Okay my duckies. I told you that I would update. Read and Review as always.

Warnings: Be warned. That's all you get.

Yuck Factor: 3

Iroh quickly stitched up the rest of Zuko's lacerations across his back. The boy was still unconscious. He looked over to where Sokka was sprawled on the ground snoring like a camel-bear. Aang had been chased around the camp for at least half an hour being called "momma' before he got fed up. He didn't hit Sokka very hard, just hard enough to knock him out. Iroh and Aang both looked up as a person came walking through the forest. Aang was on his feet in a second as the white haired demon carried Katara into their camp.

"What did you do to her?!" Nakin cocked an eyebrow at the boy and frowned.

"Tink about dat for a moment. Ifen I done dis, do ya really tink I'sa brought her back here?" His pink eyes turned to look at Iroh. He squinted to better his vision and sent a nod in the older man's direction. "I wish dat I come wit da good news. But as ya can see, de baby was taken." Iroh frowned as he set Zuko's head to the side out of his lap. He stood up with a frown.

"By who?" The man set Katara on the ground and took a step back.

"By Azula and dat general, Zhao, I beliven is de name." Zuko sat up and blinked.

"What did you say, you fucking demon?"

"Ya heard damn well wat I sed exile." Nakin snapped with an emphasis on the last word. Iroh glared at both of the two infantile boys and looked down at Katara as she started to come around. She jerked up and let out a screaming shriek. She looked at the others in fear.

"They took him!? Come on we have to go get him." Iroh sighed. And looked back at Zuko as the boy doubled over in pain.

"Do you have enough energy to heal?" Katara frowned and looked over at her brother then to Zuko. Her hand shot up to her mouth as she looked over his nakedness.

"I don't know...I'll try..." Katara forced her eyes open as she started to heal Zuko. The rage and pain inside of her was only heightened when she witnessed just what Azula had done to Zuko. Though she wasn't sure of it, Iroh guaranteed her that Sokka would be back to normal after the drugs wore off. She tried to keep her concentration in her hands and the water, and not let her self falter due to the mutilated flesh she was healing. Iroh paced the grounds, for the first time Katara had ever seen him mad. Iroh and Nakin spoke quietly amongst themselves, Aang listening as he stood next to them. Sokka was still passed out and Zuko was trying to maintain his mind as the pain shot down his legs.

"Katara!" Zuko growled as the pain shot through him again. She jumped and looked up at the agony in his eyes as he glared at her. Iroh walked over and looked over the girl's shoulder. Katara looked up at the man with tears sprinkling her eyes. Iroh shook his head.

"You are not healing him because your mind is not where it needs to be. If you don't heal him correctly, he will have to live in excruciating agony." Katara's eyes changed as the tears disappeared. That was why he screamed at her. She had hurt him.

Zuko watched as something seemed to click in Katara's mind. Her face turned serious as she turned back to him. She sent the water back to her pouch and moved closer to him. She looked over him and brought her hand to hover gently over it. She frowned at the heat that was pouring from him. That area should be hot, but not as much as it was. That had to mean that he was fighting an infection.

Zuko winced as she pressed the tip of her fingers down on one of the more swollen areas. She furrowed her eyebrows and turned to look at Iroh, who was watching patiently.

"Needle?" Iroh reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small metal needle. He set it in his tea cup, that currently only held water and blasted it to a boil. She took the needle from him and looked up at Zuko. She picked up a small stick with her free hand and shoved it into his mouth. She looked back down at the problem and drove the needle into the risen. Zuko clamped his teeth down on the wood and clenched his hands into the grass, as she pushed down on the swelling. The green ooze that she pushed out was a definite sign of infection. She then placed the needle back into the tea cup. She began to move the sides of the lacerations, pushing them and pinching them together, causing a growl to escape Zuko's mouth. She moved part of him to the side and found the other swelling that she had felt earlier.

Iroh picked up the tea cup and gave it another heat up before Katara grabbed the needle again. She lanced the risen. She glanced down at her side where his hands flared briefly burning the grass his hands were clinging to. She pressed down on it until clear liquid followed by blood oozed from the swelling. Katara pulled her water back from her pouch. She encased one hand as she held him together. She ran the water over him, causing him to twitch as her hand brushed against him roughly, irritating the raw flesh.

