Zuko

I wasn't sure how, but Sam managed to fall asleep on the rhino. She still had her arms around me but they slowly dropped down as she went to sleep. I kept the rhino's gait slow and steady as to not jerk her around. I was concerned about her injuries. From what I could tell she had a broken nose, at least one bite mark and Agni knows that they had done to her sexually. I didn't want to think about it.

We had arrived back in Capital City. People looked in awe at seeing the Fire Lord and Lady and then were aghast at the condition Sam was in. I still had my cloak around her to keep her modest, but it wasn't hard to tell something terrible had happened. Many people offered their prayers and thoughts for Sam which I accepted gratefully. It really was a testament to how much people were accepting her as their Fire Lady. As much as I was upset and angry, this warmed my heart.

We arrived back to the palace and the stable hands were there. They were shocked at her condition and some of them looked like they might be sick. Yeah, I know the feeling I thought. They helped me get Sam down first and then I dismounted. I picked her up again in a bridal carry again and carried her into the palace.

Servants and guards came rushing up to us out of concern and to help however they could. All I could manage to say was, "not now." I just carried her right back to the bedroom. I laid her down atop of the covers on the bed. Nan was right there, concerned for her Fire Lady.

"Oh, Agni! Zuko, you found her! What happened?" she didn't usually speak so casually to me but I could tell she wasn't thinking of formalities - she was only concerned about Sam. Since Sam arrived in the Fire Nation those seven months ago, she and Nan had become very close friends.

"Too much." I said simply. I didn't think I could trust myself with more detail right now. "Nan, would you please draw a bath for her?"

"Of course! I will be happy to bathe-"

"No, I will bathe her. Please just draw the bath. Thank you, Nan," I said smiling. Or at least I tried to smile. I wasn't sure if it came out as more of a grimace. She didn't look at me strangely so I assumed I more or less hit my mark.

I laid down next to Sam. I took her in my arms and held her. I could tell she was in pain but I didn't know what I could do for her. I felt so helpless. After a few minutes Nan came back and over to us.

"Her bath is ready, my lord," she bowed to me, "are you sure you don't want me to help her bathe?"

"No, thank you, Nan. I just got her back and I'm not letting her go." that was true. I wasn't. She gave me a sad smile but nodded, understandingly. She knew how much I loved Sam. "Would you mind fetching the physician please? She needs to be looked at immediately." She bowed quickly and scurried off.

After Nan left, I unwrapped the cloak from around Sam and took off what little clothes she had left on her. Once I had the shirt off, I could see the bruising more clearly. I also saw more bite marks on her breasts. Her stomach had a bruise in the shape of a boot. She had been kicked in the stomach and hard. Then I remembered the blood she spit out at the campsite. Her arms splotched with bruising all the way down. Her back was also bruised with bootprints on it. I picked her up and carried her to the bathing room. I considered climbing in with her so I could continue holding her, but I didn't think that would be appropriate considering what she's been through. I slowly lowered her into the hot bath. She gasped and winced but she didn't protest. Finally, she let out a sigh and her muscles relaxed, soothed by the hot water.

I took off my soaked shirt and resolved doing this without it. I knelt next to the tub and squeezed the warm water out of the sponge and over her damaged body. Gently and carefully. I put some soap on the sponge and lathered it, making suds. I squeezed some into her hair. I picked the sticks and other debris out of it. Her hair was matted. I decided to work through the mats while her hair was soapy in hopes that it would make them easier to dislodge. Since I had taken the throne I had let my own hair grow out which now it down to the middle of my back and that was the length I kept it at. I knew how to get stubborn knots out but I was completely lost against her thick curls. I couldn't think of anyone in the Fire Nation who had hair curly like hers. In fact, I couldn't think of anyone in any of the Bending Nations with hair like hers. But I worked slowly and carefully and was able to get most of the knots out of her hair. After a bit, I gathered some more soap on the sponge and started to bathe her. I bathed her whole body, taking extra care around her intimacy. I carefully slid the sponge down between her legs. She hissed in pain and grabbed my bicep, squeezing hard, painfully digging the nubs of her fingers into my skin. As I very gently scrubbed, I could see fresh blood tinting the water. I leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"I'm sorry, my love. We need to get you clean. I'm being as gentle as I can."

She still wore a grimace on her face, "I know" was all she said, loosening her grip on my arm.

I ran the sponge down her left side and she reacted to the pain. I leaned her over so I could see what had caused it. There was a scab forming in a distinct shape. They had branded her. With Ozai's name. I didn't think I could get angrier than I had been but like so many things today, I kept being proven wrong. I gently washed over it and knew I would ask the doctor about it. Maybe we could do something. I didn't appear to be deep.

