Hesitant to agree, but recognizing that they would be of no help here, while she slept, they decided that some hours of shut eye may be more helpful then watching her breath. It had been a long decision, but now they were laying down on the decidedly not Fire Nation style beds in the next room, as Toph grumbled a bit that she could barely feel her surroundings on them. She did not have the strength to move the bedding to the floor though, so she simply collapsed into it.

Healer Tibet in the meanwhile had sat down next to his young charge, turning of most of the lights in hopes of making her more comfortable and begun contemplating what he should do. The young girl had collapsed over four hours ago and since woken three times. During none of them had she been responsive. This was turning into more than just a simple panic attack. He could understand of course; being married to the monster that was the Fire Lord had to be draining and terrifying. Perhaps this hadn't been her first panic attack and the last ones had led to unpleasant consequences? Perhaps she had been hurt for the perceived weakness?

None of her friends seemed to know of anything of the kind, but then it wasn't unusual for victims of abuse to try to hide it and in her case she would be even more strongly convinced to keep it hidden since her family wouldn't be able to do anything anyways. No one was.

This however didn't exactly calm him. If her husband treated her badly, then why had she been al...

A cold piece of metal pushing against his throat broke of any further thoughts. "What happened to her?" A dark, rough voice asked.

So the Fire Lord had send out a watchdog to check on his wife? If he were to see anyone in this building in proper lighting they would be damned, so he was grateful for having darkened the room.

"Her royal Highness has had a panic attack for unknown reasons and has since had difficulties calming down." No sense in lying, when he didn't know if his attacker had any medical training.

No reaction was given to show that he had understood, instead the next question followed immediately: "Who are you?"

"My name is Tibet and I am the local healer."

Again the next question followed immediately: "Where are her companions?"

Good, another question he could answer. "Resting."

The young Fire Lady seemed to notice that a new person was in the room and gently stirred. But instead of moving towards her or continuing his interrogation the stranger took the cup of water and heated it in his hands before adding something from a pouch around his waist. If the healer didn't know any better he would have thought it smelled like Jasmine tea, but that simply couldn't be.

Now fully awoken, the waterbender turned towards the intruder. Her eyes widened, when she took in the mask and the black clothing. This was it, Healer Tibet worried. Seeing a stranger in her bedroom would definitely send her over the edge, if her earlier break down hadn't already, but to his surprise she simply continued looking.

"Hey," his voice seemed to have changed completely, being softer and gentler than it had been before. The Lady appeared to be confused for a little while, but interestingly enough not frightened. When the cup of supposed tea was handed to her she took it without complaint and drank slowly, surprising the doctor yet again. All water or tea they had offered her had been firmly refused so far, only upsetting her further.

When she had finished he took the cup from her and sat down on the corner of the bed. "Want to tell me what upset you so much? I worried when none of you came back on time."

That seemed to have been too much, as tears started to fall again, but when the strange man gently took her into his arms she did not fight, rather huddling into him. He seemed slightly awkward at first but then began to strike her hair and mumble soft nonsense. At some point he even removed his mask and seemed to pepper her head with light kisses, bundling her with blankets to keep her warm. Whether it were the kisses, or the mumbled nonsense or simply the closeness to this strange man healer Tibet had no way of knowing, but he could not help but come to the conclusion that the man had to be her lover. The touches were too well practiced and accepted to be those of a stranger and he obviously was not her brother, since he was sleeping in the next room and had been unable to do anything for the Lady.

Finally Katara calmed and accepted another cup of warm tea, smiling gently at her companion, before giving him a quick peck on the forehead. "It'll be alright Katara, we will find a way. Don't worry so much." He said as he pulled on his mask.

"I know we will," she smiled. "We always do."

And just as quickly as he had appeared he was gone again.

Hi,

This very small piece originally belonged in chapter 41 the fearful, where Katara wakes up for the last time. Cut out because it simply wasn't realistic, I thought that some of you might enjoy the fluff none the less. Well here it is.

Greetings Yorushike