Back Up Plans
Chapter 6: Under This Umbrella
"Long time no see, Zuko." Jet speaks to him as if it's been days instead of years since the pair has seen one another.
"You're alive." Jet doesn't seem shocked by anything about this situation, while Zuko is suddenly questioning his sanity.
"I didn't expect to see you here," Jet says, though the sentiment lacks any warmth.
"You're alive." Zuko can't seem to manage more than a whisper as he tries to wrap his mind around what he's seeing. If he speaks too loud he might shatter the dream and wake up.
Zuko walks carefully into the room. Standing at the foot of the bed, he begins to the process that this is really the friend he had considered lost. "There was a funeral and an investigation," Zuko reasons. "The story. It was covered by the papers. There's a goddamn memorial bench at the crash site!"
Jet nods, unsurprised by the information. He closes his laptop and puts it in the leather briefcase on the floor. "I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you I was alive."
"I don't know what to ask first."
Jet takes Zuko's silence as his cue. "It all happened so fast, Zuko. By the time I knew what was supposed to happen there was no time to get a message out."
Jet's explanation only raises more questions. "I don't understand. Did you know we were going to crash?"
Jet remains silent and Zuko continues staring- really taking in his appearance for the first time. He doesn't seem like the unkempt boy Zuko had known as a boy. He is coiffed and calm. The mischievous gleam in his eye has cooled to something more calculated.
"This wasn't some crazy accident." Zuko's words are no longer a question. He's putting together the pieces that Jet is alluding to. "I used to wake up in the middle of the night after dreams about the. I wondered for so long if I could have done something to change what happened. What were you into Jet? Why didn't you tell me you son of a bitch?"
Jet rises, not appearing to be bothered when his injuries are jostled. "This puts me in an awkward position, Zuko. I acted impulsively last night. I had no idea it would lead to this unfortunate reunion."
"Unfortunate?" The word tastes bitter in Zuko's mouth.
"Yes," Jet confirms as he reaches for his clothes. "This meeting was premature. They're not going to like this."
"Who's not going to like this?" Jet doesn't pause to let Zuko catch up. He removes his arm from its sling and pulls his clothes on. He tosses his jacket around his shoulders once his arm is secure again.
"I'll see you again friend. You'll understand the next time."
"Why are you acting like this? Where have you been?" Zuko reaches after Jet as he exits the room but the man is faster. His expression holds no trace of amusement as he grips the offending arm. "Let me help you," Zuko pleads quietly. "Whatever it is."
Jet smiles. "The fact that you think you can help is proof that you're not ready." He releases Zuko and leaves him standing alone in the hallway. Before he disappears out of the building he raises his good arm in farewell. "Tell your Uncle I say hello." The words hang in the air until the hospital's sliding glass doors shut.
Zuko stands frozen and oblivious to the bustle around him. Jet is alive. The staggering revelation has long buried memories swirling through his mind. After his best friend had disappeared from his life, all the pieces of his tenuous life had fallen apart. In some ways, Zuko had used the memories of Jet's friendship to bounce back from the worst of his downward spiral. He may have an absent father, a mother who'd abandoned him and a degenerative sister but at least he was normal enough for a friend. The idea seems idiotic now.
"On your right sir!" Someone's warning comes too slowly and Zuko is pushed aside as a gurney comes flying down the hallway. The young doctor from earlier stops to check on him while two nurses continue driving the bed toward the elevator.
"We've got stop meeting like this," she says with a smile. She's jogging after her patient before he can form a coherent response.
Finally shaken from his trance, Zuko grabs his bags and runs out of the lobby. The doors slide open revealing an evening storm but no one in sight. He runs past the shelter of the porch and scours the area for Jet.
"Where are you?" he shouts into the rain. "You can't just disappear again! What about Lu Ten?" It's a futile attempt. He knows now how skilled Jet is at disappearing. The man he encountered today is not the same person he knew as a child. Zuko curses under his breath as he jogs back into the dry embrace of the building.
"There you are! I was beginning to think you'd left without me," Iroh approaches Zuko from his seat in the lobby. "What's wrong Zuko? Why that expression?" Zuko's grave expression is impossible to miss. "Come now. I heard those children laughing. You must be in a better mood after spending time with them."
Zuko is surprised by Iroh's comment. His time spent with the children already seems like a lifetime away. The encounter with Jet has changed everything.
"What is the matter Zuko?"
Jet's last words echo in his thoughts. Tell your Uncle hello. Zuko stares at his uncle, attempting to decipher Jet's words. Does Iroh know about Jet? Is there any truth in Zuko's life? Iroh grabs hold of Zuko's shoulder now genuinely concerned. "What has happened?"
Zuko shakes his head slowly. "I…" He presses his fingers to his forehead, suddenly aware of an intense headache. "I'm just tired." The voice in the back of his mind wonders why he isn't telling his uncle about Jet. How can he? He doesn't know who to trust.
Zuko glances out the door where the rain streaks through the lamp light. "I'll pull the car around. Wait here."
He grabs his uncle's keys and jogs into the rain. Iroh stares after him, knowing intuitively that fatigue is not what has unsettled Zuko. For now, he settles down on a bench and waits for his nephew. While he waits, a young lady nearby sighs and hangs up her cell phone. Noticing her pretty blue eyes, Iroh decides it's his obligation to offer her assistance. Young ladies should never be left in distress.
The tires of his Uncle's car cruise over the wet black top as Zuko approaches the hospital entrance. He grits his teeth when he recognizes the woman Iroh has managed to engage while he was waiting. It's the woman from Jet's hospital room. Once more she seems familiar, but he ignores the feeling and speeds to the entrance. She could mention Jet and ruin everything.
