A/N: Alright, I am so sorry for the wait. I had tech week for my play and there wasn't enough downtime to write a chapter. Mabry, Johanna, and Arie are going to be in this chapter too, because I haven't given them enough attention. Sorry about that too.
Creds to Mak for Ever and Rose (you'll see, you'll see)
Chapter 36
Johanna's POV
Mabry's been drifting in and out of conciousness because of morphling and pain. Right now, she's sleeping. Maple is with Annie. I check on her every once in awhile. Besides that, Arie and I haven't left the room except to go to Command for required meetings. Always the same. Katniss in interviews saying things she was forced to say. Snow, saying some ominous unrealistic comment. Honestly, I'm surprised Peeta hasn't either broke down or got himself into a helicopter and to the Capitol. Arie sits next to me. I realize I've been ignoring her. Sure, I didn't mentor her, but Seeder isn't here so I should probably talk to the girl.
"Quite the first impression we had of eachother," I offer. She laughs weakly.
"Yeah, we didn't even officially meet," she says and holds out her hand, "I'm Arie."
"I'm Johanna," I say, shaking her hand.
She nods. "Sorry, but I can't really say pleasure considering the circumstances," she says, gesturing around her.
"Family?" I question.
"My family is fine. Logan is here with his family. Can't say I want him here, but I've destroyed that family enough." she says vaguely. I recall who Logan is. Brother of her district partner. The one she tried to protect. The one she watched die.
"Now that wasn't your fault. But it was a real piece of bad luck," I say, trying to be comforting.
"I promised, though," she says hopelessly.
"If your friend really was, or is, your friend, he wouldn't of asked you to give up yourself for his brother."
"I don't know if he's mad at me," she admits.
"Well you may want to talk to him before you go ahead and wallow in self pity," I say, annoyed. She nods.
"I know," she says doubtfully. I roll my eyes.
"Now's as good a time as ever," I say matter-of-factly. She nods but doesn't move. "Well?"
"What if he hates me?" she asks quietly.
"Well if you are going to make me go cliche' on you, then I guess I would say if he hates you than who needs him?" I say. She nods and gets up.
"Thanks Johanna. You're not as sarcastic and rude as I thought," she says.
"Well, don't tell. I've got a reputation to keep," I say sarcastically.
She laughs and leaves with a 'I'll be back.'.
Arie's POV
I remember my mom saying he was in Compartment Twenty, Floor C in hopes I'd try to talk to him. I walk to his compartment and nervously knock on the door.
His mother answers and glares at me. She has never liked me and I doubt that her son's death helped.
"I want to talk to Logan," I state.
"Doubt he wants to talk to you, but I'll ask," she sneers and turns her attention down the hall. "Logan! Someone wants to talk to you," she calls. I hear footsteps and then see him. He looks at me, big brown eyes filled with shock.
"Thanks, Mom," he says, looking at me. She nods and leaves. He gestures for me to come in.
"Hey Logan," I say, awkwardly sitting down on the couch. He laughs humorlessly.
"That's all you can say? Hey?" he says, but its strangely not cold. There's a twinge of sadness, but not towards me.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry. It was all my-" I start sadly but he cuts me off.
"You cannot be blaming yourself. What did I tell you before you left?"
"I know but-"
"No. I told you to worry about yourself. I knew you couldn't promise to keep him safe. Austin wouldn't want me to blame you, especially not you. This wasn't your fault. He knew what he was doing when he saved you. He was no idiot. And he didn't do it just for you, Arie. He did it for your brothers. Your mother. He did it for me. He wanted you and him to both come home but then he realized after the mutt came that wasn't going to happen. It was you or him. He chose you."
I'm taken back by this. I try to never think of that last day in the Games but he is right. Austin died for me. Logan is saying it was for my family. But also for him? Wouldn't he want his brother here instead of me?
"Don't you wish Austin was here, not me?" I ask, fighting back tears.
He thinks it over, pain in his eyes. "It's hard...but I can't say I do wish that. Arie, I loved my brother. But I love you just as much. To lose him, it's been hard. But I'd be going through the same thing if it were you," he says, studying my reaction carefully.
He just said he loved me. He didn't say which way...but he said it.
"I," I start, wanting to say I love him. But I don't know if I do..."I've missed you so much." He nods, understanding like only he could.
