I have responses to everybody's reviews on my next chapter. This just came out of nowhere as I was writing the confrontation and it begged me on hands and knees to be added.
I do have a proper confrontation in the next chapter. I hope you guys like it (crosses fingers)
They landed hard at the base of the fountain. Aang was still mumbling incoherently. Katara attempted to pull him out but the weary hours of watching over him had sapped the strength from her. She valiantly struggled to drag him from the saddle. A pair of strong arms wrapped around them and Katara sagged in relief.
"I got him, its ok. I'm here." Never had her older brother's voice sounded so welcome. "How long has he been sick." he asked hoisting the now partially conscious boy into his arms.
"Five day maybe about a week. I didn't know where else to go. We were so far away and he just kept getting worse and I couldn't heal him Sokka. I couldn't do anything, I was useless." Katara would have continued rambling but Toph came running out of the building. Seeing the young monk motionless brought her to a skidding halt.
Looking from brother to sister she rapidly asked. "What happened? Is he ok?"
Katara rung her hands, "We were camping like how we used to. Aang was taking me home. We got caught in some really bad weather and he got a chill. He's been sick for a few days. I've tried healing him but his body seems to be rejecting it. I just don't know."
"What do mean you don't know." Toph shook her head at her. "Why would he reject your healing? that makes no sense. What the heck happened between you guys. Why are you traveling with him anyway? What did you do?" Toph accused.
"Stop it. This isn't helping anybody. Go fix a room for him so we can keep him warm and have Mai take care of him." Katara flinched at the name but Sokka was not too concerned with her feelings right now. If something happened to Aang, Katara would never forgive herself.
Toph bended a makeshift palette and they placed Aang on it. He would periodically open his eyes and say something but it mostly nonsense. Much more gently that she had ever done anything, Toph waved her hands forming a sorta rock wave that rocked the fitful boy to sleep. "Aang. Your friends are with you."
Katara dutifully tried to follow but Sokka laid a hand on her shoulder. "We need to talk." Not waiting for her to follow Sokka went to see to Appa's care. Two rooms had been enlarged and molded by Toph per Aang's directions for Appa.
She looked around appreciatively. Examining the room gave her time to gauge her brother's mood. Sokka for all his faults was an excellent sibling who never truly got angry but she knew he'd been holding back for a while and she would not escape it. "It's a nice chamber. Its new isn't it. I take it Aang has been improving the temple. He used to talk about it all the time when…" she cut herself off.
"Katara, a lot of things are new. Not just the temple. You need to know what has been happening before you go and hurt yourself again." Sokka rubbed his forehead. 'Did he have the heart to tell her.' "Mai lives here now."
Katara faced the bison and guided him to the waiting hay. A hitch in her breathing let Sokka know she was listening to everything he was struggling to say. "This place was her idea. A lot of the new renovations have been. Not totally I mean I did help draw up some plans and others are things only Aang remembers but you get what I mean. She's been working really hard to restore the temple to what it used to be."
"Is she restoring Aang too." Katara couldn't help the anger creeping out of her. "Is she helping him in all areas. Is that what you're trying to say? That Aang has found someone else and I shouldn't bother."
"Do you blame him Katara. Do you really? You didn't see what happened to him after he found out." he tried to explain but the frustrations of the day broke the girl and she began shouting at her brother.
"Let me guess, he let loose the avatar. He destroyed things in my honor right." she snapped.
"You are a selfish person. I never thought I would ever say that. You've changed and not for the better," he snapped back. "Yes, he did release the avatar state but not for what you think. He worked himself into the ground and you know why?" He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Because he said enough of his life had been destroyed and he wanted to balance it out with something positive. He rebuilt our home Katara. He did it because he said at least this way something good had come out of this."
They stayed like that until he pulled her into his arms and she cried into him. "I have to face her. Sokka. I don't have the courage to do it. Does he love her?" she asked miserably.
Sokka kissed the top of her head, "Only Aang can answer that but if you want to have any chance with him you have to make up with Mai. She is a big part of his life now. She could help you but you have to really mean it. You have to be really be sorry."
Katara wiped her eyes and resolutely headed to confront Mai. "Katara, give me your pouch."
Wordlessly she handed her water skin to Sokka but he stopped her. "I have to go level the playing field. Wait until Toph comes back. I love you Katara and I think on some level Aang still does to." he patted her arm and left her alone.
He ran to Mai's room. She was standing at her doorway waiting. "Leave your knives." he ground out. Ignoring her appalled look he quickly ran back the way he came, "I hope this doesn't get to out of hand." Aang was still on the palette his breathing a bit more regular. Toph raised worried eyes to the him, "He's bad Sokka. I don't know if Mai can help him."
Sokka kneeled and felt his forehead. "We have to bring down this fever. We need to take him to his room but it's too high to take him in this condition. Take him to my room meanwhile. I'll get their supplies off Appa and meet you there." he rose but Toph grabbed his sleeve.
"Did you talk to both of them?"
"Yeah, go warn Mai that Katara is here and make sure she leaves her stuff behind. I may hate what she did but that doesn't mean I want to see my sister skewered to a wall. Aang wouldn't want them fighting either. Mention that."
Toph allowed Sokka to get Aang and she went to intercept Mai. Toph detected that the girl was not lying and crumbled the earth shackles around her ankles. With dignity that showcased their upbringing Mai lifted the hem of her robes and ran to her sick companion. "I don't need any weapons to hurt her." she muttered.
Toph heard her comment but didn't say anything, this confrontation was long overdue. Ignoring Sokka's instruction she guided Mai to the bison's stables. She could detect Katara's jittery footsteps. Things had to be taken care of now. "Aang's in there." Mai's puzzled look almost made her admit her lie but Toph really believed this was for the best. "He wanted to stay close to Appa." Toph shrugged.
Katara waited impatiently, she had taken to pacing back and forth. Appa's big round eyes followed her moves and he swallowed noisily as she kept rhythm with him. "Katara, stop that its not good for the digestion." Katara turned to look at the sky animal.
"Hey Sugar Queen, I'm talking to you." Toph appeared and Katara put her hand to her chest. "For a moment I thought I cracked and Appa was talking to me." Katara replied.
Toph shifted nervously and Katara saw that the blind girl was not alone. "Um…I'll just let you girls sort this out." Toph backed out hastily not sparing a glance at the thunderous look Mai shot her.
"Mai."
"Katara"
Any desire to patch things up were removed at the sight of his nations colors on the older girl's person. "Nice outfit." Katara snarled, "yellow washes you out." They circled each other both girls looking ferocious.
"Really, Aang seems to like it. He did have it made for me, I thought it was more appropriate since I do live here." Mai fingered the cloth draped over her shoulder. "It seems red is such a overused color, don't you think?" Mai smiled sweetly.
Outside the room Sokka was shouting at Toph, "Dammit, Toph. I told you to intercept her not start a fight." He did not want to see a battle between the two especially given their violent temperaments. He ran into the room and gulped as he realized he was standing between Katara and Mai. He would have gladly stood up to Azula rather than be in this position.
He chuckled nervously, "Um…ladies. Aang is awake and he is asking for---"
He didn't need to see his sister's eyes to be aware of her stricken look. "Mai, he wants to see you. He's in my room." Sokka finished.
Mai glared at Katara, "This is not over. We have unfinished business."
Katara was restrained by her brother but she jabbed her finger at her, "Anytime. Mai. Anytime."