Chapter 13:
Sibling Rivalry
It was dawn. Sokka sat next to Suki, his eyes fixated on her. He hadn't slept all night, and his eyes were heavy and dark.
Sokka was startled by a light knock on the door from Katara.
"What are you doing up?" Sokka asked.
"Same question." Katara replied, entering the room.
Sokka ran his hand through his hair and looked solemnly at Katara,
"How is she doing?" Katara asked.
"She hasn't moved since last night, and she won't let that necklace out of her hand." Sokka laughed lightly at his girlfriend's stubbornness.
"At least she hasn't let go." Katara replied.
"Katara, I thought you said you said you had healed her." Sokka suddenly said sharply.
"I thought I did. She seemed fine." Katara said defensively.
"But you said she was ok." Sokka said threateningly.
"I- Sokka, I'm sorry. She was better when I healed her, but I think this is something new. She wasn't coughing or anything." Katara said apologetically.
Sokka stood up suddenly and yelled, "It's all your fault Katara!"
"How is this my fault?" Katara asked, matching Sokka's intensity. She was infuriated by his blame.
"Well you said she was fine! You said she was going to be ok! You lied!" Sokka shouted in Katara's face.
"Yeah, because I thought she WAS! I was only trying to help, but obviously you don't need it or want it." Katara screamed. The water in the basin flew up with Katara's arms.
"Yeah, you broke her MORE!" Sokka accused loudly.
Aang walked sleepily into the room.
"What's going on guys?" Aang asked.
"Stay out of this!" Sokka and Katara yelled simultaneously.
Aang, shocked, returned to his room.
"I didn't break her even more!" Katara mocked Sokka in a stupid voice. "You're the one who let her ride the mail carts in Omashu, and then let it crash!" Katara roared.
"How can you say that?" Sokka asked, obviously hurt by what Katara had just said.
"How can you accuse me of breaking your girlfriend? I actually helped her!" Katara countered.
Toph walked into the room, still in her pajamas.
"Will you two please be QUIET?" Toph yelled.
Katara and Sokka were standing aggressively over Suki.
"Fine, if you don't want my help, then I won't do anything more for you!" Katara screamed as she stormed past Toph.
She stomped angrily across the hardwood floors to her bedroom. Aang was waiting for her on the bed. She stormed past him and galumphed onto the bed.
"Do you want to talk?" Aang asked kindly.
"NO!" Katara said sharply.
"Hey, just calm down. Sokka's just pushing your buttons. He's been awake all night and this is really hard on him."
Katara stood up in a flurry. "Are you siding with him?"
"I'm not, why don't you take it down a notch. Why don't you go waterbend or something?" Aang suggested.
"Don't tell me what to do!" Katara yelled.
Aang stood up and moved in front of Katara and placed his hands on both her shoulders. He looked her in the eyes, and she was about to jerk away until she realized he was only trying to help.
"I'm so sorry Aang." Katara broke down, hugging Aang.
"It's ok Katara." Aang replied, holding Katara close.
"No it's not, you were only trying to help me and I was so rude to you." Katara fought back the tears.
Aang was finally taller than Katara, seeing as he had shot up several inches in the past few months. Katara's head fit perfectly on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her waist and silently comforted her.
Zuko and Mai were awake, lying on their shared bed. Zuko twirled a piece of Mai's long silky black hair in between his fingers.
"Toph was talking to me yesterday." Mai broke the silence.
"What did she say?" Zuko inquired.
"Well, she was talking about some extra presence." Mai explained.
"Like a spirit?" Zuko asked.
"I don't really know." Mai laughed lightly. "She started saying something about someone being something and then she started mumbling incoherently and I wasn't all that interested until I thought I heard my name. However, she was arguing with herself, so I didn't take much notice."
Zuko traced a line up and down Mai's stomach. She squirmed because she was so ticklish.
"Do you know anything new about Suki?" Zuko asked.
"Hold on, let me use my girl powers to talk to Katara." Mai said, squeezing her eyes shut. She was in an abnormally good mood.
"Got anything?"
"Really?" Mai asked, laughing.
"Bad reception?" Zuko asked, kissing Mai on the cheek.
Mai smiled and nodded. The two fire nation members were lying on top of the covers and Zuko only had pants on. Mai traced over the contours of Zuko's muscled stomach with her index finger. He was perfectly defined, and hadn't stopped training since the war was over. Mai was quite happy with this fact.
Sokka sat next to Suki again. He was frustrated, confused, and upset all at the same time. In addition to the stress of his girlfriend being comatose, he felt guilty about blaming his sister for his problems.
Katara sighed as she stood in the doorway. She was holding a tray for Sokka.
"I'm sorry Katara. Really, I shouldn't have blamed Suki on you. It's not your fault."
"It's fine. I'm not mad anymore." Katara said, advancing towards Sokka.
"Thank you for understanding." Sokka said, looking down at Suki.
"I also shouldn't have said those nasty things to you either." Katara said, standing in front of Sokka.
"What's on the tray?" Sokka asked.
"Rice and tea. It's yours if you want it." Katara said warmly.
Sokka took the tray, but still watched Suki. Katara left the room, understanding the want to be left alone.
Suki lied there motionless except for her chest rising and falling as she breathed.
"If you can hear me Suki, please do something. Make a noise, twitch, or open your eyes. Just do something to let me know your ok." Sokka pleaded.
She remained on the bed, completely motionless. Toph stood in the doorway, for she had been unable to go back to sleep.
"She's going to be ok." Toph said, trying to comfort Sokka.
"Do you really think so?" Sokka asked, hopeful.
"I wouldn't lie to you. That would be cruel. I'm all for pranks, but that wouldn't be funny." Toph said as she walked over to the bed.
She sat down gently on the opposite side from Sokka. That presence is stronger, but Katara's walking in here. I can't be sure of anything yet.
"You really need some rest Sokka, you look like you haven't slept in- well that's because you haven't." Toph smiled.
Sokka looked down and realized that he was still wearing the same thing as last night.
"You're right, I should at least change." Sokka said as he stood up.
He stretched his arms over his head and began to undress. Katara walked into the room and covered her eyes.
"You should really shut the door when you decide to change." Katara said, standing in the doorway.
Toph earthbended the door shut, slamming it in Katara's face. She had made a hand out of earth and made the hand slam the door.
"Why did you do that?" Katara yelled.
"Talk to the hand." Toph cackled.
Katara opened the door, trying not to tear Toph's head off with a water whip. Sokka finished getting changed and sat back down.
"Oh calm down sugar queen." Toph was in stitches, rolling around on the bed like a mad person.
Katara made a face and took a deep breath. She sat down at the foot of the bed in between Sokka and Toph.
The tray had Sokka's empty tea cup and rice bowl. Katara placed her hand on her brother's shoulder.
"She's going to be ok." Katara said. "I promise."
Just then, Suki gasped. Sokka whipped around to see her eyes fluttering.
"What's going on?" Suki asked, her voice cracked and weak.
Yay! End of the chapter. I neglected to add commentary on the last chapter. Well I hope you like the crazy twist. There's at least one more to come. XD you'll just have to wait until I write the chapter. So there will probably only be a few more chapters in this story, and then I move on to the sequel. Hope you guys will read that! Thank you to all who review!