After she was clean to my satisfaction, I rinsed her thoroughly. She tried to stand. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea," I said, skeptically. She tried to rise but her legs collapsed under her weight and I caught her before she fell. I lifted her out of the bath and carried her to the bench by the window, sitting her down gently and drying her off.

I walked over to the bed and pulled the covers back, getting it ready for her. I started to get her bed clothes together when she stopped me, "I'd like to…stay like this, please." she said. I realized based on her injuries, clothing might be painful. I picked up the brush and brushed out the remainder of her hair.

I decided to let her try to walk so I put her arm over my shoulders and I put my hand around her waist and let her walk over to the bed. She laid down on her back, and stared at the ceiling again, the blank expression back in place.

This was such odd behavior for her. She never acted like this. I wasn't sure exactly what happened to her, although I could make a few guesses, but I could tell it had profoundly affected her.

Fen, the doctor, came into the room and walked over to Sam's side of the bed. I pulled the blankets back so he could examine her. I hated to expose her like this after everything that happened but he had to see her. I crawled onto the bed leaning back against the headboard. I propped her body against mine and held her while he looked her over.

His examination was thorough. He said that she did have a broken nose, which he set, resulting in a scream from Sam. After it was set, he splinted it. When he finished his examination he looked at me, cautiously. "May I…speak to you outside?" he gestured to the door. I nodded and walked out with him.

"Fire Lord, I'm not sure what those people did to her but I'll be honest, I'm surprised she's alive. Her back is bruised right over her kidneys," I took in a quick breath. I knew how much that hurt to get hit over them. And she was likely kicked and hard, "As you saw, her fingernails were all ripped out at the root. They should grow back but it will take time. It also looks like they are infected. As do her bite marks. I cleaned them out as best I could but she will need to be on some kind of medicine to help with the infection. And her…" he paused, not sure how to continue, "She is severely torn inside. I don't know how many times she was…violated…but it was quite a lot. And rough. She will be sore for a long time and it will take a while for her to get over this. If she does at all." My eyes shot up to him, concern covering my face. He looked at me and he placed a hand on my shoulder in an effort to comfort me.

"Zuko," he used my name, dropping formality. Seemed that was happening a lot today. I didn't care. "She is a very strong woman and she has you for support. I can see how much you adore her. I think she will be just fine. You just need to give it time." I looked at him and nodded, tears in my eyes but I tried to smile.

He went back into the room to finish up her bandages. He was about to leave, when Sam laid a hand on his arm. He looked at her, and her expression was desperate.

"Please doctor." she pleaded.

"Yes, my lady?" He asked.

She was openly crying. She would look at him but she wouldn't look at me. "Please, doctor. I need to…prevent…" she trailed off.

"Prevent?" he urged

"I can't…I can't…what if I get pregnant?" I felt the blood drain from my face. My head went light and I stumbled. The doctor quickly steadied me and guided me to the bed to sit. I hadn't even thought of that. One of those animals could have impregnated her! What if she gets pregnant by one of those monsters!?

"What would you like for me to do?" He asked. Sam looked at him and looked at me, making eye contact with me for the first time since I found her. I knew what she was asking. I nodded.

"I need for you…to make sure that doesn't happen." She said and realization covered his face. It was something not really talked about in the Fire Nation. Women didn't just terminate pregnancies. At least, they weren't open about it. But rape was a reason that was regarded as an exception and without question.

"Yes, my lady. I will put together something and bring it to you tomorrow. If there is anything, it will be expelled."

"Thank you, doctor."

After the doctor left, Sam rolled over onto her left side, facing away from me. Not to turn her back on me but because that was probably the only position that didn't hurt. I came up behind her and spooned my body with hers, make sure not to put too much pressure on any part of her body. I lifted my hand to lay over her and hovered it over her body, trying to find an uninjured place. She rolled over to face me, scooched over and snuggled in. I placed my hand on her hip. And she tucked her head under my chin.

I rubbed my hand up and down her hip and waist. "Go to sleep, my love. You're safe now. I'm here. Nothing will happen to you." I couldn't see her face, only the top of her head, but I could feel her body relax as she fell into a deep sleep.

Sam

I was surprised I slept. I woke up and we were both in our normal positions. I looked at the window and saw it had been light for several hours. It felt like the chi-blocking had worn off. I felt that I had control of all of my limbs again although they felt like jello.

Zuko was, of course, still laying with me. He was staring at the ceiling and I saw tear stains. I reached my hand up and touched his face, running my thumb across his scar like I always did. It hurt to move any muscle in my body, but I did so anyway.

