Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar.

Author's Note: Wow, it's been a while. I can't say my exams ended as nicely as I'd have liked but it was okay.

Enjoy!

11/2 update: I can't believe I'm so stupid. After reading it over, I finally realized that I'd completely left out Toph and don't get me started on the messed up dialouge. What was I thinking? So now it's been fixed with small mention of her departure along with the Suki and the others. Gah... my bad, everyone. If you spot anything else, please tell me right away.

+Avatar World+

How could this have happened? The end of the war had basically meant the end of Fire Lord Ozai and yet he was a free man. Well, as free as a convict on the run could be but that certainly wasn't good news. And to make matters worse, his insane daughter was with him.

Sokka was too shocked by the news for words. Was this the signafling of yet another war? Or was it the same war that Sokka and everyone else had thought they ended?

He didn't think it could get much worse when Mai, the girlfriend, asked, "Where's Zuko and Katara?"

"I…" A hot, suffocating something seemed to block his throat. He tried again, "I… they…"

"We lost them."

Everyone looked at the blind girl who was now trying to not to show her tears. "There was an explosion at Mt. Fudiyu and… and…"

"It's my entire fault." Sokka came close to shouting it, not wishing to see Toph on the verge of a breakdown. "I should have thought of a better plan and I knew the volcano was dangerous-"

"Wait. Do you mean to say that Katara was-" Hakoda interrupted but he stopped short when his son nodded.

"That," Iroh spoke for the first time in his serious tone, "is impossible."

And before Sokka could contradict him, Iroh pulled something from the depths of his robes that smothered all other arguments.

In his hand was Katara's slightly blackened but perfectly recognizable water skin.

+Ethan Jones+

After listening to Jones's story and asking questions here and there, Yumi asked for a rough sketch of Zuko's features. They could have made a more detailed picture with the department's face generator program but there was a catch; all faces generated had to be saved on the department's database which made it accessible to any senior officers who wanted a look-see.

When Jones suggested using the program just to see the basic features and then not saving it, he received a disapproving glare from Yumi.

"Are you mentally retarded, Jones? I'd have to log in when I'm not even assigned to a case." She flicked open a black notepad and started sketching with a pen. To Jones's surprise, she seemed quite adapt at it.

"Wow, I didn't know you were so good at drawing." Jones remarked, peering over the top of the notepad and observing the sketch upside down. It more or less resembled the Zuko he had interrogated with a shorter nose and less grotesque scar.

Yumi stood up without warning, hitting Jones in the chin with the notepad. Jones stumbled backwards, massaging his jaw. Yumi headed out the door.

"Hey! Where're you going?" he called as he ran after her. Yumi didn't even look back as she weaved through a line of officers moving in the opposite direction.

"Hey, Kim! Wait!"

Jones attempted to side-step an officer but bumped into someone else to his left. By the time he reached the front desk, she was nowhere in sight.

"Where's the fire, Jones?"

Jones turned on the spot and came face to face with one of the maintenance people. He couldn't recall his name and knew for a fact that the old name tag pinned to his chest had belonged to the previous janitor, Johan, who had moved to Colorado last spring.

"Nothing, I was just…" Jones tried sidling away but "Johan" stopped him.

"Oh, don't tell me. You're on that freak fire case, aren't you?" When Jones returned a bemused expression he clapped his hands twice and said clearly, "On!" to a framed portrait on the wall. Immediately, the painting of a sunflower faded away and was replaced with a menu screen. "Johan" then selected TV and the screen switched to news channel.

"-started as a fistfight on St. Greggar Street. However, eye witnesses report that the two individuals involved were fighting with more than just fists. John Katou has the story."

The scene cut to a street blocked off with holographic police tape. Officers were desperately trying to control the mass of bystanders standing on tiptoes to see what the commotion was about.

"Just hours ago, innocent pedestrians and drivers were thrown into a panic when a shot was fired just outside Lestra's Café."

The camera panned to a restaurant on the left. It was a mess of blood and shattered glass and was also blocked off with holographic police tape.

"A man just outside the restaurant was killed before two more shots were fired shattering the restaurant windows. Eye witnesses report a fight breaking out just afterwards between two men who are suspected by authorities to be connected to the shooting."

