A/N: I want to thank everyone who has reviewed and continues to follow and enjoy this story. I'm so happy to have you and I hope I will continue to have you and more if the powers that be allow it…lol As I was writing this chapter it was going to be much longer than it is, but the more I wrote the more I realized it needed to be broken up. I have answered the big Thatcher question, but I have opened a whole new can of worms as well. Also, I'm not a medical doctor so if what I'm talking about near the end of the chapter isn't possible please forgive me. I hope you enjoy it and as always please read and review.

Chapter Eleven: Safe and Sound

Katniss POV

I step out of the wormhole with my bow string taunt. Peeta was all ready hurt and I wasn't taking any chances. The face I see isn't the person I expected to see. The slight smile he gives me tells me he didn't expect anything less from me. The funny thing is he would be right.

"I'm not in the mood to pull out an arrow, Sweetheart."

I smile as I lower the bow. "Haymitch, shouldn't you be dead now?"

"You would think so," he said holding up his liquor bottle.

I nod before turning my attention to Peeta who wasn't beside me. "Peeta?"

"I'm not feeling so good," Peeta says holding on to a table behind me.

"Well, you'll feel better once we get that shoulder looked at," I say walking over to him.

"What happened to you, boy?" Haymitch asked concern crossing his face.

"Thatcher shot him as we were escaping the arena," I answer as Peeta's knees buckle. "Peeta! Gale, help me," I call seeing Gale step into the room.

"What the hell happened?" Gale asked as he and Rory get Peeta to his feet as a stretcher was soon brought in.

"He was shot," I repeat as I run out of the room behind Peeta and the stretcher.

"Katniss…"

"Not now, Gale," I say not even looking over my shoulder.

"Katniss, I need to talk to you," Gale says grabbing a hold of my arm.

I look at his hand before lifting my eyes to his face. "Gale, whatever you need to say to me can wait until I know Peeta is going to be all right. Until then I'm not leaving his side."

"You can't be in the operating room with him," Gale says smiling slightly but I'm not in the mood for jokes.

"Gale…"

"Okay," he says letting go of me. "It'll wait until Peeta comes out of surgery."

"Thank you," I say turning around to catch up with the men carrying Peeta.

"When did I really lose you, Katniss?"

"What?" I ask looking over my shoulder.

"You heard me," he said starring intently at me. "Was it before or after Prim died?"

Why was he asking me this now? I sigh as I turn around thinking back bringing back memories I thought were long gone. "I don't know, Gale," I answer not wanting to think right now. The problem was he opened a can of worms I couldn't stop from rushing to the surface of my mind.

In the fluorescent light, the circles under his eyes look like bruises. "There's still time. You should sleep." Unresisting, he lies back down, but just stares at the needle on one of the dials as it twitches from side to side. Slowly, as I would with a wounded animal, my hand stretches out and brushes a wave of hair from his forehead. He freezes at my touch, but doesn't recoil. So I continue to gently smooth back his hair. It's the first time I have voluntarily touched him since the last arena.

"You're still trying to protect me. Real or not real," he whispers.

"Real," I answer. It seems to require more explanation. "Because that's what you and I do. Protect each other." After a minute or so, he drifts off to sleep.

"You do know, Katniss. I can see it on your face."

I sigh knowing he won't let this go until I give him an answer. "Before Prim died. It started in the tunnels at the Capitol."

Gale nods his head seemingly satisfied with my answer. "Thank you. At least now I know I was losing you to Peeta before Prim died. Her death ended any chance I had, but I probably would have lost you to him anyway even if she had lived."

"I honestly don't know, Gale. It's all in the past now. I love you like a brother. I admit there were times I thought of a what if before my first Game. What would it be like to be with you? Would we be happy together? I think we would except you wanted children and I didn't."

"But you have Peeta's children," he insists.

"Yes, but when I thought of a possible future with you I couldn't get past the fact you wanted kids and I didn't. I knew you would eventually hate me."

"That would never happen, Catnip. I loved you."

"So did Peeta," I return softly.

"He still does."

"Yes, he does and I love him."

"I know. The surgery waiting room is two levels down. I'll let the surgeon know to find you when Peeta comes out."

