A/N: Hey all, sorry for the very MASSIVE lag. Had school stuff to take care of. Well here's the latest chapter. Read and Review. And don't forget to thank BG-13!

The mansion was quiet. The usual clicking of the keyboard, nowhere to be heard. There was no sound of Naga's claws as they hit the elegant tile floor. It was as if it was empty, not that it didn't feel that way.

Asami managed a small, sad smile as she looked down at the brunette curled up next to her. She had just been discharged from another seventy-two hour hold. The engineer had barely slept since. She could still see her dearest friend holding the knife against her throat, hear both their screams. One filled with agony and pain, the other with fear of what might happen. It was still all too real.

The three days after that were a blur. Once they passed though the former soldier was back at the mansion. The heiress had kept Senna updated, the mother had been distraught at the news, but she was assured the younger woman would be taken care of. Mako had delayed his discharge to see his friend once more, though she might have been too sedated to notice. She had fallen asleep as soon as she arrived.

Asami could feel the tears streaming down her face, the too familiar knot in her throat. They had almost lost Korra. Again. She had almost lost her. In all her years she had never felt so helpless, so defeated. There was nothing she could do, nothing she could say to help her dearest friend.

And that hurt.

Tenzin had seen many broken people in his life. He had counseled people through depressions and anxieties and many other problems. But even with all that experience, seeing the former soldier curled in on herself in the chair across from him made his heart ache in sympathy.

The Sato heiress had been bringing Korra three times a week for the last two weeks but the sessions always began and ended the same way: in silence. Korra wouldn't talk and her face was blank of all feeling, unreadable and yet still undoubtedly sad. The ravenette had commented she was sleeping better, but hadn't really talked since her discharge.

He could remember a similar scene the first time the former Colonel had tried to take her life. Asami had walked into his office, crying, agitated, full of guilt for what had happened. She had broken down in tears. She hadn't wanted the younger woman to know, but given the circumstances... Tenzin needed to get some emotion out of her. Needed to clear the numbness, and this could have been his only chance.

"Did you know Asami came by when you were in the hospital after you tried killing yourself the first time?" the Airbender began, causing the brunette to blink slowly. "She blamed herself for not being there for you because you two had fought and she was mad at you." No response. "Forgiveness is a powerful thing, Korra. Not only to make the other person feel better, but to heal you."

The only response he gained was the slight furrowing of the woman's brow. He had her attention at least.

"You need to forgive her," Tenzin pressed gently. "Forgive her for not being your team, for being the wrong kind of person you need, for not being a soldier. Just enough to remind you of what's missing, but not enough to bring them back. That's not her fault. It is not her fault that they died and you lived. You need to forgive her."

Korra's hands clenched and unclenched in response. He could feel the emotion coming off of her in waves. So he had been right. She was angry at her best friend.

"If you love her, you'll forgive her. So that you can forgive your team for dying too soon, to forgive yourself for hating them for dying too soon." Tenzin reached out, gently placing a hand over hers. "Let it go, Korra…and forgive."

Korra's vision began to blur, her eyes closing to allow the tears to fall freely before her hands came up to her face, trying to control herself. All her anguish, her anger, her despair, the pain, it was all unleashed in the most heartbreaking sob Tenzin had ever heard.

Despite the recent hospitalization, things seemed to go back to normal. Asami had started to attend meeting at the company while Korra stayed at home with Naga. The Waterbender had started to cook again, usually making a few dishes before retiring back to her room and sleeping. She still needed the sleeping pills at night but was starting to manage a few naps throughout the day. The engineer made sure to call whenever she could to check in on her friend, but it was more for her peace of mind more than anything.

After a long day of work and some coaxing from the heiress, the pair ended up the park. The ravenette played catch with Naga on the side, chuckling as the ball of white came back with the stick in her mouth. Korra managed a small smile at her friend before returning to the sketchbook in her hand. It had been the heiress' suggestion she return to sketching and the younger woman had to admit it was very therapeutic. Of course, there was also the sessions with Tenzin. Those always left her really exhausted.

She was so concentrated on the drawing she didn't even notice when the engineer sat next to her, looking over her shoulder as she focused in on the details. Asami smiled at her friend before gently asking permission to take the notebook which Korra allowed.

"You miss them a lot, don't you?" the ravenette commented as she recognized the people in the drawing, Korra's team.

The shorter woman nodded, a knot forming in her throat. "I do."

Asami hummed in response, carefully handing the notebook back. "Let's go for some ice cream. There's a new place I've been wanting to try."

