Mosaic Broken Hearts -on hiatus-

Chapter 12

Hey guys! So sorry that this update is so late! I entered a Hunger Games role play and I've been caught up in writing that instead of this (also I have a slight writer's block so that's not helping). It might be a while after this chapter until I get another one up because I haven't written for this story in forever (mostly because my iPod wasn't working but I got a phone so no problem now). Thanks for sticking around and waiting! So sorry! But enjoy the chapter. ☻

It's around two a.m. when Peeta's fever spikes up. I hop up from the bed, running to get my mother. "Mom!" I say loudly as I enter her room.

She groans, rolling over. "Mom, it's Peeta. Wake up." I say, shaking her shoulder. She sighs and rises.

I lead her up the stairs to Peeta who's sweating heavily and breathing roughly. His eyes are open, and the panic and pain is clear in the blue. I get on my side of the bed, sitting on my knees at his side. I take his hand in mine.

Mother takes his temperate, then frowns. "One hundred five point three." she says. I look down at Peeta.

"What do we do?" I ask, desperate.

"Give him some medicine, and soak him in cold water, but that's about it." she says, clearly upset that there's not much we can do.

"Okay." I say, reaching over for the bottle of Peeta's meds. "How many do I give him?"

"One." she answers.

I hold the pill in my palm. "Hey, Peeta, I know you're hurting, but can you take this? It'll help you feel better." I say in a softer tone, like comforting a small child.

He nods slightly, and I put the pill in his mouth. I watch as he swallows it. I kiss his forehead. "Okay, can you walk if I help you?" He nods.

I put my arm under his shoulders, helping him sit up. He lets out a series of moans of pain. "I'm sorry, I know it hurts, but you just have to get to the bathroom." I tell him as a few tears roll down his cheeks.

I help him to his feet, letting him put his body weight on me as we go to the bathroom. I sit with him on the floor as mother draws the bath. I sit him in my lap, my back leaning against the wall. I hold his sweaty hand. He has his head back on my shoulder, breathing heavily as if he just ran a mile. I rub his bare back.

"Okay, get him in." Mom says. I pick Peeta up as best as I can, and lay him in the bathtub. He sighs in relief at the cold.

Peeta's head leans over the edge again, taunting me to play with his hair again. I keep running my fingers through his hair, just trying to comfort him. I start to cry at some point.

"Please hang on. Please, Peeta. I need you." I whisper to him, sobbing. I kiss his temple with trembling lips.

---

When his temperature finally comes back down, I give him another pill, then help him to bed. I lay him under the sheets, then join him.

That's how I spend the day; laying with Peeta as if nothing was wrong.

But everything was wrong.

---

His fever finally comes below one hundred in two more days, meaning a few fifteen minute naps and snacks instead of meals for me. Mom left in the afternoon of that day, when we finally thought Peeta would be okay for a while.

He slowly becomes a living person again. It's like he's been brought back from the dead. He eats a lot as he regains his appetite. I still lay awake at night and skip meals because I'm afraid that this is just the calm before a storm.

It's after a few nights of him sleeping away when he wakes up and notices I'm not in bed. I have retreated to the kitchen, sitting at the table. I jump when I feel his hand on my shoulder. I must've zoned out since I didn't hear him come downstairs.

"Hey." he says softly, concern obvious in his voice.

"Hi." I reply, lifting my head.

"What are you doing down here?"

"Couldn't sleep."

"You could've woken me up."

I shake my head. "I'm fine, I just couldn't sleep. I came down here to think."

"About what?" he asks.

He caught me. I close my eyes, and rest my head in my hand, begging for the pounding to go away.

"I'll make you some tea." he says quietly.

A veil of silence falls between us while he makes the tea. I get up to put some sugar in it when he's done. I put a pinch in, then stir to dissolve it.

I take a sip, but as soon as I swallow it, my eyes droop and legs shake. Peeta quickly takes my cup as I start to fall. Sleep syrup. He added sleep syrup to my tea.

He catches me just before I hit the floor. I quietly slur his name. He gently shushes me, picking me up bridal style. I curl up against his chest. I get more and more exhausted as each second passes. It feels like hours until we reach our bedroom.

He lays me down, and pulls the sheets over me. I softly moan. He lays down beside me, taking my limp body in his arms. I lay my head over his heart. I mumble his name. He kisses my forehead.

I just barely catch his last words. "I love you."

---

I wake up in the afternoon. Peeta is still beside me. He gently kisses my forehead. I reach out to him. He pulls me into his chest, and I curl up against the warmth.

"We should get up." he whispers.

"Okay." I say. I let go of him so he can get up.

I roll onto my stomach, then push myself up. My arms violently shake, but I pull my knees under me and sit on them. Peeta puts his hand on my back.

"You don't have to get up." he says quietly.

I shake my head. "No, no. I'm fine." I say as I climb over the side of the bed. Peeta gives me a concerned look.

I fall as soon as I stand up. Peeta catches me just before I hit the ground. He looks at me for a second, then proceeds on picking me up.

He carries me downstairs. Peeta lays me on the couch, then sits next to my head, lifting it in his lap. He puts a blanket over me and I curl up. I feel his hand begin to stroke my hair.

He slowly coaxes me back into sleep.

---

I wake up to Peeta kneeling in front of the couch, his hand stroking my hair.

"Hey, are you hungry?" he whispers.

I shake my head, closing my eyes. "You haven't eaten all day." he says, shaking my shoulder.

I groan, rolling over, my back facing him. He puts his hand on my waist, and slowly moves his hand to my hollow stomach. Then up a bit, where you can feel my ribcage sticking out.

"Katniss." he says in an upset tone.

"I was worried about you. I was constantly with you. I was afraid to leave you alone." I say.

"You still have to take care of yourself."

"I'm sorry." I say softly.

He starts lifting me off the couch. "Just come here." he says quietly.

He pulls me up into a sitting position, then wraps his arms around me tightly. We sit there, hugging each other for a long time. He pulls away when I'm about to fall asleep on his shoulder.

"Just come to the kitchen. I'll make you something." he whispers. I give in and get up.