A/N: So on the morning of December 29th 2010, I opened up my email and literally said, "HOLY SHIT!" I was so excited at the outpouring of love for this story. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

As a side note, I want to point out that I was watching "Terminator: Salvation" with Sam Worthington in that as well. The one lady leans against him and clearly says, "You have a strong heart." XD Ridiculous!

Disclaimer: I do not own James Cameron's Avatar. The ideas put forth are my own.

WARNINGS: Same as last chapter. Spoiler alert, mentions the mating process, some swearing.

XXX

I SEE YOU

PART TWO: Jake Sully

XXX

-Norman-

Sector Four looks like an oil rig from back home.

I can't get over how it sticks out like a broken thumb, all metal and mechanics with bare ground underneath. To the People, this is a harsh, harsh transgression against Eywa, and after witnessing Jake's heated argument with Mo'at last night, I believe the humans need to go.

Even if I am one of them. God, Norm, and here you thought you could stay. I curse inwardly, peeking at the vanguard of Na'Vi at my left. Farther back, Jake and my Avatars are being held by other warriors, clearly unused holding limp bodies on the horses. The whole journey here the warriors have been cursing under their breath at the "dream-walking program". To my right, Neytiri is comfortable with her bond to the direhorse, large and hurt eyes sweeping in the valley. Jake's cradled like a cross cat in Neytiri's arms.

If I weren't so depressed, I would have taunted him. Although I had my frustration with his publicity after his Avatar's acceptance into the Omaticaya, he truly is my best friend. It must run in the family, because Tom was my buddy too.

And Trudy.

In the several months that we had been up in the Hallelujah Mountains, I had never heard so many cuss words come from one woman. At first, I had tried to placate her until I realized she was all bark and no bite. I began teasing back, by putting too much salt in the mush Parker called food and purposely asking her how the day had been, when I know all she had done was polish her helicopter or when she practiced boxing on a bag of dirty clothes.

Jake wasn't the only one who had changed in the mountains. Instead of collecting samples in my Avatar body, I would play poker with her in the copter. Slowly, she began opening up, dropping me hints about her miserable life on Earth, the military's way of enforcing justice, and how being up here loosened her tongue.

I kissed her on the cheek, confidently asking for a sample.

Scientist! she had laughed, before she dragged me back for a full assault.

Once, we sat up past Jake and Grace's bedtimes, staring at the stars. She explained she had returned to the base to refuel, only to find herself lost in the constant talk of when the dozers would get to Home Tree and the stock rises back on Earth for unobtanium. There had been no discussion of even asking the natives to leave. With a wry smile, she said she was glad she had come back to her true comrades.

And now, she was gone.

It hurts like...like my heart has a hole blown through it. My lips are always on fire, thinking about our first kiss. When I saw Jake brushing Neytiri's arm, I seriously wondered if Trudy and I ever had a chance. The People's love was forever. How long would ours have lasted?

I take a deep breath, noticing that within the compound's walls, a handful of mounted Na'Vi sped around on the thick direhorses, whooping. They seem to be playing keep away with a spear, although five are set up guarding a group of AMP machines and the doorways leading into the sleeping quarters. Banshees are perched on top of the satellite towers, cackling and squirming, while the riders explored the outside of the command center. A few human Avatars are trying to speak with the locals, in exaggerated hand gestures and laughs. Without the constant noise of machinery, it's amazing how clear you can hear.

Jake notices too, and with a word to Neytiri, the entire group of direhorses begins thundering down the forested hill. Within two minutes, a yell has sprung up and the mechanical doors appear, docilely open like an invitation. The Na'Vi pause for a moment, then break up to join their fellows inside.

It relieves me when I see Max on the tarmac speaking to one of the warriors, nodding and illustrating his statement with his hands. The Na'Vi is twice the man's height, with a shocking half-buzz cut with swarms of braids layered down the left side of his head. His grin is wide when Max shakes his hand. The human's curly black hair is comically swaying in the light breeze, and upon hearing us, he glances over. He waves and shouts in our direction.

Neytiri pulls me onto her direhorse in one stroke; I don't even have time to feel the jerk before I'm trying to hold on to her stomach. With a nod, she excuses the few loyalists -apart from those carrying our bodies- who remain. Urging the steady animal forward, she canters straight to Max.

When I get there, I slide down hastily, ready to be let off. Neytiri shows her teeth in a soundless laughter and I flush. What am I supposed to do? It's awkward holding her like Jake would.

A few human Avatars dressed in scientist scrubs walk over and begin orderly taking the bodies from the warriors. They chatter back and forth, discussing the ease of going about the compound without the machines and paperwork now. Carefully working the large muscular beings onto stretchers, the four carry Jake and me around the compound, disappearing down a corridor leading to the Avatar Linking Room. I watch my body disappear. Will I ever be in it?

Max finally makes it to our side. "Norm, Jake! It's good to see you! I was afraid I'd have to fly on the helicopter myself to get you," Max says, shaking my arm wholeheartedly. His eyes are serious, although his voice is light. "Thanks for bringing them here, Neytiri."

She only bows her head as Jake salutes with his trademark grin. "Hey Max." Seriously, he asks, "Have the militia put up any fight? I want no more blood shed."

It's scary how much he sounds like Tom. I'll bet he doesn't even know it.

"None," Max says with a relieved sigh, "The Na'Vi arrived before our troops stumbled back here. I think with the Colonel disappeared, there's not a relentless drive to destroy everything that breathes. Parker has holed himself up in his office, staring at that hunk of unobtanium like he's going to commit to a year in Antartica." With a motion to the Na'Vi he was just speaking to, he continues, "Dileep promised last night that they would guard the AMP machines and helicopter pads. The guard and gun rooms inside have been locked to all personnel. Actually, the only thing now that's open are the dormitories and the lunch room."

