Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. I own only my hobo gloves and a can that reads

"Need $ 4 Fish Food".

A/N: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed/favorited/alerted, I'm so appreciative of that! To purpleexplodingbananas- Thanks and feel free to use that part of the story in your own work (I'd love to read what you come up with). Though I don't really ship Jetara and see this more as friendship, you can read whatever you like into this chapter. I hope everyone enjoys. As always, please read and review.

The earth benders led the boys through in outer room of the shrine, set up as a meeting place. Shu turned to Jet and said,

"Why don't you go first. The rest of us will be right out here." Jet nodded, a little unsure. Oma gestured him to a doorway at the end of the room. Unlike the outside door of hard stone, it was just an archway with a curtain. Jet approached nervously and pulled back the curtain, unknowing of what lay in store for him.

Before him lay a pool of water. A gentle current swirled within it, caused by some unseen power, giving an overwhelmingly peaceful feeling. Jet relaxed and breathed out evenly at the calming sight. Something in the glittering pool drew him closer, until he was kneeling before the rocky edge.

"Hello?" Jet asked quietly. He received only silence. Though he had expected no answer, he tried anyway, for he had no understanding of how to work the oracle. "How do I…How does this work?" He mumbled to himself, studying the pool. Jet lifted a hand and plunged it into the water. His eyebrows shot upwards in surprise, pulling his hand out. Just as he had suspected, his hand remained completely dry. That alone was unnatural. Then, the pool began to swirl before him.

The water glowed as it rose out of the pool and circled Jet in a stream. It reminded Jet vividly of Katara's hands when they had been encircled in such substance- when she had tried to heal him. Jet swallowed the lump that rose to his throat as he thought of his last moments on earth. He couldn't face it all now. It seemed the pool had other ideas on the matter.

The water settled back into the pool and formed an image of a sleeping girl, clad in her native water tribe blue. Jet knew her instantly.

"Katara?" Indeed it was. She lay curled into a ball, a frown turning at the corners of her mouth. As Jet watched, the water rose up and formed a figure. A life-like Katara stepped from the pool and looked to Jet in surprise.

"Jet!"

"Katara," She rushed forward and threw her arms around the equally surprised (and more confused) boy. She pulled back first and began to speak quickly while gesturing wildly with her arms.

"Jet, I thought I lost you. I couldn't heal you, and I thought-" Jet took her wrists gently and pulled her closer, so she was looking into his eyes.

"Katara, it's okay." He nodded slowly until she copied the motion, and then took both her hands in his before continuing. "Katara, you need to understand- I'm dead. I'm gone for good."

Jet had to keep his voice from choking as he told her this. It was hard enough to admit it to himself. But he couldn't bare to cause his friend anymore pain.

"Listen to me. None of this was your fault, alright? There was nothing you could have done to save me."

"But I…I could have-"

"No." He cut in. He put a palm to her face and brushed a thumb over her cheek. "No." He repeated.

Katara leaned against him and tucked her head into his shoulder.

"You shouldn't have died."

"I know," Jet said, reaching a hand up to stroke her hair. "But you have to let me go."

Even as he said it, Jet could feel his heart tear. He understood now why the oracle had shown him Katara. She was the one who suffered the most from his death, the one who needed to face her loss or sink even further into despair. Unless he gave her the solace she needed, she would feel the pain and separation as strong as he felt it. While he could not save himself, he could spare Katara by giving her the chance to reckon with fate.

"Remember me." He said lowly. "Remember what I fought for."

Katara nodded, biting her lip to stop tears from coming.

"Help Aang defeat the Firelord. He needs you. Your brother needs you. You have to be the strong warrior I know you are." He continued, smiling. She smiled back and then sighed.

"What about you?" She mumbled, in a concerned tone of voice.

"I'll be fine." He said, and somehow, he was beginning to believe his own words.

"Okay." She said softly. Jet watched as Katara's visage faded and the water returned itself to the pool. Jet saw within it the sleeping Katara, her face now relaxing. She would be alright. Jet turned and made his way towards the exit. For once since dying, he felt his restless mind ease. He would be alright. He would be.