15 Years Later Chapter 8
Rated MA for sensitive subjects, language, possible violence, and lemons.
I do not own "The Hunger Games" and all rights belong to the Author.
Written in multiple POV's.
*Gale's POV*
"Gale... I'm… I'm so, so sorry… I don't even know what to say…" Katniss spoke softly, and I turned around, not even realizing she's sat down at the base of one of the giant oak trees that inhabited the forest around 12.
I saw tears start to stream down her face, and I kicked myself for making her cry, that's NOT what I was trying to achieve… maybe I should've just kept that secret to myself….
Before I even had time to console her, she put a hand on her stomach and lurched over, vomiting. I immediately sped towards her, and grabbed her hair, trying to hold it back…
"Catnip, what's going on? Are you okay?" I said, really concerned now, and I put an arm around her.
"I… I'm so sorry you had to see that… thank you… I don't know what's wrong… you don't feel sick, do you? I hope it wasn't the turkey… I thought I overcooked it…." She whispered, her face and eyes reddening.
"It's okay, Catnip, I'm feeling fine… Let's get you home, okay? Can you walk?"
"I… I should go to the bakery and get Peeta. I can walk."
"Katniss, we're miles away from your place and even further from the bakery, why don't we get you home and I'll get Peeta?"
"You would do that? I- I mean, okay…" She said softly, taking my hand and standing up, then falling down.
"Katniss?!"
I got on my knees, feeling her pulse and checking her breathing. The little first aid I'd learned for duty was finally coming in handy, I guess. She was breathing fine and her pulse was slightly weak but fine, and I instinctually picked her up and walked as fast as I could back to town. I watched her carefully, really watching her to make sure her breathing was still good. What had gotten into her? She very rarely was sick…
We reached her house in about a half an hour and by this point, the sun was just barely starting to show signs of getting ready to set. I got to the front door and realized I didn't have any keys, but Katniss must… where would they be? I checked her jacket pocket, briefly putting her down gently on the porch swing, and found the keys, luckily. I opened the door quickly and ran to put her down on the couch, and I realized that I didn't even know why I had volunteered to go get Peeta, seeing as I had no idea where anything was since the rebuilding, I didn't even remember seeing the bakery on my way to Katniss's place from the train station today. Oh well, I'll figure it out.
But shit, was I just going to leave her here alone in the condition she was in? No way in hell. But I had to get help somehow… I ran into the kitchen, looking for any phone numbers, phone book, anything with a doctor's phone number or the bakery's.
In a strange stroke of luck, I decided to go through the cupboards, not even knowing what I was looking for, and found a brown paper bakery bag with "Customizable Creations, 67 Main Street, District 12 - 90012-3-823-27" printed on it.
My gaze darted across the kitchen to the phone, and I ran over to it, almost ripping it out of the wall while I dialed the number in. It rang and rang and rang, no answer… I hung up and called back, still no answer. Now I was extremely worried…
I decided that I had to do something, and went over to Katniss, checking to make sure she was fine. I had no choice but to run in to town and try to find either a doctor, or Peeta, or both, ideally… and I hoped I wouldn't get lost, but I ran out the door anyway.
After a mad dash, I was in town and I passed by so many unfamiliar shops and buildings- a library, a book store, a fish market, a produce market- it seemed to go on forever, and then I reached the bakery, finally. I quickly glanced at the storefront and wondered if this was really it. It looked nothing like the original Mellark family bakery, but it was in the same location, so this must be it. I ran in, somehow remembering to remove my hat, and was greeted by a bell chiming, a brightly lit display case, and a woman came out from behind the counter.
"Welcome to Customizable Creations, can I help you, sir?" She said happily, walking up to me with a tray, "Would you like to try a sample? This is this week's special, Apple Turnovers with cinnamon sugar crumble…"
"No, Thank you, M'am, I'm here to see Mr. Mell- I mean Peeta, please… It's urgent. It's Ka- It's his wife, Katniss" I said loudly, interrupting her.
"Oh… okay… one moment please, I'll fetch him for you." She said, looking confused as she walked to the back.
I heard a muffled conversation over the low hum of the radio, something about a tall tan man that had come in, and I assumed that was me. I heard footsteps, and the woman emerged from the back, followed by Peeta, wiping off his apron, and looked up.
"Gale? Is everything alright?" He sounded confused but also panicked.
"It's Katniss… She's gotten sick, she threw up and fainted on our hunt…" I said quickly, "You have to go home, I don't know what's going on- I tried calling you here. Why the hell is no one answering?!"
Without even answering me, Peeta turned around and ran towards the back. He sped past the side of the doorframe and started shouting, "Colleen, I have to leave, something's come up at home! Can you and Meyer close up tonight, please? Just throw the till in the safe, I'll count it tomorrow! And tell Meyer to take out the fondant for the Berscher order tomorrow, and tell Clyde that we need 250 Apple Turnovers for tomorrow, the pastry is in the walk-in, and the apples that he needs to use are the first bushel on the top shelf in the pantry… Listen, I have to go straightaway… I'll call later if I forgot anything…" He emerged from the back, walking quickly towards me while putting on his coat.
"Come on, we'll take the delivery van, we have no time to waste…" He said towards me, running out the door and down the stairs, towards the back of the bakery. I followed him quickly, and we both got in the van, him speeding off before I could even shut my door.
"Would you mind telling me whether you have any idea what the hell is happening to her?" I said, almost screaming but trying to keep calm.
"Gale, I have absolutely no idea, I just need to get home and tend to my wife…" He said, and I've gotta give it to him, he was genuinely concerned for Katniss. "Tell me exactly what happened. Start from the beginning. Now."
"We were walking just inside the fence, and we were just catching up, taking, when she sat down at the bottom of a tree. She fell over and started throwing up, and by the time I asked her what was going on, she had stood up and then fell down, fainted. I carried her home, checked her pulse, and was trying to call you before I left her and ran into town…" I said quickly, "Why?! Has this happened before? Is there something you're not telling me?!"
"Quit the 20 questions and let me think here…" He said sharply, speeding down dirt roads I didn't even recognize, "I need to call her doctor as soon as I get home…"
We finally reached victor's village and sped down the roadway towards the house. Peeta threw the van into park and he ran out of the van, slamming the door behind him, and entered the house, me following closely behind.
Before I could even walk into the house, I heard Peeta on the phone with who I assumed to be Katniss's doctor. I entered and walked past the kitchen, went to the living room, and checked Katniss's pulse again. Stable, but weak, just like before. I heard Peeta forcefully hang up the phone in the other room, and he ran towards where I was with Katniss.
"Her doctor says I've got to get her to the hospital right away," Peeta said, picking Katniss up and walking outside. I exited the house, trying to remember to close the door behind me, and helped get Katniss lying down in the back seat.
"I need to be with her right now, Gale, she needs me… thank you for helping her… I'll call the house if anything!" He shouted, speeding off towards town.