Jake's mind seems to ease; he leans back into Neytiri's stomach, nodding sharply. "Thanks Max."

The burden on my hip reminds me to get to my side of business. Quickly, I lean in to Max and ask, "I have some samples. They're from the Tree of Souls, and the surrounding flux vortex areas. Gra- I mean, Dr. Augustine wanted me to bring them back and let you help me study them. She thought there might be a connection biologically from the Na'Vi to the planet's energy."

"Bless her heart, Grace," Max says slowly. A light flickers on in the dark eyes of my fellow scientist. "Of course. I'm glad you made it back with them intact." He puts a hand on my shoulder and walks me toward the shelter.

We get twenty feet before Jake calls, "Is the link room open?"

Max fumbles in his coat before throwing an authorization card toward the two. "Now it can be," he says, eagerly beginning to walk away. Neytiri catches it like it is a dragonfly, and begins to study it while the direhorse stamps in impatience, irritated by the inactivity. My best friend waves to me, although there is a hard look in his eyes. I don't think it's directed toward me, but it stills bites hard.

I race after Max, calling out, "The electromagnetic pulses were insane at the very center. It must have been the heart, or at least one of the outpouring zones of energy." When I catch up, I steady the oxygen mask and continue, "I need to show you a recording of Grace's...death. There are readings that would interest you."

There's a moment of quiet as Max opens the sealed door, and a wave of stale oxygen hits me. We get past the screeners -scientists and Avatar drivers who are off-duty- and hit the tunnels for the laboratory sector. "Were the neural connections completely off the charts? Betty said from analyzing Grace's theories, the closer to the flux vortex, the more pulses per millisecond were active."

I'm gleeful. At last, somebody interested and willing to discuss theories and statistics with! "Yes. But instead of a wild, uncontrollable mass of energy, it's a defined pulse, like a pumping heart. You see, the Na'Vi tried to save Grace by merging her mind with the Avatar." Max gives me an incredulous look, but I continue, "The entire Omaticaya clan sat connected, with the neural tails locked into the ground, like plugging into a network. It was a prayer chant, but with every rotation of the population, a spike shot in the energy of Eywa. It stabilized Grace's heart near the end."

We walk into the lab, shooing away the few freeloaders playing 3-D games on the projector screens. I open the satchel, and pull out the tapes and electronic frequency measurers. "At that point in time, there was a lull of 400% back to the normal resting rate of 803, 998,000 per second. Normal resting rate! Look at Sector Six's resting rates, and its close to 42,000,980 per second. I couldn't even get a reading at the spike of the chanting it was so high."

With one movement, I place the jack into the computer terminal. After connecting to the hard drive, the data pulls up in a list of obscure data: watts, hertz, amps. Max's fingers trace the measures from the past two months to the day of Grace's death. He swears under his breath.

"Norman, this is...pull up Sector Eight's pulses per minute. That's the farthest in we've ever gotten."

"I know, and look! It's not even point zero five percent of the magnitude this scale reacts to. There is a high correlation of energy output from the location of the injection or testing spot in reference to the Tree of Souls. This could power...I don't know, maybe the Americas for two hundred thousand years? Life power! This is a measurable force of the Na'Vi."

Max sinks into a chair, watching the replays of data spikes. I follow suit, satisfied that for once, my time here has paid off. Not only has imperialism been shot into the ground, but our science can continue to explore without too many distractions. Lieutenant Colonel Jameson won't let us have all the luxury in the world, but at least he's better than Quaritch.

There is a silent moment before Max asks, "Does Earth have one of these energy sources? We've never had the technology to test it. What if the Amazon was still in existence? There could have been a replaceable energy source to regrow the crops and trees."

The thought sends regret through my brain. Too late to know for sure, I think, because the only thing left on Earth are skyscrapers, power plants, and cloned sheep.

"How could we have plugged in, like the Na'Vi, though?" I don't want to burst the band wagon, but Earth is a depressing thought.

Max's eyes glaze over in defeat, and then he says, "If we could fund research from out here, we wouldn't need to go back. With our findings, maybe we could convince a reboot of the Earth's nervous system. I don't know if it works exactly like Pandora though."

It won't.

I sigh. "If there's anything I've learned from Pandora, it's that things can be healed. Trees, minds, hearts...and the Na'Vi know how to live without regrets."

Max doesn't respond to my strange words. Instead, he removes his glasses and rubs his forehead. I can see the creases in his face where frustration and exhaustion have left their marks. Suddenly, the lights seem too bright in the lab. I want to leave, and get fresh air. I want to play a game of poker by moonlight in a helicopter parked in the Hallelujah Mountains.

I want Trudy.

XXX

-Jake Sully-

I knew I wouldn't see Norm for a few hours, give or take. He and Max would be stuck in the lab, dealing with the details of energy readings and other scientific stuff. It would have been nice of them to get me a wheelchair.

Seated on the direhorse, Neytiri and I are cantering around the perimeter of the helicopter pads, silent. She has a look on her face that means the smell in the air was different. I assume the scorched engine oil and burning radiators make a terrible impression on a sensitive Na'Vi nose.

The steady rhythm allows me to think. She trained me in the ways of the People, and yet, she never asked about me. About Earth. There are so many things that Neytiri wants to know now, and I had decided to start out with the only part she knew: the helicopters and the technology that had devastated Home Tree. After this, she will know what she doesn't know, and what she wants to know.

Touching her arm, I silently ask Neytiri to slow down. She does so, glowering at the AMP suits we pass. They are strewn across the ground like the pilots didn't have enough energy to make it into the oxygen enclosure. The horse screams, and Neytiri asks, "These work how? They are just machines. Metal. No life."

