The next day Haymitch watched helplessly as Effie shuffled from room to room of his house, staring into space, near tears. It wasn't exactly abnormal. Another bad day. She had them more frequently than not. He didn't know exactly what happened to her in the capitol prison. He'd pieced together some things from her screaming, others from the medical information her doctor had released to him when he had decided to take her back to 12 with him. They'd only been living together a month- well, not including the nights he came to her back in 13.

He took a swig from his flask and watched from the window as Effie lowered herself into the rocking chair on the porch, staring up at the clouds rolling overhead. This was getting out of hand. He knew from the get go that her recovery wasn't exactly going to be a jaunt through a bed of roses, but day by day she seemed to be getting worse. He watched as the wind blew her blonde hair into her face, getting caught in her lashes. She barely even blinked in response. Her lips were turning blue from cold and she shivered.

Haymitch downed the remainder of his drink and pulled the moth-eaten blanket from the couch as he stood up. He'd had enough. He was going to get answers out of her today. Pulling open the front door, Haymitch approached her from behind and draped the blanket over her shoulders. She tensed, drawing in a breath of surprise, but after a moment relaxing and sighed his name. Haymitch's lips twitched into a small smile. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Effie smiled weakly. A good sign. That was all they had. Nothing more intimate. A kiss here, a gentle hug there, but nothing more upon her request.

"It's freezing out here. You should come inside princess." Effie nodded slightly and allowed Haymitch to lead her back into the house. They sat down on the couch together. Haymitch looked her over in concern as Effie stared at the far wall.

"Hey," he brushed a lock of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. She didn't respond.

"Effie?" Still nothing.

"Effie." He tried more forcefully. She turned her head slightly, her eyes flickered up to his and then down to her lap.

"Yes?"

"We need to talk."

"No." She made to get up but Haymitch took hold of her wrist and gently pulled her back towards him. Effie bit her lip. He could see the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "I can't Haymitch," she whispered through gritted teeth.

"You can."

"You don't understand."

"Then help me to." He said it more forcefully than he meant, causing her to flinch. He sighed and rubbed his face with one hand, while wrapping the other around Effie's thin shoulder. "I just want to help sweetheart. That was part of why I brought you here remember?" She sniffled and a single tear rolled down her cheek. Haymitch brushed it away with his thumb and kissed her forehead, drawing her closer.

"I want to know what happened."

"No one should know what happened." Her voice quivered as she spoke. "No one should have to go through what I went through. It's- it's…" She struggled to find the words horrid enough to describe just what plagued her memories. "I just can't Haymitch." She mumbled in defeat.

"I need to know Effie. That's the only way we're going to be able to get though this and you know what. We can't go on like-"

"I watched you die Haymitch." His eyes widened in surprise.

"What?" She slowly raised her head and met his eyes.

"I watched you die." Her lip trembled and more tears came, flowing steadily down her face.

"But… how? Effie… I'm-"

"I know." Her hands clasped desperately onto his shirt. He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her protectively. "They drugged me Haymitch. I know that now, but then- Oh…" She whimpered and buried her face in his chest. He stroked her hair trying to calm her, all the while mulling over what she'd just told him in his mind.

"Talk to me sweetheart." He took her face in his hands and looked desperately into her deep blue eyes. She took a shaky breath before delving into the story.
It had started with the girl from last night's dream. The next day they had brought her food and water that she had hungrily devoured. A day later they had dragged in Peeta. She was forced once more to watch helplessly as they cut him away, bit by bit and was finally murdered in front of her very eyes. The next day she was brought more food. When she refused to eat, it was forced down her throat through a tube. The process was repeated this time with Katniss. Next it was Plutrach. The final trial had been Haymitch. She had spoken then. She gave information but not the information her captures wanted to hear. She had admitted how much and how long she'd loved him, but her words hadn't saved him. When his last breath left him she wanted death. She beat her head against the cement wall until she fell unconscious. When she came to she had seen them clearing the body, but it was no longer Haymitch. Like the girl, it was just another nameless prisoner. That was when Effie had realized her food had been spiked.

Haymitch listened in stunned silence as she recounted the horrors she'd seen. When she finished her tears had stopped falling. She wrung her hands and looked anywhere but at him.

"Holy shit," he whispered half to himself. Effie nodded weakly. He furrowed his brow and looked up at her. "That's not all though." Effie shook her head.

"No."

"The medical reports showed-"

"That they beat me," she whispered. "They electrocuted me. They-" she stopped and wrapped her arms around herself.

"The medical reports showed… that you can't have children." A sob escaped her lips.

"No more Haymitch. That's where I draw the line. No more." Haymitch nodded and pulled her to him.

"Alright Effie." He kissed her. "No more."