Like I promised here is the next chapter! Then I'm off to get ready for work!~

Recovery

Zuko's POV

"No."

"Fine then I guess you won't know where your precious fiancé has gone."

"That's fine I'll find her another way." I said as I collected my things. She watched me with amusement.

"You don't even know where to look!" she shouted exasperatedly.

"I don't care!" I yelled. I opened the office doors and saw Toph. "I'm going to find Katara. Mai doesn't know anything. Let's go."

"Stupid bitch, I should have known." She said quickly. We walked to the elevator called it to our floor.

"Zuko! Just do as I say and I'll tell you where she is!" Mai shouted after us running into the elevator before we could close it on her. I didn't even bother to kick her out because it would be a waste of precious time. I had to find Katara, and wasting what time I already had every second was important. Anything could have happened to Katara and I didn't want to think about what one minute could do.

"I don't care. Katara would never forgive me if I did that just to find her."

"But she could be hurt! You really want to risk that!?"

I clenched my teeth and bared with my anger. "No. But I don't want to do anything with you either."

"Mai why don't you just shut the fuck up for once in your life." Toph seethed.

"EXCUSE ME?! Who the HELL do you think you are!?" Her hand raised to slap Toph across the face when I intervened.

I threw Toph behind me and slapped Mai myself. "You lay a fucking hand on her and I'll hit you harder whether or not you are pregnant. You're pushing my limits."

The doors opened and I saw my father Aang and Hakoda waiting patiently. "Zuko! Did she tell you anything?"

"No, I'm going out to find her myself. Dad make sure Mai leaves the building."

"What?" She screamed. She still stood motionless obvious shocked by the impact.

My own hand stung from how hard I had hit her..."You escort her out or I'll have the guards do it. I'm too fucking pissed off to deal with her right now."

"Zuko I gave you an option!" She continued.

"What is she talking about Zuko?" My father asked. I watched his eyes go to her face which was now red with abuse.

"The fucking slut told me to sleep with her and she would tell me where Katara is. I'm about to beat the fucking answer out of her right now if she doesn't leave. She already tried to hit Toph."

"What!?" Aang screamed. Immediately pulled Toph to his side and glared daggers at Mai.

"Wow men! I swear to fucking god I'm fine!" She yanked her hand from Aang's and glared. "I would have hit the bitch myself if he hadn't interfered. Stop treating me like I can't handle myself."

Aang looked at her with big worried grey eyes and I watched Toph's steel wall crumble just slightly. "Aang it's fine. Zuko was just being protective I could have handled her."

"I know but I don't care.I care about your safety Toph, I don't like it when someone tries to hurt you." He said softly to her.

Mai rolled her eyes and looked to me again. "Zuko it's really easy. We both get what we-"

"ENOUGH!" I yelled. "I told you. You tell me where she is or I dump your ass outside. You didn't answer. So guess what? Times up, Dad take her down!"

"No!" Mai refused when my father grabbed her arm. "Zuko don't do this! I'm the one you should be with!"

"Mai move." He pulled her towards the elevator. She kicked and screamed with anger and frustration.

"You are making a horrible mistake Zuko! I loved you! I didn't always show it because that's what I thought you wanted me to do! I thought you didn't like public displays of affection so I always held back. I tried to be the understanding girlfriend who just stayed out of your business so that you wouldn't get mad at me. So you wouldn't find me bothersome! I don't care what my father originally planned I did this so that I could try again. So we could try again and be like how we were supposed to be! Why can't you see that I love you!?"

No one in the room had moved after her outburst. Her tear streaked face was red and puffy, she was gasping for air after yelling with everything she had. Her eyes were deep with anguish and regret, and yet, I didn't feel a thing. Call me heartless or a dick for not being somewhat moved by her actions. I had one person I cared about and right now every time the minute hand moved on my watch I couldn't help but think about how it was a minute more Katara had to suffer due to my negligence. To deal with this fear in my heart that something horrible had happened to her, that she was alone and waiting for me to come. I couldn't let her wait any longer. I couldn't let her suffer alone. "Mai if you really loved me you would have noticed who I was the moment you met me. You made assumptions and based our relationship off of them. The Zuko you 'fell in love with' was just a fake from your own imagination. Katara saw me for me. Nothing more and nothing less." I looked to my father and nodded. He sighed pulling Mai back into the elevator, where she continued to struggle.

