[This is the last chapter. I just wanted to thank everyone for reading and writing reviews. You guys are really the reason why I care so much about telling stories and I hope you will stick with me and read some of my other stuff! Enjoy the last chapter. It's a bit bitter-sweet, but I hope you all like it.]

Prison Break 10

The air was warm inside of the healing hut where everyone gathered to await Korra's recovery. It felt like they had been waiting for an eternity in a horrible tense silence that was only reserved for funerals…

Lin sat close to the door where Katara was working on Korra. She was leaning forward on her knees and nervously wringing her hands together. It was taking too long, she thought. Korra should have come out by now. Maybe something went wrong… Maybe even Katara was powerless against Amon's bloodbending skills.

She glanced sideways, attempting to chase these thoughts from her mind. Everyone looked so exhausted; the long journey south and the constant worry seemed to weigh on the collective energy of the group, capturing all of them in a dazed state of being tired but unable to sleep. If only Korra would walk out of there already with a smile on her face…

As Lin gazed around the room at all of the people who cared about Korra she briefly felt overwhelmingly envious. None of these people really cared if she got her bending back; after all, they were all only here to support the Avatar. She let her eyes rest particularly on Korra's parents who sat close together on her right, Senna's head resting tenderly on Tonroq's shoulder. She couldn't help but wish that her own mother was there to help her through all this; it would certainly make her feel less alone. All of the Tenzin nonsense was definitely not helping either…

Righting herself forward, Lin buried her face in her hands and sighed for the hundredth time that day. If only that doorway would just open… As she leaned on her knees again, she shook her head to relieve herself of the temptation to give up hope, but her strength was fading fast with the passing minutes and sadness crept over again. It was taking too long, she thought again. She wasn't going to get her bending back…

With that thought stuck in her head, the sound of wooden door sliding open was not a happy occasion, but a fearful one. Lin looked up immediately to realize her worst worry; Katara's grim face as she emerged from the room where Korra now sat alone.

As Katara closed off the room and walked forward, everyone stood in anticipation of her news. Lin readied herself for what was to come, but she knew it couldn't be good.

Katara looked at everyone and with despair in her voice she spoke softly. "I tried everything in my power, but – I cannot restore Korra's bending…"

There it was. It was as if a huge weight had been dropped down on them from above… Everyone was quiet and unable to fathom what this may hold for the future. Everyone but Lin – Lin was more concerned about the now. She was not going to take this for an answer until she knew for sure that it was impossible for her to be healed. She surprised everyone and even herself when she spoke up.

"But you're the best healer in the world" Said Lin with desperation in her voice as she leaned forward to address the old woman. "You have to keep trying!"

Katara looked up at her with sad eyes, knowing what this meant for Lin even though their top priority was their concern for the Avatar. "I'm sorry, but there's nothing else I can do." She said quickly and returned to her previous thought. "Korra can still airbend, but her connections to the other elements have been severed."

Severed… It was a good word to use to describe how it felt as well. Lin bowed her head, letting the notion sink in. Before she could come up with any real thoughts, the door slid open again and this time Korra stepped out, looking sad and beaten. Despite her own loss, Lin felt deeply pained for Korra; she did lose three elements instead of just one after all. She wondered what she was going to say thinking that maybe she would be able to get through this as long as Korra was strong enough to.

Korra looked out at the small crowd of her friends and family, feeling like they were waiting for her to say something inspiring or optimistic, but she was neither wise nor in a place to muster up a positive attitude. She had let everyone down – she was a failure as the Avatar.

Tenzin was the one to speak. "It's going to be alright, Korra" Said Tenzin caringly, but Korra new better.

"No. It's not…" She said in a soft voice and pulled on her winter coat as she left the healing hut.

At these words, it all became real again. Korra's bending was gone forever and so was hers… Lhe bowed her head again and did not watch her leave. She knew exactly how she felt – defeated, a failure, scared, alone…

After Korra left, everything going on outside of her own head was a blur. Mako left quickly and was shortly followed by Tenzin, Korra's mother was crying softly into her husband's shoulder, and the kids asked Pema multiple questions that she did not have the answers to. Lin maintained her fixed position, unsure of what would happen if she let herself go.

A hand on her shoulder broke her from the trance and she looked forward.

"My son told me what you did for my last airbenders" Said Katara warmly. "Your mother would have been proud."

Lin didn't know what to say – she couldn't think of anything that would match the caliber of this compliment; not to mention, they hadn't seen each other in over 12 years. She just leaned down and received a hug as Katara wrapped her in her motherly arms that seemed much smaller than she remembered.

"It is good to see you again." Katara uttered softly.

Lin nodded and responded with a gentle squeeze then pulled away. By this time, Tenzin had returned and he walked straight toward Lin and his mother. He stood there awkwardly for a moment unsure of what to say – he had dragged her all the way down to the South Pole only to discover that he couldn't help her after all. At this point, all he could offer were his condolences.