I shift. "There is a process called combustion. It is when a chemical reaction occurs between a fuel and another chemical. Fire is the result, or energy." I peek at her face, and she seems to understand. Nonetheless, I continue, "On Earth we put oil and gas -which are made from animal and plant remains- into machines and through a process, energy is changed. I'm no scientist, so I can't explain fully what happens. Recently, humans have come up with electrical and solar charges to help power these machines."

"I do not understand," she says suddenly, "Why can you not ask for Eywa's energy? Why must you drive these things with death, when animals are alive?"

This is it. I must tell her how different we are, to bring in individual greed, without the community. Slowly, I say, "Well, we used to ride horses and use the animals for everything. We were once like the Na'Vi."

"Why change?"

I laugh. "Neytiri, we physically cannot connect with the Earth." I motion to the back of my head, rubbing my palm down my skull. "There is no way to communicate. Many have tried, and many say they have accomplished a 'spiritual enlightenment'. But since scientists cannot prove this, humans do away with that idea. They believe...that..."

Her long fingers began massaging my neck, curiously exploring for any sign of the nerve tail. The way her hot fingers trace the muscles makes me lose my thoughts. She stops, smiling at my reaction.

"You vixen," I murmur, smiling back ruefully. She presses me close, ready to listen again. "They believe that one is more than many. Imagine if you desired the ikran of another-"

"Jake, I had Tze'ze. Why would I need a brother's?"

"That is how humans think. They want what others have, that can make their ways a whole lot easier." I don't mention only a year ago, I had feverishly desired working legs. That I had done everything that I could do in this stage. I didn't tell her that part of the reason I had come to Pandora was to gain enough money to fix them. "Okay, what if you could only ride a horse? You would want to ride an ikran, right?"

She nods, blinking slowly. "But if I ride another ikran, I would not need to ride a pa'li."

I could see where this was going. The People had no trade, no need to want what others had, or no concept of owning something. Everything belonged to Eywa. I understood her, but she did not understand humans. I waited for a moment, and said slowly, "Humans are different than the Na'Vi. There are those with dark skin and light skin, with chickens instead of cows, with different ways of seeing the world. They are always fighting."

"You fight because you are different?"

"Yes." I hesitate, then hold her hand. She is frowning deeply. "Our God is fought for. Some humans believe he exists, others think he doesn't. Even those who agree he exists fight because they think the others defile him. All of the People know Eywa exists within Pandora. They respect her. She is everything there is," I explain, seeing the lights begin to flicker in her eyes, "Humans cannot know, so they assume their way is right. If we were connected to Earth, we would understand the planet."

The pa'li is anxious around the machines; it twitches and snorts, hooves clacking harshly on the cement. Neytiri's hands subconsciously allow it to sidle closer toward the razored fence, allowing it freedom. I grab the nerves of the other antennae, and say, "No animals have this. Hell, no human knows what happens inside of them. We are never connected. We are alone."

Her frown is sad. She is close to tears when she paraphrases all of what I've told her: "You do not see into Eywa on your planet? You do not know of the balance of life and death?"

The thought makes me sick, but it is accurate. "Yes."

Neytiri stops and stares at the fence we are now roving around. The jungle seems unobtainable from inside the barrier; I know her heart quivers at being stuck with no clear path back to home. Without a sound, the direhorse begins to gallop, whinnying in a harsh cough. The sound of pounding hooves makes my heart begin to beat in time.

We burst out into the treeline and Neytiri's jaw is tight. Her anger is clear and sharp. She will wait a while before she will speak to me. I know her that well, at least.

The fresh, biting air is relaxing. It's something real against my body, instead of the artificial air flowing through the breath mask. Even though I can't feel my legs, the horse lets me know that Eywa is with me. Rich dirt churns up smells of Home Tree.

I realize we are racing around the final curve before the Avatar training grounds. My mouth opens on its own accord, but by then the horse has leaped over the tangled brush onto the perimeter trail.

The complex spreads out in front of us: the basketball hoops, the ropes courses, the home-grown vegetation in the farthest reaches, and the huge open-aired dorm near the center of the land. Everything is simple, with none to little amounts of metal. Closest to us, the link room door is shut, clearly locked down for the afternoon.

I glance up to Neytiri. Her breath has stopped and she seems unsure if what she's seeing is real. "What is this place?" she demands, hands guiding the pa'li in close to the rough wooden rails.

"It's the Avatar Training Program's bunker," I smile, eyes drifting over the bushes chock full of purple fruit. My feet tingle just remembering how I ran down the long rows for the first time. Liberation dances in my heart. I am close enough to my body that it would only take a blink.

We sit in the quiet. Human-Avatars dressed in large t-shirts and shorts are running around, exercising in the lush vegetation. Three are huddle by the ripe fruit, gathering baskets full of the pleasant substance. Neytiri's face frowns again, and she says, "I do not understand the mind in the body. How do you dreamwalk? I want to see."

A streak of fear races down my back. I didn't think she'd actually want to see the process of linking up. What would she think, when she sees where I am when I learn from her?

Neytiri immediately takes my face in her hand. Through the mask, her eyes are slightly wide. "Jake," she whispers, "My Jake. I want to know where you go. I want to save you."

I take a deep breath. Yes, she deserves this. "Head over there."

'There' is the basketball hoop, net frayed from the constant use. Even the asphalt has cracks in it where the plants have broken the layers of crushed rocks. It was the first thing I saw -after being blinded by the sun- when I exploded into my new life.

My eyes lock onto a clothed, obviously human-driven Avatar. She's standing with a hand on her hip, studying the hoop like she's about to perform surgery. The orange long-sleeved shirt and tan shorts must be extra, extra larges to fit on her broad shouldered frame. Her mouth is comfortable in a smile upon seeing us. A basketball is in the palm of her hand.

