DISCLAIMER: HG Characters do not belong to me.

A/N: Even though I'm the writer of the story, I feel bad for Katniss too! But-keep in mind Hazelle doesn't like Gale being so far away, for Rory and Vick are no longer in 2. She's got to put the blame somewhere and Katniss is an easy scapegoat for her. This chapter is kind of a fill in for what happens next.

Chapter 87-Revelations III

After Katniss ended her phone conversation with Haymitch, she walks upstairs and sees Gale reading on the bed with Harper beside him. He doesn't need to ask if something is wrong by the look on her face. He sets his book down and says, "Its Peeta isn't it?

"He's in the hospital. Haymitch says he's been having seizures."

"Did he ever have them before?"

"No-never. I know he's also experiencing headaches, he seemed…..off the last time I saw him. When he stood up he almost looked like he was going to pass out and began touching his head."

"Maybe the two are related" Gale says voicing his thoughts aloud.

"Maybe" Katniss replies sounding unsure.

"Are you going to see him?"

"I think it's probably best if I don't. Haymitch is supposed to call tomorrow after I get home. Right now they are just doing testing. If anything else happens though…."

"I'm sure it will be fine. The Capitol still has the best doctors in all of Panem."

She nods in response, fear still showing on her face. He looks at her sadly and says, "Come here" and reaches his arms out.

Without hesitation she goes into them. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders tightly. He continues to hold her as she sits in silence before moving away from him and lays down to try to sleep.

After an hour she is still not sleeping and neither is he. He moves over and rests his hand on her shoulder and says, "Catnip. Do you want to talk about it?"

"No" she responds in a monotone voice and jerks away from him.

Getting the hint she wanted to be left alone he sighs and turns over to the other side, petting Harper before sleep eventually overtakes him.


The next morning she is up before he is. While he is still asleep she showers and gets dressed. After she fixes her hair and is about to head downstairs she hears his alarm go off. She stands beside the bed and looks down at him while he turns his alarm off.

"You're up early" he says yawning.

"I didn't get much sleep. I'm sure I'll be paying for it later."

"Katniss-about last night" he says wearily while sitting up, his feet touching the floor while he sits at the edge of the bed.

She puts her hand up stopping him for saying anything more. "I'm sorry I acted distant last night. I'm just-worried about him."

"You should go to the Capitol."

"I already gave him false hope before when I said I wanted things to do back to the way they were. I can't do that to him again."

"If you don't go he might think that you don't care."

"You don't mind?" she asks not able to hold back the fact she is surprised he wants her to go.

"He needs people around him who care about him. A couple of months ago I would have minded, but not anymore."

She smiles at him appreciatively and bends down and gives him a hug. She then begins kissing him, softly at first then more passionately, forcing her tongue into his mouth. He pulls her into his lap and buries his head in her shoulder and begins kissing her neck while she reaches down and begins stroking him. Knowing if he doesn't stop neither one of them will make it to work on time he breaks away and says, "I need to get ready" disappointment apparent in his voice.

She gives him a look showing her disappointment as well then gives him a quick kiss and heads downstairs. She calls Haymitch and leaves a message for him saying that she will be coming to the Capitol later in the evening after work.

The day drags on for Katniss. Due to lack of sleep and anxiety over Peeta, she struggles getting through the day. Once all the children leave at 3:30 pm she quickly begins packing up her stuff, planning to head straight to the train station. Due to the fact that the last train for the day heading for the Capitol from Silver Lake left at noon, her commute will take longer due to having to stop further east and transferring onto the next train that leaves for the Capitol from District 2's main station downtown.

Katniss usually sticks around the school until 4-4:30, but not today. Her actions do not go unnoticed by Julia who says, "I take you have plans after work."

"I have to get to the Capitol as soon as possible."

"Everything alright?"

"That's what I need to find out" she says as she gets her jacket on and leaves without another word.

Katniss doesn't arrive to the hospital until almost 7 pm. She quickly fills out the visitor form before heading into Peeta's room. As expected, Haymitch is in the room with him.

"Katniss" Peeta says completely shocked to see her.

"Peeta" Katniss says so softly he can barely hear her.

"I didn't think you'd come here".

"I would have come sooner, but I had to work."

"Of course, how is teaching?"

"It's going well, but enough about me, I came to hear what the doctors said."

He shrugs and says, "They did a lot of testing today, I got here early yesterday morning with Haymitch. They won't know anything for a couple of days."

"Are you going to stay here until then?"

"I think so."

