When Katniss came to,the first thing she registered was two filthy boots by her side, staining her pristine blanket. Her nose wrinkled in disgust, she swatted at the feet, not caring who they belonged to.
"Well, glad to see that scowl at last, sweetheart," a voice drawled.
"Haymitch? Is this a nightmare?" The old Victor chuckled and returned his feet to the ground.
"Not dreaming, Mockingjay. You've been out of it for several days now."
"What?" She bolted up and it was then that she registered she was hooked up to several machines.
"Where am I?"
"Capitol's Mercy Hospital." Ah, yes. The white blankets. The white walls. The white floors. It all made sense now.
"There was a bombing several days ago, at the President's mansion," Haymitch continued hesitantly. "Do you remember anything?" She frowned, as
she dug her finger into her ear. He always mumbled but it was like he was intentionally whispering.
"Peeta grabbed me and ran…. Wait, Peeta. Where is Peeta?"
"Slow down, sweetheart-"
"Where is he, Haymitch? Where is my husband?"
"Katniss, get back in the bed and let me explain. Please." But Katniss was yanking at the cords and managed to pull one out.
"Need some help in here!" The door opened and both her mother and Doctor Everett rushed in, followed by a group of fussy-looking nurses. Everett shooed them back out while Violet approached her daughter.
"Katniss, Katniss, we need you to calm down, ok? It's going to be alright," her mother rubbed her arms comfortingly and ushered her back into her bed.
"What happened, Mom? Where is Peeta? Please tell me he's ok."
"He's going to be ok, Katniss," Everett said in a deep voice. "He has been out of it, just like you. He woke up this morning, screaming for you and we had to sedate him. He was starting to disrupt his new skin and we couldn't have him pulling at it-"
"New skin? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Please let doctor Everett explain, Katniss. Sit back in the bed, ok?" Katniss obeyed but she had to chew on her lip to keep the questions from bursting out.
"A Capitol hovercraft dropped a small firebomb at the mansion four days ago. Aurelia Snow was instantly killed. So were a lot of soldiers. Peeta used his powers to protect you and his family, but the flames got to him. He was burned pretty badly and his leg was severely injured. They are helping his burns here and had to…. well…" she exchanged a nervous glance with Everett.
"His leg was too badly injured, Katniss. We had to amputate it. We are going to fit him with a prosthetic leg while he is here." Katniss's mind was swimming. They cut off Peeta's LEG? And he was burned, trying to protect her?
"I want to see him. Now."
"Katniss-"
"Don't Katniss me. I want to see my husband. I need to see him. Right now." Violet sighed and nodded.
"I'll speak with Peeta's nurse. Stay here, alright? I'll see what I can do but I need you to stay here." She patted Katniss's hand and hurried from the room. Haymitch cleared his throat and fumbled in his jacket for his flask.
"So Aurelia is dead?"
"It's unclear who was the real target, although we can assume it was you and Peeta. Aurelia was standing too close to you. Peacekeepers and rebel soldiers were killed as well. Peeta managed to bring down the hovercraft but it was too late. The bomb had already been released."
"Anyone else… on our side?"
"Lots," was all he said. She wanted to ask about Gale and Johanna and Madge and Rory and Rye and Finnick and so many others but she took Haymitch's answer with a heavy heart and leaned back against her bed.
The door creaked open and Violet peered in.
"He's here," she said softly to Everett. He nodded and gestured for her to come in. The door was pushed open and a nurse pushed Peeta's wheelchair into the room. Haymitch moved his chair from the bedside so the nurse could roll him right to Katniss's side. Her eyes filled with tears as she took him all in; scratches on his face, his body wrapped in bloodied bandages, and the stump where his leg should have been.
"Oh Peeta."
"Hey," he reached for her hands and pulled them to his lips. His voice was hoarse as if he hadn't used it in months. She turned her head so she could hear him better. "None of that. I'm alive. You're safe. We're together. That's all I could ask for right now."