I give her a nod, "Hey. How's your day?" It's more polite than I usually would be, but if I play this right, she'll be a friend and get the damn door to the link room open.

"Just shootin' some kick ass hoops." She bounces the ball, winking. "You're Jake Sully."

What am I supposed to say to that? "Yeah, I guess I am. And you are...?"

She salutes in a half-hearted attempt at a proper military greeting. "Amanda Morrison, at your service." She's a scientist from her attitude upon seeing Neytiri. It makes me shift in irritation; I want quick results. Neytiri pretends to pat the horse, but really she's leaning over me, claiming me from this unknown woman.

"Can you unlink? I could really use a wheelchair and a way into the link center from out here."

The frown that fits under her cheek is lopsided; damn, woman! We aren't going to sabotage the link room! I need to get in it. "Look, if you know who I am, you know my Avatar body is in the hook up room. Call up Max Patel if you don't believe me. He's with Norm Spellman in the bio lab." When she doesn't move, I snap, "I don't have all day."

That breaks her concentration. Either it was my lackluster approach or the words I said, but with a glance towards us, she strides to the end of the court. Sitting down, she lays back in the grass and for all pretenses goes to sleep. Neytiri stares at her. Then she suddenly encloses my arm in her grip.

"She is...becoming human, yes?"

I nod, watching for the alarm lights to flicker on. I hope this Amanda can open up Grace's authorization codes to the outside; the cards Max gave me open into the link room just to the right of this. I want to make sure that Neytiri doesn't feel lost or misses the linking.

The lights don't come on for another two minutes. Once I see the outside door cracking open, I ask Neytiri, "Do you have the cards Max gave you?"

"Yes," she answers, dropping the ringing keys into my hand. She traces my tattoo, admiring the design. Leaning back against her, I feel her heart pounding. She's just as nervous about this as I am.

There is a mousy-haired woman with broad shoulders peering out the door with an oxygen mask fitted over her face. Despite my rude attitude, she waves us over, calling, "Here's a wheelchair. If you want, I'll talk her into the waiting room." She laughs subconsciously as we trot closer. "Sorry about earlier. Your body is in there."

Neytiri's face tightens. She's reluctant to let this other woman have me. I feel a surge of pride and love in my chest, and I touch her arm. Will this be my last touch as a human against her skin? It makes me exuberant. Soon, we will be free to be together on the same level.

Amanda lets Neytiri drop off the pa'li, then place me into the chair like I'm a baby. Her eyes seem distracted, like she can't get over this body.

I begin checking the brakes, then the wheels. This isn't my traditional rolling rack; it's a civilian chair probably lying around in case of emergency. I hastily rotate, then wheel it up the slope, my arms falling back into the rhythm. I glance back at my mate. She is smiling, but there is a hope in her eyes as Amanda motions her in the door, speaking to her in English. Probably something along the lines of 'get-inside-if-you-ever-want-to-see-him-again.' The keys are jingling in my hand as I reach the threshold.

It takes me a minute to plug in the code; Max double-secured it with three passwords. I type in 3376 before 2214 and finally 8876. With his personal card, the lock lets me in with a hiss of oxygen and ammonia mixing from both atmospheres. The door swings shut immediately. My mask itches, and I take it off, rubbing the lines off of my face.

The link room is just as I remembered it: spotlessly clean, circular metal, and a warm green glow from the portals. The smell of sterilizers nearly overwhelms my nose. It's silent like a tomb, although there's an administrator sleeping with a cup of coffee in his hand. Machines are running, a familiar hum vibrating the walls. I decide not to wake the guy. Instead, I roll over to the window on the opposite side.

It's weird to be on this side of the glass; I remember waking up and seeing Max frantically telling them to sedate me from outside. Everything is in proper order. The medical kits are packed against the white-washed walls, and the cots are pristine and folded with new sheets. Instinctively, my eyes are drawn to my Avatar.

He's sleeping, but Neytiri has settled beside him, acting slightly dysfunctional. Her tail is lashing out, close to hitting the wall. I tap on the glass; she lifts her head and watches me, frowning. Questioningly, she traces the ring around my face. I don't have the mask on, and she's wondering. I place my hand on my chest and breathe deeply. She understands, and comes to the window, fingers curled around the ledge under the window. Those golden eyes suck up the room. When she swings her head, the beads clank against the glass.

It's so hard to continue. I don't want her to see this, to know where I've been.

But my body is right there. So close.

Biting my lip, I swing the wheels over to the far left, where a link portal is open. I glance back to make sure she can see what's happening. When we meet our eyes, I put my knuckles to my forehead and bring my hand down. I see you. She smiles, the anxiousness gone.

I tap the correct buttons to bring it up to working order. It hums comfortingly, and I put Max's verification hanging on the panel. Hastily, I crawl up into it, lifting one leg then the other in. The warm, pliable plastic is keeping me steady as I lay back down, pulling the monitoring system over me, then the outer crib.

It's dark. I can hear the whirring of electronics in the back of my mind, static. As my mind goes back, I swear I can hear Neytiri swearing angrily. The light zaps me through the connection with a snap, and like always, I first feel my heartbeat, then my legs. Within seconds, I can feel my fingers, eyes, and tail. It's calming. It tells me I'm back in my real body.

I open my eyes to see Neytiri's front pressed against the glass. Her back is turned to me. She is murmuring, staring as the portal continues to spin as it calibrates my movements. Grinning, I leap off the bed. My legs are strong again, ready to turn on a dime. It feels more comfortable than it should be. Playfully, I tug on her tail.

