Seeing Azula hurt spiked up an energy in me. First was that stupid dream about her in a car crash. I can't believe I've witnessed her lying on the floor, on her way to death's door before (when we time travelled on a mission last time), where I saw the blood in her hand before I held it. This was real; it really happened! Luckily, we were there to fix that alternate timeline before it was too late. & when we came back to the present timeline - the very normal timeline - I didn't think I'd see Zed the same way again.

Anyway, while she & Dr. O talked with the doc at the E.R. I sat outside to wait. A few chaps walked by & threw a nasty look at me. I pretended not to know, & not to care. It took forever, but I told myself I'd shut up & keep trying to get her to at least say a word to me.

She just wouldn't. I couldn't reach her cold hand without her flinching. & her eyes were locked on the floor when it happened.

Later that night, Dr. O said she'd come down with a high fever. He must've noticed my worriedly tight face, so he let me visit their place. I filled him in on the story about the potion & power that drove me way evil.

"It wasn't your fault. I'm fine with all this, though no one except you can go near my daughter without sweating or getting baked!" he joked. True, true…a high fever for Zed was extra high. I imagined I'd be melting things too (without being evil) if I ran a temperature.

"Is she gonna be alright?" I said too fast.

He lost the joking tone, "I'm afraid she's swimming against drugs, nightmares & waking dreams."

"Whatdya mean? That's obviously a bad thing! Right?" I was emotionally supercharged & pacing round the living room.

"You may go see her."

Funny…I didn't remember her room's awesome look. A blazing blue was its main colour but with purple & black. It was nice how each tone blended into another. Her cool paintings lined the walls. A recipe book & sketchpad sat on her desk, I think. I'd trudged into this place once but had left too soon. In a deep sleep she was. By her bed were bright candles sitting together on some kind of wooden stand.

Paper shreds were scattered all over - all saying the same thing. Something like, "…No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom…" It was religious stuff, I guess; probably what Zed was trying to use to feel better.

Dr. O said, "It's her past, Johnny. Her childhood. It's creeping up on her in her mind. I'm used to it because it isn't the first time."

"Care to explain?"

"If you remember, she's done a lot of shameful things with her powers before. Perhaps she didn't share everything with you but…the guilt gathered over the years is enough to place a heavyweight on your emotions for a long time."

I watched her face for movement; my #1 hope, of course, rested on seeing a smile curl up on her face. Or maybe seeing her golden eyes snap open.

"You know what, Doc…," I started, "Tell it to me straight. What does she think of me?"

"I can think of the best thing she's ever said of you…hmmmm…" He stared into space for a while. "One of them is that you're a handsome slash of a guy. Her exact words, my boy."

"That's cool. What else?"

"You're the only other person she knows who can do what she does. In China, we call it firebending."

"I just don't know if we're right for each other. I really don't."

He was laughing! Not psychotically, though, "Why do you think Ben & I call you two 'lovebirds'?"

But I stayed serious, "How about if I asked what you think of me?"

"Jonathan, my daughter & you fit together like the pieces of yin & yang. You've got a great big heart in there." His hand was on my shoulder, "Use it to take care of her."

After he left, I still wanted to stand watch. So I neared the bed. I was sure I felt the wave of the heat - it actually amazed me. Her body temp must've been through the roof. I thought how Reed's unstable molecules might take it. She wasn't lying 100% flat & that allowed me to slip my gentle hand under her head. My body got closer to her, not complaining about the heat around the bed. I'd had it worse before when old man Diablo's potion spilt on me.

I was close enough, sitting now on the edge of the bed, to let my arm go under her head too. I made sure I wasn't touching her body's right side. Gazing downward, I saw all of what I'd done - kinda like me having x-ray vision. I saw fully bandaged skin, but also saw hideous burn marks & blisters & horrible 'visions'. If I was this guilty for hurting her like this, her guilt might've been a hundred times worse. My arm rocked her really slowly, back & forth, back & forth. Her fingers started to curl around it! Soon she pressed her face into it too.

Then I was dumbfounded. I have no idea if she was doing it in her sleep, or if she truly was awake all that time. Hot tears burst outta her eyes. Not just that but panicked tears, if you could call it that. They appeared like bright spots on the sides of her face. It confused me so much more to see her break free from me suddenly; it was like she retreated to the other far side of the bed. Away from me. I felt the air & it was full of her anger. In her mind, I knew she was screaming. The sniffles were just the outer shell. I left her with a forehead kiss before dragging myself out.

The next few days didn't do any good. I would visit her again & again, but she'd always be asleep. Quiet. Not talking to me. Or...she was always PRETENDING to be asleep. Even Dr. O couldn't explain that. He was at a loss for words. HELP ME...

One morning I felt really terrible, close to breaking point where I go 'Snap!' like a rubber band. There was a little incident that should've made me laugh but didn't. On my way to 'The Spot' - my best hideout for alone time - I found a wilted plant by the sidewalk. I told it I felt the same, before I took off to hit the skies when no one was peeking.

By the time I reached the place, I settled down. Took in the oxygen. If anyone asked, I'd lie that I was testing out a repaired car. It wasn't the first time. Who'd find me on the rooftop of a long-abandoned building with no stairs, no ladders, plus no doors? If too many people stood on this structure, it might just tumble down into a mess. I let the sunlight hit me, & I found it sweet. I enjoyed how Zed pieced words together.

'Emo' enough, it was my girlfriend's eyes flashing in my head. Had she flinched away from me because her past was spooking her like crazy? Still confused, I wanted to connect the dots. I'd hurt her by accident, right? I'd be the last person on earth to cause her pain, right? For crying out loud I was dating her! Nope, she wouldn't hate me for being possessed by demonic 'living fire' But…

But, I was some constant reminder of her childhood. The dark side of it. It must've been so harsh nobody could picture it. She wouldn't let me near her anymore, even after the burns on her arm faded to just scars. She was getting burns, which were probably worse, in her thoughts. Perhaps the 'guilt heavyweight' Dr. O talked about was too heavy for even me to lift up. What if, like in so many silly movies about love out there, I chose to let go? Just to move on, & not make the stress bring her down anymore?

Maybe it wasn't so hard to do that. I'd done it with Frankie before, except I dated her for a far shorter time. Cutting things off with Azula'd be tougher but I'd be doing a good thing. Wouldn't I? Pffft, my brain wanted to tell me it was aching.

This was actually one of my spots to be on villain watch. But it proved too to be the perfect 'thinking spot'. My place of zen. I didn't count how much time flew by…

"She's not talking to you, is she?"

That was no familiar voice.

A girl about my age appeared when I whirled around. Purple & white hair (dyed, duhhhhh), lotsa purple bracelets around her, earrings, plenty of makeup (purple eyeshadow included)…But a nice face, I noticed. But my gloominess stopped me, "Just go, please. I need time alone."

"I know what you're going through. Trust me."

Hmmmph. You're right, purple freak. Purple freak who discovered my hiding place. Was she part monkey so she was able to climb up?

"I'm Michelle, by the way. Would a little dinner date help lift some pressure of your shoulders?"