Chapter 30 Trade

A/N: Again, reader discretion is advised. Mentions of abuse, torture and injury in this chapter. Thank you for reading. I'm working on the next chapters now. It's a busy time of year and a lot of personal things are occurring along with the pandemic. Stay healthy everyone and please R&R!

Zuko and Tenzin were back at the hospital the next day with Jun. They waited in a private visiting room near Jasmine's room for the phone call. Zuko had his gameboy again, but wasn't able to play much. He kept glancing at Tenzin's laptop, hoping for a call or text. At 1pm, his phone went off. He heard Toph's ringtone and handed it to Tenzin. They had discussed that any incoming calls to Zuko would be answered by the negotiator.

"Hello," Tenzin answered, placing the phone on speaker.

"Well, a new voice. And you are?" Ozai asked.

"Tenzin Appa, with the FBI. I presume I'm speaking to Ozai Agni, formerly of the FBI?"

Ozai laughed, and it sounded crazed. Zuko thought it sounded like the Joker's laugh from the Batman cartoons he had grown up with and he winced.

"Yes, is Zuko with you?"

Tenzin met Zuko's eyes and the scarred teen nodded. "I'm here," Zuko replied.

"Good, good. Have my demands been met?"

"We're finishing up the last ones and setting up the vehicles as requested" Tenzin answered calmly.

"Here's the final demand then. Zuko and Ursa will bring me the keys for all three vehicles. They will trade themselves for the girl. I'll release one of them once I am safely cleared from the meeting point and the other once I am leaving the country. I will text the transfer point later. I better not see any police or FBI other than you there, Tenzin Appa. The girl could be hurt."

""We'll be awaiting your…" the line went dead, "text." Tenzin sighed the last.

He met Zuko's eyes and smiled softly again. "That call was longer. Only 3 seconds, but I should be able to get a better location." He turned back to his computer, then sighed. "Down to a mile radius. Jun, can you call your contacts and have them patrol here?"

He pointed to a map showing an industrial area as Jun came over to look. She sighed. "That may spook him. It's also New Years, all the businesses will be closed."

Zuko looked at the map. "May I?" he asked Tenzin.

Tenzin nodded, moving out of the way so Zuko could take his place. Zuko easily opened up a map program separately and typed in a business name. It brought up a business close to the middle of the circle on Tenzin's map. "There. Ask Captain Piandoa if there's an alarm they can set off at that business. They're known for having loud alarms at their branches since they have high end electronics. An alarm would give the police a good reason to be patrolling."

Jun grinned and ruffled Zuko's hair, much to his disdain. He swatted her hand away, but that just made her grin more. "Great idea, Sunshine! You really need to look at a job with us once you're done with school. I'll call Piandao now." She pulled out her phone and turned away from Zuko and Tenzin.

Tenzin was truly smiling at Zuko. "That is a great idea. Hopefully it works. At least we can get eyes on the ground, but he may hole up tighter."

"I'll have the police run the plates for any vehicle in the area in case they're stolen," Jun called over her shoulder after she had been talking with Piandao. "Yes, Captain. You heard me. Set off the alarm. You may want to call the business just so they don't freak out. I'll have Danny and Roland patrol with your officers. They'll look like plain clothes detectives. Thanks."

Zuko felt a surge of hope for the first time since Toph had been kidnapped. Tenzin left to inform Lao of the latest call. Once Jun had hung up with Piandoa, she called Sue. "Hi, get some brown hair dye for me, and stop by Iroh's to pick up one of Ursa's dresses and some of her makeup and perfume. As well as a jacket with a hood that fits both of us. Yeah, I need a makeover for the exchange. You can tell Iroh and Ursa if they ask, but they are not allowed to attend. For Ursa's health. I will not have her having a stroke or heart attack at a crucial moment. Then bring over some vests for Zuko, myself and Tenzin. Thanks, Sue." After Jun hung up, she turned to smile softly at Zuko.

"Well, we gotta wait for the final text for location and time, but there's a chance we can find her before then. Get some rest, Zuko. I'll get Bato to take you home…"

"No," Zuko stated, shaking his head. "I'm staying until we get that text."

Jun sighed, but smiled. "All right. Then you can help make me look like your mom once Sue gets here."

