Cato's POV

I open my eyes, and urge myself to keep from crying out in pain. The pain seems like it hurts worse now, since the cold from the cave would usually numb it. But at least I can open my damn eyes. I hated being a weak little pawn in the cave, having Katniss constantly cradle me like a stupid child.

Where am I, anyway?

I try to hold back a row of curses that so desperately want to spill out of my mouth right now. I can't lift my head, so instead I merely use my eyes, well one eye, since the other one is covered by bandages, to discover my surroundings. I silently watch as nurses begin to frantically run through the room, including some who would watch me. I must be in a District. But what District…? It's way too fancy to be District 12, but it doesn't look like District 2, either.

"Can you hear me..?" One of the nurses ask me.

I merely blink at her, my eye being blinded by the florescent lights inside the room. "Sort of."

"Don't move. Just relax, alright?" The nurse spoke, turning her head over to the other nurse and whispering something I could barely hear.

"Where am I…?" I ask.

"You're safe, that's all you need to know."

I sigh, and roll my head to the other side of the pillow. They still didn't answer my question….

I avert my gaze towards my body, and when I look down, I instantly regret it. I look like absolute crap. Practically my whole body's covered in bandages, except for the one side of my face and my hair. I look like I had a terrible accident in a fire.

Damn mutts…

"Ebon...!" One of the nurses shout, her face clearly in a state of relief.

This guy, about in his early 20s I'm guessing, comes inside the room. He sort of looks like a vagabond.

"Ebon, I see you heard the news." The nurse explains, her voice slightly gesturing towards me. They probably mean me as the "news."

"Yeah, I did. I brought the girl with me, too." Ebon states, leading Katniss into the room with him.

"You!" I instantly shout, focusing my menacing glare onto hers. "I hope you're a fast runner Firegirl….because when I get out of this hospital bed I'm going to...-"

Ebon cuts me off with a glare. "Calm down..!"

Katniss merely stares at me, her gaze slightly wavering.

"Why didn't you kill me, Firegirl! Why didn't you?" I ignore Ebon, screaming insults at Katniss even more. It's partially her fault I'm this way…I'm going to be crippled because of her….A crippled worthless, weak, nobody.

"I couldn't." Katniss helplessly replied, where I could barely make out what she was saying.

I was going to shout at her again, until this time, a more furious Ebon cut me off.

"Hold him!" He shouted, which made a couple more nurses try to hold me down, besides the ones that were already previously holding me down when I started to scream at Katniss.

"Stop moving, you're only going to make your wounds worse." A nurse fiercely, but gently, told me.

"Katniss, get out of the room." Ebon turns to face her. I could see in her eyes that she's itching to say something, but instead she just nods in agreement and obeys.

I begin to heavily pant and sigh with anger as I gazed up at the ceiling. My whole body was pounding with pain, but I tried to ignore it. I began to relax as the nurses released me from their grasp, turning to stare at Ebon.

"Unless you want to get better, I suggest you calm the fuck down and not have a freak out like that, ever again. Are we clear, kid?" Ebon gives me a stone glare, but I honestly could care less.

"Don't call me kid." I clench my teeth.

"I can call you whatever I want.

This time I stayed quiet, leaning my head back against the pillow, facing away from them. I was too tired to argue with anyone at this point.

"Let's give him some space…" One of the nurses whispered, having other nurses leave the room.


Katniss POV

I walked out of the room, feeling sadness and anger at the same time. I look up to see Miss White and Mason sitting in the table, talking to each other.

"Hey, Katniss. How'd it go?" Mason asked me, which made me frown.

"He screamed at me." I merely replied.

Mason's happy grin instantly dropped. "Why?"

Miss White stood from the table to come and embrace me. "Oh….sweetheart, don't feel bad. Maybe he was just in a bad mood, that's all."

I managed to give out a slight giggle, dripping with sarcasm. "I don't care, really."

Miss White led me toward the table and I sat next to her, facing Mason.

"I'm sorry you couldn't show me more places in the District. But, maybe next time." I gazed back at Mason, my frown disappearing into a small smile.

"It's okay. We got plenty of time to show you around, so yeah." Mason gave me a smile back.

However, I carefully watched as his eyes darted towards some kind of writing on his forearm.

"What's that…?" I ask.

"My schedule. I have to go, see you later, Katniss." Mason abruptly stands up from the chair and zooms past me and Miss White to get outside.

"A schedule…?" I softly whisper.

"Yes. Everyone's required to have a schedule printed on their forearm." Miss White replied, like it was no big deal.

