"Swim, Annie, dammit, swim!" Finnick screamed at the TV in the district 4 apartment in the Capitol. Ever since Matthew's death, no one could take Finnick away from the TV. Not Mags, not Peacekeepers, not an Avox or Snow or any one of those high-pricing citizens that loved his tanned skin. Finnick swore that Snow could allow anyone to pay for Finnick—only if Finnick could follow Annie to her end. Whether or not her end meant death, Finnick had to watch.

The jabberjays were playing Matt's death over and over again. Horrified, Finnick watched Annie scream back, tears rolling down her face as she kept on swimming. The flood, without a doubt, was a Gamemaker's ploy to let Annie win. As sadistic as they were, the Gamemakers were smart. No one in any of the districts would have flooded an arena with a District Four tribute still alive and wanted someone else to win. Only if she was able to withstand the time…only if she was able to withstand…

A fight was breaking out and the Gamemakers took the cameras off of Annie to a battle between the girl from eight and the boy from one. Not caring if either died, Finnick made any call he could think of to get Annie a sponsor. There were dozens of people that 'adored' Finnick enough to pay the money for Annie if they could get a discount on a session with Finnick. It was a price he was willing to pay.

Two hours later, the camera still not back to Annie, and a list too painfully long of people that were waiting on Finnick, he made the order for rope for Annie. There was no point in giving her food when the flood could damage it. A rope, every District Four citizen's best friend, was help to her.

Sometime late that night, the cameras were back on Annie. She was still swimming. By that time, she only had two tributes to outlive—the boy from one and the girl from two.

"Please, Annie…just a little longer, Annie…please," he pleaded with the screen. She couldn't hear him, but Finnick prayed that she at least knew he believed in her. Did he do enough to tell her that when she was training? Did she know that she was the first tribute that Finnick mentored that he bothered attaching to? She had to know…she had to know.

Mags came in some time in the early morning with a glass of water. He sipped it…it was sweet. Syrup. Damned old woman…

He woke up that night. It was just Annie and the boy from one…he wouldn't make it a few hours if Annie could just stand it a little longer. Mags was studying some sort of book about something or the other next to him on the couch. There was a bowl of soup in front of him.

"Thanks," he muttered and picked up the bowl of soup, sipping it half-heartedly. Annie was so, so close to winning. So close. Back in District 4, there was nothing special about her at all to Finnick. He knew her name and she lived near the coast like he did, but that was it. Then there was the night of the opening ceremonies when Finnick was talking with Mags and Annie had snuck up on him. She was so incredibly radiant...From that moment on, Finnick fought for Annie's life.

The cameras couldn't keep away from a death. The boy from one died by losing his strength, being pulled under by the weight of the water, and hitting his head on a rock.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a victor of the 70th Annual Hunger Games! Annie Cresta!" Claudius Templesmith's voice boomed. She won. She won!

Finnick stayed awake to wait for Annie to come back to the Capitol. When she arrived, Finnick was there waiting for her. Annie was still screaming…Finnick was pushed away, no matter how he fought. He had to arrange things with her stylists and prep team for her post-game interview. The second Finnick was free, though, he found Annie. She was shivering, staring blankly in a dress of blue and green gradient satin. Finnick sat across from her on her bed.

"Annie?" he whispered softly. Annie looked up at him.

"Annie?" he repeated.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry," she said in a meek voice.

"No, Annie. Don't be sorry."

"I should have done something…"

"You would have died if you had," he whispered.

"I…I…I…Finnick…" she choked out. Finnick nodded and offered a hug for her. She crawled into his arms, still shivering.

"Annie, you're safe. It's okay. You're safe. Just a few more days and you'll be home."

"I should have…" she manically kept saying, repeating and repeating over and over again. Finnick stayed there, holding her close. Eventually, her shivering stopped she looked Finnick in the eyes. He held her gaze.

"How long did I swim?" she asked. Finnick looked into her deep, deep eyes. The perfect color of seaweed.

"Eighty-one hours," he said back. Annie nodded.

"Why did you give me rope?" Finnick paused at her question.

"If you had to stop swimming, you could tie yourself to a tree branch and collect your strength. Or if you could manage to catch a fish…If I could give you only one thing, it could help you the most."

"Why me?" she whispered again. Finnick sighed, unable to hold her gaze for the answer to this question.

"I had to save you. You had to be saved," he whispered. There was silence between the two of them. After awhile, Annie weaved herself back in his hug. Finnick stayed like that for a long while.

When it was time for her interview, Finnick and Mags stayed watching anxiously. Mags handed Finnick something just before Annie went on stage. A water-logged rope. He smiled at her thankfully and aimlessly tied knots in it as Caesar attempted to get an answer out of Annie. She said absolutely nothing and stared blankly at the crowd and at Caesar. They were forced to go straight into the recap of the Games. Annie didn't say anything, but began to cry silently and shake her head as they replayed Matthew's decapitation. When it ended, Annie looked like the poster child for madness. They ushered her off the stage. Finnick found her immediately and without even offering, Annie wrapped her arms around him tightly. She never let him go.

The Gamemakers released a statement saying that Annie had gone insane. Finnick knew it wasn't true, she was just suffering from watching her friend die so brutally, but maybe they would give her space. In reality, it would be the exact opposite. As long as they could before it would 'seem inhumane', they would keep the cameras on Annie, hoping for a show.

That night, Mags, the prep team, Finnick, and Annie were sitting on the couch of the District Four apartment, the night before Annie would be crowned and they would board the train for home. She fell asleep with her head in his lap. Finnick refused to move…until Snow came in.

"Finnick…" he ordered. Finnick looked down at the sleeping Annie, then Mags. Carefully and slowly, Mags took Finnick's place. Steadily, Finnick walked to Snow, resisting the urge to gag at the deathly scent of blood and roses.

"How many and how long?" Finnick asked through clenched teeth.

"Twelve. For that many hours. There are another thirty-eight that you will see during Annie's Victory Tour," Snow said simply. "Remember, you are doing a service to Panem, Finnick. Don't resist or there will be repercussions." Snow looked over to where Annie was sleeping. Finnick understood. Sighing, he followed Snow out of the apartment.

That morning, feeling a type of disgusting that could never be washed away by water, he walked into the apartment. Mags was sleeping where he had left her. Annie was fast asleep. Amazingly, she looked peaceful. Finnick hoped that she wasn't having any nightmares…Or maybe Mags slipped her something. Either way, he was grateful she was getting a good night's sleep. He wouldn't get one for weeks after that many women.

Finnick picked at some sort of breakfast pastry until Annie woke up. She blinked, then looked at Finnick, confused.

"I had to go somewhere for a little while last night. Mags took care of you. I hope you don't mind," he said gently. She didn't have to know about where he went. Annie nodded.

"Are you hungry?" he asked. She nodded again. He handed her half of his pastry. She took it with a small smile.

"You have a nice smile, Annie," he said softly. Annie blinked at him and crawled over next to Finnick. He wrapped one arm around her shoulders.

She didn't start shivering until she had to leave him. When she was crowned, she looked down at the floor the entire time. Finnick felt like his entire chest was aching, watching her like that. He was on stage with her, but not allowed to go near her. When they all were escorted off, Annie held his hand. No matter the cameras that saw, Finnick wouldn't let go of her. That night, Finnick was on the phone with Snow, trying to bargain Annie not having to mentor. It meant a lowered price on Finnick, therefore more women, but he didn't care. When he was done, he stayed in his room until Annie came in. Silently, she crawled on the bed with him and rested her head on his chest. He stroked her hair until she fell asleep.