"Zuko don't do this!"

"Toph, Aang we need to leave immediately and find Katara. Mai revealed some of Jet's plan and I'm worried that any more time wasted will be one step closer to losing her."

"Then let's get going!" Toph said excitedly. I got into the elevator with my father and everyone else, including Mai. I felt my phone rang in my pocket. Instantly I answered it seeing that the caller ID was lit up on the screen, it was from Sokka.

I quickly answered the call and felt all my emotions ready to errupt. Please, please tell me something good here! "Sokka!"

"Zuko! We found her! We had to rush to the hospital, she's in really bad shape but she's safe."

"W-what?" My heart fell to the bottom of my stomach and tears cascaded down my face uncontrollably. Safe. They found her. Those words were like angels singing the greatest song known in all the heavens.

"She's safe! We got her, Jet had her in the old abandoned arcade on the other end of town. It was the first place Azula and I checked, he was a huge fan of that place for some creepy reason. Anyways we are at the hospital. Katara was struggling to get away from him and he's hurt her really bad. You need to get here, she's in a state of delusion right now fighting through the pain and the morphine but she keeps calling your name. You need to be here."

"I- I understand, I'm on my way!" I put my phone in my pocket and turned to Hakoda. "They...they found her she's at the hospital."

"The hospital?! What happened!"

"I don't know..."

"What do you mean she's been found! There's no way you would ever look there!" Mai shouted in disbelief.

I laughed wholeheartedly, Katara was found and safe with her bother and Azula. I could now deal with her how ever I pleased without any consequences. "Yeah well I guess Jet didn't tell you how he was friends with Sokka. He knows all his dirty hiding places. So now that I know she is safe I couldn't give two shit's about you. You are nothing but a coldhearted bitch for trying to take away my happiness. You are delusional and a fucking waste of time. I tried Mai, I tried when we were younger but you didn't care. Love? Like hell you loved me. You're just desperately trying to find something to hold onto. You've always been like that. The moment something has interest in you, you don't pay it any mind. But the moment it doesn't you strive to be the center of attention. I realized that a long time ago and that was exactly why I broke up with you and cancelled our engagement. I dont. Love. You. And you didn't love me either so quit the damn charade."

The elevator was silent with probably shock and agreement. I felt Toph's fists closed and ready to strike. Aang was surprised, my father and Hakoda were probably also surprised. But the most surprised out of us all was Mai. "What…" she said slowly.

The doors opened and without stopping I walked out in haste. I needed to see her. I needed to be with her and tell her everything was alright. I had to see with my own two eyes that Katara was okay and alive. I had to be there! I wasn't the one who saved her but damn it all I was going to be the one to hold her hand through the recovery. "Sorry guys I'm going ahead!" I shouted and broke out into a desperate run.

I didn't stop to turn around and see if they were following me or if they heard me for that matter. All I knew was that I needed to get into my car and get there as quickly as possible. I ran across the street dangerously, not looking for any cars and just kept going. I just needed to reach my car on the other side of the busy road. Within seconds I was inside. I heard Mai screaming for me to come back under the roar of my engine as it started but, I paid no mind. I was already hauling ass to the hospital where Katara was waiting for me. Calling out to me just as I was calling out to her, I needed to be with her and nothing was going to stop me. I just sped into the road not caring what my family was doing behind me...

Or to the sound of tires screeching and a sickening impact.

Katara's POV

"Katara!"

I heard my brothers voice and finally registered the sound of a gun shot in the air. Jet stared down at me with widened eyes and then looked to his chest where blood poured. He looked back to me, coughing and taking shallow breaths. He growled obviously not going to die alone and take me with him. He rose the knife once more,

BANG BANG BANG!

