"Peeta and I Grow Back Together"- Another Everlark story

Haymitch Helps

Hope you like it! ;)

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~Chapter 9~

Haymitch Helps

Katniss's POV

I was an emotional wreck. Tears were pouring down my face, and I was shaking. It was like a nightmare was awaken! The cruely repeating video had made Peeta and I into a disaster area. It had broken every sense of happiness we had had that day.

Haymitch had turned off the tv and came over to us.

"You okay?" He said tentatively. He cautiously put a hand on my shoulder.

I

"NO I'm not okay!" I yelled, pushing his arm away from me. "I just saw something that's been recurring in my nightmares since the first games, repeated over and over! Obviously I am NOT okay!" I was shaking now, fear stricken and miserable. I felt bad about pushing Haymitch's hand away, but I couldn't worry about that now.

"I understand, Katniss-"

"No, you don't-"

"Yes, I do! Katniss, I know how scary and hard it was watching that. I know how hard it is to deal with the waking terror after the games. I went through the same things, and you know what? I am here. I'm here for you. We are here for each other. We three victors." He put extra emphasis on the victors part, sarcasm, I guess.

Somehow, Haymitch's words calmed me. And then I noticed Peeta. He was sitting on the couch, bent over, his head in his hands. He was pulling his hair, very stressed, on the verge of a hijacking flashback. I rushed over to him, Haymitch behind me.

"Peeta, it's okay. We're here. You're okay. You're with us." I said this, rubb!ng his back gently, but what I was thinking was, not again.

"Peeta. Think of the bakery. Fresh bread, that you baked! Icing the cakes! And baking with Katniss before? Remember?"

Haymitch's words seemed to pull Peeta away from his temporary despair. I could feel his muscles relax, and he slowly sat up, pulling his hands away from his head, looking up at me and Haymitch.

"There you go. You're better now." I said, hugging him. Haymitch embraced us, giving me the sense of safety my father gave when I was young.

"Haymitch, what was that?" Peeta asked.

"It was just some old footage, replayed and edited. Probably designed to frighten you." Haymitch continued cautiously, "But it's okay now."

"Why would someone do that?" Who would do that?" I said, still shaking from shock.

"I don't know. I honestly have no idea." He said. "Snow is dead, obviously, and so is Coin, and the Capitol people. So..."

"So it could be anyone." Peeta interjected, staring at the floor, an emotion of anger mixed with fear on his face. Haymitch nodded.

"But... Why?" I asked, looking at Peeta but then turning to Haymitch.

"Someone probably wants to mess with you... To break you, for some reason."

To break me. These three words brought back a flood of horrible memories. I see my sister, Prim, speaking to me with the wisdom of a 90 year old. "Whatever it takes to break you," she had said, when I asked what Snow would do.

The memories were too much for me. I started thinking of all the death and anger and fear and suffering of the rebellion and war, all the events that caused me to be an accidental cause of death. All those people who died. Because of me. Prim, Finnick, Mags, Rue, Cinna, died. And it was my fault.

Well, whoever is trying to break me, they did it. I burst into fits of sobs and tears, unable to keep myself from shaking and crying. I was too overwhelmed that I didn't notice Haymitch telling Peeta to take me home, Peeta walking me inside.

I realized suddenly that I had gotten to my bed, and Peeta had left. I was calmer now, not sobbing, but still shaking with grief.

I wish Peeta would've stayed here, I thought. I wanted his comfort.

As I was thinking this, Peeta appeared in the doorway, to my surprise. He had a pillow and blanket in his hands.

"Hope you don't mind me staying here tonight."

"Of course not," I said casually, but with great relief flooding through me.

He laid down next to me, scooting closer so he could slip his arms around me. I could see the his beautiful blue eyes, felt his warm embrace, and I felt at home.