Two updates in one day!? Glad I was able to get back to you so quickly! I guess I'm sort of making up for all that lost time between Chapters 8 and 9. I can proudly say that, to celebrate my tenth entry, I have acquired ownership of Avatar: The Last Airbender! Too bad it isn't actually true…but it's fun to say. Oh, well…

CRACK.

The pain was excruciatingly sharp, and it shot through her whole body. She couldn't move her right arm at all. She feared it was broken, and she couldn't get up. Her whole body was crushing her arm. She didn't cry, but she wanted to.

He watched the whole thing unfold in terror. As the ruffian who caused this injustice fled the scene, the boy rushed to help his poor friend.

Aang and Katara had been shopping in a two-story market when a man, who looked about eighteen, dressed in black stopped to talk to Katara. Not that he cared that she was holding Aang's hand or anything.

Katara clearly wasn't interested in the man, and she turned to leave. Suddenly, the crook pushed Katara. Aang lost his grip on her, and she fell down the flight of stairs, landing on her right arm.

"Katara!" Aang screamed, rushing to her. He didn't care that the man got away; he just wanted to help his poor Waterbender.

"A-Aang," she choked. "I can't move my arm."

"I know," he said sympathetically. "I think you broke it when you landed on it." He helped her up, being careful of her injury. He kissed her forehead. "Come on; let's get you to a doctor."

The doctor examined Katara's arm. "Well," he said, "it's definitely broken…and you definitely need a cast."

"How bad is it?" Aang asked, never daring to take his eyes off of Katara.

"It's pretty bad," the doctor said. "She put all her weight on it. She's only ninety pounds, but she must have landed pretty hard to have this bad a break. She shattered it."

Aang and Katara cringed.

"I-is there anything you can do to…speed up the healing process?" Katara asked, keeping her eyes glued on Aang.

"I can do a surgery to repair part of the bone," the doctor explained, "but I can't do anything more than attaching some of the larger shards. I'm so sorry."

Katara pursed her lips and nodded. "All right. What will it cost?"

"Well…" The doctor rubbed his beard. "Normally, I'd charge two hundred fifty gold pieces…"

Aang's eyes bulged. "We…we don't—"

The doctor thought for a moment. "No charge," he decided. "A friend of the Avatar is a friend of mine."

"Doctor, I don't have two hundred fifty gold pieces," Aang protested, "but I certainly don't feel comfortable—"

"Aang, I don't need the surgery," Katara said.

"Yes, you do," he argued.

"I insist," the doctor said. "You and your friends have been injured enough during the war. It isn't fair that I charge you."

"I…" Aang caved. "I guess it's okay…" He pulled out five gold pieces for gratuity.

The doctor refused. "I don't accept tips. Especially from someone as notable as yourself." He smiled.

Hesitantly, Aang put the money back in his pocket.

"Thank you," he said gratefully.

The doctor took out his surgical instruments. "I'll treat you immediately," he told Katara. He turned to Aang. "This is a long surgery that will require her to stay overnight. Shall I make arrangements for you to stay—"

"No, I don't want to stay at an inn," Aang said. He looked at Katara. "Do you want me to leave?"

"Do you…do you want to leave?" she asked, looking into his eyes.

"Never," he hastily admitted. "I'll stay here all night if you want me to."

He looked at the doctor. "Are you going to give her a sedative? I don't feel comfortable about her taking a drug."

The doctor chuckled. "No, no. I will administer a shot to numb her arm so that the surgery isn't painful." He picked up a syringe. "You must really care about your friend."

Aang looked at Katara. "I care about her a lot. She's…everything to me."

The doctor smiled. "I guess that means I should get to work." He looked at Katara. "Let's begin."

Aang looked at her. "You ready?"

She nodded, just before the doctor injected her with an especially sharp needle.

She tensed up. "Ooh, I don't know about this!"

Aang frowned. "It's okay, Katara." He grabbed her left hand and sat down beside her.

Suddenly, he had a flash-forward about saying those exact words to her while she was delivering his first child.

He blushed. Katara looked at him. "Are you okay?"

He nodded absently. "Y-yeah," he said, his mind still cloudy.

The operation lasted seven hours, well into the night.

After the doctor finished stitching Katara up, the young lovers were sent on their way.

Aang couldn't stop worrying about Katara. He kept asking her how she felt, if she was drowsy, if she was anxious about her recovery, if her cast was too uncomfortable…after a while, Katara giggled.

"What?" Aang asked.

"It's just…you're so worried, Aang. I'll be fine," she said.

"I worry about you, you know," he replied.

"I know," she said. "And I think that's very sweet of you." She kissed him on the cheek.

Aang could only smile a shy smile as they walked home together…until they arrived home to a very displeased Sokka.

"Katara, what happened to your arm!?" he cried incredulously. He turned to Aang. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SISTER?"

"N-nothing, Sokka—I swear!" Aang stammered, raising his hands in defense.

"Why, I ought to—" The warrior raised a fist in front of the younger boy.

"Sokka, he didn't do anything!" Katara said in Aang's defense. "Some jerk at the market threw me down a flight of stairs, and I landed on my arm!"

Sokka's eyes widened. "Well, did you turn him in?"

Aang shook his head. "No…I let him get away…I had to help Katara."

"Yes, thanks for that, sweetie," Katara said. She kissed Aang briefly on the lips.

"Ohh, oogies!" Sokka complained. "Get a room!" He ran to another part of the house.

"You're very welcome," Aang replied, before leaning in for another kiss.