Chapter Four: Tea Makes Everything Better

Annie Cresta arrives at Enobaria's house the next morning. I know Annie better than any of the victors besides Katniss, and sort of now Peeta. When Finnick left District Thirteen with Katniss and her squad, Annie moved in to our compartment.

Some people thought it was odd, sure, but she'd been assigned to work in the laundry with my mom and I think she needed to have an older woman to let take care of her. And my mom is happier when she's got people to take care of, so she took care of Annie. It distracted her from Gale being away with Finnick, I think.

The sound of Annie screaming when she found out Finnick was dead still haunts me.

She stayed with us until President Coin ordered her, Johanna, Beetee, and Haymitch to join Katniss, Peeta, and Enobaria in the Capitol.

Enobaria takes one look at the baby in Annie's arms and disappeared to a place neither me nor Finnick Odair's widow could even begin to guess. That she is not a baby person is obvious.

"Have you seen Johanna?" Annie asks me as she bounces the baby – who I know is named Jack because that is the name of an ordinary sailor, what his father wanted to be – she had told us.

I nod and swallow a mouthful of bread, kind of missing Peeta's bread more than I should. "Is that why you came to Two?"

"Yes. She called and told me what happened so I came."

"I can take you there, if you want," I offer, wondering if she'll even stay in the house since Enobaria fled so quickly. "Watch the baby while you see her."

"You don't need to see your brother?" she asks, seeming a little less shy and nervous than she did back in District Thirteen. "It's okay if you're busy."

I shake my head, almost wanting to ask if she doesn't hate me because of my brother and what he did. "No, I don't think I'm allowed to be there all the time and he asked me to check on Johanna."

Annie smiles more at her son than at me. "It's perfect then. We'll go places together. I don't like going places alone and I don't think Enobaria likes Jack very much."

I reach out and wipe a dribble of drool off his chin. "Well, I like him just fine. Ready to go now?"

She is, so we bundle up and leave. Even though the streets between the Victor's Village and the hospital are noisy and busy, Annie never covers her ears or gets lost in her mind. Maybe it is like my mom predicted, maybe she is stronger because she's a mother now.

Once we arrive at the hospital, I take Jack while Annie goes into Johanna's room. He doesn't fuss much, as five month old babies go. Posy fussed three times as much in half the time. And I like babies, even if my sister was annoying. Still is annoying. Me and Jack pass the time looking at a decorative fish tank that probably once held more fish than it does now. Then I sit alone while Annie takes him in for Johanna to see. I'd go in too, but I'm not quite ready yet. I don't want to risk making promises Gale can't keep and I told Annie to tell her he promised to get help from Dr. Aurelius.

"There you are!" It's the woman who loves me because I'm Katniss' cousin, running down the hall toward me. "I've got a message for you, dearie. Commander Trilby needs to speak to you at the jail where your brother is just as soon as you can get over there. Alright, dearie?"

This can't be good. I assure her the message is received and understood, but that I can't go until Annie comes out of Johanna's room.

"We can go now," she says, making me jump as she appears behind me. "I'll come with you, Rory, just like we talked about earlier."

On the walk to the jail, she tells me that Commander Trilby is Messalina Trilby, who was the rebel commander in District Four and has been reassigned to District Two until a mayor is elected. She doesn't know why Commander Trilby needs to speak to me so urgently but she assures me the woman is kind and understanding, so I shouldn't worry.

Easy for her to say.

Fabian greets me again at the jail, and I wonder if he ever gets a day off, and takes me and Annie to the basement of the building where some obviously makeshift offices have been set up. A woman about Annie's age with curly red hair falling out of a bun greets us at the door, hugging Annie briefly and cooing at Jack before she shakes my hand. "I'm Commander Trilby. You're Gale Hawthorne's brother?"

"Rory Hawthorne." I could just be Gale's brother, and she could figure out my name, but I'd rather make sure I am my own man.

"Right, follow me." She walks into the office and sits down on one side of the table, leaving two seats for me and Annie. It all looks very official once we're in our places, save for Jack's gurgling. "Alright, Mr. Hawthorne, I've received instructions from President Paylor on how to handle your brother's case. Are you prepared to represent and speak for him, should the case require it?"

That's a question I didn't expect. I try to seem like my own man again and clear my throat. "Does it matter that I'm only fifteen?"

She shakes her head. "No. By the laws currently in place in Panem, citizens old enough to have had their names in Reaping Balls the last time Reaping Ceremonies were held - so just a year ago - are considered fully adults and able to speak as such."

"Oh. Yeah, I mean yes. I'll speak for him if the case requires it." I feel weird saying it but I feel better for having said it. "Does the case require it?"

"It does," she says more quickly than I expect. "I'm sure you know your brother has requested Dr. Aurelius' assistance? Dr. Aurelius has informed President Paylor that your brother is suffering from severe PTSD and it is that which led to the incident in which Johanna Mason was injured. The president has been told that your brother has agreed to any treatment the medical community sees fit. Given that and the fact that Johanna Mason is refusing to press charges for what she calls a complete accident, President Paylor has requested that someone from your brother's family sign him over to Dr. Aurelius' care in the Capitol for at least three weeks."

I glance at Annie and focus on Commander Trilby again. "Just three weeks?"

She nods and looks at the papers on the desk. "Yes. Dr. Aurelius feels that in three weeks' time your brother will be able to make further decisions for himself."

There's a question that seems wrong to ask but I can't not ask it. "Is he going to be sentenced to jail time?"

Leaning back in her chair, she seems to be satisfied with how everything will go. "No. Without Johanna Mason being willing to press charges, there's not all that much we can do - especially given her status as a living victor. Gale will be stripped of the job he currently holds as Undersecretary of Resource Management for Districts Two, Four, and Six and he won't be able to hold another government job for at least three years. Aside from that and his voluntary treatment - which could turn in to jail time if he refuses it - with Dr. Aurelius, that's all."

It seems like a lot for it being all but it's enough. It's what it sounds like Gale and Johanna both want.

So I sign my brother over to Dr. Aurelius' care. I sign papers saying he can come live with us again in District Twelve when he's released, and that I'll be responsible for him if that's deemed necessary. I sign papers saying I understand all the other papers I just signed.

By the end of it all, I have a headache.

Annie suggests a cup of tea from a stall we passed on the way to the jail and I agree without a second thought. Tea makes everything better.