Chapter 35

Katniss

I just sat in the waiting room, pacing. I didn't realize a person could walk this many times across a floor without leaving some kind of tunnel or mark. I also didn't know how many more sympathetic looks I could take before I completely snapped and killed everyone.

Finnick was blinded. Because he hadn't had his helmet on, the flames had licked up his face, ultimately destroying his eyes. He'd been told, but he'd already figured it out from the bandages. He was upset, of course, but he knew the cause was bigger than his life and had understood.

But Gale...

No one was willing to tell me anything. All I knew was he was in surgery. I was his WIFE, and no one would tell me what they were operating on. No one would even tell me how bad of shape he was in.

So I was pacing.

It had been five days since the day I shot Snow, and I hadn't slept very much for any of it. My mother was working furiously and had only seen Gale on the first day when he was brought in. She had told me that all he would ask about was me, if I was okay. It made me feel guilty because I had gone to kill Snow rather than to the hospital, but Gale would've wanted me to kill the bastard, so I thought it'd be okay.

Hazelle, Rory, and Prim had arrived shortly after Johanna and I exited from the mansion. Posy, Vick, Peeta, and Madge had shown up the next day with Coin. Peeta was furious that no one told us they were sending the bomb, and was still trying to figure out what to do about it. I'd already made up my mind.

If Gale died, I'd kill her in cold blood. If he survived, she was still dying.

But it didn't matter, Gale was going to live. He had to. This was why I hated being dependent on someone, because they can always leave or be taken from you. I wasn't sure I could function without him. My life would be over, my best friend would be gone.

I paced faster, trying to will away the poisonous thoughts.

Nearing midnight on the fifth day, a door finally opened. A doctor in surgery clothes came into the waiting room with a somber look on his face. I could feel the blood drain from mine and I tried to keep calm. "Miss Everdeen?"

I walked to him, "yes?"

"I am Dr. Knicker. I have been operating on Gale Hawthone the last few hours and have been keeping a close eye on him." I nodded, wanting him to talk faster. "I have some good and bad news."

"The good news," he said, "is that Gale is alive. None of the machines are working for him to make him breathe or anything." I sighed in relief, so thankful he was alive that tears flowed.

The doctor's eyes broke contact with mine, "There is some bad news. The burns are so severe, we run a terrible risk with infection. We had put him in a coma before surgery, and we have no control over if or when he wakes up."

"What-–what does that mean?!" I ask.

"He could die in this coma if he gets infected. He could also never wake up. He just dreams now. He is allowed to have one visitor at a time."

"where?" my head snapped up. He told me which room and I sprinted in that direction, not stopping until I was at the window to his room.

Because he'd had his helmet on at the last, his face was untouched. But his neck and arms were a terrible shade of pink, red, and black. His face was contorted in a spasm of pain, and I wondered what he was dreaming.

The nurse motioned for me to come in and gave me a big smile. I took the doorknob and walked in, resting on the chair near his bed. His hands had been under me, so they weren't burned very bad, so I grabbed them, heeding the doctor's words about not touching anything burned.

The nurse smiled again, "He's been talking about you, in his sleep."

I raised an eyebrow at her, "I didn't know they could do that."

"Yes, and he's been doing it a lot," she replied. "He must really love you to sacrifice himself like that."

I smiled and kissed Gale's cheek, "Yes, he does."

I fell asleep in that chair, holding Gale's hand. Nearing 4 am, I was jolted awake. Rue had been calling my name in my dreams, but I wasn't screaming yet. I looked at Gale, his face contorted again. "Katniss!" he whispered

"I'm here, Gale. I'm right here," I squeezed his hand.

To my surprise, he squeezed back. His face relaxed, "I love you."

I reached up to kiss his lips, "I love you, too."

I sat back down and started to sing. The doctor had told me talking and singing to him might help him come back quicker.

Are you, are you

coming to the tree?

I finished two verses before looking at Gale again. To my surprise, his eyes fluttered and finally opened. He squeezed my hand, and then tried to sit up. When he realized he couldn't, he grunted in pain and lay back down.

He looked to me and smiled, "Hey, Catnip."

I hadn't noticed I was crying until he wiped a tear from my cheek. I laughed and leaned up to kiss him, thoroughly, deeply, showing him how much I missed him. He moaned into my mouth, his tongue started to search for mine, and his unburned hands started moving themselves up and down my hips.

I moved from his lips to his neck and heard him growl with pleasure. I didn't stop until I heard him grunt in pain. Then I blushed and sat back down.

"I missed you, Catnip."

I smiled, I had missed him. Not being able to see those light grey eyes underneath that dark hair, not being able to see his hands run through his hair, not being able to see those beautiful lips part for that amazing smile had really drained me for nearly six days. Not even that, but the constant worry of losing my love. I had been a wreck.

So it was with total confidence when I kissed him again and said, "I can promise, I missed you more."

Peeta.

I would love to know who the hell Coin thinks she is.

So far, only the people in the control room, Katniss, Gale, Johanna, and Finnick are the only people who know for sure that she sent the bomb. But since we've gotten to the Capitol, she's been acting like she's perfect. But I know she won't be president. She's worse than Snow!

But as the "coronation" day is today, I don't really know what the hell I'm going to do to stop it.

Katniss really hadn't left Gale's bedside since he woke up, but she hasn't left the hospital since the war ended. From what I heard, it was a pretty huge struggle to get her to leave so she could get ready.

Gale and Finnick aren't to be in attendance because of their injuries. Doctors say it'll be close to 6 months before they'll heal up properly. But the fighting is over, so it's okay. They have all the time they need.

As I sit in my room with Cinna, he informs me that Portia passed not too long ago. Rebels who didn't know she was on our side. Poor thing. He dresses me in a simple suit and heads off to find the girls.

I walk out to the stage at my directed time. Katniss is dressed in a beautiful red ball gown for the party later. Madge is wearing my favorite color, a sunset orange, and sporting the ring I gave her. Her dress billows out for her slightly protruding tummy, having passed 14 weeks today, and she's glowing.

I take her hand and kiss her, offering my other arm to Katniss as her escort. She smiles but declines, "I miss Gale too much," she admits with a blush.

The procession starts, Coin leading the way dressed in her military uniform. I squeeze Madge's hand out of anger and look to see that my glare is copied on Katniss's face. I can only imagine what Gale looks like at the hospital. Coin sits in the chair, and Plutarch makes a speech before mentioning for Katniss to come forward.

"Amelia Coin, there are some questions Panem has been waiting for you to answer." Katniss smiled at Plutarch before continuing. "Did you, or did you not order the strike of bombs on Snow's mansion one week ago today?"

Coin set her jaw, sensing a trap. "Yes, I did."

Katniss's glare intensified as she asked the most important question, "Why?"

"Because some sacrifices must be made for the greater good," Coin answered.

Katniss smiled, "Just what I was thinking." She grabbed her bow from under the podium and loaded it, "Your crimes are punishable by death. We had agreed as a district not to sacrifice or fire upon innocents. You did both. Now you must face the consequences of our new nation."

Before Coin could gasp, Katniss fired the arrow in her heart and turned to the audience. "Should we not be able to make our own decision? Should the power to choose not be in our hands? Don't we have the right to an election?"

The crowd roared with Katniss's words. "Too long we have been forced to like decisions made for us, too long has the power not been put in our hands. Too long have we not put the power with the people of this country!"

Haymitch strode to the stage, "An election then, sweetheart? Like the old days?" the crowd roared, "Then candidates will have the option to volunteer and be voted upon!"

Everyone completely forgot about Coin as her body was pulled away from the scene.