By dinner time, he was worried about Katara. He noticed she was in pain, but of course, she refused to admit it. Now he was going to have to force the truth out of her. He just didn't know how. She didn't do anything she didn't want to, but that could be a problem later if they had to make a quick escape.

He handed her some dried meat and sat across from her as they ate. "I'll get some berries and nuts soon." He cast his eyes to the foliage around them.

Then he had an idea. "Want to help? I could use a second set of eyes." He hoped she'd admit she wasn't able to go foraging for food.

"Yeah," she said with forced cheerfulness. He held in his sigh of frustration. So, she was going to go the challenging route. Well, soon, she'd be forced to admit something was wrong.

And so it was twenty minutes later when her legs buckled out from under her, and she collapsed on the forest floor. "Do you still insist you're okay?" he asked, standing over her.

"Are you just going just to stand there or help me?!" She shot back.

"I'll help you the second you admit something's wrong. You're hurt. If you had admitted this before when I asked, this wouldn't have happened. Stop being so stubborn!"

"What the hell do you want from me?!" She shrieked back. "I had to have you carry me out of that dungeon, feed me, let me sleep in the middle of the day, and admit that I'm struggling with Aang. How much more do I have to feel humbled in front of you?! Does that make you feel better? Is it nice seeing me brought low and you getting to be the strong one?!"

He sat down in front of her and looked her in the eyes. "This is all in your head, Katara. I don't need to see you weak. I need you to be honest. I need you to finally trust me and to be able to be yourself around me. This is about us escaping together. And if you think that your collapsing on the ground makes me think you're weak, then you don't know anything about how I see you. No one is stronger than you, but damn, you're still human."

"I… what makes you think I don't trust you?"

"I did betray you before. Why should you trust me?"

"Because you regret it, and you've learned. I do trust you."

He scoffed, "You lied to me about being okay. That's not trust."

"Stop! I just… I would have lied to Sokka too."

"Why? If we have to get away quickly, I need to know if you're going to collapse. So would he."

She teared up, flopped on her back, and shut her eyes. "I'm not used to relying on people. Growing up, my dad was gone, and then I stayed quiet when I was struggling. I didn't want to add to everyone's already big burdens. I don't know how to admit when I need help."

He gave a frustrated sigh. He thought and then said, "I know we'll come up with a code. When you need help, just say that… say, 'I've got this.'"

She opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him. "Think that will help?"

"Let's try. Katara, do you need help?"

"I've got this."

He stood and went and picked her up and carried her to camp. Once he had her settled again, he joked, "Okay, tell me where it doesn't hurt."

"My thigh, where they stabbed me. It stopped bleeding, but…"

He looked at her in shock and ran his fingers through his hair. "They stabbed you, and you're telling me now!?" He calmed himself down and said, "Okay, what do I need to get?"

"I can clean some water. I need yarrow. I can make a paste and put it on the wound. It will help stop infection." Once she told him how to find it, he went off to gather the plant. Then she looked at the infected wound and used a knife to try to get the infection out. She hissed in pain. "We'll crap."

When he returned, she pointed at the cut and handed him the knife. "I need your help. I can't do this to myself. It stings a bit."

He didn't comment on the last part, but he did raise his eyebrows. He set to work cleaning out most of the infection. He then watched as she cleaned it with water and applied the paste. He next wrapped it in clean bandages and tied it off so it could heal.

"Thank you," she whispered out.

He shook his head, "You're too damn stubborn for your own good. How the hell did you walk on that at all?"

"I -"

"Never mind, you're Katara. Of course, you can."

She looked at her leg and said, "Sorry, we're stuck here. You can carry me, but it's too far to make it like that. Maybe you should go on without me."

He snorted. "I'm not leaving you behind. We just take it slow and let you heal. At least I'm not here with Sokka," he teased. "I'd be constantly looking for food for him. That guy's always hungry."

Just then, Katara's stomach rumbled, and she blushed. "Speaking of hunger."

He pulled out a cloth, and wrapped in it were nuts and berries. "I just happen to have some food for you." She took it gratefully and ate.