The Mockingjay

"This is not gonna be good," Jeanetty said as the lights in the staging room came on.

Katniss took the podium, dressed in the Mockingjay armor, a pole prop in hand. Effie approached her with a black Mockingjay pin in hand. "Cinna's final touch," she sais as she pinned it to a strap on the breastplate. "Everyone's either gonna wanna kiss you, kill you, or be you."

"Perfect. Absolutely perfect," Heavensbee said from the audio and projection room. "Little wind," he warned once Effie and Jeanetty were out of camera shot. "Okay, Katniss, we're gonna start you down on one knee. And as you rise up you're gonna hold your flag in the air and deliver your line. And remember, you've just stormed the outskirts of the Capitol, arm-in-arm with your brothers and sisters."

"Okay," Katniss said taking her position.

Jeanetty shook her head as Katniss failed her first take. "She's warming up," Effie encouraged.

"You've just been in battle!" Heavensbee yelled at her when she failed her second take. "I'm sorry, excuse my outburst."

Jeanetty wished Haymitch was with them as Heavensbee continued to talk to Katniss. 'He could get her motivated enough to give a halfway decent line,' she thought as Katniss tried again. There was a sarcastic slow clap that brought her to the present. 'The devil, himself.' She smiled as he walked into the room.

"And that my friends is how a revolution dies." He walked closer to the podium. "Hello, Katniss." She just stared at him. "This is how you greet an old friend?"

"Maybe I don't recognize you sober," she said as he blew his nose.

"I guess it looks as bad as it feels," he said before turning to Jeanetty. "You don't look so good either, sweetheart."

"I'm managing," she said as he pulled her close and looked at the bags under her eyes.

"Plutarch, bring what you just got to Coin. I have an idea."

Half an hour later Katniss, Beetee, Effie, Heavensbee, Coin, Gale, Head of 13's security, Boggs, Jeanetty and Haymitch were gathered around the conference room, watching the propos. There was more than a moment of awkward silence.

Haymitch cleared his throat and stood. "Madam President, indulge me for a moment, if you would. Let's everybody think of an incident where Katniss Everdeen genuinely moved you. Not when you were jealous of her hairstyle or her dress went up in flames or when she made a halfway decent shot with an arrow. And not where Peeta made you like her. No, I'd like you all to think of one moment where she made you feel something real."

Effie excitedly put her hand up. "When she volunteered for her sister at the Reaping."

"Excellent example," Haymitch said picking up a stylus and using his arm to erase what was on the projection board. "I hope that wasn't important. Okay, 'volunteer for sister'," he continued as he wrote it down. "Good. What else?"

"When she sang that song for little Rue," Effie commented again.

"Oh, yeah. Who didn't get choked up at that?"

"When she chose Rue as an ally, as well," Beetee put in.

"When she stopped the Commander from flogging Gale," Jeanety added.

Haymitch added their comments to the list. "Now, what do all these have in common?"

"No one told her what to do," Gale said evenly

"Unscripted, yes," Beetee agreed. "So maybe we should just leave her alone."

"And wash her face," Boggs added. "She's still a girl. You made her look 35."

Heavensbee spoke up. "The opportunities for spontaneity are obviously lacking below ground. So, what you're suggesting is we toss her into combat?"

"I can't sanction putting an untrained civilian in battle just for effect. This is not the Capitol." Coin shook her head.

"That's exactly what he's suggesting," Jeanetty said to her. "Put her in the field."

"No, we can't protect her."

"It has to come from her," Jeanetty argued. "That's what people respond to. You want a symbol for the revolution? She cannot be coached into it."

"Trust me, I know." Haymitch pointed to himself.

"Maybe there's someplace that's less dangerous," Heavensbee offered.

"District 8. They reported heavy bombing last week," Beetee informed them. "There are no military targets left."

"We can't guarantee her safety," Coin said again.

Katniss finally interupted. "You'll never be able to guarantee my safety. I wanna go."

"And if you're killed?"

"Make sure you get it on camera," she shrugged.

"Then it's agreed?" Heavensbee looked around the table.

Coin sighed. "You'll leave in 2 days, 0800. Rest up, Miss Everdeen."

The group dispersed and Haymitch pulled Jeanetty to the living quarters. "Now don't think for one minute that i don't know what's going on with you, missy. Nightmares come back?"

"After the survivors from 12 arrived. I've gotten a few minutes here and there."

"Well, you and I are going to get some shut eye," he said opening a door and ushering her inside. "This is our room now. Effie had all your things brought here. So, change into your nightwear and come settle on the bed. She sighed but complied, changing into a tank and sleep pants. She crawled onto the two person sleeping area and waited for Haymitch to join her. He pulled her close and she settled into him, her left hand bearing the ring on his chest. "I'm going to have a talk to Coin about marrying us with Finnkck and Annie when we rescue her and the others," he said as he took her hand in his.

"You're very romantic sober," she laughed, looking up at him. "It's almost scary how nice you're being."

"I'm still an asshole," he retorted grumpily.

"Didn't say you wern't, sweetheart," she yawned into her arm.

"If you dont get some sleep right now, I'm gonna drag you by your ear to Medical and get you sedated."

"Empty words," she said tiredly as as she fell into restful slumber.

"That's my girl."