She whips around, and freezes. I touch her arm, rubbing my fingers up to her elbow. It is exciting my body again, telling me that I can do everything with her now. Her eyes are shining. To her credit, she only looks back at the machine once before she presses close to me.

I'm taller than her; she fits into my body like it's a perfect match. I run my hands through her hair, exulting in the finer sensations. My superior eyesight notices the subtle changes in her jawline and her ears as they weave to catch sounds. Her body twitches. Without meaning to, I breathe in her scent: the woods, water, and me.

Tracing her cheeks, I hook my fingers under her chin, kissing her softly. Lips deepen into mine, before releasing to kiss my nose and chin in a flurry of love. Her fingertips rub up my chest, holding my shoulders firmly. My teeth bare as I playfully nip her neck, breathing against the blue skin. She growls and kisses my ear.

God, it feels so good! To be able to hold her against me, matched equally, has become my haven.

As if she can hear my betraying thoughts, she shys back, head bowed. "I am sorry I show nothing to your human."

Damn. I just shake my head, fighting past the anger. She shouldn't be worried about that; I was worried I wasn't pleasing her. How could she love a cripple? The thought makes my grin show my canines, a fierce killer smile. She cocks her head, and nudges me with her nose, urging me to speak.

"I was worried about pleasing you," I laugh, too breathy, "That body is not meant for you." I grasp her perfect hand, tugging her away from the viewing window. I don't want to think about it. About myself. I want to be with her in the forest, under the stars, just the two of us.

But now that she's seen me, there are doubts curling in my mind. If we mate, what will she see? Will it be my Avatar body, the one that she truly loves? Or will it be a paralyzed marine drooling in an electronic link center? I don't want to make her awkward. With a hard look in my eye, I bang out the metal door, pulling her with me.

The light spots my eyes. When I can see, Amanda is playing basketball, slam dunking it in her awesome body. Seriously, it's a vertical lift of five feet! She gives a pleasant wave, but doesn't speak as Neytiri stalks behind me, glowering at her. I wave back. As much as my human kin helped me, there's no way in hell she comes between me and Neytiri, as the latter seems to think. With a flick of my tail, I kiss my mate's cheek.

It assures her.

With a leap, I begin to run down the agility course, taunting Neytiri with a hoot. The wind on my face is warm, urging me to run faster. Dirt clenches in my toes and the air whistles past. The muscles under my skin feel strong, almost too powerful. Like a jaguar, Neytiri is right under me, flipping and sliding through the huge wooden beams like it's nothing. Even the tires give her no pause; with one hand, she hand-springs through the set of sixteen and passes me. I roar with laughter, feeling the fresh air pounding through my lungs, no longer inhibited by the oxygen mask.

Life is back!

"Neytiri!" I call, grasping her wrist as she nearly shoots past me. When she whirls around with a grin, I kiss it away again. Our breath becomes one. There is so much joy I can barely contain it. How could I ever be human after this?

"Skxawng!" she hisses and playfully smacks my jaw. Her smile is sweet, like a piece of fruit. I give her one more mind-blowing kiss, then lace my fingers between hers.

Gently, I pull her close to me, my mind strengthened. To ease my doubts, I want to tell her everything. I search for a shady place, where both of us can fit in solitude. The one I find is a small stretch of grass hidden under a flowering tree. The leaves are bright purple and blue, and they expertly block the sun. I want to explain my human life to her, so she realizes what I gave up. It will be difficult, and it will be worth it.

I spread myself out on it, stretching and simply breathing. Smiling, Neytiri lays down next to me, beautiful face nuzzling my ear. It's a warm day, and continuing to get hotter. Like always, I take her hand, sandwiching it between mine. The words come easily, because now, for once, I want to be honest with her.

Her golden eyes mirror mine. "Jake," she asks, "Tell me about your life on...Earth?"

Memories flow back, but they are foggy. I remember my mother's soft brown hair, my father's rough hands, and Tom's ceaseless laughter. How could I show her the happiness before my time in the military?

In a stroke of inspiration, I grasp her braid, then mine. Together, they lie in my hand, complimenting each other in shades of brown and black. I hesitantly place the nerves together, and suddenly, the world opens up in a burst of colors and feelings. It's bright and pure, with memories bounding from one mind to the other. Eywa is in the back of my mind; through my numb lips, I say, "Tsahaylu..."

Neytiri's lips part in awe, and her eyes roll into her head. I kiss her hand, bringing her back to the present.

Focusing, I bring up the memories of my mother and father, and Tom. Through a haze of millions of emotions, I firmly picture my family: my father with an arm around mother, squeezing her with a tender smile while Tom and I wrestle on the floor. It's like a photograph embedded in my mind. Immediately, I feel the question in her mind: Who are they? She knows I love them, because now my heart is beating in hers. Together, as one.

Tom. In my mind, I focus on his face, and she's shocked it is identical to mine. Twins, I think proudly, We are the same. But he was a scientist, like Norman, like Grace. He knew the language before he came, took classes for nearly ten years, and he was going to be part of those who studied Eywa.

In a flash, Neytiri understands the hardships Tom talked to me about: spending hours in the medical room, being tested both mentally and physically; studying late into the night, in classes surrounded by others who wanted to go to Pandora; having no time with any family or friends, except when I was lying in a hospital bed. In my mind, I realize Norm would be there too.

Suddenly, Neytiri's memories wink into existence, overlapping mine. Norman had said something to her while she cradled my body close last night: that I had never spoken of Tom, or being paralyzed, to anyone here. A tender question of Why? is directed toward me.

The pain, I whisper, and carefully, I think of the way I stared down at Tom's body in the company cardboard box. Tears pour down her face as she waits with me while the RDA Administrators convince me to join the Avatar Program on Pandora. A bitter thought pops into my head before I can stop it: I was never meant to come.

