Greetings, fellow Tributes! When I went to post this chapter, I was shocked to find that this story has already been viewed over 450 times! *Snoopy Happy Dance* Thank you all for the support; I'm thrilled to find out that there are people who actually LIKE my story! Ok, enough sap; enjoy the chapter!
*Katniss Mellark POV*
I woke up screaming for Peeta to come back, to not leave me alone again. Fighting against the drowsiness, I rubbed my sore neck while feeling for Peeta on the seat next to me. When my hand felt nothing but air, I opened my eyes. Gratefully, the waiting room had remained empty, except for me and…. "Peeta!" Realization at what might have happened rushed through me, and I ran to the nurse's station. Apparently there was a shift change while I was asleep, so the poor nurse almost didn't know what to make of the former Mockingjay near hysterics, running up to her and demanding to know her daughter's state. Fortunately, she kept her shock to a minimum and went to the computer to check. "Mrs. Mellark, according to the doctor's report, as of a few minutes ago…" The nurse calmly clicked the keyboard, while I was on the verge of a total breakdown. "...is still unconscious, but otherwise stable." My relief only lasted for a moment as the fear returned. If nothing happened to Flora, then where is Peeta? "Have you seen my husband? I don't know where he is, and he wouldn't have left without telling me or leaving a message." The nurse gave me a sympathetic look which I immediately wanted to smack off her face. "The was a shift change just a half-hour ago, so I haven't seen him; let me check to see if he left you a message." As she began to sort through the papers littering the large desk, my mind began to try to figure out where he might be, and our confrontation came slamming back into my brain at full force. "Oh, please have left a message…"
After taking time to not only look through each piece of paper on the desk, but to organize the entire thing, she finally called me over. "Well, it seems like Mr. Mellark did not leave a message, but your son did. He asked you to call him back as soon as possible, said something about Mr. Mellark leaving?" She looked as worried as I feel, but for different reasons. After that, everything was a blur: the nurse handing me the phone, trying to calm Finn, who was in hysterics, and then listening to him tell me what had happened through his sobs. When he told me Peeta's message, I dropped the phone and grabbed my head as sobs began to wrack my body. The nurse led me to an empty room, left me sobbing on the bed, and came back with an injection. "Mild sedative; doctor's orders." Despite my fear of needles, I gratefully allow the sedative into my veins, seeking anything to help this chasm of pain that was threatening to engulf me, if only until the nightmares began. As sudden drowsiness began to pull at my eyelids, I could almost see Peeta looking at me, his beautiful blue eyes sparkling with excitement and love. I managed to whisper, "Peeta, come back to me..." before succumbing to a restless, nightmare-filled slumber.
Soooo... you likey? Leave a review; you say anything about the story: the good, the bad, the ugly... if you dare! ;P I'll be posting the next chapter later today, so as always, *Mock Bow* "Thank you... for your consideration."