Chapter 16: Cabin Fever
HOW! HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN?!
Zuko literally tore at his own ponytail as he watched the large metal fragment's that were once his boat, drift down the river below the waterfall before him.
He could not believe it.
The Avatar had escaped again! And again he had demolished his boat (well another one of his boats).
To make matter's even more frustrating, his uncle had even tried to lighten the damn mood by revealing his stinking lotus tile was in his sleeve all along.
ARGH! WHY ME?! WHY MEEE?!
"HARGGG! Come on uncle, we've got to get back to the ship if we want to follow his trail." he growled before storming off past his uncle, who was still sulking about how unfairly his lotus tile had been thrown away.
But if he thought his nephew was going to take pity and feel remorse about it he was dead wrong. Zuko was in such a fuming temper that even as he strode through the group of his men he barked loudly.
"What are you all doing? The Avatar's escaped! Get a move on!"
"Sir-"
"WHAT?!" he snapped wheeling around to face his troops only to stop dead in his tracks.
There lying on the ground amongst three very pale faced soldiers (two of them her father and brother) was Jade.
"She just dropped sir. One moment she was on her feet and healthy…the next she just…" Lieutenant Ji trailed off as he took in the appearance of the shocked prince, whose face had drained of so much colour that even his scar looked pale.
When he spoke his voice cracked and wavered ever so slightly.
"Is she…" he gulped to steady himself a little "is she wounded?"
She was looking so still…so disturbingly pale and still. The sight of it alone was enough to chill the blood in his veins.
He was immensely relieved when Ji nodded quietly.
"No sir, only a couple of scratches. And we've checked all her vitals. All seem to be-"
"What happened? What is going on here" a voice puffed as Iroh finally came to a slow stop behind his nephew. As soon as he saw the young girl laying on the ground his face turned grim.
He gave a pointed look to Jade's father and brother, the former of whom nodded and stood up quickly to let him take a seat beside his unconscious daughter.
"Lord Iroh…She just-" Shen began to say from his spot by his sister's head, but Iroh ignored him before reaching down to check her pulse on both her neck and her wrist.
He waited for a couple of moments and then quickly put a hand to hover over her forehead.
"She has a temperature" he said softly but clearly enough so that the guards all about them now began murmuring worriedly.
"Temperature? Like a fever?"
"Maybe she was poisoned-"
Zuko was about to interject, as he had noticed the stricken look on Ruishi's face, but Lord Iroh raised a hand, and as if by magic, all fell silent at once to hear him speak.
"Do not be silly Lee, this is not the work of poison. Those pirates were smart but not that smart. The poor girl is clearly very exhausted and has just collapsed from lack of sleep. We should let her rest it off on our journey back to the ship. We should get moving quickly if we are to reach by nightfall"
Zuko shuddered. It wasn't often his uncle showed such austere sternness.
But that could only mean one thing,
Zuko frowned as he watched Ruishi quietly pick up his daughter in his arms, cradling her close to him carefully as he walked.
He knows exactly what's wrong…but why won't he tell me?
Why indeed?
It was dark by the time Zuko, his uncle and their small band of troops returned to his ship and when they boarded, the crew was very curious and anxious to see what had become of their favourite (and only) female crewmate.
However Ruishi was quick to swat them away, leaving his son Shen to carry Jade as he followed Lord Iroh down to Chan's medical rooms.
Zuko followed too though he was quickly shooed away by the old doctor as soon as he reached the door. He had been about to retort and demand to stay, but had retreated under an unusually stern glower from his uncle.
Now several hours well past midnight, he was lying in his bed on his back, his mind as awake as it had been that morning.
He could not remember a time when sleep had eluded him so much. Even when on the trail of the Avatar he had managed to get to sleep easier.
The Avatar…
He frowned as the thought disappeared as quickly as it had come.
