Chapter Four

It took at least thirty five minutes to get the stuff done, since there wasn't much, and Katara walked out of the laundry room to the living room, where she could see Sokka talking on his phone. His voice had taken on a loving tone that she was familiar with and smiled. Though they were only friends, Katara wished he would tell the girl that he was in love with her.

Suki was a sweet but fierce girl, the kind that could keep Sokka in his place whenever he acted up like an idiot. Suki once confided in her that she really liked him and wanted to be together, but was too afraid to lose what they had. Katara had been tempted to tell her that her brother felt the same way, but she also knew that if what they had was real, it would find a way to bring them together.

Leaving the lovesick boy alone, she went over to Aang's door and was about to knock when a sound reached her ears. Straining, she could hear hiccups, like the ones he had made earlier after having a crying fit. The concern for him came back tenfold. Had he been doing the same thing, this time alone? How much can one person cry like this?

She understood where the pain was coming from. When she was seven, her own mother had died in a hit and run as she was going for her afternoon jog. She had cried about as much as Aang was now. It made her spirit throb in anguish over his loss.

But at least there was a chance that his family was alive. They had to help him locate his parents so that eh could at least start mending. Having learned a long time ago that internal wounds are worse than physical ones, Katara vowed to remind him that they were together on this.

Taking a breath, she knocked, and the sounds stopped. "Y-yes?" Aang's voice stuttered.

"It's Katara," she said, holding the basket. "I have your clothes. Do you want me to set them out here?" Since he uncomfortable about someone seeing him with or without clothes, she understood his need for privacy.

There was a moment of silence, as it seemed to her that he was calming himself. Finally he called, "Yeah, that's fine." His voice sounded hoarse from before, but now it was worse, almost cold-like. She hoped he wasn't getting sick on top of everything else.

Knowing that he wanted to be alone after everything that had happened today, she put the basket down and was about to walk away when she paused. "Aang," she started softly, wondering if he could hear her. "I know you're scared. I know this must be hard for you. But I want you know that you're not alone." She leaned against the door frame, sighing. "I promise, if your parents are here, we're going to do everything we can to find them."

There was silence for so long that Katara felt now was the right time to leave, but decided to add one more thing. "If we don't, just remember...we're your family now."

Tears stinging her eyes, she walked away, knowing he needed some time to process her words.

When she entered the living room again, she saw that Sokka was just hanging up with a dumb smile on his face. Sitting next to him on the sofa, she wiped at her eyes. He looked over, smile fading as concern became apparent in his gaze. "Hey, everything okay?" he asked softly.

Katara sniffled, clasping her hands together and releasing a deep breath. She shook her head. "He must have been through so much, Sokka," she murmured. "I mean, he doesn't like to be touched, he barely talks, and he's trying to find his family whom he may have been stolen from. It's heartbreaking."

Sokka rested his arm around her shoulders in comfort. "I know, Katara. But we will help Aang, even if we don't find his parents."

Just the thought of that boy feeling so alone like that made her yearn for her own mother, but she knew Sokka was right. They were in this together and if all else fails, they will be there to assure Aang that he belonged somewhere. No one should have to be alone in times of trouble and clearly that was the problem.

Aang was alone, but at least, she hoped, he knew that they were there. Strangers, they may be, but the didn't mean they couldn't get to know one another. She hadn't been lying when she said that they were family. He was a kindred spirit, feeling lost, just like her and Sokka had felt when their mother was killed.

Katara sighed, leaning her head against her brother's shoulder. "I know," she murmured.

They remained silent for a long period of time, in which the guest bedroom door opened and closed, before the sound of the main door opening caught their attention. The siblings looked up as their father, Hakoda, entered the room, looking tired but pleased. He said, "Hey, kiddos. How was your day?"

Sokka shared a look with Katara and she nodded before they stood up. "Hi, Dad," Sokka started.

He looked surprised at the serious tone his son used and was immediately alert. "Is everything alright?" he asked.

Katara took a deep breath. "Well, Dad, um..." How could she say that Sokka brought a boy home? "We have something to tell you."

Hakoda looked at her, seeing that she was nervous, but smiled reassuringly. "Go ahead, honey. Is there a boy involved?" he asked semi-teasingly, but with a calculative look in his eyes that made her stomach flutter oddly.

She blushed, knowing what he was getting into, but she shook her head, saying, "Well, not like that, no. But..."

Before anyone could add anything else, the sound of moaning could be heard down the hall. Hakoda looked in that direction sharply. "What was that?" he said darkly. After losing his wife, he had become very protective of his kids, they knew, but sometimes he went a little too far when it came down to it.

Sokka, seeming to know what their father planned, jumped in the way, holding his hands out. "Dad, there is someone here, but he's no threat, I promise."

Hakoda looked in the direction the sounds were coming from, the guest bedroom. "Who's here?" he asked again with a frown.

"He came into the coffee shop earlier, before my shift was over," Sokka started as he lowered his hands. "His name is Aang and he's trying to find his parents. He believes they're here, in the city."

Hakoda studied him for a moment before releasing his breath and moving to the couch. "How does that signify you bringing him here, Sokka? You don't know anything about this boy. For all we know, he's here to rob us."

If not worse, is what Katara thought but didn't add. She knew their dad had a point, but how could someone like Aang even think about doing that? With as weak as he was, there was no way he was going to cause harm, even if he wanted to. Sokka seemed to understand the thought without it being said.

