Chapter Twenty – four:

-Katara-

I ran as fast as I could. But that didn't seem to help. I would keep looking back and could see the three of them running behind me. The two boys kept calling out my name shouting, "stop!" and "wait!" over and over again. I tried not to listen. Sometimes I would find something along the street and I would tip it over, hoping to stall them. The girl was careful and the younger boy always managed to dodge or jump over the objects. The older, tan boy was not so lucky; he always managed to trip.

I kept running and felt like I was about ready to collapse from exhaustion when I saw the tea shop. With Zuko leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest and his right foot also against the wall, waiting for me just like he said he would.

Pushing my legs faster I ran to him with tears already forming in my eyes. Zuko looked over to find me and started to speak saying, "Katara what-" but I cut him off as I crashed into him; wrapping my arms around his waist and burying my face in his chest, crying my eyes out. Zuko tried what he could to calm me but I didn't care. I just held him, finally feeling safe again. At least that's what I thought.

-Zuko-

Uncle overheard me talking to Katara so he knew I would be standing out here to wait for her so he informed the manager that I was on my half hour break. The whole time I was leaning against the wall, waiting for Katara to return, my head had started spinning. Just before she left she had kissed me on my cheek; my scarred cheek. After she had started blushing she hurried away so she never saw me raise my hand up to my cheek where I could still feel the pressure from Katara's lips. I felt a smile try to form on my face. Instead all my lip did was twitch up at the corner of my mouth. I still don't know why she kissed me, but at the moment I really don't care. I waited as patiently as I could, but as my Uncle liked to point out to others patience is not one of my virtues. Felt like every five minutes I was checking for her.

I have no clue what time it actually was but at one point I thought I heard someone running. Turning towards the sound I found Katara sprinting head long towards me. She looked to be on the verge of tears. "Katara what-" I tried to ask but she never gave me a chance to finish. She wrapped her arms around my waist and cried into my chest. She was sobbing uncontrollably and hyperventilating at the same time. Her entire body was literally shaking. I wrapped one of my arms around her waist and the other rested behind her head. "Shh, shh, Katara. You're alright now. You're safe. Calm down" I whispered in her ear to try and calm her down enough so she could tell me what happened.

She never got the chance.

As soon as I finished my last sentence I heard more footsteps approaching us. Bringing my head up I was greeted with the sight of the Avatar and her warrior brother stopping dead in their tracks along with a young girl—who must have been Earth Kingdom—I had never seen with them before; must be new to the group so I highly doubt Katara would know who she is.

"You?!" the Avatar shouted pointing a finger at me accusingly. Katara whimpered so I knew that confirmed why she was so rattled. They had scared her and apparently were oblivious to this. "Why are you here?!"

I am so not in the mood for this right now. The Avatar held his staff in his hand and got into a fighting stance whereas the young girl just stood there nonchalantly. The water tribe boy marched right over to me and Katara, scowling murderously. "Give. Me. My. Sister" he all but growled in my face. I didn't move and returned the glare. Then he was dumb enough to actually try and rip Katara out of my grasp.

Katara screamed when she felt him wrap one of his arms around her waist and cried harder as she clung her hands tighter onto my robe. At that moment I didn't care that this was her brother. I pulled her closer to me and pushed the boy back with as much force as I could. He went flying back and landed on his behind. "You keep your hands off her!" I threatened.

"Don't tell me what to do! She's my sister!"

"What?!" Katara shrieked, finally speaking for the first time.

I turned to her so she would be able to focus on me and not the three others, two of which were gawking at her outburst and the girl just standing there as if nothing happened. "Katara," I whispered, "it's ok. Once everyone calms down we can sort this out. Right now I just want you to go inside and stay with Uncle ok?" She was about to argue with me, but I cut her short before she could. "Please? I don't want you to stress yourself out" I asked as I pushed some of her hair behind her ear.

She was about to respond when the water tribe boy started up again. "How dare you touch my sister?! You've had her this whole time haven't you?! You took her!"

"I haven't done anything to her! I've actually been taking care of her!" I shouted turning away from Katara to face him.

The boy just snorted. "Yeah right! Liar!"

