AN: Thank you for the reviews! odestalovebaby and X The mad girl back home X are my babes.

Finnick couldn't sleep that night, alone in his apartment. He tossed and turned, getting all hot and bothered in the twisted sheets, a burdening feeling of guilt squeezing down on his chest and a million thoughts whizzing through his head all at once. What had he done?

When he closed his eyes, all he could see were horrible images of Annie being beaten up by a strong, powerful, faceless man. He tried everything to make them go away – he watched a late night talk show on TV, fixed himself a midnight snack, and read the next few chapters of his book. But nothing worked. He couldn't escape the fact that he had now broken three rules at work – he had touched a patient, refused to report an urgent matter to the authorities, and given out his personal phone number. Breaking just one of these rules was enough to get him both fired and arrested.

He jumped every time a car drove by outside, thinking it was a police car. At any moment he thought there would be a knock at the door, and when he opened it there'd be an officer standing there with handcuffs, ready to take him away and lock him up and take his license off him for good, leaving him jobless and barely re-employable. And what about Annie? What if that psychotic ex of hers hurt her again, and put her in hospital, or worse, in a grave? It would be all his fault. He could have stopped it, and he chose not to. Why? Because he wanted Annie to like him, that's why. He was willing to risk a woman's safety so that she'd like him. The thought made him feel sick.

Finnick sat up in bed and wiped his sweaty brow. I can't do this, he thought to himself as he unstuck his t-shirt from his body. First thing tomorrow I'm going to call the police and tell them about what Annie's ex did to her. The decision made him feel a bit more comfortable, but then he realised – he couldn't do that. It was too late. If he went to the police about Annie's ex hitting her, they'd ask him why he didn't report it as soon as she told him. They'd immediately suspect that he'd been keeping it a secret as per Annie's wishes, and that would be his career finished for good.

He sighed and flopped back down onto the mattress. What a mess he was in, and he had no one to blame but himself.

XxXxX

Another week passed, and Finnick spent every spare minute of his time trying to come up with a solution. He didn't go into the staffroom at all now – he was worried incase he accidentally let something slip, and he didn't feel like socialising with his friends after work. He had dark circles under his eyes due to a significant lack of sleep, and he was more or less running on the energy given to him from coffee. He decided that enough was enough.

"Annie, I'm sorry. I've done something very wrong," he told her during their next session together.

Annie lowered her head.

"I know," she said quietly. "But... it doesn't feel wrong."

Finnick simply looked at her.

"I know you should have called the police," she went on. "And I also know that you weren't allowed to give me your number, or touch me. I don't mind that you did, but... why? Why did you do it?"

There was silence for a few seconds before Finnick said, "I got... carried away. It was stupid and irresponsible of me. And I'm very sorry."

"Don't be," she almost whispered. "I liked it."

Finnick gulped. He could feel his heart racing, his skin getting warmer. This was wrong. God, this was so wrong. The sensations that Annie gave him with just a few whispered words were enough to render him speechless.

"I know you're worried about your job. You must have worked very hard to get where you are today."

Finnick gave a couple of stiff nods as he began crushing the pen in his fist.

"I'm being selfish," said Annie.

This snapped Finnick out of his paralysed state.

"What?" he asked.

"I'm being selfish. You could be arrested because of me."

"No, Annie, it's not like that..."

"It is," Annie interrupted. "If anyone finds out about what happened, you'll never be able to work as a therapist ever again. After you get released from prison, that is."

Now it was Finnick's turn to lower his head.

"But the only people who know about it are you and me," he mumbled. "And you're not going to tell anyone, and... and I'm not going to tell anyone."

It'd slipped out before he'd even realised what he was saying. He closed his eyes and cursed himself inside. That was it. His plan to tell the police everything had gone up in smoke.

"It's not fair to you," said Annie.

Finnick was confused. He couldn't see a way out of this.

"So... what are you going to do?" he asked warily.

Annie took a deep breath.

"I'm going to find a new therapist."

Finnick snapped his head up in shock.

"What? No! No, you can't do that!"

"I have to. I don't want this weighing you down. Like I said, it isn't fair."

Finnick felt like he had been kicked in the stomach. Annie couldn't leave. He'd probably never see her again! He became panicked and tearful at the realisation. He shook his head desperately and leaned forward.

"Annie, please don't do this. You said yourself that it didn't feel wrong. That... that we didn't feel wrong."

"I'm sorry, Finnick."

Annie stood up and made her way over to the door. Finnick shot up out of his seat and hurtled after her. By the time he had reached Annie, she had already opened the door about an inch or two. Finnick slammed it shut, blocking her exit. The pain in his eyes was visible as Annie looked into them.

"Please don't go," he breathed, bringing his hand up to Annie's waist.

Annie didn't say anything. She just slowly closed the small gap between the two of them. They both hesitated for a few moments, as though they were silently asking each other for permission. Then, their faces leaned in closer and their lips met for the first time. Annie's were soft and gentle, Finnick's rough and coarse because he had been biting them so much recently. He didn't know what he was going to do about the police. All he knew was that he wasn't about to let Annie go that easily.