A/N. I am no medical expert, so my research for this chapter made my search history look like some psycho who had stabbed someone.

As she followed Orsu towards the stables turned hospital, Katara couldn't help but feel disappointed. Yes… The best, for the town and for the people in it, would be to avoid bloodshed…. But Tui and La, what she would give to just let Aang know she was alright… The poor man… He was probably worried sick, thinking along all sorts of lines that shouldn't even be thought…

And now, she would be stuck even longer… At least, she could be useful, helping with the wounded that were surely to come… Because Katara knew why Piandao had not yet attacked in full force. He was an honourable man, giving his enemies time to consider their surrender… And even if he wanted to, Aang would never let him. But when the airbender would go, for he surely would… To protect her… Then, she knew that Piandao would begin to attack the town.

"I'm sorry that my daughter said those things to the Avatar… I suppose that made him worry even more. But rest assured, I will get a message to the siege lines… Somehow. Explain the situation." Orsu spoke as he searched in his pocket, producing a rather big set of keys. As he began to open the lock on the big building, Katara sighed.

"It doesn't matter… I just hope that my friends will be able to stop him, or my brother for that matter, of doing anything incredibly stupid. When he will learn that I'm alright, everything will calm down… He will still worry, but that, we can manage…"

We. Him and her… Like it had been ever since she had found him in that iceberg. It was weird to think about that time… Just a year ago. So much had happened in that span of time that it made her head swim. Spirits, a year ago she had been living in her village in the South Pole… And now? Now… Now there was so much more to consider, so much more at stake than just a year ago…

"I'm sure you can." Orsu said, and Katara could hear the smile in the man's voice. She smiled too. On Ji's father was clearly hopeful, and had reason to be. Perhaps, with a little bit of luck, the siege wouldn't last too long… And they would finally be able to get started on things that really mattered… Instead of this petty squabbling over a throne, Azula had lost the night of the comet.

The sky rumbled loudly as they stepped inside, and Katara, before entering, glanced up. There was flickering inside the clouds above them, and it seemed that any moment now, the downpour would begin.

"How bad is the monsoon here?" She asked. She and Aang had talked about it once, for she had not known what it was… And he had made it seem rather terrifying.

"Depends. Some years, we have mud floods flowing through the streets from the hills further north. But now, with the walls? I guess they will act as some sorts of dams. I just hope that it will not stagnate and ruin the fields." Orsu sighed, the voice grave and serious now. Entering the stables turned hospital, Katara could only be impressed.

She had expected some crude joke of a hospital, with beds placed inside the animal pens. But the enclosures were all gone, creating a long open space, with neat rows of beds. Close to the doors she could see a small desk, several scrolls and papers lying on top of it.

"I followed a plan I found in one of the military instruction manuals. It is the typical organization of a field hospital apparently… I hope it is alright?" On Ji's father sounded unsure.

"More than alright… I saw a hospital at the Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se… And well… It wasn't nearly as well organized as this." It was true, when Azula's drill had begun to pierce the Outer Wall, and the girl, Ty Lee, had managed to disable the earthbenders at the foot of the wall… She had seen how the Earth Kingdom treated its wounded… And it wasn't pretty.

"You've been to the Walled City?" Orsu asked, eagerly.

"Yes… Horrible place." Katara shuddered, thinking back of the horrible things that had happened there… Appa being kidnapped, Aang's anger… Long Fei's intrigues… But also, there were happy memories. At that idea, she smiled… Yes, more than happy memories… especially in a barn… "talking" about their feelings… But even that was overshadowed by what had happened in those dark catacombs… And the blue flickering light that had so nearly ended Aang's life…

"I would like to visit it… Do you think they would let Fire Nationals in after all we did?" Orsu sounded rather humble and shy at that moment, and no wonder.

"Ba Sing Se didn't even know there was a war. So, I would think so. And even if they were against it, Aang would convince them to show compassion." Katara shrugged, as she walked past the beds to the shelves.

"Ah yes, I have supplies ready in the back! Bandages, medicines and so on… Some of the wise women in town have been working on making them. And the Fire Sages of Agni's temple have been generous." The man behind her began to explain, leaving his dream of visiting Ba Sing Se in his mind for the moment.

Moving towards the back, the waterbender saw several cases. Pulling the lid from the closest one, she saw the white linen of bandages, neatly stacked inside of it. Nodding, she could only agree with Orsu. The Sages had been generous… But then again, it was literally their job to provide for the sick and the weak. At least, that was how Aang had explained them when she had talked about them with him after the debacle at Crescent Island a year ago…

"You expect many wounded?" Katara turned back around, walking towards the man who had stayed in the middle of the space.

