A/N: For those of you who read the last author note, youknow what would be in this one. Just a reminder. R&R y'all!

Chapter IX: You Can't Escape Me

Onya ran to her friend's side and fell to her knees. Zuko was sitting in a chair beside Shaiya, holding her hand. The doctor was bustling about in the back trying to find bandages, ointment, and anything else he may need to remedy the girl.

"Will she be okay?" Onya whispered.

"I hope so. Doc hasn't said anything to worry me, so she should." As Zuko said that, the doctor came in with his arms full of wrap bandages and burn ointment. Onya moved to help him with his load, leaving Zuko to sit there. Just as she got up, everyone else made it in. Meiya's eyes filled with worry for her daughter. She ran to Shaiya's side, shoving Zuko out of his chair.

"What was that for!" he yelled.

"This is my daughter, my hand should be in hers." Meiya replied. For about twenty minutes, everyone just stood with baited breath as the doctor did his work trying to heal the girl. Just as he finished wrapping her last bandage, Zuko heaved a huge sigh, letting out some smoke. Aang turned and looked up at him. He didn't notice the 12-year-old's gaze fall upon him.

"So, how long until we reach the fire nation?" he asked. Zuko had no reply. He didn't need one.

"We'll be there in two and a half months, if we keep up this pace." his uncle answered. Aang didn't feel too keen on pressing the subject, so he just let it slide. Shaiya began to stir.

"Uhh." she mumbled. Zuko jerked his head in her direction. He whispered her name so only he could hear.

"Shaiya, my darling little girl." her mother said, tears building up in her eyes. Zuko took a step forward, followed by Onya.

"Ma?" she whispered.

"Yes?"

"What's going on in here?"

"Well, thanks to Zuko," Meiya said this grudgingly, "your lying here, in the infirmary of his ship. You've been beaten up pretty badly-" Meiya was cut off.

"I figured as much. Zhao decided he wanted to 'use me' as he calls it. He tried to… to rape me." The entire room gasped. "We argued, then I fought back for about twenty minutes, but it did no good. I just tired. He finally reverted to beating me senseless and breaking my wrists the same way he did Katara's. My wrists wouldn't yield. He just bloodied them. I couldn't feel my hands, so he just kept on beating me until I wavered between consciousness and unconsciousness.

"About five to eight minutes after he had gotten me beaten senseless, he began to undress me. He was almost there when someone came and told him something. All I heard was the word 'sujio', and then Zhao dressed and left. I couldn't move, so I just prayed that someone would get me out of that hell. Zuko did. All I remember was him coming in, whispering something to me, helping me get my clothes back on, and then I began to black out. I could feel him carrying me, and then I heard Kagouya's heavy breathing.

"Then he tossed me onto her, jumped on himself, and we flew off. I clearly remember briefly coming to when the icy wind hit my face. Then, I completely blacked out and wavered, I think." She ended her sentence when she noticed Zuko off to the side.

"Mum, guys, could I… talk to Zuko for a sec?" Meiya was puzzled by her daughter's request, but she and all else obeyed. Everyone, even the doctor, left Zuko and Shaiya alone, and Shaiya struggled to sit up.

"I just… wanted to thank you for getting me out, Zuko." Shaiya whispered, almost too quiet to be heard.

"Don't. It… it was the least I could do. My entire crew seems so much perkier since you and, uh, Onya joined us. I just couldn't bear to think about what Zhao would do to you if I didn't stop him. He attempted to rape Katara, and then came for you and did the same. I just… wouldn't be able to live with myself if that happened to you." he stopped himself here.

Why is it so hard for me to talk to her? She's just a friend. A really talented, strong, independent, and pretty friend. Like Zula used to be. And my mother. Zuko ended his train of thought when Shaiya began to talk again.

"I don't want him to come back. I really don't."

"I understand." Zuko said as he gently put wrapped his arm around her. He felt her shudder, no doubt remembering what happened earlier that day.

"Sorry." he mumbled.

"For what?"

"For… you know,--"

"Yes, I know." she whispered as she leaned into his grip. She wrapped her arms around him, letting her fingers interlock and rest on his other shoulder. He, in turn, stretched his other arm around her, and the two sat for a couple minutes, not wanting to move.

"Uh, would food be too much to ask?" Shaiya asked semi-skeptically.

"No, why?"

"I'm so hungry I could eat a whole sujio raw!" The two sat and giggled as someone knocked on the door. Zuko replied in a husky voice.

"Enter."

"Prince Zuko, I wonder if we could talk?" Iroh asked from the doorway.

"Sure. Shaiya, if you'll excuse me." Sadly but quickly, the two teens released each other and Shaiya laid back down as they left.

"What is it uncle? Shaiya's hungry. I need to get her something."

"Then I'll make this quick." Zuko noticed they were headed toward his room. "Don't you think it would be better if Shaiya slept in your room until we can be sure Zhao has left? She would be much safer than sharing a room with her friend."

"Uncle, do whatever you like. Right now, I need to get her some food." With that, Zuko turned on his heel and headed for the galley to order the chef to prepare some bread, soup, and tea for Shaiya.

Late that night when Zuko went to check on Shaiya, he didn't bring her any food like he usually did.

"Whu, I get a goodnight now?" she asked jokingly.

"Yeah, but your also coming with me to my room."

"What for?" she asked, sitting up.

"Your to stay with me tonight. My uncle decided upon this, not me. Not that I mind. As long as your safe, I don't care if I have to sleep in the livestock hold." Shaiya giggled when he mentioned this.

"I still am having a little trouble walking, though I made once around the room without getting majorly dizzy. You'll have to help me a bit." Zuko nodded and stepped up to help her.

Poor girl, he thought, she can barely walk, much less stand up straight. I should just stay with her in here. No, these doors aren't fireproof. Mine are. She's staying with me.

By the time he finished, the two were at the door, and Shaiya needed only a hand on her back to walk on her own.

The two made it to Zuko's room without so much as a single dizzy spell. He changed after helping her get settled onto his bed.

"Just let me change, and I'll be right back." he said as he left the room through an alternative door. He came back shortly after dressed in nothing but a pair of pants. That left Shaiya a little nervous, and Zuko could see it in her eyes.

"Don't worry. I won't do a thing to you. After what you've been through, I wouldn't even dream of it. Your safe with me, I promise." he whispered as he crawled beneath the covers. He wrapped a comforting hand around her stomach and pulled her close, much to her discomfort.

"If Zhao dares try anything, he'll fall asleep and never wake up." he whispered, comforting her tense nerves. She visibly relaxed, and turned to face the ceiling. Zuko merely extinguished the lanterns and both promptly fell into a deep slumber.