A/N: Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying this fanfic so far. However I do want to give you a little heads up for next Wednesday. Don't worry I will still post a new chapter, unfortunately it just may not be at the same time as it usually is on Wednesdays due to an appointment I have in the morning around this time. Again, I will post the next chapter next Wednesday, it just may be a little later than usual; I don't know yet. Ok, I'll let you get back to the chapter! Hope you like it!

Chapter Seven:

-Katara-

I don't know how long we had been walking, or in my case riding, but at one point the silence was beginning to become a little too much for me. Normally I don't care, especially since I wouldn't really talk that much before Zuko found me, but I still don't know him or his Uncle that well. Needless to say I'm getting antsy.

Iroh would occasionally talk to his nephew. However they were being so quiet I couldn't make out what they were saying. My guess is they are talking about me and don't want me to overhear them.

Finally I couldn't take anymore. Still holding onto the ostrich – horse's feathers I turned my head to Zuko and cleared my throat. Zuko inclined his head my direction so I knew I had gotten his attention, but then I was stuck. What do I say?

"What?" Zuko asked a little impatiently.

Ok if he keeps acting like this I don't know how I am going to tolerate being around him. Thinking quickly I asked the first thing that popped into my head. "Um, I was wondering, can…I ask…how you got…" I pointed to the left side of my face because I really didn't know how else to ask.

"NO!" he shouted and stopped walking, forcing me to grasp onto the ostrich – horse's feathers harder making it squawk angrily. Zuko turned his glare up to me and I cowered more shrinking into myself just so he would stop.

Zuko must have seen I was terrified, or he noticed Iroh scowling at him from behind, because he shut his eyes and pinched his nose with his thumb and index finger. "No," he stated more quietly with his eyes still closed, "I can't. It's…very personal."

"I'm sorry" I said as I felt my eyes begin to water. Zuko opened his eyes again and they widened (well his good eye did) as he stared at me. I averted my gaze quickly so I wouldn't start crying. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Zuko raise his hand like he was about to touch my hand, but thought better of it and started rubbing his neck. "We should keep moving. We're just a couple of minutes away from the village." And with that he started walking again making me and the ostrich horse lurch forward a little. I looked back down at him, but he kept his gaze straight forward. Then I felt Iroh's gaze on me so I turned my head to him. He smiled at me encouragingly. I tried to smile back; again it felt like a grimace.

Within minutes we were in the village, just as Zuko—I mean Lee said. Have to remember to call him Lee while we're in the village; though I still don't understand why. Iroh—no wait, Mushi asked a woman walking by where the doctor can be found and she pointed us in that direction. Once we reached the small building, which looked more like a small house for a young couple than a doctor's house, Lee looked up at me and told me I had to get off the ostrich – horse.

"Can't you get it to sit down again?"

"Tried that three times already while you were off in your own little world" Lee commented. "You're going to have to get off on your own."

I grimaced while eyeing the ground. Very carefully I swung my right leg over and placed my foot on the ground. Only to lose my footing on a large rock I hadn't noticed before and fell onto my behind.

Mushi rushed over. "Are you alright my dear?"

"Yeah I'm fine" I groaned embarrassed. I've had worse than a little bump. Lee sighed exasperated. "What's your problem?"

"Did I say anything?" I glowered at him and he sighed again. "I'm annoyed that my Uncle is overreacting again when I can see clearly that you are perfectly fine after your small fall."

"Do you always have to be so mean to your Uncle?" I argued.

"No, but I'm allowed to be annoyed."

"There's a difference between being annoyed and being mean."

"Whatever."

"Are you always so pessimistic?"

"Yes." I gawked at him stunned. "Don't you know sarcasm when you hear it?"

"Apparently not."

Lee growled, irritated. "Just forget it!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

We both looked away from each other with our arms crossed over our chests. Mushi then spoke up saying, "That's enough you two. Now Lee you apologize to Miss Katara."

I took a quick peek at Lee to see that his mouth had fallen open and he was scowling at his Uncle. "I didn't do anything! She overreacted!"

"Regardless nephew you did not need to react as you did. Now apologize!"

Lee groaned. "Sorry" he muttered not meeting my gaze. Talk about prideful!

Instead of giving him a hard time I nodded and said "It's okay." Lee grunted still not fully meeting my gaze.

"Now then," Mushi called our attention again, "Let's not waste any more time and have Miss Katara see the doctor." Mushi offered me his arm and I just looked at it warily.

I can already tell that Mushi (Iroh) is a very nice man, but I just can't. I don't know why. I mean I was able to hold onto Lee's (Zuko's) sleeve last night without any real problems. So what is so different now? I want to trust them, if only a little, but I just can't do it! Mushi watched me with sad, confused eyes as I tucked my arms behind my back. It looked like he was about to ask me what was wrong, but Lee, once again, actually came to my rescue.

"Uncle" he called to him. When Mushi brought his gaze over to him I saw Lee shake his head from side to side, like he was trying to say 'not the best idea right now.'

Luckily Mushi dropped his arm and smiled apologetically before he walked up the stairs. Lee and I followed. I mouthed 'thank you' to him once we were inside. He nodded once. Then the doctor came out with Mushi right behind him.

