not too sure about this one in all honesty. I probably have a similar one in here somewhere. I am either going to write a tokka themed one next or a fic where Lin is sick with the same fever Katara and Sokka had in ATLA, and have Korra be the one to look after her. nothing better than a hallucinating Lin. anyway, read, review and enjoy.

"Katara," Toph took a seat at her friend's kitchen table, letting out a yawn, "I need some help."

"What's wrong? You look like you haven't slept in days."

"Two to be specific. It's Lin. She's been having nightmares and I have no idea what to do."

"Do you know what is causing them?"

"I have no idea. I've tried to get her to talk to me but all she does is shut me out and tell me she's fine."

Katara grinned at her old friend. "Remind you of anyone?"

"Yeah, yeah. She's the spitting image of me. What do you suggest I do?"

"Let me work with her. She should be here with Tenzin and Su in five minutes. You can help yourself to a spare bedroom to catch up on some shut eye if you want to."

"Thanks Katara I owe you one."

"Mum?"

"In here Tenzin."

"Hey aunt Katara."

The waterbender master turned around from her position at the sink, to find Lin with dark bags under her eyes, desperately trying to stay awake. "Tenzin, why don't you take Su into the other room and play a board game or something." Tenzin took the hint, leaving his mother and best friend to talk. "How are you feeling Lin? You look tired."

"I'm fine aunty."

"Your eyes are closed." Katara wrapped an arm around the young girls shoulder, happy she didn't put up any resistance, and led her into a healing room.

"What are we doing in here? I'm not hurt."

"You are hurt Lin and I'm going to help heal you." Lin allowed herself to be pushed down onto the cushions on the floor. "Close your eyes."

Lin bolted upright. "I don't want to!"

"Lin, a ten year old should not be having nightmares. Please, allow me to help you. I promise nothing bad will happen."

Lin let out a deep breath. "You promise?"

"I promise." She bent water into her hands, as Lin let herself lie back down. "I want you to relax, as if you are about to fall asleep." What she heard in reply was Lin's soft breathing. "Or you can actually fall asleep."

Katara closed her eyes, focusing on the task at hand. "Whatever you are dreaming about, it has you completely stressed. Your brain isn't reacting like it should. It's pulsing constantly instead of being calm. Whatever it is, it must be terrifying." She opened her eyes when she heard a small whimper. "You shouldn't be having a bad dream while I'm healing you." A small tremor pulsed from Lin's body as sweat began to form on her brow. "Lin, wake up. It's not real. Open your eyes, and you will see it is not real." The tremors began to grow in strength, shaking the floorboards with great vigour.

Lin let out a gasp, eyes shooting open and body covered in sweat. She sat up and panted heavily.

"Lin, it's o-"

"You promised."

"What?"

"You promised me nothing bad will happen!"

"Lin, I'm sorry. I tried to wake you up."

Lin was now crying, angry that she let herself fall into a sense of security. "You promised to keep him away from me. You let him kill her."

Katara pulled Lin into a tight embrace, using her strength to keep Lin from fighting her. "I'm sorry I let him hurt you. But Lin, you need to tell me what's going on in that head of yours. It's not good for your health."

The door suddenly opened up to reveal Aang and Toph. "Are you two okay?"

"We're fine Aang. Lin had a, a moment."

"Hmm, have you tried meditating? Whenever I have a bad dream, I meditate on it until I know how to fix it."

Lin glared at her mother. "You told him? Is there anyone you haven't told?"

"Nope. But I think you should meditate. Just be happy I didn't take my lieutenants advice with shock therapy. I worry about that man."

Lin stood up and followed Aang out of the room. "Fine. But only if you back off."

"Yeah, whatever you say."

"Breath in, and out. Good. Now focus on everything in your dream from the beginning, to the end."

Lin let out a shaky breath as she replayed the images of blood in her mind. The sound of bones breaking began to drown out Aang's soothing voice, until it became nothing. The images melted into each other, playing themselves out, as screams accompanied them. A hand on her shoulder bought her back to reality.

"Are you okay? You're crying."

She reached up and touched her cheek, to find that she was, indeed, crying. "Excuse me, I'm going to get something to eat."

Lin opened the door to the family home, to find Tenzin reading on the couch. "Hey Lin."

"Hey Tenzin."

"Are you okay? Your eyes are red like you've been crying."

"Of course I've been crying!"

Tenzin shifted in his seat at her raised voice, not expecting that sort of reaction from her. "Do you, ah, wanna talk about it?"

"No."

Tenzin opened his arms. "Do you want a hug?

"No." Lin looked from the ground to his arms and slowly leaned into his embrace. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"Lin, stop hugging Tenzin. We're going home."

Lin slowly pulled away from his comforting embrace, a frown finding itself on her lips. "Bye Tenzin."

"Bye Lin."

Toph let out a groan as she pushed herself off her bed and walked into the lounge room. "Lin? What are you still doing up? It has to be three in the morning."

"It's two thirty. I couldn't sleep so I decided to listen to the radio."

Toph picked up Lin, happy she that was too tired to put up a fight and turned off the radio. "You're with me tonight badgermole."

"Mm."

Toph placed her down in her bed and crawled in next to her. "Sleep."

"I can't."

"Ugh. What is so terrifying, it has you scared to sleep?"

"It's Yakone."

"Yakone? Bloodbending gangster Yakone?"

"Yeah." Lin rolled over and buried her face into her mother's side. "Remember when you were badly injured after he escaped?"

Toph frowned at the memory, it was something she didn't like to think about. "Yeah."

"It's happening all over again and this time, it's worse. There is so much blood that I can barely tell it's you. You scream as he breaks your bones and I sit there, watching as he torments you. I try to help but I can't. I have no idea what to do and it scares me."

Toph wrapped an arm around her, as her daughter began to cry. "Lin, Aang took away his bending, he couldn't hurt me, or you, if his life depended on it."

"I know! But I can't get it out of my head. Every time I close my eyes, he's there, waiting for me. I'm tired, I'm so tired."

"I think you need to confront your fears. You are going to sleep and I will be here to protect you. I know this won't fix itself over night, but you need to try. Just remember that you control your thoughts. And- Lin?" Light breathing was all she heard. "That's my girl." Toph closed her eyes, holding her daughter tight as she went to her own land of dreams.