I find myself waking up in a white bed covered in a white blanket. I begin to look around. There are more white beds all around me. It takes me a minute to become fully aware of where I am.

At first I think am in the hospital, but the room is way too big. I notice the white curtain at the edge, but realize it is not the edge but just a boundary made by the curtain. I can see gray walls in the distance. Past the curtain I can make out muffled voices and other noises. It finally comes to me that this room is part of the cafeteria of district 13. I look around and see that all the beds are occupied except for a few. We must be all the injured soldiers from fighting in the capitol.

We are back in 13 but does that mean we won or did we lose and retreat? The last thing I remember clearly is being close to President Snow's mansion when all of a sudden bombs were being dropped. There were explosions all around me. I remember one hitting close to me. Close enough that the force threw me at least twenty feet into a brick wall. I remember my vision coming and going. I remember seeing some one picking me up and shouting, "Katniss, can you hear me?" I nodded yes, or at least I think I did but I couldn't feel my body so I am not sure. That is all I remember before the black and fuzziness overtake me.

I take stock of my injuries. My left leg is wrapped in a bandage from my lower thigh down to the middle of my calf. My left arm is almost completely bandaged. I reach up to touch the left side of my face. It feels scratched and scabbed up. My left side is the side that must have taken the brunt of the explosion. I'll have to ask someone if we won or not.

I start to look around at the people close to me. The man to my right is the one that Finnick and Gale helped that night we stayed in the abandoned apartment. "Gale?" my mind thinks. "Where is he?" I start scanning the room.

Only a few beds away is Finnick. I would know that copper hair anywhere. Annie is leaning on his chest as he twirls her hair in his fingers. His shoulder is bandaged, along with his leg. He also has huge scratches over his left eye. He has been staring out at the all the beds, but winks at me when he catches me watching them. Then he gently kisses Annie on the top of her head.

I jump a bit when I hear someone clear his or her throat. I look up to find Johanna standing next to my bed. "Hi," I say managing a small smile.

"What are you smiling for?" she grunts out in her usual cold tone. My smile disappears instantly and I shrug my shoulders. "Man, you look horrible," she says as she plops down in the chair by my bed.

I give Johanna the once over. She actually does not look too worse for the wear, but I retort anyway, "Well, you don't look so good either."

"Ooo, Is that supposed to hurt my feelings, fire girl?" I see a small mischievous grin lift the edge of her lips. She puts her hands behind her head and closes her eyes.

"Did you want something, Johanna?" I ask a little coldly.

She just shakes her head while keeping her eyes closed. "Just thought I'd pop over for a visit." She then annoys me further by propping her dirty boots up on my bed. She opens one eye just enough to get a glimpse of my reaction. I try to not let it show that it really irks me. I decide to ignore her as I scan the room for Gale, Peeta, or anyone else from our team.

"Johanna, get your feet off Katniss' bed," I hear Gale's voice and turn just as he shoves her feet off. Johanna glares at him and readjusts herself so her feet are on the bed next to mine.

The man on that side is sleeping, or at least I hope he's sleeping cause I have not seen him move since I woke up. I eye him for a bit until I notice his chest rising and falling ever so slightly.

Then I turn my attention back to Gale who is sitting on the end of my bed. "How are you feeling, Catnip?" his voice sounds a little shaky.

"Not bad. How long have I been out?"

"Two days," Gale answers as he rubs his dirty hands together.

"What have you been doing these last two days, waiting for me to wake up?"

The concern on his face lessens as a little smile begins to show. "I've been back in 12. They think we can move back there once we rebuild some."

"It will be good to go home." Gale nods as he looks back down at his hands and dirty jeans. "What?" I ask as I can tell something is on his mind. He doesn't answer but simply shrugs his shoulders. "Gale, what is it?" I push his leg with my foot that is still under the blanket.

Gale meets my gaze and sighs before he speaks, "I was just wondering where you will live."

"What do you mean? I'll move back to district 12 of course."

"No, that's not what I mean," he sighs.

"You'll have to help me out a little then. I don't know what you mean."

Gale takes a deep breath. "Will you stay in the victor's village or will you come back to the seam. It should be much nicer after the rebuild," he quickly adds the last sentence as if to try to convince me. It's my turn to look at my hands. I can feel him staring at the top of my head, but I don't have an answer. I feel movement and hear him stand. "I guess that means you'll stay with him in victor's village," he mutters as he walks off without saying "Goodbye."

