Gradual Changes

Where He Gets It

Where He Gets It

Before Kuzon could even finish pulling the car to a stop in front of the hospital, Lao jumped from his seat and slammed the door shut. The automatic doors opened as he jogged up to them and he was buffeted by the smell of the sterile air. Just inside he caught sight of the waiting room where Katara stood waiting for him.

"Where is everyone?" he asked her.

"They're in here," she answered.

Lao glanced through the doorway. Zuko was leaning against the wall on the far side of the room while the Zhu twins sat in the row of green plastic chairs reserved for visitors, along with Ty Lee. He could not see his daughter.

"Where is she?"

"She's in the back with Aang," Katara told him.

"May I go see them?"

"Yeah. They just brought him back from getting his leg x-rayed."

Katara guided him past the waiting room and into the halls of examination rooms. After a quick series of twists and turns, Katara came to a stop by a closed door. She smiled to Lao and nodded her head before she turned around and made her way back to the waiting room to be with the others. Looking through the door's small window, Lao could see Toph sitting solemnly in a rolling chair next to Aang who seemed to be in pretty good spirits considering the situation. Maybe the repercussions of his injury had not yet occurred to him.

"How are you feeling, Aang?" he asked as he walked into the room.

"Hey, Mr. Bei Fong!" Aang greeted him merrily. "I'm doing just fine! Pain's almost gone, see?"

Aang slapped his hand down on his leg. Lao pretended not to notice the spasm that surged its way up Aang's body and just smiled to him.

"That's good to hear. Any news on your x-rays?"

"The nurse said it would be a little while. How did the opening go?"

As Lao told Aang and Toph about The Jasmine Dragon's successful grand opening, he could not help but notice how quiet Toph was being. She seemed to be in deep thought over something, but Lao could not tell what. Most likely she was thinking about the same thing that he was. Leg injuries take an average of six to eight weeks to heal. If the damage to Aang's leg was not superficial, then he would not be running any time soon.

"Aang, has anyone contacted your father yet?" Lao asked.

"I don't think I should," Aang said. "At least not until I find out how bad it is, you know?"

"I suppose that would be best," Lao agreed. "No sense worrying him if it turns out to be nothing."

Though, judging by the swelling, that blow could hardly have been considered nothing, Lao thought silently.

"That boy sure did a number on you," a woman said as she entered the room. In her hand she held a small file that they all knew carried the results of the x-rays. "Take a look."

The doctor placed the black sheets on display against a lit screen. Even to the untrained eye, the results were obvious. The image showed the bone in Aang's right leg, just above the knee, knocked out of place.

"You're lucky that it didn't breach the skin," the doctor said. "The break isn't the worst I've seen, but it's still going to take some work. We're going to have to splint it and I'm going to refer you to a specialist."

The doctor turned to see three downcast faces.

"Oh, it's not the end of the world," she said with a smile. "I can tell you right now that you won't be needing surgery like most leg patients. That means no metal rod in your leg. You'll be up on your feet again in no time!"