I stay by Annie's bedside at all times for the next couple of days. She wakes up every so often from her sleep. I was told that she would need to take it easy while she got back to having a steady diet and getting the required amount of sleep. Johanna's door began to open and close more often, which I hoped was a good sign. Doctors were always running in and out; I could hear them talking outside, but whenever they came in here, they shut up, a bad sign. I didn't really know what to think.
Like I said, Annie was getting progressively better. The amount of morphine that she was getting decreased by the day. A doctor used to pry for answers about what happened in the Capitol, but she refused to answer. She didn't say much anyway and I doubted she would tell a totally random stranger about what happened in her dark cell.
"Finnick?" Plutarch asked, poking his head through the door.
"What?" I moaned, really not hoping he would ask me to leave.
"Can you please step outside for just a moment? She's not going anywhere," he says. I get up and head outside. The other end of the wing has quieted down a bit, but doctors are still everywhere. "Some of the others went to District 2. Gale, Katniss. I'm sorry we didn't ask, but we figured we already knew the answer."
"You were right on that one," I tell him.
"That's where they are now, but they should be back soon. I'm sure you are wanting a status update on your friends?" Plutarch asks. I nod, impatient, holding back from noting that Annie is way more than just a friend.
"Johanna has finally woken up from her heavy sedation. Right now, they are trying to figure out what happened and how much she disclosed. The only way she does this though is if she keeps getting more morphine, which we are allowing for now. Don't worry though, we will prevent her becoming a morphling. As soon as this part is over, we will start reducing her supply again," he explains. I nod.
"Can I see her?" I ask him. He purses his lips, considering.
"Not right now Finnick. Maybe later tonight," he answers. "I should probably check with the doctors before confirming."
"And Annie?" I ask him. He said he would tell me, so I just say it as a friendly reminder.
"Annie is almost perfect. She should be ready to leave the hospital wing tomorrow morning, which was actually the main point of what I came to tell you. Do you want her to share your room? We can give her her own if she wishes it," Plutarch asks. Right now, I'm not spending much of my time in my room, but in Katniss'. Mine is small though.
"I think you should probably ask her, but I'm okay if she wants to be with me," I say. It's the obvious answer and the only one I could possibly imagine myself giving.
"Great! How's training coming?" Plutarch asks, jotting something down on his little screen he carries everywhere.
"I haven't actually been in a while," I confess. He shakes his head.
"I would love for you to be in on a special project we've got coming up. May I suggest going back to training rather soon?"
"Right on it. I'll pick up again tomorrow." A doctor comes out of Johanna's room and Plutarch goes over to speak with him. I guess I'm done here. I'm about ready to head into Annie's room when Plutarch waves me over.
"He's said that it is alright to see Johanna. They aren't sure how she'll react because she is your first visitor, so a doctor will have to be in your room," Plutarch explains. I just nod.
"We're running a final check before lunch. After you're done eating, she'll be ready for you," the doctor says before heading down to Peeta's room.
"Should I call lunch up for you?" Plutarch asks. After all, this is what I've been doing the past couple of days.
"No. I think I'll go down and get it. Can I have a note?" I ask. Notes are required because I'm not of the highest standing like he is, although I doubt Coin actually lets him do much. He scribbles something on a pink pad and rips the sheet off.
I head down to the food court and run through the line, showing everyone that I pass my pink paper. I don't really know who to give it too. I also make sure to explain that I'm bringing lunch up to Annie, but everyone seems to have already known or figured that out for themselves. I take the two trays back upstairs and into Annie's room, placing hers on the bedside table.
"I get to see Johanna today," I tell her.
"The girl from 7?" Annie asks in her faint little voice that hasn't quite recovered yet.
"Yep. She's in the room across the hall."
"I know."
"Katniss, the girl with the bow and arrow, is here too. So is the boy, Peeta, but he's not recovering well. Beetee, from 3, is making incredible weapons. I can't wait to show you my trident that I'm training with," I tell her.
"What about Mags?" she asks, not knowing how much it hurts me to hear her name. I don't know if she didn't watch the games or wasn't fully there for them, but I try to answer in the best possible way.
"She died in the arena with me," I say quietly. Annie nods. She gets the point.
"Home?"
"I've been told that our families are okay, so are Daniel and Noah. They are going strong." After that, we eat in silence. I get up, explain that I'm going to see Johanna now, and leave the room. I wait outside Johanna's room until I'm allowed to inside. The same doctor invites me in and says that he will be staying in the room with us, even though he already explained that.
"Johanna," I whisper when I enter. Her face is still bruised in places, she has lots of scars, patches of hair are gone, and she is so thin and pale.
"Hey Mr. Finnick," she replies. Still calling me that after all this time. It's incredible, really. She doesn't attempt to strangle me, so I step closer. "Long time, no see. What was it, on that beach?"
"Yeah, I think so," I answer. She grabs my arm with her hand and shakes me a little bit.
"Lighten up! I'm fully alive," she says. I look at the doctor in the corner, who just simply nods.
"What's wrong?" Johanna asks after I've not said anything for a few minutes.
"I've just been thinking."
"About?" I still don't say anything. She looks over at the doctor and raises her eyebrows. If looks could speak, her's would be telling him to get out of the room. He obeys.
"Annie. It's just…I don't want to lose her again, and we don't know what's going to happen, so I've been thinking…"
"Yes," Johanna says.
"Yes to what?" I ask her.
"Yes, you should propose. We all knew it was coming," she tells me, picking at the thin sheets on the bed. "I just wish I would be there to see it."
"I can wait, until you get out of here," I offer. Johanna is my best friend, going through all my worst times with me. It's only fair that she be there for my best.
"Odair, I may never get out of here. Just do it, but be prepared with a good long list of adjectives." I laugh. It feels kind of strange. I haven't laughed in a while. It feels more good than strange though. "How long are you going to wait?"
"Maybe tomorrow, when she moves in. I'll have to ask Plutarch," I say.
"Finnick," she sighs, "quit asking and just do it. Especially in the face of authority." We talk for a while longer until Johanna looks up to her counter. "It's time for more drugs to get fed to me. See you tomorrow?"
"Definitely, with a dictionary in hand," I say as I leave. The doctor is waiting outside, not even trying to look interested. "She said she is ready for more morphling."
The next morning, Annie is dispatched from the hospital wing. I lead her out of her hospital room and take her to mine, using the elevator to access the floor. I grab her hand and lead her down the twisting hallways to our room. Once we are there, I take a deep breath. I'm not nervous though. I've never been so sure about anything in my life.
Outside the door, I drop down to one knee. Annie remains quiet. I take both her hands in mine and ask the question.
"Annie Cresta, will you marry me?"
Yeah, it's happening! Johanna's back too! I like this chapter; it's so much happier than the others. My new story, the Life and Story of Foxface, is up and the first chapter has been posted. I would love for you all to check it out and review :)
Thanks for reading and make sure to review this story, too!