I glance up to see him walk out of the cafeteria. I turn toward Johanna who is still sitting next to my bed. "Don't look at me. I'm not saying a word," she replies as she too walks away leaving me all by myself.

I lie back down and pull the blanket up to my chin as I stare at the ceiling. I soon catch movement near the end of my bed. I look down to see Finnick standing there watching me with sympathy. "Don't worry about Gale. He's been a little emotional since we got back."

"Pft, Gale emotional. That's new," I reply sarcastically.

Finnick smiles a little as he lays his hand on my foot then his expression turns serious, "Just so you know, he's the one who found you after the bombs, and wouldn't let anyone else hold you all the way back from the capitol." Finnick glances back at Annie sleeping soundly on his bed. "Give the guy a break. He may not show it, but he really cares about you."

"I know," I whisper.

Finnick pats my foot then starts to head back to his own bed but turns around before he gets too far. "One more thing. Gale has spent the last two nights sleeping in that chair," he motions to the chair next to my bed before he starts to walk again.

I look down at my hands a little ashamed for acting like Gale didn't care about me when I know he does. "Finnick?" I ask. Finnick turns to look at me. "How's Peeta?" I ask quietly as I'm almost feeling guilty for asking.

"Not so good." When my eyes widen Finnick quickly continues, "Physically, he's not any worse than the rest of us, but those bombs going off really messed his mind up. They had to sedate him to get him on the hovercraft so we could come back to district 13." I can't seem to find any words but simply nod. Finnick quietly goes back to his bed and climbs in next to Annie who is still asleep.

I think about trying to go visit Peeta but when I look at the exit I see a rather large and gruff looking guard standing at the door. I really doubt he will allow me to leave, so I lay back down and focus on the tiles on the ceiling.

I almost fall asleep when I hear someone walk up and stop right in front of my bed. As soon as I open my eyes, I immediately smile for standing in front of me is Prim. She smiles back before she runs to my side and throws her arms around me. I wince in pain but wrap my arms around her and hold her tightly. When I let go she reaches up and gently touches my left cheek. "Does it hurt?"

"Not really."

"I brought you some supper."

"What time is it?"

"About nine. You were still asleep when we served supper to all the others. Are you hungry?"

"A little I guess." Prim brings the tray over and sets it on the table next to me. I pick up the roll and nibble on it then just stare at the rest of the tray.

"Katniss, you need to eat more than that. You haven't eaten in at least two days." Try four I think to myself, but Prim doesn't need to know that. She sits on the edge of my bed and watches me with a worried look.

"It's good to be home," I say as I muster up a small smile.

Prim smiles back. "Gale is helping to rebuild 12. Then we really can go home."

"I know. He told me. It will be nice to go back." I eat a few bites of the stew and then sit the bowl down. My mind keeps thinking of what Finnick said about Peeta and I worry if he is okay. "Have you seen Peeta since we got back?" I lift my eyes to Prim.

She shakes her head slowly. "I tried but they were not sure if he was stable. They were afraid he might hurt me."

I nod in understanding. "Where is he?"

"I think he is back up in the hospital where he was when he was rescued from the capitol the first time." I nod again and promise myself to attempt to go visit him later tonight if I can slip past the guard.

"Katniss," I hear Prim say my name. I did not realize I was off in my own little world. I look up quickly. She smiles then speaks, "I better get back to mom. It's getting late." She stands and gives me a hug as I lay down. She pulls the covers up to my chin and lightly kisses my forehead. "I'll come see you tomorrow."

"Good night, little duck," I whisper and smile.

"Good night, Katniss," she answers as she pats my arm before walking down the row of beds.

I am left to stare back up at the ceiling. I try to go to sleep but I find my thoughts keep going to Peeta. I wonder if they have told him what happened, or if he is still sedated. My mind travels back to the first time I visited him. I remember him in the white room strapped to the bed. I wonder if he is once again strapped to the bed. I sit up and look over to the door where the big mean guard is still standing. How will I ever get past him?

Lucky for me I don't have to come up with a plan. Two rows down from me a guy starts screaming. The man next to him tries to calm him but only manages to find himself in a headlock. He starts waving his arms and calling for help. Along with others, the guard at the door hurries over to help.

