A/N-Thank you reviewers I love you all so much. Now I give you chapter 9

Thanks to Twilight Rose2

Disclaimer- Maybe if I say it enough it will come true under breath, I own avatar nope still not true must keep trying

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"I'm sorry I can't give you any water, but here." he removed his shirt and wrapped it around her body. Then he laid down next to her and hugged her close to him.

"Don't worry Suki everything is going to be all right. I won't let anything happen to you ever, I promise."

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It was completely dark before Sokka thought it safe to continue. Suki had fallen asleep on the ground. He stood up to look towards the docks and figured that it would be really late before he made it there. With a great sigh he leaned over and scooped Suki into his arms carrying her bridal style down the hill.

In the dark he would occasionally stumble or slide, but he kept going he needed to get Suki medical attention fast or her ankle could be permanently damaged. His legs, back and arms began to burn and ach from the effort used to carry Suki. But still he kept going, no matter what he needed to continue.

For the first time since being separated his thoughts weren't on Toph, or on his feelings about the young earth bender, he wasn't even thinking about his feelings towards Suki. No, right now his thoughts were on his sister. Oh how he wished Katara was with him. She would have been able to heal Suki's ankle in a second. He missed her so much and he silently cursed himself for not thinking about her once since being separated, especially considering that he was probably the only thing she thought of.

He was now on level ground. It should only be about an hour before he got to the docks. Suki stirred in his arms, groaned and opened her eyes. Sokka looked down at her. Her stunning blue eyes stared up at him.

"Sokka? What's going on?" her voice was soft and sounded tired, like that of someone who just woke up from a very deep sleep.

"Well I have to get you medical attention fast so I decided to carry you down the hill."

"Ohh well, I feel much better now you can let me walk."

"Umm I don't think that's a very good idea." he hesitated.

"Why? What happened?" it was then that she realized that she couldn't feel anything past her left ankle.

"Well, when you fell you sort of broke your ankle. I could see the bone poking out from your skin."

Her stomach sank and she became frenzied "Sokka quick put me down I need you to check my foot I can't feel it"

"Relax I've checked practically ever five minutes. I can still feel a strong pulse, you'll be fine. Its probably just the pain medication taking effect on you."

She breathed a sigh of relief "Thank you so much Sokka, I don't know what I would do without you" she was leaning up to kiss him when he suddenly turned his head to the side and coughed violently. Not buying this fake cough for one second Suki asked "Sokka what's wrong? You've been acting so distant with me" she sounded a little mad, or maybe just frustrated. Sokka couldn't tell.

"It's nothing Suki, I'll tell you later I promise as soon as we get to the boat, ok"

"Why not now?" she wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head against his bare chest.

"Well because what I'm going to say is really important and I just want to work it out in my head first"

"Ok" she closed her eyes and was asleep in minutes.

As he walked Sokka prepared himself for what he was going to say. Mentally running lines through his head. He needed to know exactly what to say, he didn't want to just stammer through this it was too important to mess up just because he said something stupid at the wrong time.

Finally Sokka arrived in the town. Everything was dark and deserted. The air around him was chilly and sent shivers down his spine. He went through the town looking left and right, as if he was about to be ambushed. But he didn't see a soul.

He reached the dock and could see a lantern shining in a boat tied to the dock. In the lamp light he could see a piece of paper attached to the boat. He gently placed Suki in the boat, careful not to wake her, and picked up the paper. On it was a beautiful drawing of a white lotus tile.

He pocketed the drawing and climbed into the boat himself. There was a small motor attached to the back end of the boat. Sokka wasn't sure how it worked but had confidence that he could figure it out in no time.

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The flight lasted all day and night. It was long and silent, everyone to caught up in their own thoughts to say anything. When they finally landed on the island where they were to meet up with the invasion force Appa was exhausted and fell right to sleep. Sleep he would need the next day if they expected to win the invasion.

"That's right buddy rest up, you'll need it." Aang patted Appa's side and then walked over to Katara. The early morning sun was just rising over the horizon and it gave her face an attractive glow.

The whole flight he had prepared himself for this moment, thought out every word carefully. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak. "Katara, can I talk to you for a minute? Privately" he glanced over at Toph who was sitting next to Katara, her face was expressionless.

She just sat there for a minute with both Katara and Aang staring at her. Then suddenly she said in a very sarcastic voice. "Ooh, you want me to leave. I get it now " she smirked and stood up. Aang's heart was beating rapidly in his chest, she had a feeling she knew what he was going to say to Katara. As she walked past him she whispered "Not now, lover boy" he gave her a look as if to ask why, but of course she couldn't see it and just kept walking.

As soon as she was gone Katara spoke up, "So what was it that you wanted to talk about?"

"Ohh, I just wanted to talk about Sokka" Katara's face dropped. "I know how much he means to you. And I know what you must be going through right now. But I promise you Katara, that I will do everything in my power to find him, as soon as I defeat the fire lord tomorrow. I won't rest until we have him back with us."

Katara looked into Aang's stormy gray eyes and knew what he said was the truth. "Ohh Aang" she threw her arms around him and held him in a tight embrace.