He looked down at me and gave me a sad smile. He had been through something horrific too. I couldn't imagine finding me in the condition I was in.

The doctor had come a few hours ago and administered some pain medicine and, what I assumed were antibiotics. He also gave me his version of the morning-after pill except it would go inside me like an enema which hurt like hell. He said that if there is a pregnancy it will probably be painful based on my injuries. I didn't care. I was relieved I wouldn't have to have a permanent reminder of them. At least not one like that. There was, of course, the brand which Fen said there wasn't much we could do about it. I considered having a solid shape branded over it but I hadn't decided. After he left, Zuko helped me get some clothes on. His clothes actually. They were loose on me and didn't put pressure on any part of my aching body. I laid back down on the bed. I'm not ready to be vertical.

I was worried about the siege of the prison they were planning and realized I hadn't told Zuko everything yet. I hoped that we had caught it in time, but I didn't know. As far as I knew, no one was back yet. It did worry me, but I tried not to think about it.

Then we heard a knock on the door. Zuko got up to answer it and I heard him murmuring with someone. He stepped aside to reveal Geshna, standing in the doorway. I was relieved and angry. Relieved because she looked to be in one piece but angry because her injuries were severe. I sat up in bed with a wince.

I also noticed that her bandages looked old. They must not have been changed and I could see what looked like puss escaping in some areas. Then again, she probably didn't have the money to pay a doctor to care for her so she was taking care of it herself. My heart ached for her and I worried for her recovery.

Her eyes went wide and tears started to flow. She held her hand up to her mouth appalled at what she was seeing. She looked at Zuko, silently asking permission to come in, which he granted. She walked in and stood next to me. I held out my hand which she took and I squeezed it.

"Geshna," I said, "I-I'm so glad you are ok. After Hirshu shot yo-"

"What?!" she interrupted, despite herself.

"Yes, Hirshu was the one who carried me out. He is probably, hopefully, sitting in prison as we speak. He was the one who shot you." She looked angry at this revelation. "After he shot you, there was so MUCH fire. And your scream - I haven't been able to get it out of my head. I didn't know if you were even alive after that. You, single-handedly, fought to save me. Geshna, I will never forget that."

"And neither will I." Zuko chimed in, placing his hand on her uninjured shoulder. She looked at me an then at him. She wasn't used to her Fire Lord being so casual with her.

"I can't believe he betrayed us like that! I trusted him!" she turned to me, her anger dropped, "I would do anything for my Fire Lady." she bowed to me then sheepishly glanced at Zuko. "I admit, I was skeptical of you at first but I have grown to love and respect you. Some people here treat me like an outsider too because I'm a water-bender. You don't. You always treated me and everyone else with respect, dignity and love. I would gladly lay down my life for you, my lady." she bowed to me again and I could tell she meant it.

"In fact," Zuko said. I wasn't sure if he'd even been listening to her. He was lost in thought. He put his hand on his chin contemplating, then continued, "I have spoken to Fen and he will be overseeing your treatment going forward. You will also be placed on bed rest until you are fully healed." he said, smiling kindly and respectfully at her. Her eyes widened and she bowed to Zuko.

"Oh, thank you, your grace!" she said, clearly not expecting it, "I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything. When I arrived at the palace after my tour and I saw your concern and how valiantly you fought, I could see that your love and devotion for my wife was unparalleled."

She smiled and had tears in her eyes.

"Oh, and one more thing. Hirshu's position as lieutenant of the guard is open now that he is in prison. Or, at least will be. What would you say about a promotion?"

"Oh, my lord, I would be honored to serve as your lieutenant! Thank you!"

"You earned it, Geshna. Your increase in pay will start immediately and you will be receiving your new wages while on bed rest. You also will receive a monetary compensation for your injuries. I know it won't fix everything, but hopefully it helps, so don't worry about money. You will be cared for." She was grateful, not just for the special treatment but I could tell she was relieved that she won't be without some kind of income. I remembered what that was like - back home and in Ba Sing Se. I also knew Zuko remembered those days too during his banishment. "Once you are back on your feet, I will have Genfu work with you to prepare you for your new duties. Thank you again for your exemplary work and dedication to me and my family." he said, gesturing to me. "Now get yourself home and rest. Fen will be stopping by later today to do a full examination."

"Yes, sir. Thank you sir!" She bowed again to him and slowly, painfully, worked her way out of the room.

After she left, I spoke, "Zuko, thank you for doing that. She looks like her wounds are infected."

"I think they are. And besides she deserves it. You didn't see her when I returned from the prisons. She was terrified. For you." It was times like these when I realized why I loved this man so much.