Before I can explain further, Neytiri's heart has panicked. You would not have come? Her eyes fall into a strange trance. I would never have met you. Her hands clasp mine, and I nod, touching her face with my fingers. I desire to kiss her, and before I even finish the thought, she is pressed against me, lips feverishly kissing my lips. She heard me. Pulling away, I smile, and the pain vanishes.

She heard me. It's the time anybody, even Tom, has been able to give me what I need. She knows everything that I think, everything that I feel. There are no boundaries; we are mates. I never thought...ever...that I'd have somebody this close. And it's a nice feeling.

When the world calms again, I hear her thoughts about my paralyzed body. She doesn't understand why I stare at myself like I am dead. Slowly, I take a deep breath, hearing my mate take one as well.

I was born being able to walk in that body. Her eyes are soft, encouraging me. I was a warrior, for the humans, like the ones we fought against, when I lost the ability to stand on my own. A flash of utter pain and hatred come to my mind, showing the spray of bullets as I dive into the Venezuela underbrush to block one of my comrades. My legs simply do not function anymore. They were taken away.

Visions appear from Neytiri's mind: a pa'li born without a leg, an ikran's wing shredded by a hungry toruk, and one of the People no longer breathing from a fall off the mountains, legs twisted in horrible patterns. There is so much pain coming from her I lower my head in agony, living the flow of Eywa with her. There is no perfect world here, she whispers, but it is natural. There are no machines.

I laugh, but it doesn't reach my eyes. Human doctors can fix a spine break. They could fix my legs. But I didn't have enough money. If I came here, I could get it from the human commander- kinda like having many fruit for the horses. Together we glance toward the pa'li we arrived on; the creature has made an enormous circle around the compound, sampling even more nectar.

Uncertainly, she touches my face. It takes me a minute to realize she's talking about the money I would have received; the concept is hard for her. I am serious when I touch her face back, focusing on her eyes. She is scared, that much I'm certain. No. I am not going to fix those legs, ever. Fear fades from her eyes, and she sits up straight with a leg linking mine.

An idea floats into my brain, almost forcibly. Can I do what Grace can? Excitement erupts from Neytiri's mind, brighter than sunshine. I smile as Neytiri says, You are strong. You will not fail at what Grace did. If this body- her hand touches mine- is more to you than the human, Eywa will grant your wish to be one of us. You will be able to be free. She takes a giant breath, and says fondly, I will miss carrying you around as mine.

My heart suddenly jumps and begins pounding in the way she says it. Mine. Laughing, I press my forehead to hers, gently kissing her lips. I dare to think, When we find home, maybe, maybe we could have-

Children. The feeling of the word swells in her breast. I can feel the way her body aches for me, and I send her the thoughts of my human body, the frustration when I could not touch her in the way I wanted. It's another positive of being in one body, not two. It would be me, not my mind.

Yet another question comes to me: On the morning after mating, were you in your human body? The thick, choking emotion of fear makes it hard to breathe, and concerned, I ask her to show me what happened. She's hesitant as her thumb strokes my fingers. I don't think she'll answer.

For a moment, there is silence. Then, the noises and sounds and sights hit me like a ton of bricks.

Thundering, I hear the sound of the bulldozer, then the way I continued to sleep, unaware. I see the trees falling within feet of me, crushing other vegetation. I hear Neytiri's screams, her pleading with me to wake, her tears as everything she loves seems to be ripped from the earth. I feel the prayers to Eywa in my chest, hoping for help, for the Sky People to stop. Confusion. Fear. Pain. Then I see my own eyes wake up, and it is lessened. I feel the utter agony like my heart is being ripped from my chest as the Trees of Voices are crushed under machinery. I feel her pride as I race like a warrior to the cameras atop the bulldozer, and the crushing defeat as Eywa is struck down.

Yes, and I show her Grace's quiet smile, forcing me to eat gruel, and my own impatience to get into the chair. She sees Norman, settled comfortably in my jacked wheelchair.

At first, her anger is clear, the sharp biting heat in her chest. I let her fume in her own mind, feeling the betraying sensation come back. How could I have known? I wonder. There are so many 'what if's'. What if Norm hadn't kept me up late, trying to get out the details of my night? What if I had simply gone to bed sooner, and woken earlier? What if I had stopped the advancement on Home Tree when I had first arrived? I feel like shit.

A warm hand brushes my cheeks. Neytiri had been listening. She knows the hate of my other half now, the reason why I want to be in this body forever. I want to be there. I want to protect her. I want to be one of the People, sleeping when I need, not floating in a haze of dozing. I want to wake up for real with her in my arms.

I struggle to speak out loud. It's strange to hear the conviction of my words coming from my mouth and the wild desperation in my mind. "I'm here now and I won't leave." I press my forehead to hers, taking a calming breath. "I'm yours."

It is quiet, smooth inside our minds. My thoughts begin to drift, and I wonder how I even survived my encounter with the palulukan. Neytiri perks in surprise, and she rudely calls me a skxawng. Then I hear her thinking to herself. If Eywa hadn't intervened, she might have killed me too. I laugh at her shock and I tease her that she just wanted to watch me make a fool of myself.

With a smile, she shows me how I looked when first riding a pa'li.

XXX

-Neytiri-

I did not know how strongly my Jake felt about his "Avatar" body.

We are striding around the human camp, and my thoughts are a jumble of new information. "Jumble". Would I have used that word if I had not been inside Jake's mind? The tshaylu was not as strange as I first thought. It was peaceful. Loving. But Jake is not as close to us as we believed. It does not mean I trust him any less. But his mind is alien...his emotions were complicated and subtle, like the many layers of a deep forest.