The scene changed again to a blotchy faced woman who sniffed, "I-I was so scared. Those two men just went at each other and rolled onto the street. I thought they'd been hit by a c-c-car when fire started shooting out of the street. I thought that maybe there ha-had been an accident."

Switching back to the crime scene, the reporter's voice over said, "But an accident it was not. WVBS has received exclusive footage of the fight filmed by a witness who was in the back seat of his father's car as it drove past the two suspects."

The footage, judging by the quality, had been shot by a toy cellphone. However, it drew in Jones's eye better than plain sight could. Through the car windows was utter chaos. Cars were all over the place and screams could be heard. As the car slowed for whatever reason, Jones could see the fight. In the middle of the street were two figures, one on top of the other. The one on top was trying to shove a gun in the other's face while the one beneath was attempting to wrestle the gun away. Without warning, the unarmed of the two punched out-

"Pause!" Jones commanded and the footage instantly froze. Jones, almost in a trance, stepped slowly closer.

'It can't be!' Jones thought, brain processing the information like a broken down computer. 'This…this is impossible!'

But despite the poor quality of the tape, the evidence was in plain sight. There was no way that this could be a mere coincidence. How many others were there like him? Was this some sort of new technology the government had developed? The government… or Microbe? What was going on?

"Something the matter, Jones?" "Johan" or whatever his name was, sounded very far away. It felt like ages before Jones croaked, "Play."

The footage only lasted about five more second with the kid dropping the cell phone but Jones's eyes were glazed over, unseeing.

"Nothing." Jones whispered, not bothering to see if "Johan" was still there. "It's just…" And though his voice trailed away, in his mind he added, "Zuko…"

+Avatar World+

As a child, Sokka had been quite ambitious. That was to say that he had wanted to grow up to be something different every time he rolled over in his sleep. Once the war had broken out, he had decided on water tribe warrior and had stuck to it but even during his time travelling around the world with his friends, he had always been visited by the old dreams, one of them hopes of becoming a detective.

But Sokka doubted that any detective would have been able to sort out the mess they were up to their necks in now. Relief mingled with the frustration of his inability to figure out the mystery. Was Katara alive or was she not? Was there a way that her waterskin could make it out safely without her? And what about Zuko?

These tantalizing questions were still hanging in the air when Sokka was brought out of his reverie by Iroh. His father had been asking Iroh if there had been any other clues to where Katara might be, when Iroh said something strange.

"-was found outside the palace. We recently had some firework technicians over to set-"

"Wait!" Sokka called out, his voice coming out more frantic than he had expected. Everyone looked at him in surprise. Sokka took a deep breath and tried again. "Wait just a minute. Did you say that is was found here? Here, just outside the palace gates?"

Iroh looked bemused but answered, "Yes, that's right. The technicians were using a clearing to test out the fireworks."

"But… but that's impossible!" Sokka exclaimed, looking around the room at everyone else. "Even if Katara managed to survive with her waterskin, how could it end up all the way over here?"

"Maybe she came back and dropped it?" Tai Lee suggested hopefully.

"But if so, why didn't she go straight to Mai or Iroh? Why not get help as soon as possible?" Sokka's argument was met with silence. Some of them looked away, lost in thought.

"We'll go look for her." Suki said finally, motioning toward the other Kyoshi Warriors. They all filed behind her as she headed toward the door.

"Wait!" Sokka stopped Suki as she passed with a hand on her shoulder. Suki turned to face him. "How do you know where to look?"

Suki smiled at him warmly. Perhaps she reasoned that her warrior makeup was not enough to hide her real feelings from her boyfriend. "I don't really know Sokka. But I'm going to do whatever it takes to get her back safetly."

"I'm going with you." Sokka said at once, giving her a determined glare. But to his surprise, she shook her head, smile never faltering.

"I'll go." Toph spoke up suddenly. "No point moping around here." She stepped in line with the other warriors but this time, Suki did not object.