Three more gunshots. One to the chest, another to the knife, and one to the head. I stared at his shaking body as he coughed up blood. His body struggling one last time before collapsing sideways still astride on my hips.I just laid there, unmoving, with searing pain and Jet's dead body on my waist. I Just watched someone die, and began to cry uncontrollably. My tears were not for Jet, they were for myself, knowing that I was finally saved.

Within seconds Jets body was pulled off of me by two police officers. Then a third officer rushed over with my brother and Zula. I was pulled into Sokka and Azula's arms quickly as they collapsed to the floor with me. They were already crying, holding onto me with love and affection. I bit my lip as I looked at them and felt them, they were really here. They were looking for me, I wasn't forgotten. I held onto them weakly and cried together for what seemed like hours. I had never felt relief like this before. My heart soared that I wasn't dead. That I could see Zuko again, I could apologize for everything and we could start over. Sokka let me go and looked at my face with tears falling down his face.

"Holy shit Katara. Hey! Call an ambulance!" He shouted with a choked up voice.

I looked at my brother with confused eyes. When Azula pulled back to look at me she gasped placing her hands over her mouth. "Oh god Katara."

I tried to reach for them and winced, and that's when I knew. The knife Jet had used to cut me was finally showing. All the cuts and wounds burned and hurt like hell. My adrenaline rush had left me, and now my body was feeling the full extent to my wounds. I wanted to scream out in pain but my throat burned. My head spun from the repeated abuse and the likely concussion. From the looks on their faces I looked like shit.

"Katara! Stay with us! Whatever you do don't go to sleep!" Azula cried.

I smiled weakly knowing that that was impossible. Even I could feel the heaviness of my eyelids and couldn't fight against the sleep that tried to claim me.

"No no no! Katara stay with me. Hey! Katara!" Sokka yelled.

"Sokka…" you're being too loud. My head hurts…

"Yes! That's right. Who am I?"

"My brother." I said weakly. My eyelids fluttering with sleep approaching.

"Hey Katara!"

"Tara don't fall asleep!" Azula yelled at me.

But that was inevitable, sleep took me away to somewhere safe, somewhere where I wouldn't feel threatened and scared. Sleep gave me freedom.

Zuko's POV

"Where is she!" I yelled as I came through the hospital doors. The patients and staff inside looked at me with shock and worry. I looked at all their faces until I spotted Sokka who was rushing down the hall.

"Zuko!"

"Where is she!?" I yelled into the emergency room.

Sokka pulled me towards where he came from and we rushed to the room where Katara was. When I ran through those halls I felt like death had come and taken everything I loved away from me. The wails of people in pain and the noise from the machines was like a waiting death trap for those who entered. My heart raced in my chest until we came to where Azula, my mother, and Kya were crying outside of a room.

We came up to them quickly and without a glance he joined them. I didn't look at them once and opened the door to see everything for myself.

I wasn't prepared for the amount of abuse I came face to face with.

Her face was black and blue with bruises. Wrapped with gauze around her neck, arms, and god knows where else. The bandage on her shoulder was heavy with blood, turning the once was white to a dark red. The steady beat of the heart monitor was the only thing that stopped me from thinking she was dead. The smell of death filled the room and seeing her in such horrible shape made me think the worst. I finally let all the emotions I had locked away come pouring out as I sat beside her with her bandaged hand in mine. I cried loudly not caring what anyone thought of me.

I almost lost her. I had almost lost the one person that meant the entire world to me. I kissed her hand and thanked god and our family for finding her before she was whisked away by the reaper himself. "I'm so sorry Katara. I'm so so sorry!"

"Zuko…" I heard my mother call me from behind. Her arms wrapped around me and she cried as well. I didn't care who walked into the room right now and saw me crying. I only held onto Katara tighter, worried that if I let her go, I would never see her again.

