The Lady Of the Lake

So here we are! Chapter 41

I am SO SORRY this chapter took so long. Basically it was a series of unfortunate events, with my father exceeding our bandwidth and my computer basically fritzing into non existence.

I do however have a shiny new computer. So updates should be back on track.

I'm not thrilled with this chapter...but it was hard to get back into the groove after the pause, so I hope you enjoy, and see what I was trying to do.

As always I am answering questions and such down at the tumblr, and this week as an apology for being so absentia I am answering all your questions. Be they for the Characters or me. Feel free to ask away!

The tumblr is located here as always at:

Thgladyofthelake

This chapter has an author note at the end.

Enjoy!


Chapter 41

"Just how much did you give her!"

The voice is familiar, but my brain, heavy and full of hazy fog, can't quite put a name to it.

It's the first thing I notice as I swim up out of unconsciousness, the voice, familiar, teasing at my mind. Then, slowly, I notice thick, coarse sheets under me, different from the cell ones. The smell is different too, I notice, my nose twitching slightly as I inhale. It smells like…food…cooking….

"No more than we were meant to!" Another voice retorts, less familiar, but still….known. There is a bite to it too, bitterness…I've never heard it without that note.

"We wouldn't damage her Cato."

A different voice…a new voice…but my mind is caught on the name.

Cato.

My eyes shoot open and the woman sprawled in a chair beside my bed jerks, limbs flailing slightly.

"Holy crap!"

"Deccia!" hurried footsteps and then the door to the room slams open and four figures barrel in, coming to a stop when they notice me, eyes open, watching them.

A part of me notices that the other three men are Lucan, Vittor and Haymitch, looking pale, and wobbly on his feet. But it's the other man, the first to enter, that I can't look away from.

Cato.

For a moment all I can see is blood, the spray of it as Finnick's trident stabs into him. For a moment all I can see is the limp way his body crumples to the icy rocks, eyes….empty.

'He abandoned you,'

Snow's silky voice, his lying tongue, but the words, for all I know, logically, aren't true…not really…still burn in my mind.

We stare at each other for long moments, before Deccia breaks the silence.

"Oo-kay, so this is fucking awkward. Lucan, Beanstalk, Little Shit…let's go out into the other room, give them a moment yeah?"

"But we have to…"

"Not right at this very moment," Deccia shoves Vittor out the door, "Stop being a contrary little dick."

The door clicks shut behind them and slowly, carefully Cato moves to take Deccia's seat by my bed.

Carefully I shift, turning to face him slightly, my hand dropping to touch my belly, checking the curve of it.

"The baby is fine," Cato's voice is careful, stilted, but his blue eyes are fixed on me, intent, "She…is fine."

I remember searing pain, cramping, and blood, so much blood. I'd thought…

"You're sure…?"

"Pretty yeah…" he smiles tensely, "She kicked. Deccia felt it when she was checking you."

"Haymitch told me Cato," I say quietly, too tired and strung out to beat around the bush, "He told me why it had to be me, and why you didn't tell me."

"I know…" He reaches out and takes my hand, "He said he explained it."

"And…I understand…I do but…" My voice trails off and I look down slightly.

"It was the only way…" his voice is quiet.

"I know…but it doesn't change that it happened."

"Sky," he reaches out to me, hand cradling my cheek and I flinch away instinctively, causing his face to darken, "It wasn't real."

"I know that." I growl back at him, "You're alive…I can see that. I'm not stupid Cato."

"Then why are you acting like this?" He snarls; temper spiking, "We saved your life. And our daughter's? Would you have preferred it if we just…killed her."

Fury sears through my and I thump him hard in the shoulder, "How dare you!" I spit at him.

Cato catches my wrist and growls at me again but hesitates when someone speaks from the doorway.

"Oi, you two, that's enough," Deccia's face is creased in an uncharacteristic frown as she looks between us, and Cato lets go of my wrist like he's been burned, "Sky, I know this is all…well I can only imagine it's fucking overwhelming. But this is a safe house. We're still in the Capitol…technically."

My face pales and Cato makes a low, anxious sound in his throat.

"We're leaving," Lucan's voice is steady, cool, calm, and even though I know he is only doing his duty as Cato's brother, it is a comfort. He sounds so in control, and with everything so…chaotic in me…that measured tone is soothing, "Vittor's getting the car ready."

"Where's Beanstalk?" Deccia turns to him, and Lucan arches an eyebrow slightly.

"He's glaring at the water jug. I told him to stay put. He wanted to come in." The cool blue eyes meet mine, "I figured another hot temper would…be inadvisable."

"Septim was always the smart one," Deccia pats his cheek as he moved past her, "Must be rubbing off on you."

