Chapter Fifty-Six

Unable to sleep and shake off the feeling of disorientation often associated with being at an unfamiliar place, Effie got up and crossed the room towards the door. She doubled check that lock was firmly in place and waded back to the bed.

She watched over her children while they sleep; watched their chest rise and fall with each breath that they took. Ethan was sprawled on his back, arms and legs spread apart while Tristan slept on his stomach with a thumb stuck in his mouth.

"I didn't mean it," she whispered quietly, brushing Tristan's soft hair back from his small face. The toddler slept on, oblivious to his mother. "I would never hurt you both. You're my everything and I would never intentionally hurt you or your brother. It's just that… sometimes, things happen and it reminds me… of the past."

She touched Ethan's cheek gently.

"The last time I saw Johanna looking this pale and in pain was years ago. I should have better control of myself. I'm… I'm sorry, baby. Please, please know that I love you so very, very much," she said.

Effie kissed the top of Tristan's head and did the same with Ethan. She took the soft toy of a tiger next to Ethan and wrapped his arm around it. He stretched and clutched the toy tight, something she had bought as a joke because of the moniker Haymitch had given him.

On the bed, very much like Tristan, Haymitch was sleeping on his stomach. Effie rested her head on his back and draped her arm around his torso. Her added weight must have woken him up because Haymitch shifted, turning around to face her.

"You alright?" he rubbed his eyes sleepily.

Effie nodded and to reassure him, she kissed the corner of his mouth. "Go back to sleep."

"Boys woke up?"

"They're asleep."

"Then why are you awake? You're turning nocturnal now or what?" he mumbled under his breath.

Effie laughed at that. She pressed her cheek against his chest and allowed the steady beating of Haymitch's heart to lull her to sleep.

XxX

The four adults gathered at the hospital again the next day. Johanna was still unconscious. Felix and Gale were having urgent whispered conversation at the foot of her bed, a conversation Haymitch wanted no part in. Instead, he opted to wait out at the waiting room just down the hallway, bouncing Tristan on his lap while keeping a watchful eye on Ethan walking around the room.

Effie had just gotten off the phone with Annie which was a difficult conversation in itself because once Effie broke the news of what Johanna had attempted to do, Annie kept spacing out and dropping off the conversation entirely. Effie had to repeat herself at least twice to make sure Annie understood her properly.

The moment Effie hung up, Haymitch was about to suggest that she and the children should head out for lunch when Gale and Felix walked in.

"She may escape from being thrown to jail," Gale said without any preamble as he took a seat, "but there will be a hefty fine that she needs to pay instead."

Felix rubbed his face tiredly. He had spent the night at the hospital, turning the sofa at the waiting area as a makeshift bed while Gale stayed by Johanna's side. When Effie found out that Felix had stayed at the hospital instead of finding a decent hotel for himself, she was surprised but kept it to herself.

"So pay it," Felix said.

"The operative word here is 'may'. Johanna needs to wake up first and foremost, and explain why she did what she did. Only then would they consider the … appropriate punishment."

"What of her injuries?" Effie inquired. Johanna's punishment while important was not Effie's main concern.

"That crook of a surgeon didn't manage to get to her fallopian tube before the place was raided. She's… She's still able to have children, if she wants according to the doctor. Not so soon but she in the future... There's a massive tear at her navel area from the incisions so she would need awhile to recover from that. The fact that the sterilisation failed was the reason they are willing to consider a fine. If she had succeeded, she would be thrown in jail."

Effie breathed a sigh of relief. "I was so afraid for her."

"To be truthful, I'm not entirely sure Jo would be pleased to hear that when she wakes up," Felix voiced out. "I mean, she went through all that only to find out that it wasn't successful? I don't think she would be happy."

"Well, I'm sure that feeling would pass," Effie nodded to herself. "Johanna's still young. There's so much she could do, so much she would want that she may not realize yet. In the future, maybe five or eight years from now, she could have a change of heart and she would be glad that it failed."

XxX

Johanna woke up that afternoon. Effie was alone with her when she opened her eyes.

