A/N: This is my last day of freedom from school, so I wanted to get a chapter done for you guys and finish off this story. I truly hope you like it and that it is an appropriate ending to a story that everyone seemed to have liked.
Oh and any songs I happen to use in this chapter, I obviously do not own. I am thinking of writing my own song for use in Mockingjay Victorious Style. Sound good? Okay, I'll shut up now.
Katniss POV
The first thing I could register was white.
White, everywhere. Anywhere I looked was surrounded in this blinding white color. I closed my eyes and waited for my dizziness to pass. Once everything stopped spinning, I opened my eyes again.
I realized that I was in a very white room, a hospital room. There were tubes hooked up to me everywhere, and I groaned a little as I could feel that pinching sensation where they were stuck in me. the back of my head was sore, and I wanted to move so I wasn't laying on it, but I didn't have the energy to. I tried to ignore the awful pain spiking in my hand where Johanna had dug in.
I sighed. Johanna. I knew she would turn on us.
I looked around and noticed that I was the only one in the room. I wondered where everyone was…and who made it out alive.
"Hello?" I called, hoping someone was nearby. I waited for Peeta to run into the room, but was instead greeted by Finnick, who seemed okay except for some cuts and bruises.
"Finnick!" I cried, and he tried to hug me a little bit. It was a little hard to do considering the tubes practically covering me.
"Katniss! We were so worried, you've been out for three days!" he exclaimed, sitting in a chair next to me.
Three days?!
"That's crazy…" I said, amazed that I could be unconscious that long. I didn't feel thirsty or hungry or anything, which wasn't really a good sign.
Finnick nodded, running his hand through his thick bronze hair.
Deciding that I had had enough of those tubes, I began tearing them out of my arm, much to Finnick's dislike. He didn't say anything, but I could see he didn't really want me to do that.
I saw that there were clothes sitting on the chair next to Finnick's. I raised an eyebrow at him and he closed his eyes tightly, covering them with his hands. I chuckled and pulled on the soft, cotton undergarments and t-shirt and the cargo pants.
"You can open your eyes now," I said, pulling my hair out of the back of my shirt. That simple gesture hurt like crazy because I used my hurt hand and my head obviously still hurt.
"Come on, I'll take you to go see everyone," Finnick said, steadying me by putting his shoulder under mine. He wrapped an arm around my back.
"Thanks," I said. "Who first?"
He thought for a moment and smiled. "Let's go see Cat."
I smiled too.
I saw doctors all over the hallways. They looked somewhat happy that I was alright and somewhat angry that I had removed the tubes and changed without their consent.
Cat POV
I lie awake in my room, alone once again. Finnick had left about fifteen minutes ago. I wasn't able to get up because everything still hurt, but I didn't feel sick. Just sore. I had been eating and drinking and felt so much better than I did three days ago.
Katniss and Jade hadn't woken up yet, which was scary. Finnick wouldn't tell me how Lulu was doing. Well, he actually hadn't been to see her because he wasn't ready yet.
He was too scared.
I was vaguely worried about Beetee, but honestly, I was more worried about my real, close friends.
I closed my eyes, just as I heard footsteps approaching.
Finnick walked into my room once again, only he wasn't the only one this time. Katniss was awake and moving, using him as a crutch so that she could move along. She looked like she was in some serious pain, but she pushed through it and smiled at me.
"Katniss!" I said, and I smiled wide. I was glad to see that she could at least move from where she was probably laying minutes before.
"How are you feeling?" Katniss asked as Finn sat her down in a chair right next to the bed.
"So much better. It hurts, but I feel so much better. How about you?" I told her.
"Well…I'm alive. I'm just so thankful that the blow to the back of my head didn't kill me," Katniss said, her voice lowering a little bit at the end. My smile faltered, but returned, because she was here, and she was okay. For the most part.
"I'm just so glad we're both okay," I whispered, and Katniss smiled.
Suddenly a doctor walked through the doorway.
"Your friend Jadelynn is awake," he said, and my heart leapt. Jade was okay too!
ignoring the doctor's protests, I stood up for the first time in about a week on my own. It hurt, that's for sure, but I did it anyway. I glanced at Katniss, and we smiled. We literally ran down to where Jade's name was on the wall. I don't know how we did it, but I know it hurt like crazy, and we both collapsed into the chairs. Finn followed close behind.
Jade POV
Seconds after I woke up, a doctor scurried out of the room. My eyebrow raised in confusion but I let it go. Moments later, two of the people I wanted most, excuse me THREE of the people I wanted most, arrived in my room.
Cat and Katniss looked beat up and in a lot of pain when they collapsed into the chairs near me. Oh my god. CAT!
"CAT!" I screeched, and I pulled the tubes in my arms out. I stopped short when I took in the condition of my body.