Jake's mind...I have never been so close to one person. My hand is intertwined with his as he leads me around the sweet flowers and fruits. He has been showing me the places where the Avatars are usually kept. It's little more than a wooden shack, like the metal link box. Some are in there, covered with blankets. I pay attention, and yet in the back of my mind, I feel him, as I did Tze'ze, before she was killed. Even if he were by the plains, I would be able to feel him.

I like this.

"Jake," I ask, "How long will these bodies live on? Many...years?" I struggle to find a Na'Vi word of time, but there is none.

My mate shrugs, a wry grin spread across his face. He loves this body, I know, as much as he loves me. "I dunno. I hope for a long time. The human DNA may make it...less." A streak of curiosity spills through me. A normal life of the People may last a hundred years, not so different from a Sky Person. I say so.

The words make an impact. Jake pulls me up to him, strong arms soothing. "I do not want to part," he admits, stroking my back. "I would endure, for you."

Heart pounding. It makes my head swim with warmth...and irritation. "I would not ask you to," I state, brows furrowed. "I would go with you."

He sighs, and drops my hand. With a sharp look that stings, he asks, "Would you want to die if my human body was incapable? What if you had to live here for the rest of your life, with a cripple? If we had lived in the forest, you would have had to carry me everywhere. You would always be worried if I had been eaten. What kind of way is that to live?" I know the deep anxiety he is feeling is making him angry. It doesn't mean I am not angry either.

I snap, "The tsahylu told you nothing?" I stalk away, clearing my head before I say more to hurt him. He will not let his fear of his human go. It is a terrible way to go through life. I hope he understands this makes me angry.

To my mellow surprise, he does not follow. I listen carefully. Instead, he seems to swear and his footsteps disappear in the grass, fading away like rain. It is good, to have space. We love each other deep and are mated. He spoke of the future with me. He will come back.

I begin to jog over the 'compound', eyes seeing human objects for the first time. No longer is it 'metal-trees' or 'dead-earth', they are RDA Communications Towers and concrete. Such simple things, simple words for things that keep these humans able to hold peace within themselves. They are frightened of the trees and the animals, of the way of skill and talent. They need simplicity.

It does make the journey to the main yard easier for me, to think of these instead of Jake. I want to find Norman and speak with him. Connected in Jake's mind, I saw where the sadness had come from, even if my mate did not. I saw through Jake's mind the way Norman's eyes lit like flames, how he teased her, and slipped out the door when Jake thought he was relieving himself. Norman loved Trudy as I do Jake. I want to speak with him and heal his worries.

There is plenty of movement in the yard. Riding on pa'li, my People are throwing sharpened spears with hoots, training their minds with teamwork- this is what humans call 'hand-eye coordination'. Ikrans crawl up the barracks and the command center like they do cliffs, simply exploring strange new things while their riders do the same, sharing experiences with Avatar-driven Na'Vi. I notice the 'drivers' are open to learning by watching, although some are rude in explaining how our world works.

Then, it happens all at once.

A door blasts open, revealing six humans holding machine guns. They are Marines, hard-pressed men like Jake, but they are frightened- their eyes are white from where I am standing. In two seconds, the front men open fire.

Malakai, who threw the stick, is blasted from the pa'li's back. Dileep, who received the stick, roars like thunder and whips the spear to stab a human through his heart. Seated on the dorm window above the men, Janquil has already sighted and killed another human. The ikrans bellow, and my People lazily fingering their bows have drawn back the string, fitting arrows in. My heart explodes in pain and grief, but I have followed the others by notching an arrow into my bow. I do not speak; if I do, I will cry.

Four mere humans have made it to the perimeter. They are pressed down behind crates of supplies, including more death guns. My vision blurs to red for a moment; Tsu'Tey was killed by a blast such as these guns make. Hair bristling on my neck, I feel my arm stretching back, ready to let the winds deliver my arrow.

The link I have to Jake is suddenly bright with anger. And it is strong, because he is standing next to me.

"STOP, DAMMIT!" he roars, ears flat against his skull, eyes wide in horror and fury.

My People do not shoot or even relax, but they obey by removing their eyes from their targets. I do as well. My mate may not realize it, but we have all instinctively trusted. He stands so tall and so powerful. My heart stirs. Pride fills me like a drink of cool water. I know the others respect his judgment, because he is Toruk Makto.

One human, huddled primitively behind the crates, yells, "We're not leaving until we get a bag of unobtanium! We aren't going back broke!" A patter of feet come, and a head is poking up, staring straight at Jake. I feel him tense.

"You're a piece of work, you god-damn traitor!" the human screams, "Strutting around, thinking you're important!"

He is important! To me! A deep throated growl erupts, and I hiss, clenching my bow tighter. The mere human shuts up, ducking below the vision of our warriors. Jake does not rise to the threat. He yells back, "I WILL NOT STOP THEM. If you want to die, BE MY GUESTS. IF you WANT to go HOME TO YOUR WIVES AND GIRLFRIENDS, THEN SHUT THE HELL UP AND GET BACK IN THE DORMS!"

A battle cry rises through the air, and a human leaps out from behind the crates. Bullets are flying like the birds near the waterfalls. Without meaning to, my hand lets the arrow fly. It is buried in the man's chest along with three other arrows. Blood sprays, and with a choke, the man falls to the ground, struggling to breathe. I remember Quaritch in his AMP suit. My lips sneer.

It only takes seconds before all the remaining humans' hands are in the air. The Na'Vi do not understand the sign, but I do, from Jake's memories: surrender. I shout out a halt, so my kin do not kill more innocents. Jake sends me a glance of admiration. He walks toward the humans.

