Can I Protect You

by alexmayb

SEQUEL TO: WHAT I REALLY NEED. They arrived safely in 13, but some of their family wasn't so lucky. With a child that Peeta and Katniss are expecting that remains a secret except for a few. With the heat building up Katniss is finding it hard to hold it together and Peeta is doing all he can. Will the Capitol finally break Katniss or will she just make it?

6. Chapter 6: The Rescue Mission

CHAPTER 6

Katniss POV

"WHAT!" "Katniss, please I tried. Look Finnick, Annie, Johanna and your mum are still here. Your mother wants you to stay with her until and if Peeta gets back." I jump out of bed and out of the hospital. I rush down the hall and into the meeting room. "How the hell could you let him do this?" I yell at Coin. "How could I let who do what?" "How could let Peeta, not to mention Gale and Rye. You say that you're going to send him to 8 and before that can even happen you send him off to the fucking Capitol." I yell. "Katniss, can you please calm down?" Plutarch asks. "Why should I, I didn't hear you trying to stop them." I say. "Katniss, your child." I stop short and look down at the baby bump and sigh. "When did they leave?" "About two hours ago?" Coin says. "When will they be back?" "If all goes well, they should be back by late tomorrow. Maybe even the day after." Plutarch says and I sit and cry. The chair pulls out next to me and Haymitch sits into it. "Katniss can I suggest you go and find Annie, I think you could use a girl talk." I nod and get up. Before I leave I lock eyes with Coin. "If for any fricken reason Peeta doesn't come back. I'll kill you." I walk about and leave the voices of 3 people behind me. I walk down the hall and open the elevator. I press the floor button and the door shuts. I wait until the door opens and I walk down the hall and knock on the door. "Katniss!" Annie pulls me into a tight hug. "Hey Annie. Can I come in?" I ask. "Sure," she moves away and lets me in. "Hey Katniss," "hey Finnick." He gives me a hug. "How are you feeling?" Annie asks and we all sit. "Tired, a little dizzy and really pissed." I say. Finnick puts his arm around Annie's shoulder. "Katniss, I'm sorry about Peeta, Gale and Rye." Finnick says. "It's ok. So what new with you guys?" I ask and Annie burst into a gorgeous smile. "We're engaged and having our wedding in 3 months." "Really oh congratulations." I say. "Thank you Katniss." "Hello, mind if I but in." I turn and see Johanna walk in. "Hey Johanna," "hey brainless." I don't know why she calls me that but it seems to be a bit of a joke. She sits on the bed next to my chair. "So apart from the obvious and you two getting married what's new?" "Well, I'm over 3 months and terrified." I say. "I'm sure that you and Peeta will be great parents." Johanna says. "Johanna!" Annie hisses. "What, oh." As if she just realised what she was saying. "It's ok." I say. "How about we talk plans for your wedding," I say.

MS EVERDEEN POV
Few Hours Later.

I walk down the hall and bang on Haymitch's door, he opens it and stares. "What is it?" "Where's my daughter?" "Which one?" "Don't play dumb you know which one, where is she?" "With Annie, Finnick and maybe Johanna." "Thanks." I say and he shuts the door. I walk to the elevator and press the button.

I walk the hall until I find Annie's door. I knock on it quietly but loud enough so I know the can hear it. It opens and Annie stands at the door, "Ms Everdeen, what can I do for you?" "Um is Katniss here?" "She is. She's fallen asleep actually." "Oh, um." "Don't worry Ms Everdeen, we'll look after her, I promise." "Thank you Annie."

PEETA POV

I sit next to Rye in the hovercraft, we'll be in the Capitol within an hour. I reach into my pocket and pull out a picture of Katniss. I look at it and let a tear fall from my eye. "You'll see her again, we all will." Rye says. I put the picture back and look at my brother. "Thanks." I look at Gale but he's just staring into mid space.

KATNISS POV
I woke a little while ago and I sit in the dining room with mum, the Hawthorns, Annie, Finnick and Johanna. I haven't eaten much even though my mother is encouraging me to. "Katniss, when is Gale coming back." I look down at Posy, "soon sweetie." "When are you having your baby because I really want to meet her." "The baby will be here in a few months Posy."

The rest of breakfast went by in a blur. I stopped taking the tablets from my mother because I am not throwing up as much anymore. I walk into the room I share with my mother and put on a light top and grey pants. I don't have to where the grey jumpsuits anymore because of this baby. My mother walks in as I finish braiding my hair. "Hey Katniss." She says. "Hey mum." Hi give her a light hug as it is getting a bit warm down here.