"Thanks," I say as I turn away from Gale.

"Katniss…"

"Yeah," I say looking over my shoulder again.

"You need to talk to him when you get back."

I nod my head before saying, "I know." The Gale of my time must be driving himself crazy wondering the same thing his older version was wondering. Gale nods before he walks away from me and down the hall. I head for the elevators going down two levels ignoring my anxiety of being underground. Peeta needs me I keep telling myself as I find the waiting room. I'm pacing the floor from the moment I enter the room until a doctor comes in to find me three hours later.

"Mrs. Mellark?"

"It's Everdeen, but yes, I'm who you were looking for," I say stopping my pacing.

"My apologies, Miss Everdeen. I was just coming to let you know Mr. Mellark is out of surgery."

"Is he all right?"

"Yes, he's doing very well. His subclavian artery was damaged, but we were able to stop the bleeding and repair it. If it had been five minutes later he would be dead."

"When can I see him?"

"He's in recovery right now. When he's moved to a room you can see him then."

"Thank you, Doctor. But you're sure he's fine?"

"Yes, Miss Everdeen, he's fine. He may experience pain and numbness from time to time after the shoulder is completely healed. But other than that he'll be fine."

I nod my head satisfied with the answer. I knew there were treatments Peeta could try to completely heal the nerve damage caused by Thatcher's bullet. Seeing him pointing that gun at Peeta's head I thought history was about to repeat itself or I should say about to become reality. Just trying to keep everything straight made my head hurt. All I wanted to do now was get Peeta out of the hospital and back home where we belonged. A half hour later, I was lead from the waiting room to a private room in the hospital wing.

I sit down beside Peeta's bed as his blue eyes drift open. "Hey," I say smiling at him.

"Hey. How long have you been here?"

"Oh, I haven't been here long. They just brought you from recovery actually."

"That's good. I would feel bad if you've been sitting there for very long," he said yawning.

"Well, you just got out of surgery, so it makes sense you're going to sleep the drug off.

"Great. I think my nightmares are going to come back with a vengeance," he said shutting his eyes.

I smile as I gently touch his arm. "Well, I'll be here to keep them at bay."

He smiled as he opened his eyes. "Not all the time I hope."

"Why not?"

"You do need to eat and sleep you know."

"I know," I say seeing the twinkle in his blue eyes.

He chuckles then winces. "Well, it looks like I won't be doing any painting any time soon."

"Peeta, as long as you're safe and alive I don't care if you every pick up another paint brush."

"I know," he says seriously. "I'm not planning on going anywhere."

"Good, I'm glad to hear it. I do have a question if you feel up to talking about it."

"What's that?"

"Back in the arena why was that flashback different?"

He sighed and slightly nodded his head. "Oh, that yeah, it's because it wasn't a flashback."

I frown as I watch him try to get comfortable in the bed. "It wasn't a flashback?"

Peeta shakes his head as he yawns again. I could tell he was fighting a losing battle. "No, it wasn't. I still have actual flashbacks, but this was more of me fighting for control of my body." He smiles seeing my confused face looking back at him. "Basically, I have an evil-mutt version of myself in here," he says tapping his head with his left hand.

"So all the mean, hateful things you said weren't you saying them?"

"It was me but the Mutt was influencing them as he worked to be more than influence."

"So because of Snow's torture it was you who tried to kill me after you were rescued, but the other times when your eyes were dilated it was the Mutt?"

"Yes, I know it's confusing as hell, but that's it in a nutshell. I was actually afraid he would wake up before me and take control."

I smile as I rise to my feet and gently lean over the bed. I brush the blond hair out of Peeta's blue eyes. "You don't have to worry about that any more."

"I don't?" he asked starring up at me seemingly holding his breath.

I shake my head. "You don't because I'm going to make sure we get rid of this Mutt. There's only room enough in here for Peeta Mellark," I say brushing my fingers against his face before bringing my lips to his in a gentle kiss.

Unlike my own gun shot experience, Peeta's been in the hospital for five days now. And much to my displeasure he's enjoying every minute of it. It's like the nurses of thirteen have made Peeta their own priority patient. There are different nurses coming in to check on him at all hours of the day and night. A nurse's job is to make sure their patient is doing well not practically fall all over him. After the fourth different nurse of the night leaves, I huff as I cross my arms over my chest.

