I already published this in my tumblr account yesterday and I thought I should post this in fanfiction too. I was in the shower when this idea came into my mind. Weird, huh? I can think more in the shower. I hope this one shot will tug your heartstrings. I'm new at the Hayffie fandom. I don't have a beta and I'm apologizing now if I made some mistakes. Have a great new year! And please accept me guys!

Disclaimer: Sadly, the characters aren't mine.

Never Again, Sweetheart

He woke up when he heard her scream. He was at her bedside in an instant. Her body was trembling. He didn't know what to do. He can't shake her because her body was still weak. But he can't take it anymore to see her in pain so, he acted on his instinct.

He hugged her until her trembling and whimpers stopped.

She slowly blinked her eyes. She found out that she was sitting on her hospital bed and she was wrapped in the arms of someone.

"Haymitch?" her voice was weak and shaky.

She looked confused, he thought. "Nightmare," he said. He didn't want to give her more details thinking that it might trigger a panic attack or something.

She nodded. Her nightmares became frequent now that her body was slightly healed.

She didn't leave his arms. She felt it was comfortable and … safe. "Does it stop?" She whispered after a long moment of silence.

He creased his brows. "Stop what,Princess?"

"The nightmares… The pain… Does it stop?" she whispered, afraid to know the answer but her eyes were pleading him to say yes, it does… in a matter of time. But she knew that would be a lie or a fantasy.

"No, it doesn't. At least for me, it doesn't." He answered truthfully and tucked her chopped off blond hair in her ear.

"I want it to stop." She looked down and a tear fell from her eye.

He caressed her face and brushed her tear with his thumb. He tilted her head and made her look at him. He wanted to say something to make her feel better but he knew that nothing can make it feel better.

"It hurts so much, Haymitch…" her broken voice cut deep into his heart.

The woman that annoyed him and irritated him was the constant reminder of the Capitol and what the Capitol did to him and yet here he was, taking care of the face of the Capitol. He wanted to make her feel better but all he could say was, "I'm so sorry, Eff," because I left you, because I wasn't there to protect you and because I didn't know how important you are to me until you were taken away from me.

She shook her head. "No… it wasn't your fault. You didn't know that they'll take me and –"

"But Eff –" she put her bandaged hand on his lips.

"I'm not blaming you." Her blue eyes flickered in the poorly lit room. "Just – stay."

He nodded and moved to go back to the chair but her lithe hand grasp his arm as tightly as her wounded hand can manage. "I'll stay. 'M just going back to the chair."

She shook her head lightly. "Stay here," she pleaded with her eyes and patted the space that he occupied minutes ago.

"But you've got wires on you, Princess. I might –"

"You won't hurt me, Haymitch." Her tone was clear and sure. She was safe with him. She knows that. Deep inside she knows that he never wanted to hurt her.

He inhaled deeply and pushed the covers of her hospital bed. He settled on the side with fewer wires and put an arm around her. She wrapped an arm across hiss midsection and laid down her head on top of his chest.

"Don't leave, Haymitch." She whispered before drifting off to sleep.

He didn't know if she was awake or not when he promised, "Never again, sweetheart."