Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender

Author's Note: Chapter 14 review responses are at the end. I have over 120 reviews! Thank you so much, everyone! The chapter title is inspired by the song "The Battle's Roar is Over" from Gilbert & Sullivan's Ruddigore. Just as a warning, this chapter gets a little graphic, but I feel the details are important for establishing the scene. I have drawn some things from my CPR and First Aid classes.

Battle's Roar

Katara took a moment to survey the situation before plunging in. It appeared that Iroh and Zuko had been successful in drawing Azula out, as the three of them were fighting on the far ridge. The machine stood motionless, the other two girls staying safely inside for the moment. Aang was trying to use air to push it over, but it stood firm. Suddenly, a bundle of arrows shot out the front at him, reminding Katara of what Iroh had said about other weapons. Aang leapt high to avoid most of them, and sent the rest gusting back toward their source. It didn't look like he'd noticed his reinforcements yet, which was probably good. The last thing he needed right now was to be distracted.

Sokka threw his boomerang at one of the legs on the left, catching a joint. To everyone's surprise, the joint stiffened, making the thing list a little to one side.

"Go for the legs!" Sokka called out. Katara complied, tossing water at another leg and freezing it. At her signal, Sokka threw his boomerang again, hitting the joint squarely and making it shatter. Now the upper part of that appendage was dangling uselessly above the ground. Meanwhile, Toph went to the other side and opened a crack in the ground, sinking two of the legs on the right. The third teetered on the edge of the crevice and began to slide, and Aang threw a rock at it, forcing it the rest of the way. As the machine tilted, another attack launched from the portal in front, this time a volley of daggers. The angle of their flight was affected by the machine's unexpected movements, and Aang was caught out of position from his recent earthbending tactic. He jumped again, avoiding the main cloud, but he turned the wrong way. Two errant knives landed solidly in his body, interrupting his graceful arc and sending him towards the ground.

"Aang!" the cry was ripped from Katara's throat almost against her will. Before she even realized what she was doing, she had broken into a dead run toward him.

Between one breath and the next, Aang's eyes and tattoos were glowing as the Avatar State showed itself in its full, terrifying glory. He stopped his fall, holding his body up in a whirlwind. For a moment, everything seemed to stop as everybody present paused to take in the events that were unfolding. Out of the corner of her eye, Katara thought she saw movement. She dared to turn her head briefly and saw Ty Lee and Mai climbing out of the top of the metal bug.

The blank eyes of the furious Avatar focused on the source of his pain and stretched out a hand. Katara lurched to a stop, following the line of his aim with her eyes. He sent lightning out at the machine just as the two girls jumped clear. Katara had to look away as the bright flashes crackled through the structure. Explosion after explosion erupted until, at last, there was silence except for the whipping of the wind. When Katara looked again, the machine was nothing but a crumpled, blackened husk. She was dimly aware of Ty Lee and Mai backing away from the spectacle that was currently Aang, but she couldn't worry about them right now.

Although she had no idea how she could know this, Katara was absolutely sure that Aang would die if he didn't come out of the Avatar State soon. He was burning up too much energy. Even now, he seemed to be searching for new targets on which to vent his wrath. Shielding her eyes against the cyclone, Katara walked straight into it, standing beneath the Avatar. She reached up and grasped an ankle, bringing the cold gaze down to regard her.

"Aang, it's over," she told him, shouting to make herself heard. "Please, you have to come back. We need you. I need you."

The features softened as Aang looked at her, eyebrows moving from their angry, downward furrow into upward arches and mouth relaxing from its tight frown. He came toward her in response to her gentle tug, and the wind died away. Before he reached the ground, he closed his eyes and the brilliant glow faded. Katara settled him down on the packed earth, partly supporting his upper body. When the Avatar's eyes opened again, they had returned to the familiar gray, full of pain and questions.

"…tara?" he managed, slowly focusing on her.

"Shh, don't try to talk," she warned. "You've been badly hurt." She looked up to see Sokka, Toph, and Suki coming toward her.

"Try not to move him," Sokka advised. "He may have internal bleeding." As if to prove this, Aang coughed, leaving a froth of blood on his lips. Katara slowly and carefully lay him down, then gently wiped the blood away with a corner of her dress.

"C-cold," Aang struggled to tell her. Katara's eyes widened.

That's not a good sign. So much blood! I don't know if I can do this.

You don't have a choice.

But look at him!

Calm down and take care of him. You can freak out later.

Right. Katara took a couple of deep breaths to steady herself. For the first time, she began to wish that she had taken a few more healing classes at the North Pole.

Now, think. He's coughing up blood. What does that mean?

His lung. The knife got his lung.

Right. And he's cold. Which means?

Excessive blood loss.

Maybe. Or?

"He's going into shock," she said aloud, turning to Sokka. "See if you can find a blanket or something to keep him warm."

"I have a better idea," Sokka replied. He rummaged cautiously about Aang's belt until he withdrew the bison whistle. He blew on it a couple of times. "That should bring Appa with whatever supplies are still on his saddle. If nothing else, he's warm and furry, right?"

