A/N- This was born out of my need to do something Hunger Games related and post it. Anyways, long story short, this was basically inspired by Katniss and Peetas reunion in Mockingjay. It's set whenever the four get reunited after Broken Ground.

The idea is basically that Abeke doesn't come to realize her feelings for Conor till she almost loses him. I'll shut up now. Enjoy!

Abeke could do nothing but run. Run and run and hope it wasn't true. Thoughts blurred through her mind like the trees. The huntress blinked back tears.

Because she shouldn't be crying. No, no. Meilin was exaggerating. Conor was fine. A little sick, but okay. He'd be in his tent, resting, and see her. And he'd hug her, smile at her, tell her everything would be okay again. And suddenly it would be. Now that he was okay. Why would him being well make everything okay? She couldn't answer that. But for some reason it would. It didn't matter, because Conor was going to be fine!

Or so she told herself. Meilins warning words in her ears came back almost at a screeching pitch. 'He's gotten worse, Abeke. Much worst...I can't tell you how long he has...' As she got to the tent that was supposed to hold Conor, Abeke stopped only momentarily to shake the traitorous thoughts. Nothing was wrong with Conor. He was okay.

Opening the tent, she entered quickly. The sight would haunt her forever. Conor sprawled out on a cot, blankets covering all of him minus his face and arm. His face, gaunt and pale with beads of sweat on it. His arm was worst, scar tissue red and inflamed leading up and under the blankets. If she hadnit been assured he lived, Conor looked totally lifeless. For a second, she stands there in disbelief. What snaps her out of it are the tears that fall.

Sobs rack her body and her hands come to her face. Meilin and Rollan come in, hand in hand after her and try to say something that she doesn't hear. All her attention locked in the dyeing boy in front of her. She try's to gain control of herself, and does once she sees his chest rise and fall clearly. Hesitantly, she decided to step forward. Unsure if her legs could carry her the full five steps it'd take to be at his side.

They don't. She falls to her knees at the side of the cot.

After, again, assuring herself that he is breathing, she begins to cry again. Not sobs, but quiet cries as her hands finds his. At the feeling, a thousand memories flash through her head. When those hands had comforted her in ways no one else could. Held her strong when she felt she couldn't herself. What was she going to do now, if he didn't make it? She'd always been strong. But she didn't know if she could be anymore without him.

Her tears came faster at the though. "Conor..." She uttered. Meilins hand was on her shoulder than.

"Abeke, I am so sorry. Me and Jhi, we're doing all we can but..." The Zhongese girl trails off. It seemed she understood.

It helped Abeke find her words. "If he doesn't make it...what do we do? How will we go on? He was our leader. Always there for us. If Conor's gone...what-what do I do?" Abekes own eyes widened at the last sentence.

But she cried harder when she realized it was true. She wasn't sure how she would move on if Conor didn't pull though this. Not being able to see him. Not hearing his voice, or feel him hug her. Or even feel his presence. There'd be no one to go to. Or at least who understood. He was the only one. And if she lost him...the thought sent shivers along with tears. Almost subconsciously, the Niloan rested her forehead on his chest.

For a second, she was brought back to her mothers death. And the sight she saw when Soama brought her back to the hut. Her father, broken(as she was now) and desperately clinging on to her mothers nearly lifeless body(as she is now). All her thoughts or functions stopped for a moment with the next thing that went though her mind. That was love. Her father had loved her mother, and she was reacting the same way.

Abeke let the thought sink in. She loved Conor.

Without fear or consequences, Abeke rested her head under Conors chin and shook like a leaf. All her tears cried out by now. Out of all the times she felt stupid and silly, this was the worst. Falling in love with her best friend, and only realizing it on his death bed. Not knowing what she had till it was ripped from her.

Meilins harsher voice broke through to her. Holding a knife, Meilin approached her. "Abeke, move."

Without thinking, Abeke stood in front of the blond boy. "Meilin, what are you..."

"I'm getting that thing out of his arm." Meilin hissed. "That's what's killing him, and I'm going to cut it out."

A/N2- The ending was a bit spooky and shocking for a reason. All that angst got to my head...