"But your-"
"Being your Protector, Katniss, made all of this worth it." Tears spilling over, she leaned far over to give him a kiss and his face was wet as well. Their lips tasted of salt and medicine but neither of them could have cared less.
"Let's give them some privacy," Violet said firmly.
"Ma'am, I can't just-"
"We will be back in a few minutes, you two," Violet cut off the stammering nurse. Haymitch clapped Katniss's shoulder as he passed and the door shut, leaving Katniss alone with her husband.
She couldn't keep her eyes off his face and the bandages. She winced when she noticed blood seeping through most of them. She squeezed her eyes shut and rested her forehead on their joined hands.
"It's ok, love," he whispered, pressing his lips to her hair.
"How is it ok," she asked, refusing to lift her head. "You were nearly killed because of me! Why are you always protecting me?" He smiled and gently cupped her chin, forcing her to look up.
"Because that's what you and I do," he reminded her tenderly. "We protect each other." She wrapped her fingers around his and turned his hand over, leaning down to kiss his palm.
"You really do have powers." He nodded, tilting his head curiously.
"I guess I do. And Snow was right. You were the reason I was able to connect with that piece of myself."
"You are a powerful being, Peeta. Like I knew all along." Peeta only shrugged but that irritated Katniss.
"You're a blessed child, Peeta! You were born with a gift! No matter what your mother said or did to you, you have always had this gift. We were destined to meet. You were destined to throw me that bread. I was destined to love you."
"Thought you weren't much of a believer in destinities," he teased.
"I was destined to love you," she repeated, firmer this time.
"I was destined to love you," he said softly. "All of this was written in the stars at some time."
"And we're NOT star-crossed lovers," she said firmly. Peeta ran a bandaged hand through her hair.
"No," he agreed softly. "We're not. I'd like to learn how to control my powers though, so I can always be your Protector. But I think that's impossible."
"Not necessarily. Maybe Greasy Sae knows a thing or two."
"About magic? I thought you didn't believe she was a witch."
"I don't know anymore," she shrugged. "You are obviously a witch, or descended from witches."
"I don't think there's a drop of magical blood in my mother or my dad."
"We'll figure it out, Peeta. We can finally go home. It's finally over." Peeta smiled but he felt a chill come over him and he looked dubious.
"You don't think it's over?"
"Things just aren't adding up," he said quietly. "I'm not altogether convinced that we were the targets."
"I wouldn't put it past Snow to order a firebomb on me."
"But why wouldn't Aurelia know about that particular hovercraft? Why-" the door opened and he immediately fell silent. Violet, Bran, and Peeta's nurse entered, Peeta's nurse practically shaking from nerves.
"Sorry son but they need you back in your room. Doc Everett wants to examine your leg."
"Stump, Dad. There's no leg anymore," he said bitterly, waving the nurse away when she tried to put her hands on his wheelchair. "I'll be back for dinner, ok? Promise." She sat up in bed and wrapped her arms around him, as gently as she could. He whispered something in her ear but she missed it completely. When she pulled back with a frown, he blinked in bemusement.
"Did you say something?"
"I said I love you," he said slowly, arching a singed brow. She put a hand up to her ear and gently tapped it, shaking her head quickly. She turned this way and that, watching the three of them who were watching her.
"What's going on," she scowled.
"You might experience some temporary deafness in that ear, Katniss," Violet said. "It should go away soon." She started to internally panic. What was a Huntress without her hearing?
But her mother had said it should go away. She'd be fine.
"I love you too," she said quickly, mostly to get everyone to stop staring at her. "I'll see you at dinner." Peeta started to roll out, his nurse and father following but Katniss called for Bran to stay. Peeta shot Katniss a curious look but rolled himself out the door.
Katniss sat up straighter and crossed her arms.
"You saw all of that, didn't you? The magic that Peeta did."
"I saw everything, Katniss."
"You knew, didn't you? That he's magical."
