Author's Note: Hello my loves! Sorry about the long wait and the short chapter but it was a good place to stop and I kind of liked it. I get to hop back into Neteyam's mind a bit. I love this story and I'm excited for what comes next. I do hope that yall continue to enjoy this story as much as I do! Let me know what you think!

Neteyam hears himself moan softly in pain. A gentle hand brushes across his forehead, whipping away the sweat that is gathered there. He can hear his papa just sooth him, his raspy voice cutting in and out slightly while trying to be quiet. Neteyam always loved listening to his papa's voice. His papa used to tell them bedtime stories about his adventures with mom and dad. About all sorts of cool places that he's seen and been. Neteyam could just lay in the pile of Sully children all wrapped around each other and listen to his parents talk - not always about stories, sometimes just talking.

He could close his eyes and listen to them all talk for hours without getting bored. If he's not careful, he's going to fall asleep right here right now.

Neteyam feels the familiar elastic band pressing into his cheeks from the mask that is around his mouth and nose to help him breathe. It must be really bad if his dad asked Uncle Norm to bring that up to First Base for him. Neteyam hasn't had it on since he was at least eight or nine. Maybe younger. He must have been wheezing too much for his grandmother's comfort.

Grandmother usually avoids stuff like that if she can. Neteyam must have really needed it if she was willing to let it into her hut. His grandmother is always bending her rules for him. It makes him feel so bad. He hates that people have to bend over backwards for him. It's not fair. Especially not for his grandmother, who really does try to avoid these things. He knows that he needs it, and it really had to be bad for his grandmother to let so much of it in here. Neteyam just hates that he's forcing her to compromise like that, for him.

His chest and stomach do hurt a lot, and he can't seem to fill his lungs all the way. A gentle kiss is pressed to his forehead and Neteyam feels the three beads hanging off the front of his papa's face lightly drag across his own face. Neteyam turns his face a little bit toward his papa, chest warming up a bit when he hears his papa coo softly, pressing another kiss to his forehead lovingly.

He lets out a little sigh, hearing his Uncle Norm say, "... and his oxygen levels are low, Jake. I'm already seeing some improvements. We got the IV chilled so that should help with his fluids and fever and the oxygen has boosters in it for his immune system."

"What about his side? Any organs damaged?" His dad says, his voice raspy and tired. Neteyam wants to open his eyes. He wants to hug his dad and apologize for being so bad and worrying him, but he doesn't have any energy. He can't even seem to open his eyes. Everything is too much of a task. Too much work. It's all too much. He's so tired, despite his mind being more alert than his body.

"Mo'at has the bullet wound handled by the looks of the ultrasound. It looks like it went clean through. No internal bleeding, no leaking bowel. Nothing. He was extremely lucky, Jake. Two inches further in - "

"I know!" Jake snaps, sharp and cold then followed immediately by a tense silence.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

Then, Jake sighs. Long and drawn out. "I'm sorry, Norm. You didn't deserve that. I'm just tense. Thank you for all of your help. I'm just worried about him. He hasn't had a cold this bad since he was a kid and then I let him get fucking shot on top of that -"

"Jake," Norm says softly. "I know. I get it. It's Neteyam. It's him. He might not be my kid, but I love him too. It hurts so bad to see him like this for me, I can only imagine how you feel. You, Neytiri and Tsu'tey. This must be literal hell for you."

Jake sighs again and Neteyam feels Tsu'tey lightly kiss his forehead once more.

He coughs, weakly. It pulls harshly at his stomach and chest, making him whine softly in pain, under his breath. The twitch of his body at the action is enough to open his eyes. He looks around blearily to see it's dark. His dad, papa, grandmother, and Uncle Norm's avatar all have their bioluminescent freckles glowing even in the dim firelight from the sconces along the walls.

His papa is sitting next to him, long legs stretched out in front of him, with one hand propping him up while there is a damp rag being placed into the bowl on his other side. His eyes are focused on Neteyam's grandmother, dad, and Uncle Norm standing a few feet away.

Mo'at has her hands folded at her stomach while Jake has his flexing into fists at his side. Norm has a hand on Jake's shoulder, staring at him intently and with pity.