Zuko waited as patiently as he could. Sue arrived an hour later with one of his mother's dresses and some hair dye. She and Jun left to get Jun's hair done, leaving Zuko with Tenzin and occasionally Lao checking in. The text came in at 4 with the location of the transfer. It was at an old, closed indoor mall, 3 miles from where the calls were coming from. And it was set for 8 in the morning. A warning had come through with the text stating that if any other agents besides Tenizn were seen that Toph would be hurt or worse. Tenzin had replied that they needed proof that Toph was healthy. A new photo of Toph glaring with a sign stating "day 2" came through. Zuko felt his anger rise again as he looked upon the photo. Toph looked more disheveled. There also looked to be a cut on her right thigh, through the jeans.

Zuko pointed it out to Tenzin. "He knows he can't do any severe damage," Tenzin said. Zuko thought he heard some doubt in the man's tone. He hadn't heard any doubt since Tenzin had arrived, so it was odd to hear it then.

"His laugh changed," Zuko said.

"Really?" Tenzin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It was more...crazy. Did you ever watch the Batman cartoons? It sounded like the Joker's laugh."

"Ah, yes, Mark Hammil did an amazing job. So, you think he sounds…?"

"Crazy," Zuko said. "He sounds crazy, even crazier than when I last had an encounter with him."

"I'll make some calls," Tenzin said before turning back to his computer.

When Jun came back, Zuko was surprised to see that Jun actually did look a lot like his mom with her hair dyed and cut just like Ursa's.

"Come on," Jun said with a small smile when she saw Zuko. "Jasmine wants to see you."

Zuko followed the agent to Jamine's hospital room where he found Jasmine lying down with her right leg held up by a sling and heavily bandaged.

"Hello, Zuko," Jasmine said in a tired voice. "How are you doing?"

"I'm ok, Mrs. Bei Fong. How are you feeling?"

She smiled, but it was pained. "I've been better. Reminds me of when Jun and I broke our arms as kids. Jun, remember that tree we fell out of?"

Jun laughed. "Yeah, we should have checked that branch first."

"Yes, I don't remember it hurting this much before," Jasmine said, grimacing.

"That's because we didn't have to have surgery then. You had to have three bones put back in place with pins."

Zuko gulped. He felt responsible for this, guilty even. "I'm sorry."

Jasmine's face changed from pained laughter to a mother's worry. "Zuko, you have nothing to be sorry for. This isn't your fault. I just wanted to say thank you. Lao told me that you were already volunteering to trade yourself for Toph. Just...be careful. Toph cares for you so much, I don't want to see her heart break."

Zuko tried to smile and felt a small smile come onto his face. "I'll do my best to be careful, and bring Toph back. I don't plan on going down without a fight, once Toph is safe."

"I know you will, dear. Jun, you better return this young man to my daughter. I'll have to help Toph with her vengeance if you don't." Zuko could only watch with mild amusement as Jasmine sent her best motherly glare to her cousin.

Jun just chuckled. "Don't worry, Jaz. We're trying to think up a couple of surprises for the bad guy. You rest and heal, ok?"

"All right," Jasmine replied, yawning. "Thanks."

Jun and Zuko left to go back to Tenzin and plan for the next day. Zuko and Sue helped Jun apply Ursa's makeup to look more like his mother. Jun's eyes were black while Ursa's were a soft brown, so a close inspection would betray the disguise. Otherwise, it was a good match. A text came in at midnight that the transfer would take place in the food court. Tenizn was able to get floor plans and found that there were only 3 possible sniper locations, one of which was too difficult to climb for it to be feasible. Bato would be standing by with Nyla around the corner in a closed store. Danny and Sue would be set up in sniper positions, but if Ozai stopped, they would pull back. Tenzin, Zuko and Jun would all be wearing kevlar vests and approach with Zuko and Tenzin in the lead, hiding Jun dressed as Ursa. They would stop 10 feet from Ozai and wait until he let go of Toph before they approached him. If anything went wrong they would run back towards Bato and Nyla would be released as a guard or attack dog, depending on the circumstances.

The police hadn't found anything in the area where the phone calls had come from, and the police had to call off the search after a couple hours as other calls and emergencies took precedence. They arrived at the mall at 7:30 in the morning and easily gained access, thanks to the police. Bato took Nyla to his waiting point while Sue and Danny left to get to their positions. Tenzin handed Jun and Zuko an earpiece.

"Just in case I need to contact either of you, if this goes badly," he said.

