Chapter 10: Avox Surgeries & Birdie's Worries - KPOV
We hung around in Pollux's room for about a half hour before one of the nurses came to check on him and told us they'd be taking him in shortly. I felt butterflies assault my belly, but not in a good way. I fought the terror that wanted to take over and I found myself grateful I'd taken my pill earlier. I did not want my freaking out to worry Pollux at a time like this. I needed to be strong and somehow show him I was confident that everything would be okay for him… even if I felt the complete opposite.
By the time a very cheerful Dr. Lexie Grey showed up with a wheelchair to take Pollux, I was bordering on grabbing him and begging him to stay versus pushing him out the door so I could have my freak out, without him to witness it. Instead, I managed to plaster a smile on my face and urged him to the chair. He got up from his bed and sat in the chair, then asked me to translate for him.
"I want to thank you all for being here for me, even if this was unplanned." I translated for him as he looked at Mom, Haymitch and Effie, but he didn't finish there.
"I know this was entirely unexpected, but it means so much that you could be here for this… that you'd want to be here for me. Hopefully, I'll be able to tell you myself, soon enough." He signed and I spoke to them for him, but it was my eyes he was staring into as he spoke.
I felt that, all too familiar, feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was also accompanied by a slight increase in my heart beat and I knew I would need to address how I truly felt about him… and soon. I only wished I wasn't so scared to do so.
"Pollux, you're important to Katniss, so you're important to us." My mom said, breaking my focus from Pollux.
I turned to her and she shot me a very knowing smile, that made my cheeks heat up. Luckily, Haymitch and Effie spoke next, effectively taking focus off me and back to Pollux.
"We look forward to your recovery, Pollux. I have no doubt that things will go well." Effie told him reassuringly.
"Yeah, what they said, kid." Haymitch simply said with a smirk, which made us chuckle.
Pollux made his Thank You, sign and I told them what it meant. Then, he smiled big at me and grabbed my hand. He gave me a nod, which seemed to be an I'll see you soon, at least that's what I took it to mean, so I replied with a smile and a nod of my own. Then, Lexie wheeled him away, leaving me standing there to trying hard to keep my breathing even.
"Katniss, here baby girl. Drink some water and have a seat." My mom said as she took my hand and led me to the chair.
I was doing a better job at remaining calm than I thought I would be, but I disparately needed to keep my mind off of everything. Effie offered to show me pictures of the fabrics she ordered and although it seemed like a good enough distraction as any, this was not what I had in mind. Still, I sat there and let her show me picture after picture, each came with a lengthy explanation that I couldn't remember if I tried.
"Here Sweetheart, you have a phone call." Haymitch suddenly interrupted Effie's long winded babbling.
I looked up curiously from Effie's pictures to see Haymitch holding his cell phone – what I was told they were called. His had a miniature but similar screen to the one Beetee had installed at my house. It allowed me to see the person on the other line of the call as well. When I looked at the small screen, I saw the most beautiful face; one that never failed to bring a smile to my face.
"Hi Finn, how are you Baby?" I instantly cooed him.
"Kat! Kat!" He yelled excitedly and clapped his little chubby hands. Just like that, I was instantly in a much better frame of mind.
"That's right Finn, it's me Kat. How's my big boy behaving, huh?" I asked him, knowing he couldn't really answer me but enjoying the pure happiness on his adorable face.
"Terrible. He's mastered the art of walking. So naturally, he runs all over the place and gets into everything." I heard Annie's voice off screen but close enough and figured she was the one holding the phone for Finn.
"Just as it should be, Finn. Give 'em he… heck!" I caught myself from cursing and laughed.
Clearly, Finn was oblivious to what I was saying, but Annie laughed as well. Then, I heard Peeta saying something in the background, but couldn't hear enough to understand what he was saying, since Finn was happily babbling and tapping on the screen.
"What was that, Peeta?" I asked.
"He was trying to tell you that yesterday, Finn managed to get into the flour that Peeta accidentally left on the chair before putting it away. Katniss, your godson coated himself and my entire kitchen in white flour. It was a disaster to clean up." Annie explained and I laughed at the image of that in my head while Effie, Haymitch and my mother laughed along as well.
"Who's there with you?" Annie asked when she no doubt heard them behind me.
I told her who was here and she asked me to say Hello to them for her, so they responded their Hellos when they heard it. Then, Peeta came closer because I saw his face behind Finn's. He said his Hellos to everyone and they replied as well. Finn was smiling and happily tapping on Peeta's face and calling him Peet-peet. Then, Annie somehow came into the other side of the screen's edge to kiss Finns chubby cheek. That was the moment it hit me. I knew they were together for some time now, but that was the moment it clicked for me. They were a family and they seemed so happy. Even with the tragic loss of Finnick, they'd picked up the pieces that remained and built something together.
