Author Note: Okay, so I got promoted at work (yay!) and my new position is kicking my butt. I also am working at two different stories right now, so I apologize for long breaks. With my new job, the last couple weeks of school, and the holidays coming up, I'm pretty swamped! But, I do love this story, so I'm still going to be working on it when I can! I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: As always, I don't own them.
Day three.
Katara's hands were glowing once again, having paced them on Aang's arm. The smaller burns had gradually faded, but the wound on his back was no different.
She stopped after a few seconds and sighed. Everyone told her she was this great healer, but why couldn't she fulyl heal him? What if she brought him back, but his soul is gone?
No, she couldn't think that way. She thought back to what happened on Appa's back. When he stirred, he looked at her with love in his eyes. The way he smiled, that was Aang. But what was wrong? Why wasn't her healing working?
She stared at him for quite some time, getting lost in her thoughts. She watched intently as his chest rose and fell. She kept her eyes fixed on the rhythm of it, nervous that at any minute it could stop. Whatever power Azula put behind that lightning, really hurt him. Tears started to well in her eyes once again, thinking about how close they were. When he came back on Appa, she thought he was okay. She had thought they had made it…
She thought about the night again, before remembering Azula. She silently promised herself, as well as Aang, that the next time she saw her, she would take her down. No matter what.
"Key, Katara," came a young voice from the doorway.
Katara gave the blind girl a small smile, even though she knew she couldn't see it. "Hey, Toph."
"How is he?"
"The same."
Katara watched as Toph walked over to the sleeping Avatar, placing a hand on his chest. Toph did this every day so far, being the only one who could sense change in his heartbeat. "Hey Twinkle Toes," she said, "you in there?"
She paused a moment as both the girls looked hopefully at him. They were told from multiple people that talking to him could help him find his way back to the physical world. Seconds passed, then minutes. And Aang didn't change. They both sighed as Toph removed her hand from his chest. "His heart is feeling a little stronger, at least," she said making her way towards the door. "He probably is just needing the rest."
"Thanks, Toph."
Toph nodded before closing the door, once again leaving Katara alone, staring at Aang with worry. She was getting tired of feeling this way. She felt hopeless and helpless, and she had proudly gotten rid of those feelings the day they met Aang.
She prided herself in always being hopeful. She believed that evil could never win, that the Fire Nation would lose this war, somehow. But that same hope was fading every day. If Aang didn't survive this, they were done. The war was over, and she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, the Fire Nation would not hesitate to wipe out the rest of the water benders.
For some reason, the thought of that didn't scare her, however. She truly didn't know if she would want to live in a world without Aang. Aang the person. She had grown to truly love him, and she realized that without him, she wouldn't be the same.
"Katara," came another voice from the doorway. This one was older, and filled with concern.
"Hi, dad," Katara said, not taking her eyes off of Aang.
Hakoda quietly walked to his daughter, placing a hand softly on her shoulder. "No changes?"
She simply shook her head, not saying a word.
"Katara, sweetie," he said, realizing she wasn't in the mood to talk, "I'm worried about you. When was the last time you slept or ate?"
Katara shrugged. She truly couldn't remember if she had actually slept since they arrived at Chameleon Bay. All of her focus went into healing Aang. She was worried if she stopped for a long period of time, she would lose him.
Hakoda sighed, not sure how to handle the emotions Katara was walking through. It had been a few years since he had seen her – she had grown and matured, and, in his opinion, probably fallen in love.
He took his hand off her shoulder and stood up, knowing it was best to leave her alone for now. Maybe in a few days she would be ready to talk.
"I brought some noodles for you to eat. They're on the table there."
He pointed to the bowl, letting his daughter nod in acknowledgement before he gave her one last worried look and closed the door.
She briefly wondered why she was feeling so angry at her father. She couldn't figure out why, but every time she saw her dad, she felt a burn in her stomach. There was something there – something she hadn't dealt with that she had buried deep down since he left to fight. She imagined it was exaggerated due to the situation she was in as well. She made a mental note to think on it and talk to him once Aang woke up.
Realizing she was actually quite hungry, she grabbed the bowl of noodles from the table and began to eat them quickly. She was thankful for the warmth of the broth, and for the fulfillment of her hunger, before finishing the bowl. She then placed it back on the table, picking up her journal to once again write down how she felt.
Three days. We arrived at dad's ship three days ago, and Aang's condition has not improved. Not even a twitch or shift. Toph told me his heart is stronger, and his smaller burns have faded away almost completely. But, I can't help but still feel quite hopeless. While my healing seems to work on his smaller injuries, the entry wound of the lightning in his back remains the same. I'm nervous it will get infected. I've been healing the wound with every ounce of energy I can muster – but nothing changes. That wound looks almost exactly the same as it did three days ago when it happened. People keep telling me I'm such a great healer, but why won't he wake up? I'm losing hope that he will. His soul could be long gone and all of this could be in vain. But I won't stop trying. Not as long as his heart beats, as long as he is breathing, I won't stop trying to keep him alive. I don't care if I don't sleep. Aang needs me, and I need him. So, I will continue to heal him, and hope and pray that soon, he will return. I know that I am causing everyone to be worried, but they shouldn't be worried about me. They should be worried about Aang.