"Dad, I know you're worried about this," he started softly, "but you've taught me to rely on my instincts, especially about people." He took a bracing breath and stood taller. "I believe Aang means us no harm. He's just a kid, around Katara's age." He sat next to him, clutching the older man's shoulder. "If I'm going to be on the force someday, I have to listen to my guts, and they say that he's in trouble. Of what, I don't know yet, but I know he would never intentionally hurt us."

Katara sat on the other side of him, wanting to add her own reassurance to the matter. "Dad, Aang is troubled. When Sokka brought him here, I saw how thin he was. It's obvious he's been living on the streets for a while now. Even if he wanted to do something, it's clear that he doesn't have the strength to do so."

Hakoda clasped his hands to his chin and looked at her. "Katara, I know of your motherly instincts, but I'm not sure having a street kid here is any better than an adult. Weak or not, he could still pose a threat when we're asleep."

She shook her head at his stubbornness. "If you would just meet him, you would see for yourself that-"

That was when the screaming started. Katara was immediately up and running without a second thought, rushing to the guest room and opening the door. On the bed was Aang, dressed in the clothes she had given him, writhing on the bed and screaming as if devils were attacking him. His face was flushed and gleaming with sweat as he cried out.

Seeing him in agony made Katara's heart race faster than before and she sat on the bed, trying avoid being hit by mistake. It was clear a nightmare was occurring, but she wasn't sure how to stop it. "Aang!" she called, grabbing his arm.

Maybe that wasn't the best idea because he screamed louder, twisting away and nearly punching her face. "NO!" he screamed. "Don't touch me! Leave me alone!"

Tears gathered in her blue eyes at his pain and thought quickly before she started to slowly reach out again, this time her fingers merely brushing his cheek. At first he seemed to fight the caress, as if it hurt him. Katara was nothing if not persistent. She kept massaging his face with one hand, and though it took at least ten minutes, he was finally coming down.

Though still writhing a little, he began to lean into her hand. She thought this was a good time to grab his other cheek and press her forehead against his, wanting only to calm him. The mint scent of his breath came against her face rapidly. "It' okay, Aang. I'm here and you're safe. Sokka and I promise nothing will hurt you here. Calm down."

He had stopped screaming, but he was breathing heavily and whimpering. Body was tense as if it were experiencing the horrors he had gone through. But his breathing pattern was slowing until with a gasp, gray eyes snapped opened. Katara moved away just enough to show him her face, which was streaming tears.

He sat up quickly, looking all around him as if searching for a threat that only he could see. Breathing heavily, and not seeing anything wrong, he looked at her once more and she gave a gentle smile, touching his wet cheek again. "It's okay," she breathed, like she would a scared animal or child. "You're safe."

Breathing ragged, he croaked, "Katara." The next thing she knew, she was engulfed his arms again, him sobbing on her shoulder. She didn't care about that; she only wanted Aang to be okay, though she knew that was going to take time.

They sat like that for a long time, and it took a while to notice her father and Sokka standing in the doorway of the room, watching them. Hakoda looked shocked while Sokka watched with worry. Katara met her father's gaze, daring him to kick out the boy who was clearly in pain. He had the decency to look guilty for doubting them in the first place.

Aang finally spoke, voice raw and deep. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Shh," she soothed, running a hand through his hair. "Don't be. There is nothing to be sorry for."

"But there is," he argued, looking at her with red eyes. "The last thing I wanted was to cause trouble for you. I can't even sleep because...because..." He trailed off, clenching his eyes tightly.

Katara sighed, grabbing his cheek again so he was forced to look at her once more. "Aang, no one can control their dreams. It's not a big deal." She looked down, grasping his hand. "When my mother died, the nightmares wouldn't stop for almost two weeks. I still have them every now and then." She looked back at him. "But do you know what got me through them?"

Swallowing, he shook his head. She squeezed his hand. "It's because I knew there were people who cared about me and my loss, including my family. I know I wasn't alone, even though at times it felt like it. You have me and Sokka, now, no matter how this ends. We're in this together, okay?"

Aang looked down, scrubbing at his eyes, and Katara noticed that her father and brother had left the room. Aang didn't seem to notice the others in the first place, but that was okay. She believed that he didn't need an audience.

Finally, with a deep breath, he looked up with a spark of hope in his eyes, which made her heart swell. "Okay," he breathed. "Thank you."

She nodded before gently pushing him back down. "You need to try to rest. We can speak to Dad when you wake up again."

When Katara was about to move away, Aang suddenly reached out and grasped her wrist. She looked down at him, noticing the way he was looking up at her. "Can-can you stay with me?" His voice was a pleading whisper that pulled at Katara's heartstrings.

She smiled, though her face felt warm, and asked, "Will it help with the nightmares?"

Aang nodded and moved away when she gestured for him to do so. She got under the covers, not caring that she was still in her day clothes. Aang needed comfort and she was more than willing to give it. When they were settled, she noticed that he was leaving some space in between them, and realized that he wanted to respect her, despite what he needed.

Katara opened her arms. "Come here; it's alright."

He looked surprised at her request. "Really?" When she smiled and opened her arms a little wider, he hesitated before slowly going into them, laying his head over her shoulder. Katara wrapped her arms around Aang, rhythmically rubbing his back and arm. At first he was a little tense, but as she continued her ministration, he relaxed as his breathing evened out.

Before slumber claimed him, he murmured, "Thank you, Katara."

She kissed his forehead, feeling her lips tingle in the comforting action, before laying down herself, suddenly exhausted from the day. "Sweet dreams, Aang," she whispered.

Before long, they both were asleep.