Katniss hadn't been allowed to stay the night with Johanna in the hospital room, and it felt almost worse than the morphling withdrawals. Johanna tried to remind herself that Katniss was busy learning things and getting acquainted with her squadron which was far more important right now.

But the girl was the first person Johanna saw in the morning. After all, she had gotten clearance to go to the launch site where the so-called "Star Squad" was going to get sent off, and it would be the last time she saw Katniss until the end of the war. Or the last time she saw Katniss ever... but she didn't want to think of that.

Katniss had led Johanna down the hallways, holding her hand. It was nice, not trying to hide it anymore, but then again nobody paid them any attention.

Finnick and Annie were in each other's embrace, as if they didn't want to let go. Haymitch was also there, and it appeared that everybody else had boarded the hovercraft already. Katniss was saying goodbye to Haymitch, and Johanna would've said something to Finnick, but he was too wrapped up with Annie and she didn't want to break them up.

She didn't have to anyway, because it didn't take long for Katniss to turn her attention back to Johanna. But she couldn't look the other girl in the eyes. Not now. She didn't want to be feeling any sort of emotions right now, but it was like there was a roller coaster inside of her or something. She pulled Katniss into a hug though, trying to keep her emotions at bay. She reached down into her pocket to make sure the little bundle that Katniss had made for her was still there. It was.

"This is all kinds of screwed up, isn't it?" Johanna finally muttered, still in Katniss's embrace.

"What is?" She asked stepping back a little.

Johanna sighed, "I'm finally able to tell you how I feel and now you're going to go run off and probably get yourself killed."

"I'm not that bad in combat!" Katniss frowned. The pair were trying to keep their voices down so nobody else heard their words.

"Yeah but..." Johanna took in a deep breath, looking somewhat frustrated, "Everyone I love ends up dying."

Katniss smiled, and Johanna couldn't tell if it was with pity or with love. Maybe it was a mix of both. "Maybe you should stop loving me for a little bit," Katniss joked, or at least Johanna hoped it was a joke.

Johanna just shrugged, "I couldn't even if I tried. Sorry, I think I screwed you over."

The jokes really weren't all that funny. Neither of the girls seemed too amused by them, probably due to the gravity of the situation right now. The fact that this very well could be the last time they saw each other was weighing heavily in Johanna's mind.

"At least it would have been all worth it," Katniss muttered, giving Johanna's hand a squeeze.

Finnick came into Johanna's line of sight, and pulled her into a hug before she could say anything. It was quick, but Johanna still cherished it. "You know I've got her back. Everyone does. If she dies, the rebellion dies!" Finnick said, trying to cheer her up. It was working a little on Johanna but Katniss didn't seem to like it very much. He noticed this and turned to whisper to her though everyone else could still hear, "No pressure, or anything."

"Take care, Fin. Come back in one piece." Johanna said, giving him a friendly little shove in his chest, "And remember it isn't a fashion show. You don't need to look so pretty all the time!"

"Then... why are there cameras?" He winked, but his attention was quickly taken again by Annie, whom he kissed with all the love in the world. It was quite something, to see them together, unable to be broken apart.

Finally, Finnick disappeared out of sight and boarded the hovercraft. Annie looked like she was about to burst into tears, and for once... Johanna knew what that felt like. And she could feel Annie's pain as Katniss let go of her hand, to follow Finnick on the hovercraft.

But Haymitch's laugh bellowing out into the room forced Katniss to pause and look back, "Is there something wrong, Haymitch?" She asked.

"Really? After all that you're just gonna walk away. Be okay with a hug and say goodbye and then pretend like everything's alright after?" Haymitch said, amusement still in his tone. All three girls in the room were now giving him funny looks.

"Wait, are you drunk?" Katniss asked.

"Nope. Can't drink here, remember?" Haymitch smirked, he turned to Johanna and raised an eyebrow at her, "Oh? You want to look at me like I'm crazy? You think I'm blind or something. You look at Katniss the way Finnick looks at Annie." Haymitch shook his head and threw his hands up, "I give up, I don't understand you guys. Never have, never will."

He walked away, but Johanna was still trying to register what Haymitch had said. Was it really that obvious? That was kind of embarrassing if it was... how many people would have known. Katniss seemed a little surprised by this too, but at least she wasn't panicking like she had been when Finnick caught them. That was a good thing, she was growing.