Zuko nodded and put on the earpiece, hearing Sue and Danny checking in in whispers. He watched as Jun kept the hood of her sweatshirt on and placed the earpiece in. Then, they made their way to the food court, waiting just outside. Zuko heard Danny, Sue, and Bato checking in, as well as Piandoa on the line as he and other police waited outside with an ambulance.

Tenzin checked his watch, and at 8, Zuko's phone buzzed with a text. He pulled it out and showed Tenizn. "Walk to the center," it read.

"Ok, here we go," Tenzin stated and Zuko heard the man inside his earpiece as well as next to him. He and Tenzin walked forward, followed by Jun who had her head bowed and walked hunched over as if she had been injured, exactly as Zuko had coached her on how his mother had walked as she was recovering.

They stopped in front of a closed Hot Dog stand, ten feet from the center. Zuko then spotted Ozai walking out from a side passage with Toph in front of him. She was gagged and walking oddly. Her hands were bound in front of her, rope wound tightly around her wrists. "Something's wrong with Toph," Zuko whispered to Tenzin. The way she was walking was odd, yet familiar. When she faltered and tried to walk on her heels, he knew what Ozai had done. He felt his anger rise again, and just saw his father smirk at him. He was going to kill Ozai. Ozai stopped and pulled Toph close to him at the center.

"Come, come forward. No need to stall."

"Only when Toph starts walking towards me, shall these two move your way," Tenzin replied, being stern.

"No," Ozai said, starting to snarl. "They come here, or the girl gets hurt."

Zuko saw Toph start moving her hands towards her belt buckle and he put his hands out in a peaceful gesture.

"Don't hurt her," Zuko told his father. "I'll walk forward 2 steps, then a step for every step Toph takes towards me. Then Mom comes, ok?"

Zuko took 2 steps forward as a gesture of goodwill and waited to see what Ozai would do. His father looked more disheveled and feral that he had at homecoming. There was an odd glint in his eyes and then Ozai turned to look at 'Ursa'.

"Ursa, remove your hood. Now!"

Zuko heard Jun moving slowly, to remove her hood. She had told him that she would keep her head bowed until the last moment. At that moment, Toph reacted. Zuko watched as Toph opened her belt buckle and stabbed Ozai in the thigh with the knife part of her buckle before stomping onto the instep of his foot with her heel before she started running towards Zuko.

"No!" Ozai yelled as he grunted in pain and then pulled out a gun.

"Down!" Tenzin yelled. "Toph, to me!"

Zuko could only see his father pointing the gun at Toph and rushed to be between Toph and his father. A whistle sounded and a blur of fur rushed past him and, heading right at Ozai, jumping at the hand holding the gun before it went off.

"Get back here Zuko!" Jun yelled as the gun sounded and Zuko turned and ran back, behind Toph as she ran to Tenzin. Once Tenzin had Toph, he covered her and ran behind her, directing her with a hand on her shoulder. Jun waited for Zuko then they ran back and around a corner. Shots were being fired and sounding like they were hitting the ground behind them.

Once they were behind a counter, Toph grabbed onto Jun and just started hugging her cousin, crying softly. Tenzin was calling Piandao and Zuko could only pant. That had been close. He had seen the muzzle of the gun pointing at him and Toph but they hadn't been hit. Another shot rang out and a canine yelp sounded.

""Don't shoot my dog!" Jun yelled. Another yelp and then nothing. After a minute, Sue called out "all clear' over the earpieces. "Zuko," Jun said. "Once Bato gets here, go get Nyla with him. She won't trust anyone else but you two and me. I...I have to keep Toph safe."

Zuko could only nod, looking at his girlfriend. She was trying to stop crying and just hugged Jun.

"Hey Sunshine," she finally squeaked out.

"Hi, Toph. We'll be ok now." He tried to sound comforting, but he was still a little freaked out by everything that had happened.

Toph just nodded, holding onto her cousin. Bato came around to them, his gun drawn. "All right, Sue, Danny, cover us." He nodded to Zuko and started making his way slowly around the corner.

Zuko followed Bato as they used tables as cover and made their way to where they had last seen Ozai. Zuko spotted Nyla first, and pointed out the dog to Bato. Bato did a whistle and Nyla raised her head from licking her rear leg and started limping towards them. Seeing her limp and bleeding from her rear leg and back, Zuko motioned her to stop. He saw a lot of blood splatter around where Nyla had been and pointed it out to Bato as they neared Nyla.

"Can you carry her?" Bato asked.

