Chapter 53

(Gale POV)

I'm on what feels like the millionth hour of losing my mind over Madge's unexplained absence from 13 when there's a knock on Madge's door. I open it and find a girl I don't know.

"Are you Gale Hawthorne?" She asks.

I nod as I answer aloud. "Yeah."

"There's a Madge Undersee asking to see you. If you come with me, I'll take you to where she's resting."

"Resting? Why is she resting somewhere other than here? Where is she?" I ask as panic floods through me and I step out of the room to follow this girl wherever she's taking me.

She gives me a shy smile. "She's in the infirmary. That's really all I know though. But if she's asking for you and they're allowing her to have visitors, it's probably not very serious."

I inhale and then let the breath out slowly. If she's in the infirmary then that means she's been hurt. What the hell was she doing that landed her there? I don't try to make small talk with the girl as we make our way to where Madge is. She doesn't either and I appreciate that. When we get to the infirmary, she signs me in and then leads me down a hallway to a small room. Inside I find Madge asleep in bed. A tube in her arm with a bag of fluids going to it. And a big bandage on her head. Dark brown curly hair peeking out from beneath the bandage. I don't want to wake her up so I pull the chair in the room over to the edge of the bed and take her hand. I hold it the whole time she sleeps.

When she finally opens those blue eyes of hers, I smile and say "You have a lot of explaining to do pretty girl."

She gives me a smile and I feel her squeeze my hand. "I'm sorry. There wasn't time to tell you before I had to leave. I didn't know I'd be gone so long. I didn't mean to make you worry."

"Let's start with where you've been." I suggest as I kiss her hand.

"I had to help with the rescue. Well, with the rescue set up anyway. They ran into some sort of complications with one of their insiders and had to adjust the rescue plans. With the plans being changed, they needed Martin's help with something but they were worried he wouldn't respond to a stranger asking him."

"So they sent you to talk to him?" I interrupt.

"Yes. They fixed me up in a disguise and had me pretend to be a worker loading supplies onto the train in District 11."

"That explains the brown hair." I say.

She reaches up and touches it. "Oh, I forgot about that. It washes out."

"Good. I like the original Madge." I tease. "So what happened that landed you in here with a bandage on your head?"

"I got a little panicked on our hovercraft flight home, fainted and fell out of my seat, hitting my head on the way down."

I stifle a laugh picturing the whole thing. "So you're okay though?" I ask.

She shrugs. "I think so. Other than a headache that doesn't want to go away."

"So why are you still in here?"

"They wanted to observe me for awhile because it was a head injury or something like that."

"So were you able to talk to Martin?"

"I was. He agreed to help with the rescue."

"What's he have to do?" I ask, curious how he's helping with the rescue.

"Oh that part I actually don't know. I just had to give him an envelope with written instructions and explain that he would be rescued too."

"I was going crazy without you here."

"So I saw." She says with raised brows. I know without asking that she means she saw Drew's face which based on how hard I punched it, probably has some bruises. She won't be happy I hit him but I think she'll be fine with it when she finds out he's been going through her stuff again somehow and stolen her bracelet.

"He wouldn't tell me where you were. We were arguing about it and then I saw that he'd stolen your bracelet somehow and I totally lost it." I explain.

"He didn't tell you anything because I made him promise not to. I'd wanted to tell you myself because I thought I'd be back in a couple hours. And he didn't steal my bracelet. They refused to let me wear it and I didn't want it to get lost so he was holding onto it for me until I got back. You really shouldn't have hit him, Gale."

And with that I'm left feeling like a real jackass. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"I realize Drew is always going to be a sore spot and there will likely always be times you want to hit him but you really need to learn to control your temper."

"I'll work on it." I say and I flash her a smile.

"And you should apologize to him for this time because it really wasn't his fault." She adds.

I recoil at that suggestion. "I will not be apologizing to him. Not happening."

"I'm serious Gale."

"So am I." I say stubbornly. No way am I apologizing to him. He may not have deserved it this time but there's plenty of crap he has done to deserve it for.

She folds her arms across her chest and with a bold face says "Then I guess we're finished talking for now and I'll see you later, after you've done the right thing."

"Come on, you and I both know he probably deserved it for something." I try to reason with her.