Katara's POV

Pain. That was the last thing I remembered. So when I didn't feel it as much, I was shocked awake from my slumber. My eyes opened to see nothing but darkness and a white room. The steady sound of machinery and a drip of water woke me from my dreariness. My head throbbed and I rose my hand to where it hurt when I pulled on something.

I looked down to where my hand was and saw the dark tresses of Zuko's head. My heart broke realizing that I was in the hospital and he was next to me in a deep sleep. The steady rise and fall was the proof of that. I felt tears fall down my face as he moved in and turned to face me still sleeping. My hand in his against his face, moist from what was probably his own tears. He held onto it tightly even in such a deep slumber. He had dark circles under his eyes, and he looked like he had lost weight. He looked tired and exhausted.

It broke my heart "Oh Zuko…" I tried to whisper.

It seemed to be enough because his molten gold eyes flickered open. A small yawn escaped his lips and he looked up to me, not quite registering that I was awake. He looked at me for another few seconds before it finally hit him. He sat up straight away and squeezed my hand.

"Katara!"

I felt my lips tremble and I began to cry yet again. I silently wondered when I would run out of tears. "Zuko…."

"Your awake. Oh thank god your awake!" he cried. I felt strong arms wrap around me and the wet tears soak my bandages. "Im so sorry Katara! I should have found you sooner, I should've been home that night. I-"

I shook my head vehemently. "No! No I shouldn't have left! I shouldn't have gone to the store by myself. I'm so sorry I put you through this-"

I felt his calloused hands cup my face gently and he looked into my eyes with conviction. "This will never. Ever be your fault. Do you understand?" His expression was so sad, his tears fell, trailing down his masculine features like tiny rivers.

I felt more tears fall down my face as I nodded. "This isn't your fault either... okay?"

He seemed reluctant to agree but he did, I flinched at the little pressure on my cheek. He let go abruptly, startled by my pain. "I'm sorry! I should have-"

"No, please Zuko." I missed the warmth his body gave me and pulled on his hand. "Hold me?"

"But you're hurt Kat…"

"Please…."

He sighed and moved cautiously onto the bed, pulling me against him gently and laying my head carefully on his shoulder. I moved the covers over us to our chests and relaxed into his firm warm body. My fingers crawled up his stomach to rest gently on his chest, his beating heart just underneath.

I sighed, drinking in every ounce of his person and snuggled closer. His arm maneuvered itself to wrap comfortably around my waist with the other laying on top of my hand. Sleep took my strength and soon I fell into a safe and comfortable slumber.

Zuko's POV (two days later)

I squeezed my eyes before cracking one open to see the early morning light come through the blinds. I closed it and moved closer to the warmth I felt. My hand trailing up and down the curvature of her spine and the dip of her hips. She fit perfectly in my arms, and perfectly content.

Finally my brain started functioning again and I opened my eyes to gaze down at the sleeping angel beside me. Her pink lips were slightly parted and her tongue was barely visible. I chuckled lightly stroking alongside her face, careful to avoid her bruising from where Jet had apparently slapped and punched her. I lay still, watching her squirm and pout adorably. I felt the blush rise to my cheeks.

This woman will be the death of me.

Her arms moved to wrap around me tighter and her leg cradled my waist. I laid perfectly still, worried that I would wake her up from her peaceful slumber. When I was sure she was fast asleep I resumed what I was doing, this time threading my fingers through her chocolate tresses and feelings the silk like hair against my skin. while she was looking completely peaceful and happy, I had to tame the beast that had awoken.

I sighed, relaxing into her embrace and continued to watch her. I could watch her like this for days. She was so beautiful basked in the early morning light. Her chocolate colored skin was soft to the touch, and her breathing was even. Lifting her glorious breasts up and down along my chest. She moved again and I thought she had woken up. Yet instead she just moved closer to me and held on tighter. Any other day, especially before this incident, I would have complained but, I enjoyed this. After being so close to losing her I liked the feeling of her body close to mine. It was a tell tale sign that she was here with me, safe, protected, and loved.

"Zuko?"

Blue crystalline eyes peered up at me, sleep and confusion apparent on her face. I lean down to kiss just above her eye, pulling her closer to me. "Good morning."