"I didn't know a lot of things until Margaret told me everything recently. And your mother told me stories of magic and protectors. Margaret has always been a superstitious woman but I wouldn't say she knows anything of actual magic. Still, her brothers convinced her that Peeta was bad luck. His birth under a blood moon was an ill omen and she believed that."
"Which is ridiculous," Violet hissed from the corner. "Being born under a blood moon is GOOD luck. It means the child will be powerful."
"I thought it was ridiculous, when she told me he was bad luck to the family. But Katniss, I need you to understand that she regrets what she did. She told me everything and was remorseful the entire time."
"Good," Katniss spat. "There is no excuse for selling a child. None. We found letters from Corlianus Snow to this Gaul woman, talking about what experiments they planned on doing on him. On a TEN year old." Bran winced and Violet moved to his side.
"Katniss-" she started but Bran exhaled long and hard.
"We plan to apologize to him, once he comes home. When we're all reunited, Margaret wants to apologize to him. And to you."
"He won't accept it," Katniss said, crossing her arms. "You have no idea how much that hurt him, Bran. To know that it was his own family who sold him, and everything he has been through since then is because of her! You don't understand what that has done to him. You don't know how worthless he has felt. How unworthy of love! And I asked myself, how could the kindest person I have ever met be so afraid to ask someone to love him. And then I realized. Because you let your wife deprive that sweet boy of affection. Sure you tried to give him some but he needed a motherly touch and instead, all he got was a bruised face and a broken heart!"
"Katniss, enough," her mother said, not unkindly. "Bran loves his son. And he didn't know everything about Margaret until she told him. You can't blame it all on him."
"I'm not," she answered coldly. "I'm just telling you that Margaret owes him a hell of a lot more than an apology. You all do."
"Bran, why don't you go be with Peeta for a few minutes?" Katniss didn't miss the way he squeezed her hand before dropping it and leaving her room.
"What's going on with the two of you," she scowled at her mother.
"Nothing," Violet said quickly.
"Mom it's plain to see that he never got over you. And I think you share those feelings."
"With everything that has been going on, we've just become… close… again."
"And how does Mrs. Mellark feel about that?"
"We're going to tell her, when all of this is over and we return to 13."
"I dunno Mom, I still feel like something is going on with her. Just be careful."
"I will, dear," Violet stroked Katniss's hair. "You are coming back to 13, aren't you?"
"I hadn't thought about it," Katniss shrugged. "12 is destroyed but I really didn't like 13. Maybe Peeta and I will go somewhere else. Somewhere we can start over and not have to worry about our past. I think Prim would love 4." She frowned, looking around and noticing that her favorite person was missing from the room.
"Mom, where is Prim?" For some reason, Violet looked very uncomfortable.
"Mom?" Her heart filled with dread. "Prim is ok, isn't she?"
"She's alright," her mother said quickly. "She's just… grieving."
"Grieving? What-" then she clamped her jaw shut, her eyes wide with realization.
"What happened," she whispered.
"Rory was critically injured," Violet said sadly. "He died early this morning. Your sister did all she could but..." Violet fell silent and Katniss felt her heart sink. Poor Prim. Poor Gale. She knew her oldest friend would feel responsible.
"I'm sure she will come see you tonight," Violet said, patting her daughter's hand.
"Yeah," Katniss answered stiffly.
"I'm, um, I'm going to go be with her, if you don't need me." What could she say? That she needed her mother to stay because she didn't want to be alone, that she was actually wanting a parent's love, that she needed someone to talk to who wasn't her husband because she felt guilty for what had happened to him?
"Go ahead," she tried not to sound bitter. Volet gave her a pity-filled look and suddenly, Katniss couldn't wait for her mother to leave her room. The pity was stifling.
After Violet left, Katniss tried to sleep but kept tossing and turning, so she quickly gave up on that idea. A nurse came in to take some of her blood, then left again without saying a word.
"I can't wait to get out of this place," Katniss said aloud, giving the room a once-over.
