Chapter 1
AN: This story takes place after the 74th Hunger Games have ended and Katniss runs into Haymitch's arms. The POV switches between Katniss's and Haymitch's
Update: Thanks to my first reviewer for pointing out some glaring grammatical issues. I appreciate the feedback. I hope I have corrected them all.
Haymitch
They're both alive. She's alive. As the hovercraft descends to the arena, I wait in anticipation for them both to be out of the arena, out of danger. I don't trust the Capitol to not kill one of them just yet.
When they both arrive on the train, relatively safe, Effie, Cinna and I are waiting for them in the car furthest from the front. When the door opens Peeta walks straight to Effie and gives her a hug. Then he turns to Cinna and shakes his hand. To my surprise, Katniss runs straight into my arms.
"Haymitch, thank you," she says, putting her arms around my neck, almost knocking me off balance. I put my arms around her in return and tuck her head under my chin.
"For what?"
"You saved my life," she whispers. "Thank you."
"I don't know if I can take the credit for that, sweetheart."
"Just take the compliment, Haymitch," she scowls, looking up at me.
"Fine, You're welcome, sweetheart," I say in the most sarcastic voice I can manage."
"You're impossible, you know that?" she says taking a step back and slapping my chest playfully.
"I try," I say with a chuckle.
"Just shut up for once, will you?" she says, placing a finger over my lips to silence me. In an effort to gross her out, I flick my tongue out and lick her finger.
"You're filthy, sweetheart."
"Well excuse me," she says, rolling her eyes. "You licked me, remember?"
"That I did. I regret that decision. I was trying to gross you out. Instead, I accomplished the opposite."
"Well, I guess I'll go shower then," she says, putting her hands on my chest and giving me a playful shove.
"You do that, sweetheart."
"You should do the same," she says, wrinkling her nose. "You stink. What's your excuse?"
"Just go shower," I grumble. She's right. I should shower. I haven't showered since her games started. I haven't really slept either. I was too busy watching the cameras. I'm not sure why, but I was anxious the whole damn time, worried that she might not make it out alive. I did what I could, but there were times when I thought for sure that I had failed her. But just like everything else about her, she surprised me yet again when she came out alive. She's alive. I still can't believe it. It still hasn't sunk in. She was wrong though: I didn't save her life. If anything, I've made it worse.
I am lost in my own thoughts when I take a look at the time. It's been nearly twenty minutes since Katniss went to go shower. Is that normal for girls? Do they all take this long in the shower? Should I go check on her to make sure she's alright? No, that'd be weird, right? When another ten minutes has gone by and she still hasn't returned, I decide to go and check on her.
When I don't hear the water running. I knock once. "Katniss, you alright in there? You didn't smell that bad," I say, trying to be lighthearted. When I don't hear a response, I knock again, louder this time. "Katniss, sweetheart, are you in there." I listen carefully, pressing my ear to the door. Then I hear it. It's faint, but it's there. Crying. "Katniss?" Her breathing becomes short as she sobbs harder. "Katniss, I'm coming in, alright?"
Surprisingly, the door is unlocked. When I open it, I find her on the floor, beside the bathtub, wrapped in nothing but a towel. When I enter, she looks up at me with her tear-stained face. "Come on, let me help you up, sweetheart."
"OK," she mumbles through a sob. I walk in, crouch beside her, and pick her up. She's so light and fragile. My chest tightens and a lump forms in my throat. She doesn't deserve this.
When she places her arms around my neck and her head on my chest, my heart starts racing. I tell myself that it's just because I 'm glad she's alive. But I know there's something else. Whatever it is, it doesn't matter right now. She's here, in my arms, and safe.
AN: Thanks for reading. If you liked it, please leave a review. They really mean a lot to me.