She stifled a yawn and shook her head in denial. "It's not morning yet."

I chuckled playing with her hair once more, bringing her to the land of the living. "Come on Kat you should know that the nurses and doctors will be here soon. If you want to sleep then fine. I have to get up though."

She whined tiredly clutching onto my shirt. "I don't want you to go. You're so warm. It feels nice."

I gave her an Eskimo kiss before pealing myself from her grasp. "Sorry Kat but you know we will get into trouble being like this."

She pouted angrily yet playfully and let me get up. I sat on the edge of the bed and straightened my shirt, and looked at my hair in the reflection of the window. I looked like a mess but it was to be expected. I gave up trying to do anything and went back to the chair beside Katara when a knock was heard at the door.

"Come in." Katara said.

A middle aged man with dark hair came in with a knowing smile. "Ah I see you are awake Ms. South." He turned to me with a glint in his eyes and smirked. "And you Mr. Azulon."

"Yes. Good Morning Dr. Rossfield ." I replied.

He smiled and gestured to the seat in front of the bed and Katara smiled. "He's still allowed to be in here right?"

The doctor nodded and sat down, picking up the clipboard from the bed and scanned it over. "Of course he is Ms. South, he will be your future husband so I don't mind."

Katara blushed bright red and I smirked. I had grown to like this doctor.

"Well Ms. South, I would like to happily inform you that you are in the clear. If you would like you could go home today or stay another day just to be sure. It's completely up to you."

I looked to Katara who seemed to be in deep thought. "Katara it's your choice, do what you want." I said softly.

She looked to me with a worried expression before smiling lightly. "Even though I know it's probably best to stay here, I would really like to go home."

I smiled taking her hand into my own and squeezing it gently. The Dr. Rosschild chuckled and placed the clipboard back on the bed. "Well I would just advise you to take caution to your wounds. When you take a bath clean them thoroughly so you don't get an infection. With as many wounds as you have, multiple infections will destroy your health further even if we had stitched up majority of them. I advise that you stay inside as well. Going on a short walk is acceptable but don't push yourself. You need to eat healthy balanced meals so that you regain your strength. Mr. Azulon I ask that you make sure she isn't stubborn and follows the instructions that I have listed for her."

He tore off a piece of paper from the notebook he was writing on and handed it to me. I took it from his hands with a worried expression. With Katara feeling ill was it really the best choice on letting her go home? Katara tightened her hand around mine and smiled. "I miss being home."

I returned the smile kissing the back of her hand, finally understanding that what she needed was comfort. After something so traumatizing she wanted some familiarity, somewhere where she could feel safe.. "I've missed having you there. You always seem to get into some sort of trouble when I'm not around."

"I know I'm sorry. I promise I will be more careful, and we don't have to worry about Jet anymore."

I nodded remembering how Sokka had told me what had happened and how Jet had been gunned down by the officers that was with them. Not one part of me felt bad or guilty. He deserved that after what he had done to Katara.

"I'm just glad you're safe."

I stood up to shake the doctors hand again. "Thank you for watching over her. I really can't thank you enough."

He chuckled loudly winking at Katara and making her blush. "It's quite alright. I loved seeing you young'uns around. She came in looking like a mess but nothing was fatal. I'm just happy that nothing serious happened. Just to be safe I would like you to come back in a month's time so I can make sure your wounds are healing well, check on your concussion for any long term side effects, and take a few more blood samples."

"Yes, sir." Katara said meekly. He seemed pleased with her answer and walked out of the room after excusing himself.

I let out a heavy exhale and turned to Katara. "You sure you want to leave today?"

She nodded and clutched the sheets with her hands. "Yes. Zuko I want to go home. It's been hell these past few days and I just want to lay down in my own bed in our home and be home."

My heart broke as I watched a solo tear fall down the curve of her cheeks to the edge of her jaw, falling ultimately to the bed and soaking into the sheets. I walked back beside her, wrapping my arms around her securely and pulled her against my body. "Okay, we can go home. I'm just worried about your health. I don't want any more surprises."