Peeta laughs drawing a nasty look from me. "Why Katniss Everdeen, I had no idea you had a jealous bone in your body."

"For your information Peeta Mellark, I am not jealous," I snap which causes Peeta to laugh even more before wincing.

"Yes, you are, but I love it. I only have eyes for you, Katniss. It's been that way since the age of five remember?" he asks giving me a look that melts my heart.

"How do you do that?" I ask standing up and planting a kiss on his lips.

He takes a shuddering breath once I lift my head. "What?"

"This," I say smiling down at him. "You've always known what to say to me or to anyone and have them eating out of the palm of your hand."

"Mr. Mellark, how are you doing tonight?"

I glance over at the fifth nurse of the night and narrow my eyes. When would they get the clue that Peeta was mine? "Mr. Mellark is doing just fine," I say turning Peeta's face toward me and giving him a passionate kiss. I can't help smiling against his lips hearing him groan and the nurse huff as she walks out.

"You need to get jealous more often if these are the kinds of kisses I'm going to get," Peeta said after breaking the kiss then sliding his fingers into my hair and pulling me down for another kiss.

I laugh after coming up for air. "You are so bad, Peeta Mellark. I really need to do what I told you the day of our interview with Caesar Flickerman."

"And what was that again? I seem to have forgotten that conversation," Peeta says trying to hide the grin threatening to break out on his handsome face.

"Put you somewhere you can't get hurt."

"Not getting hurt would be a good thing," he agrees. "I'm getting tired of waking up in hospital rooms.

"And I'm tired of almost losing you," I return.

"Once we get home, I'll make sure that doesn't happen," he promises.

"How can you do that, Peeta? We'll still have Darius Thatcher to worry about, and you'll still have Venom," I say.

"I know, but we'll figure it out. We always do. Besides we have time before anything happens right?"

"I don't know. The past could have been changed by us coming here."

"Is that even possible? I could understand the future being changed by changing the past, but does it work both ways?"

"It could," I say as the door opens again. I'm about to explode when I see it's only Dr. Davis.

"Good evening, Mr. Mellark. I'm hearing from my nurses that you're doing very well tonight," he said glancing over at Peeta and me.

"Yes, Dr. Davis, I'm doing very well tonight," Peeta says tightening his arm around me.

Dr. Davis smiles as he nods his head. "Yes, I can see that. Well, your test results look good. Your shoulder is healing nicely, and I don't see any reason why you can't get out of here in the morning."

"That would be great, Dr. Davis. I'm ready to get out of this bed," Peeta said smiling. The news brings a smile to my own face that quickly vanishes ten seconds later.

"But you'll have to stay here in thirteen for your rehilibatation if I let you out of the hospital."

"What? You mean we can't go home?" I ask not liking where this was going.

"I'm sorry Miss Everdeen, but going back into the past with this injury could kill Mr. Mellark. Your doctors can treat him and even heal him, but going through the pressures of a wormhole could aggravate the injury which could cause him to start bleeding again. If that happens and his subclavian artery tears again, he will be dead by the time you get back. Now by staying here through the rehilibatation you assure he's fully healed and can return safely back home with you. The choice is yours of course, but I strongly recommend you stay here."

I sigh as I lower my head against Peeta's good shoulder. "I want to go home, but I don't want to lose you either," I whine.

Peeta chuckles softly as he rubs my back. "I know. How much longer would we have to stay here?"

"Well, normal rehilibation usually takes six months, but hard work and the determination I know you have maybe three months. That is as long as there aren't any setbacks."

Peeta kisses my forehead as I lift my head to look into his blue eyes. "Three more months?" I ask.

Peeta nods his head and smiles at me. "I'll do my best," he promised.

I smile and gently poke him in his good shoulder. "I'm holding you to that, Peeta Mellark."

"Ouch. Yes, Ma'am, three months I got it," he laughed.

"Good. It's time to go, Miss Everdeen," Dr. Davis said motioning for me to follow him.

"Why can't I stay since it's his last night in here?" I ask not wanting to leave.

