The cacophony of voices bounced inside Johanna's head, ringing against her skull like the bell at Greasy Sae's shop. They concentrated in the front of her head, piercing through her forehead. The voices were angry, alarmed, and far too loud for the small room. Johanna felt herself stumble backward until she hit a wall. She placed a hand on each side of her head and pressed them tightly.

My name is Johanna Mason. I am eighteen years old. My home is District 12. Katniss is alive. Katniss is alive.

Haymitch's voice continued to cut into everyone else's, until finally the room fell silent. Johanna's eyes fluttered open and she realized everyone was looking at her. Haymitch eyed her sympathetically. "What?" she croaked.

"I asked if you would back me up that Katniss is being sincere. That this threat is real," Haymitch explained tiredly.

Johanna spoke slowly, trying to bring words back into her throat. She wanted to scream but even that noise just died inside her chest before she could get it out. "I don't know where Katniss got that information, or if it's true. But she believes it is."

President Coin mulled that over, tapping her finger against the screen. "Okay. We were due for a Level 5 Security Drill anyway. Proceed with the lockdown." She pressed on the screen, giving her authority to the action. Immediately the room, and the entirety 13, was filled with ear-piercing, fear-inducing sirens. Boggs ushered Gale and Johanna out of the room, down the hallway and into a wide stairwell. The other citizens of 13 didn't seem bothered - they just walked in calm lines down into the bottom of 13.

Johanna was still in a haze as Boggs dropped her off in her section. "Your brother will be down shortly." With that he left, surely to get some other person unsure of what to do into their compartment. Johanna sat on the bottom bunk of the beds, staring down at her boots. Another set of boots came into view and she looked up to bring Gale into view.

"Shouldn't you be with your family?" Johanna asked in a tight voice, barely looking into his eyes.

"Yes. They're fine. I wanted to tell you," Gale crouched down and placed his hand on her knee, "that I know you're upset, but people are going to be looking to you." Johanna narrowed her eyes and her friend sighed. "If you panic, they'll panic. You need to be calm. Go get the supply packs for you and John, and come back here and wait for instructions. Just keep a brave face."

Johanna scoffed. "So pretend I'm on camera, then?"

Gale chuckled. "Not the studio cameras, you're terrible on those." Johanna swatted at him and he moved out of the way, getting up and returning to his set of bunks.

On her way back from retrieving the packs, Johanna watched as Hazelle fretted over little Posy and Rory and Vick played some sort of hand-slapping game. Missing Katniss was an all-over body ache, but missing her sisters and her parents sent a straight bolt directly to her heart. Johanna scanned around for John and found him with the Everdeens, conversing with them in hushed voices. Mrs. Everdeen's hand went to her mouth in what Johanna presumed was shock, while Prim jumped up and hugged John around the neck. He must've told them, then, that Katniss was alive.

Probably being tortured. Possibly dead now, for what she'd said. All Johanna knew, is that once this raid was over, President Coin was going to allow a rescue mission to get Katniss, even if she had a kill a crew and fly there herself. Johanna splayed out on the lower bunk, locking her fingers over her chest. The shrill sirens were in the distance now, but still as unnerving as ever. Johanna screwed her eyes shut and tried to block out all the noise.

Soon after John returned to their bunk, the bombs began going off. Johanna shivered in her bed, twisting her sheet between her fingers. Katniss's prediction was correct. The bombs rattled the walls, even though they were very deep underground. There was no way they all would've survived up there if Katniss hadn't warned them. Johanna heard a small whimper and her eyes fluttered open. It could have come from anyone, considering how many scared children there were, but Johanna knew that sound.

"Hey John?" Johanna called up to the top bunk and sat up in her own. A pair of feet swung down in front of her face. "Can you come down here?"

The boy hopped down from the top bunk and sat next to his sister. "Are you okay?" he asked, but Johanna could see the fright on his features. He was probably remembering the other bombings - the one they lost their sisters in, or the one he saved the district from. He was still just a boy, though, Johanna thought. A boy forced to grow up far too fast. His already pale complexion was ashen, his eyes just a bit too wide.

"I'm fine," she assured him, putting her arm over his shoulder. "Are you?" Before he could respond she tilted her head down a little. "Don't lie to me." She gestured around at all the other people in the barracks, frightened and holding one another. Even the 13 residents who were unruffled by the sirens, appeared at least perturbed at the bombs. There had been no actual attack on 13 since the Dark Days and there was probably no one living here to remember that. "No one is looking at you to be a hero down here. Soldier or not, you're still my baby brother. And you have the right to be scared."

John's eyes darted around the room and he leaned into Johanna's embrace. "I hate the noises," he confessed in a small voice. "I hear it in my dreams at night. The sounds of bombs exploding, the smell of sulfur and burning flesh." Another explosion shook the building and he tensed in her arms. "Don't tell anyone, please. I don't want them to not let me train because of my fear."

Johanna smirked and nodded her head. "Deal. Under one condition." John looked up expectantly. "You help me convince Coin to rescue Katniss."

