Life Goes On

Roomates

Rohan was still sick and not getting better, and Pema started feeling sick too. Tenzin was very worried, none of their remedies were working, and he wasn't sure what to do. He had tried calling Lin last night to see if she would go get Katara, but he found out the Chief was missing after storming out of the warehouse. Now Tenzin wasn't sure what to do at all, he didn't think it was a good idea to move Pema and Rohan while they were sick, and if it was contagious, he didn't want the other kids to get sick.

 In the morning Tenzin had some air acolytes leave for the southern water tribe to retrieve Katara, then he went in search of Lin. He needed the other kids away from Pema and Rohan so they wouldn't get sick as well. He saw her on the street corner wrapping up an arrest and landed Oogi at the scene. Lin looked a lot better than he had last seen her. She looked happy and glowing, all while keeping a stern voice directing her officers. Lin immediately came over and looked concerned. "What's wrong Tenzin?" Lin asked sounding worried.

The moment Lin saw Tenzin she could tell something was very wrong. His air nomad clothes were rumpled and dirty, he looked like he hadn't slept in days from the dark circles under his eyes, and he barely landed Oogi correctly. She immediately went over and asked him what was wrong. "It's Rohan and Pema, they can't get well and it's been weeks, they are getting worse. I need somewhere for the kids to stay so they don't get sick as well.", Tenzin said tiredly. 

Worried for Pema and the baby, and most worried for Tenzin Lin replied, "Of course they can stay with me." Lin wasn't quite sure where she was going to put three kids in her bachelor pad of an apartment, but she was determined to help Tenzin. "Do I need to send someone for Katara or Kya?", Lin asked. "No, no I sent someone this morning. Thank you Lin.", Tenzin said with such sincerity as tears welled up in his eyes.

 He went in for a hug and Lin indulged him because he looked like he might break down any minute. She wrapped her arms around his lanky, muscular torso and held him until he quit shaking, then pulled away. "Alright, send the kids over, and you get back to Pema and that baby", she said trying to sound reassuring. He gave her a wobbly smile and took off back towards the Island

Back at her apartment, Lin was ready to see the place trashed while the kids were there and she had been at work. To her surprise, she walked into the table set with dinner and the younger kids were on the floor coloring. Lin felt her heart swell when she saw Jinora in the kitchen making last-minute editions to their dinner. Lin loved Jinora like her own daughter and was so proud of the young woman she was becoming. They all looked up and saw her and yelled in unison, "Aunt Linny!" They rushed to meet her they refrained from hugging her because they knew how reserved she was. Lin surprised them by pulling them all into a big hug, she knew it had been a tough day for them. They hugged and then ate the delicious dinner Jinora had made them. Then Lin put together pallets on the floor for them, close to her bed. They all drifted off to sleep peacefully.

In the morning Lin woke up to a bed full of children clinging to her. She sighed contently knowing she should be stern with them, but it was nice waking up in a tangle of arms and legs wrapped around you, from people you know loved you. She slipped out of bed untangling herself from them and went to get ready for work. In the bathroom, as she fixed her hair she thought about those children asleep in her bed. 

She had never given them a reason to love her as much as they did. She wasn't sweet with them, she didn't coddle them, she was firm and precise, but no matter how much she fought it or tried to hide it, these kids had captured her heart. Even if they were from the man who'd broken her heart into a million pieces, she couldn't deny she loved them. As she got ready to leave, Korra came just in time to switch off with her. Korra was going to take the kids to Asami's mansion to swim and play to hopefully take their minds away from their mother. Lin gave Korra a thankful smile as she silently slipped out the door.

Another week went by like this and Pema only got worse, Katara was able to help Rohan begin the road to recovery, but Pema was not improving at all. Kya flew in to help Katara, together they did about three healing sessions a day with Pema. Katara started to think Pema's illness was not physical but spiritual. They brought Korra in to try her spiritual calming technique on Pema but it didn't even touch her illness.

Tenzin was a mess. He barely slept, barely ate, and was hardly aware of what was going on half the time. Lin brought the kids by a few times because they were so shaken up and worried about Pema. Lin ended up taking Rohan home when he was well enough so he wouldn't get sick again. Tenzin felt like a failure, he couldn't help his wife and he couldn't even comfort his kids. The next time Lin brought the kids by, Tenzin pulled her aside. 

"Lin thank you so much for everything you are doing with the kids, I'm so sorry I'm not a better parent.", Tenzin choked out as sobs began racking his body. Lin immediately embraced this miserable man and held him tight, stroking his back until he calmed down. She whispered in his ear reassuringly, "You are not a failure Tenzin, those kids adore you, they know how hard this is, they are going through it too. Pema knows you are doing everything you can to help her, and you'd go to the ends of the earth for her. She knows twinkletoes." Lin hadn't used that childhood name in forever but she was trying so hard to comfort this wreck of a man.

At the sound of his childhood name vibrating through him, he tightened his grip on Lin. He felt safe here, like nothing bad would happen under Lin's watch. He held on as long as he could. Then they both felt multiple arms wrap around the two of them. Big arms and little ones, all the kids, Katara, and Kya joined in on the hug. 

They cried together then broke apart reluctantly. Lin gathered up the kids as they finished their good-byes to their mother, father, aunt, and grandma.

Thank so much for reading!!!

Here is my favorite picture of Lin to help lighten the sad mood we getting into.