A/N: I know I tend to put my notes at the end, but this is VERY IMPORTANT. I have decided to discontinue Beneath the Alder Tree in this Zutara drabble series. The story became more involved as I was writing and I realized there were a lot of parts that were happening in my head or that I felt needed to be expanded on in the original text. For example, in my head the clans still had bending powers, but I never mentioned that in the drabbles. Due to this, I have decided to make it into its own multi-chapter fic The first chapters are being edited and expanded upon so there are new parts! The first chapter is already posted! I really appreciate you all reading this and would love it if you check out the new Beneath the Alder Tree as well! Special thanks to wannabewonderbender, SoapDuck, and peter pan's horcrux for talking through this with me. And thanks to everyone for all the support. You're all great! Now on to Day 19: Shiver!

The chills racked through her body. This wasn't supposed to happen. She was a healer. She rarely got sick and when she did it was mild and short lived. So why in La's name was this flu different. Her fever had been raging for the last two days leaving her with barely enough energy to rise from bed. All she could do was lie there shivering under her blankets, body aching. And of all places for her to get sick it had to be in the Fire Nation. You would think all of the hot headed firebenders heated the nation enough to stop her chills, but no, she was still freezing. She turned onto her side burrowing more deeply into the blankets.

She and Sokka were in the Fire Nation on diplomatic business. It was supposed to be a short trip, only a week or so, but her fever delayed the meetings and she felt nowhere near better. She heard the door open as her head pulsed. Sokka had been in to check on her earlier telling her to sweat it all out and she'd be better. Little good sweating was doing with these chills.

"N-n-not now, Sokka. J-just let me rest," she managed to stammer out.

"Oh, um sorry. I just was coming to see if you needed anything, but I can leave," a husky voice said uncertainly. Katara turned toward the door.

"Z-z-zuko? Why a-are you here? Don't you h-h-have meetings?"

"Well since you're sick a bit of free time came up," he said with a small crooked smile gracing his face.

"Oh," she muttered with a tinge of guilt and rolled over to face away again.

"Are you feeling any better?" she heard him ask as the floor boards creaked beneath the weight of his approaching feet.

She didn't reply. Instead she just huddled more deeply into her blankets trying to catch what little warmth there was in them and not shake like a leaf being rattled by the wind. She couldn't even stop her trembling when she felt a new weight on the bed.

Being so weak was humiliating, but in front of Zuko it was worse. She already had to deal with his advisors' disapproval of a woman being included in the trade talks, but since she became sick it was almost as if it confirmed that she couldn't handle it. (Even if it was through no fault of her own.)

The bed shifted again and she felt a warm hand on her forehead.

"You're still burning up, Katara? Hasn't any of the medicine helped?" Zuko asked with concern lacing his voice.

"Ha, b-buring up. M-more like freezing," she stuttered out.

"I think I can help with freezing," he replied. At this she felt the bed shift again and a warm, lean body settle next to her, pulling her in. She stiffened.

"I can help you warm up you know," the firebender whispered, tickling her ear. She felt his body heat increase and relaxed into his warmth. Her body still shook, but less drastically.

"Firebenders d-do have their uses then," she sighs as the heat enfolds her, her eyelids becoming heavier.

"I've always had my uses. Even if you refuse to recognize them," he chuckled. "Now, rest," he whispered.

"But won't you get sick?" She mumbled out as her eyes drooped lower.

"Doesn't matter. Sleep," he ordered as he held her closer and kissed her head.

And as she listened to his even breaths and heart beat her shivers subsided and she finally slept.

A/N 2.0: I hope you enjoyed this installment even though it is on the shorter side. Thank you once again and don't forget to check out Beneath the Alder Tree!