A Healing Mockingjay

Peeta's Return Chapter 1

The last time I caught sight of Peeta was about five weeks ago. I've seen him being tortured on camera, and he visually gets worse within every interview I see him with Caesar Flickerman.

To pass time I've decided to tie knots with Finnick in my compartment complex. I observe his fingers as he intricatly loops the rope into tiny knots and bands them together with yet, another knot. For the past hour and a half we go about tying knots and passiveagressivly tapping our feet in sync, all waiting for the news of Peeta's return.

If there even is a return. 

My eyes are swollen, I have a killer headache and my fingers are bleeding with blisters from tying this stupid rope. Its a little harder to tie because it's so short so the seam keeps rubbing against my skin.

"Ka- Katniss they're back..Peeta's back," Haymitch stutters.

"What?!" I immediately jump up on my feet and start running towards the exit.

"They're in the hospital!" Haymitch shouts behind me.

I'm pushing through large crowds of people; doctors, nurses, patients and reporters carrying clipboards. I continue to run and shove people to get to my one destination. My vision begins to blur by my fast-paced movement and suddenly I slam hard into someone, the dark figure stands before me as my eyes finally adjust to the hospitals rather darkened lighting, and once my vision clears, I come into no other contact but with that of Johanna.

"Oh, my God!" I sputter.

We lock eyes, standing there speechless for a few moments until I speak again. "You're okay, you're safe, you're here!" I blurt out in disbelief.

She looks awful, her hair is shaved completely and she's full of bruises on her scalp, face and arms. "Dammit Katniss, you want to break me next time? Yeah I'm back and I-" 

Johanna's interrupted by some doctor who begins grabbing her by the arm. "I'll talk to you later, they're still taking tests on me," she sighs.

"Alright, see you soon," I say.

The number of people moving in and out of rooms doubles and the very narrow hallway crowds faster by the second. I need to find Peeta.

"Peeta!" I yell. "Where are you?"

Haymitch spots me through the crowd and begins a little jog my way. "Katniss, he's in door 403. That's just up the stairs. Come on, I'll take you."

Completely disregarding his last approach to accompany me while going up the stairs, I turn and run in the direction said. More people swarm through the halls as I scan for the room Haymitch insisted was Peeta's. I find myself running faster until I crash into the room itself.

Here it is. Room 403. No time for waiting, I push the door wide open until I hear a loud thud that makes the nurse jump from her seat.

There's Peeta. Just a couple feet away.

"Peeta?" I call and instantly I feel tears  running down the side of my cheek. He doesn't hesitate to turn at the sound of his name. He knows it's me just by him hearing my voice.

When he turns I feel my heart physically break in half. His face is scraped with blood and there are bruises on the bottom of his cheek and jaw. He rips the tubes pumping medication into him from his forearm and runs straight towards my direction. Overjoyed yet in state of shock, I stand there motionless and begin to sob.

"Katniss," Peeta chokes out, finally nearing me.

I take hold of his face in both of my hands. "You're okay, you're here and alive and.." I'm sobbing in between my words. I can't believe he's here with me right now. I give him a long kiss and then many small kisses on his mouth after. 

"What the hell happened when you were gone? Are you okay?" I practically scream at him.

I see a single tear fall from his eye that he quickly wipes away. As if I didn't see it. Of course he's not okay, he's been beaten to the pulp, for who knows how long. Probably weeks.

My sobbing continues.

"Katniss I'm okay now. I'm safe here don't worry about me anymore, okay? I'm going to be fine," Peeta says.

I'm just realizing how ridiculous this whole conversation is. Why is he trying to comfort me when he was the one who was tortured?

"Peeta, you were tortured! Snow and his people almost beat you to death, you are not okay!" I scream at him. 

Peeta pulls me in for a hug. I didn't realize how much I was shaking until I feel his steady arms bring me back to reality. He is here. Peeta's safe, with me. I tightly wrap my arms around his neck. 

"I've missed you so much, Katniss" he whispers.

"I've missed you too." I break our hug to give him a light kiss on the cheek.

"Katniss, we need to see Peeta now," an unfamiliar voice says behind me. I turn around and see who I assume is Peeta's doctor. "We need to give him more tests and treatment," he continues.

I stand there, holding tightly onto Peeta. As if I wasn't understanding the words coming out from the doctor, he steps forward and irritably says in a slower tone, "I need you to leave. You can come during visiting hours but telling by his injuries and maybe some mental stability problems, I'm guessing he won't be out for about another week."

I forgot there were more people in the room besides Peeta and myself. 

"Okay. I'll see you soon Peeta," I give his hand a squeeze and quietly leave the room.

THANKS FOR READING ILL UPDATE A.S.A.P. PLEASE CONTINUE READING AND SHARE/COMMENT thanks guys i really appreciate it, btw sorry for the short chapter