"To be honest, yes." Orsu sighed, "I think the governor and the Princess, if she truly is here, will not care about the lives of the soldiers under their command… Or the people under their care. They will want to let Lord Piandao's soldiers die under these walls… Without caring what that might cost us."

"Sounds like Azula." Katara spoke through gritted teeth, "That bitch doesn't care… I am surprised that she is actually capable of commanding anything… Last time I saw her, during the comet… Well, she wasn't in a good state of mind. And having been defeated by a Water Savage didn't help I guess."

"I would think that only makes her dangerous. Someone who has lost all contact with reality often has nothing to lose." Orsu nodded, "I will try and meet her in the morning. Now that Kantuno has announced her presence in the town, it will be difficult to hide her away. I will try and see what she is like…"

"Don't mention Zuko. Or Aang. Or me for that matter. She is rather… unpredictable." Katara shook her head, hating the princess at that moment. How many lives had she ruined? How many people had lost loved ones because of her? Recalling what Zuko had said about his sister, the waterbender couldn't help but feel pity for the prince.

You have merely been annoyed by my sister. I have lived with her my whole life.

It was horrible to think like that about one's own family. Sure, Sokka annoyed her sometimes… But she knew one thing for certain. If it came to a fight to get her out, Aang would be followed very closely by her brother.

"Fire Lord Azula… Agni, I know Lord Ozai has named her his successor… But wouldn't be better to let the best of the Fire Lord's children govern?" Orsu sighed too.

"Zuko is a pain, and rather… unsure. I wouldn't say he is what you would expect of a leader… But he might be what the Fire Nation needs at this moment. A person who lived through the hardships life has thrown at him, and someone who is friends with the Avatar. It would protect your nation from the worst… Because believe me, the other nations might want to take revenge." Katara explained.

"I thought so too… But that is for the future." Orsu pointed his chin to the beds, "so, what do you think?"

The sky rumbled once more above them, and Katara saw the flicker of lightning through the window high in the walls.

"I think it is the best we could hope for at this moment. If there are many wounded, this place will be far too small, and Kantuno will want to have his officers treated before his soldiers, which is ostrich horse shit, of course. But we will manage."

"And… your… ehm… Water healing?"

"It accelerates the natural part of healing, and it might stop something that otherwise would be fatal. I managed to heal Aang when he was injured, and it also worked to stop a wound my father took in the belly. I could try and find a space as an operate room, and make sure no one sees what I'm doing… But Azula knows how water healing works I presume. If she sees this, she will know I'm here." But she couldn't stay sitting around. People needed help, and if there was something she could do… She should do it. She might not be able to fight at this moment, without risking her own life and the lives of the people that had helped her… But she could do this at least.

"So, it could work? I mean… If this is possible, it could mean some soldiers won't die. Agni, that would be a little kindness in this world." Orsu smiled at the idea, and it was true that the world needed a little kindness… Certainly at moments like these.

Before she was able to answer, however, she heard something. The clouds in the sky rumbled once more, but above that sound, she heard a voice. A voice she would recognize anywhere.

The melodious accent was thick with an emotion she couldn't well place, but at the same time, it was one that filled her heart. It felt like joy and sadness intertwined. As her heart swelled with something she could only describe as pure bliss, the heartbroken notes in the voice made the swelling heart crack at the same time.

"Tara…"

Immediately turning around to where the sound had come from, she was shocked at the sight. The tall young man's figure was covered by a dark cloak, but his head was bare. And the beautiful silver eyes were filled with so much hurt and worry that he seemed years older than the few weeks they had not seen each other.

Aang… Alive… It was true… True! He had defeated Ozai, had lived to tell the tale… And was here…

"A… Aang…" She couldn't believe it. On Ji had said he was here… Outside the town, with all her friends. But he had actually come into the town. Of course, she could have known. It was so typical for him… Of course he wouldn't care about the risk. Screw the fact that five thousand soldiers could see him and begin to fight him. He would not care about such a small detail in his plan… If he even had thought of a plan before just barging into the town.

Spirits, she loved him for that. The silver eyes filled with so much relief and began to fill with tears as he fell to his knees. The world around them desolved. Who cared that she was stuck inside a stupid fortress town? Who cared that Azula and Zuko were fighting over the succession? She didn't. Katara only cared for one thing, and one thing only. That the young airbender in front of her seemed to be alright.

