After landing back at the Ministry, Lizzy and I were taken straight to Capitol Memorial Hospital. We haven't left in two days. Even though the doctors cleared me for release after only a few hours, they insisted on keeping Lizzy for observation. The staff seems to be running every test imaginable. Both of us are becoming increasingly frustrated as she is constantly insisting that she is perfectly fine, but they will not let her go.

I only leave her bedside for a few minutes at a time, mostly just to get some air out on the building's rooftop garden. Being outside in the open seems to calm the "fight or flight" reflex that is still hanging around in the back of my mind. The rest of the time is spent reconnecting with my wife, talking about our experiences, and basically discussing where we will go from here.

The doctors made us both sit down with a psychologist for a full evaluation. Lizzy was especially annoyed considering this was her profession, but as always, she was kind and cordial through the whole process. I am afraid that I was not as obliging. The things I experienced will be with me the rest of my life. The few hours of sleep that I do manage to get are already filled with nightmares. I soon realize that the only place I feel safe enough to close my eyes is when I'm next to Lizzy's bedside. I keep picturing Ohm's snake attacking her, sinking his fangs into her chest, and then consuming her as I stand by helplessly; Ohm's disgusting artificial laughter is echoing through the background, never leaving my ears. The dream always ends the same way: I bolt awake with a stifled scream and stare through the darkness for a few seconds, trying to remember in my disoriented stupor where I am. It is only as my eyes adjust, and Lizzy's sleeping silhouette appears, I finally feel like myself again. Of course, when the shrink asked me if I was having trouble sleeping, I completely denied it. She knew I was probably lying, but I don't care. I know my life will never be the same, and that is something that I want to deal with on a personal level.

Probably the worst part of this whole ordeal is not knowing what happened to Ohm. After I informed President Holmes about his betrayal, the whole Defense Force was ordered to completely change every single security code and protocol, but the damage might have already been done. It seems impossible that he would be able to survive in his wounded state for very long considering how frail he already seemed, but I know that until his body is recovered or he is captured, anything could happen

Late on the evening of the third day, I sit in my usual chair next to Lizzy's hospital bed. We had talked for a few hours after dinner as the nurses were finishing their checks for the night. She told me besides bringing us even closer together, the other positive that this mess has taught her is that she now understands how difficult things must have been for Annie. Lizzy's trauma only lasted a few days while her aunt's lasted for years.

"My work has now become even more urgent," she said to me. If people are going through what I am right now, I have to find a way to ease their pain because I can't stand it myself." That's my wife, ever the optimist and healer. I suppose we're a perfect couple in a twisted sort of way. I am warrior, she is a peacemaker: the perfect balance.

Soon after that, Lizzy fell into a restless slumber. I am beginning to worry a little myself about her. She has seemed much more exhausted lately. Maybe the doctors know something I don't. My eyelids refuse to close despite my best efforts. Besides the fact that I don't want the chance of another nightmare, I'm worried that she might be having dreams worse than mine. It is true, Ohm tried to kill me in a thousand different ways, but torture is a helpless feeling that is far worse than being merely threatened with death. It is not until I see her calm down and drift into a quiet stillness that I am able to even consider sleep. However, just before my eyes close, I sense someone watching me in the doorway.

I turn around and am confronted with a face that I really don't want to deal with.

"What are you doing here, Finnick?" I admit, I could have been a little more welcoming than this initial chilly greeting. He stares right back at me with his trademark Odair green eyes.

"There definitely not as nice as Lizzy's," I can't help but think. "At least hers aren't filled with contempt."

"It's always a pleasure to see your face, too, Ares," he shoots back sarcastically. "Lizzy, called me last night while you were getting some air. I caught the first train from District 4. There's something I had to do."

"Look, this is a hospital. If you want to fight, let's at least go outside first. I don't want to wake her up."

"I'm not here to fight you, Ares." This takes me by genuine surprise.

"Then why are you?"

"Isn't it obvious? My cousin was kidnapped, tortured, and nearly killed! I'm here because she needs me. I really appreciate the your sentiment that I care more about punishing you than helping take care of her. I love her too, you know."

"Alright, something's up." This is the first time he's ever insinuated that what I have for Lizzy is genuine love. After all, to love requires you to be a decent human being first.

"I'm sorry."

"Forget it," he pauses for a brief second. "Actually, I admit that I did want to talk to you as well, but can we do it in the hallway? I don't want to risk her hearing this."

"Alright." I climb from my chair and follow him out of the room. Finnick looks like he's going through a genuine quandary in his mind right now. I am intrigued and concerned at the same time. "What's up?"

"I suppose…that I….owe you…an apology."

