Katniss helped a limping Gale walk back through the tunnels and into district 13. She ran into Boggs, who caught up with her in the line of returning soldiers.
Boggs clapped her on the back. "That was something, Soldier."
Katniss smiled at him grimly. "Thanks," she muttered, dragging Gale along. She stopped, placing Gale's arm around her neck, and supporting his full weight. His blood seeped into her clothes, mixing it with Peeta's blood when she had cut his arm earlier. She felt dirty, like she was responsible for both of their injuries.
As the troop of soldiers began walking through district 13, the crowds began to separate, allowing creating a clear path for them to walk through. The people gaped as they saw Katniss, covered in blood and ashes on her face, practically pulling Gale alongside her.
Gale moaned in pain in her ear, and she began to move faster. "I need to get him to the hospital," she called to Boggs.
"Bring him in here," Boggs commanded, referencing an apartment on her left.
Without thinking, Katniss pulled him in and plopped him on the bed. "He was shot during the first few rounds of fire. The bullet went through and through." She backed away from him as a group of doctors and nurses became strolling in, surrounding his bed and speaking medically.
Katniss sank against the wall and to the floor, breathing deeply. Gale got shot. I'm going to be sick.
Suddenly, the door flew open, and Prim's eyes bulged as she looked upon the mess of her sister. "Katniss!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms around her.
"Gale got shot," Katniss muttered blankly.
"We need to clean you up a bit," Prim said gently.
"Not yet, not until they fix Gale," Katniss argued. "I can't go, not until-"
Her words trailed off as Haymitch walked in. "Nice shooting, sweetheart."
"The big explosion?" Prim looked at her. "That was you?!"
"You know what happens when I get mad," Katniss said with a smile. "Where's Peeta?" She asked Haymitch.
"He's with Delly, they're having their second day of therapy. He's going to watch some videos from the games with her."
Katniss nodded quickly, unable to think about anything to do with the games right now. She imagined Snow and his team of military officials sitting around a screen, watching her write his name. Watching her raise her hands in the air.
They're going to come back harder than ever.
Katniss suddenly began to feel lightheaded, looking down, she noticed blood seaping from underneath her armpit. Slowly lifting up her arm, she grunted in pain.
Prim gasped.
"Dammit, Katniss," Haymitch cursed. "We've got another one," he called to the nurses.
They hoisted her up onto a bed across from Gale, her entire body having gone limp. Katniss' breathing became labored.
"There's no gunshot, it's just a laceration from debris. It could be infected. She needs an antiseptic and some morphling, stat. She's losing too much blood!" The nurses chattered over her.
Katniss looked around her, dazed. She was panting. "Gale…" she croaked. "Peeta…"
"Prim…"
"I'm right here Katniss!" She heard her sister's voice in the distance.
Katniss closed her eyes, allowing the darkness to consume her.
"So then you announced that Katniss was pregnant," Delly continued. "It was quite the shocker, and-"
Peeta threw his hands in the air. "Delly, is this even necessary right now? Didn't you hear those explosions? We should be finding out about what's going on-"
"Haymitch said he would bring us news after he spoke to Boggs. And besides, the more you remember the more you can help," Delly said, taking his hand.
"I'm trying, I'm trying!" Peeta yelled, frusturated. He slammed his other hand on the table. "It hurts," he admitted, shamefully.
"I know," Delly sighed. "Why don't you just ask some more questions? Rather than trying to remember on your own."
Peeta leaned back in his chair, taking a deep breath. "How did the second games end?"
Delly looked at him. "You and Katniss got separated. And then Katniss blew up the arena with the electric wire Beetee set up around the tree."
Peeta looked at her incredulously. "She...blew up the arena?"
Delly smiled, nodding. "You really know how to pick em'."
Peeta smiled too, unable to help himself. He looked up at Delly, who had a nervous look on her face. "What happened after that?" He asked, darkly.
Delly looked at him. "After the arena blew up you got taken. That was the last time you saw her until last week. That was the last time any of us saw you until the inauguration."
They both turned and looked at the door at the sound of it opening. Plutarch came walking in.
"Delly, Peeta," Plutarch greeted them formally.
"Hello, Plutarch," Delly said, letting go of Peeta's hand. Peeta jumped out of his chair. "Can we help you? Do you have news?"
"It was a rebel victory. You're going to be moved out of the hospital wing now, Peeta," Plutarch explained.
Delly looked at Peeta. "That's great!"
"Why?" Peeta asked, something telling him that something was wrong.
Plutarch sighed. "It was a rebel victory, but there were some injuries. We need to give your bed to someone else."
Delly sighed heavily. "What happened?"
"They just dropped some firebombs is all. We've got people with scratches, we've got people with third degree burns and nerve damage, we've got people with gunshot wounds..."
Peeta shook his head, not wanting to hear more. "Where is my room?"