Most of day has gone by in a blur. I have been spending tons of time with Annie and Finnick, Johanna keeps training. Plutarch had a few books delivered for me about pregnancy but I haven't bothered to read them yet besides I also have my mother to help me.

FEW HOURS LATER

I have been sitting in the room that Peeta and I normally share reading all about different things to expect over the next few months, contractions, labour and just the rest. But yet I still worry today or tomorrow or even already I could lose all four of them and left to raise this child alone if that happens I don't even know if I could love her especially if she grew up to be like Peeta with his artistic and baking skills. Suddenly Finnick bursts in. "KATNISS! They're back. They're in the hospital." I jump up and kiss him on the cheek, "thank you." I call from down the hall. I rush down and burst into the hospital. I walk over to Gale and Rye who are next to each other but a nurse pulls the curtain forward before I can do anything. "Katniss!" I walk past them and cry. I rush over fall into Peeta's embrace. "Oh my god." I mumble. I look at him and kiss him like I have never kissed him before. I keep my lips there until I can't breathe. I lay my head on his chest. "I was so afraid, so afraid I would lose you." "Katniss, I only went because I knew you needed Prim." "Please don't ever leave to the Capitol again unless we go together." "I promise." He says. I sit up and look at him. "Where's Prim?" I ask. "She's sleeping, the doctors don't want her disturbed just yet." "Ok."

I sit with him for hours not wanting to leave, talking to him about Finnick and Annie's wedding when a nurse comes over. "I am afraid visiting hours are up Katniss." "No please let me stay, please. I'm not leaving him again." "Please let her stay, we won't be a bother." Peeta says. She sighs, "I'll see what I can do." The nurse walks off and I look back at Peeta. "So how did the rescue go?" I ask nervously. "Well good for the most part. We were almost spotted so we had to land then take off again just in case. Um getting in and finding Prim was easy she seemed relieved to see me, Gale and Rye. But getting out was hard, Prim was really weak and tired so it took us a bit longer to get out. We had to battle a few Peacekeepers but otherwise it all went smoothly." I nod. "Well at least you're here now." I put my head back on his chest. "Katniss, come here." I look up and Peeta pulls back the covers and pats the spot next to him. I climb in with him and he puts his arm around me. "So how are you and baby going?" "Um, pretty good. I am having my first ultrasound tomorrow. I was meant to have it ages ago. So I was going to do it the other day but you left and I wanted you to be there so I waited for you to come back. But other than that all is good." "That's good." My eyes start to go heavy and slowly the close fully.

PEETA POV

I look down at Katniss and she is sleeping peacefully. Suddenly the nurse walks in and is about to speak when I tell her to be quiet. "She's asleep." I whisper and the nurse nods. "I'll be back in the morning to check on you and you may be ready to leave." She walks away and I close my eyes.

GALE POV

8:30pm

I look in the darkness and get up. "Is anyone awake?" I whisper but I get no answer. I get up off my bed which really hurts my shoulder. I have been in the hospital for hours and it's kind of annoying. I walk past Rye and a few other people when I stop in front of Peeta's bed. I get a ting of jealousy in my chest seeing him lay there with Katniss. I walk over next to Katniss and just look at her. Tired under the eyes, baby forming, smooth hunter's hands and just everything I use to see every day before the games. I plant a light kiss between her eyes and she starts to stir. I walk back to bed wishing that had of been me.

KATNISS POV

I walk and look at where I am. In the hospital and memories come flooding back. I look around and see nurses tending to patients. "Hey Katniss," I look at Peeta as he sits up. "Hey. How are you feeling?" "Yeah, ok." He answers and a nurse walks over. "Good morning, Mr and Mrs Mellark. How are you feeling Peeta?" "Better, thanks." He answers. "Ok well, take these once a day for the next 2 weeks and you'll be good as new. Otherwise you're free to leave. And Katniss you'll be able to see your sister in 10 minutes." The nurse says and walks off. I smile brightly at Peeta and hug him. "Thank you for bringing her home." I whisper. "That's ok."

We get up and get Peeta in better clothes from our room than come back to the hospital and go to the end room. Peeta knocks and it opens. "Are Mrs Mellark, perfect timing. She is about to wake up." We walk in and I stand in front of Prim's bed. Her eyes open and look at me. She starts to get up and I move closer. "Prim," I say in a whisper. Her arms extend out to me but before I can put mine around her, hers lock around me throat.

Author Note: PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW. I am begging you, unless you are reading the prequel then this one I will forgive you.

Xx MyLove4HimIsReal.