"I know. I'm sorry Zuko."

"Shh, you don't have to apologize to me remember? Come on. Go get washed up and I'll ask my mother to bring you some clothes and I'll take us home okay?"

She smiled, kissing me softly before heading into the bathroom to wash her face and clean her teeth.

I sent a text to my mother and watched her. Not once did she talk about how scared she was or what happened. I knew that it was a traumatic experience for her, and that getting her to talk wouldn't be easy. But, bottling up all that raw emotion inside of her wasn't healthy either. She needed to voice what had happened and look to me for support. That's what I was here for. She was supposed to be leaning on me but, instead it was like she held back. Putting on a tough and composed front like nothing serious had happened.

He had tried to kill her. Gave her multiple wounds and then was shot dead right before her eyes. How was she not going crazy? How was she acting like all that hadn't happened?

I knew at the hospital I had spoken too soon. In fresh clean clothes we checked her out of the hospital and I drove her home. The car ride was sickeningly quiet as she stared out the window. I noticed that she was beginning to crumble. Her shoulders began shaking when we reached the apartment and she saw her car. Obviously recalling when she had been taken just after she had reached it. Her hand sought mine and I held onto it tightly, leading her up the stairs and into our home.

She broke down at that point, falling into my embrace and weeping as soon as the door closed shut. I didn't know what else to do but hold her. I knew no words would ever make her feel truly safe. She had to trust them herself and regain that confidence in time. I held her for an hour, just smoothing my hand over her hair before lifting her up and carrying her to our bedroom where we laid for another hour and eventually where she fell asleep. I caressed her cheek softly before getting on my laptop and worked meticulously.

Hoping that once she woke up, she would feel better.

Whew that's it for this chapter!

So some of you guys said Zuko was going to find her and then a few of you said Sokka~ In which it was indeed Sokka.
When I had originally thought of that scene I was going to have Zuko find her, but that ALWAY happens.

I mean the guy always finds the girl but in realy life that just doesnt happen. So I tried to think of something else and when I wrote this chapter I was actually hanging out wiht my brother and I thought, you know. If he was to ever go missing I would do anything and everything in my power to find him.

So I chose Sokka, also because he found her before when Jet made his first attempt. Why would that change? So I hope you guys are happy with this. Zuko was just as frantic but I wanted to be different and have Sokka ultimately find her.

He's just a perfect character to be honest :D

Thank you guys so much for the reviews again and for playing my little game! You still have some more chapters coming up and that includes the epilogue.

The next update will be on Tuesday

but if you guys keep asking you know I will deliver :)

Reviews:

SunAndMoon13ZK: WOO You got it right! Hahaha it's always exciting when you're right~

Guest 1: IT WAS SOKKAAAAAAAAAA~! *confetti bursts around* YAYY~

Guest 2: Even though it wasn't Zuko I liked how you included Toph slapping Mai, bet you weren't expecting Zuko to slap the shit out of her Hahahaha!

Guest 3: A police man!~ Sokka isn't stupid he would bring some authority like he did last time :D

Zutara Love Shipper: NOT TO FEAR JET IS ROTTING IN HELL! Yeah not Zuko but Sokka! That sibling love was just too much to not have! I thought about Mai and Toph having a go at each other but I wanted Zuko to be the one to lose his shit. I mean think about it who wouldn't snap when you got crazy psycho bitch and a psychotic guy that has his fiance. I wanted Zuko to have a BA moment ahah!

Guest 4: I kNOW I DON'T WANT IT TO END EITHER!

Marie: SO CLOSE, but no ahaha if it was my original plan that I went with then you would have been spot on ahaha!

Guest 5: All is revealed!

LadyJane025: I might do some sort of one shot for Azula and Hahn. I put them together because I can totally see it but now I want to do something short with them!

That's it for today you guys!

I hope you enjoyed the chapter and are eagerly waiting for the next one!

See you on Tuesday!

Ciao!

Rae