I was a sick yellow color, but I think that was because every inch of me was covered in bruises. There were cuts slashing through my bruises too, making me look rather mollifying.
"You okay?" Katniss asked quietly, and I turned to look at her.
I shook my head slightly to snap out of it.
"Yeah I'm fine. Just uh – just kind shocked is all," I explained. Katniss and Cat nodded, looking solemn and kind of worried.
"But I'm glad that you guys are okay. And Finn, I'm glad you're alright," I said, putting a smile back on my face. I took the tubes out of me and sat up, groaning at the pain. Everything, everywhere hurt.
"Wanna put these on?" Katniss asked, grabbing some clothes identical to hers, Cat's, and Finnick's from the chair next to her.
I nodded, and they closed their eyes as I slipped the gown off and put my undergarments and comfortable clothes on, sighing at the warmth and softness of the pants and t-shirt.
"Okay, you're good," I said with a slight laugh and they opened their eyes.
"So…where to next?" asked Finnick, stretching out a little bit.
"Lulu or Peeta," Katniss said, her smile completely dropping. My heart began to beat a little harder. What if they weren't okay?
I sighed and Katniss held her hand out to me. I took it gratefully as she guided me along, and Finn helped Cat. Finn seemed to be the only one in good condition.
We searched the halls for about fifteen minutes, and as time went on, my worry began to worsen. Maybe there was a second floor? That's where they had to be. They just had to be on another floor.
We saw Haymitch in the hallway, and Katniss went crazy.
"Where are they?! Where's Peeta and Lulu?" she asked, getting up in his face.
"Katniss, I-"
But she wanted answers, and so did I.
I grabbed Haymitch's shirt collar and pushed him against the wall.
"Where. Are. They?" I asked him through gritted teeth.
He looked angry at first, but then it subsided, and I could see sadness in his eyes.
My grip slackened, and my arms fell limply to my sides.
"Haymitch?" squeaked Cat, and I turned to face my friends.
Finnick's lip was quivering, and Cat's eyes were wide. I could see Katniss's heavy breathing.
I searched their eyes for any sort of recognition, any sign that they knew what was going on. I waited for one of them to say "Oh yeah, I forgot, they got moved" or something like that.
Something to let me know they were okay.
But I didn't see anything. They looked just as lost as I did.
I turned back to Haymitch slowly, and he sighed, defeated.
"We need to talk."
30 Minutes Later
Finnick POV
I paced my room, heart pounding, tears streaming, anger building up and up continuously.
How could they let her die? They're the Capitol, for God's sake! They're supposed to be able to save everyone, no matter what! AND, she was dying for two days and died during the night! AND NO ONE EVEN BOTHERED TO COME GET US!
And Peeta! I'm glad Johanna got saved, but she didn't do anything when she saw him! And she let President Snow's side of the Capitol take him. She watched it happen! Then again, she got taken soon after, but still, she didn't even do anything! She just kept walking!
But Lulu…
My anger left me completely. She was really gone.
I sunk into a chair and buried my face in my hands.
I should have stayed with her. I shouldn't have let stupid Beetee split us all up like that. Beetee. None of this would have happened if he hadn't come up with this dumb plan.
But I didn't have the energy to care. Lulu was dead. Peeta was being held hostage, as well as Johanna. They could be being tortured horribly or dead by now.
But it didn't make sense. We did everything we could to protect each other. I did everything I could to save her.
But I didn't do enough. And I will forever blame myself for that.
I rubbed circles on my temples as the tears continued to come.
I wondered how Katniss was feeling right now. Her fiancée was being held hostage, possibly dead, or possibly being tortured.
I didn't even bother to hide my tears as I walked down the busy hallway. I waved off any consolations offered by the doctors. Because they didn't know us. They didn't know what we were going through. They just didn't know.
I found Katniss's room once more, where she was curled up in fetal position on the bed, rocking back and forth and muttering things I couldn't understand. Tears poured down her face like rain and her nose running like crazy.
I didn't think twice when I walked up to her and enveloped her in a bone-crushing hug, sobs ripping their way out of both of our throats. I hadn't cried like this since Annie had been reaped for the Games.
Slowly but surely, the both of us were able to calm down to the point where there only silent tears. Katniss's face was red and blotchy, and I assumed mine looked no different.
"I'm so sorry Finn. I know what she meant to you," Katniss said.
I tried to close off my throat and strained to keep my cry from forming, and fresh tears welled up in my eyes.
"I've n-never loved anyone like that s-since I met Annie," I explained. And it was true. Of course I loved all of my friends and would die for them. But I had never felt so much love and protection towards any of them like I did towards Lulu. I felt like she'd been my sister forever, and losing her was like having part of my heart ripped out.
I heard footsteps, and looked up. The last person I wanted to see was standing in the doorway.