"I don't want to lose him," Jake rasps, a vulnerable look crossing his features before he looks down and away, face being obscured in shadows. "I can't lose him."

"Dad..." Neteyam rasps, his voice so soft, so weak and frail.

He blinks his bleary eyes slowly. He finds his dad in the shapeless blobs in his vision. He tries to reach his hand out, terrified by how broken and sad his father's voice was, but he can barely lift his fingers from where they rested on his thigh. Tsu'tey pulls his legs closer as Jake lowers himself next to him, reaching out to take that thin hand, wrapping around it securely, not wanting to squeeze it too tightly.

"I'm here, baby," Jake whispers softly, leaning in to Tsu'tey, who places a hand on his waist and presses his lips onto his shoulder, freely offering comfort. "How do you feel?"

Neteyam wheezes a few weak breaths, eyes lulling a bit. "My chest hurts..." He coughs weakly, wincing at the stabbing pain in his chest and stomach. "...and my stomach..." He tries to suck in a breath, but his lungs can't seem to fill up enough to make him feel better. He knows he will, he just needs time for the medicine in the air to make it to his lungs, but it hurts, and he just wants to be able to breathe. "I can't... dad... I can't breathe..."

Tsu'tey gently rubs the pad of his thumb against Neteyam's forehead while Jake brings his hand up to kiss the back of it.

"I know, Neteyam. I know it hurts, but your grandmother and Uncle Norm are going to make you feel better, okay? Just be strong, okay?" Jake blinks away the dampness in his eyes as he leans closer.

Neteyam's chin dips a bit in a tiny nod.

Mo'at steps closer, turning gentle eyes down toward the weak boy in front of her. "Do you think you can drink some more medicine, tiyawn?"

Neteyam coughs weakly, eyes fluttering closed as he struggles to take a breath. He rubs his free hand against his stomach, hissing lightly when he touches the leaves pressed to his wound. He feels a tear slide down his cheek that Tsu'tey's hand moves over to gently wipe away, chest shuttering a bit as he tries to breathe.

"Please... grandmother..." he says softly, voice raspier than usual.

Mo'at nods, turning away to start mixing the medicine for him, digging through storage containers in the corner of the room. Neteyam whimpers as a wash of heat and pain goes through his body, gripping his dad's hand as tightly as his weak little grip can manage while turning his face ever so slightly into Tsu'tey's hand, another tear sliding down his cheek.

"Hey, buddy," Norm says, dropping down on Neteyam's other side, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I know that you don't feel good, but I know what might make you feel better."

Neteyam turns slightly towards his uncle, blinking slowly, a shuttering wheeze escaping him. His pale lips part, another weak cough escaping him before his lips close once more, but he shifts, ever so slightly, to look at his uncle, to show the older man has his attention. He blinks slowly, closing his hand around Norm's when the older man takes it between both of his own.

Norm crosses his legs, gently cradling Neteyam's hand in his lap. "Remember how I was telling you about bats that live on Earth?"

Neteyam's tired eyes light up at that. He wheezes, lashes fluttering as a tiny curl pulls at the corners of his mouth. His weak hand grips Norm's, he shifts ever so slightly in his uncle's direction, trying to make himself more alert, wanting to hear this.

"So, you know how we discovered a massive cave network beneath the rivers flowing through the Hallelujah mountains? Further to the south of here?" Neteyam nods. It's a tiny tilt of the chin, but it's there.

Norm grins broadly, leaning close, eyes bright and excited. "I found them, Neteyam! Animals down there similar to bats that use echolocation! See? I told you!"

Neteyam's lips spread more, wheezing excitedly, glancing over at his parents as if to drag them into his excitement. Tsu'tey smiles softly, swiping away at the moisture that's still building up there, despite his excitement. Jake just stares at him, still kissing the back of Neteyam's hand.

The oldest Sully boy looks over at Norm again, faint smile still on his lips as he gently tugs at Norm's hand, coughing and shifting, pain flickering across his face but it's brushed away quickly. Neteyam uncurls his pointer finger from around Norm's hand to point at himself, weakly. He wheezes, unable to form words, but his shining eyes and gentle tugging at his uncle's hand is enough to get the point across.