It wasn't long before the nurse brought Katniss a tray of food and told her that Peeta was asking to see her. For a very brief moment, she considered refusing. She didn't want to see him in the state he was in, which was all her fault. He had asked her to stay in Tigris's shop. He had begged her to stay behind and stay safe. She should have listened.
But then she remembered standing with him, taking down the Capitol army. He had used his powers to protect her while she aided the rebels. They were a powerful force, like she knew they would be.
The nurse watched her expectantly and Katniss nodded.
"Yes, tell him to come in." The nurse rolled him in and left them to eat in peace. Peeta grinned over his plate and gestured toward her food with his fork.
"Yours looks better than mine."
They spoke in low voices as they ate their dinner, a weak broth with a single roll and a bowl of clumpy applesauce. Katniss was quiet at first but Peeta managed to coax the words out of her.
"I knew you didn't listen to me," he grinned broadly, his smile slightly lopsided from the split in his lip. "I knew you left with the troops."
"Peeta, I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't-"
"Who am I to tame a wild songbird," he shook his head. "All I can do is offer her food and shelter and a warm perch, and tell her I will always love her unconditionally, but I would never clip her wings to limit her flight. If she chooses to spread her wings and leave my perch, I can't stop her. Nor do I want to." His fingers wrapped around hers and she turned her hand over so they were palm to palm.
"You're not mad at me?" she sounded like a scared little girl.
"I didn't mean to keep you from your destiny, Katniss. I just wanted to keep you safe. But it's exactly what you were trying to do with me. You asked me to stay behind but you knew it was my destiny to help end this war."
"I love you so much, Peeta, I just didn't want anything to happen to you." Peeta's cheeks were pink as he gave her a giddy smile.
"I just don't think I will ever get used to hearing that."
"Then I will have to say it at least ten times a day. Maybe then I'll be even with you."
"To be fair, I was too scared to actually say it until AFTER we got married."
"That's ok. I waited way too long myself." Peeta's lips met her knuckles.
"I'm so proud of you, my songbird. You did it. You defeated Snow and ended the war."
"WE did it. We are a powerful couple. We ended the war together." He smiled and bounced their hands on the blanket.
"What were you saying earlier about being worried it's not actually over?" Peeta shook his head but avoided eye contact.
"It's nothing. Just a thought I was having but it's stupid. Everything is fine. Better than fine." Katniss watched him, dubious, but he was looking so cheerful, she didn't want to ruin it.
Her smile faded, however, as she remembered what her sister was going through and wondered if he knew.
"Did my mom tell you about Rory?"
"Dad did," he nodded, heaving a sigh. "I asked him how many we lost on our side. He said they're still counting bodies." Katniss felt sick.
"What about… our group? Were there more, or-" she didn't seem to want to go on.
"Haymitch said everyone in the District 13 group, that is, the ones who traveled with you, are alive. Rory was the only one." She closed her eyes in silent thanks. She'd worried about what happened to Johanna after she'd sent her away, and Gale, who had never come to meet them as planned.
"Is your family alright?"
"Yeah, all of them were covered by my… weird protective shield thing." He shrugged.
"You can shield others but can't protect yourself?" He shrugged again, not overly concerned it appeared.
"If I really am a Protector, it makes sense. I have the power to keep my loved ones safe but I'd never use it on myself, unless I'm alone. You should know by now if it comes down to me or you, it will always be-" Katniss's finger flew to his lips and he blinked in surprise. She didn't need to hear for the thousandth time how willing he was to sacrifice himself for her. It was over. They could go whenever and he didn't have to be a Peacekeeper ever again.
They could actually live a normal life.
She leaned in to kiss him, her hand cupping his cheek. He winced as she ran her palm over his bruised cheek but smiled at her tender touch. When he leaned in again, she closed her eyes as if he were going to kiss her but his lips moved to her ear.
"Haymitch wants to speak to us tonight. Alone."