She walks over to his hospital bed and grabs his hand, squeezing it and says, "You'll be in my thoughts."

"You suddenly care about me again?" Peeta asks sarcastically catching Katniss completely off guard. She immediately releases her grip on his hand.

"Uh…I'm going to head over to the bar around the corner. Katniss-come see me before you leave okay?" Haymitch says his voice sounding hoarse.

Katniss nods and turns back to Peeta and says angrily, "Of course I care! That's why I am here, I just sat on a train for almost three hours to get here after working all day." Fed up with everyone doubting her intentions.

Peeta realizing he has been too harsh says, "I'm sorry, I had no right to say that. It's just that-I don't think I can do the friends thing with you. Perhaps if we hadn't been together for so long it could be different. But with the way things ended between us….."

"I understand. I just-wanted you to know that I will be thinking about you" Katniss says with tears starting to form in her eyes, knowing she needs to stop thinking of him as a wounded child. He had longed proved himself to be a survivor. The fact that he remained pure and good despite the horrors he experienced from the Capitol showed his strength and perseverance.

"I still love you Katniss. You know I'll never stop." He says sadly.

She feels sick inside, knowing that he is still hurting. She doesn't know if shell ever get past the fact that she left him, walked out on him and the life they had together in 12.

"I know" is all she is able to say back. It reminds of when Gale first confessed his love to her and those two words was all she was able to say in response.

She sees the look of revelation on his face as he realizes she won't say she loves him back, for her heart now belonged to another.

Quickly changing the subject she asks, "When did you start having seizures?"

"A couple of weeks ago, the first one I had I was over at Haymitch's, then I had two more while at the bakery. Haymitch insisted that I come to the Capitol to be seen by a doctor here."

"Are you still getting headaches?"

"Yes. They are getting more and more intense."

"I'm sorry Peeta. I know I am probably the last person you want to see right now and most likely what I'm about to say is what you least want to hear, but-if you need anything….."

"It's not that I don't want to see you. It's that it hurts too much to see you." But, I'll make sure Haymitch fills you in on what the doctors say."

"Thank you."

She gives him one last smile before turning to leave, before she exits the door he says, "Katniss!"

"Yeah" she says whipping her head around quickly.

"Thanks for coming. I really do appreciate it."

"Of course. I meant it when I said I'm here if you need me."

"I know you did."

She signs out of the hospital and walks over to the bar Haymitch is at. When she walks in and heads over to him he almost drops his shot glass and says, "You look in a daze".

"I need a drink" she says as she sits down and pulls out money attracting a bartender over to her. Immediately she downs the liquid in the small shot glass, asking for another.

Haymitch raises his eyebrows at Katniss and asks, "That bad?"

"He didn't want me to come."

"That's not true Katniss and you know it. Every time he sees you, all he can think about is you and Gale. He was good at hiding it before, but now he's scared, the doctors admitted they have no idea what is wrong with him."

"Did he tell you that? That all he can think about when he's around me is me being with Gale?"

"He admits a lot when I get alcohol into him. Which granted-is not that often. I believe his exact words were, 'I can't get the image out of my mind of Gale fucking Katniss to the point that she would scream so loud an entire hotel could hear the two of them.'"

She gives a look showing she is beyond embarrassed. "He must have been drunk. No way Peeta would say the word fuck out loud."

Haymitch chuckles and says, "You are funny when you don't try to be."

"I still feel so awful" she says looking defeated.

"It's why I said keep your personal life out of Panem Daily. I haven't seen any articles lately which is good. Ceasar must not have enough gossip to publish an article."

"I try to keep it that way. Though the whole town I live in knows we are living together."

"I don't think District 2 wants to be tied to you-no offense."

"None taken" she says ordering yet another shot.

"Ok so moving on. About the Jay Killers-turns out, they are not in the wild territory right now."

"They aren't?"

"No-they are in District 10."

"District 10?"

"Yes, a member there purchased a cattle ranch that has a lot of land. Posing as a farmer from District 9 who wanted to start a new life in 10 as a rancher. And when I say he bought a lot of land I mean a lot of land. They are using the area to regroup and train. Enobaria is pretty sure Jasper is there but we don't know for sure."

"Does Paylor know?"

"Of course."

"Then why hasn't she captured them and brought them to the Capitol to face justice?"

"She can't just go in there and attack. It is one thing for the military to do it in the wild territory it is another to do it in Panem in plain sight. She has surveillance on them nonstop. But-we can only see so much. If we get too close they'll know they are being watched."