The younger Mason nodded eagerly, his brown eyes looking down the corridor toward the Everdeen bunks. Prim was snuggled with Buttercup and leaning into her mother. "I made a promise to do exactly that." His brown eyes met her own and she found them fierce. "I intend to keep it."

Johanna stormed into President Coin's office, tearing herself out of the grip of two guards. The older woman looked up from her papers and barely lifted an eyebrow. "Soldier Mason." Even John's influence couldn't help her; for some reason, President Coin was avoiding her and Johanna intended to find out why. And to do so, she had to forgo her brother's help. For some reason she knew it would be something that had to be done one on one.

"President Coin," Johanna returned with as much restraint as she could muster, glaring at the guards. "I asked to have a meeting with you and I was turned down." She held up three fingers. "Three times."

President Coin nodded to the man next to her, some soldier Johanna didn't know, and he left the room. The guards left behind him, closing the door. The woman studied Johanna for a few moments. "As I'm sure you're aware, there was some damage done by the bombing. I have been very busy allocating time and supplies to salvaging what we can and assessing the environment. Any damage to the nuclear reactors could prove catastrophic."

"And the only reason it was not catastrophic is because of Katniss," Johanna replied hotly, crossing her arms over her chest. "If it wasn't for her warning, we'd probably all be dead. We had no reason to think they were going to attack."

The woman crossed her legs and peered at Johanna. "That's why you're here, I presume. To make the case for us to return to the Capitol to rescue Katniss Everdeen." Her pale eyes blinked a few times. "Many of my people are calling her a traitor, in spite of her timely warning."

"Then many of your people are stupid." President Coin pursed her lips in faint amusement. "I know Katniss. She saw me on the propo and wanted to protect me. And in doing so, she protected the whole district."

"She called for a cease-fire," President Coin replied in her calm, even tone. Johanna wanted to shake her, though it didn't seem like Coin was of the same mindset that Katniss was a traitor. In fact, she seemed insufferably apathetic to the entire situation. "That alone is traitorous, especially to the many people here very devoted to the cause."

"She's under duress, didn't you see her?" Johanna protested, pressing forward until she came to the edge of President Coin's desk. "Katniss has never been one for rebellion. She was never like Gale and me. But you can believe that she wants President Snow to be strung up to the nearest tree just like anyone else does."

President Coin folded her hands on her desk. "The problem I'm seeing, Soldier Mason, is that the risk of bringing people into the Capitol far outweighs the benefit of rescuing Katniss Everdeen. She's not a priority to the rebel cause. I can assure you that once we take the Capitol, we will rescue her and I will offer her immunity as well. I will keep my word for as long as you keep yours."

Johanna shook her head. "No. I offered to be your Mockingjay if you rescued all the victors. Including Katniss."

"Johanna, I agreed to house the refugees from District Twelve purely on faith that you would perform as the Mockingjay. Plutarch Heavensbee assured me that your influence would greatly turn the tide of this rebellion. So far, I'd say the tide has begun shifting, but a turn is still far off. You can ask your friend Finnick Odair all about the changing tides."

Johanna's nostrils flared in anger and she narrowed her eyes. "Do you have a problem with my relationship with Finnick?"

President Coin smiled. "Not at all. As I said earlier, I have no problem presenting Finnick as your lover. What you do in your spare time is no concern of mine. All I'm concerned about is how you can help us win this war. However, I'm less and less convinced that you even care about winning the war at all." Johanna was too stunned to speak for several moments. "Your affection for your friends is commendable. It is part of the reason why you make such a compelling symbol. However, it is my duty to balance the needs of the district and the needs of the rebellion. It is not my duty to put my people in danger to rescue your lovers. Or your lover's lovers."

Johanna's jaw tightened to the point of pain. "So saving the lives of the district, that doesn't earn Katniss a chance at rescue?" Johanna fought the tears she knew were boiling up behind her eyes. Crying in front of the President was not going to win her any points. It was also a sign of weakness, something Johanna refused to show again.

"But that's not why you're here," Coin replied. "You're not here because Katniss Everdeen is some kind of hero. You're not here because you think the rebellion needs her, or that the district needs her. I'd even venture to say you're not here because her sister and mother need her. You're here because you need her. I cannot authorize another risky rescue simply because you miss your lover. Have we not already provided you enough company as it is? Your family. Your district, or what's left of it. Your stylist, Cinna. Your mentor. Your 'friend' Finnick Odair, her lover Annie Cresta, your former paramour Gale Hawthorne? I have included every spindle on the web you have woven except for one."

Johanna brushed her hands through her hair, turning her back to the placid leader. She was not going to leave this office without a promise from this woman that they would rescue Katniss. What could she offer her? Eventually her use as the Mockingjay would come to an end. They had enough soldiers to get to the Capitol, once they took 2. She was just a figurehead of the rebellion, she had no importance. People looked to her for support, for -

Johanna whirled around. "I'll make you a deal."

"Your 'deals' have come with a heavy price tag thus far, but I'm willing to hear you out."

Johanna paused for a few moments, trying to weave her thoughts together cohesively. "Once we've won this rebellion, you will be the new leader of Panem. Or, that's what you presume?"