"I'll see you later." She repeats and then presses a button on the side of her bed. A woman comes in almost immediately.

"What do you need dear?" She asks kindly.

"My visitor is ready to go and I need my rest, can you see him out?" She says.

My mouth drops open at that and I stare at her. I cannot believe she's going to stand her ground on this. I stand and give her a look of exasperation.

She smiles at me, giving a little wave with her fingers and I can see she's got a stubborn streak I didn't realize was so strong.

(Madge POV)

I'm not surprised when Gale tells me he doesn't want to apologize to Drew but I decide I need to stand my ground on this because Drew was literally doing nothing wrong. In fact, this time, he was following my wishes exactly. And that doesn't warrant being hit in the face. And Gale really needs to work on controlling his temper. Drew isn't going to magically disappear so we all need to learn to tolerate one another with civility. No one has to be friends but we do need to be civil.

I buzz the nurse again and ask her if Drew is around. She tells me she'll send for him. Minutes later, a smiling Drew appears in the doorway.

"They said you were asking for me?" He says with a hopeful voice.

"I was. I wanted to talk to you about the rescue mission but first I wanted to apologize on behalf of Gale. He was in a panic about not knowing my whereabouts and I shouldn't have put you in a position that would have him taking that panic out on you so for that I am sorry."

He shakes his head. "An apology isn't necessary. I'd likely have done the same thing if I were in his shoes."

"He will be apologizing to you as well of course but I wanted to do so as well."

"You're making him apologize?" He asks with a smirk.

"I merely explained to him you were following my wishes and suggested he apologize." I say. I leave out the part about how he's being stubborn and I'm having to be stubborn back in order to get my way on this matter. Then I move on to the other thing I needed him for. 'How is the rescue going? Is it finished?"

"It's finished. It all went according to plan and everyone is either almost here or already awaiting processing."

"Is Martin here yet? I told him I'd come find him once he got here."

"He's here. I haven't seen him though."

"It's probably best that you don't. At least not until I do. I didn't tell him that you were here too and I'd like to break that news to him as softly as I can." I tell him.

"He's going to be furious."

"Can't exactly blame him for that, now can we?" I say, raising a brow and giving Drew a look to remind him why Martin has every right to be furious with him.

"Probably not." He says quietly as he looks down at the floor.

"Perhaps you could find some time to go and apologize to him for what you did. Not right away but once he's settled in. Even if he can't forgive you, it'll still be good to apologize." I suggest.

His eyes widen at the suggestion and he quietly says "I"ll think about it."

"Did Prim and Haymitch make it here yet? And what about Pemberly? Is she here yet?"

"Prim and Haymitch should arrive sometime in the next hour. Pemberly and her family are here."

"Did you see them? How is she?"

He gives me a bit of a funny look for a split second and then answers. "I saw them but just briefly. Why are you so concerned with Pemberly? Were you secretly friends with her or something?"

I shrug. "No, we never even really spoke to one another the few times I saw her. But she was one of us. An heir. Just figured I'd befriend her since she'll be adjusting to all the same things I am. This place can be a little overwhelming, especially if you come from a life filled with luxurious things. Was she surprised to see you here?"

He inhales and nods. "Yeah, I'm not sure she was expecting to see the face of her former match. Pretty sire she thought I was dead."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course you can. What?" He replies, seeming eager to answer anything I ask.

"What was their relationship really like, August and Pemberly? You told me once to stay out of it but I always felt like she wasn't being appreciated by him."

"August was August as usual. He could've been more attentive, a little nicer. She seemed to really want him to like her."

"Was he cheating on her? Because I felt like he was." I ask, recalling how she waited for him at the hotel and he never showed.

"He had some other interests, yes."

"That's awful! How could he do that to her?" I ask, angry on her behalf.

He pauses as if he's carefully choosing his words before replying. "Sometimes people cheat on people who really like them. It happens all the time."

I feel the dig of his comment and I know it was about how I cheated on him. I feel a pang of remorse run through me and now I find myself needing to apologize. I've never truly apologized and I know I should have even if he was secretly manipulating our relationship himself. His actions do not excuse my own. I clear my throat. 'Drew, while I'm busy telling everyone else to apologize, I owe you one as well. It wasn't fair to you that I started seeing Gale behind your back during our courtship, even if I intended to stop seeing him once we were married. I'm sorry you were hurt by my actions."