Unlike all of us, who had taken an awful beating, all he head was his stab wound which the Capitol had been able to heal. He wore newly issued glasses that rested on the bridge of his nose. He stood straight and looked truly sympathetic.
"I'm so sorry for your loss," he said, his voice full of sorrow. But Beetee's consolations meant less than nothing to me.
Cat POV
My breathing was wavering as I tried to calm down. I had just had a major meltdown. I was sobbing and screaming, kicking things to the point of making myself bleed. People watched on, but I just screamed at them too.
I was calm now, in this crushing sadness. Jade was in the doorway, watching me cautiously as tears continued to fall from both of our eyes.
I had just screamed at her too, and was immediately regretting it.
"I'm so sorry," I said as she pulled me into a hug. I buried my head in her neck and cried some more, and felt her body shaking.
I pulled away as I heard someone else yelling, from what could only be Katniss's room, since Finnick's was way on the other side of the hall I think.
I could tell that it was Finnick who was yelling.
"You're sorry? YOU'RE SORRY?" he cried out, and Jade grabbed my wrist and dragged me towards the sound.
"You're the one who split us up! You're the one that didn't let me protect her! This is your fault! If it wasn't for you and your ridiculously stupid plan, this wouldn't have happened, you idiot!" Finnick continued to scream, his voice shaking with rage. As we reached the doorway, I saw it was also shaking from tears. Katniss watched on worriedly.
"Finnick, I assure you, I never intended-"
"I don't care what you intended. I don't care what you think at all! Your 'consolations' mean LESS than nothing to me! I don't want to ever see you again!" Finnick screamed.
"It's your fault that she's dead," he whispered, and I caught Katniss's eye for a moment.
Beetee didn't seem fazed by Finnick's yelling. Seeing this, Finnick growled, kicked the wall, and pushed past Beetee, Jade, and I and made his way down to his room. Or somewhere else, I don't know.
Beetee turned and faced us and a pleasant smile its way onto his lips.
"Hello girls. How are you? I truly am terribly sorry," he said, his smile falling at the last sentence.
As much as I wanted to blame him, I know it wasn't his fault. It was no one's fault, no matter who did what.
"Uh, thanks. How come you're not mad about Finnick?" asked Jade quietly.
"He's grieving. Like you, Caterina. I saw your little meltdown. And it's okay. Everyone has different ways of grieving. I accept that," Beetee said.
My face turned red. I felt bad because I had been angry at Beetee, like Finnick, but could never have yelled at him that way.
"I'll leave you now," he said, walking past us back to wherever it was he came from.
So that left the four of us to be there in Katniss's room in silence.
I noticed a piano in the corner. Someone must know that music is our safe haven and brought it in.
I tapped Jade's arm and pointed to it. She smiled slightly.
Katniss and Finnick turned to where we were pointed, and I could visibly see both of them calm down.
To my surprise, it was Finn who stood up and walked over to the piano. He played a few notes quietly and then played a delicate intro.
I knew the song, I just couldn't place it.
When Finnick's mouth opened to sing, his voice was definitely not what I was expecting.
"Step one he says, we need to talk
He walks, he says sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare 'politely' right on through," he sang, his voice smooth as silk. The rest of the lyrics appeared in my mind.
"Some sort of window to your right
He goes left and you stay right
Between the line
Of fear and blame
And you begin to wonder why you came," I added in with him, and Finnick glanced up at me, sadness in his eyes.
"Where did I go wrong
I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up
With her all night
Had I known
How to save a life," all of us sang together. Our voices sounded great together but I was too sad to think about that more.
We were cut off by a group of people walking into the room.
My heart leapt as I realized who they were.
I immediately launched myself into Frankie and Sammy's arms.
20 Minutes Later
Jade POV
I was surrounded by my father, Clove, and Gale. Gale had wrapped me up tightly in his arms, and Clove and Dad each had one of my hands. Across from me was Cat, Frankie, and Sam. Cat was in Sam's arms too, buried deep into his chest, and held Frankie's hand. Prim sat atop Katniss's lap, and Katniss's mother held one of Katniss's hands. A young woman who looked to be about the same age as Finnick was wrapped up in his arms.
So that was Annie.
I was beyond happy to be with everyone again. though it had been only about two weeks now, it felt like an eternity.
"So, how's everything back at home?" I asked timidly.
Gale sighed.
"About that…" he said.
Oh no. oh god no. Please don't let this be real.
I could see the panic in everyone's eyes, minus Finnick and Annie's. Finnick looked more concerned, and Annie seemed very out of it.
Sam took a deep breath, and I knew that this couldn't be good.
"There is no District 12. We were bombed."
A/N: TADA! Story two is now over. I'll probably write the oneshot that was requested first when I get the chance and then start the final story. I appreciate everyone who has stayed with me and reviewed through this whole thing
As always, please review!
I'll talk to you all soon. Until then…
Goodbye! -BraveAtHeart
