DISCLAIMER: HG CHARACTERS DO NOT BELONG TO ME
Katniss pulls out the vacuum from the hallway closet. Having just finished cleaning the upstairs bathroom and Gale's bathroom, she decides to vacuum all the rooms, figuring it will give her something to do, for Hazelle and the kids were currently at the library.
Rory, Vick, and Posy now out of school for the summer, Hazelle wanted her three younger children to go the library once a day, for since arriving in District 2 it was clear that the schools in this District were more advanced than in 12. While in District 13, Rory and Vick were mandated to help Hazelle with laundry and cleaning duties, so they were not able to spend extra time on their studies. Instead of going to the market first thing in the morning, the four Hawthorne's headed to the library at 9 am and then to the market after, usually arriving back at the house around 1 pm.
Keeping to her routine, she cleaned and did laundry while they were gone. Sometimes, if Gale had time to spare, he would stop by the house for lunch and eat with her and his family, and the times he stopped by while they were out, she ate lunch with him alone.
While she appreciated that the Hawthorne's were doing everything they could to make her feel comfortable, she was becoming more and more frustrated by her situation. Now June, the weather was beautiful outside, and she was trapped inside the house. Longing to go out and hunt, she sometimes found herself going into Gale's closet and pulling out her bow, carefully tracing her fingers along the curves, wishing she could be in the place that once brought happiness.
But then her thoughts turned to her mother and sister, and the tears would begin to fall. While sitting in Gale's closet, she cried for hours, crying so hard she had to sleep off her throbbing headache.
One Week Later
"Is there anything you need from the market?" Hazelle asks Katniss as she grabs a large tote bag from the pantry.
"No, I'm good thanks."
"If Gale stops by for lunch while we are out, tell him you both need to eat light lunches today, I'm making lamb stew tonight."
"He told me this morning he's going to be busy today." Katniss quickly remembering how she had woken up to the feel of his lips on her body, telling her that he needed to head to work early, and to her disappointment, he couldn't make love to her as he often did before slipping out of bed and heading into the shower.
Once Katniss says goodbye to Hazelle and kids, she quickly heads upstairs. She sees Buttercup at the stop of the staircase and gives him a quick pat on the head before heading into Gale's room. She goes into the closet and takes out her silver cloak and pulls it over her head.
Knowing where the Hawthorne's keep spare money for emergencies, she grabs enough money for the train ride and places the money in her pocket. She leaves a note on the kitchen island for Hazelle then exits through a back window, ensuring the doors downstairs remained locked.
Once she safely climbs down the side of the house, she begins walking down the street and finds a sign which points her in the direction of the train station. She keeps her head down and the fabric of the cloak pulled up, to keep her face hidden. While still early in the day, she begins to sweat, walking as quickly as she can. When she arrives to the train station, she purchases a ticket in the kiosk and boards the train. Her destination two hours away, she sits by the window with her hood pulled up, trying her best to remain hidden.
Gale sits at his desk in the new justice building, typing up a report on the status of the Nut. The report due tomorrow, he is finishing the final paragraph when his desk phone begins ringing, he sees from the number showing on the panel that it is his mother calling.
When he answers, he hears his mother's panicked voice on the other end, telling him that when she and kids arrived home, Katniss was no-where to be found. Finding her note a few moments later, she tells him that the note stated she went to the Capitol, and that she would be back as soon as she could.
Katniss sits up against the back-wall of the concrete cell as she waits for whomever is arriving next. Having been taken by Capitol security, she has been sitting in this cell for she is not sure how long. She begins to get bored looking at the gray walls around her, when suddenly, the door opens, and Plutarch Heavensbee comes inside.
She sees him give her a look of pity followed by his usual smile. "Missed us huh?" he says as he stands above her.
"Something like that" she says as she continues to sit on the ground.
"Why go to the city circle? I thought being in the Capitol is the last place you'd be."
"I….had to see it again, and had I managed to make it past the mansion, I was going to go to the hospital to see Peeta."
"You just missed him. He was released two days ago. He went back to District 12, where I thought you were, until an hour ago."
"President Paylor didn't tell you I was in 2?"
"No" he says with annoyance in his voice. "How long have you been in 2?"
"Since the beginning of April."
She sees the look of surprise on his face, processing the length of time she had been gone from 12, his look of cheerfulness returns as he says, "And I am guessing you are with Mr. Hawthorne?"
"Yes."
"I have to say Katniss, you sure are full of surprises. I really thought you and Mr. Hawthorne would have gone your separate ways, given what happened with the parachutes."
"I haven't forgotten about the parachutes" she says in a pointed tone.
