Life Goes On

Boulders

A week later Lin paced back and forth in the police department. All their leads so far had been dead ends, and Lin was beyond frustrated. A couple of her officers were discussing the remaining lead and how to take it on in the meeting room at a table nearby. Their last lead was a warehouse where the Red Lotus could possibly be meeting. Lin couldn't tell if they were getting false information for leads or if the Red Lotus was one step ahead of her. All she did know is that she would have to take this last lead on differently than the rest.

 "Ok!", the room went silent immediately at the sound of the Chief's commanding voice, "This is our last lead and we need to take it on carefully so we don't tip off the Red Lotus that we know about this warehouse. Team one I want you in plain clothes watching everybody that comes within a block radius of the warehouse. Team two I want any possible connections to the Red Lotus interrogated thoroughly, and Team three I need you with the Avatar as she investigates some people that she believes might be connected. Be smart and don't screw this up for us. Alright get to work." Lin dismissed the groups.

Looking about the room Lin registered a face and immediately groaned internally. Tenzin stood across the room looking straight at her. He made his way through the swarm of officers to her. "What do you need Tenzin?" Lin asked coldly. "Well, I was thinking when you go into take the warehouse that you could use some of the air nomads to go in with stealth for an added element of surprise.", Tenzin replied stoically. "Good, thank you Tenzin. Have them report to me on Friday and I will have them prepped.", Lin said without looking up from the papers she had picked up. 

"Is that all you need because I have to get going.", Lin said, impatiently flicking her eyes up to see what he was doing. As she looked up his eyes were already locked on to hers, "I also wanted to apologi- ", he began. "Forgiven, now let's move on and bust these Red Lotus thugs.", Lin quickly interrupted and turned and left.

Lin strutted away cold and collected seemingly unbothered, but it bothered Tenzin. He knew how good she was at being tough and icing everyone out. Tenzin thought back to that giggly woman he had held at the party, so happy and care-free. Did he bring out the cold Lin, was he the problem Tenzin pondered. He knew he had broken her heart, but did it really hurt her so much after all these years? Maybe she is better off without me bringing that pain back every time she sees me. Tenzin hated seeing Lin so hurt and angry when he knew how warm and happy, she could be.

The time came and the air nomads and the police moved in on the warehouse. As they burst in the warehouse, they saw it was completely empty except for a piece of paper. The paper read, "You're too late Chief". Furious, Lin burst back out of the warehouse and took off in her car. Mentally she didn't realize where she was headed because she was blinded by her rage and frustration. Physically her body knew exactly where it was going, almost muscle memory. She drove into the mountains and stopped at what seemed to be a wasteland. 

She got out and slammed the car door. She stripped out of her police uniform which just left her tank top and pants. She wrapped her arms and hands quickly and furiously. Then she used her bending to bring up eight boulders out of the ground, they were taller than her and as wide as her car. She began furiously demolishing them. Her pent up rage and hurt at Tenzin, her frustration and fear of this Red Lotus case, her anger at her mother, the longing for a father, the grief of losing Aang, her only father figure, all came out on these eight boulders. She punched and beat these boulders until all that was left was pebbles.

 Lin stumbled to the ground panting and sweating, and tears started streaming down her face. Finally, when she was empty of tears she laid down, closed her eyes, and focused on her breathing. Then she went home, took a hot shower and went to bed early.

The next day she felt much better, she had just needed to relieve her pent-up stress and anger. Life went on. Because there were no more leads Lin went on her usual duties, paperwork and catching criminals. She felt herself again.

This is not the end (it kind of sounds like it but I promise it's not!!!)

Thanks for reading!!!!