President Coin leaned back in her chair, nodding. "Yes. My experience as the leader of District Thirteen, as well as my coordination of all the rebellion efforts, makes me the most suitable candidate. Why?"

"The people in Panem, they care about what I think. They see me as one of them. You're a stranger to them. Why should they elect you to lead?" For just a split second, Johanna saw the small crack in President Coin's veneer. "Because, as you said, you've got the experience. You've got the army behind you. But of course, you don't want to strong-arm the citizens of Panem. They've already suffered enough under an oppressive ruler."

"If you have a point, Soldier Mason, I suggest you get to it before I lose my patience."

Johanna grinned. "If I support you, no one will question your qualifications. No one will think you're an outsider. And surely, having spent enough time around Plutarch and the other Capitol idiots, you know how important image is."

President Coin huffed out a short laugh. "You have no idea how much convincing it took me to agree to help Plutarch Heavensbee. Especially taking on his Capitol friends. Not because I don't support a political upheaval, but because they have ambition three times the size of their talent."

"Did it take about seventy-five years? Or was it just fun to watch the rest of us battle and starve on national television?"

The woman was infuriatingly calm. "We were not in a position to do anything until recently," she explained. "Our collection of hovercrafts was built by the costly and extremely difficult process of replicating a few that had crashed here years ago. I'm not sure how old you think I am, but I was not the leader when the last war was over." She sighed. "When you return to your district after this war is over, if that's what you aim to do, you'll see how excruciatingly slow the process of rebuilding a sustainable place to live from nothing is. And we didn't have the luxury of any help from anyone. I know it's not the same as the atrocities of the Hunger Games or the District-specific obstacles the rest of Panem has faced, but we have suffered here, too. We have lost."

Johanna clenched her fists at her sides, then splayed her fingers out. She remembered Haymitch telling her how President Coin had lost her husband and daughter in the pox epidemic that wiped their population. They had both lost their families, their loved ones. "Then our goals are aligned, President Coin. I want Snow dead. I want an end to the Hunger Games. I want people to finally be free and not die of poverty or under the boot of a fucking Peacekeeper. And at the end of the day, you want those things, too. Right?"

"Of course."

"But with that, you want power. You want to lead." Johanna sucked in a deep breath. "And I want Katniss. I don't want a title or a fucking reward. I don't want a plaque with my name on it. I want Katniss. Alive, with me. Safe. I am willing to give you the power you want, in exchange for one girl. You've said my deals are heavy. This one is, but in your favor."

President Coin slowly rose from her chair, walking around the side of her desk until she was in front of Johanna. She placed her hands behind her back and squinted her eyes. "Perhaps I've misjudged you, Johanna." Johanna cocked her eyebrow. "You might be exactly as capable as Haymitch and Plutarch claim."

"More than," Johanna asserted, puffing out her chest.

The older woman smiled. "I certainly hope so. Allow me to take a page from your book. I will authorize one hovercraft to the Capitol with a minimal crew immediately for the sole purpose of extracting Katniss Everdeen."

"Including me," Johanna interjected. "Or no deal."

President Coin smirked. "Including you. One hovercraft, small crew. No one will be informed of this rescue except those absolutely necessary to the operation. In exchange I will have you state, in writing and in public, your support of my presidency. At an appropriate time, of my choosing."

"Deal," Johanna replied immediately. She reached out her hand.

President Coin took her hand and shook it, then drew Johanna in a little closer to her. Her hand, just as tepid in temperature as her demeanor, gripped her tightly. "I admire your courage. When I have a battle of wits with Plutarch, I feel like I've walked into the Hunger Games myself, but I'm well-armed and he's swinging at me with sticks."

Johanna looked down at their hands, still clasped, then up to the woman's face. She must have been very beautiful, before stress and time drew her features in. "Most of the people in the Capitol work without about half a brain."

"Yes, but that's not what I meant." The woman narrowed her eyes and looked into Johanna's own. "I am not an easy person to negotiate with. I've had my fill of people trying to weasel their way into my good graces or trying to bowl me over with flattery. You work with two things very well - honesty and deception. You know when to wield one, and when to wield the other. You have no idea how useful that skill is, especially in my position."

Johanna chuckled and ducked her head to the ground. "If you're offering a promotion, I really don't want your job."

President Coin snorted and shook her head. "Hardly, Soldier Mason, though I do believe you'd win a popularity contest between the two of us if it were down to a vote." Johanna's mouth twitched. "Being a leader means surrounding myself with people who have useful skills - ones that I have, and especially ones that I don't. If you should so choose, after we've won this war, I may have a role for you more suited to your skill-set than just being the Mockingjay."

"May?"

The older woman nodded and edged out from between Johanna and the desk, resuming her seat behind it. "We do need to win this war first. You've got a lot to do besides rescuing damsels and making eloquent speeches before I could consider it."

"All right." Johanna pursed her lips. "Am I dismissed?"

"Of course." Johanna turned on her heel and marched toward the door. "And Soldier Mason?" Johanna paused but did not turn around. "Good luck."