While the guard is busy with this, I take my chance and hurriedly scramble for the door. Once I am out in the hall, I head for the elevator that will take me to the hospital floor.

As I walk down the hall I notice that I seem to be getting a lot of stares. What are they all staring at? Can't a person walk down the hall? I decide they must be staring because of my bandages. I quicken my pace to get to the elevator. Once I am inside I am glad to door closes before anyone else can get on.

The hospital is very empty. I don't even see any nurses. They are probably either off for the night or helping with the wounded. I quickly find myself outside the observation room. What will I find when I go in? I slowly open the door. I walk inside and look into the white room with the bed in the middle but there is no Peeta. Maybe Prim was wrong.

I am about to turn and walk out when a slight movement catches my eye. When I look toward it I see Peeta crouched in the corner with his knees pulled up to his chest. His eyes are wide with fear.

When I walk over to the door and step into the room, his eyes are immediately glued on me. "Peeta?" I say quietly, "It's me, Katniss."

"I know what you are."

What I am? This confuses me. I take a few steps closer but stop when I see Peeta leaning back against the wall as if he is trying to get as far away from me as he can. "Peeta, it's okay."

"Sure. That's what they want me to think."

"Who wants you to think that?"

"The capitol. It's just like last time."

"What do you mean like last time?"

"It's just like the quarter quell. The bomb went off. The hovercrafts come and take us away. And I land myself back in the capitol to have my mind messed with again."

"But Peeta you're not in the capitol. You're back in 13."

"How do you know?" his voice rises as he speaks. "You don't know what it was like in the capitol." I see his eyes stare off as if remembering some memory then he speaks softly. "It was cold and damp." His body shivers. "Screams all around me. Pain. There was always pain." His eyes are teary. "Why is this happening again?" He covers his face with his hands and I hear his soft sobs.

My heart breaks to see him in this condition. "Peeta, everything is okay," I whisper as silently I move to sit next to him and put my hand on his shoulder. His body tenses at first but then loosens as he realizes I am real and not just part of a hallucination. He slowly lifts his head so his tear-stained eyes meet mine. "It's okay, Peeta. You're not in the capitol," I speak softly as I wipe the tears from his cheeks.

"Are you sure?" he whispers.

"Does this look like where you were in the capitol?"

Peeta slowly begins to gaze around the room. "No, but it seems so familiar."

"This is where you stayed for a while when you were rescued. It's in the hospital wing."

"You would come see me at night." He looks at me for confirmation. I smile warmly and nod. He manages a small smile before he turns serious again. "I don't ever want to go back to the capitol, Katniss," he says as his breath catches in a little sob.

"Me neither," I add as I reach to him and pull him into a comforting embrace. I lean against the wall as he leans against me. I keep my arms wrapped around him as I rest my cheek against the top of his head.

I am almost asleep when the silence is broken by a loud and unkind voice, "What are you doing in here? No one has clearance to be in here except the doctors."

I am just becoming fully aware of what is happening when I feel Peeta being jerked out of my arms. I feel another set of arms pulling me up off the floor.

"Katniss!" I hear Peeta scream, as he is being dragged out of the room by two very large men in white uniforms.

"Peeta!" I yell back and struggle with all my strength against the arms that hold me. "What are you doing? We were fine until you came in!" I yell as I feel myself being pulled out of the room and I watch the men strapping a now hysterical Peeta to the bed.

When the door closes a doctor speaks to me while I am still being held against my will. "Miss Everdeen, you are not allowed to be in that room with him until we are sure that he is stable."

"Stable!" I scream, "He'd be fine if you didn't treat him like a prisoner! He thought he was back in the capitol!" I jerk free from the guard and put my arms around myself as I watch helplessly as Peeta struggles against the restraints.

"It's for his own good, Miss Everdeen," the doctor tries to sound calm.

"Where's Haymitch? I want to talk to Haymitch," I command as I turn and angrily stare at the doctor. He turns and quietly speaks to one of the men who quickly exits the room.

After a few minutes the doctor speaks to me in a voice that I am sure is supposed to be soothing, "Maybe you should go back to your bed. You have been through a lot these past few days and could probably use some rest."

"I am not leaving until I speak to Haymitch," I mutter as I stand there with my arms crossed.

When I hear the door open again I turn to glare at whoever happens to be coming in. "What's up, sweetheart?" Even though his voice is gruff it is a relief to hear it and to see my mentor.

