind my back did they?" Katie asked shuffling through her small drawer for her pajamas.
"No. I'm just so blazing happy." Zuko said grinning up at her. All of a sudden he jumped to his feet and whipped her around to face him. He put one arm around her waist and held one of her hands with his other. "Dance with me." He said resting his forehead against hers.
"What?" She asked unable to keep down a laugh.
"You heard me. Let's dance."
"Zuko, I'm tired…"
"Just dance with me. I promise that I'll never ask you for anything ever again." She laughed some more but finally wrapped her free arm around his neck and they began dancing slowly around the room. Zuko began humming a tune softly as he led the dance. Katie had never heard him hum before and she couldn't help but chuckle. She rested her head on his shoulder and just rocked back and forth in his arms as more conflicting thoughts battled in her head over Aang.
"Are you okay?" Katie lifted her head up to look into his face.
"I guess I'm just not completely accustomed to the whole war thing yet. The thought of having prisoners is just kinda disconcerting." Zuko frowned slightly at her.
"Katie, I'm not going to release the Avatar." Zuko said quietly.
"I'm not asking you to. But I've been in those prison cells and I would feel a ton better if you would just let me go down and make sure they're comfortable." Zuko searched her eyes for a hidden agenda of some kind. "Zuko please. Let me speak to them and I won't hold you to your word about never asking me for anything ever again." Zuko still didn't seem to sure. "Zuko, I know you don't trust me but please…"
"What would make you think I don't trust you?"
"Well, your uncertainty right now for one thing." Zuko bit his bottom lip, the wheels were really spinning inside his head right now.
"All right. Go ahead and speak with them, but I don't want you growing attached to them. Don't listen to any crazy ideas they feed you either." Katie grinned and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you so much. You have no idea what a load off my mind this is." Katie turned and ran from the room. Katie found Momo lurking in the hallway. She had completely forgotten about the poor little guy. He must have gotten lost in the labyrinth of rooms and hallways in the navy vessel. She picked him up and stroked his back as she headed down to the holding cells.
"Good evening miss Lin. Did you enjoy the feast?" The guard asked her when she entered the main room. She could see the huddled forms of Aang and Katara in separate cells. Her heart went out to them but she turned and hid it by smiling at the guard.
"Yeah, it was very nice. Did you get to go?"
"Yes. I just took over for Bromm. Can I do anything for you miss?"
"I justwanted to speak with the prisoners." The guard looked uncertain. "I have Zuko's permission. Do you want me to go get him for you?"
"No, it isn't necessary miss." He stood aside and let her pass. Momo jumped out of her arms and scampered over to Aang as she walked towards the holding cell. Aang hugged the lemur happily. Katie glanced over her shoulder at the guard, but another had entered and the two of them began chatting happily.
"How are you doing? Are you comfortable? Can I get you anything to eat?" Katie asked anxiously. Katara looked slightly taken aback.
"Um. I guess we're fine." She said.
"That's good." Katie ran a hand through her hair awkwardly. A thought suddenly popped into her head. "Where's Sokka?"
" Yeah, like we would tell you where my brother is? Give us some credit. We know you're close to prince Zuko." Katara said glaring at Katie.
"Look." She glanced over her shoulder to make sure the guard was still occupied with the other soldier. "Just tell me what I can do to help you. I give you my word that I'm not loyal to Ozai. If I'm going to be living in this world I don't want suffering and conflict greeting me aroundevery corner."
"You could help us escape." Aang whispered excitedly. Katie glanced back at the guards again.
"Alright. But just like when I gave you that gold, Zuko absolutely cannot know."
I hope that redeems me for my last chapter of suckiness. Now excuse me as I go cry into my pillow about my poor kitty.