"Oh, I'm going to take you there, kid," Norm says, grinning broadly. "I promised that if I found something you would be the first to know."

Neteyam smiles just a hair more as Mo'at makes her way over, a bowl of medicine in her hands. Norm scoots out of the way a bit, still holding onto Neteyam's hand as Mo'at leans down, looking over at Tsu'tey.

"Help him sit up a bit for me," she says evenly.

Tsu'tey nods, pulling away from Jake to wrap his arms around Neteyam's shoulders, helping to sit up a bit while being careful of the IV in his arm on that side, kissing his forehead and hairline when he whimpers and sobs brokenly in pain but doesn't protest. Jake places a hand on Neteyam's pelvis to stop him from twisting at the waist and further aggravating the wound there. He shivers, tears trickling down his cheeks, rolling off the breathing mask, which Mo'at gently removes from his mouth and nose, letting it rest around his neck.

Neteyam takes a moment to compose himself, trying to ignore the fire in his belly, control his shaking before glancing over at his grandmother until she brings the medicine over, holding it to his lips and supporting him to get him to drink. He manages a few swallows before he coughs, hard, body shaking and face losing all its color. He whimpers at the force of it, sinking into Tsu'tey's arms, face pinched in pain.

Tsu'tey kisses his face lovingly until Neteyam can compose himself again, opening his mouth for more of the medicine. Once he's finished enough for Mo'at to be pleased enough to let him lay back down. Tsu'tey carefully lowers Neteyam back onto his bedding to relax, nuzzling his face, neck and shoulders lovingly.

Tsu'tey carefully helps place the mask back over Neteyam's mouth and nose, gently petting down his braids.

"Try to get some rest, Neteyam," Mo'at says giving his shoulder a squeeze. "You need to have all the strength that you can muster. Rest, tiyawn."

"Yes, grandmother," Neteyam rasps, coughing lightly and carefully rolling onto his side toward Norm with Tsu'tey's help, Jake bringing Neteyam's hand over to the front of him so that he can be comfortable. "Can you tell..." he looks at Norm, long lashes fluttering a bit. "I want..."

Norm grins, gripping his hand tighter. "Of course! I've to tell you..." as he goes, Jake glances over at Mo'at, who nods, seemingly pleased. Jake sags a bit in relief, scooting closer to lay down behind Neteyam, propped up on one elbow, Jake very carefully started rubbing Neteyam's back, using his blunt nails lightly scrape against his skin. He keeps peaking at the part of Neteyam's face that he can see to see if his son is unwilling to accept the touch, still sensitive to how his son might be feeling about him right now.

Neteyam curls away a bit, but not in anger, but to offer more of his back for Jake to rub. Jake lets out a tiny sigh, trying to keep his swelling emotions under control, as he carefully avoids the leaves placed over his injury on the back of Neteyam's hip. He watches goosebumps appear across Neteyam's skin, and he smiles softly, pressing a light kiss to the back of Neteyam's shoulder.

Neteyam slow blinks, listening to Norm talk, eyes drooping more and more, the hand that Norm was still holding is loosening its grip as the boy slips further and further into slumber. After a minute or two of Neteyam's eyes being screwed shut tightly, sleep fully taking him, Norm stops talking and just takes a moment to look at the young man sleeping in front of him.

Jake feels Tsu'tey's hand on his waist, giving it a gentle, comforting squeeze. Norm, carefully, brings Neteyam's hand back over by his thin, pale face. He doesn't shift or react to the action, fully enveloped in his dreams. Norm gives his hand a little squeeze before sitting back and resting his own hands in his lap, looking between Jake and Tsu'tey, offering a little smile.

"I'll tell him the rest later," Norm says, good naturedly. Norm smiles lightly down at Neteyam before pushing to his feet. "He's already looking better, Jake. I'll head off now. Call me if you need me, okay? Let me know how he's doing."

Jake nods. "Thank you, Norm."

"Thank you for coming, Norm," Tsu'tey says, offering a wave of the hand from his forehead to the other man. Norm smiles, returning the gesture before heading out, pausing only to tip his head respectfully to Mo'at, who nods back, before heading out.

