Caelus stops in front of Jack's door, nodding at the other peacekeeper. They have a short conversation, arguing about what was going on. I guess Jack wasn't supposed to have any more visitors tonight. But, like I knew he could, Caelus convinces the guard to give me ten minutes. "Alright. Go in there and talk to him. Like you used to, like you're just friends hanging out. Late at night. In a dark room. Did I mention he sleeps shirtless?"

"Caelus!" I scold. He laughs at me and opens the door, pushing me inside carefully. It's not that dark inside, there are little lights along the floor. They look like emergency lights and are really dim, but it helps me to see shadows. Jack is on the bed, curled up against the wall and the blanket thrown on the floor. Caelus was right, he does sleep without a shirt. Hmm. I guess he wouldn't exactly come into my yard without a shirt on to sleep under the sky just like I wouldn't be in shorts and a baggy tee. No, I would definitely not go out like that.

"Meg, wake him up." I turn and see Caelus grinning at me from the still open door.

I glare, "Close the door and I will. I don't want him to wake up to you" He just shrugs and closes the door. I sigh and turn back to Jack's sleeping form. Leaning my crutch against the wall, I hobble a few steps and hover over the bed. Should I sit down? Just stand here? Taking a chance, I sit on the edge of the bed and put a hand on his arm. He's turned away from me, and I lean in. "Jack, wake up." He stirs and I nearly jump back. When he settles back down I grin and put my mouth close to his ear. This is either a really good idea or a really bad one. I blow air over his neck.

After a couple of moments he realizes that he's not dreaming and quickly turns around to see me. "Meg?" His left hand rubs at his eyes as his right touches my leg, "I thought they weren't going to bring you back?"

I resist the urge to put my hand over his. "I only have ten minutes. I couldn't sleep so Caelus-"

"Couldn't sleep?" He sits up, concerned, "You're not having nightmares are you?"

Ah, nightmares. A side effect of dealing with the Capitol. "No. None yet. I'm still dreaming about-" I think about what Caelus said and avoid saying cream puffs. "-that one Summer when I went to the festival with Gale. When he bought me that hair clip-" I cut off, remembering that the hairclip was in the backpack. I don't know where the backpack is, and I don't know if there's anything still in it. I can bet it's been thrown in the garbage. If anyone looked through it they wouldn't think much of the clip anyway.

"Oh." Jack says, almost disappointed. "Yeah, you told me about that. It was two Summers before I moved in, right?"

"Mhm. We had mango frozen yogurt and I thought it was weird but he convinced me-"

"Meg?" He asks, not looking me in the eyes. "Can we not talk about this? About Gale, I mean. I don't want you to start thinking about him..."

"Oh." He's right. I shouldn't be talking about Gale. I would only start crying all over again. How am I supposed to meet him in the games? Do we fight? Do we run? Do I stick by his side so I can protect him and he can protect me? He probably wouldn't agree to it, anyway. He's had longer to plan for this. "Then what about your first Summer as my neighbor? Remember when you found me and Brian out in the backyard? He was painting me, and a projection of the tree we used to have there. I never understood it."

"Me neither." He lays back down against the bed. "You can lay down if you want, by the way. Put your leg up." I do as he says, laying down on his right side. There's just enough room for both of us; his shoulder is just pressing against mine. I look sideways at him, trying not to notice his bare chest, and he's staring at the ceiling. "I liked Brian's paintings. Some more than others. Remember that green one? It sat on your kitchen table for weeks before he sold it."

"Yeah, that was sometime during Spring." I find his hand and twine my fingers through his. He tenses but doesn't say anything. Why can't we hold hands? Why is it so different now?

"I shouldn't have brought it up. That Spring party was awful, and I still regret taking you there."

"It was... Kind of fun." It was not. It was more like a picnic of sorts. Invite only but somehow everyone -except me and a select few- had been invited. Jack took me along anyway and while he was busy being his fun-loving self I was pushed off into a corner. It wasn't that he regretted taking me; he felt bad for getting distracted and nearly forgetting he had dragged me there at all. "You definitely had fun."

He groaned, "I really don't want to remember that part. I wasn't that popular in my old town, I don't know why girls are suddenly noticing me-" he stops, tensing again.

I squeeze his hand, "Well, they obviously think you're quite the catch. And it's not easy ignoring you, Jack. Since you're always the center of attention..."

"Not always." he looks at me, "You are. Right now."

