Song of the chapter; "Radioactive." By Imagins Dragons.

"Peeta! Peeta help!" I scream waking myself from my nightmare filled sleep. "Help!" I plead again, I know I'm awake but my body doesn't. I grip the beds sheets and look around the dark room, the darkness seems to draw closer to me. The walls come closer and everything hisses my name like the mutts did in the sewers.

"Katniss .... Kaniss ...."

I cover my ears and scream falling into my own lap and curling into a ball. I try my best to escape the world, but it doesn't seem to work. It never does. "Peeta!" I cry out, I hate that I cry his name. Why couldn't it be someone else? Why do I have to have him to function? Why is he the only one able to comfort me?

My screams turn to sobs, growing louder and louder they fill the victors village.

Unless I'm crazy -which I know I am- I hear the front door open and close. Soft but quick footsteps tread up the stairs and soon my door is opened. He breaths heavily. "Hey, your okay. Your okay. I'm here now." He says taking me into his arms.

He holds me to his chest rocking me gently, we stay like this for a while. "I'm sorry, I had a nightmare. I have them a lot lately." I tell him softly.

"It's okay, I get them too. About the Capitol and the hijacking." He says. Just those very words make me hold onto him harder.

"I'm sorry." I say again. I don't know what I'm apologizing for this time. It may be the screaming nightmares, or it be my fault that he got hijacked. But he doesn't say a word.

Once I'm calmed he stands from the bed and I whimper. "Please stay." I beg.

"Katniss I can't. I don't trust myself around you yet. Especially not if I have nightmares, I could wake up angry at you. Besides, I have a fiancée and our daughter is at my house." I nod with tears still in my eyes. "Hey ..." He scratches the back of his neck. "I'll uh, bring Cameron over later today alright? You just get some rest for now." He says.

"Okay." I smile.

I fall asleep dreaming of his lips on mine, and being wrapped in his arms each and every single night. I dream of a life where we have more children, when we're a happy family. I dream of him.

**

I wake with extra pep in my step, quickly showering and making breakfast. I manage my to cut myself this time. I peer through my windows and see Haymitch passed out drunk at his kitchen table. I pick flowers from his flower beds, and place them in a vase I found under the sink. After that, I pick up the countless shattered plates, cups, and dishes I've thrown in anger.

I clean all afternoon, and when five o'clock hits I start to loose hope he's coming. But then there's a loud knock on the door and I race to get it. I check my hair and then open the door with a smile. Almost instantly my smile fades and a dull pain sets in my right shoulder. "What the-"

"Stay away from Peeta! He's my fiancée, just like Cameron is my daughter! Leave my family alone." She growls plunging the knife in deeper.

I shriek in pain. "PEETA!" I cry.

"He can't help you, I sent them to the store so we could chat." She smirks hanging over me.

"Why are you doing this?" I cry.

"Because we had a perfect life, and now you came and he wants to run off to be with you and I won't let that happen. He's the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"Please, stop this." I cry. "Go get me help." I plead.

"Oh no my dear. Your gonna die right here on the porch steps."

"HELP! HELP PLEASE." I scream managing to spit on her face in the process. She smirks and stands, eyeing my up and down.

"HELLO?" I hear a deep voice bellow. "IS THAT YOU KATNISS?"

I can't place who the voice belongs to, but I answer it anyways. "YES HELP ME." I plead screaming with everything in my body. I hear the gate being pushed open. Her eyes grow huge and she runs away leaving the weapon behind.

When the person reaches me they gasp, all they say is one word. "Catnip!"

***

There's an IV in each of my arms, I must have been pretty messed up. My chest is wrapped in bandages, the room is empty; so I push the call button. "She's awake!" A nurse calls peering around the corner. She gives me a warm smile. "Hey hunny, didn't think you'd ever wake up. You sure do have a lot of people worried out there." She smiles writing my vitals down on paper.

"Is that so?" I ask.

"Yeah." She grins. "So, in about ten minuets a detective is gonna come in. Talk to you about what happened. Do you remember?"

I nod slightly. "I'll send him in as soon as he arrives, for now would you like any visitors?" She asks.

"Yes please."

"Anyone in particular?" She asks.

"Gale." I say. "And can you tell me if Peeta is here?" I ask her.

She nods. "Certainly."

Gale arrives shortly after, he races to my add and holds my hand. "Oh Kaniss, what happened? I thought you were dying." I chuckle at him, wiping his tear.

"No, I'm not dying. I got stabbed." I say with humor. "By an evil bitch."

"Who?" He asks me.

"Melody." I say. "Peeta's new fiancee." He gasps. "Yeah, new fiancée. Fancy ring, she's prettier then me, they won't let me see my child. She tried to kill me."

"Well I'm glad your-" There's a knock on the doorway. "Come in," He calls for me.

A man in a simple gray shit walks in pulling a chair next to my bed. "Hello, I'm detective Matson. I'm here to help you in anyway I can." I nod. "So let's get straight to business, who attacked you?"

Gale squeezes my hand. "Melody, I don't know her last name I'm sorry. But she's engaged to Peeta Mellark." I stutter.

"I thought you were?" Matson asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, so did I." I nod slipping the ring off and flocking it across the room. "So next question?" I ask.