Johanna stared ahead as she and the elite crew selected for the mission lifted off into the air. Soldier Boggs was on it, of course, as well as someone called Soldier Jackson and two more guards. Johanna hadn't said goodbye to anyone, including her brother, for fear of the mission leaking out to the public. Even the camera crew had been manipulated into spending the day in the rubble above ground filming propos with Gale, Finnick, and Cashmere.

Around dusk they took off, aiming to reach the Capitol under nightfall. The most recent intelligence suggested that Katniss was still in the Training Center, just kept on a different floor than where they found the rest of them. Boggs assumed it was one of the lowest levels, since on their earlier mission they had swept the top 12 floors thoroughly. Two members of the team were to scope out the already passed through floors, and Boggs and Johanna were to clear the ones they hadn't visited before. Soldier Jackson would stay on the hovercraft and report back with any incoming enemies.

Johanna and Boggs dropped in and began rappelling down the walls, zooming past the floors in tandem. The pair got to the main floor, spotted with plaques with the names of the victors from each district on tall pedestals. Boggs led them down the darkened hallways, nodding for Johanna to pull on her night vision binoculars. Johanna did as instructed and the entire darkened room was lit up in green. Boggs was clearer now, even if he was a frog green color.

He made the hand-over-head motion for her to advance and they went forward down the hallway. They stopped at each doorway, and Boggs opened it and scoped the inside with his laser-pointed rifle before continuing on. Every so often the other two soldiers checked in with quiet transmissions, having found nothing.

Boggs entered the next room, holding his fist up for Johanna to freeze. He entered the unlit room and stalked around silently as Johanna waited outside. Her Mockingjay suit was forgone in exchange for the standard military issue, and Johanna found it a bit noisier than Cinna's creation. Out of the corner of her eye, on the floor just below the main one, Johanna saw a small light leak from underneath a door. The compelling urge to go to the light reminded her of the moths that would beat around the candles at home, singeing their paper-thin wings. But Johanna was drawn to it anyway.

Without waiting for Boggs, Johanna rushed down the corridor and leapt over the barrier between the two floors, landing painfully but solidly on the floor below her. She rushed down toward the door and pulled up her night vision goggles and holstered her weapon. She pressed the small button to the left of the door and the frosted glass door zoomed open, sliding into the wall. Johanna crept inside and the door closed behind her. The angry voice of Boggs came through her earpiece and Johanna lifted her hand to it and shut it off.

She was glad she had holstered her rifle because she would have dropped it upon seeing what was inside.

Katniss.

The brunette was on her back, lying underneath a thin white hospital sheet. Her arms, paler than Johanna remembered but still tanner than she was, were set upon the top of the sheet, her fists balled tightly. The room looked like it was a hospital room, or at least it once was, with white tiled walls and floors. There was a counter lining one side with cabinets above it, filled with jars of unused medical equipment. Confusingly, there were no machines hooked up to the girl. She was just there, waiting.

Johanna advanced slowly toward her, the only noise in the room the patter of her boots against the tile. Katniss's cheeks were sunken in, dark bruising under her eyes and dark purple splotches on a lot of her exposed skin. Johanna's blood boiled with rage. They hurt her Katniss. Johanna felt the lump in her throat and swallowed it down as she approached the bed. Katniss was asleep; sweat beading her forehead as tremors shook her delicate frame. Johanna took off her mask, holding it under her arm against her hip. She ruffled her hair with her free hand as she got to Katniss's side. Katniss looked at least three years younger lying there, cheeks sunken in and lips chapped.

"Katniss," Johanna called gently. She took the girl's hand in hers and unraveled her fingers that left deep red half moon marks on her palms. "Katniss, wake up. We have to go." Johanna squeezed Katniss's hand tightly, waiting on bated breath for Katniss to respond. The door opened and closed behind her and Boggs came in to the room.

"Soldier Mason you-" He cut himself off as he got into full view of Johanna and Katniss. "You were not supposed to advance without me," he growled under his breath. "We have less than five minutes. If she's not responding we'll take her like she is."

"Just give me a second," Johanna seethed. Boggs shook his head but obliged her, leaving the room and relaying that they had found the target to the other guards. Johanna brushed hair from Katniss's damp forehead. "Katniss, please. Wake up. It's me, it's Johanna."

Katniss's eyes fluttered open, looking around the room in a clockwise motion. Then she screwed them shut, then opened them wide and stared up at Johanna. They were widely dilated and unfocused, but she seemed to recognize her. The corner of Johanna's mouth turned ever so slightly upward as Katniss came into consciousness. Johanna looked behind her at the closed door, then back to Katniss. When her gaze returned, she saw something else in Katniss's eyes. Uncertainty, fear... Rage. "K-Katniss?"

Katniss flew at her, springing off the bed and shoving Johanna backwards into a cabinet. Johanna's head hit the wall with a thud and she winced, but Katniss had a firm grip on her uniform. She swiped Johanna across the counter, spilling the glass jars on the floor. Katniss tossed Johanna on the ground like she weighed nothing, then straddled her waist tightly. Her hands gripped around the base of Johanna's throat and pressed down as hard as she could. Boggs stormed into the room, yelling into his walkie-talkie and advanced to them, trying to tear Katniss from Johanna. Katniss twisted around and punched Boggs in his jaw, sending him back a few steps. She returned to Johanna and punched her as well, bouncing her face against the shattered glass on the tile floors.