"Fuck off," he mutters at her, walking to my bedside, efficiently shouldering Cato out of the way, "Move." He grunts at his younger brother who glares at him furiously, "This isn't time for one of your pissing contests. She's not comfortable with you yet. So I'm doing it, so we can leave…so we don't die."

Cato looks at him and then at me, as though hoping that I will refute it.

But I can't.

I don't know what I'm feeling right now.

"Cato," Deccia's voice is surprisingly kind, "Get Haymitch to the car. I'll help Lucan with Sky."

With a last look back at me, Cato leaves, barging from the room. I wince at the door banging behind him, but I don't say anything.

For the first time in a year I don't know what to say, I don't know how to fix it. For so long we've been on the same wavelength, united by the bonds of allies, lovers, partners, of grief, loss, struggle.

For so long we've been on parallel lines. Following the same track in different ways. But now…now it feels like we're worlds apart once more. Like we were when we met.

When he was the monster tribute from 2 and I was the shy archivist from 4.

How it's changed.

"I didn't know." Deccia's voice is quiet as Lucan gently disentangles me from the sheets, one large hand touching my belly carefully, "They didn't tell us their plan. We only found out when the Rebellion pulled us from our Districts."

In a way it's a relief, to know that Deccia, upfront, painfully honest Deccia, wasn't lying to me.

"Thank you," I breathe as Lucan hefts me, "Thank you Lucan."

"You're family," The former Peacekeeper murmurs, "We…aren't close, but…you're family."


I'm tucked in the back of the sleek white car, Haymitch beside me and Cato on my other side. Deccia is in the driver's seat, Vittor beside her and Lucan standing, weapon in his hands as he scans the skies.

I don't know what I expect when we set out.

But it's certainly not what happens.

The car ride is harrowing, Deccia driving like a madwoman as suddenly hovercraft swerve out of nowhere, other cars zooming behind us.

Weapons chatter as we're fired on, and Haymitch shoves my head down, leaning over me, swearing.

I see Vittor leaning out of the car window, a large assault rifle in his hands as he fires on our pursuers. I see fire bursting from the muzzle of it and flinch, shivering. I can hear Lucan and Vittor shouting things to one another, and then glass shatters and I feel Cato shift, twisting, and new gunfire chatter nearby.

Vittor laughs, and for a moment I see the family resemblance, Clove's bright eyes, and sharp face. I see the same sharpness, the same passion and spark. Not fire…but electricity…and the same ferocity.

For the first time…I truly see him as Clove's brother.

I narrow my focus to the feeling of Haymitch's panting breaths against my ear and neck. The sound of Deccia's rambling at the car, monologuing her efforts, and crooning at it to hold together.

I close my eyes as we swerve violently, and I hear Haymitch retch above me.

"Don't be sick on me." I whisper, and somehow I know he hears because his breath puffs in a laugh.

"Don't you die on me."

"Deal."

"ALL HAIL THE FUCKING CAVALRY!" Deccia's voice suddenly bawls above the sounds of tires, and chattering weaponry, and the noise levels increase, more gunfire filling the air as the car swerves, skidding to a stop, "OUTOUTOUTOUTOUT! GOGOGOGO!"

The doors bursts open and hands grab Haymitch, hauling him out as I scramble after him, sprawling against rough loose gravel and grit as I blink, trying to see what's happening. Things are blurring, and then suddenly there are hands, familiar hands.

"Come on!" Deccia drags me with her, and I clutch at my belly as I stumble after her. Cato charges over, flanking us, guarding our backs, and it's jarring for a moment to see him, kitted in something like armour, a sleek weapon in his hands.

He is smooth with it, like silk, as he sights and shoots. And for a moment I'm reminded of the brash, overconfident boy I'd once known. This man is calm, efficient, a warrior.

We struggle to a hovercraft landed nearby and then Deccia grunts, just as we stagger onboard, hands grabbing us as the craft takes off.

"Deccia!" Haymitch barks her name, only to have her wave him off.

"It's nothing…"

"Shut your mouth," he snaps and I look around to see him shove her into a seat as men and women flood into the room, "She got hit."

"Haymitch!" She stares at him, "What are you doing?"

He leans in as I feel hands sit me up against a wall, "You die…and I'm going to find a way to bring you back just to kill you myself."

I see a brief smile from her before suddenly my field of vision is taken up by white dressed figures.

"Sky…."

That voice.

I look up, eyes already filling with tears, and there he is, Peeta, my Sunshine, dressed like a medic, with a small frown on his face as he crouches beside me.

"Peeta…" I croak.

