Glenn
It's only five miles to the rendezvous but it takes three hours. Merle and I don't know these woods as well as Daryl and it's especially unfamiliar in the dark. Rick and Carl take turns carrying Judith. She's almost asleep and the terrain is too rough for a six-year old to travel with speed. We arrive at the clearing with a little time to spare for rest inside the tree line. I can't let myself think about Daryl so I worry about the people we left behind.
"Will Blake retaliate against them because we got away?"
Rick is the voice of reason: "I don't think so. Not much and not many anyway. He might know or at least suspect they were all in on the rebellion but they weren't the ringleaders. He has to have workers for the crops. He can't let Panem starve to satisfy his ego. He must know there'll be an out-and-out riot if he pushes it."
Maggie was silent during our trek but now she confesses that Blake almost raped her. She's sorry Michonne didn't get to take his head. No one is surprised that Andrea stayed behind. We've all had our suspicions about her. Surely she can't know what Blake is capable of. He's careful to maintain his façade.
The hover plane is on time and a little later we're in District 13. It was bombed 75 years ago during the first rebellion. That's when the Hunger Games were started as a punishment and a reminder. Talk about the sins of the parents being visited on the children.
District 13 survivors moved underground and just existed at first. Slowly they began building up and coming back from the devastation they suffered. There are only 10 of us from District 11 but we're an additional strain on the capacity of the underground bunkers. We learn that District 12 was burned down and only 10 percent of the population made it out. But that's about 900 people so it's very crowded quarters everywhere. I don't care about personal discomfort. My only question is when Daryl will be rescued.
There is no immediate plan. Merle and I raise hell about that but we're guests and no one in charge is listening to us. When the Capitol airs propaganda spots against the rebellion starring Peeta, President Coin and her team try to dismiss them but the effect on Katniss is obvious and they realize they have to mount a rescue attempt if they want her to be the Mockingjay symbol of revolution.
In a small conference room with President Coin and Merle, I insist on going along.
"No," Merle says firmly. "You stay here and I'll bring Daryl back."
"It should be me."
"But it's gonna be me."
I sigh and smile as if I'm giving in like Merle wants. "All right." I go to him and pat his shoulder. "But be careful."
"You got that right." Merle's good hand locks on my arm. Damn it. He looks at the syringe that slipped from my sleeve to my palm. "You trying to put one over on ole Merle? Don't you know that don't work on me? I always know when you're up to something."
"How do you know?" I demanded.
"Cause you're always up to something!"
Coin had been watching with amusement. When she saw the syringe she frowned and stepped toward us just as the intercom activated.
"This is the medical bay. It may just be misplaced but I thought I should report a missing syringe and …"
"A sedative?" Coin interrupts.
"Yes, ma'am."
"They've been located," Coin says dryly. "I'll return them to you." She stalks over and takes the syringe from me.
"Why does everybody fall for your tricks except me?" Merle muses. "Guess you got one of them trustworthy faces. That just puts me on my guard."
The rescue goes so smoothly that it's a reason for anxiety. Coin and the command team think the Capitol wanted the hostages rescued. We find out why when Peeta wakes up and Katniss goes to see him. Daryl and the others are still sedated. What will happen when he wakes up and sees me?
Daryl
Daryl woke to Glenn sitting by his bed and a lady doctor or some medical type standing at the foot. She was saying, "He should be in restraints."
"It's not necessary," Glenn told her, then noticed Daryl's eyes were open. "You're awake! How do you feel?"
Glenn leaned over him which was the best view Daryl had seen for weeks. "I'm supposed to kill you," he said.
The female medic stepped forward in alarm but Glenn just grinned.
"Well, thanks for not going along with that."
"You know about the mind control hijacking?" The medic asked.
"I figured out pretty quick what they were doing and played along so they'd think it was working and not do something worse to me."
"But why didn't it work?" she asked.
"They can train a brain to kill somebody," Daryl replied. "But killing yourself is harder. Self-preservation instinct is strong."
"But they didn't want you to commit suicide."
"Killing Glenn would be the same as dying myself. My mind couldn't wrap around it."
"It worked on Peeta. He tried to kill Katniss." The medic was confused.
"He's young," Daryl said. "And them two kids haven't been close for long."
"Daryl and I have been together for seven years," Glenn said. "Really together. They didn't have Daryl long enough to overcome that."
"I need to make a report." The medic left them together.
"So you didn't want me strapped down?" Daryl asked. "Thought that might appeal to you."
"I'll tie you down myself," Glenn replied. "But not until you're well enough for both of us to enjoy it."
"I'm feelin' better every minute."
Glenn
Daryl and I finally get to fight shoulder to shoulder and back to back. The few districts still loyal to the Capitol are defeated and we're with one of the teams that take the Capitol in the final assault. We witness the massacre of the children and the medical team that tried to help them. Snow is captured and taken to District 13. An examination reveals sores in his mouth that won't heal. He's been ingesting small amounts of poison for years to build up immunity so he can poison enemies at his own table. He eats and drinks with them and no one suspects because he doesn't get sick or die.