The former soldier nodded and stood, calling the ball of white over and securing a leash on her. They were just pulling into of the parking lot when the younger of the two broke the silence.

"I forgive you."

The heiress brow furrowed, sparing a glance at the brunette. "What?"

"I forgive you for not being my team, for not being what I needed," Korra continued as tears silently fell. "For saving me. I forgive you." She paused looking over at her long time friend as they parked. "Can you forgive me?"

"Oh, Korra." Asami wrapped her arms around her oldest friend's shoulder, hugging her tightly.

Ever since the Water Tribe native had begun talking in sessions, there had been vast progress made between client and therapist. Korra was not only able to talk more about her thoughts and feelings but was also able to use adequate coping skills to manage them. This is why the Airbender was surprised when his client came in seemingly uninterested in their session. He knew she was trying a new experimental exposure therapy treatment with Hiroshi Sato, and that seemed to exhaust her, but he just couldn't really get her to focus on anything.

"Is anything bothering you?" he finally asked.

The former soldier sighed, slowly nodding her head as her hands rubbed together. "I, uh, I kind of went to the park last night. By myself."

Tenzin hummed thoughtfully at this.

"All our friends were over at my- at Asami's home, and I looked around at all of them and I just needed a moment," she continued. "So I let Asami know where I was going and..."

Korra stopped, her brow furrowing in slight confusion. It seemed she was having a hard time collecting her thoughts. The therapist allowed her some time but when she didn't resume, he prompted her to.

"Please continue."

Korra took a deep breath. "When I got to the park, I sat on an old bench, and I just... That moment to myself, by myself was... I got what I wanted. I was... All alone. But I wasn't happy."

The Airbender hummed thoughtfully, leaning against his chair. "It seems like you felt lonely."

"I never used to feel this way. I mean I felt alone but..." She shook her head. "I was used to it."

"Perhaps this is a good thing."

The former soldier bit her lip. "Does this mean I can't be alone anymore?"

Tenzin chuckled in response. "You can. I think you just don't want to be."

Korra blinked at this, before a small smile appeared. The therapist returned the smile before handing her an envelope. The brunette frowned opening it up to reveal its contents, her eyes going wide. "Are these...?"

"They're your discharge papers," he revealed. "With restrictions. You're ready to go back at the base for now. Perhaps with a couple of more sessions you'll be ready to go back."

Korra lowered her gaze. "I...I don't think I'm ready."

The Airbender placed a hand over hers, giving it a squeeze. "Baby steps. Take it one step at a time, Korra."

The engineer was beginning to question her career choices. She was beginning to wonder if she was nuts for wanting to deal with all those leeches in monkey suits. But, she loved this company, and she loved inventing new things. Didn't make dealing with those suits any easier, but she couldn't imagine doing anything else.

She massaged her temples, skimming the latest deal revisions with frustration. It felt like the negotiations for the new prototypes had been going on for eternity, but with the war reaching its peak she could understand the necessity behind it all. She'd been at the office for almost two days straight, only going back to the mansion to shower and texting her favorite brunette to check on her.

Her phone started to ring, and Asami thought about ignoring it, and sparing herself from having to deal with the oncoming headache. But when she looked at the caller ID all thoughts of ignoring the call vanished.

"Korra?" There was silence on the other end, the only sound some shuffling. Something twisted in Asami's gut. "Korra, what's wrong?"

Another pause. "'Sami, I'm not feeling well." She took a shaky breath. "I don't... I don't want to be alone."

"I'm on my way."

There was no thinking about it, business long forgotten as she headed out of the building and got in her car, and continuing to talk to the other woman as she sped through the city and back to her home. Once back at the mansion she hurried up the stairs to her room, where she found Korra curled up on the floor next to the bed, still holding the phone to her ear, eyes shut tight even as Asami took a seat next to her.

"It's okay, Korra, I'm here," she soothed, bringing the shorter woman to her and kissing the top of her head.

After some coaxing, the engineer got the younger woman to take a sleeping pill, staying with her as she slowly drifted to sleep. After a moment she took out her phone again, calling her friend's therapist and informing him of the situation. Tenzin immediately asked that she bring Korra in the next day and informed her that her military activities would be suspended for the rest of the week.

Once all of that was taken care of she called her father, letting him know she wouldn't be going into the office for a few days. With a sigh she hung up the phone, laying next to the brunette, arm draped over her form. She would never feel alone again. She'd make sure of it.