Suki walked past him and Sokka let his limp hand slide off her shoulder as she went. The other Kyoshi Warriors and Toph followed her out the door and only four remained in the room. Four sets of eyes never connecting. None of them knew the next step. Perhaps, with all things considered, there wasn't a next step.

The hopelessness they had once associated with war flooded their hearts. Helpless as a fire lily set ablaze. No one could help because it was impossible to discern flower from flame. No one could help because they wouldn't understand. How could they? The people most involved didn't understand themselves.

The sun was setting. They let the room grow darker around them, engulfing every corner. They said nothing but did not make excuses to leave. Mai's pale skin seemed to waver like a ghost in black fog. She did not cry as one might when their loved one was presumed dead. But then again, she had not cried since very young. And even then she had smothered her tears in her sleeves.

'Tears are a sign of weakness, Mai. Life is for the survivor, not the frail. Tears are not fit for the living.' Her father's words echoed around the room though only she could hear them. Her insides had been scooped out but she didn't let the pain spread to her face. 'Tears are not fit for the living.'

'Then I wish I were dead.' The words came swiftly and easily to the surface of her mind. They might have slipped through her lips if she hadn't caught herself just in time. But the meanings stayed. It did not matter if she pushed the words from her mind.

'A ghost may shed its tears without being seen. It's those who live that suffer.' She thought. The room was now completely dark. She couldn't even tell apart those around her. 'I am alone.'

The creak of a door awoke her senses. Mai's eyes swept the room even though they hadn't adjusted to the blackness yet. Ears pricked, she heard the others rustling around her.

"Was that just me or-" Sokka began but Mai cut across him with a curt, "Shut up!"

Everyone fell silent. No noises broke the quiet. Had it been merely the wind?

"Hello?"

If Mai hadn't been raised almost like a boy, she would have shrieked in fright. The minute a face as white and round as moon floated in through the door leading to the now dark corridors, the others either jumped back in alarm or shouted. Iroh firebended a light in his palm that effectively lit the room.

The silence swooped in on them like a messenger hawk. All five pair of eyes locked with the sixth pair. The weary blue slits were the only things that could immediately be recognized. That and the staff he was supporting himself with.

"Aang!" Sokka bellowed in delight as he hurried to hug him. "You're awake!"

Awake he might be but Mai could have sworn that he was a heartbeat away from becoming a ghost. He looked utterly terrible. His face was waxy as though it would melt off if it got too close to the lanterns Iroh was now lighting. His arms looked thinner than usual, making his clothes which were soaked with sweat, look far too heavy for his frail body. His eyes, which had always been so bright, were now half closed and puffy.

"When did he get here?" Sokka asked as he pulled away from Aang. Aang swayed drunkenly on the spot and Sokka immediately held onto his forearm to prevent him from falling.

Hakoda was first to answer, "Suki and other Kyoshi Warriors felt it wasn't safe for him to be left behind. Mai and Iroh were kind enough to lend him a guest room. We left him with a palace doctor."

"He… he fell asleep." Aang's quiet voice was so soft that they almost didn't catch his words. "I-I…"

"You need to rest, Aang." Sokka said firmly as he tried to pick him up. Aang, to his surprise, resisted, shaking his head like a stubborn kitten.

"Are you feeling all right, my boy?" Iroh asked, coming closer. "You should lie down." He gestured toward the sofa.

When Aang had been moved to the sofa by Hakoda, he refused to lie down but sat up. Anyone with eyes could tell this was costing him every ounce of energy he had.

"I have to tell you something…" he began with a little more force in his voice. All ears and eyes were turned to the Avatar who sounded as though he might be making his last statement. "We're… we're in danger."

"What do you mean, Aang? How do you know?" Sokka asked. Everyone else was wondering the same.

Aang's strength seemed to give out and he lay back down on the couch. His eyes, however, looked straight up to where the others where he was forming a circle around him. Staring… staring… 'Like them…' he thought. 'It's just like them.'

"I saw them…" he whispered, closing his eyes. "They were coming for me. For us."

"Who's coming, Aang?" Sokka's voice sounded more shrill than usual. Iroh looked grim and Mai looked a little shocked. Hakoda was looking worried.