"See you guys later," Norm says, vanishing out of Mo'at's hut.

Neteyam opens his eyes to a dimmer darkness than before, catching only the faintest light coming from the glowing freckles on his papa's face. He shifts slightly, still on his side, but the pain is too much for him to bear. He squeezes his eyes shut and bites at his lower lip, trying to keep from crying out too much as the pain is equal parts white hot and sharp.

He reaches forward lightly, using whatever strength he had to lightly touch his papa's face, tapping his cheek. He can feel his dad's arm around his chest, being careful of his wounds, but his palm is pressed to Neteyam's heart, as if to make sure that his heart doesn't stop at all during the night. Neteyam feels his heart swell in love for his dad at the thought.

Everyone really does worry way too much about him.

"Papa..." Neteyam rasps softly, his chest not hurting as much and he's actually able to fill his lungs. His chest is still tight but it's not as bad as it was earlier. He's relieved to be able to fill his lungs, even if it's through slow, deep breaths. He takes another breath, watching as Tsu'tey's tired face shift slightly in his sleep. Neteyam coughs slightly, tapping Tsu'tey's cheek a little bit more, not able to muster up a lot of strength aside from this gentle tapping. "Papa..."

Tsu'tey's eyelashes flutter a bit before opening up. He blinks, dazed for a moment, before homing in on Neteyam's face. He reaches up, cupping the side of Neteyam's face, thumb caressing his cheekbone.

"Are you okay, Neteyam?" Tsu'tey asks, voice rough from sleep. "Do you need something?"

Neteyam feels Jake's hand shift on his chest. He can hear his dad sitting up behind him slightly.

"What's wrong?" Jake asks softly. He takes a moment to clear his throat. "Is everything okay? Tsu'tey? What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, Ma Jake. Your son is awake," Tsu'tey says softly, turning his eyes over Neteyam's head to look at the boy's father.

Jake peaks down at him, glowing golden eyes wide as he asks, "Hey, baby boy. Are you okay? Do you need something?"

Neteyam leans back a slight bit, hissing slightly at the pain pooling in his belly, as he looks over at his dad. "Can... I... Can we ask grandmother for more...?"

Jake smiles softly, sitting up all the way, reaching out to gently, slowly, pet down Neteyam's arm, expression pensive but gentle at the same time. "You want some more medicine? I can go see if your grandmother can whip you up some more."

Neteyam coughs softly, rubbing his other hand against his chest a bit, blinking blearily up at his dad. "Pl... please..?"

Jake nods, giving his shoulder a squeeze before looking over at Tsu'tey, who nods. "I'll stay up," Tsu'tey says easily, propping himself up on an elbow. Jake nods again, pushing to his feet and heading for the exit.

"How do you feel, Neteyam?" Tsu'tey asks, turning glowing golden eyes down to his son.

Neteyam adjusts the mask over his mouth a bit with the tips of his fingers. "My chest is tight... my stomach hurts..." he trails off, coughing hard enough to shiver and cry out softly. Tsu'tey's ears flick back in sadness at the sound of his son's mournful cries. With the hand not propping him up, he takes Neteyam's giving it a squeeze.

"Your grandmother will be here soon, Neteyam." The eldest Sully child nods, swallowing thickly. Thankfully his throat doesn't hurt too much anymore either, it just feels like a pressure is placed on it, but he'll choose that over pain anytime. Coupled with him being able to take deep breaths, even if only slowly, then he will take that too. He just wants to get better so that people don't worry about him anymore.

"Lo'ak and Tuk..." Neteyam whispers, voice hoarse. "Are they okay? Kiri too?"

Tsu'tey smiles faintly, a flicker of relief passing over his face. "Yes, sweet boy. Your siblings are okay. Don't worry about that now. Just focus on getting better, okay?"

Neteyam swallows again, closing his eyes for a moment before sighing softly and opening his eyes once more. He looks toward the opening to the Tsahik's hut to see that his father has yet to return. He takes a few steadying breaths, before looking back over at his father and asks, softly, "How are the Metkayina..?"

Tsu'tey's eyes widen a fraction before settling impassively. "They are fine. Tarsem has them set up in a few huts for now while they recover. But don't worry about them, Neteyam."

