Disclaimer: AtLA is property of VIACOM and Nickelodeon. No profit is made from this story.

There were several benefits that came with being a waterbender who could heal. For instance, one day you could have severe burns all up your legs and unable to move, the next day looking like absolutely nothing had happened and moving around as normal.

As Zuko had said, Toph was fine – Katara had healed all of her burns just in time. After she had healed her burnt legs, the first person Katara had gone to see was the young earthbender in the room she had been given to stay in.

'Sweetness!' cried Toph, running across the room and throwing her arms around Katara's waist and squeezing hard.

'Hi … Toph …' wheezed Katara, gasping for air.

'It's so good to see you again!' Toph squeezed harder and Katara's life began flashing before her eyes. The South Pole – finding the iceberg.

'I was so worried about you and – oops, sorry.' Toph must have sensed Katara's failing heartbeat and quickly let go. Katara doubled over, gulping down air. Where did she get such a grip?

'It's good to see you too,' she choked out. Toph looked sheepishly at the ground.

'Yeah …' Toph rubbed the back of her neck, 'Sorry about everything. The guards didn't recognize me.'

'Don't worry about it,' said Katara firmly. There was no need for Toph to feel guilty about what had happened. 'They were stupid not to.'

Toph smiled weakly. 'I suppose it was the clothes that did it, huh?'

Katara looked down. Toph was wearing Fire Nation clothes, complete with a red headband, instead of her usual green ones. She shrugged. 'Maybe that was it. Anyway, how's Appa?'

Toph smiled. 'He's seems okay, considering…' She trailed off.

Katara bit down on her lip. Considering that his master is dead. 'Well, I'm sure he'll get better with time.'

Toph shrugged. 'We're all praying for him.'

And all of a sudden Katara's gut instinct told her that they weren't talking about Appa any more.

*

What had happened to their agreement? Was she still supposed to help Zuko with the paperwork? Did he want her to? Things were going to be awkward, regardless of whether she decided to see him or not.

Katara had never knocked on the door, but she did now. She took a shaky breath and entered.

They were unmoving, eyes locked, for several seconds. Neither of them knew what to say. The surprise was evident on his face; clearly he hadn't been expecting her. There was more silence.

'I wasn't sure if …' Katara trailed off, gesturing at the office with her hand.

'Oh. I didn't think –' Zuko stopped mid-sentence and stared at his desk.

Somewhere from deep within, a flame was lit inside Katara's heart. 'Yeah,' she said coldly, remembering how the material on her legs had become black, soaked with her own blood, 'you didn't.'

Then …

Sokka reeled back from the slap, his palm covering the side of his face which she had struck.

Katara had just hit her brother. But she didn't care. She couldn't even see properly, her vision was completely blurred from the tears pouring down her face.

Zuko wasn't crying – he never did. But his face was wrought with pain, eyes hollow with grief. Somehow this mad Katara mad.

Oh spirits, he was still holding Aang.

'Katara, I'm so sorry –'

'Sorry won't bring him back, will it?'

Now …

Zuko stood up very quickly. His chair hit the ground, and Katara was reminded of how she had done almost exactly the same thing a few nights ago – only she hadn't been in the office.

There was a faint hissing sound, and she could see that there were fire daggers glowing beneath his wrists. Zuko stepped forward.

'You wouldn't dare.' Yet at the same time those words were spoken, she was bending two thick streams of water out of her waterskin, spinning them around her wrists.

'Why?' Zuko's voice cracked, and the daggers disappeared in a puff of smoke. Katara's water ribbons splashed onto the ground. 'You know how sorry I am –'

And all of a sudden Katara wasn't in the Fire Nation Palace's office with the Fire Lord, she was back in Ba Sing Se and Zuko had Aang, dead, in his arms. Only this time there was no Sokka to restrain her. She could say what she wanted and nobody would stop her.

'You promised me you would bring him back!' Katara's voice was a high scream. 'You promised me!' She gasped, holding back a sob. 'You hurt me before and it hurt so much, and I didn't think you could do it again but you did and this time it's worse!'

And this time Zuko wasn't silent, overwhelmed by his sorrow. This time, he fought back.

'I did everything I could!' His voice was like it used to be, pure rage and frustration. 'I thought it would be me – I didn't know he was that fast!'

'You managed to stop a lightning bolt hitting me!' she shrieked. 'Why couldn't you do the same?'

'You were different!' There was a flash of gold as a red-orange flame of fire barreled across the room. Katara quickly quenched it, bending the water off the floor.

'What was different this time? There was lightning, you were meant to redirect it – you promised me!'

'I didn't think he would jump in front of it for me!' Suddenly the rage was gone from Zuko's voice. He sounded almost confused. 'I didn't think …'

And all of a sudden, Katara couldn't fight this battle any more.

'No, you didn't.'

Before …

'Zuko, what is it?' Aang's voice was concerned.

Zuko looked up from the letter. His golden eyes were wide, face drained of all colour. Iroh's face was equally grave, almost sorrowful. The old man stood at a distance, head bowed.

'Azula.'

Katara's heart skipped several beats. She couldn't think clearly – it was pure instinct that made her walk across the room and take Aang's hand in her own, gripping it tightly.

'She's back – she broke out of the mental facility.'

Aang looked up into Katara's eyes. 'Don't be scared,' he said, squeezing her hand. 'I won't let Azula hurt anybody.'

Katara swallowed, forcing her mouth up into a shadow of a smile. 'Of course you won't. You're the Avatar.'

Aang grinned. 'That's the spirit.'

For a brief second, Katara met Zuko's gaze, and was then terrified beyond belief.

Zuko was just as scared for Aang, for everybody, as she was.

Notes:

This chapter was hard to write - I was trying to bring out emotions in Katara and Zuko that I haven't really experienced myself: blinding rage and excruciating pain. I hope I succeeded in doing so.

Please review.