Dax Heavensbee, Capitolite

During the Games were always a difficult time for Dax. Although the world had chipped away a large amount of his integrity, he still refused to drink on the job. Alcohol was meant for off hours, not when he needed to work on a patient. Sure, there were exceptions. He remembered getting a text once that Blaire Offerseed was in intensive care, while literally seated at a bar. But most of the year, those occurrences were rare. He could schedule his habits with relatively little difficulty.

But a Victor could be crowned at any moment, so during the Games, he stayed as dry as possible.

He wasn't completely sober. Dax was an alcoholic after all, and self-aware enough to notice. But he was limiting himself to a drink or two a day. Enough to prevent the worst symptoms of withdrawal but nowhere near enough to provide any satisfaction. Which made him grumpy. Grumpier than usual. So when someone knocked at the doors of his clinic, he didn't appreciate it.

"If you're dying, go to a hospital." He said, "Otherwise I'm sure another doctor can see you. Or you could wait. I'm a crap doctor right now, may as well just go home."

The man at the door ignored him, and merely pushed through, stepping into the room. He was an older Victor, one he didn't recognize easily. Kaenas, he thought idly. The man was in his sixties, but in excellent shape. So despite himself, Dax was curious.

"Believe me, you'll want to hear what I want to say." Kaenas said.

"All right, I'll bite. What medical mystery do you have for me?"

The older man didn't answer. Instead, he simply handed him a phone, "I'm a friend of Hebe. She's done you a favor and would like one in return."

Of course this all came down to Hebe Dagnus. They saw each other quite frequently when he first became the official Victor physician, patching up the various injuries she sustained when entertaining the wealthier members of the Capitol. He even considered her a friend. But Dax also knew her well enough to know that anything she did was risky, and if she wanted a favor, it was bound to be a big one.

"Can I say no?" He asked.

"Absolutely. She was very clear on that. But she also said she thought you'd want to help after the phone call."

"I see. Do you know what the phone call is about?"

"No idea. I'm just the messenger."

Dax stared at the phone dubiously for a few moments until it started to ring, playing a jaunty tune, entirely too cheerful for this time of night.

"What is going on?" Dax snapped.

"Hello?" A girl's voice asked, "Can you hear me?"

Dax paused for a moment. He didn't recognize the voice, not instantly at least. But there was something familiar about it. Something that caused his heart to skip a beat.

Then it hit him.

"Lysistra?"

"Dad. Oh my god it really is you. I wasn't sure I believed them when they told me."

"Lyssa." Dax tried and failed to hold back tears, "Oh sweetheart, it's so good to hear from you. Are you safe? How did you get this number? I hope this doesn't get you in trouble."

There was a long pause. "Okay, sooooo…. Please don't be mad."

Part of him wanted to say that he could never be mad at her. Part of him was already getting angry in anticipation, "What happened?"

"I'm… not in District Twelve any more."

Dax wished that he could have said something clever. Or reassuring. Or anything of substance, really. Instead he said "What?"

"It was the…the rebellion helped me leave." she said, "I'm in a safehouse, in a different district. They said that I'll have to wait until I can plausibly look like I'm eighteen. But then they'll forge me an identity past reaping age."

"Lyssa, that's incredibly dangerous. If they catch you they could make you an avox. Or worse."

"I'd rather be an avox than a Tribute."

Dax hated that his daughter had thought about that long enough to have a preference. "But you're sure you're safe?"

"I think so." Lyssa said, "Hang on, one of the guys here says he wants to talk to you."

There was a crackle of static. Then, Dax heard a familiar voice, "Hey babe."

His boyfriend, Horatio Wren.

"This is where you went?" Dax asked, "You told me that you were on vacation!"

Horatio laughed gently, "There wasn't any guarantee you weren't being watched. But I got her out. And you know how much money I have now. I'll make sure she's safe. Promise."

"This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me."

"It was the right thing to do." Horatio said, "It's wrong, using a child to control you like that. So now you're both free. We have to go now, but I'll contact you when I can."

There was static again, then the line went dead.

Dax looked over at Kaenas, who was desperately attempting to avoid listening in.

"Hebe arranged this, you said?"

Kaenas nodded.

Dax felt a sinking pit in his stomach. On one hand, it was good to know that his daughter was free from the threat of the Reapings. But she was now at far worse risk, and under the thumb of the rebellion. Dax trusted Horatio, and he certainly liked Hebe. But he had lived so long under the power of others that this situation just felt like the same situation. His life was still in someone else's hands. It was hard to say this would be any different.

"Then I suppose I should at least listen to the favor."

"Remember that I said you can say no." Kaenas said.

"I remember that you said that."

Kaenas shrugged, seemingly unperturbed by Dax's cynicism, "I'm supposed to make that very clear."

"Just spit it out already."

The Victor didn't leave him waiting for much longer, "Stop helping Minerva. Leave the Capitol. Be with your daughter."

Dax almost laughed, the request was so absurd. That wasn't a favor. It was another gift.

"Is that all?"

AN: Hello everybody, remember me? I think it's been like a year at this point. I am such a slow poster. But I'll finish. I guarantee that. Sorry that this is not the world's most rousing chapter to return from a Hiatus with. But I already have another chapter ready for you that I'll post soon. So don't worry about that. Thank you to everyone still reading this. I love you all.