Breakdown

(quick FinnickxKatniss hurt/comfort story)

Author's Note: 'kay, you know the drill. I don't own the Hunger Games or the characters. Just this specific scene. Enjoy! Also, please let me know how it is. I might add more if you like it! Thanks!

Chapter One-

I broke down at the table this time. I was eating dinner with Finnick, Haymitch, Gale, and Plutarch. It was fairly silent, as we rarely had anything to say to each other. And then it hit me again.

Peeta was not here. He wasn't here and I didn't know if he was safe. Hell, I didn't even know if he was alive! I just lost it. I never mean to, but it just happens. I start sobbing uncontrollably and turn into this emotional train wreck. It can take hours to get back to normal.

Plutarch and Haymitch are gone in a flash. My meltdowns are one of the few things they cannot deal with. Gale leaves soon after, telling Finnick it's "his turn" to try and calm me down. He tries to give me a hug, but I'm already in far too deep. Gale walks out the door, shaking his head.

I can't blame him. I'm such a different person now. I never would have dreamed of crying in public before. Now, it was a regular occurrence. Peeta being gone had changed me more than I would have ever cared to imagine. And it's not something I want to force Gale to deal with. I know it hurts him almost as much as it hurts me. After all, I know he cares about me too.

Finnick, attempting to figure out what to do, comes over and sits next to me. He takes my hands in his, brushes my hair back, and looks straight into my eyes. I'm startled by the gesture and the sobs stop momentarily. This is enough time to notice that his sea-green eyes are filled with tears too.

"I know how you feel," he whispers, never breaking eye contact.

I look into his eyes trying to figure out the man behind the façade. He puts on this mask, and acts so tough, but now I can see that he misses Annie the same way I miss Peeta. In that earth-shattering way, that makes you literally sick.

"Do you miss her?" I ask him quietly, searching his face, trying to see if he'll let his guard down.

He looks down at the floor. The tears start running, like a dam that's just burst. I hear him holding back the sobs.

"Yes. It's like a constant pain. And I see her everywhere. Every time I see long, brown hair or blue eyes, I think it's Annie. And for those few seconds, I'm happy. But when I realize it's not, my heart breaks again."

I just slump back into my chair. There's nothing more to say. That's how it feels when I see blonde hair, blue eyes, or even smell bread. I think of Peeta and for that split second, I'm happy again. Then reality pulls me back, and I realize it's not Peeta. He's gone.

I look at Finnick again. The tears are flowing freely and he looks like he's in the middle of a breakdown as well. He puts his arm around me and I lay my head on his shoulder. We both weep for the ones we've lost. We don't need to talk. After all, there's nothing more that we could possibly say. Grief like this is simply indescribable