For some reason he could not fathom, his mission and his search currently did not matter much to him anymore. Oh of course he had instructed (aka ordered) the helmsman to chart a course after the direction of the sky bison they had seen flying earlier, but even then he had not been paying any attention to any report that came his way.
Instead a feminine face, with brown hair and a soft profile, was flashing over his vision.
He could remember how limply she'd just laid in her family's hold, looser than a ragdoll. Occasionally her body twitched and she whimpered as her heated skin obviously became almost unbearable.
What if it was so bad that no one knew what to do?
Zuko's hands clenched over the covers tightly as he shook his head.
No…he shouldn't think like that. Chan was one of the finest physician's Zuko had ever seen or dealt with. It was he after all who had helped treat his scar after the Agni Kai with his father, as well as many other injuries he had faced so far on his travels. If anyone was good enough to cure Jade of whatever it was that plagued her, it would be him.
And yet…
Just what was it that she was going through? It couldn't have been overwork. Jade was used to hard work and long hours with little sleep and she had not collapsed before. True her usual job didn't involve fighting pirates, but considering her father's training she should have been able to handle that small skirmish rather easily and without much effort.
Come on just get to sleep! She'll be fine in the morning.
Zuko scowled as he rolled over to his side, only to find the back of his mind nudging him if possible even harder than before.
But…what if she isn't going to be fine in the morning? What if she… gets worse? But what could be worse than…
But even as the thought crossed his mind, Zuko shuddered and curled even tighter into his sheets.
He tried to shake it out as if the action would force the thoughts out of his head. However it was of no use. The thoughts if possible turned worse…ten times worse.
Her body, unmoving and pale, her face a mask of faint pain and exhaustion, but no sound of breath came from her. Nor was there the sound of a heartbeat. She just lay there, blank and staring up at him with cold dead green-
Zuko lurched upwards a cry wrenching itself from his throat before he could stop it.
"What the hell was that?!" he gasped, his hoarse voice echoing oddly off the otherwise empty walls of his quarters.
Just how long had he been asleep? No scratch that-When had he fallen asleep in the first place?
He wiped his brow as he panted for breath and was surprised by how wet and warm his skin was.
And was it just him or was the room suddenly feeling all cramped and stuffy.
He shakily stood to his feet snatching at his folded robes nearby and tugging them on haphazardly over his bare chest as he strode out the door
Air…I need air…
He puffed as he strode down the corridor only to stop in his tracks, his mind racing as he ascended the stairs.
Maybe the sea air might clear his head.
Her mind was black.
Everything burned.
Where am…am I? What…what is happening?
Even her internal voice in her head sounded weak and heavy.
Jade barely could feel anything besides her burning skin even as she struggled and whimpered.
Her head was thumping like a million rhinos were stampeding over her brain, such was the disconcerting pain.
And then suddenly out of the blackness something crashed loudly.
Something that sounded eerily like a large rock smashing to smithereens…
No…not just one rock…
She gasped through huge pants for breath as light slowly became visible.
But this wasn't the light of the place she was lying down. Though she was unconscious part of her was still somewhat aware that she was on a bed somewhere, if the feel of a pillow beneath her head was anything to go by.
No…this was the light of a sun only visible to her minds eye.
A sun she had looked on long ago. A sun bright and warm…and yet so cold and joyless.
It was now light enough to look around, though she took no pleasure or satisfaction from knowing her location. She had seen it all too many times.
The bottom of a tall wall of rocky earth, the crest of which was lined with trees and green grass. Below her the ground was mostly dirt and drying mud.
But it was what was beside her that made her heart stop with horror.
No…no…please no…
She whimpered softly as the sun rose higher and higher…just as she herself seemed to rise to her elbows.
She howled.
Zuko had heard some pretty terrifying sounds in his life but nothing could've come close to the piercing shrieks and wails that were coming from down below the deck.
He looked around the deck where he had been standing port side, listening hard with as he could. He had better hearing then most people but even so that didn't mean he liked it, especially when the sounds were horrific to his ears.