Felix, badly needing a distraction, was spending time with his nephews. Gale had finally taken Effie's suggestion that he needed to rest and was sleeping at the sofa Felix had slept on yesterday at the waiting area. Haymitch was trying to fix the situation.

"You understand what I'm saying, though, don't you? I know what she did was illegal but the Government is not unreasonable to throw her in jail. It will do all sorts of things to her," Haymitch explained to the District Two's representative to the Capitol, a Council member. "You need to look at her records. We extracted her from the Capitol's prison during the Rebellion. She was paraded for the cameras and tortured. Jail is out of the question."

Haymitch frowned as he listened to the voice at the other end of the line.

"If that's what you're going to call it then fine, we'll call it that – special treatment. Maybe that's exactly what I'm asking for you to do. I get it that – " Haymitch pinched the bridge of his nose. "The surgery was botched. It was a failure. Just slap her with a fine and be done with it. You know what? Maybe give her a warning, too or put her under surveillance just so you know she won't attempt it again. I don't care as long as it isn't prison."

"Johanna's one of you. You're a representative of the district, her district. She followed her husband here. Of course, she still has a house in Seven," Haymitch scowled. "You're just confusing the issue. She lives in Two with her husband for the better part of the year. There are paper works to prove that. You're supposed to be her voice. So I'm asking…" Haymitch paused. "Yeah, I understand. That's … I will be sure to convey your terms to her husband. You have nothing to worry about."

He hung up the phone and walked over to where Gale was.

"Wake up," Haymitch tapped his shoulder none too gently. "They're going to give her a fine. Alamar Gold gave his word. There will be no jail but they have a condition."

"Of course they do. What is it?" Gale asked warily.

"Gold wants an interview from her. She's to say that it was a mistake and for her to warn other women and men out there not to attempt something similar, that they should not seek medical surgery from unlicensed practitioner."

"No way," Gale shook his head. "She won't do it."

"So talk to her," Haymitch stood up. "I did what I could. You have to convince her now."

"What makes you think she will listen to me? There's no talking to – "

Gale broke off when a loud, angry shout echoed from Johanna's room followed by Effie screaming in fear.

Gale shot out of his seat and pushed past Haymitch for the door. Haymitch wasted no time making his way to Johanna's room, his thoughts on Effie. After what happened yesterday night, Haymitch was wary of her slipping into one of her episodes.

They burst through the door to a scene that made them stopped in their tracks. Haymitch took in the sight of the two women staring at each other. The hostile atmosphere in the room sent a chill down his spine.

Johanna had a broken vase clasped tight in her hand, the jagged and sharp edges pointing towards Effie who was shaking as she stood at the far end of the room, pressed against the wall. Effie gave no hint that she had heard them entered, unlike Johanna whose eyes flickered immediately to Haymitch and Gale. She lowered her hand.

Haymitch followed Effie's gaze. She stared transfixed at the red patch of blood slowly spreading across Johanna's hospital gown from where the stitches on her navel had torn open. Effie was looking at it with terror.

XxX

Effie was reading a magazine when she sensed movement. She lowered the magazine to pay close attention to the young woman. At first there was nothing else but then Johanna's fingers twitched once, twice before her eyes began to flutter.

A genuine relieved smile broke on Effie's face. "Johanna," she called out softly, reaching out to touch her cheek.

Johanna stared up at Effie, taking a moment to orientate herself with her surroundings. She moved her leg only to realize that her ankle was cuffed to the bed post. Johanna had only swam out from the haze of unconsciousness to fully comprehend what was going on. She only knew fear.

Effie found her hand being twisted painfully by the wild-eyed woman. She cried out in pain as Johanna frantically looked around. Only one word escaped Johanna's lips – "electric."

"No," Effie gasped, trying to wrench her hand free. "Let go."

"Elect –"

Effie pulled her hand and clutched it to her chest. Johanna grabbed the vase next to her bed, smashed it and waved it threateningly towards Effie which made her scream and run towards the other end of the room with her back pressed against the wall.

