Too Close

rest

"Susano?" The nurse came back after three hours as the teens were waiting patiently. Zuko was first on his feet to get to her hoping to know more.

"Are you his family?" She asked motioning them to follow as she held a clip board.

"I'm his nephew, he's my legal guardian," Zuko said quickly with the other three behind him worried.

"Only family can visit, I'm sorry but you three have to wait," she stopped his friends as Zuko turned to them surprised.

"Let us know how he's doing when you can, he needs You," Katara smiled comfortingly and Zuko nodded a little as he followed the nurse down the hall.

They stopped in front of a door as the others were still in view but he couldn't hear them, they watched him concerned but Zuko pushed them out of his mind.

"Before I let you in we have to discuss what happened," the nurse sighed a little.

"I'm sorry I should've been there with him and could've drove him here-" "kid that's not your fault, I'm not here to shame you," she stopped him seeing he was terrified and nervous.

"It was a minor heart attack, he is stable now but the car accident is what took so long in his surgery, he had internal bleeding and a major concussion, and a broken leg but his leg will be the easiest to heal," she explained looking at the papers in her hands.

"He's going to be okay right? He doesn't take medication or anything, he eats healthy and is pretty natural with what he puts in his body, the guy loves his tea," Zuko pursed his lips and crossed his arms anxious.

"Dont assume the worst, but I also don't want to get your hopes up, you can see him if you'd like but he's on heavy medication," the nurse sighed gently.

"Meaning?" He gulped.

"He's probably going to be out for a while, if he does wake up he probably may be delusional, like he's in a dream," she nodded and Zuko understood.

"I still want to see him," he urged her.

The nurse motioned him to follow, he didn't look back at the three pairs of eyes staring at him. He kept his back to them and went into the room that held his family.

Zuko walked past the nurse in the dark room and heard a heart monitor, it sent a shiver down his spine at the familiar sound. He looked over at the bed and saw tubes connected to his uncle as an oxygen mask was over his mouth and nose.

"If he wakes up just let him fall back into sleep, he needs his rest," the nurse said softly.

"Yea... a man needs his rest," Zuko pulled up a chair and sat side by side with his uncle. She closed the door and let the two men be alone.

Zuko looked at his father figure sadly seeing the bandage on his forehead and a bruise on his nose. He also had a cast around the leg, a few tears slipped down his face as he touched his uncles shoulder and slipped his hand down to the old mans rough hand.

"Youre going to be okay uncle," Zuko whispered pulling his hand up and held it under his chin.

"I'm going to stay with you, your not going to be alone," he sniffled and pressed a light kiss to his knuckle and felt more tears escape.

"Just like you never left me alone," Zuko cried a little harder when there was no reaction, no comment. It was the first time his uncles never answered him.

He bowed his head down and let out a small sob knowing no one else would hear him. God why did he leave? He was so selfish for leaving. Why did he have to be so selfish?