"How did you know her?" He asks.

"She's engaged to I guess my ex fiancée, who lives with my daughter."

"When did you meet her?" He scribbles fast on a notepad.

"Right after I got back, I knocked on Peeta's door and she answered. That's when I found out she also changed my daughter's name." I frown.

"Why would she attack you?" He asks me.

"Because like an idiot, I was throwing myself at an engaged man. She had every right to do what she did." I say the situation finally beginning to set in.

"What? Katniss no she didn't. You talking to Peeta gave her no right to stab you." Gale says quickly.

I shake my head slowly and look back to Matson who's watching us like hawks. "So what do you want to do here Miss Everdeen?" He asks me.

"I still want her in jail." I say. "I don't care anymore."

I lean my head back on the pillow. Peeta loves her, how could I take away someone he loves? That's like Coin taking me away from Willow and him. "No no, never mind. Just let it be. If something else happens... Then we'll talk." Gale looks at me as if I've frown three heads. "What? He loves her, I can't take that away from him. I won't become Coin or President Snow." I say. He shakes his head disapprovingly. "Is that all sir?" I ask Matson politely.

"Yes ma'am, that'll be all. Here i'll lay my phone number here. If you change call me and I'll be here." I nod as he stretches his hand out again for another shake. "And thank you for serving." He says referring to the war.

Then he's out the door. The nurse pokes her head around the corner and smiles. "Hun, you got some real worried people out here, they wanna see you."

"Sure."

"Should I go?" Gale asks breaking our hands apart.

"No." I say as I reconnect them. Haymitch, Effie, my mother, and Sae all burst through the doors. Sae bustles to me and takes my left hand.

"Let me check your stitches" She mumbles making me laugh, hard. Which results in a body stopping wince. Gale's grip tightens on me and I smile at him, he does too.    

"How are you sweetheart?" Haymitch's voice asks. I look at Effie, a mess of tears and smeared makeup. My mother's face emotionless and Sae is worried about my stitches. Haymitch stands calmly leaning against the door. How does he manage to stay so calm all the time?

"Well, pretty crappy." I sigh, which makes Effie laugh and sob at the same time. "Oh come mere' Effie." I smile. She moves to me and bends over hugging me as she cries softly. When their done she stands. "I hurt, but that's inevitable." I say. "I only have to be here two weeks, then I can come home."

"Well dear, I've fit to get going back to the Capitol. Call me when you get home." Effie says before hurrying out the door.

"Have you seen Peeta?" Haymitch asks me, I shake my head.

"We'll leave you three to talk." Sae says pulling my mother out of the door.

"No I haven't, have you?" I ask.

"No, when I tried to go tell him what happened some woman threatened me and told me to leave."

"That's who attacked me." I say quietly.

"Her?" He asks shocked. "Are you going to sue her?" He asks.

"I can't, Peeta loves her. He'd never forgive me." I say letting a tear slip down my face. "I can't take her from him, he'll never let me see my daughter. We'd never have a shot at being a family."

"Have you tried talking to him?" Haymitch asks me. "About you guys?"

"Yeah, but he wants nothing to do with the idea, so I've forgotten about it; or I'm trying to at least." I look at Gale.

"Well, I'm here to support you no matter who you choose." I nod and he leaves Gale and I alone.

"I'll let you sleep." He stands.

"Gale." I stop him. "I just wanted to say thank you, for today."

"Of course." He smiles.

"Where are you gonna stay?" I ask.

"Well I'll go back to two, but come see you everyday."

"No, stay at my house." I tell him. "Please."

"Alright." I pull him down to my level and plant a kiss on his cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow."

He leaves and the nurse comes in directly after he's gone and gives me medicine to sleep.

This time I dream of Gale.

****

Someone hits my arm, begging my name and for me to wake up. I jump and blink a few times wiping the sleep from my face. That's when I see the baby blue eyes starring back at me. "What?" I mumble.

"I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner, Melody said your attacker got you good. That'd you'd need some time to rest."

I scoff. "She told you that?"

"Yeah." He nods. "Why?"

"Because she's the one who attacked me." I tell him. "She did it when you went to the store yesterday. So you couldn't help me."

He backs up a few steps. "No, no Melody wouldn't hurt anybody. She's so good." He says falling back into the chair Gale sat in just a few hours ago.

"No Peeta, it was her. She told me you guys had a perfect life, and now you want to run off with me. She said your the best thing to ever happen to her." I cry.

"Why are you crying?" He asks softly.

"Because at one point, you were the best thing to ever happen to me."

"Katniss." He coos. "I'm sorry I can't love you anymore, but I just can't get hurt again." He says taking my hand. I retract from his grip.

"Stop it!" I shriek. "Stop it with the mixed signals already!" I beg.

"Katniss, I'm sorry." He says. "I want more then anything to love you again. But something in me won't let me." He says with sadness in his eyes and voice.

"Won't let you?" I repeat.

"It's like someone's built a wall around my heart determined to keep you out."

***

Ahh!, what do yall think? Let me know by commenting and voting! Also I'm in need of some ideas for chapters. Feel free to pm me or comment.

Also check out all of LaurenRoss173's stories. She's bæ.

Xoxo Kylee
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