A/N: I thought maybe five people max would read this. I'm so thrilled people are enjoying it. But we need to start a Hunger Games renaissance, because I feel like we all need more THG content. Am I alone in this feeling?
They all go their separate ways. He surprises himself by going to Willow's again. This is becoming a habit, he thinks.
The cat immediately starts crawling all over his feet, rubbing against the outside of his legs.
It's Primrose at the door.
"Sorry. I'll come back later."
"My mother will be back soon. Why don't you sit? It looks like Buttercup is happy to see you."
He looks at the cat. Buttercup? Like the flower? With his missing ear, many scars, and tufty fur, he reminds Haymitch of a tiny tribute, not a flower.
"My mom and I wanted to say thank you," says Primrose, placing a light hand on his arm, and gently steering him to the chair and the desk. His feet fumble over each other when Buttercup runs between them, and he practically falls into the chair. The sudden movement and consequent thump send Buttercup running for cover under the cot bed Katniss – no, Primrose – is now sitting on, her feet swinging a couple of inches from the floor. Buttercup's tail is sticking out from under the bed.
"What did you and Willow want to thank me for?" he asks, scratching at the stubble on his cheek.
"Taking care of Katniss," she says, as though it were obvious.
This surprises him. Allowing his tribute to be so traumatized she has to be knocked out, and then using her as bait to lure Snow's attention from a potentially deadly rescue attempt doesn't seem like taking care of Katniss. He doesn't know what to say. That's another thing about being sober, he had forgotten. How quiet things can be.
Buttercup, sensing that Haymitch has stopped thumping around, streaks out from under the bed and into his lap, already purring. This causes Primrose to giggle. That must be what Katniss had sounded like, before life had ground the giggles out of her.
"Katniss takes pretty good care of herself," he says.
Primrose smiles. "I know that. She took care of me and mother, too, before we came here. It's just comforting to know there's someone here she trusts, and that sees her as a person." She looks toward the door to the hallway, a sad expression on her face. "I like it here, and the people are nice, but sometimes I feel like they don't really see Katniss as a human, just another weapon they can use against the Capitol." She looks shocked at her own daring and blushes. She looks at Haymitch in dismay. "Sorry," she mutters, looking down at her hands in her lap.
Haymitch grins. "You're a smart one. You'll be able to take care of yourself, just like Katniss."
Primrose looks up again. She's still blushing, but she's also beaming.
The door opens and Willow comes in. She's momentarily surprised to see someone in the compartment, but smiles when she sees it's Haymitch. (When was the last time someone smiled just to see him?) The smile doubles when she sees Buttercup, eyes closed in bliss, kneading his lap.
"Hello, Haymitch," says Willow. "It's good to see you."
"You too. I just wanted to let you know -"
"About the rescue? We were just preparing hospital rooms and extra shifts at the hospital."
"Oh, good. Katniss is down in Special Weaponry, distracting herself with Beetee's toys." Well, that was a nice thing to say to a 17-year-old's mother. Now, it's his turn to blush.
She laughs though, and looks at Primrose. "Sounds like our Katniss. We were just about to head to lunch. I don't suppose you'd join us?"
He almost says no. His mouth closes around the word, but what comes out is, "All right."
He picks up Buttercup, and puts him gently on the floor, before following Katniss – Primrose – and Willow to the mess hall. They sit with a bunch of people he doesn't know, enough of them in the same light gray jumpsuits of the medics for him to figure out they're all people the Everdeens know from the hospital.
They're all clearly curious about Haymitch, both as a famous victor, and as someone from outside their district. They ask a lot of questions, but they're all polite, none too personal. After the meal, Haymitch realizes it's the first time he's felt comfortable since coming to 13.
Willow and Primrose invite him back to their compartment, but he's tapped out, socially. He needs to do the rest of his waiting with someone who won't expect him to be polite, or even speak. He goes off in search of Plutarch.
They pass the time together in his office, with Fulvia. The two of them chatter about everything except the rescue, and Haymitch dozes off in a chair.
A gray jumpsuit opens the office door.
"They're here. They're being taken to the hospital right now."
Plutarch looks at Haymitch.
"Have you told Katniss?"
The jumpsuit looks confused.
"Never mind."
He hustles down to Special Weaponry. Katniss and Finnick are tying knots.
"They're back. We're wanted in the hospital." Katniss opens her mouth, so Haymitch adds, "That's all I know."
His palms are sweating. His fingernails keep slipping out of their grooves as they walk quickly to the hospital, all three of them bouncing and fidgeting impatiently in the elevator.
Haymitch has never seen the place so busy. He wonders if this is what it was like when they were rescued.
Johanna goes by on a gurney. She looks terrible. Haymitch's gorge rises. He looks at Finnick, who looks grim.
Katniss sees Gale, and tries to run for him, but one of the medics pushes her back.
Haymitch is looking around, turning on the spot, looking for Effie and Peeta.
"Finnick!"
Annie runs toward Finnick, who looks dazed, like a man who has woken from dreaming only to find reality just as surreal. They come together, holding each other, almost like they're about to wrestle, and Haymitch fights down a bizarre urge to laugh. But they are sweet, kissing, and so clearly undone to be reunited. And if an old man feels a small twinge of jealousy, that's okay. He's used to it, and he's loved Annie for Finnick's sake for a lot longer than he's been jealous about their mutual need of one another.
Haymitch doesn't notice Boggs standing right in front of him until he starts speaking.
"We got them all out. Except Enobaria." Then you didn't get them all out, he thinks, but he bites the words down and listens. "But since she's from Two, we doubt she's being held anyway." Then you know nothing about Snow. "Peeta's at the end of the hall. The effects of the gas are just wearing off. You should be there when he wakes."
Katniss stands still as a statue, almost uncomprehending in her relief. Haymitch thinks of how happy Peeta will be to see her, how they might crash into each other as one, like Finnick and Annie.
"Come on, then," he tells her, when she still doesn't move.
They go see Peeta.