The Colonel offered a salute to the monument of fallen soldiers before placing a bouquet of flowers under the plaque with her team's names and pictures. After having her uniform and rank returned to her she had decided to pay them a visit. The first since the accident. Korra blinked back the tears as she whispered an apology before telling them she forgave him. She managed a smile as she felt a soft breeze brushed by her, looking back when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"They'd be proud of how far you've come," the Chief said quietly.

The soldier nodded her head. "I hope so."

There was a moment of silence between the two before her father sighed, wrapping his arm around his daughter. Korra allowed this, pressing her face against his shoulder, appreciating the moment of affection. "I'm sorry."

She shook her head. "No. You did what you had to as Chief."

"But I failed you as a father," Tonraq answered placing a hand against her cheek as he pulled away. "I should have been there for you."

"Dad, it's okay," she replied with a small smile. "I get it. You have the lives of thousands on your shoulders. You were there for me, I was just wasn't in a very good place."

The Chief managed a smile at this, giving her forehead a kiss before stepping away, nodding at the heiress as he left. Asami watched as the soldier sat on a bench, looking the most at peace since this roller-coaster began. She allowed a moment to pass before going over to her friend and sitting next to her in comfortable silence. After a moment the engineer reached over and clasped the Colonel's hand.

"You know, I've been thinking about us. About how all the ways loving you has changed my life." Korra looked over at her friend, studying her curiously. "You've always been by my side when I've needed a friend. You've made me laugh. When my mom died, you told me I'd be okay, and I am." Asami managed a smile as she looked at her long time friend. "But I understand if you need time to heal. I understand if I have to wait for you, and I will. I'll wait. And when you're ready for me, I'll be ready for you."

The heiress wasn't expecting an answer, knowing Korra wasn't ready quite yet and would need more time before she was ready to even think about a relationship like that again. But Asami wanted her to know that the option was still there, and that she'd be ready whenever Korra was.

Korra looked up from the paperwork in her lap to glance at her childhood friend who was doing laps back and forth in the pool. Asami had been trying to get her to take a break and join her but Korra really needed to review some of the military papers her superiors had given her.

Thanks to Tenzin's clearance, the brunette had been taking part of some of the latest meetings regarding Kuvira and had, with some trepidation, given some of her thoughts on what would be an appropriate course of action given that the tyrant was starting to run her endgame with her "big project" that the Republic City military was having a hard time pinpointing. The colonel was happy to have something to occupy her mind, and happy to help in any way that she was allowed. Baby steps, as Asami always said.

The Water Tribe native sighed, leaning back in the poolside chair as Asami swam by her once more, shooting a wink over her shoulder as she did. Things between her and the heiress were starting to tentatively head back into relationship territory, though both were more than aware it would have to be taken very slow and any bumps or hitches would have to be talked out. But they both wanted to try...and now that they were more aware of the issues at play...

Asami panted as she took a short break at one end of the pool, pulling herself up so that her arms rested on the edge. The water felt so nice, and swimming wasn't nearly as exhausting as sparring. In fact, the ravenette found it to be so much more relaxing and a great change of pace. She startled however, when she heard a splash and turned in time to see Korra swimming toward her. Green eyes watched as the other woman swam up to her and stopped, giving a soft smile.

Then with a quick peck on the lips she was off again toward the other side of the pool, and Asami smiled as she went. Another splash soon followed and the duo looked to see Naga swimming after Korra. They shared a laugh and Naga barked appreciatively.

Later after the two had showered and Naga had been dried off, Naga curled up in her doggy bed while Asami and Korra curled up next to each other in the bigger bed, content in this little moment they'd managed to snag for themselves.

Baatar inspected his surroundings, keeping his hood in place as he stepped into the forest. He heard a twig snap followed by something sharp pressing into his back. Slowly he raised his hands, waiting as the new arrival patted him down. Finally, someone behind him spoke.

"Who are you?"

"I have a meeting with a soldier here," the Nonbender answered when he didn't recognize the voice as one of his fiancé's soldiers. It had taken a lot of planning to get out of Kuvira's base and even more work to come up with a believable excuse to retire early from his work.

"Aren't you Baatar Beifong?" the same voice questioned. "Soon to marry the tyrant of the Earth Kingdom."

"Does it matter who I am? Or do you not want to hear what I have to say?" There was a moment of silence before the pressure at his back disappeared and he was able to turn around to face the two Republic City soldiers.

"My name is Bolin," the younger looking one began. "I'm the one that's been in contact with you. Thank you for meeting with me."

"Same goes to you, Bolin."

"You said you had important information to give us," the older of the two replied. "Well, what is it?"

"Nothing good, I'm afraid."