Katniss's hands returned to Johanna's throat. Johanna's breaths came in short gasps until her windpipe was crushed enough that breath was not able to come up from her lungs. Her vision went blurry; the last image she saw before blacking out was Katniss's beautiful gray eyes narrowed in unadulterated hatred and rage, and the faint shimmer of gold.

"There she is."

"About damn time."

"Shush."

"Don't you shush me, Hawthorne."

"Shut up, Finnick."

Johanna's eyes opened slowly as she tried to evaluate her surroundings. What she wouldn't give to wake up in the same place twice that wasn't this underground hellhole. Gale sat on her left side, Finnick on her right. In front of her was Beetee, surprisingly enough, and to his left, Plutarch. She opened her mouth to speak, but found only pain when she could not produce a sound.

She felt the collar beneath her neck and looked down to see the white foam beneath her chin. Oh, right. Katniss had nearly strangled her to death. "You probably have a lot of questions, Johanna," Beetee said, rolling closer to the edge of her bed. She nodded as best she could. "Technically, the rescue was a success. Soldier Boggs got you and Katniss out of the Training Center with no problem."

"That should've been your first clue," Gale accused, looking toward them. "The entire center, unarmed?"

Plutarch crossed his arms over his chest. "The Capitol was nearly dark. Beetee had cut the power for as long as he could, seeing as how the rebels destroyed the dam in Seven, the timing was opportune. It gave us some time to get in and out. We assumed President Snow had put his people elsewhere."

"He did," Finnick replied glumly. "He left a ticking fucking time bomb for Johanna. Wrapped up with a pretty little bow."

Swallowing was difficult for Johanna but she did it anyway. Katniss. Her Katniss. "So it seems. Johanna, I believe what they did to Katniss is something called hijacking." Johanna's forehead furrowed in confusion. "They somehow got hold of her memories, manipulated them. And, since you seem to be the only one she attacked, they must have manipulated her memories of you." Beetee shook his head sadly. "I don't know exactly how it's done. It was considered too high-risk when I was working in Three to even consider testing on humans."

"What can we do?" Gale asked, squeezing Johanna's hand in his own.

"I'm not sure. The process is, hypothetically, reversible. But it will take some time. We have to understand how it's done in order to reverse it. At best, she will need to overcome it."

Plutarch nodded his head. "Rest assured, Miss Mason, we are working around the clock to give Katniss the care she needs. If there is a way to reverse what they have done, we will find it. I don't know Katniss well, but if she's anything like the rest of you from Twelve, she's a fighter."

Finnick's communicuff beeped and she looked down at it. "Annie's out of therapy. I've got to go." She patted Johanna on the arm. "Get some rest, kid."

Johanna rolled her eyes but nodded as Finnick left her side. Beetee cleared his throat. "I have some knowledge of how they do this particular brand of torture, but I will give more attention to it when I have time." He rolled to where Finnick had been seated and gave her a grim smile. "Don't lose sight of the goal, Johanna. I know this is traumatizing for you but remember who the enemy is. Remember who did this, not just who they did it to."

"That's exactly right. Sleep, Johanna. The sooner you get better, the sooner we can get back to winning this war. We need the Mockingjay" Plutarch gave her a tight-lipped smile and walked out after Beetee, leaving Gale alone with Johanna.

The taciturn victor snarled and looked up at the closed door. "Prick," Gale muttered in a low growl. Johanna lolled her head to look at him. He didn't look like he had slept, though Johanna didn't know how long she'd been out. Judging by Gale's stubble on his face and chin, only a day. "I don't trust Plutarch, never have. There's something unsettling about a Gamemaker being in charge of a rebellion." Johanna nodded. "Maybe I just never left the arena."

Johanna's eyes darted from him to the bed, and she shifted all her weight to make a space for him to fit. The bed was probably too small for the two of them, but Johanna never took up too much space anyway. Gale understood her intention and moved to lay his body next to hers. He scooped her into his arms, settling her gingerly on his chest. A small sigh escaped her lips as she blinked back tears.

"We're not going to lose her," Gale whispered into the crown of her head. "I won't let it happen." Johanna shot him a look - a cross between annoyance and petulance - and he let out a long sigh. "I wish I knew how to help her. She looks so lost. It took her forever to calm down enough to even speak to. And when we did, she was angry as hell." Johanna raised her eyebrows inquisitively. Gale audibly swallowed. "Well, she yelled at them for not letting her kill you."

Johanna's body went taut with distress. Katniss wanted to kill her. Of all the people in Panem who wanted Johanna dead, she counted Katniss last among them. But not anymore. Snow and his cronies turned her into a weapon. "She-" Johanna tried in a whisper, only to wince at the effort.