"Yeah, but I don't want to be."

"You think I do? Having fun isn't about having all eyes on you. If I have to lead, I will. I just want to instigate and participate. Be a part of everyone's fun, not the only thing keeping it going. But, Meg, I think you'll thrive with everyones attention on you."

"Oh, definitely." I say, sarcastically, "I'm going to thrive in the games. Maybe even win. Then I'll fund a rocket and fly to the moon and start a lunar cattle farm."

He laughs, bringing our twined hands up to kiss my knuckles. "Man in the Moon won't like it."

"He'll be happy to have some company. Cows are great for that." I watch as his lips brush my knuckles again. What is he doing? "Humans are too, I guess. Some of them."

"Like you? You're not going to the moon, Meg."

"I could make it-"

"That's not what I mean. I'm not letting you go to the moon. After these games you're not leaving the city walls again." He stops for a minute, putting our hands back down and looking away again. "Your parents won't let you. You'll be grounded for life just so they can keep you safe."

I stare at him. I almost thought... But of course he didn't mean that he wanted me to stay. "I'm moving out. If I win, I mean. I love them but.." Quickly, I change the subject. As much as I can, anyway. "I haven't congratulated you. Your last year with a name in one of those bowls. It's a great thing."

"It is not. Because your name wasn't even in the bowls. It was in Polly's well-manicured fingers. That is not a great thing."

"It's not so bad." I smile at him, but I don't know if he can see in the dim lighting.

"It's been more than ten minutes, hasn't it?"

"Yeah... Guess I'm stuck here." I'm almost surprised that I'm not happy about it. Caelus gave me ten minutes, and I won the bet. Maybe this was my prize? Idiot, I don't want to stay here all night. I want to go back to my own room. Staying here is not going to help anything and I don't want Jack to get uncomfortable-

"I guess you are." he agrees. He doesn't sound too upset. Not that he would let me know if he was.

"I-if you want me to leave-"

"I would prefer to go to your room but I'm stuck here. I hear the tribute rooms are practically built for royalty."

"Jack, I am royalty." I grin. "And yeah, the rooms are amazing. Have you been around the rest of the train? I didn't think I would get something this nice..."

"You're still a tribute, Meg. So, what's the plan?" he sits up again, letting go of my hand. "I'll take the floor? Want a pillow for your leg?"

I don't know how to respond. I do want a pillow for my leg, but there are only two. If he goes on the floor I can't deny him the other. We can share one, maybe like I did with Liam. Or not. I don't know. If I sleep here-

"You're going to need more room." He says. I realize he's been watching me for a while, probably dissecting my thoughts. He grabs the pillow that was under himself and puts it under my still sore ankle. It's a lot nicer. He then lays back down on his side, facing me. "Is that comfortable?"

"Yeah. But- Are you comfortable? I don't want to make you uneasy or anything."

He's silent for a moment, just looking at me. "I'm fine with this. I know you're safe this way, and I won't... have any nightmares if you're by my side. That's all it was, Meg." He leans in and kisses my nose, "They've been listening in on me. I wasn't screaming to you when they found you. It was a recording of when I was having a nightmare. I'm sorry."

"You've been having nightmares? About me?"

"Yes. I don't want to talk about them. Wake me up if I start screaming, okay?" He chuckles but I don't know what's so funny. So I just watch him as he forces a smile at me.

I still won't cry, but I've won the bet. I've won my freedom of speech back. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, "I love you." I didn't expect a reply and I don't get one. I let myself relax and try to sleep. He doesn't move beside me so I open my eyes. He's still watching me. I frown, "Do you want me to leave?"

"No" he says quietly. "Stay."

"Then relax. This is the same as falling asleep in the back yard. We'll probably even dream about clouds! About snowflake shapes," I smile at him.

"You're right. There's no difference. Just get some sleep, Meg."

"You too."

"I will. But it's more important that you do. Goodnight, snowflake." He grins at me and shifts so his hand can lay on my arm. "Just so I can feel grounded," he explains.

"I understand" I close my eyes again. I don't mind the nickname snowflake. Not if it's him calling me it. It is only the second time he's used it, so maybe it's not sticking as well as he thought it would? "Goodnight, Jack."

Waking up, I realize Jack's arm is around me, his head against my shoulder. I also realize that the lights are on and we're not alone. Blinking a few times, I stare at the peacekeepers. There's two, they're masked, and I don't think either is Caelus. "What are you doing in here?"