"I understand. I've missed you too," he says. He opens his arms and I go straight into them. I surprise myself when I start crying. I seem to be doing that a lot lately. Logan just pulls me closer.
"It's alright, it'll be okay," he mumbles into my hair.
Peeta's POV
"Come on, Rue."
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see," I say, taking her hand. We walk down the halls until we finally get to her room. Rue reaches out and knocks on her door. Prim opens the door and looks at us.
"Oh, hi Peeta," she says.
"Hi Prim," I say, "I wanted you to meet your niece." Rue looks at me, confused and Prim's face lights up.
"This is her?" I nod with a small smile.
"I'm Rue," Rue announces happily.
"Primrose," Prim says. "But you can call me Prim."
Rue looks up at me. "Mommy's sister?"
"Yes," I answer quietly. Prim notices and tries to change the subject.
"How old are you?"
"Nine," she answers. "You?" Prim laughs.
"Twenty seven."
I look down at my arm. I have Command in a few minutes. We'll be late.
"We have to go, Rue." Her lower lip sticks out in a pout.
"But why?" she asks sadly.
"I have Command."
"Oh...can I stay with Aunt Prim?" she asks. Prim looks at me hopefully.
"Don't you have Command?" I ask Prim. She checks her arm and shakes her head.
"No, for the past two hours I should of been in Nuclear History," she says mischieviously. I roll my eyes.
"Sure then. Go ahead," I say. Prim and Rue both smile happily.
"I have to go," I say and give Rue and Prim hugs.
"Bye Peeta," Prim calls out at the same time as Rue says, "Bye Daddy!"
I walk down to Command. Johanna joins me along the way, pushing Mabry in a wheelchair.
"Hi Mabry," I say gently. She's only nine, yet she's been in an arena and nearly killed several times.
"Hey, Peeta. Good news, I'm alive," she says, weakly joking. Johanna's eyes narrow.
"Not funny, Mabry," she says, annoyed.
"Sorry, Jo," she says, twisting around to see her but her face contorts in pain and she quickly shifts back to her previous position.
"Easy there, brainless," Johanna says sarcastically, but there's a twinge of worry. Mabry catches it.
"I am sorry, Johanna."
"I know, Mabry. It was incredibly stupid but I get it," Johanna says.
"She would of died," Mabry says quietly defending herself.
"You could of died," Johanna says, "Did you stop and think about that, brainless?"
"We're here," I state. We all walk through the doors and take a seat. Apparently, Annie was forced to come because she's sitting uneasily next to me. But what surprises me more is the man on the other side of me. His mouth is pressed in a hard line and his grey eyes are stormy like Katniss's so often were. Gale nods to acknowledge me and I nod back.
Sound walks in.
"You've been called here for several matters. The first order of business is another interview. Here it is," she says quickly and turns the television on.
Katniss looks worse. She can't seem to stop shaking and winces whenever she moves the slightest bit. Gale looks pained, I realize this must be his first time seeing her since she's been tortured. Annie lets out a gasp of fright. Mabry just looks as shocked as everyone else. Caeser introduces himself and Katniss.
There really isn't much of an interview. It's mostly Katniss talking about the same thing as always, not rebelling.
"We don't have the manpower right now. This isn't like the last rebellion, the Capitol will win. Our population is low. There are more people on the Capitol's side. What about Rue? Mabry? Arie? These kids have a life ahead of them, but not if they get killed in a pointless war. Rebels, consider this. Innocent people will die. Do you want to pay this price?" she says but her eyes say different. She wants people to rebel, it's clear.
Caeser nods and agrees. "Anything you'd like to say to your family?" To this, she nods.
"Yes. Peeta and Rue, I love you. You are both strong and I trust you to do what's right. You know what's right. Wherever you are, stay safe. I love you both," she says, tears brimming in her eyes. Caeser tries to give her a comforting pat on her shoulder but she flinches away.
"Is that all?"
She nods weakly and two Peacekeepers take her away. The cameras go off and Sound gestures to the screen.
"This is a problem. The districts hang on to her every word and she is wrecking it," Sound remarks. Gale looks at her as though she's mad.
"What do you expect her to do? They...they're doing this to her! They're using her!" he bursts out and then he turns to me. "Back me up, Peeta!"