"I just ask for one thing in return" she pulled away to look at him. He smiled "Just don't worry about him to much today, ok. You need to rest so you can be strong for tomorrow"

"Ok, but why couldn't you have said that in front of Toph? She needs to hear that same advise."

"I don't know" he lied "Well you know what I'm going to go tell her right now"

He got up and started to find Toph. He heard crashes coming from the other side of the island, and guessed that she must be training over there. When he reached her he saw that she was practicing her aim. She had body sized pillars of earth sticking up from the ground in random places and was throwing small rocks at them.

She had sensed his approach, and threw a rock in his direction he effortlessly avoided it. "Hey Toph! Can I ask you something?"

"You just did, airhead."

"No, I mean, why shouldn't I have told Katara my feelings right now?"

"Well she is in the middle of worrying about her brother who could be dead. I just don't think that that's the best situation."

"Yeah I guess you're right." he looked down at the ground

"But don't worry when the time is right you'll know."

"Ok, but will you do me a favor Toph?"

"Sure thing."

"Don't stay out here training all day. You need to rest for tomorrow, ok?"

"Ok, I guess..."

Aang walked back to camp. Toph could feel his footsteps getting farther and farther away. She continued to train, she needed something to keep her mind off of Sokka. Finally when she could feel the heat from the suns rays burning high above her head she decided to take a brake.

She sat there in silence, but despite her efforts to stop them, her thoughts traveled to Sokka. She missed him so much. She wished he was here to tell her funny stories and entertain her, she was so bored.

As she sat she noticed a pair of footsteps approach her, but thought nothing of it. Until it registered who they belonged to.

'No, it couldn't be'

She bolted up from her sitting position and started running towards the vibrations.

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There were tinges of pink spread about the horizon by the time Sokka finally figured out how to start the stupid motor. And when it did the noise awoke Suki.

"Sokka, my ankle is starting to hurt again do you have anymore medication?"

"Yeah hold on, I'll make you a tea."

He set about making tea. The boat was small but it had a place where you could make a small cooking fire and seated about three comfortably. When he was done he handed her the cup.

"Here this should help with the pain"

"Thank you Sokka, for everything" she took a sip of her tea, and let the hot liquid drain down her throat. "Now tell me why you've been acting so strange. I want to help you." she gave him a deep caring look.

Sokka was really tired, he had been up all night walking and now all he wanted was to sleep. But he needed to get this over with, it was now or never. He looked Suki in the eye and began.

"Look I don't really know how to put this but I'm just going to say it." he took a deep breath "Suki, I don't think we can be together anymore." Suki looked like she was about to interrupt before Sokka said "Please don't interrupt I want to get this all out in the open. I really do like you I swear its just I don't like you in that way. I just…I think its because I don't really know you that well. We've only been together for a few days all together and…and" he stopped now was the really hard part "And I think I've grown to like someone else" he glanced at her and saw that her expression was surprisingly blank. He took that as a sign that it was safe to continue "This girl I've lived with her everyday for the last few months, I've really gotten to know her. I know her dreams and hopes and fears. I even know some stuff about her that she dosen't even know. Like the fact that when she gets older she will be the most beautiful women ever. And that even though she pretends not to care she really is one of the most caring people I have ever met. And this whole situation has got me so confused, I don't know what I should do. Is it wrong of me to like someone so young?"

The breakup had evolved into so much more, Sokka was looking for advise and guidance he needed it. Suki looked up at him tears streaming in her eyes.

"Well I can't say I'm happy about it but, I am glad you told me. We couldn't have lived forever like that. And about that girl, my grandpa used to tell me that age is just a number when it comes to matters of the heart. And I can tell how much you must like her she's very lucky. And I still like and want you to be happy." more tears "Sokka I need to be alone right now."

Sokka laughed "Well I don't think that…"

"Sokka please." Suki voice was raspy and little sniffles came from her shaking frame.

"Ok I'll do my best." he said with all honesty

He scooted over to the far side of the boat putting about three feet in between them. That was as alone as Suki would get right now. An awkward silence filled the air between them. Suki was trying desperately to hold in her tears but some still escaped. Soon Sokka was asleep the events of the day and night before taking their toll on his body.

When he awoke it was completely dark out and Suki was quietly snoozing in the small boat next to him.

'Must have slept all day. I wonder what woke me up?"

Then he noticed it, the silence encompassing his body in a dark cocoon. He went to the motor and saw that he was completely out of fuel.

'Aww man'.

This would mean rowing the rest of the way taking up the rest of the precious time they had left. But one problem with that is he had no way of knowing if he was still pointed in the right direction.

He picked up the ores that were stored under the seats of the boat.

'Well it's better to move than to just sit here, I just hope I'm going the right way.'

He started to row and row and row. Minutes turned to hours and soon the sun was rising on the horizon. Finally with the sun burning high above him he spotted land on the horizon. He rowed faster his arms burning with effort.

"Suki. Land." his voice was dry from lack of food and the exercise.

He didn't bother to tell her it might not even be the right island that wasn't important right now.

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A/N- OMG what's going to happen…Ohh wait I already know the answer to that. Please review

-Megi