Just then, she saw a movement over his left shoulder, and the gleam of something… Something that looked…

No!

"Aang!"

Before she could do anything else than scream his name, the metal point she had seen a few moments before above his shoulder pierced his chest, and slowly, the airbender looked down, seemingly not even hurt. As he glanced at the metal protruding from his skin, Katara couldn't even think. There was just the horror and realization…

"First, he shall know heartbreak. Then, I'll make sure that death will await him with open arms. And only then, only then, shall you be reunited. You shall only hear the last words he will speak. That, I promise you."

As blood began to drop out of the wound, Aang looked up, straight into her eyes. Then, the silver grey, the beautiful eyes she had missed so much, rolled up and he began to fall forward. Finally, her legs seemed to be moving and she reached the airbender before his face hit the ground.

"Aang! Do you hear me? Please, answer!" She spoke hurriedly, as she glanced at his back. The dagger was buried hilt deep in his back, and blood was also flowing from that side of the wound, staining the orange and saffron tunic he was wearing. The cloak had slipped off his body when he fell forward, revealing the tattoos running on his arms and back. Spirits… No… no… everything but this.

Quickly looking at where the knife had penetrated the airbender's chest, Katara judged that at least, his heart wasn't hit. That meant that the knife had gone clean through his lung… Spirits… She needed water.

"Water!" She shouted at Orsu, who ran to the back of the room. Turning back to the airbender, she saw the pale face grow even paler as the eyes opened slightly. Bloodshot and full of pain, they made Katara think back at the same eyes looking up at her after Ba Sing Se…

"Stay still, my sweet… sweet Aang…" She whispered, putting her hands on his cheeks. She hesitated between pulling the knife out, or leaving it in. If she left it in, that would mean damaging the airbender's lung even further… But if she took it out, then he would begin to bleed… But that meant she would have to stop the bleeding somehow…

"Shoji, what are you doing here?" A feminine voice called, clearly trying to attract the attention.

Shoji?

Looking up, Katara realized that she had not even taken the time to actually think about it. Someone would have had to actually put the knife into Aang. And her gaze met the horrified eyes of the young man. Ember eyes that looked at her with a mixture of realization what he had done, but also with some defiance.

He had done that.

This.

Anger welled up into her own heart, filling her with hate for this person. He had done this… For what reason… Feeling bile rise up in her throat, Katara wanted to hurt the man. Rip him into pieces. Kill him. No… Killing him would be a mercy. No, she would do so much more, much more…

"Here." Orsu arrive, carrying a bowl full of clear, clean water. Her thoughts were broken up by his arrival, and she turned her attention back to Aang. His… Aggressor… Would have to wait. But he would have to deal with her. Now… Now Aang needed her more than she needed revenge. As the older man put it down, he apparently followed her gaze as he saw who was standing at the entrance of the stables.

"In Agni's name, what did you do?" Orsu spoke lowly, sounding far more threatening than Katara had heard from him in all those weeks she had been stuck here. Quickly bending the water to her hands, she concentrated on her own chi. Shoji would have to wait…

Slowly moving her hands over the airbender's chest, she found the gaping hole in his skin where the knife was stuck. As she had feared, the blade had gone clean through his lung, and at each slow inhale, she could feel the knife move slightly, deeper into the flesh and muscles of Aang's lung. How had he managed to put that knife precisely between the ribs…

She could feel blood pooling into the lung, and feared that that was the reason Aang had gone down. Thinking about it, why had he gone down? His other lung would be more than enough to make him breath… Why had he fallen down? And why did he look so, so pale…

"I… I saw him! I was… I was at the northern gate…" Shoji began, but Katara looked up, with such a murderous gaze in her own eyes she could feel it. The young man saw her and looked down, shutting up.

She would deal with him. Later.

Turning back to the airbender, she knew she would have to pull out the knife. She had thought of leaving it in to avoid bleeding… But it was already doing so. And if she left it in any longer, it would be impossible to remove because of the suction of the air, pulling the knife deeper and deeper… And she also knew that it would take some strength… Grabbing his right arm, she put it around her shoulders as to heave him upwards. The fact that it made her think about all the time she had done this manoeuvre when he was in his coma didn't help… Not at all. But all that wasn't important.

If any Spirit can hear me… Please… please don't do this. He doesn't deserve this.