"Because rules are rules, Miss Everdeen."

"Did I tell you I really hate it here?" I ask Peeta who nods his head in answer. "I'll see you in the morning," I say leaning down and kissing him.

"I'll be waiting," Peeta said smiling then kissing the back of my hand before letting me go.

I walk out of the room with Dr. Davis who had a huge smile on his face. "What?"

He shakes his head as he clears his throat. "Nothing, Miss Everdeen. It's just been a very long time since I've seen a couple so much in love as you and Mr. Mellark are. It's nice to see."

"Don't you have couples here in thirteen?"

"No, we don't. After the last war, we slowly changed from solely military to a more family atmosphere with the influx of people. My own mother came from District Twelve, but once Darius Thatcher took power everything changed. He tried to wipe us all out so he could just walk in and reclaim thirteen."

"It clearly didn't work," I say not knowing where Dr. Davis was going with this conversation.

"It nearly did though. The thirty small children we have is a miracle to Commander Hawthorne's quick thinking. If he hadn't sent the women who were pregnant and what children we had to the bunker those children as well as the babies would have died.

"Thatcher attacked you with a virus didn't he?"

"Yes, and it turned into Scarlet Fever. Everyone not in the bunker contracted it. The ones who survived were left infertile."

His words hit me taking my breathe as if I had been punched. Gale. "Gale can't have kids now can he?" I ask in a hushed whisper.

"It's unethical for me to answer that question. But I think you all ready know the answer Miss Everdeen, without me saying anything."

I slowly nod my head. Yes, I do know the answer. There was no telling when Thatcher attacked these people, but it was after Gale had come back here. Was it after Thatcher had killed me and Peeta? Did Rue and Finn have to suffer through Thatcher's torture just so he could get his hands on the nuclear weapons in thirteen? My face must be giving me away my fear because Dr. Davis is shaking his head.

"No, Miss Everdeen, your two children weren't here when Thatcher attacked us. They were safe and sound in District Twelve with you and Mr. Mellark. Have a good night," he said walking away from me.

How am I supposed to have a good night now, I think as I enter the cafeteria. I get a tray of food and sit down to eat. The sound of children laughing draws my attention. It's a precious sound that Gale will never enjoy unless Peeta and I can change the past to save the future.

"Mommy, it's her. I know it's her."

I look over at the little girl smiling at me which I return as well as the wave she gives me. Who did she think I was? The child was too young to know anything about me. I hear her mother telling her she was wrong, but the little girl wasn't taking no for an answer. Before long I feel her small hand patting my leg.

"You're Katniss Everdeen aren't you?" she asked once I looked down at her.

"Rebecca, leave her alone."

"It's all right. She's not bothering me. Yes, I am," I answer. The whole compound had to know Peeta and I are here by now so what's the use in lying?

"See, I told you it was her, Mommy," Rebecca said over her shoulder before focusing on me again. "You're the Mockingjay."

"I was."

"You still are," Rebecca stated.

"Rebecca, leave her alone," her mother insisted.

I smile and gently touch Rebecca's face. "No, I'm not, Sweetie. I'm not the Mockingjay anymore."

"You'll always be the Mockingjay," Rebecca replied as her mother led her away.

I shake my head as I eat my meal in silence. Why would they still need a Mockingjay? Darius Thatcher was dead. The Rebels have won by default. I finish my meal returning my tray to its proper place before heading for my sleeping area. The nightmares begin the moment sleep claims me.

The next morning I awake to the sounds of a child crying. As I sit up the sound begins to fade away. I rub my eyes then my arms to stop the shaking. It was just a nightmare Katniss I tell myself. I was thinking about the children when I went to sleep. My nightmares took over after that.

I nod my head trying to convince myself as I get ready for another day in thirteen. I soon make my way down to the hospital wing. Peeta's up out of bed and getting his right arm into a sling as I walk in. The wince on his face tells me he's hurting and the nurse is trying to convince him to stay in the hospital. Like hell that's happening I think as I walk over to Peeta and the flirting nurse.

"I think I can take it from here," I growl at the nurse before gently pulling Peeta's head down for a kiss. "Good morning," I say once I take a step backwards.