"I do..." Neteyam wheezes, eyelashes fluttering a bit as a wash of pain stabs at his side when he breathes in too quickly. He winces, pressing his lips together tightly before turning his gaze back to his papa. "I worry about them. Have you talked to mom and dad...? About...?"

Tsu'tey stares at him for a beat before saying, carefully, "My son, your mother and I already spoke to your father about this. We do not want to have any more strangers in our home. They can recover here, but they can't stay. We will find them somewhere safe to go. Don't worry, my sweet boy, we won't just leave them high and dry. We will find a clan that can take them in."

Neteyam closes his eyes, feeling a wave of sadness wash over him. He takes a few breaths before opening his eyes again. "But... what if there isn't... isn't anywhere safe..? What if the clan... what if where they go needs us too..?"

Tsu'tey doesn't respond right away, considering carefully as he runs the rough pads of his fingers down the smooth back of Neteyam's hand. "My son," Tsu'tey says softly, raising his eyes to Neteyam's, "we can't save everyone. The last time we helped someone - "

"She's still here," Neteyam says softly, coughing weakly behind his mask. "She's one of us."

Tsu'tey's ears press back a bit, considering once more before saying, softly, "Nim is different, Neteyam. You know this."

"They are too," Neteyam rasps, squeezing his papa's hand as tightly as his weak limb can muster. "Talk to them, papa. You'll see. I know you'll see it too." He shifts slightly, pulling himself closer to his papa. "Don't punish them for Talsheeze. Please..."

Tsu'tey sighs, squeezing his eyes shut, he pulls Neteyam's hand to his lips to place a kiss to the back of it as he opens his eyes once more. Shining with love and affection, he softly whispers, "Your heart is so beautiful, my sweet, gentle boy. You remind me so much of your dad." Neteyam's chest tightens in pride at that statement, a tiny, tentative smile crossing over his lips. His love for his parents is great, but his pride has always been to be just like his dad.

Jake is Neteyam's hero.

Tsu'tey's golden eyes track the curve of Neteyam's lips and there is a gentleness that settles over his entire body, like a relief washing over him. He presses another kiss to the back of Neteyam's hand before sighing once more, looking down at the mat beneath them. "Neteyam - "

"You don't have to say yes or no..." Neteyam rasps, coughing again, but inches closer still. "Just... promise you'll listen to dad. Just listen. And speak to them, just to make sure. Not everyone is bad, or out to get us. Some..." he coughs, hard, his entire body shaking with the force of the cough. He takes a few deep, wheezing breaths as he curls up into a ball as if to protect his stomach.

"It's okay, Neteyam," Tsu'tey says, leaning over his son, rubbing his shoulder comforting. "We can talk more later. We don't have to make a decision at this exact moment. Just rest, my baby boy. Just rest."

Neteyam curls closer to his papa, trying to catch his breath and ease the pain in his side, eyes closed tightly before he whispers, "Some people just need a helping hand, papa... Some people just need a chance."

Tsu'tey drapes an arm around him gently, thankful that Mo'at had removed the IV once it ran out over an hour before so that he wouldn't have to worry about bumping it, pressing a kiss into his hair as Neteyam snuggles as close as he can with his knees in the way, thankful for his father's warmth. "My sweet boy, I love you so much, and I worry for your gentle heart, just like I do your father." A long sigh, then a very soft, "I will listen to what your father has to say. I will reserve my decision until I hear. But I promise nothing more, gentle Neteyam. Only to listen."

Neteyam snuggles closer, knowing how hard this has to be for his papa. Offering to at least hear them out is more than his papa would normally offer considering how angry he was when Talsheeze hurt dad. Him and mom had been protective of dad ever since, closing rank around him whenever someone new and unfamiliar get too close to him. Neteyam knows that they are just trying to protect his dad - and the clan - but Jake and Neteyam are of like mind. Not everyone should be punished for the actions of a few. Some people want to abuse others kindness.

And some people just desperately need it.

