First off, let me thank all of you who reviewed my story. I wasn't going to write anymore if nobody posted anything about it. So kudos for you who saved my writing spirit! :) Oh and my bad on the spelling error of Sokka's name. I'll get right on that. Just so everyone knows, I'm probably the worst speller, and grammar checker in the world! So yes, I know there are probably errors.

Disclaimer: I own flip flops, a lettermen's jacket, and all the Harry Potter books, but sadly I still don't own any part of Avatar. Yes indeed, it is a cruel world.

Chapter 3: Please Wake Up

"Yes, yes," said Azula. "Now that we're all introduced let's get on with your demise."She smiled as she walked forward with her three body guards. "Don't touch them," she instructed. "They're mind to finish. Go back to the ship and I'll meet you there. "

Aang was sure that they were going to insist on staying, but something in Azula's tone must have made them leave. As her guards exited the clearing, the four of them stood in silence for a moment, and then Azula pounced. Spinning through the air, she conjured blue lightening from her fingertips aiming it right at them.

Aang and Katara quickly dived out of the way, while Zuko stepped in and redirected the lightening. A skill, that he reminded himself to thank his Uncle for later. Brother and sister were locked in battle, meanwhile Katara and Aang were watching for the sidelines for the moment.

"Stay here," said Aang. "I'm going to help Zuko. " He knew that Katara would be in much more danger fighting her than he would. "Water conducts electricity," was among the thoughts that ran through his head. With that, he left Katara standing by a large birch tree, and jumped into the battle.

Katara fiercely wanted to join the fray, but knew she would be more appreciated and needed as a healer fallowing the battle, should anything go wrong. Aang was now as skilled with water as she was, so how much help would she really be. "The boys can handle this," and no sooner had she thought that, Zuko was throne backwards, and his head struck the boulder she had occupied earlier than evening. He didn't get up. Her attention returned to Aang who had just noticed Zuko. Then, zeroing in on Azula, she saw she was about to take advantage of Aang's distracted glance. Katara saw blue starting to envelop her hands.

"No!" thought Katara. She remembered the previous time Aang was struck by her lightening. "I won't let that happen, I can't lose him like that again," was all that raced through her mind as she ran towards him.

Tears in her eyes, Katara thrust herself in front of Aang just as Azula released the deadly energy. As soon as it struck her, Katara was pulled into darkness, thinking of the boy she had just saved.

"Katara, no!" Aang yelled. "What was she thinking, why did she do that?" he thought. She wasn't moving, and he screamed as he never had before, "Azzzzuuuulllaaaa!" His anger was beyond comprehension, and the fire princess for once had the look of fear in her eyes.

Within seconds, his arrows were glowing and he was lost in rage. All he wanted to do was smite the girl that hurt Katara. Setting her down, he twisted his arms, until a horizontal twister appeared. He blasted Azula with an enormous force of air, and it sent her flying back towards her airship. When she had disappeared from sight, Aang began to regain control.

He held the water tribe girl in his arms, and tears began forming in his eyes. Aang's glowing anger ceased, and turned into pain. "She's not gone, she can't be." Was all he thought. His whole body was trembling, and he struggled for control but the tears kept flowing. He cried until puddles formed on her flushed cheeks, and ripped open wound on her stomach.

This gave Aang an idea. He had to try, or else his life would stop meaning anything to him. Katara had only shown him this once or twice, but he didn't care. It had to work.

He gathered up his fallen tears into a shining, flat disc spinning above his palm, and then pressed it onto her bleeding wound. Aang concentrated all his power, and every bit of being he possessed into healing her. After a minute or so of the water glowing on her stomach, all that was left was a scar similar to the one on his back. Katara still wasn't breathing though, and with each passing second, Aang was slowly sinking deeper into despair. He earth bended Zuko over on a rock stretcher, and assessed he was fine and would recover by morning at the latest.

He then created a small earth cave, much like Toph's normal sleeping quarters, but on a mcuh larger scale, and lit a fire for light.

"Katara, wake up," he pleaded lightly shaking her body, and then crying out in agony. Aang was sure the entire forest could hear, as well as feel his suffering. He pulled her into a tight hug, and prayer. Prayed that she would open her eyes, prayed with all his heart that the Gods would not take her from him.

A blue glow started to gleam around her body, and then vanished as quickly as it had come. Aang stared at her through his tear soaked eyes, and watched her slowly begin to breath.

Hugging her again, he began a new wave of waterworks, but this time out of joy, not grief. Covering up his friends with sleeping bags, he started bandaging up their scrapes and bruises as best he could, and sat there starring at them all night. He couldn't sleep for fear he would wake to find one of them dead. Aang lost track of time, and his thoughts became a jumbled mess. He didn't move his position until Zuko started stirring.

Zuko slowly leaned up, and blinked a few times trying to focus. Looking at Aang, he said "You're a mess."

"I could say the same about you," said Aang quietly. He motioned towards Zuko's poorly wrapped head dress, smiling a little and glad that his friend was awake.

"Seriously Aang, have you seen yourself?" asked Zuko.

Aang looked down, and saw his monk robes and hands stained with Katara's blood. He had been so worried about them that he completely forgot about cleaning himself up.

"You look like hell buddy, why don't you go wash up and take a nap." suggested Zuko.

"I'll clean up, but I won't sleep," he said looking over at Katara. "Not until I know she's awake."

"What happened?" he asked finally noticing Katara's wrapped midsection.

"Azula tried to shoot lightening at me, but she jumped in the way." Zuko didn't say anything, so Aang began to clean up silently. When he was finished, he sat down cross legged next to Katara, avoiding Zuko's eyes, because he was sure his own were still swollen and red.

A few hours later Aang said "I'm going to go use the bathroom, watch her for me?"

"Sure," said Zuko, and looked at Katara as Aang stepped out. "Please wake up soon, you don't know how much it's killing him to see you like this." He said to the slumbering girl beside him.