Katniss just mouthed an apology to Johanna, probably for Haymitch's behavior. She turned to board the hovercraft and Johanna knew she only had seconds left. "Katniss, wait!" She said, almost a little too loudly and strode over to the other girl. With a lack of gentleness and all the intensity she had, she kissed Katniss, holding her tight. Despite the audience of two still in the room and the distinct possibility that people from inside the hovercraft could see, Katniss still didn't push away. Instead she leaned into it herself, clutching on to Johanna's shirt. Finally, they pulled apart, and Johanna was smirking, "Haymitch did have a point."

Katniss smiled, but she seemed sad at the same time, "Goodbye Johanna. I'll see you soon."

"May the odds be ever in your favor." Johnna said, letting go of her hand and watching the door close behind Katniss. As the hovercraft started to take off, Johanna was having that sense of deja vu again. It was like sending Katniss into the Hunger Games, except instead of Snow working to save her... he was going to be trying to kill her.

Johanna turned around and walked towards Haymitch and Annie.

"Well damn." Haymitch chuckled, "If she'd kissed Peeta like that, my job might have been a whole lot easier in her first Games." Johanna rolled her eyes and caught glimpse of Annie giving her a funny look. "How about I show you ladies to the Control room?" Haymitch said, patting Johanna's back in a friendly manner.

There was nothing else for her to do, so why not. Johanna and Annie were both going to have to distract themselves for a long time. These seconds were going to seem like hours, the minutes like days...

She had a sinking feeling in her gut about all of this.


"Peeta?" Johanna hissed, "You're going to send in Peeta?"

"Johanna, I think the lack of sleep is affecting the way you're thinking." President Coin said to the Victor, calmly, "They need a replacement, so we're sending him in."

Johanna shook her head. Sure, she was tired. She'd spent most of her time alongside Plutarch, Haymitch, Annie, and occasionally President Coin in the Control Room. It was kind of like being a mentor, but since she hadn't been very good at that she decided to just sit still and watch. Though they did ask her for her advice and input at times. And now she was giving her input, even though the others didn't want to hear it.

"Why don't you send me? At least I'm not hard wired to kill her!" Johanna was yelling, but she didn't care.

"Johanna's right," Peeta said. And for a moment, Johanna felt bad about all this yelling, because she wasn't exactly mad at Peeta. None of it was his fault. She was more so mad that he would get to be so close to Katniss, not her.

"Johanna didn't pass her exam." Coin said flatly, "You don't need to take it because you won't be fighting. This is all for the cameras. Peeta and Katniss together at last, fighting alongside one another." Coin smiled, "He's going, end of discussion."

Johanna huffed and stormed out of the Control Room.

It wasn't long until another person gingerly left the control room and ended up at Johanna's side. "How about we go home, Jo?"

She looked up at Annie, who was smiling at her. Johanna couldn't help but smile back, she had to. For Annie's sake. After all, this poor girl was trying so hard, being separated yet again from Finnick. Johanna put her arm on Annie's shoulder, "Is that what you want?"

"Yeah, and you can tell me some stories about life in District Seven. I only went there on my Victory Tour, but I didn't see much of it." Annie said, her eyes seemed glazed over, as if her mind had gone to the past, but she was back within seconds.

"Sure, sounds nice Annie." Johanna said. Annie took her hand and Johanna led her back up to the room.

They were staying together, since neither of them wanted to be alone. Johanna had quickly learned that Annie had more nightmares than herself and Katniss combined. She often found herself comforting the poor girl. It helped only a little bit. Annie didn't have to say anything, but it became apparent that Johanna wasn't a good enough replacement for Finnick. And Annie wasn't the best replacement for Katniss either, but they were making do.

They talked for a long time, telling stories of their childhood. Sometimes Annie would even laugh at some of the things Johanna said, and for a few hours they forgot how alone they were, because they had each other. But Annie managed to slap the two of them right back into reality while she was talking about her parents, who had passed away a few years ago from old age.

"...I'm just sad that my baby will never get to meet them." She finished, looking truly depressed.

"You need a baby for that to happen, Annie." Johanna answered, but kept her abrasive tone at bay. Not around this girl.

Annie looked up at her, smiling, but several tears already falling down her cheeks. "I do, Johanna."

"What?" Johanna squinted at Annie, trying to make sense of this.

"I'm pregnant!"