Too Close

recover

"Where is he? Where is my boy?!" Iroh yelled running through the doors of the hospital only to see Katara speaking to police, her clothes were stained in red as she had a shock blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

"Katara my dear, what happened?" He ran over to her as Katara didn't hear him from before.

"Iroh," she hugged the old man tightly.

"Are you hurt?" Iroh whispered fearful.

"Nurses said I lost a little of my hearing but should come back in 48 hours, but I'm okay," Katara rubbed her eyes tiredly, the gun shot was to close to her in the woods. She knew her fever was getting worse.

"A-and Zuko? Where is he?" He gulped holding her hands.

"Your nephew isn't stable but he's in good hands, he lost a lot of blood," the nurse walked over as Katara looked down.

"What? How- he was suppose to be in school? He was in school! How did this happen?" Iroh clenched his fists tightly letting go of the girl.

"It was ozai, he framed Zuko to get him arrested as a way to... to get him killed," Katara whispered.

"But Azula was the one that hurt him," she gulped looking down at her feet.

"Where is she now?" Irohs eyes widen horrified.

"Your niece was arrested, she's being held now," the cop told them calmly.

The cop filled Iroh in on the situation as Katara started to tune them out looking to the side, she felt fear run down her spine seeing a black car outside. Tears pricked her eyes as she tightened her hold on the blanket around her shoulder. It's not him but the fact that it could be him terrified her.

"Can I see Zuko?" Katara whispered to the nurse as she wiped her eyes. She didn't want to be alone out here.

"Sure honey, hes resting but he still is unstable until the doctor comes back, the blood loss is something we need to keep an eye on, seeing his records your friend has had other health issues that might cause problems," the nurse nodded slowly and lead Katara away from the two men. Iroh watched concerned hoping to see his boy soon.

Katara followed the nurse in and she covered her mouth seeing Zuko, he had tubes and wires connected to him with an oxygen mask while he laid in the bed. His eyes were hooded but he was awake, staring at the ceiling with no emotions.

"Zuko?" She whispered carefully walking to him.

"K-kat?" He breathed looking to the side.

"Hey love, how's the drugs?" Katara walked to his side and he tried to lift his hand but only his fingers moved.

"Pretty heavy," Zuko closed his eyes frowning.

Katara touched his hand gently, afraid to hurt him like he was glass, he had his stab wounds wrapped tightly as well as his chest but Katara could see a bit of red peaking past the white on the gauze.

"You hanging in there?" She knelt down to be leveled with him.

"Enough, shit still hurts," he mumbled gripping her hand lightly.

"What happened?" Zuko slurred as he fought off passing out again.

"Azula is arrested, Iroh is here," Katara kept it short and sweet.

"Damn, I don't think I'll stay awake enough to talk to him... my head feels like it weighs tons," he whispered.

"Got anything you want me to tell him?" She smiled gently.

"Let durk sleep in his room tonight," he nodded.

Katara couldn't help but feel herself breaking down as she covered her eyes with tears dripping down her face. She sniffled hoping to stop but couldn't.

"Fine you can stay in my room and durk can sleep with you," Zuko looked at her worried.

"Thanks dumb dumb," she whimpered.

"I'm going to be okay kat, I'm okay, don't cry," Zuko squeezed her hand again.

"You lost so much blood, I couldn't help and you got shot and stabbed and I just watched," Katara sobbed covering her mouth.

"I'm sorry," he rasped.

"But thank you Katara," Zuko felt a tear run down his face looking at her.

"I love you?" His voice shook. He wouldn't blame her for leaving him over this, it would be valid for what horrors she's been through.

"Hey, I love you too," she kissed his forehead.

"I'm so drugged up right now I'm not going to lie, but I love you, not sure if I told you before," Zuko mumbled keeping his eyes closed now.

"I love you too," Katara laughed through the tears.

"A lot?" He whispered.

"So much," she nodded.

"Yay, I love you too," he smiled under the mask as his eyes stayed close.

She laughed a little more but Zuko looked like he was sleeping now, soft breathing but his chest struggled to move once in a while as his eyes stayed closed.

"Can you keep talking? I like your voice kat," he mumbled. Or not asleep?

"Bout what?" Katara smiled pulling up a seat now.

"Don't care, just stay please," Zuko breathed not letting go of her.

"I will," she whispered back.

Katara rested her arms on the bed as she talked about what she thought what durk might be doing at home, such as watching birds, raiding the fridge, already snuck into irohs room and completely ignoring zukos open room that even had the cats bed.

She sighed softly touching his hair as he fell asleep or passed out from drugs while she listened to his heart monitor, she couldn't tell him he was still risky with life and death, but he seemed okay, and keeping him calm or content hopefully can keep him happy, not stressing him out.

"I'm not going to leave, we're in this together jerk," she smiled gently.

She felt someone put a hand on her shoulder and touched the hand gently knowing it was Iroh.

"He's pretty drugged up," Katara looked up at him.

"I have some clothes if you'd like to take them, recovery will take some time so he won't need them as soon as I thought," Iroh patted the top of her head gently.

"Thank you," Katara nodded as she felt sick to her stomach being in dried bloodied clothes.

"I'm sorry my family has caused you so much pain my dear, it's the least I can do," he whispered sadly.

"That's not family, you and Zuko are family to me," Katara gulped standing up.

"If there's anything I can do let me know, if you need me to call your father I'll explain the basics to him, I don't want you to be reliving that nightmare again and again, it's no way to heal," he pursed his lips.

"I just need to figure out how to explain it, but thank you, Youre to kind," she smiled back.

Iroh took the seat where Katara was beforehand and looked over zukos body sadly, the boy suffered once again by his father and by his sister. Maybe he should take him back to Japan, he was safer in Japan. They were safe there.

He couldn't stay here, but he couldn't take Zuko from the wonderful friends he created. From Katara.

That'll be a conversation for another day, for now he just needs his boy to keep healing.