Chapter ten : Better times.
Katniss saved me the day she found me by the water. I thought continuously, if I could go back in time would I have changed anything? I probably would have if it had meant saving her, there was no doubt about that. But in all honesty, the time in the cave was probably the best time in my life.
When I had awoken, I was waist deep in clear water; naked may I add. Katniss was beside me, her face a flaming red; a colour I had never seen on her, and certainly not a side I had seen of her either. I called her name and she turned toward me in alarm before turning away, her face turning an even brighter colour. I had to laugh at that, but it caused a groan of pain. My body was aching in a way I had never felt, my leg where I had been cut felt pinched and I was unable to move it. She hovered over me anxiously.
"I'm sorry, I had to do something. I thought I would wash some of that dirt of your trousers." She finished lamely as I leaned slowly back onto the rocks, I couldn't bring myself to see my leg and the damage that had been done.
"It's okay." I nodded my head, she was at a loss and I knew I would be a goner. "My leg is bad isn't it?"
"No." Katniss said quickly and defiantly, classic Katniss. "It just needs to be cleaned, you need medicine. I was thinking, I had medicine sent to me; maybe we could try it on your leg?"
I was only able to nod my head weakly, suddenly extremely tired. I kept my eyes open and trained on Katniss , watched as her pretty face pinched and her brows furrowed.
"What?" I ask her gently.
"I need to have another look at your leg, and clean it properly." She said with a decisive nod, it was an act which I saw through easily. I nodded my head anyways and dragged myself with a groan above the water, watching as her eyes widened and she looked around her and anywhere other than at me. "Would you like me to get dressed?" I asked with a snort, as she frowned looking at the now dirtied water.
"No, its fine." She said curtly, I still managed to cover myself with my jacket and didn't miss her relieved sigh. The brave Katniss scared over a naked boy, it was hilarious.
I didn't want to see my leg, so I watched Katniss instead. Her face paled considerably but I had to hand it to her, she hid her expression well. Even I could smell the infection that was coming from me. She slowly looked up at me, and those eyes I loved so much couldn't hide the raw panic that was settling in them. "I need to clean this."
I watched as she got a bottle out of her bag and placed it on the stone beside me, she didn't know what to do and if this had been her mother or sister I may have been in better hands, but I appreciated her efforts anyway. "This is going to hurt Peeta, but there is poison and pus in your leg. I have to get it out." I closed my eyes tightly and nodded my head; she worked quickly squeezing at my leg as white hot pain flashed through my body. I sobbed and groaned, hearing her gag and wheeze beside me. "I'm so sorry." She cried beside me before pouring the clean water onto my wound.
"It's bad isn't it?" I asked gently once I soothed my ragged breathing, she didn't answer. "Katniss, please."
"I think its blood poisoning." Katniss answered quickly and quietly. "But it's okay, it will be okay Peeta. There will be two victors, they're allowing it. You just need to hang on a little while longer okay? We're so close, and then they will fix you."
"I won't be able to hang on Katniss, especially if I don't get sponsors." I said weakly, I was the nations favourite when it all began but then my time with careers had ruined all of that, even Haymitch couldn't work that corner for me.
"You will! You just have to!" She said so fiercely grabbing my face with her two dirtied hands; I gasped a breath out at our close proximity – acutely aware that I was still naked and very much in pain. Katniss slowly backed away, her face flushing that red I now loved to see and gathered my clothing for me.