PART ONE OF TWO for chapter 4. (Never understood how Katara, a 14 year old from the middle of nowhere, who grew up with a bunch of women and children, somehow kept a comatose Aang alive during those weeks he was out. I'm studying to be a doctor, and naturally curious about such things. Soooo, I looked up nursing care for comatose patients. Let's say that, according to The American Journal of Nursing Volume 54, Aang in a coma had a lot of risks for death and complication. For one, Asphyxia (where he can't breathe due to laying on his back or one side for too long and mucus and throat constriction), waste retention (not going to even comment… how did they even deal with that? Catheters weren't around it seems, and this whole subject probably made for some awkward moments…), bed sores, and sepsis of the many wounds he incurred. So… how in the heck DID she do it?

Idk, it's a TV show. They probably learned as they went. But here's my take on some of the less awkward moments of this time. This does take some ideas from The Bridge, the canon comic from the Nickmags. XD so here it is :DDDD)

Light poured in from the flap in the tent, illuminating her face in its warm gaze. It felt like someone had left a lantern on next to her head, though. Katara sat up, using her hand to block out the sunlight beating down on her. She pushed the blue blanket off of herself and stood, stretching the sleep away. Her hair was a mess, since she'd forgotten to undo it out of its braid last night.

Little stray, rebellious hairs poked her as they stuck out every which way from the now-ruined plaits. The waterbender groaned and knelt to retrieve her brush. But all her fingers met was the pelt on the floor. Surprised, she looked around to find herself in the room Aang had been placed in, but the mat where he'd been laying the night before was empty!

Her heart ceased in her chest as the world became much slower. Where was he!

She ran out of the room, searching the larger tent area momentarily, before breaking through the main tent flap. Her heart stopped when she spotted him sitting on a piece of driftwood around the fire. Her father was laughing from something that had been said.

Her heart regained its steady beat once again. Her eyes trailed down her friend's back, from the shiny black hair on his scalp down the blue arrow tattoo, until she reached…

Where was it? The scar! She was in shock. Her healing had worked, the scar was gone. She ran up to young airbender and threw her arms around him, much to his surprise. He laughed, and she could feel it throughout his chest as she held him, the tears running down her face from happiness. He turned to face her so his arms could slip around her, pulling her closer.

The rest of the camp faded away when he pulled back to look at her. His silver eyes pierced hers as he searched her face and his hand reached up and brushed her tears away. His smile, so genuine and full of warmth, made her stomach do back-flips.

She realized he was leaning in, the space between their lips closing. She could feel his breath on her mouth, invitingly cool. She felt her eyes slide shut as she waited in anticipation.

But it never came.

She suddenly became aware of someone shaking her shoulder, and the faint sound of someone saying her name.

The world was blurry and unfocused as she cracked her eyes open. Aang was no longer there, leaning in to kiss her. But the dark blob in front of her materialized into her brother. He was shaking her gently, telling her it was time to get up.

"Katara-"

She grumbled "What Sokka?" she sat up and looked around the tent to find it still dark out. There was noise outside from tents being torn down and people moving. "It's still night time…" she groaned. He pulled her blanket off of her, "I know, but we have to move now before the sun is up. A Fire Nation ship was spotted, so we're going to go hijack it."

She then remembered the plan. They were going to kidnap a ship and hide in disguise. They had destroyed their ships and moved the camp the day before. The Fire Nation Navy would never suspect them, since they thought the Water Tribe had been defeated.

She yawned and grabbed her waterskin from beside her. Laying on the mat was Aang, still bandaged up, but breathing slowly. Her heart ceased up violently. Her dream had been just that, a dream. And her best friend was still unconscious, and in pain.

Sokka pulled on her arm, dragging her out of the tent.

"Wait, what about Aang?"

Her brother didn't even look back, "He'll be fine with the men staying behind. They'll bring him once our part of the plan is done. Come on, we need you."

She allowed herself to be dragged to the canoes, but not without a lingering glance back at the tent. She sighed and climbed in the canoe Sokka was in. Toph chuckled beside her.

"What's so funny?" She snapped at the younger girl.

Toph just shook her head, "You."

Katara glared at her, "Me?"

The earthbender crossed her arms, "Don't pretend you don't know… I heard you mumbling Twinkletoes' name all night."

Katara blushed, turning her head away from the blind girl. The rest of the warriors boarded the canoes as they were pushed off into the ocean. The night sky was darker than normal, the crescent moon providing little light as they moved silently over the waves.

She saw her brother glance up at the moon, before turning his head, his expression hard.