"He's right. When you are in there, you do what they tell you to. You can't just write her off because she is trying to protect herself. Honestly, I'm relieved that she's listening to them, because it's probably one of the only things that is keeping them from killing her!" I agree, my voice rising to a shout.
"Yes, yes. Our Mockingjay has found self-preservation. How fortunate to the rest of us," Sound spits out.
"If you don't like what they're doing to her then maybe you should get her out of there," Gale retorts.
"Like she said, we don't have much manpower," she says matter-of-factly. Annie looks confused.
"But she's the Mockingjay," she protests in a small voice.
"Was the Mockingjay. Now, onto the next matter of business. Our new Mockingjay, so to speak. Now, it should probably be-"
"Wait? That's it? After all Katniss has done for Panem and your district you are just going to forget her?" I break in, astounded. Gale looks furious.
"What do you propose? I just drop what everyone else needs and rescue her? Like she said, innocent people will die," she throws back.
"You know she was forced to say that," Gale hisses.
"And? She's commiting treason," she hisses.
"I said the same things and I was rescued," I protest.
"Yes, you were. But that was because Katniss protected you and in return she was the Mockingjay. But unfortunately for her, there is no Mockingjay protecting her, therefore she's a traitor along with Capitol criminals," she replies.
This is news. She never told me that she protected me during the rebellion. Maybe the hijacking made her decide to leave it out and it never came up. But nonetheless, Sound should be protecting her.
"Say what you want, she deserves to be rescued and you know it," Haymitch says gruffly.
"Possibly in the future. But for now, we need a new Mockingjay. Mabry, my consultants and I think you'd be best for the position. It's up to you," Sound says, quickly moving on.
Mabry grits her teeth. "I have to think about it." Johanna glares at Sound.
"Oh right. Make a nine-year old your rebel leader. Because that doesn't scream 'emotional scar'," she hisses protectively. Mabry rolls her eyes.
"I think we're past trying to keep my sanity, Johanna," she remarks. Johanna's eyes show a flash of anger, but not at Mabry. At the Capitol.
"What people seem to be forgetting is that this rebellion isn't about any one person," Sound says, frustrated.
"You sound like a Gamemaker," Johanna remarks.
"A Gamemaker throws innocent children into an arena to die. I'd like to think there's a difference."
"You'd like to. But you are making innocent children targets. Not so different, is it?" Johanna retorts.
"She's not innocent. She has killed people, hasn't she?" Sound replies.
"Yes. In self defense," Johanna says angrily, rising out of her seat, "You're a cruel woman." And with that, she leaves with Mabry. Sound turns back to us.
"We have a potential Mockingjay. Any other orders of business?" she asks, unaffected by Johanna's insults.
"We should start filming propos," Plutarch states. Fulvia, who is seated next to him, nods in agreement.
"Very well. But first we need a Mockingjay."
"I want to film a propo," I state. Sound nods curtly.
"Of course. When?"
"Anytime. Tomorrow at the earliest."
"Fine. Anything else?" After a second of silence she nods curtly. "You've been dismissed."
Haymitch's POV
After Command, I return to Effie in the hospital. The doctors insist she gets the best care in her condition, so in the hospital she stays. I don't mind if it's what's best for her. She's annoyed about missing all the meetings about Katniss though.
"How'd it go in Command?" she asks when I get back. She hasn't worn the pink wig in awhile now. I like her better without it, her hair is a light brown color that goes just past her shoulders when its not hidden up in that annoyingly pink wig.
"It didn't. Sound doesn't want to rescue Katniss. She's calling her a traitor," I admit.
"Katniss isn't a traitor," Effie mumbles. I nod and sit by her bed.
"I know, sweetheart. Have you come up with a name for the baby?" I ask, changing the subject. She nods with a smile.
"Yes. The doctors say it's a girl. So I'd like to name her Ever. I've just always liked the name," she says happily. Tears sting my eyes. Ever. The name that Rose, my old girlfriend, said she'd want to name her child before she was chosen for the Games. She died the first day. Betrayed by her district partner. She'd be happy to know I'm moving on now. But Effie couldn't know that. I blink away the tears and smile.
"Ever..." I say slowly and then gently kiss Effie's forehead. "I think it's perfect."