I break out of my dream. I'm back in my bedroom. Screaming even louder and more horrible then I did when I saw the ash in my nightmare.
"Katniss! Katniss, it's okay. I'm here, I'm here." It's Peeta. His hands cup my face.
"Hey, you're okay." He repeats. My heart is palpitating in my chest. Shattered breaths escape my trembling lips.
Peeta then pulls me into his chest, holding me tight to him.
"I tried to wake you, but you didn't open your eyes. I spent nearly an hour trying to get you to wake up while you sobbed in your sleep." I explains to me. I reach up and touch my face, my cheeks are damp from the tears.
"It must have been . . . the sleeping pills." I say, leaning over him to cough harshly.
"Are they those pills that keep you asleep?"
"Well, they're supposed to help me sleep. Keeping me asleep is different." I answer, shaking all over.
Peeta shakes his head.
"You can't tell those pills anymore. There was almost no way I was able to wake you. I was lucky when I did." He kisses my forehead.
"Okay, but I won't be able to sleep." I say, coughing again into my arm.
"That's fine, I can't either." He whispers, stroking my cheek.
I look up at him.
"You haven't gotten any sleep tonight?"
"Nope, but it's okay. I've been just laying here with you while you slept."
His nightmares must be at least as bad as mine, probably even worse. They only increase the episodes he has during the day. I remember him attempting to take the sleeping pills in the past as well. They make it worse for him too.
"I'm sorry Peeta. This is my fault. I did this to you." I tell him, looking away bitterly.
"Hey, don't say that. It's not your fault. It's Snow's. He's the one who did this to me." Peeta answers, turning my face back to him. I nod, swallowing, my throat is tacky.
"I think I need water." I say.
I move to get out of bed, groaning as I go.
"Do you need help?" Peeta asks me kindly, his hand going to the inside of my arm as I struggle to stand.
"It's fine." I breathe. The pain medication has gone away now. A dull feeling scraps the bottom of my stomach.
Struggling, and extremely angry and embarrassed with myself for being so weak, I make my way over to the bathroom.
It feels like almost an hour when I at last lay back in bed. I'm incredibly slow with my infection. The muscles around my midsection ache all over. It's almost like getting the bullet wound all over again. Peeta doesn't mind though. He just waits until I come over to him and helps me back into bed, pulling the sheets up to my chin for me.
"I think you need to stay in bed tomorrow. The more rest you get, the better." Peeta whispers into my ear as we lay back down again.
I roll my eyes. I'm so done with being a wounded creature. Again, here I am forced into bed because of another injury.
"Please Katniss. We can't risk the chance of the infection getting worse."
We. It's true. This is dangerous for myself and him. I forget that whatever happens to me, connects to Peeta too. I have to remember to be careful, for his sake. I sigh.
"Okay." I mutter at last, scooting closer to him.
"Thank you." Peeta pulls my chin to him to kiss me gently.
We both end up staying awake until morning, which I guessed before. Neither of us dare to fall asleep. The fear of more nightmares haunt us both. At about six o'clock, Peeta leaves to go downstairs to make tea and breakfast for me. Then, around ten, my mother knocks at the front door. I hear the sounds of Peeta and her speaking in the foyer, then him leading her upstairs to my (our) room.
The door creaks open.
"Katniss." My pale blonde mother rushes over to me, leaving her suitcase with Peeta, who is standing behind her. Her arms embrace me and she gives me a strong hug. It's a hug of many things. She missing me, our long time apart, the sadness of losing Prim, and the insecurity coming to District Twelve. After what seems like eternity, we break.
"How are you mother?" I ask, smiling as she tucks back my dark hair. She looks me over, a mix of happiness and panic on her face.
"I've been alright, don't worry . . . How's your infection? Haymitch told me to come right away. Katniss, you should have been more careful."
"I know, I'm sorry. It's going to go away though. Then, I'll be back to normal. I promise." I assure her, because I can see that she is desperately trying to hide the anxiety she feels for me. I'm the only one she has left now.
"Good. It's awful that I can only stay a few days. They need me back to help with setting up more clinics around Panem." My mother tells me indifferently. She's been currently in charge of the clinics for some of the districts that got destroyed during the war. It's best for her to travel instead of coming back here. She's not really ready yet to face District Twelve again. It is a lot for her to come here.
"Okay, pull back the covers and let me see how bad it is." My mother orders. So, I get a free check up. After looking over my infection and giving some tips on how to take care of this kind of thing, then she bandages me up again. Peeta carries her suitcase to the guest room, which ironically used to be her's. She gets settled and then in a few hours, she makes her way back to my bedside; Peeta following right behind her.
Author's Note: Hey everyone! Hope you liked this chapter! Sorry for a bit of a hiatus, again, I'm in Europe so the connection and time change are different. Plus, I'm touring places all day! Just giving you all a heads up, I think I've got roughly three chapters left before the epilogue! I'd just like to say thank you again to everyone who has taken the time to read this story of mine! I have loved writing it for you every minute! Until next time.
AvaLizzie