Author's Note: Hey everyone! Just wanted to give a quick thank you for your wonderful reviews! The positive vibes are appreciated! You guys are great :). Here's Chapter 38 and yes, you will know what's going on with Peeta.

Haymitch's POV

They tell me she was found absent from her room in the morning and laying in the fetal position by room 211. Blocking the door with her body. Military nurse says she tried to rouse her, but was having a difficult time. I shake my head, heading over to the girl myself.

It doesn't phase me for one second that she tried to get to him before the morning. She's wild, that one. If she doesn't have some kind of feelings for that boy, I'm insane.

Sure enough, there Katniss is pressed up against the whitewashed door and muttering to herself. Feeling slightly strange, I crouch down and attempt to coax her like she's a scared kitten.

"Hey Sweetheart, how'd you get here?" I ask quietly, searching for her wandering eyes.

"I... I was... searching for him," She answers, briefly glancing up at me. I swallow, the whites of her eyes are bloodshot.

"Well... he's right behind this door." I say, hoping maybe it will lift the trance over her to see him. She obviously couldn't get in.

She shakes her head hopelessly.

"I know... saw..." She replies, clamping both hands over her mouth and nose and curling her knees to her chest.

She saw. Through the windows. I clench one of my fists. Of course she must have been frightened by the image of Peeta unconscious on the hospital bed. He's been in a coma the moment the medical assistants worked to stabilize him on the hovercraft.

I was hesitant to let the word coma to pass my lips when explaining the situation to her two days ago. I didn't want her to think that his condition was fatal

(like most patients in a coma are), but maybe make it seem as though he was just sleeping when she came to visit him. That plan has now flown out the window. She's not stupid. It's as clear as ice to see that something's wrong with the all heavy medical equipment attached to him.

He's not on the brink of death, which is a positive factor, but whether the doctors understand the reason causing the coma is far from my knowledge.

"Okay. I know... I know what it looks like," I begin, watching her face fill with uncertainty and fear.

"But he's not in as serious condition as it seems. The doctors are working with him. They are-they are hopeful that he will rouse from the coma soon." I speak slowly and carefully.

Her eyes finally meet mine and she breathes in a shaky breath.

"I know you were trying to get in there last night, but you can visit him now if you like." I offer, placing a gentle hand on her arm.

After a pause, she nods. Her knees wobble as she rises to her feet, her lips set in a thin line, determined to stand upright.

"We should get the bed." The nurse says sharply beside me, speaking for the first time now. A few other medical attendants are gathered around us as well. Some watching their own patient in front of me and others waiting to attend to Peeta through the door Katniss is blocking.

I side glance at her but say nothing, keeping an arm on Katniss as she forces her legs to stop shaking.

"Wilma, go get the-" the nurse begins to another attendant, but Katniss's voice stops her.

"I don't need it." She whispers, shooting the nurse her usual glare. I can't help but smile slightly, if there's one thing you don't give Katniss Everdeen, it's pity. She's a victor, a survivor. She's capable of doing this.

With some help unlocking the door, I usher her inside with an arm around her shoulders. The medical assistants soon follow and begin their work immediately. Emptying fluids, filling up drip bags, and changing bandages.

Katniss regains her strength fairly quickly and edges away from me, watching with her mouth partially open as they bustle around Peeta. I wonder when was the last time they saw one another. Her legs move gradually towards the bed and she soon sinks to the floor, hands tentatively resting on the side of the bed. Her eyes glued on the sight of him.

The way her hands grip his bedsheet and her eyes blink back tears I can tell she's fighting something. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but I can oddly tell that it has something to do with last night and how she ended up the way she did outside his door.

My gaze breaks from her and Peeta's stiff body to the doctor speaking fast words with two other nurses and analyzing notes from his clipboard. I wait until he is finished to walk over.

"Hey Doc, Haymitch Abernathy," I hold out a hand. The doctor gives it a firm shake.

"Dr. Crawford. Here to visit Mr. Mellark?" He asks with a hand gesturing towards Peeta.

"Well, more to escort her to visit him," I shrug.

The Doctor sees Katniss kneeling beside the bed and nods.

"Katniss Everdeen. Yes, they were in the games together and tortured in the cells. She's his... what, fiancée, wife?" He chuckles nervously.

"Sorry I've not been keeping up with the Capital drama." He admits with a nonsensical shake of his head.

I give a small smile. By the looks of it, this guy seems young. Maybe only a year or two older than Finnick Odair. Yet, completely different in terms of appearance. With thick glasses and a white lab coat, he stands out as intelligent and skilled.

"Nah, it's just an act." I decide to confess to him.

"But... she cares for him. Deeply." I add.

The doctor looks from Katniss to Peeta, his lips pressed tightly.

"Well, we are working to do our best. The signs of his brain activity have been proven to grow stronger since day one. Maybe... maybe if we could test him while she's in his presence it could help. Sometimes patients in comas adjust when they are surrounded by familar people." He suggests, scribbling something on his paper and looking up to see my approval.

"I'm sure she'd be up for that. Anything to wake him up." I say.

"So... what about his other injuries?" I ask almost hesitatantly. From an outsider's perspective, Peeta looks terrible from all angles.

"Injuries are healing swiftly. Thankfully that is not our major problem." He replies distantly as his eyebrows furrow. Another nurse is ushering him over to Peeta's bedside. Our conversation quickly ends as he returns to his work.

My eyes find Katniss again, stoking Peeta's cheek absentmindedly as she attempts to eavesdrop on the doctor and his nurses. I make my way over to her and place a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, the doctor says you can visit Peeta often. He says it could help with his condition." I tell her quietly as she tears her focus away from the doctor and up to me.

She nods.

"Okay. That would... that sounds good." She replies, her gaze going back to Peeta's still face.

"Do you think," she hesitates, "do you think they'll let me stay with him. In here? I just-don't want him to be alone." She speeds the last part, self consciously feeling the need to explain. I press my lips together.

"Well, I can't make any promises. But... I'll ask." I at last conclude. For her sake, I hope it's a yes.