""Yeah," Zuko replied, already bending down to pick up the dog. She whimpered and wiggled a little as he picked her up and then Bato walked backwards behind him as he quickly took Nyla back to where they had left Jun and Tenzin. When they got back, Jun and Toph were already gone and Tenzin was waiting for them.

"Let's get her to the ambulance," Tenzin said, looking pale as he noticed the blood on the dog and starting to drip down Zuko's hand.

Zuko nodded and followed the negotiator, and was followed by Bato out to the ambulance. There he found Toph being treated as Jun hovered protectively behind the blind teen.

"Take photos, "Jun said to a police officer standing nearby. "We need to document it."

"No, no photos," Toph replied stubbornly.

"Toph, we need to document what he did, for court for when he's caught."

Zuko had his hands full with Nyla but saw Toph's stubbornness waver and then she nodded. Once Nyla heard Jun's voice, she started whimpering and Jun looked over at her with tear filled eyes.

"My baby," Jun awed and rushed over to assess the damage done to the dog. "Ben, I need you to drive Bato and Nyla to the emergency vet. Now. Bato has my credit card and authorization. Bato, I want text updates." Bato and Ben both nodded and rushed over to Ben's police car, Bato motioning Zuko to follow him. He then had Zuko hand him the dog once he sat down in the passenger seat.

"Go take care of your girl," Bato said with a smile before he shut the door and they sped off.

Zuko looked at the blood on his hands from Nyla and felt his limbs start shaking as the adrenaline high started to fall away. Suddenly, Tenzin was at his side.

"Let's get you sitting down," he said gently and helped guide Zuko back to the ambulance, sitting him down on the bumper next to where Toph was seated and being treated. "I need to take off the vest," Tenzin said once Zuko was seated. "Here," the agent said and a couple wet wipes were in Zuko's hands.

Zuko just nodded and wiped his hands clean, moving his arms as he did so that Tenzin could help him take off his outer shirt and then the kevlar vest.

"No, leave my feet alone!" Toph yelled suddenly as the paramedic tried to take off her shoes.

"Toph…" Jun started, but Toph cut her off, fighting back tears again. "NO!"

Jun looked to Zuko, asking for help with her eyes. "Toph," Zuko said softly. "I know what he did to you. He did it to my mom too. The sooner it gets treated, the sooner it'll heal."

Toph turned towards his voice, her face set in a stubborn look, but he could see her lips trembling, and her eyes were moist. Then she turned back to the paramedic and her cousin.

"I need to be holding onto Zuko for it," she stated. Jun sighed before nodding.

"All right, Squirt. Go hug your boyfriend. He needs a hug, he almost died for you today."

Toph actually smiled and held out her hands to feel him. He took her hands with his and helped her scoot closer to him. "Ok, go," she muttered before turning her face into his chest. He heard the paramedic and Jun hiss as Toph's shoes and socks were removed. Zuko just focused on Toph as she grabbed onto him tighter as the socks pulled away half healed tissue and liquid.

"What..how did this happen?" Jun asked, almost in disbelief.

"Ozai burned the soft part underneath her toes," Zuko answered softly. "I remember when he did it to my mom, about 2 months before I got my scar. She couldn't walk straight for a week. She told everyone she had sprained an ankle tripping over something."

Jun only nodded and started taking photos as the paramedic treated Toph, trying to be gentle. Zuko could only hold his girlfriend as she would grab onto him tighter and occasionally cry when it hurt too much. She didn't yell, but was silent as her feet were cleaned and bandaged.

Once the bandages were on, Zuko watched Tenzin approaching them with his laptop and a stern look on your face. Zuko hadn't even noticed the agent leaving them after he had sat next to Toph.

"Zuko, I have something you need to hear," Tenzin said.

Zuko could only nod and watched as Tenzin pushed a button and an audio recording sounded.

"Hello?" Tenzin's voice asked.

"I know the trade fell through. I saw it. I want a deal for myself." Azula's voice replied.

"And what have you to offer?"

"Ozai. He still wants Zuko. I tell you when and where and I get the rest of the deal, minus the family." Click

"That was Azula," Zuko said, to no one in particular. He was still on the downside of the adrenaline rush from the botched trade, and helping Toph through her treatment had kept him on edge. She sat next to him, and he noticed she had turned her ear towards the laptop.

"Yes," Tenzin replied sadly. "The call came into your cell once we had reached safety, as you two were being treated. I redirected it, seeing you...occupied."