His eyes tear up for just a second before he sits up straighter and gives me a sad smile. "I appreciate that."

"Now, can you tell me when I'm going to get out of here? I really want to speak to Martin as soon as I can. This is overwhelming but I'd imagine not being able to speak makes it even scarier."

"I'll ask when you can go and then take you to where Martin is. You should know that they have a special living area here for former Avox. He won't be the only one here who can't speak, there are many others."

"They do?" I ask in surprise at this information.

"They do. He doesn't have to live there if he doesn't want to but he can if it makes him more comfortable. I'm told most Avox prefer it." He explains as he steps out to go find out when I can get out of here.

(Gale POV)

I leave the infirmary, flat out stunned that she just did that. She actually had me taken out of her room. Well she is just going to have to get over it because I am not apologizing to that loser at all. I won't do it. I walk a few laps around the park space but there's too many people out and about for me to relax and let go of my irritation. It's not peaceful and quiet like the woods would be if I could escape into those tight now. So I go home, to my family's place instead of her place. Maybe spending some time with the kids will cool me down. My mother is there and I hear the kids playing in the back.

"Well, we weren't expecting you. What a nice surprise." My mother says teasingly, looking up from a book.

"I do live here." I retort with a tone of attitude, annoyed at everything right now.

"Could've fooled me." She says as she turns a page in her book without glancing up again.

"Give me a break." I say gruffly.

She puts down her book and looks at me now. "Do you need to talk about something?"

I rub my hands over my face in frustration. "No. Just need to find a way to blow off steam around this place."

"And why is there steam? Does it have anything to do with a broken nose you gave someone?"

I look up sharply, unsure how she could possibly know that I hit Drew in the face.

"Well does it?" She asks again when I don't answer.

"It might."

"You can't get a reputation for fighting around this place. They frown on that here."

"Ma, I thought he stole something of Madge's. Something very special to her. It was a misunderstanding is all."

"So you've apologized for this misunderstanding then?" She asks.

"No." I say sourly.

"We may not be of a high class bloodline, but we still have manners. You need to find that boy and apologize."

"How'd you know about it anyway?"

"Saw him on the elevator earlier."

"And he told on me?" I ask, not able to imagine what sort of guy would tattle on me to my mother.

"No. He didn't say a word. I just know my son and his hot temper is all." She says with a knowing smile.

"I'm not apologizing."

"Oh you most certainly are. I'll give you a choice though. You can do it on your own or I can come with you and make sure it gets done properly."

Oh my God she is seriously threatening to make me apologize to him in front of her? I stare at her, trying to figure out if she's bluffing or not and I don't think she is.

"So which will it be? Can I trust you'll take care of this on your own right away or do I need to oversee it?"

"I'll do it." I grumble as I turn and leave without even going to say hi to the kids. I head back down to Madge's place because I don't want to be at my house and at least at her place I can be alone. I can't I cannot believe she is making me do this. And Madge too. What is with the women in my life demanding I apologize? Ugh! I kick the wall by the elevator in frustration.

When the elevator doors open, my day gets even worse when I see that Drew, who is clearly bruised and bandaged, is the only person on it. I step on and let out a sigh. "Sorry about your face." I say gruffly without looking at him.

He shakes his head and lets out a little laugh.

I have to bite my tongue, literally bite it, to keep from lashing out at him for that little laugh. And I clench my hands in a fist, fighting every urge to hit him. When the doors of the elevator open again I get off and go straight to Madge's place.

"Oh she isn't there." He calls to me as he heads to his own room. "She's upstairs in processing with Martin, her perfect match guy. She couldn't wait to see him. Had me take her to him as soon as she was released from the infirmary."

I stare at him, not even having words to respond. I know he's trying to bait me into fighting with him again. And I want to but I know I can't do it. Madge would kill me. I also know she isn't interested in Martin the way that Drew is trying to make it seem.

He gives me a huge smile and says "Have a good evening." as he steps inside his room and closes the door.

I grit my teeth and go inside, flopping face first down on the bed, exhausted, annoyed and ready for today to just be over with.