Aang opened his eyes again. Just a fraction so that a slice of blue squinted back. "They… them…" The thin boy swallowed and tried again, "I saw… Katara…"

"You saw Katara? Where? Where did you see her?" Hakoda asked, voice rising at the mention of his daughter. "Aang, where did you see Katara?"

"The spirit world… it… trouble…" Aang closed his eyes again and the strain seemed to leave his face. It was a while before the people grouped around him finally realized he had drifted off to sleep.

"This is most distressing." Iroh observed, frowning in concentration. "If the Avatar has sensed danger through his spiritual connection than we must prepare for the worst."

"What about what he said about Katara?" Hakoda conjectured. "Could he have seen where she is? Could Katara possibly have anything to do with this?"

"Perhaps. He definitely mentioned her but that doesn't give us much to work with." Iroh answered. He turned to Mai who was standing against the wall, deep in thought. "Mai, do you have any thoughts on this?"

"It seems convenient, doesn't it?" Mai answered slowly. She was met with bemused expressions from Sokka and Hakoda but Iroh nodded, encouraging her to elaborate. "Aang falls mysteriously ill, Katara and Zuko disappear, Katara's waterskin shows up miles from where she was and now this-" she waved a hand at Aang who was sleeping on the sofa. "I think it's got something to do with Ozai and Azula."

"But how could he have poisoned Aang? He didn't eat much other than what Katara cooked and we all ate it." Hakoda said.

The shingles on the roof rattled a bit as a strong gust whined at the palace. Aang shivered slightly and Hakoda and Sokka excused themselves so as to place Aang back in a warm bed.

As the door closed behind the father and son, Mai turned back to Iroh. Her eyes were slightly bloodshot; she had no idea how late it was. Their eyes locked and Mai saw for the first time that, like she, the uncle had been hiding his recent grief with year's experience of keeping a straight face. A crisis could work as a calming draft to those who knew how but in the end, the tide would win and ultimately, the barriers would crumble. She did not bother hiding the tear that escaped.

+Katara+

After the events of the plan that had gone wrong before it even started, Katara was quite firm on her belief that there was nowhere safer in this world than in hiding. Guilty though she felt at being such a big coward, she did not think venturing out would be considered brave. More along the lines of utter stupidity.

Zuko, to her surprise, did not take this tactic to heart. On the contrary, he was ready to go again, repeating every time Katara opened her mouth, "Come on, Katara. That was a fluke. You don't know what it's like here. Stuff like that happens all the time."

At this, Katara would answer indignantly, "I don't understand what it's like here? Zuko, I was shot at from across the street! That tells me all I need to know about these people and right now, we can't risk being out in the open!"

But Katara might as well have reasoned with the doorknob for all the notice he took of her warnings. In the end, he argued that they were running out of food and that he needed to get out of the place, even though it had only been two days after their last day trip. Katara pointed out his injured leg but it had healed, to her frustration, thanks to her own hands.

"Be careful!" she called after him as he slipped out the door. The tiny apartment suddenly felt uncannily empty without the firebender. She sighed. Though she had volunteered to be the one to get the groceries, Zuko only had to hold up a bundle of folded green paper to make her blush and realize that she had yet to learn the currency of this foreign land.

"I hope he makes it back okay." She whispered to herself.

She turned on the television as it had become her ritual habit when bored. The few days she had tried practicing waterbending with the tap water but it felt stiff in her hands as though they had been specially designed to resist waterbending.

"Penny, how could you?" A red-haired man in specs wailed on the screen. "This was our best chance, our one true dream!"

"Pass." Katara pressed the remote again. She kept flipping the channels (Zuko had explained something called cable piracy gave them access to 232 channels) until her thumb gave out on channel 145.

"-and now with our special guest, Chef Chung from Beijing."

A bald, Asian man in white clothes was applauded onto the stage.

"Aang…"

Chef Chung began to explain in rapid English about some sort of fried dish.

"-simply take the tail and…"

'Aang…'

Eyelids drooping, Katara slid to the side and onto the floor.

'Aang…'

Blood pounded in her ears, making her deaf to all else. Sleep blanketed her, rendering her blind.

Feedback is appreciated, everybody! Thanks for reading!