Daryl and I and the other few remaining game winners are in the meeting with President Coin when she proposes a final Hunger Games with Capitol children as tributes. I vote no because the games have to end and Capitol children already died in the massacre. Daryl votes yes because he spent 23 of his 35 years in the shadow of the games and he can't let that go yet. To him it's justice that the Capitol experiences it once. We understand why we voted as we did and it won't matter to our relationship. Besides, our votes cancel each other. The proposal passes because Katniss and Haymitch favor it which surprises us at first and then makes sense with what follows. Katniss realized Coin is as bad as Snow but she needed Coin to trust her.
At the public execution of Snow, it's bedlam when Katniss turns her bow and arrow on President Coin and kills her instead. Daryl and I watch in shock with the rest of the crowd but I'm aware that Merle is moving quickly and quietly toward Snow. When the furor dies down, Snow is discovered dead. The official verdict is that he choked on his own blood from the sores in his mouth but Daryl and I know better. Merle tells us he stuck his stump down Snow's throat and held his nose closed until he suffocated.
"Always wanted to make that smug bastard choke on not letting me have a prostho hand," Merle says with satisfaction. "Never expected it to be so literal."
"He wasn't responsible for you losing your hand," I remind Merle.
"No reason to hold it against Diabla," Merle replies. "We made a deal and she held up her end of the bargain. I knew blood and sex would be involved. I admit I hoped she'd just fuck me and bite my ear. She died three years ago. Wrote me before she passed and said the best orgasm she ever had was watching me saw my hand off. In 20 years she never had anything else match it. I wrote her back, told her she should have tried my dick." Merle shakes his head sadly. "She coulda died a happy woman."
Katniss is acquitted of Coin's death by reason of temporary insanity but the new regime doesn't think it wise to let her roam free in the republic so the symbol of the second rebellion is exiled back to burned out District 12 and Haymitch is assigned to watch her. Peeta joins them a few months later. He still has spells but is mostly recovered and has overcome the mind control hijacking. He and Katniss are together again.
Haymitch and Katniss aren't regular correspondents but Peeta likes to write so he keeps us informed.
One day when Haymitch went to pick up his monthly supply of alcohol, Effie Trinket was there. Effie was ignorant, not evil, but as a former escort she was a reminder of dark days and the new president thought she'd be safer elsewhere. She had nowhere else to go so she took the train to District 12.
Daryl and I were aware that despite their apparent contempt for each other, Haymitch and Effie enjoyed once-a-year trysts at the games. Haymitch has a grudging affection for her and he took her home with him. He's cut down on his drinking and Effie has learned to take care of the geese he keeps.
As for District 11, we all came home. Andrea is still here. Her life before was no easier than Rick's or Daryl's or mine. Being mediator set her apart just like being the mayor or a victor. Her parents died too young as so many do and then she lost her sister Amy to the games. We all make mistakes and hers was falling under the spell of Blake's charisma. Andrea was always fair with the citizens and they like her despite her betrayal so she's forgiven. Oh yes, she also killed 'The Governor' so there's that.
After she saved his life Blake trusted her more even though she let us go. When she found out he was going to burn down our house and Merle's, she couldn't stop it but she saved the one thing that couldn't be replaced: my box of books from the time before. I owe her for that. Blake thought she was on his side and he slowly let his true nature show. One night after sex Andrea waited until he fell asleep then stabbed him in the heart with a knife. He lived long enough to open his eyes and see her face. The resistance took back District 11 the next morning before the other PKs had a chance to turn on her.
Blake had known better than to destroy the entire village and have to answer to Snow and the Capitol. So we chose different houses and others joined us. It's called Victory Village now instead of the Victors' Village. Life is much the same as before but without Peacekeepers and fences. Districts are diversifying so they can be more independent. That means we don't have to feed all of Panem. We have time and people available for other things. Daryl is helping build new homes to replace the shacks for families on the edge of town.
I'm writing a history of the second rebellion. Someone from every district is doing the same and then they'll be combined and published. When I finish, Carol and I will open a restaurant. I miss baking and she'd rather cook than bake so we're going into business together.
Daryl
Glenn shut himself up in the study and wrote almost every day. Daryl didn't consider himself needy but he liked to be around Glenn whether they were talking or not so he took to reading the rest of those old books he hadn't gotten to yet. Glenn sat at the desk and Daryl stretched out on the davenport. This one was a pretty good story and there was enough action what with the war and burning Atlanta to keep Daryl's interest even though it was mostly about a spoiled Southern belle.
It was late when he finished. Glenn was just putting away his manuscript. Daryl had an idea. He hoisted Glenn over his shoulder and headed for the stairs.
"What are you doing?" Glenn asked, upside down.
"Re-enacting that book."
"Rhett didn't carry Scarlett like a sack of feed."
"Do you mind?"
Glenn didn't. His cock was pressed against Daryl's chest and Daryl's butt was a nice view from any angle.
"As long as you get to our room fast, frankly my dear, I don't give a damn how."
A/N: That's my blending of two apocalyptic worlds. No matter what happens, Daryl and Glenn will be all right. And always together. Thanks to everyone for reading and especially those who took the time to review.