"Shh, Jo. I'll tell you everything that happened, I know you're rabid to know." Johanna glared at him. "You came back and they put you immediately into intensive care. Luckily your trachea - your windpipe - wasn't completely fractured. They inserted a tube into your throat to help get you breathing. They tell me no irreparable damage was done. In a few days you should be able to talk, a week or so and the collar can come off." Johanna grumbled to herself. "Katniss is in a sequestered wing of the hospital, under guard. Once they calmed her down - with morphling - they tended to her wounds. Pretty much standard Capitol fare. Bruises, lacerations, that sort of thing. Don't know if they starved her or she starved herself, but she's pretty thin again. Like, before we all started hunting together thin. They are a lot of - damn, what did the doctor call them?" Gale narrowed his eyes in thought. "Track marks? Something like injection sites in her arms where they must've given her doses of something pretty nasty. Don't know what it is yet. The doctors seemed to think it wasn't morphling and that it probably had to do with her torture."

Johanna shivered. It was comforting, having Gale there. Almost like having a small piece of Katniss with her. Gale was probably the only person in 13 - other than Prim and Mrs. Everdeen - who truly loved Katniss like she did. His arms were the one place she felt truly safe in the entirety of 13. Especially if Katniss was now lost.

"They're going to let Prim and her mother see her once she's settled. After that, I don't know. She's hard to control. It's going to take some time, so you do need to focus your efforts on getting better yourself. Not to be the damn Mockingjay for Plutarch." He rested his chin on the top of her head gently. "We have to make them pay."

Two weeks later, Johanna sat cross-legged on her bed, using flash cards to help quiz her brother who sat in an identical position across from her. Since her return from the rescue, Johanna buried herself in training again. The only part she disliked, the written exams, was now something she looked forward to. Any time she could use her brain for something other than thinking about Katniss, she was glad to do so. The physical part was easy; she was even getting to be a better shot with her rifle. It allowed her to work out the high levels of aggression she felt and ignore the deep wells of sorrow that threatened to consume her.

Three short knocks disturbed them from their studying and Johanna looked toward the door. "Come in."

Much to Johanna's extreme surprise, President Coin stepped into their room. John, who was facing Johanna with his back to the door, grumbled his disapproval at being interrupted. "If you're here to try and get me to watch Buttercup again, I told you he does not like me."

President Coin met Johanna's eyes with amusement. "Is Buttercup is the cat?"

John's eyes widened and he slid off the bed, suddenly looking very sheepish and embarrassed in his black socks and uncombed hair. "President Coin. Ma'am. I'm sorry, I thought - I thought you were Prim. I mean, uh, Doctor-in-Training Primrose Everdeen." He coughed. "He hasn't been causing any problems, ma'am."

President Coin smiled. "At ease, Soldier Mason." John relaxed, somewhat, and Johanna didn't move from her position on her bed. President Coin coming up from her dungeon didn't spell something positive for the victor. "Johanna, I'm pleased to see you've convalesced since your unfortunate incident."

Johanna's fingers lightly traced the yellow bruises around the base of her neck and she nodded. "Thanks. Though I'm sure a lot of people were glad that I couldn't talk."

"Perhaps. I know Plutarch was not; he wanted you to do another propo. Cressida has been asking for you as well, but I think that's because she's had her fill of the Finnick and Cashmere production they've been putting on." Johanna chuckled and tilted her head. "I have to tell you how surprised I am at what transpired. I'm very aware of the Capitol's evil but to stoop to the level of psychological torture on a civilian, well. Words cannot truly express how sorry I am. I know how much she means to you." Johanna ducked her gaze to her blanket, using her grip on the threads to ground herself. "As you may know, I have authorized treatment on Katniss in spite of her deliberate actions to kill the Mockingjay."

"She didn't -"

"It's okay," President Coin interrupted. "I was briefed on her condition and I made sure that everyone was aware that she was to be treated as a victim, not an enemy." Johanna visibly relaxed. She wasn't sure when President Coin had taken a vested interest in her. Maybe seeing her nearly die at the hands of the only person she loved tugged at the woman's icy heart. "Have you been kept abreast of her condition?"

"Gale has told me some," Johanna informed with a shrug. In truth she had ducked anyone's attempt at talking to her about Katniss. Her head doctor had told her that if it was too large to overcome, to place it aside. 'Compartmentalizing' is what she called it.

President Coin nodded. She gave a brief look around at their compartment, which luckily John had kept in extremely clean and tidy condition. For some reason, Johanna didn't want Coin to think she was some slack-off soldier. "The doctors are under the impression that they used tracker-jacker venom to manipulate Katniss's memory. Specifically her recollection of you." Johanna swallowed and rubbed her throat. "To combat this, they've asked for someone close to her to help go through her memories and start picking out the ones that are false."

"False?" John asked before Johanna had a chance.

President Coin looked to the younger man. "Indeed. I don't know the procedure - perhaps Beetee Latier can assist you in that - but as I understand it, they've convinced her of things that did not happen. And all the blame falls on you. We've reunited her with her family, briefly. She was very confused. I think the Capitol may have told her they were dead at your hand." Johanna tugged her lower lip in between her teeth. "We needed someone who knew her well, but had no connection to you, to help straighten her out."

"So who'd they pick? Madge?"