"Lin…?" Tenzin called carefully when she did not look up at him. After a moment he reached out to comfort her but she jerked away.

"I – I need to be alone." She sputtered and walked past everyone just as Korra had as she grabbed the coat she borrowed before she exited the building.

Slowly she walked away from the huts with each step crunching as she treaded atop the blanket of fresh, white snow. She didn't know where she was going, but that didn't matter; she just needed to go. Because of the cold, she was no longer only mentally numb. She left through the large doors of the White Lotus compound and continued out into the unknown, presumably toward the ocean.

Wishing that her metal uniform could finally come off because it was making her much colder than she needed to be, Lin pulled the collar of her coat up around her neck again. At least it wasn't snowing anymore, she thought.

After a long while of walking aimlessly with her hands stuffed in her coat pockets and her head staring down at the footprints she was making, she finally looked out into the distance. Ahead was a structure that seemed like a lookout station because it was located near a cliff by the water. It wasn't the building that intrigued her, however; it was the collection of large boulders positioned in a circle around it – and it drew her there. As she arrived next to the first heap of stone, she set her hand gingerly on its cool surface and gazed back the direction from where she came. She must have rounded the mountain because she could no longer see the compound. Perfect.

Slowly, she made her way to the stone steps where she decided to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet. Lin rubbed her hands together and breathed on them to stimulate some heat and then placed them on her facial extremities to prevent them from the sensation that they were going to freeze off.

She was by herself again, but this time she didn't feel like crying. She already got all of that garbage out the day before. Now all she wanted were solutions. What was going to become of her life? What was she going to do when she returned to her home in Republic City? All she ever knew was how to be a police chief, but now all of those years of mastering her role and perfecting her talents were completely useless.

With these thoughts conflicting inside her mind, she averted her attention to the boulders and began inadvertently memorizing every inch of them. When she was a little girl and her mom was first teaching her how to bend, she taught her an exercise where she had to duplicate the shape of a rock formation. To do this, she was forced to recognize every point, crack, and abrasion – Toph used to say that one must first understand every particle of a material before being able to bend it. That is a mark of a truly great bender. Then she would blind fold her and make her do it using only her earthbending and sense of touch.

Lin couldn't help but chuckle to herself; this memory was of no use to her now. The only memory that seemed to help her was another famous mom quote. Whenever Lin was sad or something unfortunate happened with the family, friends, or work, Toph would always say it. "Keep moving forward." She whispered to herself.

With Mako sitting behind her on Naga, he and Korra rode together back to the healing hut to find the others to tell them what she had just experienced. She finally connected with her spiritual self and she finally entered the avatar state. They both ran up and quickly realized that no one was in there.

"Let's try the cafeteria. It's dinner time." Mako suggested.

"Good idea." Korra agreed as they took off again.

As they arrived inside of the building, they noticed everyone sitting around a large table drinking hot tea and munching on seaweed crisps before dinner.

"This tea is freezing cold." Tenzin complained and set it back on the table with a frown.

"Want me to heat that up for ya?" Korra asked to get their attention and produced a small flame in the palm of her hand.

A collective gasp and a million unanswered questions later, Korra was surrounded by smiling faces and hugs.

"How did this happen?" Tenzin asked simply after everyone had passed on their warm congratulations.

"I finally connected with my past lives. Aang – he spoke to me and was the one who restored my bending" Said Korra gratefully.

"You – You saw my father?" Tenzin asked, tears forming in his eyes.

"Oh, I didn't just see him – I learned something from him. But there's no time to explain." She pushed through them all and glanced around the room again. "Where's Lin?"

Asami was confused like the rest, but she stepped forward and spoke. "She walked off about an hour ago, but nobody's seen her since."

"We have to find her. Everyone follow me" Said Korra loudly as she made her way out the door. Each of them obeyed except for the airbender kids who were expressly told to stay put and eat dinner so they would stay out of the cold. Even Katara joined in on the search.

"Naga can track her." Korra said as they peered out at the white wilderness from the main gate.

"I don't think that will be necessary." Katara said and pointed to a trail of footprints leading toward the seaward mountains. After helping Katara onto Naga's back so she wouldn't have to walk all too far, they set off following the footprints that would lead them to Lin.

After getting used to the sounds of nature, it was easy to hear the disruptive noises made by people. Lin craned her neck forward to try and find the source of the distant murmurs and shifting of snow. Soon, Korra arrived from around the corner followed by Mako, Bolin, Asami, Tenzin and Pema, Senna and Tonraq, and Katara riding on top of Naga.