"They're treating Peeta like he's crazy," I motion to the room. By now Peeta has quit struggling but I can tell he is worn out by his heaving chest. I turn to look at Haymitch who is watching Peeta.

Haymitch turns to the doctor. "Why is he strapped to the bed?"

"We are not sure how stable he is. It is just a precaution."

"I thought they said they would only do that if he were threatening people. Was he threatening someone?"

"Well, he was fighting against the guards."

"Because they barged in and started yelling," I spit out.

"Calm down, sweetheart. We'll get it straightened out," Haymitch says gruffly while placing a firm but reassuring hand on my shoulder. I calm down a bit feeling a little better now that I know that at least Haymitch is on my side. Haymitch turns to the doctor. "I want to talk to the doctor in charge of Peeta." The doctor nods and hurriedly exits the room.

Soon another doctor comes in. I recognize him as one that I always saw watching over Peeta. Haymitch turns to look him in the eyes. "Why is Peeta being held down like a crazed lunatic? You'd have some problems too if you had been through half the crap he has."

The doctor looks in at Peeta. He is lying very still with his eyes closed. You might think he was asleep except for his fists that are clenching and unclenching. The doctor speaks while still watching Peeta, "I'm sure there is a good reason for him being held like that. I will have to speak to the nurses. If you will excuse me I will be right back."

The doctor exits and is gone only briefly then returns. "I have been informed that Peeta turned violent when the guard entered the room."

In a blink of an eye Haymitch has the doctor pinned to the wall with his fist knotted at the neck of his coat. "Listen to me, mister. I'm about to turn very violent myself if Peeta is not released immediately. Do you understand?" Haymitch's eyes are wide with rage.

The doctor meets his eyes with a passive look, "Clearly." The doctor motions to the guard who has materialized out of thin air.

Only when we see him unhooking Peeta's restraints does Haymitch loosen his grip. "Thank you, doctor," Haymitch grumbles.

When the guard walks out I hurry into Peeta who is starting to sit up. Without a word I throw my arms around him. He wraps his arms around me securely and nestles his face in the crook of my neck.

"Ah, look at the love birds. Isn't that sweet?" I glare at Haymitch who is standing at the door with a smirk on his face, but I can't be too mad at him after what he just did.

My eyes turn to little slits when I catch sight of the doctor standing behind Haymitch. Haymitch turns around. "What do you want?" Haymitch says curtly.

"President Coin wants to see you three in the conference room."

"Isn't it a little late?"

The doctor shrugs his shoulders, "That was the message I was told to give you."

Haymitch rolls his eyes then sighs loudly. "Come on, love birds," Haymitch motions to us to follow. Both of us stand and I feel Peeta's fingers entwine with mine as we walk out of the room. As we walk down the hall I turn to see two guards following behind us.

When we get to the conference room we find Finnick, Beetee, Johanna, Boggs, Plutarch, Paylor, and others. Some I recognize as other captains that led teams during the attack on the capitol. Boggs is there too.

Once we are seated, President Coin stands up. All attention is on her. "I'm sorry for the lateness, but the committee and I thought it necessary to get Snow's execution decided as soon as possible. We thought it would be quite fitting if the person who started the rebellion would be the one to end it." All eyes turn to me. "Do you think you are up for it, Miss Everdeen?" Coin looks at me and waits for my response.

In my mind I see flashes of all the bad things that have happened to me because of Snow. I sit up a little taller and meet President Coin's eyes. "It would be my pleasure."

"Then it is decided. Katniss will execute Snow. The committee and I will decide on the place and the time. The announcement will be made tomorrow. Thank you all for coming."

Everyone stands to file out of the room. I feel Peeta take hold of my hand as we exit. "Will you stay with me tonight?" he asks quietly as we walk down the hall. I nod as my mind is still reeling after the meeting. I lead Peeta down the hall. "Aren't we going back to the hospital?"

"No." He follows behind me without question.

We are soon standing outside his room. When I open the door we find the room just as we left it that morning we went to take the capitol. We walk inside. We both look at the bed still neatly made. I start to take off my shoes and socks. Peeta does the same.

We are soon both lying in bed wrapped in each other's arms. Neither of us says anything as we are both lost in our own thoughts. My head is resting on Peeta's chest. I feel safe in his arms. Even though I care a lot for Gale, Peeta and I have been through so much together that I don't know if I could live without his presence.