"Come with us. Now."

I would give a snappy answer but Jack stirs beside me. I don't want to wake him up, but I can't disappear on him. "Can't I have a minute? To wake him up and-"

"Go ahead. Make it quick."

I roll my eyes at them and turn my head to look at Jack. He's so close to me. "Jack" I reach over to poke his stomach. Then, realizing again that he's shirtless, I blush. My hand rests on his side and I shake lightly. "Wake up, alright?"

"Mm, no" He says sleepily. He still hasn't opened his eyes. "I'm happy here."

"So am I, Jack. But there are peacekeepers here and I have to go with them."

His eyes snap open, his arm tightening around me, "She's not going anywhere."

Before they can say anything I tell Jack, "I have to. Don't worry about me. I'm royalty, right?" I smile at him, "Help me up?"

He glares at the peacekeepers but his arm moves from around me. Without saying a word he helps me swing my feet over the edge of the bed. My ankle throbs and I hope I'm being taken for some more painkillers. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." I lie. A bit more honestly, I cast a glance at the peacekeepers, "Woke up to them though. That was a bit painful."

Jack smiles as he helps me stand, "Yeah, I know how you feel."

One of the peacekeepers passes me the crutch and I take it, placing it under my right arm. Jack touches my arm and I turn to say to him, "I'll see you later."

"I hope so. Or I might have to get up to my old tricks."

"Time to go" one of the peacekeepers interrupts, "You've wasted enough time already." He gestures towards the door and, with one last look at Jack, I walk out into the hallway.

Luckily I do get more painkillers. A full exam. Breakfast. A shower. A beautiful purple top with dress pants and flats- I am actually almost smiling by the time I'm told I get to see Jack again. I haven't seen Caelus, but the peacekeepers tailing me aren't that bad. They keep quiet unless they're asking me what I want, and that's fine with me. But as they're leading me along the train, one in front and one behind, I can't help but wonder why they're rushing.

"Umm, we're just going to Jack's room, right?" They don't answer me. I stop walking. "Tell me."

The one in front turns and the two stare at each other for a long moment. Then he looks at me and answers, "You'll see him later."

"But now?" I ask.

"We're nearing the Capitol."

"And that means what exactly?"

"It means you're not running away again. And it means you do what we tell you to. Keep walking." I glare and he turns again. I'm pushed forward from behind and nearly stumble thanks to the crutch. I'm pushed again and I get the point. Grudgingly, I walk on.

When we walk into the plain room I'd first woken up in, I panic. The stretcher is still there and beside it there's a needle and a vial of something. One of the peacekeepers pull me forward, letting the crutch fall on the ground. I struggle, but he pulls me against him and keeps walking. I struggle harder, thinking about screaming. The other peacekeeper grabs my legs and they drop me on the stretcher, pinning me down as they strap my arms and legs to the frame.

I don't care what this is supposed to be, I'm terrified. They won't tell me anything except to stop moving before I hurt myself. As one of their hands pass above the needle, I shriek. They don't seem to care so my voice gets louder. One of them hits me and spots dance behind my eyes. I'm pretty sure I bit my tongue. Again.

I hear someone run in through the door and a thud as a body hits the floor. I look over, blink, and Caelus stands over the peacekeeper that hit me. He turns to me and puts his hand on my cheek, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let them do this. I could have or- or they should have drugged your food!" He's obviously angry.

"D-drug me?!" I yell, "Why are they trying to drug me?"

He looks at the one still-conscious peacekeeper then back at me, "They don't want you awake when we get to the Capitol. It'll be easier to cart you to the training center that way."

"But why-"

"Megan." He says seriously, "Shut up. I'll stay with you the entire time. I promise."

"Really?" I question as he picks up the needle. I can't watch the strange liquid going into it, so I turn away. Seeing the other peacekeeper I scowl and turn back to see the needle nearing me. "Caelus! Wait till I'm ready!"

"I can't, Meg. We're already behind schedule."

"Just tell me- what are they going to do with Jack?" I try to get away from whatever is in that liquid but my shoulders are pushed down and my head held steady.

"He'll be fine. There's a citizen he'll be staying with-"

"But what if I want to see him?"

"You will." Is all he says. This time, the needle stings. And the liquid being pressed into my neck feels too foreign and I want to barf. Caelus leans down and kisses my forehead before looking away from me. Everything fades and goes black.