Dax wasn't sure how long he had been sitting in this chair, watching the slow breathing of the girl in front of him. That's what she was, really. Just a girl. At sixteen, Blaire Offerseed was on of the younger victors he had worked with, her youth still apparent in the roundness of her face and the fact that she had yet to hit a growth spurt yet. Of course he imagined that she would object to being called a girl, after all that she had been through. The 92nd Hunger Games had been a particularly brutal one. An island archipelago, with more salt water than fresh. Blaire had won by luring the boy from one into a trap and drowning him. His death had taken an entire half hour. Dax himself was a little haunted by it.

Clearly Blaire was too.

The girl stirred then, slowly blinking for a moment before realizing where she was. After that she bolted upright, tearing at the I.V. in her arm. She was fast, but Dax was experienced with such things. With a practiced movement he placed one hand over her elbow so that she couldn't pick at it, and the other on her shoulder to keep her still.

"I'm sorry, Miss Offerseed. You know I can't let you do that." he told her. His voice was calm but firm. He did try to be calm in these situations, despite what happened.

Blaire's only response was to scream, then spit in his face. Sometimes it was a struggle to keep calm.

"Miss Offerseed. I know that this is a less than desirable situation."

"You THINK?" she yelled, bucking and biting at him. Blaire was a victor, someone who had proven their prowess in combat. But in this moment she was just a girl. A girl who had lost a lot of blood. Dax withstood her easily, "Just let me die!"

"Miss Offerseed." Dax said, trying to get to her, trying to save her, "How many times have you tried to kill yourself since your games? Three, four times?"

"Five." She said defiantly, "You forgot on the train of the victory tour."

Dax had in fact forgotten that one. It had been a quick attempt, almost successful even. Thankfully a guard had been able to save her. Since she had a schedule to keep they had not asked him to observe her at that time.

"The point I am making." He said evenly, "Is that they are not going to let you go."

"You mean you aren't." She pushed against his hands as if to make her point.

"If it wouldn't hurt the people I loved, I would leave you to your devices Blaire. I would. But the Capitol is bigger than the both of us." He said, not even realizing that he had called the victor by her first name. That was inappropriate. Dangerous even. He shouldn't have done it.

Blaire calmed down slightly, and Dax took his hand off her shoulder, "I still hate you." she said.

Dax hated himself most days, so he let that pass without comment, "The next games are coming up soon. District Ten doesn't have another female victor. If you don't care enough about yourself, or your family, then think about her."

"If none of that is enough for me to want to stay alive, why would some stranger I don't know matter?"

"Because," Dax said patiently, "If there's another victor from ten, they won't pay as much attention to you."

The girl looked contemplative, almost hungry, and she nodded sullenly at Dax. He lifted his hand from her I.V.

"So that's the only way out? I find someone to take my place?" she asked

Dax found himself looking up at the ceiling instead of her. This job could wear at him. Another year of the Hunger Games was about to begin. Another Victor that he would have to keep alive. Another year of death, continuing in perpetuity.

"If you've got a better plan." He told her, "I'd love to hear it."

A.N: So, this is my new SYOT! This started on a whim but I am excited about it and hope you guys are also excited about it. The app is in my profile, please fill it out and PM it to me. Also review. I like reviews! Ok, I'm going to stop talking now. Just… SYOT! Yes!