Chapter 21
"There must be a medication. Peeta had a medication for his leg, even in the Games. I just need one of those shots, something to clear up the infection. And then it will heal, right?"
Dr. Lewis shook her head sadly at me. "Gale, those shots are nearly impossible to come by these days. I've been checking in with Coin on the District 13 medical supplies. We used to get supplies from the Capitol, but we burned through most of our important contacts to get Peeta, Johanna, and Annie out alive. Even if we still had medical contacts in the Capitol, an injection like the one Peeta received in the Games is extremely expensive."
"But the military budget here is incredible! Beetee has no limit on what he's allowed to spend for the materials he needs. I know this, Dr. Lewis! I've worked with him in the Special Defenses unit. There has to be a way..."
Dr. Lewis waited for me to trail off before continuing. "Gale, if there were a way I could get that injection for you, I would. But to Coin, you are..."
"I'm what, Dr. Lewis?"
She averted her eyes to the ground.
"What am I, doctor?" I asked again, more softly.
"Dispensable."
"Oh," I whispered. I felt as though all of the breath had been sucked out of me. Dispensable.
"Gale, we're going to do everything we can for you," Dr. Lewis assured me.
"What can you do, if you can't cure the infection?" I demanded, the gravity of the situation beginning to tumble down upon me. Here I am, a trained soldier, relegated to a District 13 hospital bed. Unable to see the girl I love. Struggling against an infection for which even a Games tribute was offered a cure.
"Your infection isn't as severe as Mr. Mellark's was in the Games. It shouldn't be debilitating, at least, not yet. While we search for a cure, we'll do our best to help you manage the pain."
I closed my eyes, trying to make sense of the avalanche crashing down over my head.
"So what am I supposed to do then?" I asked quietly. "Just lie here and wait to get weaker and weaker?"
"You don't have to stay here," Dr. Lewis said kindly. "You can leave if you prefer during the day, although I would like you to sleep here in the hospital from here on out so that we can monitor your condition. If the invasion of the Capitol is successful, we may be able to procure an injection for you. Until then, we're going to keep the wound as clean as possible and keep you on pain medications. Yes," Dr. Lewis affirmed when she read the disgusted expression on my face, "that means you'll have to submit to a morphling drip. I promise you, it will make a world of difference."
So this is it. All of that training, everything for Katniss, and now here I am, relegated to the hospital, no better off than the bread boy. What will Katniss think when she sees me? When she realizes that I can't protect her anymore, the one thing I had left going for me with her?
"Please don't tell Katniss," I begged Dr. Lewis, who looked questioningly at me. "She's under a lot of stress right now," I continued, half-fabricating as I went. "She doesn't need to be worried about me on top of everything else."
"The confidentiality of your medical concerns is up to you," Dr. Lewis said slowly. "Although you will have to inform the District 13 administration that you are unfit for combat."
Unfit for combat? Katniss will find out in a heartbeat.
"No!" I exclaimed, pushing myself up with such momentum that I managed to haul my body into a sitting position at last. "I'm fit for combat, Dr. Lewis. I can still handle training. I'll find a way."
Dr. Lewis opened her mouth as if she planned to protest, but she was interrupted by a faint knocking on the door. She rose and peered through the small glass window at the top of the door before opening it to the visitors.
"Mr. Mellark?" she asked as he stepped inside the room, flanked by two guards. "Were you looking for me?"
Peeta smiled. "Actually, I heard that Gale was here. I wanted to stop in and see how he was holding up."
Dr. Lewis nodded. "I think that would be good for both of you. We'll continue our conversation later, Gale."
She left the room, leaving me alone with Peeta and his guards.
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