The sound of feet alert me that someone is behind me. I turn, bow at the ready. I am relieved when it is only Norman and Max. Both look harassed.

"Neytiri!" Norman shouts, "A few men got into the gun storage bulkhead."

I nod, motioning to Jake, who is breaking the guns with his bare hands. Two other warriors are herding the weak humans back into the 'dorm'. Without speaking, Max and Norman show relief, rubbing their fingers into their temples roughly. "Thank God," Max whispers, and suddenly, I realize this is the entity that is to humans what Eywa is to us. Although I know he doesn't expect me to, I send a prayer to the dying God.

Jake is back by my side, hand touching my elbow. "Norman," he says, gratefully, "I'm glad you're here."

"Looking good, bud," the man says, eyes sad. I know his Avatar may never be complete again. It may not even be able to support his mind. This makes me hurt. If Norman feels as strongly as Jake for his Avatar, it would be a bitter blow to his heart. With the pilot gone, he must be in pain.

"We need to get them back to Earth. This cannot happen again."

I frown at Jake. Sometimes, he is still a baby. He cannot see what is hurting his own best friend. "Norman," I say clearly, chuckling at how he jumps at how clear I say his name, "I want to speak to you." When Jake opens his mouth to give me orders, I say sharply, "Find a pilot with Max." My legs send me to Norman, and I walk toward the fence, away from Jake. The small man follows, mask clanking on his jacket.

The green jungle is warm and loving, as Eywa's touch. I hope Norman can feel it. I wait until Norman shifts in confusion, eyes still focused on the concrete. I speak, "I spoke to Jake, about his brother." Eying the human's pinched face, I kneel to his level. He is shocked, looking ready to bolt. I believe it is because I am Jake's mate, and he does not want to be near me. I will make it short.

"She is with Eywa, Norman," I say, touching his shoulder with comfort, "and if Eywa will heal your Avatar, you may bond at the Tree of Souls to hear Trudy."

At first, his eyes grow dark. "How did you-?" he snaps, before silence swallows up his question. I bow my head, and say, "I never met Trudy. But in Jake's memories, she is a fine warrior. I do not want you to become sick." It seems strange that I am consoling him, when last night he was consoling me about my mate. The pain is in my heart; I do not like to bring harsh news.

Norman blinks away tears before they even fall. "Neytiri," he speaks in monotone, "My body is dead. It was shot through the heart."

I frown. "Can humans not fix a bullet wound? How did you make the Avatars?"

Finally, the human sees what I saw. His face looks hopeful, but scared. I carefully place my hand on his heart, saying softly, "My brother, if Eywa has answered Jake, she will answer you. Fix the body. Make it so the brain can receive yours. We will perform a switch."

He is responding with a sad smile.

"No."

Now I am confused. Why had he refused?

"Thanks for your concern, but Trudy remembered me as me. Right now, I want to speak with her, not be in the body. I don't...I don't know what to do." He pats my arm. "I will learn to be without her in the future, because she's not coming back. Maybe I will heal the Avatar, but I need time. Thank you, for worrying." He leaves, his boots hard on the concrete.

I do not understand.

Perhaps I never will.

XXX

-Neytiri-

As the dark falls, Jake and I walk into the luminous forest.

Wandering through the trees, my mind has eased its anger against my mate. I am calm, following the shadowy figure in front of me as we dance along tree roots thicker than my body. My hair is undone, soft around my face. I know that Jake likes it, because he keeps looking back at me with stars in his eyes. It makes me smile.

I do not know this part of the forest. It does not matter.

Pools of bright water wink up at us, sparkling against our skin. Insects are humming and buzzing, while dragonflies are twirling in warning as we move past. Even so close to the Sky People, Eywa is still here. I believe she never left.

My golden eyes meet Jake's. They are relieved, quiet. He is holding out his hand. I nudge it playfully, brushing past to lead him up a tree. We climb together, vines slipping in my hands. The bark is rough and real after such hardships today. My muscles obey as I pass the middle of the tree, mind bent on getting higher. Near the top, a branch is wide enough for two to sleep. I lay myself down along the moss.

Jake slips up the final branch, slightly panting. His smile is only for me. He places himself beside me, hands brushing the hair from my eyes. "Neytiri," he asks, holding up his braid, "May I?"

It is nice that he asks permission. I know not many would. I simply grasp mine, holding it out tenderly.

He connects them again, and instead of a rush of emotion and light, it is a soothing, quiet wave of peace. He is relieved that the humans are gone. He wants to sit with me, without a care. I do not need words, and so I whisper, I want you. With an impish smile, I kiss him.

A slight tremor moves through Jake's mind. I am too tired, he teases, wait until I'm completely there. Love is pouring from him like a river; thundering in his heart but calm. Unbidden, a vision hurts my head with the amount of information: millions of flashes of television and memories where two people are hugging or kissing, reunited or joined. All are saying, I love you.

I am so absorbed in the memories. I can feel Jake's embarrassment for knowing these things, and quickly as they come, they are gone. I laugh, teasing, You are not supposed to watch these things?

Jake smiles, and nuzzles me, pulling me so close I can feel his heartbeat. Men are considered babies if they watch these things.

I gently show him a picture of Home Tree, when he was trying to tell us that the RDA was coming to destroy Home Tree. I replayed the way he said that he loved me, desperation and unconditional love shining from his face. That was hard, I whisper, I did not return your love. You did not give up.

He takes a breath. "I love you," he whispers, putting his face in my hair.

The words are truth. It makes my heart fill with love.

The sun is completely gone. In the twilight, I hear nothing but Jake's pounding heart. I close my eyes, gently detaching my braid. Slowly, I feel sleep pass over me. But before I am gone, I whisper to him:

"I love you."

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