It was no easy task to sneak two high profile patients out of the hospital but with Violet's help, plus a distraction from the smoothest talking Victor they knew, Katniss's and Peeta's nurses were too busy to see that they were missing from their rooms.
Doctor Everett insisted they have their meeting on the lawn of the hospital rather than going back to Tigris's. Haymitch reluctantly agreed and when they were both rolled onto the lawn (Katniss had protested the whole time. "Why am I in a wheelchair? I'm fiiiiine.") Peeta saw a group of people assembled. Haymitch, Cretus, Gale, Vick, Bing, Johanna, Madge and Rye all stood straight and tall, saluting both of them. Katniss was saddened to see Prim wasn't there but a quick look at Gale's face told her all she needed to know. Her sister was blaming herself, just as her friend was. Vick clenched his jaw, looking more angry than sad. Well, that made sense, she reasoned. Vick had always been the more temperamental one. He had been the one to vandalize Peeta's house, afterall. When Peeta put up the brake for his chair, Rye started to clap, looking around to encourage the others to join in.
"My brother, the wizard!"
"Technically, he is a warlock," Madge said logically. "Witches and warlocks have powers. Wizards are made up."
"Oh because witches and warlocks are so common," Vick scowled.
"Guys, please," Peeta held both hands up, looking uncomfortable. "Any of those titles make me feel weird. I'm just… a Protector. I like that one. You can call me a Protector."
"If you had moved your troops in to help us when we were attacked, O Protector, we wouldn't have-" Gale grabbed Vick's coat and shook his head.
"Don't start," he said through gritted teeth. Vick looked furious but fell silent. Peeta wheeled his chair closer to Gale, though not without difficulty, and looked up at the Hawthornes.
"I am so sorry to the both of you. I-"
"Rory knew the risks," Gale cut him off. "He knew what he was fighting for and he respected you. Don't listen to my brother, he's just angry."
"Rightfully so," Peeta nodded. Vick shot him a glower but didn't say anything.
"We will honor Rory later," Haymitch hissed. "Right now, we need to discuss something. Leo." Cretus nodded and stepped forward. So far, Peeta was in the worst condition of them all. Cretus's arm was in a sling and he had scratches all over his face. Madge moved with a slight limp, holding onto Rye for support while Johanna's hand and arm were bandaged tightly. Bing's neck looked burned, with lots of shiny stuff to speed along the healing. They were lucky, Katniss decided.
"President Coin landed in the Capitol maybe two hours after the bombing. She demanded to see the Mockingjay, to make sure she was safe."
"Didn't know I meant that much to her," Katniss scoffed. Madge grinned.
"I've heard that before."
"She immediately made herself President of Panem for the interim."
"Interim," Peeta scowled. "How long is that exactly?"
"She says we have no way of knowing exactly."
"Convenient," Peeta shook his head. Katniss's eyes widened as she started to put it all together in her head.
"You're thinking Coin had something to do with the bombing."
"Shhh," Haymitch hissed. "We didn't say that."
"But you're thinking it. Peeta said things weren't adding up with Aurelia and the hovercraft-"
"Damn it boy, I told you not to say anything!"
"This was before you said that! And I DON'T lie to my wife," Peeta spat angrily.
"So Coin ordered the bomb to be dropped? Hoping we would die in the process?"
"We don't know that for sure," Cretus stepped forward. "It might all have been a ploy to kill the Snows. She wouldn't have thought Aurelia was on our side."
"No," Katniss shook her head. "I believe it. She would sacrifice us too. She's already tried to get rid of me. Boggs admitted to that. Coin sent Peeta
after us, hoping he was still hijacked and that he would kill me himself." Peeta nodded miserably.
"It's true. She told Leo that Katniss was in the Capitol and would need help making it to HQ. She knew I was with the rebels but didn't know if I was healed. She knew I would volunteer to go after Katniss and she hoped I would kill her."
"That's some serious accusations," Gale stared at the two of them.
"Just because you're her golden boy doesn't mean we are making it up!"
