Before the reality of the news sets in the phone begins to ring. I know who it is before I pick up the receiver.
"Katniss," Peeta says, sounding more frustrated and defeated than I've ever heard him.
Before I can get a word out he interjects, "Who's there?"
"Just my Mother, Prim, and Gale."
"Okay. Good." He says quickly, "can you put the phone on speaker. I need a huge favor."
I look down at the receiver that I've never paid much attention to and try to guess which button puts the phone on speaker. Gale points to the button next to the keypad. It works.
"Okay." I say, "I've got it."
"Okay, the Peacekeepers will be dropping Reyna off in approximately one and a half hours. I need all of your help, if you all wouldn't mind, of course."
"It's no problem," I reply
I look over at Gale, smiling and nodding, hoping he'll go along.
"Okay," Gale says somewhat reluctantly.
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I really can't thank you enough!" Peeta says, tripping over himself. He regains his composure, "Katniss, could get your sister or mother to go to the local Apothecary and pick up a parcel. I called and pre-purchased some healing salves and medicines, Capitol grade. Restricted stuff, usually reserved for Peacekeepers, Capitol staff, VIPs, and the like."
"Gale," he continues, "I believe they're going to drop her off outside of the Peacekeeper barracks. Bring her to Mrs. Everdeen. But here's the thing, she can't stay there permanently. The terms of her sentence stipulate that she must spend 90 days working and living among the general population. That means no Victors' Village, no cushy job in Town or at the Justice Building. If you'd be willing, I can make sure she'd be placed on your shift, you're foreman, right?"
"Correct," Gale replies matter of fact, "That would be fine with me"
"Now, one last thing. She needs a place to stay, they won't assign a single woman a house, especially not a single woman who isn't a permanent citizen."
"She can stay at my house." I offer, "I keep it up, just in case…" I trail off, I suppose I don't have to worry about an untimely demise anymore now that Snow has me bound Peeta and I together.
"Is that safe?" Gale asks me.
I hadn't even thought of that. Is it safe for a single woman to live alone in the Seam? I suppose my status as the District's resident huntress kept my family out of the sights of any ne'er-do-wells, and Gale was always intimidating enough to protect his mother and siblings.
"I don't know." I say, "maybe not. Could she not just stay with your family?"
"I mean, she could, but there's no room." He says, thinking. "You know, I'll just stay with her at your old place, Rory and Mother can manage things without me for a while."
Helping Reyna at work is one thing, but offering to live with her is another, if I didn't know better I'd say Gale has feelings for Reyna.
That thought is quickly put from my mind by Peeta's follow-up.
"Excellent." Peeta says, "thank you so much. Just tell me what you want when this thing is over and it's yours. Really."
And then I hear the dial tone.
"All right, let's get to work," Gale says with purpose, donning what must be his foreman voice.
While Prim and Mother go to the Apothecary to get supplies and medicine, Gale and I sit in silence and watch a televised parade of Capitol officials decrying Reyna's "seditious actions."
While Capitol official after Capitol official go on and on about how Reyna's punishment should serve as a warning to others. Gale remarks, "Reyna's got nerve," With what sounds like admiration.
Maybe too much, I think to myself. Before I can dwell on that for too long, the voice of Caesar Flickerman can be heard from the television.
"...and now we have President-Elect, Peeta Mellark, here for some quick commentary," Caesar says.
Peeta appears in a box opposite Caesar sitting in what appears to be his well-appointed office, except it's not the one I visited in the Presidential Mansion. "How are you, Sir?" Flickerman asks.
"Could be better," Peeta says dryly. He's barely holding together his usually polished and friendly demeanor.
"So, tonight has, for many, shown once again that justice is blind in Panem, and that no one is above the law and that Miss Ravinstill what is due her. I'd be delighted to hear your thoughts."
"Well first, thanks for having me on Caesar. I suppose some people could say that, but considering Reyna is one of my dearest and closest friends, I would beg to differ. But that's beside the point and something I won't get into here. The bottom line is that I respect the Judiciary's independence in matters of Criminal Justice as enshrined in law and in the Charter of Panem, however, I do feel that reforms are needed across the board in our Criminal Justice system, from the Courts to Peacekeeping, nothing should be overlooked, and I want to use this as an opportunity to assure my fellow citizens that my Administration will work tirelessly to create a more just Panem that works for all of our people."
Caesar, trying to keep the mood light, follows up, "Well said. I just have to mention how upset I was that tonight's… unpleasantness preempted our previously scheduled interview, and I want to assure audiences across the Nation that they can catch that broadcast tomorrow night. Thank you so much for giving us your time, Sir."
Peeta nods and thanks Caesar.
Gale steps out to try and enlist some of his fellow miners to help him get Reyna from the drop-off point to our kitchen table. After a while, the door opens to Mother and Prim with armfuls of medical supplies. We get to work setting out the various creams, balms, syrups, and other aids and prepping the dinner table for Reyna.
Gale and Thom arrive a half-hour later carrying an unconscious and badly beaten Reyna Ravinstill. Mother quickly takes charge of the situation having them carefully lay Reyna on her back so that she and Prim can begin applying the various medicines to her badly beaten back, shoulders, and upper arms. Unfortunately, it's not winter so there's no possibility of applying a snow coat. Maybe some ice would suffice, but it's unlikely that we could find or make enough, even with the fancy Capitol-provided ice maker.
Mother and Prim deliver a promising report after examining her, saying that, with the medicine from the Apothecary, Reyna will be up and moving within 48 hours and should be able to begin serving her sentence by the end of the week, assuming her lacerations heal like they expect them to.
Gale, Thom, and I are standing in the back, having just heard their report, when the phone rings, Gale picks it up and puts it on the speaker.
"Hello? It's Peeta. I have General Ravinstill with me and-" Peeta's cut off by a gruff voice I assume belongs to the General.
"Is she okay?" He says quickly and nervously, he's clearly anxious after having been kept in the dark for the past few hours.
"She's as well as can be expected." I say, "I have Gale Hawthorne and Thom Bennett here with me. They brought Reyna from the drop-off point to my house where my Mother and Sister are treating her."
"Thank you, gentlemen. I won't forget this." The General pauses, "What do you mean by 'as well as expected'? What's her condition?"
"She's asleep. Her back, shoulders, and upper arms are injured, but Katniss' Mother, who's a Healer, is confident that she'll be up and moving the day after tomorrow and can start, uh, work by the end of the week." Gale says.
General Ravinstill's voice takes on a soft, pleading tone, "Will you look after her, please. Make sure she doesn't get hurt, and eats right, and-"
"Yes. I already told Peeta I would." Gale replies.
"I owe you all a great debt." The General says.
"I'll see you in a few days, Katniss," Peeta says solemnly, sounding like he's talking about seeing me at a funeral rather than a boutique opening.
"See you then," I reply.
The phone clicks and Gale and Thom head home to the Seam.
"I'll be back tomorrow," Gale says on his way out.
I nod and head to bed. It's going to be a long week.