Neteyam dozes until Jake and Mo'at return. His papa and dad help him sit up, hugging him tight and whispering words of love and encouragement to him as he sobs at the pain in his side at the movement. As Jake helps feed him the medicine, Mo'at changes his leaves and adds more pungent smelling goop to the wounds, humming softly to herself, seemingly pleased. At the little nod that she sent Jake's way, Neteyam felt his dad sag slightly in relief.

Once he was situated with the blanket pulled back up to his ribs to help keep some of his warmth in, Jake asks softly. "On your back, or side, Neteyam?"

Neteyam whips away a tear from his chin, rasping, "Side, please."

Jake smiles while Tsu'tey huffs, laying back down on his side and helping lower Neteyam into his arms so that he could press into him to keep warm. As the two situate themselves to get comfortable, Jake changes out the oxygen tank resting above Neteyam's head, out of the way so that they can sleep without bother. He makes sure the yellow light turns green once more before he lowers behind Neteyam, close but not touching.

"Dad," Neteyam rasps, snuggling closer to Tsu'tey, eyes drooping closed as Mo'at exits the hut once more.

"Yes, Neteyam?"

"Can you..." Neteyam slurs slightly, eyes now tightly closed.

"Can I..?" Jake prompts after a moment of silence. Tsu'tey gently pushes Neteyam's braids over his shoulder and out of the way of where he's running his blunt nails over that shoulder and down the arm slightly.

Another moment, then, Neteyam asks, softly, "Can you rub my back, please?"

Jake smiles, shoulders drooping slightly in relief before reaching out and gently running his fingers up and down the back of his oldest son. Once more the goose bumps appear across the white and blue stripes running across his skin in intricate patterns very similar to the ones that Jake has traced on Neytiri's back. He's still in awe sometimes how much like Neytiri Eywa made him, just so that she would be endeared by him.

Not that Jake believes for a second that Neytiri didn't love Neteyam before he was even born. Jake can still feel Neytiri's gentle hand running over his stomach, long before it ever began to swell with the little boy laying between him and Tsu'tey. She would quietly hum a tune, trying to find one that she liked for his songcord. Her and Tsu'tey would curl their lips at one another when she hummed one that neither of them liked.

When she exhausted everything she could think of, her and Tsu'tey would go back and forth on names. After Jake named his ikran Bob, he lost all naming privileges for his children. Long decided before he even had children. Jake still laughs about it. He knew he was never going to come up with a good name for his kids on his own anyway, so he left it for them to work out, humming if he liked it or not whenever they came across one that they liked and wanted his opinion on it.

Jake hummed a lot, which annoyed the two of them, but Jake liked all the names that they chose. It wasn't until many months in when Tsu'tey lowered at his side, as Jake was carefully weaving the blanket he would use to carry their baby around him, glancing up at Tsu'tey with a smile and before he could ask if everything was okay with his mate, Tsu'tey said, joyfully, with Neytiri popping up behind him, placing her hands on his shoulders, "Neytiri thought of the perfect name, Ma Jake. Neteyam."

Jake blinked, rolling the name around in his mind before softly saying it aloud, just to hear it, "Neteyam." And then, instead of humming, his eyes began to fill, which he quickly wiped away turning his face from Neytiri and Tsu'tey in embarrassment, but that was enough for both his mates. Neytiri whooped in joy, dropping down to wrap her arms around Jake's shoulders while Tsu'tey laughed, placing a loving hand on Jake's swollen belly, and one on his wet cheek.

Jake slowly pulls himself from the memory, to blink down at the pale, slumbering face, watching his long, dark lashes flutter against his cheeks. Neteyam takes slow, shallow breaths, breathing in the fog coming from his mask, completely lost in dreamland. Jake raises his eyes to look over at Tsu'tey, who is cuddling close to his son, occasionally pressing his lips into Neteyam's hairline and on his forehead.

While still rubbing Neteyam's back, Jake presses close to his son. After a few moments of silence, Jake whispers into the night air, "I love you, baby boy. I love you with all my heart. I'm sorry about all of this, just..." he sighs, gently pressing his lips into Neteyam's braids. "Please just get better."

Neteyam sucks in a long, slow breath, shift back into Jake's embrace, body completely relaxing in a peaceful sleep. After a few moments of silence, Neteyam's lips part and he softly whispers back, "I love you too, dad."