"No, unfortunately Miss Undersee has too many connections to you. Something about the pin Katniss arrived with?" Johanna stilled in her movements. The flash of gold before she passed out, it was the mockingjay pin. Snow had basically put a bow on Katniss and handed her over, like Finnick said. "They've chosen a boy from your district. Some... some baker, I think? I haven't met him, no time. But, I thought you'd be interested in seeing how her first session went. Plutarch and Haymitch thought it would be best to keep you away."

Johanna hopped off her mattress and grabbed her boots from underneath her bed. "Why the fuck would I not want to be there?"

President Coin shrugged. "Perhaps they thought it would upset you too much."

"Like I'm some delicate fucking flower? Does Plutarch remember that I've killed people?" President Coin smirked. "I'm a fucking victor and that is not by accident." Johanna aggressively pulled the loop through her laces. "And fuck Haymitch."

"Johanna!" John admonished. "Your language." He was so wide-eyed and offended on President Coin's behalf, Johanna almost laughed.

Johanna looked up from lacing her boots and lifted the corner of her mouth. "I'm sure President Coin has heard worse." She finished getting her shoes on and stood up straight. "I haven't seen her since -" Johanna cut herself off. "I don't know where she's being held."

"Soldier Boggs will escort you," President Coin explained, leading Johanna out of the compartment. Boggs waited for her outside the door, giving her a nod of acknowledgement. "I have to return to my office."

"Thank you," Johanna said, giving the older woman the most genuine expression she could manage. "I appreciate this."

The gray-haired woman nodded her head. "I know you do."

Peeta Mellark. Johanna barely remembered him from school - she knew of his brothers and of his family in the bakery, but nothing about him. Seemed a friendly sort, always surrounded by a lot of friends. Not a bad looking kid, with the market blond hair and blue eyes and a healthy build from years of tossing flour sacks. Johanna wondered what Peeta might have been like in the arena; a mechanism she employed for almost everyone she met now. Probably could've made some good alliances, being so friendly. But the Careers would've eaten him alive.

"Hey, Johanna," he greeted in an even tone as she and Boggs approached. Johanna was glad he didn't seem overly friendly; she didn't have any friends back home and there was no need to pretend she did. Madge was the only market kid Johanna even remotely tolerated, and that was only for Katniss's sake.

"Hey Peeta." Johanna tried to remember if any of his family had made it through. Maybe a brother? She didn't remember seeing his parents around, but she didn't make an effort to see the people from 12. His face was a bit gaunter than Johanna recalled, but he was probably shedding any baby weight he had under a stricter diet. "How are you doing?"

"Fine, considering. It's not so bad here. They've given me kitchen privileges so I can bake. No painting, though," he admitted with a shrug. "Wasteful, they say." Johanna nodded. His blue eyes leveled at her and she could read the sympathy within them. "I know it doesn't mean much, but I'm truly sorry for how things have shaken out with Katniss. It was clear to all of us back home how much you loved each other."

Johanna firmed her lips and nodded again. "Yeah."

Plutarch stepped in between them. "Peeta's known Katniss a long time."

Peeta bobbed his head in agreement. "I used to see her a lot as kids. We were in the same classes. Not friends, per se, but we knew each other. My dad used to buy her game when my mother wasn't looking." He smiled cordially. "I always had a bit of a crush on her. I think most of the guys did." This piece of information irked Johanna and it must've showed in her eyes because Peeta immediately looked contrite. Johanna softened her expression and gazed down at her boots. "She has no idea, the effect she can have."

"Nope."

"Both of you." Johanna's eyes flicked up at him. "Everyone thought you guys were so brave, hunting in the woods and going to the Hob." Johanna raised a surprised eyebrow, an expression that was mimicked by both Plutarch and Haymitch.

Johanna scoffed. "You're just being nice. Don't wanna hurt the feelings of the mental patient," Johanna joked. Peeta smiled slightly but his lips fell into a line. "I don't think Katniss could have any bad memories associated with you. Other than her starving as a kid, but nothing to do with me."

Johanna, Haymitch and Plutarch walked to the observation room, where a thick plate of one-sided mirrored glass separated them from Katniss. Johanna placed her hand on the glass, wishing, and aching, to be able to touch Katniss again. She watched eagerly as Peeta entered the observation room. Katniss was held down by restraints, but not fighting them. Her hands fidgeted at her sides, but otherwise she was calm. The clouded haze her eyes were in cleared just a little as she recognized Peeta.

"Katniss? It's me, Peeta Mellark. From home." He smiled genuinely and widely, tossing some of his blond curls from his face.

Katniss narrowed her eyes for a moment, then nodded. "Peeta Mellark, the baker's son."

"Right," he replied, with obvious relief. "How are you doing?"

"Oh just wonderful," Katniss snarked, but she shrugged her shoulders. "Why are you here? Why aren't we in Twelve?"

"Here we go," Haymitch whispered, his rough hand placed over Johanna's shaking one.

"I told him to steer clear of any mention of Johanna or the Capitol," Plutarch said with a nod.

Peeta cleared his throat and continued in his gentle, firm voice. "There was an accident. This is our home now. We're in District Thirteen."