"Haymitch, Jasper has my journal, my map leading them right to the Sioux, I need my stuff back!"

"Well don't think you can just have Panem's soldiers march right in and get it. That's not happening sweetheart."

"Gale will do whatever I ask."

"It's not up to him. Paylor says he might have to resume his suspension again soon. Apparently certain members of the military and government are…..not happy that he gets to work at home and still be on active duty despite the fact he was supposed to serve a one year suspension."

"He works form home one day a week!" Katniss snaps back.

"People get jealous Katniss. Some people in the Capitol believe he gets preferential treatment."

"Because he's loyal, Paylor trusts him, she always has."

"Some feel she gave him the government official job because of you."

"ME?" she says in disbelief.

"Yes-you! He was your cousin after all. People think she did that as a favor to you."

"That can't be further from the truth. I tossed him out of my life before he even got that job."

"Yeah but they don't know that. And now with the two of you…..together it just reaffirms their suspicions more."

"So what's the plan? With the Jay Killers" Katniss huffs.

"We are still working out those details. We can't risk Enobaria being found out."

"Well keep me in the loop."

"You know I will."

Katniss has three more shots before getting up and heading for the train station despite Haymitch's protests not to. He insists on escorting her to the train station to make sure she gets on safely. Having to make two stops as she did before, she doesn't arrive back to the cottage until 11:30 pm. She goes upstairs and immediately strips off her clothes not noticing that Gale is still up, waiting for her.

"How's Peeta" he asks watching her intently as she stands in her underwear, startled that he is awake.

"Scared, the doctors don't know what is wrong with him."

"I'm sure they will figure it out."

"Yeah but what if they don't? What if he has some disease? What if he's slowly dying?"

"You don't know that. No use assuming something you don't know the answer to."

"I found out something else."

"What?" he asks not knowing where this conversation was going.

"The Jay Killers are in District 10, maybe all of them. I need you to convince Paylor that we need to go in there and get my stuff back" she says as she puts her clothes in her laundry hamper.

"I know they are in 10."

"WHAT?" Katniss says startling Harper who whimpers in response.

"I just found out today okay. The President filled me in on a conference call, Haymitch was part of the call as well. The decision was made to lay low until she gets more information about their plans for the future."

"Plans for the future? I can tell you what their plans are. Killing me, killing her, and overthrowing the government. How's that for plans?"

"I know you are scared. But you are safe, you're with me, you know I won't let anything happen to you. None of those men will ever touch you again, if they do, I'll kill them-without hesitation."

"So you have gone back to thinking the only solution is killing?"

"If they hurt you yes."

"I can't believe what I'm hearing."

"What? The fact that I admitted that I will kill them if they raped and beat you again? I'm sorry Katniss but it's the truth. Do you think I was wrong to kill Geffen?"

"You did it to save me."

"And that's what I'd be doing again if it came to that."

"I'm tired of people dying Gale."

"It would only happen if they tried to hurt you again. You said so yourself that's what they want."

"I don't want you getting into more trouble. Haymitch said…..he said Paylor was going to have to suspend you again" she says tearing up, she tells herself she is an emotional wreck due to lack of sleep and being up for almost 24 hours.

"Come here" he says and like she did over 24 hours ago she goes into his arms. "I know, she told me before the conference call."

"When?" she says crying while he continued to hug her.

"I think after the new year. At least it gives me some time to be involved with what is happening with the Jay Killers a little bit longer."

Fatigued, intoxicated, and knowing she needs to go to bed but too emotional to do so, she decides to distract herself from her troubles. She wipes the tears from her eyes and begins kissing him hungrily while reaching back and unhooking her bra strap.

Gale breaks away from her and says, "You've been drinking" saying it in a tone that implies it is not a question.

"I had some shots with Haymitch."

"We need to go to bed, I have to be up in five hours" he says as he gets up and goes over to her dresser, pulling out her night shirt and pants and handing them to her.

She tosses them to the ground once he gets in the bed beside her. Before he can protest she leans in and kisses him again, her bra falling off while she forces her arms around him. He doesn't kiss her back. Not wanting to but having no other choice he pulls away forcefully and says, "Being with you like this when you're drunk doesn't count".

"Repeating the same words that you said when we made out in District 2 during the war I see" she says angrily.

"You wanted a distraction then, you want one now. What happened with Peeta?" he snaps back.

"That's none of your business" she says as she bends over and puts the clothes she tossed aside on.

"It is my business when my girlfriend comes home drunk. And since when do we keep things from each other?"

