"Your recovery has been slow, Miss Cresta, but I do believe you're making progress."

She hated the doctors, with their needles and patronizing tones. They could not understand what she had been through. These Capitol pawns, who had lived a life of luxury since birth, could never begin to comprehend the toll the Games had taken on her. That they pretended to empathize only made her hate them more.

It's all you deserve, Annie Cresta.

"No, no it's not! I didn't want any of this!" she protested, screaming and scratching at her temples and ears, trying to get this woman out. Annie watched as Doctor Antonius's brows knitted together in concern and he nodded at the nurse to bring him his syringe. She knew she should stop, but the woman refused.

You asked for this, Annie Cresta. You volunteered for it.

She began to weep as the nurse came back into the room. "Please, please stop," she moaned, hoping that her friend would see reason and leave her alone.

They're going to put you down like a mutt. That's all you are, after all, an animal.

"It hurts, please stop!" Even as the needle pierced her skin and the drugs began to kick in, she could still hear the woman's voice dancing through her mind.

You don't like the pain? Do you think the fish enjoys being speared? Did Amethyst cry out in joy as you stabbed him? You deserve this, Annie Cresta. You're mad.

Finnick stared into his cup of coffee, watching as his four sugar cubes dissolve in the hot liquid. Finally, he decided that he could no longer avoid talking to Mags. He looked up to see her nursing her own cup as she watched him.

"How is she?" he asked.

Mags shook her head.

That was all the answer he needed. "Did you see her this morning?"

She nodded. "Sleeping, though," Mags said, her speech garbled only slightly.

Finnick rubbed his hands over his eyes. The last six weeks had been hard on him, but he could not imagine how difficult they must have been for Annie. Since the day when she had scratched him, the doctors had not allowed him back to see her. They thought that something about him had triggered that attack, and if Annie was to get better, he needed to stay away. Doctor Antonius had never said it, but the doctors believed that Finnick had ruined her.

The doctor was right. His guilt weighed heavily on him. Finnick had ruined Annie the same way the Capitol had ruined him. Perhaps it was for the best that the medics would not allow him to see her. He did not know how to fix himself; he could only make Annie worse.

A tear slipped down his face as he added another sugar cube to his coffee. This one wouldn't dissolve in the now-cold cup. He looked into his cup, disappointed, before a hand guided his face upwards.

Mags had silently walked over to his spot, and now forced him to look into her eyes. "Go," she said.

"I can't, the doctors told me to stay away."

The woman tilted her head slightly, and stared at him, unimpressed with his answer.

"Mags, I'll only hurt her even more. Right now, I need to wait for Doctor Antonius's approval. Once I get that, I'll go in and see her, I promise." A long pause filled the District Four quarters that they had continued to occupy since Annie's Games. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, hoping that Mags would allow the matter to drop.

She didn't. He could no longer hold back his emotions, no longer wear the cool, collected mask he had plastered over his face after Annie had been pulled from the Arena. Finnick choked back a sob. "Mags, I loved the Annie that went into the Arena. The one that came out thinks I'm a monster. I can't go to her."

"Go," she said sternly.

"I can't."

"Go." Mags sat back down and poured another cup of coffee for herself.

Finnick smiled at her from across the table. "You know, I've always been amazed at your ability to win arguments using only one word."

"Not arguing. Ordering." Mags took another sip of coffee.

Finnick checked the time. "I have an appointment in half an hour, but after that I'll go see her."

"Good."

He finished his coffee, kissed Mags on the cheek, and left without another word.

Finnick had never wished an appointment would last longer before. His client was fairly pleasant and so starstruck just by his presence that he barely had to put any thought into maintaining his Capitol facade. One hour and one very pleased customer later, he was walking to the hospital.

He sat in the waiting room, nervously flipping through magazines. He considered getting up again to get another drink from the water fountain, but the receptionist was already unhappy with him, and he didn't want to hurt his chances of seeing Annie. It had taken forty five minutes of convincing for Doctor Aurelius to agree that he could visit. An angry receptionist could not improve his situation.

Finally, a nurse emerged from the back rooms. "You may see her now," she said. "Please, follow me, Mr. Odair."

She led him into Annie's room. He could see Annie lying on the bed, propped up by half a dozen pillows.

"She's had a small dose of morphling to keep her calm during your visit, but she should be able to stay awake for as long as you're here," whispered the nurse. "I'll be waiting in the next room. Don't hesitate to call for me if you need anything."

Finnick thanked her, and she left them alone. He sat down in the chair next to Annie's bed. He looked into her green eyes, which were perfectly alert and focused on him.

"Why are you here?" she asked accusingly.

Finnick struggled for an answer. He settled on the most basic response he could find. "I wanted to see you."

Annie narrowed her eyes. "You haven't wanted to see me in six weeks. What changed?"

"Do you remember the last time I visited?" She shook her head. "You lunged at me, and scratched my face until I bled. The doctors had to drag you off me."

Annie visibly shook as she spoke. "Why did I do that?"

"I'm not sure," he looked down at his hands, wishing he could end this visit now. "I'm sorry for everything that's happened."

Annie didn't seem to hear his words. He told himself that it was just the morphling taking effect, but he knew that wasn't true.

A/N: Hello again! Thanks for reading – I hope you're enjoying the fic! Thank you so much to marblesharp, Nola, and X The Mad Girl Back Home X for reviewing! I really appreciate the feedback you give me J. I hope to have the next chapter up sometime in the next week. Thanks again – I'm so happy that people are still interested in this story. See you soon,

~finnicko-loves-anniec