A sad smile and then his gentle hands are running over me, "You've not been looking after yourself my love," he says softly, a hand coming up to feel my forehead, "I'm sorry we couldn't come sooner."

"How long….?" I breathe as I feel myself hauled up once more.

Cato's hands are gentle and instantly recognisable as he lifts me and I stay where I am as he carries me into the small medical wing on the craft.

"A little over two months."

Two months.

Two months…and a bit…of torture…of pain…of this...darkness growing.

"Oh." I breathe.

Then I let the world fade out for a while, letting it all wash over me.

Let someone else worry about it all for a while.


I come awake in a medium sized room, clean, with smooth stone walls and floors. For a moment I panic, thinking I'm back in the Capitol, back in my cell, and then I relax as I see colour, rugs on the floor, hangings on the wall.

The bed is soft, warm, and for a moment I sigh in comfort, before a voice stirs me from it.

"You're awake."

Peeta closes a book from where he'd been curled up on the couch nearby, and gets up, padding over to sit down beside me, his hand gently curling around mine.

"Peeta,"

"Finnick's on his way," the young man says, blue eyes soft as he watches me, "He wanted to go to get you back, but Command overruled him, and then when he threw a hissy fit, they sent him off with Katniss."

"With Katniss?" I murmur, eyebrow arching, "Where did they go?"

"They had…lots of things have changed Sky," he squeezes my hand, "They've been filming propos. But they should be back soon."

"Tell me," I whisper, "Tell me everything Peeta."

His blue gaze meets mine, and he looks troubled.

"The Districts are with us, but the Capitol still has forces in each of them, and they're fighting, tooth and nail. They know…they know if they lose their toeholds out there, there won't be anything stopping us from launching an assault against the Capitol."

I nod, "Are the Districts united?"

Peeta hesitates and then shakes his head, "With every day there goes by, there is more friction." He sighs sadly, "Katniss and Cato have been at each other's throats, and they are two of the leaders." He rubs his face, "District 2 follows Cato, and Deccia. They are its leaders. District 12 looks to Katniss, or rather its people do."

"District 1 sides with 2, and so does 5." He shakes his head exasperated, "11 sides with 12, as does 10. The others are more impartial, and District 13…"

He pauses and shakes his head again, "I shouldn't be burdening you with this, you just woke up."

"No," I grab his arm, alert for the first time in, I don't know how long, "What is 13 doing?"

"Nothing." He says, and for a moment I frown, opening my mouth to try and force him to explain, and then…then I catch the firmness with which he said the word.

"Nothing." I say slowly and I see his blue eyes light up, "They don't try to stop the bickering?"

Peeta's head shakes slowly.

I purse my lips, "Well that's got to stop. The bickering."

"It'll be better now you're here," He says it with absolute faith, and for a moment panic floods me, "You're a good influence on Cato. District 1, 2 and 5 will look to you, and the others respect you."

"Peeta," I shake my head, "I think you overestimate my…"

"No…" his voice is definite, "When you were grabbed, you and Haymitch. Everything went to shit. We'd….you were in all the plans, your influence, your…calm. Without you…without you Katniss and Cato both wanted to raze things to the ground and no one would gainsay it. Finnick was half mad with grief…and Gale…well Gale just egged it all on."

Gale, that was a name I hadn't heard in a while. Katniss' friend, Peeta's rival…someone she loved…had kissed.

"Gale is here?"

"Yeah," his mouth tenses unhappily, "He's been off with Katniss and Finnick."

I process his words and backtrack a little, "Why was Finnick grieving…surely you knew they wouldn't just summarily execute us. Not without a ceremony and show."

My lip curls at the thought.

Peeta looks stricken, "Oh god I thought they'd told you."

"Told me…?" I stare at him, "Told me what Peeta?"

"Mags…" he closes his eyes, "She got word to us…true word about you…about Haymitch…but they found her. They've been hunting Victors…"

"She's dead…" I say it quietly, and for a moment the world blurs around me once more, "Isn't she?"

Peeta nods, "Sky…"

"Anyone else?" I ask, keeping my voice calm, "Anyone else dead?"

"It's war…" his voice is soft, "Yes…other people have died…"

"Anyone I…"

"No…none of our Victors. None of the family."

I let out a breath, "My parents? Darrien's family?"

"Here."

I feel tears prick my eyes, "Peeta…"

As always he understands and he crawls onto the bed, cuddling me close as I clutch at him.

"I'm sorry Sky," he whispers it, "I'm sorry…I'm sorry…"

"It's okay…"

"No it's not…" he cups my cheeks, "You thought…we…we left you there…"

There's nothing to say…it's true…they did…and I can't say it's okay…the words stick…they burn…they hurt.