The doctor looked like he was somewhere in his early forties with short brown hair, green eyes, and he was about the same height as Mushi. "So is this our patient?" he asked kindly.

"She is" Mushi stated.

"Katara," he called out and I met his gentle gaze. "My name is Han and I'm going to see what I can do for you. Would you please come with me?" He held out his hand gesturing to the room behind him.

I swallowed the growing lump in my throat as I met the two older gentlemen's gazes and I met Lee/Zuko's last. He must have seen that I was terrified because he lowered his head a little so my eyes directly met his as he whispered so softly that only I could hear, "I'll be right here if you need me." I nodded to him then I nodded to Han. Followed him I allowed myself one last glance at Zuko. He nodded his head and attempted a small smile to encourage me; quite honestly it looked like a smirk, but I'm not complaining.

-Zuko-

I just stayed near the door to the other room, arms crossed over my chest and my hands clenched into fists so I could hear their conversation. It seemed like Han was trying to make her as comfortable as possible. "Alright Katara I just need to check your head to see if there is any real damage. May I?" I overheard with Katara's quiet reply of "Ok." There were a couple minutes of silence until Han spoke up again asking questions. "Katara, do you know how old you are?" There was a pause until I heard Katara say no. Han kept asking questions. "Do you know where you come from?" Silence. "Can you tell me where you lived last?" Silence. "Katara, do you remember anything that has happened to you?" Again silence, but Katara must have done something to get a reaction because the next thing Han asked was, "Can you tell me what happened?" Then nothing but infuriating silence.

I clenched my teeth together just to keep my temper in check and not start fire bending. It wouldn't do me any good. Plus the last thing we need is for me to make a scene when the whole town sounds very "lively" this morning. I just wish Katara would say something! Anything!

"Lee why don't you sit down" Uncle called out pleasantly.

I ever so slowly turned my head to glower at him as I said in a harsh whisper, "No!"

"Standing around waiting is not going to do any good" he tried again. I just continued to glower at him until he got the message.

Then I heard Han talking again and I paid more attention as I leaned closer to the door. "I'm going to talk with your two friends now. Here's some clean water so you can wash your face and I'll see what I can do to find you a new dress. I'll be back in a few minutes." As soon as he was finished talking he opened the door and stepped out.

"Well?!" I asked rather loudly and impatiently.

"Lee" Uncle called out my fake name in a warning. "Please forgive my nephew. Patience is not one of his strongest qualities."

"I understand." Neither one of them heard me growl in response. "Now I need to ask, Lee?"

I looked back at him. "Yeah?"

"When you found Katara, what was she like?" He saw my bemused expression to his question so he started again. "You found her just last night correct?" I nodded. "How was Katara acting? Was she scared or angry? And how exactly did you find her?"

I swallowed quietly and rubbed the back of my neck trying to think of an answer. I couldn't really tell him about the other fire bender that had attacked without causing some suspicion to us so I have to stick with the mild truth. "I was out walking when I thought I heard something. Curious, I walked further into the woods and it turned out to be Katara; I had met her once so that's how I knew her. She was just kneeling on the ground looking up at the moon and crying. When I tried to – talk to her she started to freak out. She tried to leave but – she tripped and I caught her…and she passed out. After she woke up I was eventually able to get her to at least try to trust me enough to help her. Um…that's it."

"I see. Well from what I could tell by her head bump and her present state it looks like she's been out there alone for about two months."

"Can she remember anything?" Uncle asked politely.

"I'm afraid not. She has full blown amnesia. No memory whatsoever. And to be quite honest she is very lucky you found her when you did young man."

"What are you talking about?" I whispered.

"She is at the beginning stages of starvation so luckily her body has the chance to heal better. To be on the safe side though I want you both to have her stick with broths and tea for the next couple of days so her body can gain more strength before you work her way back up to solid foods. I'm also going to give you some herbs to make into a tea to help her sleep better. From the dark circles under her eyes she hasn't been getting a lot. And as far as the bruises on her wrists-"

"How bad is she?" I have to know even if I don't like the answer.

Han hesitated. "I can't be certain as to the extent of her bruises since I don't know if they're connected to her amnesia, but it could have been an accident. Or…it could have been something worse. Regardless, she won't tell me. You'll just have to be patient with her. Let her learn how to trust again so she can fully heal. Hopefully she'll be able to open up to you by then. Whatever you do, make sure you don't force it out of her, or else she'll only draw more within herself and it will take even longer for her amnesia to clear up…if it even does. Her mind has been 'protecting herself' this way for a while now. If put under too much pressure there is a chance she'll never regain her memories."

Wow no pressure! And what does he mean 'something worse?' Like she was- Oh man I can't think of that or else I'm going to be sick.

Han and Uncle left me alone by the doorway again so they could talk privately before he would go back to check on Katara. I tried to keep a nonchalant attitude around them, but inside I was frantic. My mind was working at high speed trying to figure out what I'm supposed to do. How do I get her to remember without pushing her too hard? How do I get her to even talk to me about what happened?!

This is too much pressure.