Chapter Eight:

-Zuko-

Han got the herbs crushed and showed us the correct amount to use per tea serving. Uncle told me that he would only be helping Han for two days so I would only have to take care of Katara alone those days; starting today.

As the two older men talked and waited for Katara to come out I stepped outside for some fresh air. My head was still spinning with all of the different possibilities of what could have happened to her and all of them made my stomach churn queasily. I don't know how to help her. I've never taken care of anyone. What if I mess up and she just gets hurts even worse in the process? Why did Uncle say that he would work for Han when I could easily be doing that? Uncle knows how to take care of people! I don't! Oh man! I'll never get anywhere acting like this.

I started walking a little more towards the center of town where I noticed there was a bulletin board right in the middle. And on it was the wanted poster of me and Uncle. Immediately, after looking left and right to make sure no one was watching, I ripped the poster off and tucked it into my shirt. I was about to turn back when I also noticed the Avatar's wanted poster on the bulletin board too. Getting an idea I took that down and tucked it away hoping seeing the Avatar's picture would jog Katara's memory enough to know where he might be so she can go back to him and that water tribe warrior brother of hers.

As I walked back to Han's home I see him talking outside with Iroh and Katara. Katara looked different in her new dress. I've never seen her anything that wasn't blue. Her new dress was long sleeved, came to just above her feet while she was still wearing her water tribe boots, and the color was an earth green just like my pants and shirt. She had my outer robe folded over her arm. I could tell from a distance that her tan skin is cleaner now that she is dirt free. Her long chocolate brown hair hung down her back instead of her putting it back in that braid she would always wear; it's cleaner and 'shinier' now, but it looked like she still had a few tangles in certain areas. Katara must have seen me staring because she looked away and I swear I saw her blush a bright pink.

Han started talking to just her as I approached them and I could finally make out what they were saying. "Just take it easy and try to relax Katara. Your memories will come back on their own more easily if you don't push it."

"Thank you…Han" Katara bowed politely to him and he bowed back. Then Han turned and bowed to me.

"I'll be back shortly" Uncle promised Han and they shook hands. "Lee, please help Miss Katara onto the ostrich – horse."

Katara walked over to me and handed me my robe. "Thanks. Would you like some help this time?"

Katara brought her gaze back up to mine briefly before she looked away shaking her head no. "Sorry" she mumbled.

"Would you stop apologizing already? It's becoming really repetitive." Unfortunately I realized what I said too late. Katara glared at me with hard, but still sad eyes. Without another word she hoisted herself up onto the animal with ease. "Katara I'm-" She wouldn't even let me finish as she turned her head away from me.

"I thought you just said no more apologizing" Katara stated in a hard voice.

"I didn't mean it like that" I whispered.

"Then what did-" Katara didn't get to finish as Uncle walked over to us and started to lead us to the village entrance so we could head back to our hide out.

After Uncle left us we travelled back in silence. Katara wouldn't repeat her question; she just stared blankly at the road ahead of us. While she was preoccupied I stole a few quick glances at her noticing differences almost immediately after having washed all the dirt off of her face. Her cheeks seemed just slightly sunken in from her lack of nutrition within a two month period. Her tan skin was just slightly paler than normal. But what stood out the most to me was the fading bruise over her left cheek. It had to be at least a couple of days old, but that didn't make a difference to me. My left hand clenched into a fist at my side.

I don't know how I'm going to take care of her or get through to her; if I even can at this point. But Katara is in there somewhere; her temper is all the proof I need. It's just a matter of finding her and knowing where to start putting the pieces back together. For now though I have to focus on just getting her strength back to what it used to be all by myself.

This is going to be the longest two days of my life.

-Katara-

We travelled in silence again, but this time I welcomed it. I really don't want to talk to Zuko. I mean I was just apologizing, and then he goes and says that to me! Talk about him going from him being considerate to insensitive. Of course, now that I think about it, he did seem sorry for it and he looked like he was going to apologize until Iroh came up. Maybe I'll give him a chance to explain himself later.

Once we made it back to the cave I got off the ostrich – horse with ease and walked inside the cave while Zuko fed him. After he was done he came in carrying some sticks in his arms and a small bag slung over his shoulder. "Han had made some broth for you to eat. I just need to warm it up" he stated in an almost monotone voice; ok he really is sorry so I'll give him a chance this time.

Just before I could speak he had set the sticks down in their fire pit, stretched out his hand, and shot a small flame at the sticks, making them catch on fire instantly. "So I wasn't hallucinating" I mumbled mostly to myself, but Zuko heard me.

"Hallucinating about what?"

"You really are a fire bender."

"And…"Zuko hesitated nervously.

"Nothing. I'm just glad I'm right about something for once."

"Wait!" he practically shouted. "So, you're not scared of me now?"

"Why would I be?" He looked like he was about to respond so I continued quickly, "I mean the first time I saw you fire bend last night I was a little scared, but that's just because I didn't know you were there to just help me until you had knocked – him out. I," I paused to breathe deciding to tell him a little bit of the truth, "was actually going to thank you last night, but then as I started to stand up I felt the edge of the cliff give way and that's when you came over to find me hanging onto the cliff for dear life."

"If…you hadn't fallen off the edge, would you have just left?"

I simply nodded my head up and down. "Only because I still didn't know if I could trust you."

Zuko nodded his head showing me that he understood. "What I said earlier, I didn't mean it like that."

"Then-" I started, but he cut me off.

"I just wanted you to stop apologizing for something that you have no control over." He paused as he saw me staring blankly at him. "Katara I don't know what happened to you, but clearly it's something that has affected you not just physically but emotionally as well. And I want you to trust me enough to try and help you. You don't have to talk about it right now, but eventually you'll have to if you ever want to heal properly. Give yourself time. Give me time to do what I can. I'll try to help you heal and I'll try to help you remember, but only if you let me in. Please, Katara just trust me a little bit longer."

What is with this guy's mood swings? One minute he can be an annoying jerk and the next he can be very sweet. Wait sweet?! I felt my face go red just by thinking this.

"Do you feel alright?" Zuko asked noticing my blush.

"Um, yeah, just – really warm from the fire" I lied hoping he would believe me. Lucky for me he just shrugged and pulled out a container holding the broth we were supposed to eat for lunch. "Zuko?" He brought his eyes up from the broth to meet mine. "I'll – let you help me."

Zuko's mouth twitched at the corners until a small grin formed. "Thank you."

"But you never did answer me from before." Zuko looked at me confused. "What's so wrong with you being a fire bender?"

Zuko brought his head down to his hand like this was the last thing he wanted to talk about. Then he brought it back up shortly saying, "I'll explain after you eat something." Without another word he poured some of the broth into a bowl with a spoon and handed it to me. The warm broth slid down my throat and we both ate in silence.

After my third bowl (Zuko had assured me we had more than enough to last us until dinner) I set it aside and cleared my throat to get Zuko's attention. "Would you please explain now?"

Zuko glanced sideways debating until he turned back to me with a grimace. "Fine, but just to warn you it's really hard and also unpleasant to explain."

"Just tell me."

Zuko sighed. "May I?" he asked gesturing if he could move closer. Without thinking I nodded and he scooted closer to me, but still left space between us so that I was comfortable. Zuko sighed again. "I guess it's better to start at the beginning."