"I didn't say you were… but this is all speculation. Where is the proof?"
"How about Boggs telling me she would turn me into a martyr to end the war? She felt threatened that I might not support her for President. Boggs said I was dangerous to her and she aimed to get rid of me."
"Sweetheart's right," Haymitch nodded, crossing his arms against the cool breeze. "She sent Jackson to do it, if Peeta failed. But Jackson disobeyed her orders and told me what Coin had said. It's why she passed her rank onto me, so she could stay close by and keep an eye on Katniss."
"I'll kill her," Peeta said through gritted teeth.
"That peaceful manner didn't last long," Bing chastised him. Peeta shot his brother a dirty look.
"I don't take kindly to people trying to murder the love of my life." Katniss lay a hand on his.
"Bing is right. You said you'd rather protect than kill. I don't want you killing for me. I've already told Coin that I get to be the one to kill Snow. After the execution, we can figure out what to do about her."
"Peeta, I went back to the mansion and found this," Rye placed a charred book in his brother's lap. Peeta's eyes widened as he flipped through the pages. "It wasn't destroyed and I thought the only person who should have possession of it should be you."
"Thanks Rye," Peeta nodded as he tore a page out. He rolled it into a small ball, then, before anyone could say anything, he stuffed it into his mouth and swallowed it.
"You could have just burned it," Rye said, looking ill.
"No one will ever use those words against me," Peeta said firmly, his blue eyes hard as steel. "Ever again." Katniss reached for his hand and pulled it to her lips.
"I think we should wrap up this meeting," Doctor Everett grumbled. "It's getting cold out here and you two are still my patients." As if on cue, Finnick ran toward them, his face covered in red lipstick.
"You two better get back," he panted. "I had to get away from those girls and they weren't happy that I told them I probably wouldn't call them."
"I'm assuming you don't want us to tell Annie about this," Peeta said with a grin.
"I won't need super serum to beat your ass," Finnick said sternly, trying to look serious but failing. The group chuckled and Katniss wondered when was the last time they all laughed together.
"Doc, how much longer do you think we will be in the hospital?"
"Peeta, we are fitting you with a prosthetic leg. You'll be there for awhile. Katniss, on the other hand, has no lasting damage and was going to be sent home tomorrow." Katniss saw the flash of fear in Peeta's eyes and she shook her head.
"I'm not leaving him."
"I had a feeling you would say that, which is why I took the liberty of moving Peeta to a bigger room with a cot for you to sleep on." Waves of relief washed over Peeta's face as he gripped her hand tightly.
"Can't you just… shoot him up with that serum to help him heal?" Everett raised his brow at Rye and clicked his tongue.
"Strangely enough, the serum is all gone. Even though I know very well that I left a syringe on Peeta's table. It's disappeared though." Peeta's eyes sparkled as he shot Katniss a wink and Johanna sighed heavily as she rubbed at her temples.
"So no, Ryan, unfortunately I can't just shoot him up because I don't have any more… he's going to have to heal the old fashioned way, like an ordinary man."
"You can't make more?" Katniss sounded alarmed; she didn't like the idea of her husband being vulnerable without that stuff. But Peeta wrapped his fingers around hers and squeezed.
"I'll be fine, guys."
"Katniss, we have another meeting planned, this time at HQ. You can attend and report back to Peeta and tell him everything." Katniss nodded and someone started to wheel her back across the lawn. She glanced back and noticed Madge struggling to keep up, clinging to Rye with white knuckles. Katniss slammed her feet down and stood up.
"I don't even need this chair. Madge, come sit down."
"Oh, I'm fine Katniss-"
"You're not. And there's nothing wrong with me. So you use it." She stepped over to push Peeta's chair while Rye helped his wife into the chair. He shot Katniss a grateful look as he pushed her toward the hospital.
Katniss wheeled Peeta back to his room, kissed him until their lips were swollen, and headed back to her room, wishing she had remained by his side.