"Well, you and Mr. Hawthorne will be having a long-distance relationship I'm afraid, you are not going to be able to return to District 2. In fact, this little stunt you pulled might have jeopardized Mr. Hawthorne's job completely. The residents of 2 and 13 won't be happy once word gets out you were seen in the Capitol today. The deal was you were to remain in 12, you might have to serve a prison sentence now, or worse."
"The citizens of Panem really want their Mockingjay to be executed?"
"No, but District 13 does, I doubt President Paylor wants anymore trouble, we still have pockets of resistance popping up. You have to answer for your crime."
"Haven't I answered enough? I've lost everything."
"Trust me, no one is more sympathetic to your situation than me, I will testify again on your behalf without question. But this doesn't look good, you have to admit that."
"I know."
"So why did you leave?"
"When I arrived in 12, I sat in a chair all day, a woman I know from 12 had to feed me. Now in District 2, I help Gale's mom out, I help Gale's brothers and sister, but sometimes when I'm by myself, I sit for hours, sometimes I just stare like I did in 12, but lately, instead of sitting and staring, I've been crying uncontrollably. I wanted to see if….I went back there what would happen."
"I'm sorry Katniss."
"I don't want to get Gale or his family in trouble, not after everything they have tried to do for me."
"Tried?"
"I don't know if being with them is helping, my calls with Dr. Aurelius have helped but-"
"Grief takes time to work through."
"Time won't heal this wound Plutarch."
"Why were you trying to go see Peeta?"
"He sent letters to 12, but I never responded to them. I haven't seen him since that day….in the Capitol with Coin."
"Unfortunately going back to 12 is not an option if you are hoping it is. You didn't hold up your end of the bargain the first time, the residents of 13 won't agree to you going back a second time."
She nods her head in understanding and the look of pity returns, after a few moments of silence, she says, "I have an idea, I'm hoping you can talk to President Paylor on my behalf."
He gives her a curious look, waiting for her to elaborate.
When Gale arrives home, he sees the time is 3:30 pm. After his mother called, he got up from his desk and locked his office door and jogged home, not bothering to take the train back. Once he closes the front door, Rory comes up to him and says, "Mom is freaking out, we came home around 12:30, and we didn't notice Katniss wasn't here until almost an hour and a half later."
"Where's the note?" he asks.
Rory escorts him into the kitchen, and Gale looks over the note. He puts the note down and heads upstairs, going straight into his room. Locking the door behind him, he sees Buttercup asleep on the bed, and goes into the closet.
He sees that Katniss has taken her locket, but everything else remained. He goes over to his desk and picks up the phone and calls the President's office. Unable to get anyone to pick up on the President's secure line, he sighs as he places the phone down, figuring he will try again in fifteen minutes.
Just as he sits down on the bed, he hears frantic knocking at the door. He goes over and unlocks the door and sees his mom on the other side.
"Gale! I'm sorry, but you have to come downstairs quick! You need to see this."
Quickly following his mom down the staircase and into the living room, the five of them sit on the couch and watch the television as Plutarch Heavensbee's face comes on screen. Mandatory viewings no longer required, alerts come on the TV letting residents know when importance announcements are about to be made, the announcements repeating every five minutes the first half hour, then on the hour for the rest of the day.
Gale watches as Heavensbee tells Panem that the announcement is regarding Katniss Everdeen, the Mockingjay, and introduces President Paylor. Gale stares intently at the screen as Paylor, sitting behind her desk says, "Good afternoon Panem. I wanted to send this broadcast to inform all of you of recent events that took place today in the Capitol's city circle. Katniss Everdeen, former Mockingjay of the second rebellion, who was found guilty of the murder of Alma Coin, was sent to District 12 in exchange for a prison sentence as you are aware. I can confirm that Ms. Everdeen was seen in the city circle this afternoon, breaking the terms of her agreement. Therefore, I have sentenced Ms. Everdeen to an eighteen-month prison term for her crime. For security reasons, her location will remain unknown."
Gale watches in horror as he sees an image of Katniss appear in a prison cell. She is dressed in a gray jumpsuit, reminding him of their days in District 13.
He only half listens as Paylor tells Panem that while as a new nation they are making progress, there is still much progress to be made and thanked every resident for their patience and support.
Once the broadcast ends, he goes upstairs to his room. Devastated, he knows the President will be busy talking to her team, and to District 13 and unable to take his call. He locks his bedroom door and lays down on the bed, not caring that Buttercup meows in annoyance that he has been woken up from his afternoon nap.
He screams into his pillow before the tears begin to fall.