Lin sighed. Why did they all have to come and ambush her like this? It was the absolute last thing she wanted or needed. Just before she was about to get angry and reclusive, she realized that Korra was the one leading the pack. Korra came back, but she didn't appear to be sad anymore – she looked determined. Lin stood. Did Korra get healed after all? Could she possibly have some sort of solution for their shared problem?

"I'm so – glad we – found you" Said Korra as she slowed from a run to a breathless walk.

"What's all this about?" Lin asked and crossed her arms.

"I – I got my bending back – see?" Korra swung a punch in the direction of the boulder to her left and sent a few chunks flying off it.

Lin's eyes widened and her spirits lifted as she approached her. "The healing – it worked?" She asked.

"Well, no, Not exactly." Said Korra and explained to her what happened as the others caught up.

Lin just felt her heart sink and envy overcome her. Everyone was staring at her now so she did not want to make a fool out of herself. "Congratulations, Avatar." She said coldly and turned away.

"No, you don't understand." Korra responded quickly and moved to her side so she could speak at a whisper. "I was also given the ability to restore a person's bending – I can give you your bending back."

Lin studied her quizzically, wondering if this was something she was actually capable of. "What? How do you know?" She asked seriously.

With a side smile and a shrug, Korra replied, "I just do. Avatar stuff."

Lin thought for a moment. Would this actually work? It had never been done before, she thought.

"And look, it's the perfect place to do it." Korra continued and gestured to the stone formations. Lin set her eyes on the towering rock wanting more than anything to have the ability to move it.

"I don't know." To tell the truth, she was more afraid of the possibility of getting her hopes up again.

"I can make everything go back to normal. Please. All you have to do is kneel so I can reach you properly."

Korra walked up the steps to the first platform of the guard post and turned to look down toward her. "Let me fix this. Trust me."

For a moment she hesitated – Korra was inexperienced and Lin had no reason to trust her judgment after all of the crap she pulled in Republic City. But then she remembered what Korra had just said; she had connected with the past Avatars – with Aang. If Aang was somewhere in there, he would not let Korra fail her.

Slowly, Lin climbed the steps and made eye-contact with Korra as she knelt down in front of her. No turning back now, she thought as Korra approached her. She straightened slightly and closed her eyes feeling comforted by the idea that she was in the hands of an old friend.

It was like nothing she ever felt before – Her whole body tingled as if her actual energy was being shifted around and concentrated at the crown of her head and in the wells of her chest where Korra had placed her hands. Even though her eyes were closed, a bright, white light seemed to engulf her vision – but it was not blinding, it was beautiful. In an instant, all of that energy vibrated in a rush through her whole body, reaching from her toes to her fingertips. The light subsided and Korra lifted her hands away.

From the moment she opened her eyes, she felt the change – it was familiar and new at the same time. She glanced up at Korra who nodded to indicate that it was time.

As Lin stood, something just clicked; she concentrated on each of the boulders that she had memorized before and then she stepped forward and raised her arms above her head. After a moment's delay, each one of those heavy pieces of earth hovered high in the air to the wonderment of the crowd. She could barely believe it herself as she felt her strength returning to her once more. She let go her grip and with a rumble and they all landed back in position around the building. She turned to Korra with an actual smile on her face, feeling overwhelmingly grateful.

"Thank you" Said Lin genuinely as Tenzin walked up the stairs.

"I am so proud of you – Avatar Korra."

After Korra returned Lin's bending, she explained everything – how she could go into the avatar state, what Aang said to her, and how he helped her to know this new skill. Overjoyed, Tonraq invited everyone to go back to the kitchen for dinner and drinks to celebrate to which most everyone heartily agreed. As Bolin put it, "All of this Avatar stuff is making me hungry!"

As everyone turned to leave, Lin hung back.

"Aren't you coming, Lin?" Korra asked before she went to join the rest. Tenzin looked back to see her answer as well.

"I just need a few minutes." She said through a calm smile and nodded to tell them to go on without her. And they did.

Lin sighed, but this time it was not out of anxiety. Relief filled her being at the realization that she was finally free again. She ran over and touched the same cool stone as before, now able to sense its presence and understand each particle. At no other point in her life did she feel happier to be normal.

As they strode back to the compound, Tenzin glanced back multiple times – he didn't want to leave Lin alone. She deserved a celebration as well and as her friend he could not let her spend this occasion on her own. Plus, he wanted to tell her how wonderful he thought all this was without feeling awkward to do so. They had not had any real time alone since they were escaping in that godforsaken tunnel when their circumstances were quite different.

Just before they were about to round the corner, Tenzin stopped and gently pulled Pema aside. "I'll be along soon, dear." He said and kissed her affectionately on the cheek.

Not exactly happy about this, Pema cupped the side of his face and kissed him back. "Not too long, I hope."

"We'll be right behind you." He said reassuringly and smiled as he allowed her to move forward with the rest of the group. As they disappeared behind the mountain, Tenzin started back.