I was glad that I didn't feel envious or jealous in any way. What I felt was hope and longing, then in the center of my mind, I pictured Pollux's smiling face. With him in mind, I was able to smile and continue our little chat. My mom also spoke to Annie to ask how Finn was developing and they were happy to report that he was going fantastically well, which also helped me feel better about any nerves I might still been feeling. Naturally, Peeta picked up on the fact that I was not in my own home in Twelve, so he asked where I was and how Mom was here too. I didn't want to tell them about Pollux yet, so I just told them I'd come to visit Mom. They were both stunned that I'd come all this way, but told me they were glad I seemed to be progressing.
We ended the call shortly before Meredith came to tell me they were just about to begin and asked my mom if she wanted to scrub in to Pollux's surgery. Mom seemed torn as she looked at me like she wanted to continue being here for me, but I urged her to go. Not only would this be a good career opportunity for her, but I would feel so much better knowing Pollux wasn't alone with strangers. So, she went with Meredith.
"She'll look after him, Katniss." Effie said reassuringly and I had to believe she was right.
"I know, why don't we go ask how Cinna is doing? They should let us visit him by now, right?" Haymitch asked and I felt hopeful that could be true.
When we walked out of Pollux's room, Effie asked the nurse behind the nearest desk if she could give us any information on Cinna's progress, and asked if we could see him. The nurse seemed reluctant to give Effie any information, but then someone spoke from my left.
"Hey, you're Katniss Everdeen, aren't you? You're the Mockingjay." A male doctor asked, looking stunned to see me there.
"I'm Katniss, yes." I reluctantly agreed.
"I'm Dr. Alex Karev. You know my cousin, Cressida. She's always telling us about you and your group of friends. It's an honor to meet you." His stunned face morphed into a bright smile as he spoke. Then, he extended his hand out to me in greeting. I shook it happy to meet someone from Cressida's family and asked if he could help us.
"Sure, anything for you. Wait… Izzie, George, come look who's here!" He called out to someone behind us.
I turned to see a beautifully blonde, female doctor coming towards us with another doctor in tow.
"Wow, Hi Katniss Everdeen. It's awesome to meet you." She spoke and then looked right behind me and gasped. "Oh wo! Oh wow, it's Haymitch Abernathy!" She exclaimed with her eyes and mouth wide open.
"Well, hello there darlin'. See Effie, I still got it." Haymitch said with a proud smile.
"This is Dr. Izzie Stevens. She's been in love with Haymitch since she was practically a kid. Hi, I'm Dr. George O'Malley. I've heard many great things from your mother, Katniss. It's nice to meet you. Izzie, close your mouth." He came off so genuinely nice, it was impossible to feel uncomfortable, even with Izzie still staring at Haymitch.
"Yes dear, it's also rude to stare. This is my fiancé, I'll have you know." Effie spoke up to Izzie, sounding a little uncomfortable with Izzie.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I meant no disrespect. I'm just a little star struck, that's all. Besides, Alex is my husband and I'm quite happy with him." Izzie replied apologetically to Effie.
"Yes, I just let her have her crushes since it's me she comes home to. Anyway, you said you need help with something. What can I do for you?" Alex spoke and asked me.
"I have two friends here at this hospital. Cinna had the Avox surgery this morning with Dr. Sheppard and Dr. Sloan. And Pollux should be in surgery now, for the same operation. I was wondering if we could see Cinna." I asked them.
"Cinna should still be in the recovery unit, but I can get one of you in to see him for a few minutes. I was in the surgery with them this morning and I can also tell you, it went very well. I've been in charge of his post-operative monitoring. Although he's still out of it with medication, his vitals are all okay. He should be back in his room in about an hour or two, and then you can all go in to see him." George told us.
"Katniss, you go with Dr. O'Malley and we'll be in the waiting area." Effie told me, so I did.
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During my short visit with Cinna, who lay pretty much unconscious, George was telling me about his friends here at the hospital. So, I decided to tell him a little about some of my friends. He was very easy to talk to. He told me how much he admired Peeta and how'd he believed our relationship had given him hope that the underdog could get the girl. He told me he was sorry to hear it hadn't lasted but said he was glad I was doing better, after my dark days. On our way back to the waiting area, we bumped into Meredith and Lexie.
"Katniss, Hi. We've just finished Pollux's surgery. I was just headed to give you an update so I'm glad to see you." Meredith told me, but it was Lexie that I couldn't tear my eyes from.
Lexie was less cheerful than I'd ever seen her, actually she looks downright gloomy. So, I was immediately worried the surgery had not gone well.
"What happened?" I asked them, worried my worst fears might be happening.
"Katniss, listen to me." Meredith said to me, and waited for me to focus on her before continuing. "The surgery is done and it was successful." She told me, determined that I focus on that.
