Jake makes a dangerous exchange for his son's life back. The only condition? They have to go back to Earth. Unable to see an alternative, Jake takes his family back to Earth to fix up his son. What he doesn't bargain for was his children making small lives for themselves in the two years they are there.

"Alright... thanks, Norm. I doubt she'll do it, but I can try," Jake rubbed his head wearily. "I mean, what have you got to lose?" Jake cast a look into the family hut, sighing deeply. "Just out of curiosity, would you be able to make human bodies? Like you created Na'vi bodies?" At Norm's confused face, Jake elaborated. "I mean, the humans sure as hell won't like 10-foot-tall smurfs walking around. Surely you could make a human form... she might be more likely to agree,"

Norm pursed his lips, turning to Max. "Could we? I mean, in theory, we could." Jake's ears pricked up. "Well... it's making it from theory to reality." His ears fell down. "But, there's nothing saying we can't draw up some sketches and rough ideas, now, is there?" Jake shut his eyes, thanking Eywa. "Thanks, guys. Um... I'll do my best, and if you could get those sketches as similar as possible, that'd be even better," Jake bid goodbye. He sighed heavily, pinching his nose.

"Is everything ok, father?"

Jake turned, smiling softly. "Hey, I didn't know you were awake." His eldest son, Neteyam, lay in bed with a sour look. "S'not like I can do anything else, really, is it?" Jake huffed softly. "Oh, buddy. I remember being paralyzed. So, I do understand what you're going through. Believe me, I know it sucks," Neteyam's eye flicked up as if he were raising his eyebrows. "Yeah, well, I'm a forest Na'vi who can't fucking climb,"

Jake chose to ignore the language.

It'd been a rough ride for everyone, especially Neteyam, since the battle at Three Brothers Rock. Thanks to Tsireya, the chief's daughter (and apparent mate of Lo'ak, though that had to be confirmed by either party) and her quick thinking, she managed to keep the wound from bleeding long enough for Neteyam to stay alive.

It took many nights, and many infections (a lot of which Ronal thought he would succumb to) but he finally woke after around a week and a half. Jake had been struck with the horrible realisation that his son, his eldest boy, had fallen ill to the misfortunes of the spine and become paralysed. Neytiri didn't really understand what paralysis did or what it was like, but she tried. Tuk was especially too young to understand why her brother couldn't move anymore. Kiri kept her distance, only coming in when everybody else had left: something Jake knew Neteyam appreciated.

When you're stuck in a bed on your ass all day every day, the flow of people gets very annoying... but the lack of people is also very lonely.

And Lo'ak. Jake knew he wasn't to blame for the RDA shooting at kids (really, who the hell else could you blame except the shooter) but he also knew his youngest son was bullying himself over the event daily. He could see it in his eyes, the bags under them, and the number of bones slowly seeping through his blue skin every day.

Jake tried to speak to him, to ease his nightmares: but Lo'ak would shrug his hand off and sit by the water on his own. He hadn't once come in to check on his brother... at least not to Jake's knowledge.

Something hard hit his shoulder. Jake spun with a hiss. "I was calling you." Neteyam fiddled with the woven shawl over his lap. Jake shook his head. "What is it?" Neteyam looked like his year younger counterpart after they'd been caught sneaking up towards the old RDA base back in the forest. "Neteyam?" Jake prodded. "Um... I just... I was wondering if I could uh... go to the water... I uh... I see Lo'ak there every day and um... just want to talk to him,"

Jake bit his cheek in thought. "I don't see why not. Lo'ak will take care of you, I'm sure. I'll take you out at mealtime though, that way, there are fewer people around," Neteyam nodded with a small smile, twisting onto his side with a low hiss. Whether of pain or agitation, Jake didn't know.

He warned him to be careful anyway.

~

Later that night, satisfied Neteyam was safe with Lo'ak (and Tsireya being clued in as well, though she was watching from a distance), Jake broached his idea with Neytiri.

"No. Absolutely not,"

Well, that was quick. "Tiri, please listen," Jake pleaded, sitting down. His mate continued to pace angrily, her tail whipping behind. "Jake, I accepted abandoning my people before: I'm not doing it again."
"But this is the only way to restore his walking!" Jake snapped. Neytiri froze. "Babe, I know what it's like. Not being able to feel your legs, let alone walk. No feeling below the waist, at all. No swimming, no walking, no running, no nothing!" Neytiri's face betrayed no emotion. "And the pain, god, the pain." He knew he was pushing in too deep, but he wasn't gonna let Neteyam suffer in silence for the rest of his life. Not when there was help less than a hand away.

"There wasn't this opportunity for me: but there is for him," Neytiri slowly sat down, thinking. "And... what would be done?" Jake frowned. "What do you mean?" She shook her hair, sighing softly. "What would we have to do? To get this done?" Jake wrinkled his nose. "Well... there are two options: both of which I know you'll hate."

Neytiri's eyes hardened. "Why." She demanded. "First one: is you stay here with the kids, and I'll take him to Earth to get him fixed up." She glared. "Or?" He looked away. "Or... you could try using a human body and come with us,"

She inhaled sharply. "Jake.... you're asking me to become a dream walker, a sky-person. The very same people who caused this in the first place! Or, what, stay here, on my own, for sixteen years?" Jake took her hands. "I know what this looks like: but when I tell you there's no other chance like this that'll come, or any other way out, I mean it. You think I wanna go back there? Back to the planet barely hanging on? Back to a place filled with horrid memories? No. My place is here, with you guys."

Neytiri sighed angrily. "I will take a walk on my own: to make up my mind. You will have my answer by morning," Jake watched as she walked away, her tail swishing angrily behind.

As he readied himself for mealtime, the door to the shack swung open harshly. "Woah, what the hell happened?" Jake rushed over, taking Neteyam from Lo'ak and Tsireya. "He kept saying he felt dizzy and sick, so we grabbed him and brought him back, but he passed out. He feels warm: I think it's another infection," Tsireya explained, looping her arm through Lo'ak. Jake puffed angrily. "He'll be fine. He just over-exerted himself. If he's no better in a few hours, I'll get your mom,"

He gave a tight-lipped smile to the young girl and tried to meet his youngest son's eyes, but they moved away. "Lo'ak, please," He all but begged. Lo'ak glanced at Neteyam's groaning form guilty: even a blind person could see such guilt. He walked off without a word.

Jake decided to leave mealtime that night: somebody needed to stay with Neteyam.

~

Jake awoke briefly in the night to a small leaf on his side with a simple: Fine written in Na'vi. Checking everyone was safely in the hut: save for Lo'ak (again) who was probably with Payakan or Tsireya, he rolled over and went to sleep.