Lin was standing there, still fiddling with the rocks when it occurred to her that she had yet to try metalbending. She held out her wrist and flicked it to one side as a long metal cable shot out and flung through the air. She willed it to return and she let out an excitable "Yes!"

She hadn't noticed that Tenzin was there until she turned around to do it again.

A little embarrassed, but not enough to let it spoil her mood, Lin smiled and shrugged. She wanted to thank him but she didn't know quite how to do it.

After a second's pause Tenzin walked forward and without much warning, he embraced Lin tightly. As soon as she noticed that they were alone, she sunk into his arms without guilt feeling warmer than she had in days. She couldn't even describe how wonderful she felt; her bending was back, her future was not unclear, and Tenzin – he cared about her again. Why did he have to care about her again…? Lin wanted more than anything to stay in his arms and that is exactly why she pulled away.

"I'd forgotten what your smile looks like" Said Tenzin with a smile of his own.

Lin chuckled. "Same to you, Councilman."

"We've become very serious people."

"Indeed."

Again, they simply looked at eachother. Lin however was also attempting to hide true feelings and it was getting progressively harder with every kind word he spoke.

"I am so – glad that everything worked out. You must be relieved." This was a loaded statement for Lin to consider. On the one hand, she was back to normal, but on the other, she had to deal with her Tenzin problem now that her head was clear enough to rationally think of a solution.

"I am. Ready to go home more than anything." She answered with a nod.

"We might as well get started then" Said Tenzin and gestured back toward the compound.

Lin nodded and began to follow, but she was not ready to return just yet. Over the past few days, she was forced to face her feelings for Tenzin and now that she could finally think straight, she knew better than ever what to do about it.

"Tenzin, wait. I think we need to talk."

Fearing that he knew what this was about, he turned around with a confused expression to hide his inner thoughts. "Can it wait? Everyone's waiting for us back at the compound."

"Tenzin, please, don't run from this." She said in a soft voice. He couldn't fool her with the same cut and run move he used in the past. "It won't take long."

He studied her soft expression – one that he had only rarely seen – and then agreed. "Alright. What's on your mind?"

"First, I want to thank you for everything that you have done to help me the last few days. You didn't have to break me out of prison or bring me here – but you did. Thank you."

"Of course." Tenzin responded genuinely as if he was surprised that she said anything about it at all.

Hoping to get through this without revealing too much about her true feelings, she pressed on to the real thing she needed to say.

"After we return to Republic City, I think – that it would be best if – if I distanced myself from you and – we didn't see each other for a while." She managed to get out.

Taken aback by this statement and now thoroughly confused, Tenzin stepped toward her.

"But – why?" He asked.

"I think I just need some time to sort through things on my own." She responded, figuring that he would understand that she needed space to finally get over their history together.

"I'm sorry, but I still don't understand. Why don't you want to see me? And what is there to sort out?"

Was he truly that oblivious? Everyone, including the Avatar could see that she had conflicted feelings for him.

"Look, I don't really want to talk about it… But I have to ask you to respect my decision." She said and crossed her arms.

"I will, but first you have to tell me why. I thought we were on good terms again."

"We were – I mean – we are." Lin sighed, trying to get her thoughts straight.

"Then why can't we continue on that streak?

"Because it hurts, Tenzin." She regrettably uttered, but had to go on. "Remember what I told you in the tunnel that night right before you – told me off?"

"Oh…" Tenzin responded and awkwardly averted his eyes as he recalled her words. Even though it all happened so long ago, I still haven't moved past it…

"I don't want to come between you and your wife. That was not my intention. In fact, I don't really know what I was thinking when I said that, but that is beside the point. She and I don't get along for obvious reasons and despite my best efforts – she can see right through me when it comes to y–" Lin stopped herself and cleared her throat. "After I spoke to you that night something changed. I finally experienced some semblance of closure. I think that now I will finally be able to move on – like I should have done years ago. But I need you to understand that I need my space."

"I do understand… I just thought that – being friends again – isn't that was what you wanted?"

"It was." Lin said and really meant it. "And maybe we can share that again someday."

"It's a lonely road that you seek, you know." Tenzin said unhappily because he really did want to be there for her.

"I've been lonely a long time." She said with a sad chuckle. "You've been so – wonderful the past few days. I can only take so much of you being nice to me – before I do something that I would really regret." She didn't have to elaborate. Tenzin knew exactly what she meant.

"I can respect that." He said agreeably.

"I know it's not ideal, but I think it's for the best…"

Without another word, they began walking through the snow to get back to the compound.

"Well, what happens now?" Tenzin asked out of the silence. "Do we go back to cordial greetings and merely tolerating each other's presence?"

"No. We won't go back." Lin said after a moment. "We'll move forward."