"Okay. You two, get me some water," Katara addressed the two girls. She unslung her water container, bent the remaining water out of it, and tossed it to Suki. "I think I'm going to need a lot of it." She didn't bother to make sure they were doing what she asked. All her attention was focused on her patient right now.

Fortunately, the daggers had hit fairly low on his torso, one in the gut and the other just under the ribcage. Still, they were buried deep inside, and it would take all of her concentration to bring him out of this. Katara looked around at the ground to find out what kind of knives these were. She thanked all the gods that might be listening that they were straight-edged. Had they been jagged, she might have been out of her league. Sokka kneeled on Aang's other side.

"Are you okay?" he asked her, concerned.

"No," she answered honestly, gesturing at the bleeding boy before her. "Should I be?" Sokka gripped her wrist.

"You don't have to do this," he said quietly. "Maybe we can find--"

"There's no time," she asserted, not meeting his eyes. "I can do this." Sokka released her but stayed close.

"Can I help?"

"Yes. Pull his shirt away from the knives. Tear it as much as you have to."

Sokka obeyed, and Aang winced a few times as the cloth stuck to the open wounds. Katara infused the water with her healing ability and then, holding it suspended with her right hand, grasped the lower knife in her left. She steeled herself for what she was about to do. Aang was staring blankly at the sky, his breathing labored.

"Hold him as still as you can," she instructed her brother, who took a firm grip on the Avatar's shoulders. "This is going to hurt. I'm sorry," she added in a whisper as she pulled the knife out as straight and smoothly as she could. Aang stiffened and cried out, and Katara bit her lip at the sound. Blinking back tears – she didn't have time for them now – she plunged the healing water into the wound. She couldn't see all the way down, but she tried to concentrate on healing the lowest point first and working her way upward.

The sights and smells of what she was doing made Katara want to retch, but this, too, was something she couldn't afford. Noting that she was still holding the bloody knife, she tossed it aside. She also pulled the rust-colored water out and poured it onto the ground, dismayed that it had not been enough to heal all the way to the surface.

Somewhere during this process, Aang had fallen mercifully unconscious, so Sokka released him. A shadow passed over them, and Katara looked up to see Appa coming in for a landing. He immediately tried to sniff at Aang, but Sokka pushed his nose aside.

"Not now, big guy," he murmured, and the bison grunted in response. "We're doing everything we can." He climbed up onto the saddle to see what he could find. Meanwhile, Suki and Toph had returned with water. Suki carried Katara's bending pouch and laid it almost reverently on the ground in front of her. Toph had two canteens over her shoulder, which she also dropped.

"Is he going to be okay?" Suki asked anxiously.

"I hope so," Katara answered quietly, unstoppering one of the containers randomly and healing the rest of the first injury. Katara did not acknowledge them any further, too absorbed in her task. The second dagger was trickier because she knew it had damaged at least one vital organ. She had to withdraw it very meticulously and try to mend the lung first, then everything else. Sokka came down from the saddle with his black cloak and laid it across Aang's chest and shoulders.

Finally, the wounds were closed, and Katara sat back, drained. She pulled the cloak over more of Aang's body. Huddled under it, he looked so small and helpless, a stark contrast to the powerful being he had been just minutes before. Katara only wished she could be sure she'd healed the inside as well as the outside. Suddenly, an idea occurred to her. She'd never tried it before, but it just might work.

"Sokka, lift his head just a little," she ordered, taking another dose of water between her hands. Sokka complied, and Katara patiently directed the healing flow in a tiny stream going down Aang's throat. His swallow reflex allowed him to drink it, even while unconscious. Katara chewed her lower lip in thought. "How long does it take water to get through the body?"

"I don't know. Half an hour?" Sokka guessed.

Katara indicated that Sokka should move, and she took his place, resting Aang's head on her lap as she settled in to wait.

"Where is everyone else?" she asked, finally taking a moment to look at her surroundings. Toph sat a short distance away, looking alert, but no one else was visible.

"Suki's warriors took off after Ty Lee and Mai when they started running. They won't chase them too far, though, so she went to meet up with them and hear their report when they get back. I'm not sure about Iroh and Zuko; I kind of lost track of them. They might have followed Azula for a while. I think Aang surprised all of them."

"You'd think they would learn."

"Well, none of them had seen the Avatar State before," Sokka pointed out. "I don't think hearing about it is quite the same as seeing it in action. Which reminds me, I should go explain things to Toph. This was her first experience with that, too."

Katara nodded her agreement. She wanted to be left alone with Aang, anyway. At last, Katara let herself go. Her body began to shake from the emotional stress she'd been under, and the suppressed tears began to flow. She turned her head so that they wouldn't land on Aang and wake him. When the crying had run its course, she wiped her eyes and turned her attention back to the young Avatar. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully, and she tenderly ran her fingers along his right temple. He sighed in his sleep and turned his head so that side was fully toward her. She smiled a little, for what felt like the first time in days, and took the invitation to rub his head a little longer.