A couple of hard thuds. The shrieks of a girl, amongst the worried shouts of men.
It was the girl's harsh ragged wailing panting breaths that came loudest of all as someone hurtled up the stairs, only to stumble on the last one.
Jade groaned in pain, curling on herself against the cold metal deck floor beneath her.
No…no…have to get away…have to get help…
"help" she whimpered softly to the cold air about her.
Zuko paused as he crouched down beside her, his hand hovering over her shoulder as she shivered.
"Help...someone…anyone…please…help…I need to help her…"
Zuko didn't quite know what to say. His voice had caught in his throat which had strangely constricted on itself.
And not just his voice…but his mind too.
Just what was he to say to something like this? And was she awake or asleep? It was hard to tell. Her eyes seemed to be open but she still didn't seem to hear him.
Her breaths became shallower and harsher as she sobbed harder into the floor.
Carefully and gingerly as he could, Zuko reached out to put a hand on one of her shoulders.
Her clothes were drenched in warm sweat, and her skin underneath was almost burning to the touch.
But he didn't retreat. Instead he put his other hand on her other shoulder and turned her over slowly…carefully…
She looked like a ship wreck personified. Her hair was stringy and damp, her face pale and sweaty just like the rest of her. Her eyes were puffy, red and were pouring out tears faster and harder than any fountain.
Her eyes were so bleary that she could barely even see him as he swam in and out of her vision.
"W-Who…" she rasped but Zuko put a hand to her lips to silence her.
"It's me" he muttered and was relieved to see a flash of recognition in her green eyes, which quickly bulged as her cheeks turned pale green.
Zuko was fast as lightning to grab onto her and drag her up to her hands and knees just as she heaved heavily.
He wrinkled his nose doing his best not to gag, himself as she spewed onto the deck floor. Most of it was liquid, water mainly though he could see a couple of bits of unrecognisable foodstuffs.
"Shh…" Zuko patted her back gingerly as she spat out the last dregs of sick to the floor. "you ok?"
"I…I think so…" Jade mumbled hoarsely only for her body to give a massive shudder as her elbows began to give way.
Quickly Zuko caught her before she could fall onto the filthy floor, and pulled her up to her feet which were very shaky.
It was then he noticed she still felt very warm.
"Come on…you've still got a temperature" he murmured softly as he carefully led her down the stairs. He almost cringed as she nearly stumbled down over her own feet which were bare and looking a little bit bruised.
"W-where are we going?" she whimpered as she allowed herself to be half carried half dragged along a dark corridor before turning away straight past a flight of stairs towards another section of the upper deck.
"Z-Zuko this isn't the-"
"Shh…" Zuko shushed her, a little more harshly than he'd intended, as they made their way through his own room door and into his own small private bathroom.
Carefully he led her to the sink where she gratefully washed out her mouth.
She winced as her throat burned with every gargle, but even so tried her best to be quick about it for her vision was beginning to swim again.
Once she was done she was already so dizzy that she was stumbling on her feet.
In a heartbeat she felt an arm wrap around her side and hold her steady and a voice groan softly with irritation. But even so she could not help but relax a little into Zuko's gruff hold. No matter what irascibility they shared, she knew she could trust him.
It was both a comforting and confusing notion; she couldn't help but note as she felt herself being led out of the tiled room.
Had she been in her right state of mind she might have also realised that her legs too had been picked up and that she was being carried instead of walking herself.
Zuko grunted as he laid the sick girl onto his bed roll, doing his best not to jostle her too much for she had just slipped into a light doze.
He frowned softly as he rested her head on the plush pillow and pulled the dark silk covers over her. She was still sweating and her temperature was still high, but she didn't refuse the covering for it was soft and comfortable.
Even so Zuko was quick to wet a small hand towel from the bathroom and put it on her forehead all the while wondering and worrying if his actions were correct for this sort of situation.