"Okay? So then, why does she look like that?" I asked and gestured to Lexie's face, causing Meredith to look at her and then back to me.
"We're supposed to wait for Dr. Sheppard and Dr. Sloan to give you the technical information about the surgery…" Lexie said apprehensively, but I was having none of that.
"No, you will tell me now. What happened in that operating room? Is Pollux okay?" I asked, getting frantic now.
"Yes, Katniss. He's okay. I'm sorry Lexie worried you. Trust me, he's okay. He's fine and he will recover, thankfully." Meredith said while holding onto my shoulder.
"You're not lying to keep me from freaking out? He's really okay?" I asked, not sure if I could believe her.
"No, Katniss. I'm not lying." Meredith said, just as George spoke from beside me. "Meredith wouldn't lie." I took a deep breath, trying to believe them.
"Okay, so … please, just tell me or I'll go crazy waiting for the surgeons. Please." I begged, making Meredith sigh.
"Okay. Come, let us have a seat." I didn't want to sit, but I listened to her, if only to get her to talk, and then she did.
"Pollux's case was different than Cinna's and his friend the day before, which is why it took us longer to complete. We believe the original way of turning people into Avox years ago is done differently than the more recent cases. The reason we believe that, is because Cinna and Lavinia's tongues had been but out near the tongue base. Yet, Pollux, who was turned years prior, not only had his tongue cut out, but his vocal cords had been severed as well." She spoke softly and clearly throughout her explanation, and I heard George gasp beside me.
"What? What does that mean exactly?" I wondered worriedly.
"Well Katniss, simply put" George began. "Derek and Mark generally restore the tongue base nerve and re-grow the cells that make up the tongue, which allows control over speaking words. However, the vocal cords are what create the different sounds for speech. Do you understand?" He asked me patiently.
"Yes, I believe so. Is that why he couldn't make any sounds before?" I asked, beginning to understand.
"Precisely." Meredith said, before going on. "See, even if you tried to speak without using your tongue or if you were gagged, sounds would still come out because your vocal cords are intact. But since his were cut, there was no sound." Meredith finished and I felt that I understood the concept of what happened.
I already knew I didn't care if Pollux spoke or not. I only wanted him to be better for himself, so his life could be a little easier. My feelings for him did not depend on his ability to speak. I just felt terrible about how disappointed he would be when he found this out.
"Does he know yet? That he won't speak again, I mean?" I asked them.
"He woke up briefly and we tried to explain things to him. But, you should know that there's still a chance, Katniss." Lexie jumped in, and I looked at her curiously.
"That's true. We've only had recent Avox patients, like Lavinia and Cinna, meaning severed tongue only. However, Derek and Mark didn't let that stop them. They did their thing with his tongue and then tried to work their magic trying to repair the vocal cords." Meredith said, sounding proud of them.
"It might be too early to know if it will work, but I think we should be optimistic and remember that it could have worked." George reassured me and I exhaled deeply.
"Is that all then? Other than the possibility that he might not speak… he's really okay? I mean, he's not in any danger?" I asked, wanting to be certain.
"He's great, really. He's got a long healing process ahead of him, but he is perfectly healthy." Meredith assured me and I saw both, Lexie and George smiling at me as well.
After that, I did feel a lot more reassured and let George lead me to the waiting area where I found Mom already filling Effie and Haymitch in. Mom and Effie looked sad and worried, but Haymitch looked pensive. At least I wouldn't have to be the one to explain the whole complicated mess, I figured. As I approached them before they noticed me, I saw Haymitch shake his head with a smile.
Then, I heard him talk. "Girls, I think she'll be fine. As long as he's okay, which is our immediate concern, Katniss will accept this. They're already close, in spite of him being mute. There's no reason to assume she'll freak out when she finds out." Haymitch told them confidently, and I realized they were worriedly discussing how I might take the news.
"Uncle Haymitch is right; he knows me too well." I spoke up, making me notice me.
"Katniss, the surgery is done. I came to find you but they said you'd gone to se Cinna. Honey… listen…" My mother began to tell me, looking completely worried, but I stopped her.
"It's okay Mom. I've already spoken to Lexie and Meredith. They filled me in on things. Like Haymitch said, as long as Pollux is not in danger, as long as he's okay, I don't care at all. Well, except for my worry of his eventual disappointment when he finds out." I reassured them and at my words, Effie and my mom relaxed and Haymitch winked and smirked at me.
Now, I just had to add this to my list of hopes. Not only do I hope he'll handle the news well, I hope he heals well enough and with minimal pain. I'm going to try to focus less on my hopes and feelings on him for the time being, and focus instead on helping him heal. Maybe I can convince him to come back to Twelve with me, so I could care for him. I'd even be willing to go where ever he wants to help him. It makes no difference to me at all.
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A/N: Once again, all the doctors are from the TV Show Greys Anatomy, so I take no credit for them.
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