Katniss's eyebrows furrowed. "District Thirteen? District Thirteen is gone."

Peeta smiled gently and shook his head. "That's what I thought too. But here we are. It's far underground and a little musty. I miss the sky," Peeta mused. "I miss the orange of sunsets. I bet you saw a lot of them out hunting in Twelve."

Katniss nodded, her face relaxing somewhat. "I did. Just over the meadow, my dad and I used to watch the sun set sometimes on Sundays. It was the only day he'd be off from the mine." She paused. "Was it a mine explosion? Is Gale okay?"

The blond boy stepped closer to Katniss. "Gale is fine. It wasn't a mine explosion. It was a fire. Destroyed most of Twelve, unfortunately. A lot of people didn't make it out. We only had an hour or so to get out before everything was gone."

"My family?" Katniss asked, her heart rate increasing tenfold.

"They're fine," he assured. "You saw them, remember?"

The beeping of the machine connected to her heart rate began to slow. "Right," Katniss breathed.

"Prim is here. Your mother is here. I hear they're both training in the hospital. Your mom is acting as a nurse; your sister is a doctor-in-training already. Even Buttercup is here."

Katniss rolled her eyes. "He survived, the little bastard. Not the goat, of course. That would've been practical. I bet Prim is happy, though."

"She is. She's a hero, you know," Peeta informed, stepping a little closer to Katniss. "Before the bombing, all the power was cut in the districts. Someone organized as many people as he could, and we got almost a thousand people out. Once we were in the woods, Prim was instrumental in keeping everyone alive. She and your mother put together a triage with some help from Greasy Sae, tending to the wounded until we were rescued."

"When can I see her again?"

Peeta looked back toward the window, but he couldn't see through it to the three of them. Haymitch spoke into his earpiece, and the boy turned to her. "They say you can, maybe tomorrow? She's really looking forward to seeing you. Your mother, too. You're very lucky, you know, that most of your family survived."

Katniss paused and Johanna saw the sympathy in her eyes. "Your father?"

Peeta shook his head. "No luck. I don't know where my brothers were, but I was with John trying to get people out. My parents didn't make it. Nobody did but me."

Johanna froze. He had said her brother's name. She and Haymitch waited on bated breath to see how Katniss would react. "I'm sorry. Your father was always nice to me." Johanna breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe it was just her. Or perhaps, it wasn't as bad as they thought.

Peeta smiled cordially. "He had a soft spot for you."

The smile drained from Katniss's face slowly as she met Peeta's steadfast eyes. "There was a fire. A bombing." Peeta affirmed this and Katniss's eyes took on their clouded haze again. Instead of a swirling storm cloud, they were frighteningly white sheets of paper, waiting for an emotion to be written on them. The blankness was disconcerting. "Twelve burned down because of her. Because of Johanna!" She pulled at the restraints. "Peeta, you can't trust her! She's a liar!"

"No, Katniss," he tried, "it's not Johanna's fault."

"Did she tell you that?" Katniss hissed, jerking against the straps holding her down. Johanna gripped the edge of the windowsill tightly, her breath suspended in her throat.

Peeta remained calm. "No. I was there, she didn't -"

"Don't trust her, Peeta," Katniss warned in a frantic voice. "She's a mutt. She's a stinking mutt the Capitol made to use against us!" Johanna swallowed the lump in her throat. Katniss became uncontrollable, struggling against her restraints and making the bed creak with her strength.

"Katniss, she's not a mutt. She's -"

"She ruins everything that's good! Don't go near her! She's a mutt! She's a mutt!" Katniss screamed and Peeta backpedaled until a hand reached into the room and yanked him out. Johanna allowed Haymitch to lead her down the hallway, propping her boneless body up against the wall. Katniss's screams could still be heard from where they stood and Johanna screwed her eyes shut. This was far worse than the sirens of the bombing drill. Each one of her screams pierced Johanna straight in the heart. This was worse than any violence Snow could've inflicted on her directly. Hearing Katniss in pain was like suffering twice.

My name is Johanna Mason. I am eighteen years old. My home is District 12. Katniss thinks I'm a mutt. She was tortured because of me. She hates me.

Another one of Katniss's wails reached them and Johanna shuddered hard. All she ever wanted was to be the person who could calm Katniss's screams, not cause them. "I can't be here," Johanna croaked. She wiped at her eyes that were leaking useless tears. "You want me to be the Mockingjay, send me somewhere else. Get me away from her. I'm hurting her."

"Where do you want to go?" Haymitch asked.

"The Capitol. I'm gonna fucking cook Snow in a stew of his own entrails." Johanna locked eyes with Haymitch, but Plutarch intervened.

"Can't do it. It's not safe until all the districts are on our side. There's still fighting in Two. It's a tough nut to crack." District 2, Johanna thought, where they make Peacekeepers and operate as the Capitol's military base. Where Clove and Cato were from.

"Fine. Send me to Two."

Author's Note: Special thanks to Johannas-Motivational-Insults for her particularly wonderful beta on short notice. Even though I was, and I quote, "feisty."

And of course, thank you to the lovely readers favoriting/following the story. Y'all are the best.