Zuko opened his eyes he hadn't realized clamping shut, as the pain at the bottom of his feet started to subside. She had managed to heal some of the nerves, but he still could feel his stomach rolling. He felt the water pull back as she sent the blood filled sphere to the grass. She pulled more clean water from her pouch as she finished coaxing the tissue and skin to heal. Zuko forced himself to sit up as she sat back, wiping the sweat from her forehead. He snatched his clothes from Iroh's outstretched hand. He stood up, the pain shooting through his stomach. Healed but not fully. His face turned dark as he turned to look at Nakin.

"You. Which way did they run?"

"De ran to de north. Back to der schip." Zuko narrowed his eyes.

"And why didn't you chase them." Nakin frowned and looked over at Katara.

"I wuzn't gonna let de lady here be burnt to a crisp. Would ya rathered I done gone after dem, knowing I's incapable of stopping dem, and let her burn ennyway?" Zuko narrowed his eyes. Katara turned to look at Aang.

"Stay here with Sokka. We've got a baby to find." Iroh shook his head.

"No, I will stay with Sokka. Let Aang and our new friend go and find Appa. We may need him." Aang nodded.

"That's right. We still need to find him." Aang turned but Katara and Zuko was already deep into the forest.

Zuko wasn't as fast as he wished he could be. He had tried to run faster but his lower regions weren't in top shape yet so he was forced to quickly hobble. He stumbled over the tree limbs and pushed his way through the trees. Katara ran ahead of him turning to wait as he managed his way through the dense foliage.

He and Katara past slowly through the forest finally breaking the tree line. The stopped and stared up at the ship as it pulled away from the shore. Zuko hobbled faster as he tried to catch the docking line as they reeled it in. Katara tried to pull the water but she had tried the last of her energy healing Zuko. They both froze as they heard a frightening sound ring over head. Zuko looked up as Azula appeared on the ship Zhao by her side. Zhao brought his hand up holding a wiggling bundle of cloth. A screaming cry radiated from the cloth. Zuko caught his sister's smile just as Zhao brought his other hand up. A sickening realization hit him just as a fire started to build in the monster's hand.

"ZHAO! DON'T" Zuko felt his throat dry even as he screamed, but that didn't stop the fire streaming from the hand. Zuko growled and pulled the fire away from the baby. Zhao again sent the bundle to fire, and Zuko pulled it away. Katara stared between them. She dug deep and found that last drop of energy. She threw her arm up and let the water cover both Zhao and the baby. Azula snarled as Zhao and Zuko continued to play catch with the flames. She snarled her nose.

"Zhao, drop it." She ordered. The man did just as he was told. Both of them turned and spewed fire covering the child in flames/ Zuko scrabbled trying to get to the water and trying to pull the fire away from the baby. Katara ran and dove into the water. Zuko was in the water when the flaming ball of baby hit with a steaming hiss. Katara felt the sting of tears as she swam harder. She dover under and grabbed the hot cloth. She pushed herself up to the surface, There wasn't a wiggle underneath her hands. She felt her mind begin to panic as she swam back to the shore.

She heaved her self up on the shore with the baby in her arms. She frantically pulled the cloth off, hoping that by wetting the cloth she slowed the flames. Zuko stumbled to her side and helped her pull the cloth off. They both stared down at the partially burnt baby. Katara's hands started to tremble as she placed her hand on the babies chest. There was not beating nor did it rise under her hand. She started trembling frantically as her eyes filled with tears. She brought her clenched fists up to her eyes as she shook her head. Zuko shook his head as his breathing quickened.

"no.no.no..no..no." He said as he picked up the baby. The small body was limp in his hands. He set the baby down and put his mouth over the child's nose and mouth. He blew in until he saw the small chest rise. He sat back and with three fingers pumped the babies chest, the shirt and flesh cracking under his fingers. He became frantic when the child didn't start crying. He repeated the routine several times but there was no luck. Zuko picked up the child and held him close to his chest, as the over whelming about of sorrow over took him. He shuddered as the tears started to stream down his face. He gripped the child tighter as he began to cry. Katara crawled over to him and wrapped her arms around him as he broke. He crumpled to the ground holding his son's body against his own. Katara's heart wrenched as Zuko let out a screaming sob. Her own tears forced her to shake as she held him. He began to rock as he cried, tearing Katara a little more inside. Her bloodshot blue eyes found the ship and that bitch standing on it. Azula had taken everything away from Zuko, now. His father's love, his mother's life. His kingdom, the love of his nation, and now his first born child. Hatred boiled within Katara as she held Zuko. The man she loved with all of heart was breaking. She could feel his heart ripping to shreds.

Azula snarled as she watched the sad scene play out on the shore.

"Pathetic."