𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 | Hunger Games

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     DR. VANN DIDN'T WANT TO SET
Aella any further back and Dr. Steven was nowhere to be found so, as doctor to both Peeta and Aella, she allowed Aella to see him. She could see she was desperate, she worried that saying no would send her spiralling into another fight—one that they'd undoubtedly lose. She didn't want to worry her. She only wanted to promote her recovery and Johanna had took one look at Aella's fearful expression and found herself spewing whatever nonsense she could to get Dr. Vann to agree.

Aella and Peeta had formed a close bond apparently and while Aella had no idea that Peeta had truly broken if there was anyone on this earth that could get him back it was her. Peeta trusted her and she him.

Dr. Vann had a feeling she'd come to regret her decision but she called for a wheelchair because when Aella had sprang to her feet after she'd said yes she had swayed and her knees had wobbled. The second the chair was in her room she was using Johanna as a wall to steady herself and she was in, feet on the foot plates and reaching for the wheels herself.

Dr. Vann sighed deeply and scalded her lightly for even attempting to push herself along. Instead, the woman had gripped the handles and taken Aella herself, Johanna walking alongside them slowly. They passed Finnick and Clio and Daniel in the waiting area and Aella didn't even notice them as Dr. Vann pushed her along. The three sprang to their feet, about to chase them down but Johanna turned back, put her hand out to stop them and shook her head in warning. Don't, she seemed to say, not yet.

"Why isn't he in the main hospital like the rest of us?" Aella asked Dr. Vann as the doctor wheeled her down a corridor.

"There are things I need to tell you before you see him, Aella." Dr. Vann warned her and it was enough to twist her stomach, "The Capitol were experimenting on Peeta with tracker jacker venom."

"I know," She nodded, "Who do you think kept him sane when they dropped him back in his cell without any clue what was real and what was fake."

"Well, unfortunately, you were not there to keep him sane after their last round." Dr. Vann said and Aella didn't need to turn to know she was grimacing. She could hear it in her voice.

"Oh, god." Aella mumbled. Her stomach coiled as her mind ran. She was supposed to be there keeping him sane and knowing that she had failed at the very last hurdle. It was soul destroying.

"No," Johanna said firmly beside her then as she caught the guilt that twisted her friend's features, "Aella this is not your fault. Not even Annie or I could get through to him, okay? We tried, he was too far gone."

Aella closed her eyes and dropped her head into her hands, "Has he hurt anyone?"

The wheelchair came to stop and Dr. Vann walked round to look at Aella. She had pulled her head out of her hands and was looking around—looking at the huge glass window they were standing in front of but before she could look through it, Johanna stepped in her view with a grimace on her face and put her hand on her shoulder, "You don't have to do this."

"I—" Her breath whooshed out of her when she really saw her expression. Her lip trembled, "What do you mean?"

"I don't want it to trigger any memories of any kind." Dr. Vann said, "His condition, his state.... It's for our safety just as much as it is his."

Aella simply couldn't take it anymore. She moved the footplates and stood up so quickly her body swayed and dark spots invaded her vision. She reached out blindly in fear and panic, her hand latching tightly around Johanna's arm as her best friend hurried to steady her before she fell but even she struggled. It was a testament to just how far the Capitol had tortured them, really. Their basic strength had disappeared.