Deep in the Meadow

|19| different

Johanna is practically dragged to her cell which happens to be the one beside me. Kennedy and Will enjoy forcing her through the bared door as she screams at them, yelling. Instinctively I pull Willow closer to me through the bars and cover her ears. She puts off no resistance.

Johanna wears a large trench coat that covers her whole body except her handcuffed hands and blindfolded eyes. If I wouldn't of known any better it would look as if she were in a body bag that is 3 sizes too big. It makes her look larger in size.

"Have fun!" West chuckles watching Johanna struggle.
"Tomorrow comes more torture. And I'm going to release those mutts if you don't answer the question that I ask you this time. No exceptions. Oh! And I think I'll have you guys killed along with Johanna within the time of two weeks after I get all the answers I need from you guys. Then I can rule Panem and put the Capitol back on top!" He says, then walks off.

Kennedy snickers evilly after unlocking Johanna's handcuffs and yanking off her blindfold. Then he slams the cell shut.

"Let me out!!" Johanna shouts rubbing her eyes and letting them adjust to the light. I let go of Willow's ears.
Will smiles and follows Kennedy as they make there way to the elevator. Kennedy throws the handcuffs on a random desk. A few scientists follow them into the elevator. There must be a meeting.

"Johanna. I- I'm so sorry." I say standing and meeting her at the bars separating us. She immediately meets my gaze, oddly folding her arms across her chest.

"Don't be." She answers ungrateful as always while she surveys the torture gym and her cell.
"I saw the message that the Capitol sent a few weeks back. Automatically I knew you guys would end up here, and that I would too because I, ha ha, I killed West's little precious daughter." She smirks.
"And I'm so glad I did. That little devil. Did you know she stalked me? Watched me like a hawk on the Quarter Quell. Apparently I was her favorite. She has posters of me all over her room according to West." Johanna rolls her eyes.

"You aren't even a little nervous about being here?" I ask in disbelief.

"Well I know how to get us out of here, so no I'm not. But, If I tell the truth, I guess I am a little... I don't know? Me and Peeta have been here before." She tells me looking around me to Willow and Rye, then to Peeta.

I think I know where she is getting at.
"You know about the Capitol Alliance?" I ask remembering Selena and the others who are going to help us escape.

"Yep. And I know that most of the group was forced to work here. I did research when that threat message was sent out by West." She says. I smile.

Peeta and I talk to her about lots of things after that. I tell her about Selena and how she is Rye's nurser. About the mutts, and about yesterday's torture. She understands all of it, and I can't help but notice something new about her. Something almost.... Pleasant.

"So. The star-crossed lovers huh? Who knew." She laughs.

"Yea." I answer looking back at Peeta.
"I guess it's been a while since we've gotten to catch up." I say realizing she doesn't even know about mine and Peeta's marriage.
"Peeta and I got married a year after the rebellion. Then four years later we decided to have Willow." I introduce, reaching through the bars and tucking a hair behind Willow's ear. She smiles shyly and hides behind my back.
"And that's Rye." I say wishing I could reach over and hold him.

Johanna, surprisingly, looks kind of sad for me all the sudden.
"These.. are actually your kids?" She asks in disbelief.
"I-I can't believe I didn't put that together? I can't believe I'm saying this but, I am so sorry that they have to be here." She says. I think it the first time I've heard her express her feelings to me.

"Thank you Johanna. And I'm sure we will all make it out. Especially with the alliance on our side." I tell her trying to stay positive, but she seems to be already zoned out now.
"Is everything ok?" I ask her concerned at the sudden softness in her eyes. It's weird for her to act like this.

She sighs.
"Yes" she clears her throat and stands to sit on her table. I can tell something is bothering her, but I don't push it.

I hear West yelling from the training room punishing a mutt. A whimper follows with a rehearsed "Forgive me Master West."

With most of the scientist gone because of that meeting Kennedy and Will went to, what happens in the training room can he heard all throughout the torture gym.

"Mommy what's that?" I hear Willow question after West stops yelling.

I turn to her and give a sweet smile.
"That was West telling a wolf that he was being bad." I say. That's something I've never said before.
She looks at the training room.

"Oh." She murmurs and I can't read her reaction, but I think she is confused still.

I turn back to Johanna who still wears a sad but unreadable face. I realize she still wears the trench coat she came in with. It's so big it has to be hot under there.
"Johanna, are you going to take that off, or just keep sweating?" I ask concerned. Why is she acting so weirdly? Ever since she came in something has been different about her. Then when she realized that Willow and Rye were my kids...

"Katniss, I didn't want you to know. But I guess you have to." She begins and I'm already confused.
"There is a reason I'm different now. And I'm sure you've noticed. There is something in my life I actually care about now, and it's changed me for the better." She says. I gasp. Johanna Mason with feelings?! She must have someone she loves!

"I care about this person with all my heart and I haven't experienced that since I was no younger than 14. If I lose them, I might as well kill my brainless self. Like I said earlier, I'm just a little scared I guess, that if we don't, which we WILL, get out of here, I could lose this person." She tells me looking strait into my eyes. I'm confused. What does she mean? If we don't make it out, the person she loves won't make it either? How is that possible?
"So we have to make it out so I can save the person I love from being killed with me." Johanna says.
"I'm tired of killing the ones I love." She tells me looking down.

I tilt my head confused.
"What? How is it possible that who ever you love will get killed if you don't make it out alive?" I ask.

She sighs looking at me again.
"Because... That persons life runs off of mine." She states quietly.
I gasp again. No way.

Johanna cuts me off before I can make any remark.
"If we, for some reason, die, the ONLY person I have left to love will die to. I do not want them to die. I'm confident we will escape before we are executed in two weeks, but there is always that what if." She sighs and starts to unbutton her coat.
"Katniss, I'm pregnant." She tells me as she finishes unbuttoning her trench coat and lays it on the table.

And apparently very, very, pregnant, because by the way she looks, the due date could range from 2 to 10 days.