Mosaic Broken Hearts -on hiatus-

Chapter 11

So this chapter is almost 2100 words! Just wanted to point that out... anyway. Enjoy :)

The next week, Peeta falls ill with a high fever. He sleeps a lot, though I stay awake and watch over him, making sure his fever doesn't get too high. I manage to get small amounts of food into him when he's awake.

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I lay awake beside a sleeping Peeta. I watch the rise and fall of his chest. I notice his face dripping with sweat, so I get up to go get a damp washcloth. I sit back down next to him, and gently press the washcloth to his forehead and cheeks. He quietly mumbles to himself in his sleep.

After getting up and rewetting the washcloth many times, I eventually fill up a big bowl with cold water. I put it on the nightstand, and dip the washcloth in it. I wring it out, then continue to press it to Peeta's face.

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I do this for the rest of the night, but it doesn't help. When it's about an hour until sunrise, I shake him awake.

"Hmm?" he moans.

"Peeta, your fever is really high. You need to get up." I tell him. He moans again and starts fumbling with the sheets, trying to take them off, but is failing. I calmly take them off of him, then help him to his feet.

He leans onto me for support as I walk him to the bathroom. I sit him down on the floor, then turn on the lights. I go over to the bath and turn on the cold water, letting it fill the tub. I turn back to Peeta, and bite my lip.

"Can you undress yourself or do you need me to do it?" I ask Peeta softly.

He shakes his head, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. He sits up, and I slowly pull off his shirt. My stomach flips and flops in nervousness. Then I start to inch Peeta's shorts off of him, leaving him in his boxers.

While we wait for the bathtub to fill up, I continue pressing the washcloth to his face. When it's filled, I turn off the water, then assist Peeta into the bathtub. He sighs in relief as he sinks into the cold water. I sit behind Peeta's head, which hangs off the back of the tub. I keep myself busy by playing with his hair.

After he's been soaking for awhile, I then get a cup and start to pour the water on his head. I rinse his hair out, since it's a bit greasy from all the sweating he's been doing. After I've finished that, I drain some of the water that's slowly growing warm because of Peeta's abnormal body temperature. I refill it with fresh cold water.

I keep him in there for about an hour, or at least until his hands begin shriveling. I have him stand and carefully step out of the tub. I wrap a towel around him. "Just keep standing, I'll dry you off." I tell him. He nods.

I dry him off, then kiss his forehead when I'm done. I assist him back to bed, where he falls right back asleep. I watch him for a few minutes, then go downstairs and get a glass of water. I slowly drink it, trying to calm myself down. I always get nervous and freak out if Peeta's fever gets too high. I get worried that I'll have to call my mother and ask her to come down to check him out. It's only getting worse, so I will probably have to suck it up and call my mother soon.

After about half an hour, and half my water, Peeta starts groaning so loudly I can hear him clearly from downstairs. I quickly put my glass down on the table, and take off running. When I reach the stairs, I hear a shatter come from the kitchen and mentally kick myself. I'll clean it up after Peeta.

I run into the room, quickly taking my place at Peeta's bedside. I put my hand on his forehead. "What is it, Peeta?" I ask him, using a tone someone would use when talking to a wounded animal.