AN: And I think this will almost do it…yeah, it was a little bit of a tease last chapter, but I never intended Jet and Katara to actually go anywhere. Maybe they might get another chance if I decide to write a Lake Laogai one shot…not sure.

And for the record, this is not exactly what/how I thought this story was going to turn out. It was better in my head! But thanks for sticking around so far…

I borrowed actual lines of dialogue from the episode for this chapter.

I most certainly do NOT own the characters. Those guys work down the street.

Speakeasy: Chapter 4

"Get your hands off my sister!"

Most unwillingly, Katara separated herself from Jet. She ran a delicate finger over her very swollen lips and felt more drunk than ever…although she doubted it was the effects of the expensive champagne.

"What is it, Sokka?" his sibling asked in a very annoyed tone.

"Jet's plan isn't what you think it is!" Sokka panted, out of breath.

"Do we really have to talk about this tonight?" Katara asked, much preferring to getting back what (er, rather who) she had been doing. Jet possessively put a hand around the girl's waist.

Sokka's eyes glittered dangerously and he said in a quiet dark tone that Katara had never heard before, "I'm not going to ask again, Jet, get your hands off my sister."

Katara's eyes darted between the two young men. If it came to an actual fight, it would be a push, but she knew that Jet fought dirty and she wanted her brother in one piece when they reached the North. Slowly, and with an apologetic expression on her face, the waterbender backed away from Jet.

"So that's how it is, huh, Katara?" Jet's voice was cold.

Devoid of their shared body heat, Katara felt instantly freezing, as if all the warmth had been sucked out of the room. She put up her hands defensively, and replied honestly, "Jet, I need to hear Sokka's side of things. These are serious threats and I want to hear him out."

For the briefest of moments, Jet looked hurt, then he bent down slowly, picked up his missing straw stalk and walked casually down the hall, calling out behind him, "Take all the time you want. I'm going to see who's in my club, I'm feeling a little lonely. Come find me when he's done lying to you."

"But…"Katara choked back a sob, and Sokka looked menacingly at his sister.

When Katara finally found her voice she said, "This had better be worth it."

"It is."

At that moment, Aang came around the corner. Immediately sensing the tension in the air, he asked, "What did I miss?"

"Our room. Now."

Inside, with the locks secure, Sokka anxiously paced the room. Katara and Aang exchanged worried glances. It took a lot to get Sokka this worked up about anything. He was usually relaxed and calm…well, regarding anything except food.

Aang decided to go first, "What seems to be the matter, Sokka?"

Katara chimed in, "We were worried about you."

"Yeah, sure you were," he responded sarcastically. "Did you think you would find me in Jet's mouth?"

Katara flushed. Aang ignored the question, "So, are you going to tell us what's got you all upset or where you were all day, or are we going to have to guess?"

"I don't know how to tell you this, but Jet's 'plan' is well, he hasn't told us the entire truth." Looking at his sister he said, "Your boyfriend's a thug."

Katara crossed her arms, "What? No, he's not."

"He's messed up, Katara."

Aang spoke up in defense of Jet, "He's not messed up, he's just got a different way of life—a really fun way of life."

"Besides, what evidence do you have?" Katara asked.

In a clipped voice, Sokka answered, "Well, I guess I should give Jet some credit. So, a regiment of the Fire Nation will be taken out, but what he didn't tell us was that it's at the expense of an entire Earth Kingdom village."

Katara was shocked, and said, "He wouldn't!"

Sokka put a comforting arm around his sister, "There are people living there, mothers and fathers and children. I didn't want it to be true."

Tears streaming from her eyes, Katara stood up, "I don't think that's true at all! You know what I think? I think you wanted something to be wrong with him! I think you were jealous when Jet just came in and saved us and you had to find a reason to…to…."

Given all that had happened in the last forty-eight hours, it was no surprise that Katara broke down into sobs. Aang put a comforting hand on Katara's and asked, "Well, let's hear the rest of the story."

Sokka said pleadingly, "Listen, Katara, I'll admit it that maybe it started out that way, but it certainly didn't end like that. The evidence I found today isn't good. Basically, he was going to use the combination of your airbending and waterbending skills to take out a dam that will flood an entire valley…including an unsuspecting and completely innocent settlement."

Katara got up angrily and began pacing, "I want to talk to Jet!"

Aang and Sokka exchanged a worried glance. Sokka said calmly, "Actually, that's not a bad idea…I want to hear his explanation. Maybe, there's a reason for all of this, maybe I'm wrong."

Katara asked hopefully, "Do you really mean that?"

Sokka put his hands on his hips, "As much as I don't want to admit it, I want to be wrong."

Aang smiled, "Thanks, Sokka."

Sokka moved to the door, "You two stay here – I'll go find him."

Ten minutes later, the elder water tribe sibling wished he hadn't made a promise to Aang and Katara. The Duke had led Sokka to a dark room with a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling. The pair walked in silently and witnessed a stripped down Jet harassing what seemed like a harmless old man.

"What made you think you could come through here?!"

"I—"

"You do realize this is our territory?"