"Since you've decided you won't have sex with me" she hisses, seething with anger.

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes! I want to have sex. Since when do we no longer have sex?" she says mocking his words back at him.

"We have sex all the time Katniss quit being ridiculous. It's Monday and almost midnight! We have to work in the morning."

"Don't you want to know what happened with Peeta?'

"No" and he flips the light off and lays down.


The next morning he gets up and sees Katniss out cold on the edge of the bed. He heads into the bathroom to shave before taking a shower. Once in the shower he suddenly hears her run into the bathroom and bend over the toilet, throwing up the contents of her stomach.

He wipes the moisture off the shower door and sees her on the floor, continuing to throw up. The bathroom in their room has an enclosed glass door stand up shower in front of the toilet and a claw tub in the corner by the window. He quickly gets out and bends down and rubs her back, tending to her needs before putting a towel on himself.

"This must be what death feels like" she says groggily.

"You are not going to work today" he says grabbing a towel to put on himself and slowly helping her get up. He helps her over to the sink and she begins brushing her teeth once finished she says, "I know. But I can't miss work."

"Yes you can. You are an official teacher now, you get sick days."

"Can you grab my bag please?" she asks while Gale escorts her back on the bed.

"Of course" and he runs downstairs and brings her bag back up and hands it to her.

She shuffles through the bag until she finds what she is looking for, a small notepad with Julia's number in it. She uses Gale's work phone to call Julia explaining that she won't be coming in today and then hangs up and calls the school, leaving a message with them.

"Julia said she will fill in for me today."

"Good. Now go back to sleep."

"Don't go-please. I hate it when we fight."

"I hate it too."

"I'm sorry" she says tears forming in her eyes.

"Hey-it's okay" he says as he bends down and hugs her, unable to stand seeing her upset.

"Will you stay with me?"

"Sure Catnip" and she sighs in response before laying back down, fatigue overcoming her.


She wakes up six hours later. She sits up and sees Gale working at his desk. Before she can thank him for staying she bolts up and heads for the bathroom, vomiting again. He comes into the bathroom and pulls her to her feet once finished. She gives him a look of thanks and brushes her teeth yet again. Once finished he says, "Maybe a shower will help."

She nods and she turns on the water, waiting for it to heat up. She undresses and grabs a towel and heads into the shower, Gale heading back to his desk as she lets the water run down her face.

Once she is finished and dressed, she asks Gale how he was able to work from home today.

"Well, I had called the President's office and said I would have to take a sick day but that if allowed I would work from home. She said it was okay."

"Okay, well, I'll let you be" and she heads for the stairs.

"Are you feeling better? He calls out while she descends down the stairs.

"I am knowing you are here with me" she shouts back.

An hour later he comes down and fixes lunch. She tells him about her conversation with Peeta while he listens silently.

"I feel bad for him too Katniss. It's impossible to dislike him."

"I just hope he'll be okay."

Gale doesn't respond, only giving her a look of sympathy instead.

She ends up spending the rest of the day in their living room and naps into the late afternoon. When she wakes up she feels her normal self. Her hangover finally gone.

Once Gale is finished working he begins making dinner, Katniss helping him in the kitchen. After they eat they lounge on the couch and watch TV before deciding to take a walk in the neighborhood once it gets dark. When they return they head up to bed and they both start reading, enjoying the silence and downtime, this type of leisure activity usually only happening on the weekends.

After she puts her book away she leans over and looks him in the eyes and says, "I love you. There's no else I want to spend the rest of my life with other than you, I just wish….it didn't hurt Peeta."

"He needs more time."

She nods, showing her uncertainty if that will happen. He pulls her down and begins kissing her, his weight fully on top of her.

Only in his night pants, she pulls his pants and boxers down as he lifts her nightshirt up, removing her underwear. He begins thrusting quickly as she grabs his backside, pushing him into her harder. He touches her face as his forehead begins to sweat. She quickly switches positions with him so that she is on top, and inserts him inside her as she begins moving up and down. Still clothed, he reaches under her shirt and teases her nipple with his fingers as she smiles down at him. Taking control back, he leans up and pulls her shirt off and turns her over so that she is on her hands and knees and begins moving inside her. She begins to moan softly at first then louder as his movements become more frantic. Once they both climax, he pulls her up and kisses her softly, eliciting a sound of content as she murmurs, "I think we should have make up sex more often" in between kisses as he murmurs his agreement while continuing to kiss her, not wanting the moment to end.