"Will I have to get one?" I let out a slight grimace. Just thinking about getting a tattoo printed on my skin sends my nerves on edge. I wonder if it hurts..?

"Eventually, yes." Miss White took a sip of her coffee that was placed on the table.

"Hmm." I stared off into space for a few moments, before Ebon and other nurses came rushing inside.

"Miss White, if you don't mind, I'd like to speak with you." Ebon stated, while giving me a sideways glare that told me to stay put.

"Why yes, Ebon." Miss White led Ebon to another private room, and I silently wondered if they were talking about me or Cato.

As nurses started to walk out, I was left alone at the table. I carefully began to stare at my fingernails, something I rarely do. As an hour passed by, I leaned my head against the char, letting out a passive sigh.

I secretly wondered if I could hear Ebon and Miss White more closely if I pressed my head against the door. I was itching to do it, but my mind was spinning towards the reality of what would be the consequences if I got caught.

I placed my head against the table, thinking it would be no use anyway. The room was probably soundproof, and whatever they were talking about, I would find out sooner or later. I patiently waited as another 20 minutes passed by.

As I heard the creaking sound of a door opening, I curiously lifted up my head to see where it came from. My gaze averted to Miss White and Ebon, and I carefully watched Miss White's face expression. She looked almost nervous, or frightened.

"What's wrong..?" I ask.

"Nothing, Katniss. Just stay here for the time being." Ebon stormed off in the other direction, which led outside. He tended to do that a lot.

"Miss White..?" I turn to face her.

She was hesitant before answering, but nevertheless she smiled. "Nothing, dear. You heard Ebon. I have to get back to my work so I'll see you in a little while." She turned the other way, into another section of the hospital.

I let out a small regretful groan as I placed my head back on the table again. I knew I should've eavesdropped on them when I had the chance. Whatever they were talking about, seeing the look on Miss White's face, I'm guessing it wasn't something good.

As another painful 20 minutes passed by, I hesitantly stood up from the table. I never imagined myself being this bored and curious at the same time. Maybe I should check up on Cato…? I let out a bitter smile. But he hates me, remember?

I walked towards his room and pressed my head against the door. Since when do I care if Cato hates me or not? I hate him, too. Right…?

As I hear nothing but silence come from inside of the room, I slowly open the door. As gazed inside the room, I discovered no nurses. Why did they leave him by himself…? I quietly close the door and step inside, watching the silence of the room and Cato laying motionless on the hospital bed.

"Cato…?" I whispered, almost pleading.

A soft chuckle, mixed with a painful groan emitted from him.

I simply stood where I was, hesitant whether I should get closer or not.

"What are you doing here…?" He softly asked, his voice much weaker than before.

"I came to see how you were doing." I replied back, my gaze averting away from the floor and focusing on his one eye.

"Why would you care, Firegirl?" He merely shrugged, trying to reposition himself on the bed.

"Because I care, Cato! I'm not a cold-hearted killer like you are." I nearly yelled, but instantly retorted to a whispering voice.

He stayed silent, merely letting out a "hmph."

I softly bit my lip, and continued to walk closer to him. As I neared his bandaged face, by instinct, I gently whisked away a strand of his blonde hair that was over his eye. To my surprise, he let me. But his cautious gaze was still focused onto mine.

I carefully sat down on the floor beside his bed, watching some propaganda on the TV above us. He let out a painful sigh again, and I could see he was trying his hardest to fight the pain. I gently took his hand in mine again, the way I used to back in the cave.

He instantly turned to face me, his gaze wavering. "That…was you..?" He silently asked.

"Yeah." I slowly gazed away from him, trying to stare at something else, like the floor or the TV. We both drifted off into silence as I continued to watch the TV. I saw Cinna, but I didn't see Peeta or anyone else I knew, so I figured they weren't on the Hunger Games.

I started to gaze around for the remote until I felt someone softly stroke my hand. I let out a silent gasp as I looked over and discovered that it was Cato stroking my hand, as if to reassure me.

His gaze was locked onto mine, as he stopped stroking my hand. "Let go of my hand….Firegirl." He said almost mockingly, retorting to his normal cold self. I gently let go of his hand and smiled to myself. Cato can actually be nice….when he wants to.

I watched the screen on the TV, and my heart almost dropped as I saw a crying little girl with tears streaming down her pale face.

The little girl was Prim…..


Merry Christmas, everyone! Hoped you like it, leave me reviews for presents! :)