Phoenix Ashes Chapter 7

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My mother started to mop up access blood on my back, and applying more ointment. I hissed slightly at the stinging, but it was much less painful than getting the wounds in the first place or anything in my Games. Peeta took my hand, rubbing comforting circles on the outside of my hand. I tried to pull away, but he held fast. My mother moved away from us, done with her task. Suddenly feeling sleepy, I fell asleep with Peeta's hand in mine and Prim chattering happily to Haymitch in the background.

I drifted out of sleep several times. My eyes blinked open, it was dark and Peeta's hand was still in mine. They closed. My eyes blinked open, it was dawn and Peeta's hand was no longer in mine. My hand felt empty without his. My eyes drifted closed. My eyes opened, Prim was bustling around the kitchen, making tea. She notices I am awake, and comes over to me, and strokes my hair and whispers nonsense words to me. My eyes close.

I finally wake up for good midmorning. Prim has gone to school, even though I would've rather had her stay home with me. I fear that her association with me will get her into trouble. But, her being there in school will bring her less trouble in the long run. The Capital doesn't like it when you miss school. They keep very accurate records of absences, and if you miss a significant amount of days without their expressed permission you are visited by a peacekeeper to "check on the child's wellbeing" and then are put into special extended classes. Of course, the Capital doesn't want you to miss too many days full of propaganda, or they may lose their hold on you. Likewise, Hazelle has gone home and Peeta has gone to the bakery. They all had agreed last night that Peeta would go to work that morning, and Hazelle would collect laundry and look after Hazelle. I had insisted that everything go on like it should. We don't want to attract any more attention from the peacekeepers, especially Thread, who is harsher and a different kind of evil than Cray ever was. But, no one was to go out alone, or even think of going close to the fence.

I scooted myself delicately over to the end table near the top of the lounge. Taking a sip of water, I read that my mother was at a birth in the Seam and that Haymitch and eventually Hazelle would be checking on us through the day. Births were normally either an all-day affair, my mother being there throughout a great majority of the labor, or she was just there for a short time to deliver the baby. I assumed this was the former. And because Haymitch was supposed to be babysitting us, it would probably be a while. Gale was still laid out on our dining room table, and his back looked like it had just been recently treated, so my mother had just left the house. Gale, even though my mother had seemingly just treated him, looked like he hadn't moved since he was put there yesterday and he had woken up in a half conscious stupor.

I shifted on the couch. Even though my back was wrapped and bandaged, it still hurt if I moved too much. But, the pain was nothing that I couldn't handle. After being in the Hunger Games, and nearly starving to death after my father's death, being whipped in the back was almost nothing. Plus, laying on the chaise lounge on my stomach in one position is only comfortable for so long. Using my arms to lift myself into a more upright position without disturbing my injury, I sat up looking around. Gale was still out cold, but still breathing, and that's a good thing. He looked like he was sleeping, but for all of the medical knowledge I know, he could be passed out. As long as he was asleep though, he wasn't in pain, I think. I sat up keeping my back rigid just like Effie taught me to sit while in the Capital, as to not irritate my back. Having nothing to do, I closed my eyes, and let myself drift off.

I woke up, hearing my back door open and close with a bang. Staggering footsteps walked through my kitchen. Haymitch came to check on us. I'm shocked. I sat up slowly, and watched as he checked that Gale was still breathing. He walked over to me, and spotted that I was awake.

"Good afternoon, sweetheart." Haymitch said in a normal speaking voice, even though Gale was sleeping. I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"Hey Haymitch, how's life going?" I replied, rubbing my eyes and angling myself the best I could so I could actually hold a discussion with him.

"Well, we got lucky. They managed to keep this out of the press. Spared them some embarrassment, but it was good for us, too. We got lucky." Haymitch said, only slurring his words a little.

We both knew that the consequences of my, and more minimally, Gale's actions would be much worse if the Capitol or President Snow felt as if my actions had been embarrassing. Haymitch sat down on the couch, taking out a flask and taking a sip. We sat there in silence for a few moments, until I heard Haymitch's soft drunken snores that characterized much of our Victory Tour. I got up, cautiously, tenderly, and strengthened up immediately, but only a small shot of pain rushed up my body. I moved to the kitchen, and started the kettle for some mint tea. As I opened the kitchen cabinet, I heard a soft moan.

"Gale, is that you?" I whispered crossing over to the dining room table and sitting in a chair gingerly.

"Katnip, is that you?" Gale muttered, his startling grey Seam eyes blinking open groggily.

"Yeah, Gale, it's me." I replied softly, giving him the option to return to sleep if he wanted to. He turned his head towards mine, and his eyes locked onto mine.

"Ouch, I feel like I've been hit by a mine cart." Gale muttered

"Yeah, well, a bull whip is pretty close in comparison, especially with how many you got." I replied, chuckling wryly.

"Katniss, why did you do it? You didn't have to. You shouldn't have. Especially after we just argued, you shouldn't have…" Gale said, his voice increasing in volume. I put my hand on his shoulder to quiet him.

"Gale, we became friends when our fathers died. We were struggling to survive together. You helped me feed my family, you helped us live. Our families are one family now, in my eyes. Hunger Games or no Hunger Games, argument or no argument, I would do anything for you." I said quietly. I didn't like to express my feelings, but that needed to be said.

"A Capital clone wouldn't say that. Guess you haven't changed so much after all." Gale said as the tea kettle whistled.

I moved over to the tea kettle, knowing that was the best apology I would get for his uncalled for comments. Gale and I were two branches off of the same tree. He wasn't good with words, and neither was I. Even after I won the Hunger Games, and after doing numerous interviews and speeches, speaking still wasn't my strong suit. Apologies also weren't a strong suit of Gale or I's. Gale or I had never apologized to each other, and for Gale to admit that he was wrong about anything was like pulling teeth.

"I haven't changed very much, but I've changed just enough." I muttered, fixing myself tea.