Dad keeps trying to talk to me, and I don't blame him since I haven't seen him in years, but whenever he tries, I find it hard to say a word. I feel anger towards him, but I don't really know how to process it. I think I would feel different if Aang were awake. If he would wake up, he would still need healing and recovery, but at least I would know he is going to make it. At least, then, I could see his stormy grey eyes that I could get lost in. I could hear his laugh again. I could laugh at his boyish and mischievous grin again. But I can't. And I'm worried I never will.
I can't live without him! He may be the Avatar, the last hope for the world, but selfishly, I don't care about that right now. All I want is Aang. I want him back, because I truly love him. I still don't know how to say it, or if I'll even get the chance to show him. But I need him to come back – if not for the world, at least for me.
What am I saying? I'm never like this. I care about the world, and the people in it. If Aang doesn't wake up, everyone outside the Fire Nation will suffer. What is wrong with me? Why am I being so selfish? I don't understand. I mean, I know it's because I love him. But I want to tell him, and I'm terrified I'll never get the chance.
All I can do now is keep healing him. And I'll keep praying to the spirits that they will bring him back to us. I hope that's sooner rather than later.
"Katara, be reasonable!"
It was the next morning, Aang still hadn't changed, and Katara had not slept. She had dark bags under her eyes, and she fought every second to keep her eye lids open. Sokka had come down to visit early in the morning – an unusual thing for him – expecting Katara to be asleep. When he found her, still trying to heal him, instead of comforting her like he usually did, he finally snapped. His worry for his sister's wellbeing overwhelmed him, and he would not leave the room until she went to sleep.
"I am being reasonable, Sokka! I am the only one who can help Aang return. Sleep is not important. I need to stay with him and keep him alive!"
"Have you ever stopped to think that maybe he doesn't need the healing? His body just needs rest! Let him naturally do it and he will wake up when he is ready!"
Katara paused. She would never admit it, but Sokka had a point. Aang was intensely injured, and it was only natural for a person to need rest after going through that.
"That's not the point," she said a little quieter now, not wanting to lose this argument. "If we leave him alone in here, then no one will be here to help if something happens."
"What do you think is going to happen? Do you think if you sleep for a few hours he's going to stop breathing simply because you aren't around for a little while? Katara! You need to start thinking with your head again!"
He walked closer to his sister and lowered his voice.
"Look.. I know. You're thinking with your heart. I know you have feelings for him."
Katara's eyes grew wide as she quickly tried to deny it. No words came out, however, just some "I.. UGH", and wordless grunts. Sokka held up a hand for her to stop.
"Katara, it's okay. Toph knows too. I get it. We love him too… not in that way of course, but this kis is my brother. And I of course want him to wake up. But, you need to take care of yourself for once. Please. Go to your room and get some sleep I'll stay with him for the day."
Katara stared at her brother, feeling defeated once more. "Okay, fine. But I'm going to sleep over there." She pointed to a hammock hanging in the corner of the room. "I'll sleep better if I'm right here. That way, if anything changes.."
"Fine. Just sleep, Katara."
He watched her intently as she stepped into hammock. As she settled down, he took a blanked from the corner, laying it over his sister as she cuddled into it and closed her eyes. "Sleep well Katara. I'll be right here if anything changes."
She gave a small nod, already feeling sleep threaten her. Then, she allowed herself to slip into dreamland.
Sokka watched her for a few moments, making sure his sister actually went to sleep. After a few minutes, her breathing steadied, leaving Sokka to believe she had actually fallen asleep. He adjusted the blanket to make sure she stayed warm, before he walked over to the other sleeper in the room.
Knowing he needed to hold true to his promise, he made himself comfortable in the chair Katara had been sitting on.
After a few moments passed, he stood up and walked over to where Aang was, looking at him as he slept. "Hey, Aang," he whispered, making sure to not wake up his sister, "buddy? They keep saying that talking to someone in a…coma will help them wake up."
He shuddered at the thought that Aang might actually be in a coma, before continuing. "I know that you're the avatar, and that we pretty much lose the war if you don't come out of this, but I'm more worried about my sister. She loves you, Aang. And I'm pretty sure you love her too. So please, if not for the world, at least for her. Please wake up soon, bud. We all need you. But I'm afraid if we lose you, we're going to lose her, too."
Author Note: I can't make any promises that there will be another chapter out before Christmas, but I'm gonna try! Hope you all enjoyed! Don't forget to like, review and follow!