He'd never had to take care of someone before. He was the prince. Everyone was supposed took care of him and in return he'd "care" for them by providing leadership and order, as was expected of his station.
But not once had he ever been taught how to personally look after someone in need. And now that it had come to that he felt strangely…lost…
He chewed his lip nervously as Jade's face scrunched up in discomfort and she began to whimper. Without even pausing to think he reached out and grabbed at her hand. It was clammy and very warm but he didn't care.
All he could do was focus on her face as her mouth began to move in soft mumbles under her breath.
"Jade?"
"I choose…I choose…"
Zuko's frown deepened as her voice fell back into silence and a small contented sigh escaped her.
What the? What was that? What is she choosing?
But even as the thought crossed his mind the tiniest of smiles appeared on her face and her fingers squeezed his hand back.
The space around her was black and empty.
She shuddered though not because of cold. No her body in fact was warmer than she'd ever felt it. It was burning such that she thought she'd burst into flames any second.
No it was the darkness that bothered her. It was so pitch black that she couldn't even see her own hand as she reached up to look at it.
Then suddenly something cool almost splashed across her forehead. It felt oddly like water.
She turned around to where the splash had come from and was surprised to see a blue eyed, brown haired girl, a boy in brown clothing with a ponytail, and a bald kid with an arrow on his head.
"Hey Jade!" Aang grinned up at her "Thanks for all your help today. Hey since you're on our side why don't you come along with us? I'm sure Katara and Sokka wouldn't mind!"
"Yeah…we kinda owe you one" Katara smiled beside him, drawing her bending water back Just as Sokka made to mumble.
"Even if you are Fire Nation-OW!" he yelped as his sister's water whip hit the back of his head hard.
Jade almost sniggered, however just as a smile cracked over her face something like a hot flame flickered over the back of her shoulder.
She turned and saw standing behind her, her father and brother. Both of them were looking terribly hurt and disappointed.
"Father…" she began but her father shook his head.
"Jade how could you? After all I've done to protect you…you go ahead and help the Avatar"
"But father I had to help-"
"Jade no it's too dangerous" Shen scowled "if anyone were to find out about this you'd be taken away. Is that what you want? For them to take you away?"
"No! No I-I don't want that!" Jade cried out only for Sokka to frown and fold his arms behind her.
"Then what do you want? You obviously can't be on the Fire Nation side and still help us"
"But-" she spluttered only for her father to narrow his eyes.
"The boy is right Jade. You cannot be both Fire Nation and friend to the Avatar."
"You must choose your path now" Shen said just as Aang said, all his goofy smiles long gone.
"So which is it Jade? Will you help us or will you…"
He left the sentence hanging on such a sorrowful note that Jade found herself watering at the eyes.
"I don't know! I don't know!" she whimpered her voice cracking but the voices of the people around her only grew louder.
"You have to know Jade"
"This is the time!"
"No-stop I can't-"
"-you have to know where you stand"
"Are you a traitor to the fire nation or are you going to betray the avatar?"
"Jade you have to make the choice now"
"Make it now…"
"NOW!"
Tears streamed down her face as she did her best to block the sound, sinking slowly to her knees as she did so. It was all too much. The voices were so overwhelming.
Both sides were yelling so loudly now that her head rang like a gong.
And then suddenly something grabbed at her hand and a voice softly whispered:
"Jade?"
The voices around her stopped at once.
She looked up.
Aang, Katara, Sokka and her family were all gone now. Now she only saw her hand held up in front of her inside the grip of another hand, whose owner was cast in shadow save for the two pinpricks of amber in the dark.
It held onto her firmly yet gently, like a friend would when trying to help you up.
"I choose…" she rasped to the eyes which like the hand were tender and kind. "I choose…my own way"
TA-DAA~!
and there you have it Jade finally makes her own decision. but the fun's not over yet, just you wait ;)
hope you enjoy adn keep R&Ring for more