Regrets (Complete)

Chapter Six

Lin was quietly finishing the pot of tea she was brewing when there was a soft knock on the door. She immediately went to it to open it and let Tenzin inside. He looked slightly unkempt and the bags under his eyes were darker than usual but his eyes were alert as he stared at her in concern.

"Lin, what's going on?"

She let out a long sigh, running her fingers through her hair before motioning for Tenzin to sit down at the table with her. She had already set two cups out for them and filled them with the fragrant green tea she had just finished brewing. She watched him for a moment as he sipped from the cup, his eyes catching hers as he raised an eyebrow. She took in a deep breath and decided to just be direct and to the point.

"I had a dream. And I... I just need to know what happened that day. I can only remember bits and pieces of it because I lost consciousness so quickly."

Tenzin set down the cup and seemed to sag against his chair as he let out a sigh.

"I didn't see her. They came out and told me the baby was gone. I ran into the room and saw you. Y-you were so pale, Lin. I thought I was going to lose you too."

He hadn't even seen her. Lin quickly stood up, the chair scraping noisily against the floor as she began pacing.

"Lin? Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

"We've got this case that's bringing up some memories I'd rather forget."

"What's the case?"

Lin stopped her pacing, walking to the living room with Tenzin following behind her. She handed him the file from the end table, something falling from the back pages as she did so. Lin collapsed onto the couch, resting her face in her hands as she rubbed her eyes in frustration. After a few minutes Tenzin bent down to pick up the fallen paper and Lin felt him sink into the couch next to her.

"It's definitely a little eerie but it could just a coincidence that hits a little too close to home."

He passed the file back over to Lin.

"I know. It's just that so many things don't make sense and you know how I feel about coincidences."

She looked to him and furrowed her brow. He was staring at was evidently a photo of the victim and her mother. His mouth was slightly agape and his eyes had widened in apparent surprise.

"Tenzin? What is it?"

"Lin, I... I recognize this woman."

"Apparently she just got a job as teacher. Barely 20 years old and already-"

"Not the younger woman. This one."

He pointed to girl's mother as he shifted his position closer to Lin.

"She was one of the healers that helped us that day. The day we lost... She was there, Lin."

Lin stared at him for a second before looking down at the photo. She hadn't seen the picture earlier but now that she couldn't take her eyes off the dark haired girl standing next to the older woman. It was probably just her own mind playing tricks on her but she thought she could recognize herself in the young woman's face.

"What's going on out here?"

Kya yawned, stretching her arms up as she exited the bedroom, her barely there nightgown hanging off her shoulder. They looked up to her, Tenzin's face growing red as he quickly looked away from his sister. Lin immediately got up, walking to Kya, taking her hands in her own. She struggled to find words as the weight of the emotions barreling towards her threatened to crush her. When she opened her mouth and nothing came out Kya looked over shoulder to Tenzin.

"Tenzin?"

The airbender was also at an apparent loss for words as he stared at nothing. After a moment he seemed to recover a bit, looking to where Lin and Kya stood.

"I think... I think our daughter is still alive."