Zuko could only nod. He hadn't heard it or felt it, too preoccupied with everything going on and trying to be a comfort to Toph. Tenzin looked Zuko directly in the eyes, a firm look in the man's grey eyes. "Are you still willing to go through with it? You can always say no."

"Sunshine?" Toph asked meekly, an emotion Zuko had never heard in her. "What's going on?"

Zuko looked down at her and hugged her close to him. She meant everything to him. More than his uncle, more than his mother. He had come to that realization that morning as he had walked into the food court for the trade. He couldn't think of what could have happened...No. He wouldn't go down that train of thought.

"I offered to trade myself for you. To stop him. I can't let him hurt anyone else. Agents, my family, those I love…."

Toph just stared up at him with those soulful, unfocused, jade colored eyes and then pulled him down to a kiss. Zuko knew people were turning away from them, some chuckling lightly as he kissed her back. He put all his emotions and feelings for Toph into that kiss. It felt like she was doing the same.

When they finally broke apart, they were out of breath and Toph smiled at him. It was a soft smile, not her usual mischievous grin, but something gentle meant for him.

"I know," she said, raising a hand to place it on his scarred cheek. "Me too." Toph took a deep breath and drew back, all serious suddenly. She turned towards the agents waiting patiently for them.

"Ozai's slipping. Muttering a lot. He's obsessed, but trying to keep it together. Azula's the sane one out of the pair."

Zuko just sighed, and let his head rest against Toph's. He had hoped that it would be over today. That Ozai would be caught. But he hadn't been. On one hand, they had another chance. On the other, he had to go through the stress of this all over again. At least Toph was safe.

XXXXXXXXXX

Zuko returned home, exhausted, even though it was only 11 in the morning. Toph had gone to the hospital to be reunited with her parents and receive treatment and a more thorough exam. Zuko had remembered on his way home and texted their friends and uncle that Toph was safe. Iroh met Zuko at the front door, and guided the scarred teen inside and to the couch where a pot of tea waited. Ursa and a police officer along with Mr. Jeong waited there. Jun and Tenzin followed them, giving Zuko space.

"Any news?" Mr. Jeong asked when he spotted Zuko.

"Easy, my friend," Iroh stated. "Let him sit and take a sip of tea first."

"Toph's with her parents," Zuko stated before he took a sip of the tea his uncle pushed on him. "But Ozai escaped," he replied afterwards, starting to frown again. He saw the others start to look dejected and downcast.

"Don't look so glum," Jun stated as she walked in after Zuko. "We have another chance."

"What do you mean?" Iroh asked.

"Azula wants to trade Ozai for her freedom," Tenzin stated. "May I have some of that tea? It smells divine."

"I can talk to her…" Ursa started, but Tenzin shook his head sadly. "No, my dear. She knows the protocol, as much as any agent. She is setting Ozai up for failure. Possibly us as well. Zuko, what are your thoughts?"

"Toph was right," Zuko replied. "She is the sane one out of the two of them." He brought his eyes up to meet his mother's gaze. "Mom, she's starting to doubt him. This may be our only chance but we have to play by her rules." He turned to Tenzin. "I don't see what other choice we have. Yeah, she probably blames me for ruining her life, but what else can we do? I'm tired of running, of people getting hurt. I need to stand up to him. Even if Azula gets away, I need to stop Ozai."

"How is Toph?" Ursa asked after a minute of silence and she had handed the agents some tea.

"Injured, but ok," Jun sighed after taking a long swig of tea. "Zuko said you had been injured by Ozai the same way."

Zuko saw his mother looking thoughtful and start to open her mouth, probably to ask how.

"Under the toes, Mom," he said softly and saw Ursa look startled before she closed her mouth into a stern frown. She then stood and turned to Jun, her face set.

"You will get him so I can finally face him in the courtroom. And, you are to make sure my son comes back to me!" With that, Ursa stomped her way to her room.

Zuko looked longingly after his mother. He knew she had suffered so much, and yet been so strong. He knew she hated being reminded of how much Ozai had hurt her, but he knew he had given her the best explanation without having to share more details.

"I'll check on her later," Iroh said gently. "She needs time alone, but Ursa makes a valid point. We need this ended. For all our health and sanity."

Jun just nodded. "I know. We're waiting on Azula's next move. It's a chess game and the enemy queen has taken command."