"Uncle. It's late we need to get going." The rain drips down his neck as he speaks through the open car window. The girl returns his gaze with a surprised expression.
"Ah, nephew. You will never guess. This young lady has been stranded here. Apparently, she was in an accident yesterday and has been unable to reach her brother for a ride."
His Uncle appears in no hurry to move so Zuko climbs out of the car, ready to motivate him. "Hospitals are full of beds, Uncle. I'm sure she'll be fine."
Iroh shakes his head in disappointment. "Excuse him. He was raised by wolves."
"Really, it's alright," the girl protests stepping back from Zuko's car. "I work here, so they won't have a problem with me spending the night. I'll call my brother in the morning."
"A doctor?" Iroh's pleasure is increasingly apparent. "I have had an ache in my shoulder for weeks. Perhaps you could take a look at it?"
"Uncle." Zuko insists. As much as he wants to question the woman about Jet, he doesn't want to expose his Uncle to today's events.
The girl glances at Zuko, clearly displeased, but maintains a polite demeanor. "Uh, no. Not a doctor yet."
"But perhaps you could still offer advice on how to soothe these old bones? Come, now you must allow me to drive you home." Iroh opens the passenger door and lifts the girl's bag into the car. Glancing back at the hospital she seems to weigh the danger of getting into the car. Finally, she smiles in defeat and slides into the front seat of the sleek car. "I guess today couldn't end any worse than it started."
Zuko shoots Iroh a frustrated expression which proves ineffective. Iroh slides onto the back bench of the car and rolls down his window. "Nephew," Iroh says with too much innocence. "It is getting late. We should be going." The irony of this comment is not lost on Zuko despite its innocent delivery. Unfortunately, he has no other option besides getting into the car.
"Isn't this cozy?" Iroh remarks. "Much better than outside in that wet rain."
"I don't mind the rain," the girl says with a smile. She turns her attention to her begrudging driver. "My name is Katara by the way."
"Zuko." He attempts no further conversation as he guides the car out of the parking lot and into the streets of New York.
"My nephew lives in the city as well. That's why it's no inconvenience to drive you home," he explains to Katara. "Zuko, why don't you just drop me off at the university? You can keep my car and take Miss Katara home." The pair in the front immediately protest Iroh's suggestion.
"Uncle I have to be to work in the morning-"
"Just drop me at the nearest bus stop-"
"Nonsense!" Iroh silences them. "The trip is too long to leave to busses or trains. Zuko, I know you are only thinking of my old bones carrying me around until you can return the car, but I'm sure Dr. Bumi will be happy to carpool to work."
"Mr. King please-"
"Ah, here we are," Iroh announces interrupting Katara's renewed protest. "And I see Dr. Bumi's office light still on. You kids have a wonderful evening. Zuko we can continue the conversation we were having in my office tomorrow."
Iroh doesn't wait for anyone to agree to his terms before climbing out of the car. "At least let me walk you into the building," Zuko grumbles with annoyance.
Katara notices him glance at her before turning the car off and bringing the keys with him. What have you gotten yourself into this time? she wonders to herself. She pulls her coat a little tighter around her as the car cools off under the rain. The two men disappear as they hustle into the campus building. Katara wonders if she should make a break for the nearest subway entrance. The city sidewalks are still full of people. It would be a simple task to fall in with the bustle. The thought of being alone in the station at night seems less appealing than an awkward car ride. She's taken too long deciding anyway. Zuko is already returning to the car. She can see his tall figure hustle through the rain.
As the door clicks open and shut the smell of rain fills the car. She can see the droplets resting on his skin and in his hair. After some silence she attempts a conversation. "So your Uncle is a professor here?"
She's barely finished her question when he fires his like a gunshot. "How do you know Jet?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Earlier tonight," he clarifies as he continues staring at her. "I saw you walk out of a hospital room. The man inside. How do you know him?"
"I don't. Not really." Katara grows nervous when Zuko makes no move to turn the car on.
"He obviously knows you."
"No, he doesn't." she emphasizes. "I was in trouble yesterday and he saved me. We met at the hospital. We joked about flowers. How do you know Jet?"
Zuko seems taken aback by her question. If he is going to attack her with questions, then it's only fair to return the favor. Despite her dislike for the man with the large scar she feels guilty when she sees the pain in his expression. Unable to restrain herself, she apologizes for the pain her question caused. "Your Uncle was kind to offer me a ride, but I won't hold you to that."
She pulls the handle on her door, but Zuko leans across her and holds it shut. "I'm sorry," he says quickly. "I didn't mean to harass you. I'm sorry if I scared you."
"You didn't," she answers a little too quickly.
"Right," he says still leaning toward her. "Well, I'd still like to give you a ride home. I agreed to it. Besides would you really rather stand in the rain and ride a bus the entire way back to the city?"
She senses that the question is an honest one. He will let her go if she says to. As she looks into his light eyes she searches for a warning in her heart. Instead, she realizes that she feels perfectly calm. "I really don't mind the rain." Zuko leans back in his chair looking resigned. "But I would like to ride with you."
Unexpectedly, Zuko smiles. It's more of a surprised smirk, but she likes the way his eyes wrinkle at the edges. "So your Uncle works at this university," Katara says giving Zuko a second chance at their conversation.
This time he surprises her with a laugh. "Yeah. He's part of the reason I decided to go to law school." He turns the key in the ignition and the car engine rumbles quietly to life. They pull out of the parking lot and into the night, taking a second chance at a first impression.