"For what?"

"Lizzy told me what you did. How you had the chance to run away and let her die, but didn't. And more importantly, you had the chance to take the easy way out, get killed, and leave her to the hands of that mutilating bastard, but instead you chose to risk everything to save her."

"Of course, I would risk everything to save her. I love her more than my life, Finnick."

"Right…"

"You see, that's what I never understood. Why have you refused to believe for all these years how we feel about each other?"

"That's not it all, Ares. Of course I've known how much she loved you. I knew it the first time that I ever saw her look at you. I know my cousin. She's like my sister."

"So, I've heard you say…" I say as I remember the phone call from last week.

"Sorry," I say as I realize that he's making a genuine effort to reconcile and that I should use a little more tact that I'm used to. "Go on."

"I suppose the reason I never wanted to accept you is that I would have to let go of something that I've always known…"

"And what is that, Finnick?"

"Hate. Your grandfather tortured my parents, killed my father, and drove my mother insane. When it was all said and done, he never really faced justice. He just died laughing like it was part of his plan all along. Then, out of the blue, my cousin falls in love with you, decides to get married, and make you part of the family. I guess I was worried that if I accepted you, then I would have to let my disgust of President Snow go as well."

He sounds so much like Ohm right now, but there is a real difference I notice immediately: Finnick Odair Jr. doesn't want to hate me anymore. He knows that I am a decent person and desires to let me in because he knows that I love Lizzy just as much as he does. I think he just needs one last thing to help him along to that place of reconcilation: my affirmation that his feelings are correct.

"I'm not my grandfather, Finnick, and I don't mean that as an insult to your intelligence. I just mean that you can accept a man named Snow into your family without forgiving another man named Snow. Lord knows, I will never forgive him either." I see a grin of understanding creep across Finnick's face. "I'd also be honored if you stayed with Lizzy until she recovers. After all, you're family." He actually manages a laugh.

"Thank you, Ares."

"So, are we alright now?"

"Not quite," he balls up his fist and strikes me hard across the face, sending me backwards into the wall. I stand back straight rubbing my jaw.

"What the hell was that for?"

"Just something I've wanted to do for years." He holds out his hand. "Now, we're alright." I chuckle as I shake his hand and finally make peace with Finnick Odair Jr.

"I'm not interrupting anything am I?" We both turn to see President Holmes walking up to us.

"No, Ma'am," I say innocently.

"I'm going to go sit with Lizzy and let the important people talk business," Finnick says a little smugly as he quickly steps back toward Lizzy's room.

"Another old friend of yours, Colonel?" she asks.

"Not just a friend, Ma'am: an old member of my family suddenly becoming a new one." President Holmes grins understandingly. "So, what brings you here, Madam President? I realize that you must be busy right now doing damage control."

"Just wanted to see how you two were doing."

"We're doing just fine. I don't understand why they're keeping us here so long though." President Holmes' grin grows even larger. This sparks my attention. I hate the feeling that someone knows something I don't.

"You have no idea, do you?"

"Excuse me, Ma'am?"

"I don't think it will be a problem. I just spoke with the head physician assigned to your cases and he says you'll be able to take Lizzy home tomorrow evening. I'll have him come over to give you the details."

"That's a relief."

"Also, Colonel Snow, speaking of damage control, I've reconsidered your indefinite leave of absence. There's a lot to discuss about what has happened and what our plan of action should be. I'd like to hear your version of the events from you directly. Can I trouble you to come in tomorrow morning for a debriefing?" I feel very vindicated right now and it feels good.

"I'll be there bright and early, Ma'am."

"Good, I'll see you then." She turns to walk away but pauses for a second. "Oh, and Colonel Snow…"

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"Congratulations," she says with satisfaction as she leaves. Now, I'm really annoyed.

"What the hell was that about?"

A few minutes later, the doctor finds me with Finnick in Lizzy's room and asks to speak to me privately. Finnick graciously excuses himself and steps outside. The doctor briefly examines some notes on his chart before he begins:

"I'm sorry to keep your wife here so long, Colonel Snow. It must have been very inconvenient but we wanted to make sure that with all the trauma and stress she's been through, that there was no permanent damage. Frankly, I'm amazed."

"Amazed about what?"

"Well, considering the circumstances, I'm shocked she didn't lose the baby."

"WHAT?"

He looks at me incredulously. "You mean you didn't know?"

"Are you sure?" I ask in disbelief.

"Absolutely, as soon as we saw her blood work. I guess we just assumed that you two had already found out. My apologies."

I have to lean on my chair for support. The realization hits me in the face harder than Finnick just did:

My wife is pregnant…and I couldn't be happier.