A/N: Finals are OVER for summer class! (YAY!) So, I have a few more weeks to devote to the FanFiction world before fall classes begin :O
Beetee emerged from his dreams and wondered why his pillows were so heavy and why so many were pressed against his body. Even though he heard a light rain pattering against the windows, he felt quite warm. He opened his eyes as a small hand pressed into his shoulder blades. "Hey, Joule." He whispered as the youngest tribute opened his eyes. Silver had his arm draped over Beetee and Joule and was snoring softly. Looking to his right, Wiress was asleep curled up with her head resting in the hollow of his neck under his chin. Next to her, Alana was asleep with an arm wrapped around Wiress' middle. Kendall was on the outside curled protectively around Alana. "Good morning, Wiress. Good morning, kids." Beetee said quietly. Slowly four pairs of bleary eyes opened.
"Oh -" Wiress whispered as she sat up looking around at her tributes who were rubbing their eyes. Tears streamed from her large eyes before she buried her face in Beetee's chest clutching his shirt in her hands.
"Wiress, what's wrong, honey?" Beetee asked.
"I - I thought - last night - was a - bad dream -" Wiress sobbed.
"You didn't seem afraid of the lightning, Wiress. You helped all of us." Kendall reassured her. "We weren't in the arena." She said suddenly remembering the Gamemakers nearly killed Wiress with lightning during her Games.
"It - It wasn't about the storm." Wiress stammered. As Beetee surveyed his tributes' confused faces, guilt and shame washed over him.
"Wiress had another nightmare of a different sort." Beetee explained. "Kids, get dressed and we'll meet you at breakfast, ok?" Silver nodded and beckoned everyone out of Beetee's room. "Hey, squirt." Beetee whispered holding his co-inventor close as she sobbed.
"Am - Am I gross, Beetee?" Wiress asked through her tears.
"No. You're my beautiful co-inventor."
"Even - though - Kevius - and - they made me - do - stuff to you -" Wiress sobbed. "And - to them - and they - did stuff - to me -" Beetee tensed.
"I promise, I will get you back to District Three as soon as I can and out of here."
"I - I can't leave, Beetee -" Wiress sobbed. "Not for - infinity - it seems like infinity, Beetee -"
"Oh, Wiress." Beetee whispered before Wiress hiccupped and threw up on Beetee's comforter. "C'mon, let's get you cleaned up."
"I - I don't know - why I'm -" Wiress stammered.
"Last night was a long night." Beetee said gently starting a bath of soothing oils before handing her a simple dress. "I'll begin talking to the kids about training and you come out when you're ready, ok?" Wiress nodded.
"Well, showcase three of your tops strengths." Wiress said before adding blueberries to her yogurt and topping her toast with mashed blueberries.
"I didn't know you liked blueberries so much." Joule pointed out.
"They're really good today." Wiress said.
"Wiress, slow down." Beetee said gently. "Remember, you didn't feel well earlier."
"But, I do feel better." Wiress insisted popping a few more blueberries in her mouth before eating her fruit and yogurt mix.
"Well, it's time for them to go!" Eustacia practically sang as she entered the dining room powdering her face.
"Good luck!" Beetee and Wiress called after they gave each tribute a round of hugs. Wiress held Beetee's hand as the four tributes left the suite with Eustacia in tow.
"I just have a feeling they'll do well." Wiress whispered smiling. "Beetee, they're like our kids." She said smiling at him. The implication caused Beetee to blush but he smiled.
"Yes. Well, we are their mentors, so we take care of them." Wiress nodded before snatching the rest of the blueberries from the dining room table. Plopping herself on the couch, she began drawing in her notebook. "Beetee! Get over here! I'm not figuring out all their traps by myself!" She called.
"Yes, my bossy protoge." Beetee chuckled before an elbow in his side followed his remark. He was grateful Wiress could invent as a way to push through her pain, and he knew he would work by her side until the day he would be forced to leave her in the Capitol once again.