As she managed to get him into some sort of half sitting, half leaning on her position, the waterbender grabbed the hilt of the knife. A small groan escaped the airbender's mouth.

"Sorry my love…" She whispered in his ear, feeling guilty about causing him pain… Keeping water bend around her left hand, Katara pressed it against the airbender's back, forcing the flesh to loosen itself around the knife. Another groan made her grit her teeth as she realized that it was probably painful… But if she didn't do this, he would be slowly bleeding out inside of his lung, and she would be at a loss of what to do against that… At least… With the wound open… With that, she could work.

As her left hand fingers pushed the flesh away, her right hand, the one around the knife's hilt, pulled. Luckily, the suction wasn't terrible, and it came out. Katara saw a flash of a bloody blade, droplets of the red liquid falling down on the ground. Releasing the weapon, she heard it clatter on the floor as she put her concentration back on the airbender's wound. Pulling a small amount of water from the bowl and let it cover her right hand, she went to work.

Examining the wound, Katara saw that there was pressure building up between the lung and the flesh of Aang's back, a few inches away from the wound… Remembering Yagoda's lessons about chest wounds, she realized that it was probably air escaping the lung but not finding it's proper way out… Quickly bending the water into a long needle, she pricked the airbender's back, just next to the broken line of his tattoo… Biting her lip, she could feel the air escape and the pressure diminish. At least… At least that was good.

Finding the liquid in the blood inside of Aang's lung, she knew what to do. It wasn't bloodbending, because she would only move it. Bloodbending was controlling the blood, bending it to your will… No, this was only guiding the liquid. She had done it before, many times even. As she knit back the flesh over the airbender's torn back, for example… Moving her hands over his back, Katara found the small pool of blood, and forced it upwards, further and further… Until she arrived at the wound in his back. Pulling the blood away, it spurted out of the gash, staining his back and the tunic even further…

What has he ever done to you? Why do you all punish him like this? Wasn't losing everything he loved enough?

As the blood mixed with the water around her hands, she let the liquid drop and pulled clean water out of the bowl, refreshing her healing. Beginning at the gash on his back, Katara concentrated and began to knit the flesh of the lung back together… As it moved slowly together, she could feel the weakness of the flesh as it was put back together. That too reminded her of the airbender's coma, how fragile and weak his back had felt those first few days… How much pain and effort had gone into making the flesh and skin harden and stronger…

Did he not do enough for you? All you spirits should be on your knees, kissing the ground he walks on. He ended this war, giving the balance of the world another chance. And this is how you repay him? How dare you?

Not daring to do more than close the wound at his back, she turned her attention to the small gap in his chest. Moving, she stretched her leg and lay the airbender against it. Slowly inching her fingers over his chest, she felt the soft heartbeat, erratic and not the even rhythm she was used to… But surely that was normal, after such a wound…

The soft grey eyes were closed once more, and she didn't know if that was good or bad… But her first duty, her only duty at this moment, was to make sure that he wouldn't die from that horrible knife wound. Glancing towards Orsu, she saw that the man was keeping a close eye on Shoji, who was still standing at the entrance of the stables turned hospital. Just behind him, she could see On Ji. And, just past the Fire Nation girl's shoulder, there was the darky sky, the darkness interrupted by flashes of lightning. Now that her concentration was not just on the airbender, Katara heard the torrential downpour of rain falling upon the roof of the building…

Not important.

Pushing her fingers against the wound in the airbender's chest, she began to close it. As the healing took effect, Katara saw how her hands trembled… Not just from the effort, but also of pure relief. This would work… he would survive. He would not die.

Tui and La, what had he done here? Of course Aang would try and find her. She would have done the same…

"Katara…" On Ji's voice drifted into her awareness, and she glanced briefly up to see that the girl had moved closer, "Is he… Is he…"

"Alive." She spoke through gritted teeth.

"Thank Agni…"

"Well, not thank to him." She spat the words, as she finished the healing of the skin on Aang's chest, "Help me with him." She pointed her chin to the closest bed.

Before On Ji could even move, Orsu was already beside her, grabbing the airbender's legs. Pulling Aang's arms to her, Katara removed her leg from underneath the airbender and knelt next to him. Keeping an eye on his chest, she pushed herself up, holding Aang firmly in her arms as they shuffled towards the bed. Putting him down on to it, she crouched next to it and began to look at the healed skin.