He knows. And he doesn't argue.

So we stay silent, and if I hold him a little too tight, and if I feel tears drip onto my hair, neither of us say anything.


I'm dressed and stretching when Cato steps into the room, tense and braced for a fight.

Slowly I lower my own arms, turning to face him.

We knew this was coming, and a part of me smiles at the fact he came so soon, to face me, to have this out.

Cato doesn't have it in him to run from a fight.

"Sky." He says it carefully.

"Cato."

"You are well?"

"Yes." I fold my arms, "So…what are we going to do?"

He stares at me, and for a moment I think he's going say, 'about what?'

"I don't know."

I swallow and take a deep breath, "You left me in the Hunger Games. Left me in the Capitol, you let me think…let me believe everyone was dead."

"It was the only way."

"I understand that," I grit out in return, "Believe me…I do. But…it doesn't change the fact that it happened."

He sucks in a breath and his eyes flash, "We did what we had to."

"The ends justify the means?" I taunt back at him and he growls.

"Stop fucking twisting my words! You know that's not what I meant!"

"Really?" I shout back, "You have no idea what it was like!"

"What do you think it was like for me!" He roars back, "Knowing the Capitol had you…had you and our daughter both!"

"You weren't the one they shoved poison down the throat of!" I scream it at him, "You weren't the one who thought that almost everyone you loved was dead! Because you failed them!"

"It wasn't real!" He thunders, flinging his hand out, "IT WAS FAKE! PRETEND! WE WEREN'T DEAD!"

"IT WAS REAL TO ME!"

We stand there, chests heaving, and he is staring at me, as I pant.

"It was real to me," I repeat, my voice soft now, and I wince as it cracks, "I lost you. Every single one of you, Sefir, Gloss, Katniss, Peeta, Finnick…you…I had to watch each of you die…I felt each of you die." I close my eyes, and grit my teeth, "So don't you /dare/ tell me it wasn't real." I spit, "Because my grief, my loss, that was real. Real for me. And I need time… to get past losing you."

"I'm right here." He steps forward and his warmth, his heat, his bulk washes over me as he lifts shaking hands to touch my cheeks, "I'm here. Unlost…found again…Sky…"

I lean into him, breathing in the scent of him, the warmth, the safety.

For a moment I feel content, protected.

And then I hear the shick of steel, the wet sound of blood and flesh parting, and I see his lifeless body slump to the ground.

"I need time…" I whisper.

He pulls back, and his face is cold, hard, that emotionless, angry mask of the Career I'd hoped never to see again.

"You forgave Peeta. But you won't forgive me. What about Odair?"

"I didn't," I say it quietly, "I didn't forgive him. Or Finnick. Or you." I hesitate, "Cato…I…I just….stay please…? I need to know…. I need…"

I need to know you won't disappear…I need you to be here…

He softens slightly, but there is still a chasm yawning between us, even as we lay down, even as we curl up together, our bodies remembering even as our emotions struggle.

His hand cradles my belly and his breath is soft against my shoulder as we nestle together.

For the first time in months…since the beginning of the Hunger Games, since our wedding even, I feel safe. I feel the tension sliding away.

"I love you," I whisper, and I feel him sigh with relief, and his lips brush my neck softly.

"I know. I love you too."

Slowly I drift off into slumber, and just before I slide away, I hear his voice, and feel the light brush of his fingertips, sliding hair away from my neck.

"I'll not leave you again. I swear it."


Now accepting questions on the tumblr and more drabble requests from the perspectives of everyone.

Want to see Peeta keeping Cato calm during the two months Sky was missing? Or maybe you are curious about Katniss and Cato's arguments. Maybe you want to see Mags letting the rebellion know about Haymitch and Sky, or even Lucan and Vittor coming to find them. Maybe you want Sefir's adventures in the rebellion, or Gloss, or Cashmere. I love getting questions for random characters too guys.

Don't feel like you have to restrict the questions to just Sky and Cato. The others have opinions too. Oh boy do they.


So no review responses for this chapter...why? Simply because there were 70 odd! Seriously guys! 70 odd reviews? We're over 900 of them! That's so crazy!

Some broad things though

Baby!Teesa - Is alive and well...although it was a close call...and she may be born a little early.

Vittor - Is Clove's brother, who resents Sky, as he believes she is the cause of his sisters death. Or rather her romance with Cato.

Sky - Is traumatised and struggling, Cato is struggling to empathise and even Peeta is struggling. Next chapter will feature Haymitch, Gale, Katniss, Sefir, Gloss and Cashmere as well as Finnick, Cato, Peeta and a surprise guest.