"He's not lying" the young girl finally spoke up. We all turned to her. She didn't seem to focus on anyone, but the tone of her voice shone confidence.

"Toph, how do you know that?" the Avatar questioned the young girl. So Toph is her name. Definitely a new member.

She didn't even get a chance to respond. "I don't care whether you two think he is telling the truth or not. The fact is that he has had my sister this whole time and he has made her completely dependent on him."

"Do you even think before you blurt out what you are thinking?" I questioned his sanity.

"Was I talking to you?!"

"Well excuse me but I don't appreciate people who talk about me when I am right in front of them. Especially when you won't even let me explain! Not to mention there is the fact that you and your friends practically scared the living daylights out of Katara!"

"We just surprised her when we found her so obviously she would be a little scared, but then you have so much control over her that she had to go running back to you! So this is your fault!"

"No it's not! I only found Katara alone in the woods just last month! So if there is anyone to blame then I would start with you two!" I pointed to him and the Avatar. "Where have you been this whole time?!"

"We've been trying to find her for the past three months!"

"Hey guys" I vaguely heard the girl, Toph, call out but I didn't pay attention.

"Not hard enough apparently! You can't even register the fact that your sister is scared of you!"

"Guys" she tried again.

"Because you brain washed her!" he accused.

You moron! "SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE!"

"GUYS!" Finally Toph got our attention when the Earth—only where we were standing—started to shake. She's an earth bender; must mean she's the Avatar's earth bending master. We all turned to her and she was still staring off in a vague direction. Strange… "Someone should pay attention to Katara before she-" Suddenly I spun around to see Katara's eyes flutter shut and her body start to fall to the ground. I caught her just in time. "Faints."

The door opened and Uncle stepped out onto the steps. "What's all the commotion out here?"

Before I could answer Toph approached Uncle. "Oh it's you. Nice to see you again; pun not intended." 'Pun not intended?' That's when I got a good look at her eyes that had been hidden behind her bangs. The color was green, but her eyes also seemed very foggy. She's blind. But how does she even know Uncle?

"Why Miss Toph, what a pleasant surprise" Uncle greeted happily. "I assume you know what is going on out here?"

"Yeah but it would probably be better if all explanations were made once Katara wakes up again and all of the boys have calmed down."

Well at least she's rational. "I can only agree. Lee," Uncle called my attention. "Why don't you take Miss Katara and her friends back to our apartment and I'll handle things here until I get off work."

I only nodded my head as I readjusted Katara so I could pick her up bridal style. Her neck flopped over my arm like when she had fainted the first time after I found her. Only difference this time was that I did bring her head back up so it was resting against my collar bone. The water tribe boy started to walk over to me. The Avatar grabbed his arm trying to stop him but he just shook him off. "Hand her to me. I can carry her."

Dude, you do not want to mess with me right now. I may not be able to fire bend here but that doesn't mean you can just push my buttons without getting a reaction. I still had a good inch on him so I could still tower over him as I glowered at him and whispered harshly, "Don't mess with me right now. I can and am carrying her back to the apartment. I would never hurt her. Not to mention you're the reason she fainted. Now, I suggest you back off!"

He tried to stay tough but I heard him gulp and then Toph pulled him back by the back of his shirt. Then she came to stand by me. "Lead the way."

With that the four of us made our way back with Katara to the apartment. Along the way Toph quietly explained to me how she had met Uncle in the woods once after she had argued with Sokka and accidently knocked him down. Must have been when we had to split up, I reasoned. So at least I can say I'm willing to try to trust Toph. She's definitely more level – headed than the other two.

When we reached the door the Avatar opened it for me and held the door so we could all enter without ramming into each other. "Can you open the door to our room?" I asked him. I saw the brother's eyebrow twitch uncontrollably but I ignored him. The Avatar nodded and opened the door. "Thank you." With that I walked over to the bed and laid Katara down as gently as I could. Then I sat down on the bed near her stomach so I could be close when she woke up.

The brother stood by the edge of the bed leaning against the wall glaring at me. The Avatar sat cross legged on the floor staring up at me and Toph stood close to the brother. Hmm, wonder if she possibly has a crush on him or just wants to make sure he doesn't try anything. "Alright," the Avatar started, "I think we all have some explaining to do."