"Good morning," Peeta returns starring down at me.

"Are you ready to get out of here?" I ask holding out my hand.

"Yes," he says taking my hand in his.

I glare at the nurse as I lead Peeta from the room. I lead him to the cafeteria for some breakfast. It turns out to be a funny ordeal. For Peeta it's not funny it's aggravating. After his third attempt to feed himself with his left hand, he drops the spoon on the tray in disgust. I can't stop the grin that spreads across my face resulting in a glare from him.

"You're laughing at me," he says frowning.

"I'm not laughing. Here let me help you," I offer while trying to keep a straight face.

"Do you know how degrading this feels?"

"I know, but think of it this way. This gives you even more incentive to finish your rehilibatation in three months instead of six," I say holding up a spoonful of oatmeal to him.

He takes the food from the spoon, chews it, and swallows. His face breaks into a smile before he laughs slightly. "It really is funny isn't it?"

I laugh, nod my head, and hold out another spoonful of oatmeal. "Yes, it is."

"I love you too, Katniss Everdeen," he says sarcastically once his mouth it empty again.

This brings on another round of laughter from me. Once we have both been fed, I head for Command with Peeta on my heels. This is the first time since Peeta went to the hospital that I went anywhere else. Gale had kept his promise to leave me alone until Peeta was better. Now it was my turn to give him my undivided attention. There was something he had wanted to tell me, and I figured now was a good of a time as any.

We enter Command and walk into complete caucus. I see Gale looking over a report and he doesn't look happy. "This doesn't look good," I say.

"No, it doesn't. I thought the war would be over with Thatcher dead," Peeta says as we approach Gale.

"It should be," Gale says looking up from his report.

"But," I say raising my eyebrows.

"But his kid has decided to keep fighting us."

"His kid? Thatcher didn't seem the fatherly type," Peeta says shaking his head.

"Well, the kid has the country eating out of the palm of his hand," Gale said sighing before dropping his eyes back to his report.

"Gale, I'm sorry. I wish there was something we could do, but this isn't our fight," I say. What I really want to do is leave this place behind but until Peeta was fully healed we were stuck here.

"I know, Catnip. I know this isn't your fight, and it's really selfish of me to ask…"

"No, Gale, she's not becoming the Mockingjay again," Peeta interrupts cutting Gale off mid-sentence.

"Peeta…"

"No, Katniss! Gale, you know better than anyone how close to dying she came. It's too dangerous. There's too much at stake now."

"I do know, Peeta. It's the people of Panem who want her," Gale whispered.

"Then use someone else," Peeta snapped.

I frown at Peeta's anger and am about to snap at him when a thought occurs. "Peeta, you need to calm down," I say in a calm voice.

"I can't calm down while he sits there suggesting a plan that puts you in danger," Peeta growls.

I look into his blue eyes and see them begin to dilate and I know Venom is trying to come out. I will not lose Peeta to this Mutt! I cross the small distance separating us without a word and pull Peeta's head down to mine. I brush my lips against his as his body starts to shudder. I break the kiss to take a breath then whisper, "I love you, Peeta. Stay with me," I add before kissing him again more passionately.

"Always," he says once we break apart looking down at me with his bright blue eyes. "I still don't want you doing it," he says wrapping his good arm around me.

"I know you don't but if it helps…"

"It's too dangerous," he insisted.

"I promise you she'll be completely safe."

Peeta gives a sarcastic laugh and shakes his head. "You can't promise that, Gale."

"Yes, I can. Come with me," Gale says getting up from his chair and walking out of the room.

Peeta releases me and we follow Gale out of the room. We enter the armory as Gale presses a button on a control panel. A cabinet appears in front of us sliding out from the wall then clicking into place. The doors open and before us is the Mockingjay suit Cinna made for me. It appeared in excellent condition without a scratch on it.

"With her in this and my soldiers surrounding her she'll be completely safe," Gale said turning toward us.

"Can you trust them?"

"Peeta," I say frowning.

"He has a mole, Katniss," Peeta returned.

"Not anymore I don't. That's how I found out why Thatcher hated you two especially Katniss so much."

"Why?" I ask.

"The day you killed Alma Coin you killed Darius Thatcher's mother."