The cuff and the whirring of the machines must have set Johanna off. "They're heart monitors. Not… Not electroshocks," Effie tried. "Not electroshocks."

Johanna continued to struggle against her cuff, wanting to get out of bed. It caused her wound to split open and it began to bleed, a sight which immediately drew Effie's attention. Her vision began to tunnel and it felt as if her airways were constricted. Effie drew deep shuddering breath. At the back of her mind, she was vaguely aware of the sound of door opening and the crash of the vase as it dropped from Johanna's hand.

Johanna's gaze flitted to Gale and Haymitch standing by the door and that was when she seemed to realize where she was. She looked at her hand, at the cuff around her ankle, at the broken pieces of vase on the floor and finally up at Effie.

"Effie? Effie!" Johanna screamed at her trying to get her attention.

"Don't shout at her," Haymitch warned. "It'll only get worse."

Johanna ignored Haymitch.

"Effie! What's wrong with you, brainless? Look at me!" Johanna demanded, pressing a hand to her wound. Effie was still staring at the bloodied nightgown. The moment Johanna realized that, she pulled the blanket up to covered her stained hospital gown. "You should have known better. You're so stupid. Haymitch," she turned towards him, "it's the blood. She was bathed in – "

Effie ran out of the room.

XxX

There was no question as to what he had to do. He followed his instinct and chased after his wife. Haymitch had already feared the worst. They passed by Felix as he walked up leisurely along the corridor, pushing the twins' stroller. He stared at them in confusion as they ran past.

"Keep an eye on the kids," Haymitch shouted over his shoulder.

There was a blur of movement but Haymitch kept his eyes trained on the blonde head appearing and disappearing amongst the crowd.

"Effie!" he called out. "Sweetheart, stop!"

"Go away!" she screamed. There was fear in her voice.

Effie made her way out from the hospital and onto the streets. She dashed across the road causing people to shout at her angrily and the cars to honk. She glanced around, a petrified expression on her face. Even Haymitch was afraid for her. District Two wasn't like Twelve where the roads where less busy and therefore much safer.

"You'll get yourself killed!" he tried to make himself heard. He was catching up to her and Effie noticed that too when she looked over her shoulder at him. Her eyes widened in alarm, her face was pale as she struggled for breath.

"Stay away from me," she shouted.

Haymitch stopped. He raised both of his hands, trying to let her know that he meant no harm. "Okay, I'll stand right here. I won't come anywhere near, alright?" he was quick to assure her. "Don't run anymore, sweetheart, I'm beat."

For a long while, she stared at him. Haymitch waited until he thought it was safe to approach. He took one cautious step forward only to have Effie bolt away.

The frustrated groan escaped his lips but despite his lungs feeling like it may collapse at any time, Haymitch went after her. He never once thought that Effie could run this fast but she was afraid and fear could do wonders to the human body. Effie made her way blindly through the crowd, weaving the streets with no concrete directions in mind but the moment Haymitch realized where they were, the panic began to wrap itself around him.

"No," he breathed out, refusing to let the despair overwhelm him. "Effie, stop! You gotta stop, sweetheart," he called out. He tried to keep the emotions out of his voice but he couldn't control the desperation as Effie ran straight for the train docked at the station.

"Don't go on – "

Effie turned back once to look at him. Something had made her afraid and she was looking at him as if he would hurt her. Effie hopped on the train. Haymitch pushed himself forward, urging his legs to move faster, to get to her before … The train door slid shut in his face even as he skidded to a stop right in front of the train.

Her eyes were now blank and void, the fear had dissipated as she stood safe behind the door looking at him standing helplessly at the platform on the other side, unable to reach out for her.

At the risk of sounding sadistic, I just wanted to say that I enjoyed writing this chapter and I hope you enjoyed reading it just as much! Do you feel sorry for Haymitch who is now alone in Two with his children without Effie or Effie who is on a train to .. really, who knows. See you in the next chapter!

Reviews are as always, very much appreciated :)