As time passed, the others began to gather, though they seemed to be keeping a respectful distance from the waterbender and the Avatar.

The end of one-half hour drew near, and Aang's skin began to glow from within, confirming to Katara that the healing water was moving through his bloodstream. When it had run its course, Katara assumed that he would wake up. It suddenly occurred to her that there were a lot of people around. She would prefer to have a moment with Aang without an audience, especially one that included her older brother.

"Sokka!" she called, getting his attention. He turned toward her, and she tilted her head towards Appa, trying to suggest that he leave.

"What?" he mouthed. Katara sighed in exasperation, looked significantly at Aang and back to Sokka, took in everyone else with a glance, and gave an even more pronounced jerk of the head. Sokka's brow cleared as comprehension dawned.

"Oh, right," Sokka said aloud, glancing quickly between his sister and the boy sleeping in her lap. He turned to get everybody's attention. "Why don't I bring you all back to camp? I'll come back for the others in a few minutes." The glance he tossed over his shoulder told Katara that she better not need any more than that.

It was not long after the others had taken flight that Aang began to stir. His eyelids fluttered, and he looked at Katara, upside-down.

"Katara," he said, immediately trying to sit up. Katara rushed to help him, supporting him with one arm.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

"A little dizzy," he admitted, putting a hand to his head. He blinked a few times before focusing on Katara intently. "You came after me. Why?"

"Because I love you," she answered simply, echoing his own words. She watched as Aang's eyes showed first surprise, then disbelief. After that, it was as though a door had been opened, and a flood of emotion poured out at her, strong enough to take her breath away. Had he been hiding that from her all this time? She flicked her gaze toward his mouth, feeling her pulse race with what she had been wanting to do for longer than she had been willing to admit.

Katara leaned in, watching him mirror her movements before she closed her eyes and they finally completed what had begun in the Cave of Two Lovers. The kiss was amazing, somehow both ethereal and the most real thing she had ever done. She lost all sense of self as the pair of them blended into one, expressing feelings they'd both kept hidden far too long. When they separated, grinning foolishly at each other, she had no idea how much time had passed. All at once, Katara became aware that they were not alone.

In her absorption with Aang, Katara had failed to notice that Zuko and Iroh had not been among the group that Sokka had escorted away. As she hugged Aang tightly and gazed over his head at the two firebenders, she was distracted from any possible embarrassment by a sight she'd never thought she would see.

Zuko was smiling.

THE END

Author's Note: Yeah, I know; it kind of begs a sequel, doesn't it? This was as far as I wanted to get with this particular story, but fear not, faithful fans, for I have many ideas to put in a sequel to this, which might even go all the way to Aang's confrontation with the Fire Lord. I think I will still put it in the same categories to make it easier to find, even though there might be less romance involved. However, I do need a little break, so don't expect that to start until October. In the meantime, I'm thinking of writing a couple of songfics that might either fit in with this fic or be completely independent. And who knows? The next few new episodes might inspire me to do a oneshot here and there. Enjoy Secret of the Fire Nation this week!

Review responses:

Piper Aurora Potter: Thanks for the brownie. Hope you enjoyed the ending.

abcdef…: Yeah, long time, no see. It's nice to know you're still out there.

Gir the Insane…: Unfortunately, some viewers mistake Sokka's frequent use as comic relief for stupidity. He's one of the most complex characters in the show, which is why I have so much fun writing him. I may paint a rather rosy picture of him, but I just can't help myself. I know it will never happen in canon, but I liked the idea of having Katara realize how stupid she's been.

xenus: Well, I hope this one is your new favorite.XD It was actually harder to get right than I expected, considering that I've had the ending outlined since I started this project. The devil is in the details, as they say.

SnakeEyes16: Glad I could lift your mood. And of course they had to kiss! What kind of a romance story would this be if that didn't happen?

Blackwa: Thanks!

xXxEndangeredSpeciesxXx: That's okay; questions like that give me opportunities to explain my thinking. I often have a lot of "subtext" in mind that doesn't necessarily make it into the story.

frozenheat: Yay, drama! Sorry this chapter took me a little longer. Other obligations and lack of sleep made it hard for me to feel like I was doing it justice.

denythefreshmaker: Yup, you know it! I hope you understand now why I didn't want to introduce a love triangle three chapters from the end!

MyrmidonGuy: I missed you last chapter! I'm not a believer in just writing on and on because you can. When I begin a story, I like to have a solid beginning and ending in mind, plus a few high points to hit in between. Still, you can look forward to the continuation of these adventures.

Jini: laughs Well, my philosophy is that romantic/sexual tension is all well and good, but you have to release it eventually. You'd better hurry up with No One Else, or I might be tempted to write an ending for you!  You know, now that I don't have this story on the brain all the time.

dixpy131: I hope you and your friends enjoyed the ending. I hope you stay tuned for the sequel!

SilvrImage: Well, here it is!