When Katalina awoke next, there was still a ringing in her ears. It only last for a few seconds, though, before it was dismissed. She then opened her eyes to find herself in a room she didn't recognise. And she couldn't remember how she had gotten there. And when she tried sitting up, a gentle hand kept her down. She looked to the hand and followed the arm up until she saw who it was.

"Zuko," she spoke up, her voice weak and her throat scratchy. "What am I doing here? What happened?"

"You don't remember?" he asked in reply.

"I remember getting back to my apartment and then…" she trailed off. "And then nothing."

"Someone rigged the place to explode, Lina," he informed her.

Her breath caught in her throat. "And you saved me," she then recalled.

He swallowed hard, nodding his head once. "You've been coming in and out of consciousness for the last few days."

"Days?"

"Yeah. I mean, you were almost killed after all. It's pretty damn miraculous that you survived, actually."

"Someone tried to kill me."

"Two people tried to kill you," he corrected her.

"You figured it out already?"

"Of course I did. As soon as I knew you were at least somewhat all right, I brought you back here. Then I headed straight for the Colonies with Aang, Sokka, Jet, and Shion. We interrogated practically everyone until we figured out who committed the crime."

"How'd you know it was people from the Colonies?"

"Because I know the Fire Nation and I know how their citizens can be. And I can only assume there will be some disloyalties." He sighed. "I'm really sorry about this, Katalina."

"Don't be. It's not your fault." She smiled sheepishly. "I'm just glad you chased after me when I ran away."

He smiled back. "I'm just glad you're okay. This has happened to me before so I know how it can be."

"When did this happen to you?"

"Right before Zhao attacked the Northern Water Tribe. He blew up my ship while I was still on it. I was able to jump off and into the water as soon as it exploded, though. And Zhao thought it had been successful, so he was surprised when he saw me again."

"I forgot about that man," she replied. "What ever happened to him?"

"He was killed during the siege," he answered. "Anyway, how are you even feeling?"

"Weak and thirsty," she admitted.

"I'll go get you some water."

"Don't let anyone else come in here," she told him as he headed out. "Not yet, at least."

He nodded and left the room. While she waited for him to return, she tried sitting up. She moved very slowly and very cautiously. Once she got her back off of the bed, she turned to move her feet onto the floor. She still moved very slowly and very cautiously. Then once her feet were touching the floor, she placed her hands on either side of her and pushed herself up off the bed. She was able to stand for only a moment before her vision blurred and blacked out and she lost her balance. She tumbled forward, but she was caught by a pair of strong arms. They wrapped around her as they remained still enough for her to recollect herself. Her vision came back and she saw Zuko before her. She glanced up at him slightly before burying her face in his chest.

She hated looking weak around other people.

Zuko kept one arm at her back and brought the other one down under her knees. He lifted her up and returned her to the bed.

"You need to take it easy, Lina," he told her once he put her down. He then fetched the jug of water he had brought with him. He poured her a glass and handed it to her. "You haven't eaten anything, either. Do you want food?"

Katalina shook her head as she took a sip of the water. "What's going to happen to the people who rigged the explosives?" she asked.

"I had them sent to the Boiling Rock."

Her eyes widened. "You what?"

"That's where they deserve to go," he declared. He smiled again. "No one tries to kill the Fire Lord's best friend and gets away with it."

She couldn't help but to blush lightly at this. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me. By the way, Uncle and I have already made the arrangements with Jet for you two to stay here."

"No, we could just stay with Jin or—"

"You're staying here where I can keep an eye on you and make sure no one else tries to kill you."

"But Mai—"

"What about Mai?"

She looked down. "Sokka told me that she isn't fond of me still."

He sighed. "Yeah, I know she isn't, but—"

"Then I shouldn't stay here," she cut him off this time. "I don't wanna get between you two. Even if it's unintentional."

"You won't come between us. Mai will just have to get over it."

"Zuko, I don't think that's very fair to her. She's your girlfriend and you need to respect her feelings."

"Well, you're my best friend and she needs to respect you."

They fell silent. Katalina continued to take small sips of water, her gaze turned down. Zuko, on the other hand, kept his eyes on her. And his stare was burning right through her.

"You scared me," he spoke up.

"I didn't mean to."

"No, I know you didn't." He sighed. "I guess it would make more sense to just say that I was scared."

"Why were you?"

"Because I thought I had lost you, Lina. It more ways than one, better yet."

She closed her eyes to hide the pain caused by that second statement. She took the last sip of water before putting the glass down.

"Do you want more?" he checked.

"Not right now."

"You need to replenish yourself."

"I'm sorry," she then said.

"For?"

"For that fact that it took me almost dying to realise that I—" she stopped herself, thinking, "—that you—" she stopped again, letting out a heavy sigh. She didn't know what she was trying to say anymore.

He still smiled at her. "You should know that I'll always forgive you," he said back. "No matter what."

"Why?"

"Because you're my best friend and I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You seemed to have been fine without me for those three years," she mumbled. And she instantly regretted it.

"Are you really gonna do this right now?" he asked in reply.

She shook her head. "No. I didn't mean to say that. I'm sorry."

He stopped, a bit surprised by her response. "Why do you keep doing that?"

"Natural reaction," she admitted. "Just trying to protect myself." Her gaze locked with his. "I tend to hurt others before they can hurt me."

"I would never hurt you, though."

"No, I know you wouldn't."

"So why are you trying to hurt me?"

She took a deep breath and shakily let it out. "You know, I could go for another glass of water." So he poured more water into her cup and handed it back to her. This time she just chugged the entire thing. "I'm not trying to hurt you," she then denied.

"We don't have to talk about this," he denied. "Let's just forget about it and start fresh."

She nodded. "We could try that."

"Good." He stood up. "You should try to rest some," he suggested.

"Yeah, that would probably be best," she agreed.

Zuko went to leave, but he stopped in the doorway. "By the way," he started, "I wasn't fine without you for those three years." Then he left.

Katalina stared at the doorway. This time she longed to chase after him, but she knew that she couldn't. So instead she just closed her eyes and dreamt of chasing after him.