She forgot that what had happened to Yue was still hard for Sokka…

The waterbender swallowed. Both of them now bore the pain of losing someone they love, but she had been lucky… Aang wasn't dead…yet. She shook her head. No, she wouldn't think like that. They would win. He'd make it.

Before long, they were upon the ship as it lazily steamed along in the dark. The orange lights from the windows were the only light on the vessel. The canoes pulled alongside the starboard side and ropes were tossed over the railing, the anchor-like attachments catching on the side.

Their masks were donned and the warriors climbed up onto the ship. The fighting was short and simple. The soldiers didn't even suspect the ambush, some even were sleeping lazily on the deck, unarmed. The crew was rounded up quickly and placed in the on-deck holding chamber. Their complaints and threats could be heard for the rest of the night.

At dawn the remaining men brought the unconscious Avatar and the Earth King and his bear onboard. The men carrying Aang followed Katara to the room she'd claimed for him.

Once the young Avatar was situated on the bed in the middle of the room, the men left Katara to her work. The bandages on her friend needed changed, and his wound cleaned.

She sighed and got to work, propping the airbender up on her shoulder as she unwrapped the white strips of cloth. They were stained red from rubbing against the clotted wounds. The sickly sweet iron smell was less strong than it had been weeks ago before the wounds had started stabilizing.

She reached for the wet cloth hanging in the bowl beside her and gently wiped it over the wound on his shoulder, cleansing away the dried blood. She went over every inch of his torso, cleaning the dirt, sweat, and dried blood off of him. Her fingers brushed over the smooth skin of his back, watching the goosebumps form under her touch. It was oddly calming being this close to him.

Feeling his heartbeat against her shoulder, and his breath warm on her neck. Her heart sped beneath her ribcage and her hands grew sweaty from the emotions in her heart. Aang shivered involuntarily from the cool water, groaning slightly. She reached for the dry towel sitting beside the bowl and ran it over him, drying his back and arms.

She did this slowly, admiring the muscles he'd newly acquired from his training with Toph. His shoulders were more defined under the skin. He wasn't losing too much weight in this state. With the aid of water bending, Katara had been feeding him soup and watered down fruit juices lately. The first time she'd tried this, weeks ago, it had been a disaster… and a pretty scary moment, with the young Avatar's involuntary reaction to the liquids entering his airway.

She'd learned quickly the right way to keep him alive. Mamuk, the healer, had known very little about treating patients in this state, but what he knew of, he took over for Katara. Especially during some more… uncomfortable moments, seeing as the young Avatar needed bathed thoroughly and his body still 'functioned' like a conscious person's. She had to keep an eye on her best friend, going in every two hours or so and turn him on his side so he could breathe.

She'd also learned this the hard way, when Toph had alerted her that 'Twinkletoes wasn't breathing' and had put Katara in panic mode.

When she was finished drying Aang's back, she rewrapped his wounds. Her energy too zapped to heal him tonight. She positioned him on his back so he was comfortable and smoothed his hair over so his arrow showed. The waterbender smiled, leaning in and kissing the center of the blue marking.

She pulled the sheets over him once again, up to his chest and put the candle out, leaving him to his unconscious dreams.

There was grey

Suddenly

Then Blue

At first light…. Faint like a cloud

But then darker and darker, until…

Bright light. And

Pain.

Harsh and strong. Stealing his breath. His life.

No.

Not this way. I will not go quietly. I can't.

I. Have. To. Get. Back.

Then the blue turned to black, enveloping him in silence, so deep and vast. Like the sky.

The ocean. He was alone.

This was new. No pain, just silence. Alone with no recollection of who he was.

Where was he?

Then the blue again. And warmth. But with this change.

The pain. Like a knife. Fire in his soul. Burning through his bones. His veins.

Until,

Light.

Softer, red. Yellow. Black and gold.

It was blurry. Like the pain in his…. Everywhere.

He groans and his eyes adjust after weeks of disuse. His body responds. Pain, sharp. In his spine. His skull. Everywhere.

The world is clearer, but confusing. What is this place?

He looks around to find… fire emblems.

Aang suddenly remembers.

The Fire Nation. They have the red fire emblems on their flags. He's been captured!

He sits up quickly, ignoring the pain shooting through his being. He grabs his staff.

Escape. Find a way out. They can't see him. His limbs are weak, but he moves, using the wall and his glider for support. Then voices pierce the silence, asking about the sudden movement.

And the young Avatar attacks, running for his 13 year old life. His lungs working hard as he moves as fast as he can. But the last step catches his foot. Sending him sprawling.

But then,

"Momo?"