It was crude, fast work. It looked terrible, and if she didn't change it he would have the scars to proof that he had been stabbed. How many scars did he have now? His back was a ruin, there was the one on his left shoulder, and the one on the sole of his foot… Spirits, did he need another?

"What are you doing here my love?" She murmured, letting a hand rest on the airbender's head, "Tui and La, you shouldn't be here…"

There was no answer, only a soft wheezing noise as Aang inhaled deeply.

"He… he said he was here to get you." On Ji said, very quietly. Turning her gaze towards the girl, her confusing was probably written all across her face, because she continued.

"He was in the house… Asking if I know where you were being held…"

Oh… Oh no… Aang had come here to save here… No… Why was he always wounded because of her…

"Apparently… he… he bent a tunnel through the wall!" The horrible confusion in On Ji's voice was suddenly mixed by something Katara recognized as awe. Awe at what Aang had done. They had searched for a way out of the town, blocked by the wall for weeks.

And he had just gone through them, as if it wasn't a big deal.

"And then he happened." Katara's attention was drawn back to Shoji, who seemed frozen in fear of the display in front of him, "You saw him at the northern gate? Were you spying on Hide?" She pulled the water she had used for the healing back to her hand, freezing it into a long, sharp spear like icicle.

"Miss Katara!" She heard Orsu murmur softly, but she didn't care. Standing up, she began to stalk towards the young man, who looked at her icy weapon in alarm, but didn't seem capable of moving.

"Oh yes. In case you missed it, I'm not called Sapphire." She whispered angrily, "I'm Master Katara. And you just stabbed my husband. So, I hope you have a very good explanation. For your sake."

"I… I… I thought it was Kuzon…"

"So you go around stabbing people, just like that?" She bit back, pointing the icy dagger at the young man.

"I… I…"

"You jealous piece of shit." She held the ice spear tightly, feeling the cold ooze into her fingers, "You think she will love you when you stab people she liked? That is why you were at the northern gate, spying on dear old Hide."

As she said it, Katara knew it was a low blow. But she didn't care.

"N-no…"

"Let me be clear. I will carve every inch of your skin clean of your bones if his condition worsens even in the slightest. I will hear you cry for your mother before I let you die." She spat the words, knowing how it sounded. But she didn't care.

"T-Tara…" A weak voice whispered, and immediately, she let the ice in her hand melt as she turned around. Aang's eyes were still closed, and he didn't seem to be awake. Quickly going back to the bed, she knew she would have to deal with Shoji later. Aang needed her now.

"I'm here." She spoke softly, grabbing his hand and closing her fingers around it. Even with all the horrible few minutes she had just lived through, she couldn't help but relish in the fact she was holding his hand once more.

The airbender didn't seem to hear her as the words come over his lips.

"I… oh… P-please… Safe… S-she… keep… keep her… safe…"

"I'm here, I'm safe." She whispered, caressing his cheek with one hand.

"I… I didn't know… I'm… I'm so s-sorry…"

With sudden horror, Katara understood. He hadn't called her to stop her doing what she had threatened Shoji with. No… He seemed to be talking to something she couldn't see…

"J… Ji… I didn't know…" His whisper slowly faded away, but Katara stayed next to him.

Whatever is happening, help him. Spirits, help him. If you don't, as you are my witnesses, I will come down to hunt all of you. And hope for help from whoever Spirits pray to when I do.

Answers:

Kalaong: It was very idiotic, but to be fair, Shoji didn't know he was the Avatar. He "just" thought it was Kuzon. Imagine, stabbing someone out of jealousy and realizing you just managed to wound the most dangerous person on earth.

Guest: Yeah, I realized that airbenders could probably be as silent as they whised, because sound travels through air. The poor Kataang, I pulled the rug so hard from underndeath them that I had to take a break from writing because it disgusted even myself lol.

McChartney : Oh I know. But don't worry, he's alive… For the moment mwhaha.

Guest : Yes, sorry lol!

Jjsmith103: Yeah, at the beginning you think Aang will manage to get there. Then, you have the moment he tries to go through the town, and you start to worry someone will see him (and they did, Shoji is proof of that…) And then, just as you think everything will be alright. Bam.

Leelee2234: I'm so sorry, but I enjoy cliffhangers! And thanks a lot, reviews like these are really pushing me to write faster, but work is slowing me down lol.

Katara2323: Hope this will put you at ease, a bit! And thank you so much!

Lenoravampire1: Yeah… I know lol. Sorry!