"I'm sorry, I—"

"Enough!"

Jet violently pushed over a chair, which clattered to the ground. In that moment, Jet seemed to become aware that there were other people in the room. Regaining his usually calm exterior, Jet, ran a hand through his shaggy hair and said calmly to Sokka, "This is how we handle Fire Nation spooks."

Sokka's eyes narrowed, "But, he's just an old man."

The old man begged, "Please have mercy!"

Jet cracked his knuckles and walked out of the room, "Come on, Sokka."

Sokka stood his ground, "No, we're not going anywhere until I tell my sister and the Avatar the truth. You're exactly what I told them you were – nothing better than a street thug."

Jet pulled on his suspenders up slowly and said, "It's too bad, Sokka."

"Why's that?"

"If you would've just kept your fat mouth shut, I think we really could've been happy here. Too bad you had to go and wreck it."

"I'm not the one who wrecked it. I don't know how you sleep at night."

Sokka made a move for his boomerang, but quicker than the Water Tribe member could react, Jet used his shuang gou to lock the other young man's hands behind his back. The leader of the Freedom Fighters whistled low, and suddenly the Duke and Pipsqueak appeared at the door.

"Take him for a long walk, boys."

A meaty hand was clapped over Sokka's mouth before he could protest.

Sitting in their room, playing Gin Rummy, Katara and Aang could hear the bass and music from other parts of The Forrest. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, "Aang? Katara?"

Katara was surprised as she recognized Jet's voice, "Yes?"

"Can I come in?"

Katara looked at Aang, who nodded his approval, "It's open."

Jet, shirt still slightly askew from the night's earlier proceedings, entered.

Katara smiled at the sight of him, and said, "Jet, I'd like to apologize for the way Sokka's been acting."

The straw moved over his lips slowly, "No worries, he's already apologized."

Aang looked up, interested, "Really? Sokka apologized?"

"Yeah, I was surprised too. I got the sense that maybe you guys talked to him or something."

Katara admitted shyly, "Yeah, I did."

Jet smiled encouragingly, "I guess something you said got through to him. Anyhow, he went out on a scouting mission with Pipsqueak and Smellerbee."

Katara let out a sigh of relief, "I'm glad he cooled off. He's so stubborn sometimes."

Jet's brown eyes twinkled, then looked at his pocket watch and said, "We're leaving in just a few hours. You guys should try and catch a few hours sleep."

He was almost through the door when Aang questioned cautiously, "So, what Sokka found out was all a lie?"

Jet smiled at the younger man, "Yes." And looking at Katara, continued tossing a wink flirtatiously her way, "Sweet dreams."

For about the fiftieth time that day, the water bender blushed.

It seemed like she had just closed her eyes and was dreaming sweet dreams of Jet, when Aang was shaking her awake, "Time to go."

Katara glanced over to her brother's bed and was momentarily concerned to see that it hadn't been slept in.

He's probably still out scouting…or at the bar making a new "friend."

The waterbender dressed carefully, and even though it felt foreign, she pulled on a pair of men's trousers and pulled on her heavy blue parka that would protect her from the blustery elements during the day.

In the main room where they had all gathered the previous morning, Katara and Aang were joined by Jet, Longshot and the Duke. When they had all assembled, Jet pulled his hat down low, and said, "This is going to be a quick strike. Longshot and the Duke will act as lookouts and I may go head to check in with our scouts. Let's go."

As they piled in a nondescript car, Katara blushed as Jet helped her in, noting that he held her hand just a little longer than was necessary. She asked, "Have you seen my brother?"

The familiar straw flipped in his mouth, "They weren't due in for awhile. Nothing to worry about."

Satisfied, Katara snuggled down next to Jet and they took off. The brunette's heart was beating faster, but she couldn't tell if it was from her contact with Jet or the mission they were about to complete.

Across town, Smellerbee was pushing Sokka along, "Come on – get moving!"

Sokka grumbled, "How can you just stand by and do nothing while Jet wipes out an entire town?"

Pipsqueak answered, "Hey listen, Sokka, Jet's a great leader. We follow what he says, and things always turn out okay."

"If that's how Jet leads, then he's got a lot to learn."

The trio walked along silently, until Sokka's quick mind came up with an escape for him. As they walked along, he noticed a number of grates and sewer hole covers…it would take a moment of distraction and some quick work of his boomerang, which was currently attached to Pipsqueak's waist, but if he could just…

Spotting what he hoped was the perfect grate, Sokka spun around and said, "Watch out!"

On instinct, Pipsqueak and Smellerbee flung themselves on the ground. As Pipsqueak moved his large girth down, Sokka's tied hands grabbed his beloved boomerang and he whipped it out, then took off running. Timing it perfectly, the weapon struck the grate which flipped up just as Sokka lept over it. Pipsqueak and Smellerbee, fast on his heels, fell into the sewer.

Splash!

Sokka looked over the hole and after getting his hands free, mock slauted the pair, "Better luck next time, guys."

With that, Sokka knew where he had to go.

AN: It all ends next chapter. Please review!