"I'm going to take you there now," Plutarch said. "We can have a quick chat on the way."
Peeta suddenly seemed to feel nervous. He watched Delly stand up, and he smiled at her. "I'll see you later, right?" He asked her. Delly was his only friend. The only one he could fully trust.
Delly nodded. "I'll see you later. Bye, Plutarch," She said, walking slowly out of the room.
Plutarch held up his arm, allowing Peeta to walk out the door first. They walked slowly down several hallways.
They finally arrived in front of a door. "Is this me?" Peeta asked.
"Listen, kid," Plutarch started. "I'm not going to dance around this. The stunt with the tracker was unacceptable. Coin is ready to have you publicly executed and broadcasted to the capitol. You may not be on our side, but don't pretend that you're on the capitol's side either."
Peeta sighed. "I thought I had just been kidnapped by rebels. I thought I was the President who just got kidnapped. I didn't know I was just a pawn until later on."
Plutarch waved his hand. "Nevertheless, We stuck our necks out for you. Katniss only agreed to become the mockingjay if you were granted full political immunity... Coin can't touch you. But she's pissed."
"Coin, or Katniss?" Peeta asked.
"Both," Plutarch said with a smile.
"I'm pissed too," Peeta admitted. "I don't think either of them have the right to-"
"Forget the past," Plutarch condescended.
"I did," Peeta reminded him. "Literally."
Plutarch looked at him and placed his hands on his shoulders. "And now that you are starting to remember, isn't it clear who's side you should be on?"
Peeta looked at him, seeing straight through his head and watching the wheels turn. "You're trying to recruit me, aren't you."
Plutarch smiled. "Training starts on Monday. I figured you would want in on the action, plus it might get some people to trust you a little more."
Peeta bit his lip. "Or you want me there to be Katniss' bodyguard," he snapped. "God forbid anything happen to your precious mockingjay. Isn't Gale there for that?"
Plutarch handed him the keys to his room, and started to walk away. "Protecting her is what you do best," he called back. "She trusts you with her life. Let me know when you're ready to die for her again."
Peeta gripped his door handle, ready to throw a punch at Plutarch.
Let me know when you're ready to die for her again.
Was I really that in love with her?
Suddenly, his head started to hurt. He opened the door to his room and laid down on his bed. On his nighttable, there was a note for him. He opened it slowly. "In the bathroom... drinks for the headaches. They should also help you start to remember on your own. -H"
Peeta groaned. I don't want to remember. Why can't things just go back to normal again? Why did this have to happen to me?
Unable to help himself, he stood up and crossed into the bathroom, taking one of the drinks in a single gulp. I guess I know what side i'm on.
Rain. Katniss digging through the trash outside of the bakery. Turning up the temperature on the oven. Pulling out half burned bread. Getting hit in the face by a woman. Tossing the bread to an extremely thin Katniss sitting underneath the tree. Going back inside.
Peeta's eyes shot open. Panting, he realized that he had just had a memory on his own. The drink worked.
Not even remembering falling asleep, he looked at the clock near his bed. 2 AM.
Not thinking, Peeta pulled on a fresh blue sweater and a gray jacket. He left his room, wandering through the hallways until he found the number to Katniss' room. Knocking slightly, he was startled when Prim opened the door. She gaped when she saw him.
"You're Primrose, right?" He asked her quietly.
"Yes," Prim breathed. "Are you looking for-"
"Yes," Peeta answered.
"She's in the hospital, room 505," Prim answered.
Without saying thank you or goodbye, Peeta took off. He ran and ran until he finally made it to the room.
Peeta opened and closed the door quietly. He could only see Gale, with bandages and a sling wrapped around his shoulder. Did she give me the wrong number?
"Who's there?" He heard Katniss whisper from behind another curtain.
He crossed the room and went behind the curtain, finding Katniss in a hospital gown, lying in bed, with a blanket draped over her legs. Her eye's were wide open. Her hair was down and long. She had small cuts all over her face. Her hands had the faint stain of blood on them.
Peeta looked at her, watching her reaction to him showing up. She kept a poker face, just breathing in and out. She began to fiddle with her hands, and she looked down at them.
"I remember about the bread," he told her, gasping for breath from his run. "I know you're mad at me, and I'm mad at you too, but I just had to tell you."
Katniss' eyes snapped up. "Delly told you about that?"
"I drank what Haymitch left me. It was like a dream, but more like a movie," Peeta explained. He sat down on the chair next to her bed, placing his hands on his knees and breathing deeply.
Katniss looked down at her hands again. "You saved us from starving. I wanted to thank you, I just didn't really know how-"
Suddenly, Peeta moved over and sat on her bed. He touched her chin, moving her face up to look at his. "I need to know something," he asked her. She nodded slowly. He took a deep breath. "Did you ever really love me?... Or was it all for show?"
CLIFFHANGER! Will Katniss still feel the same way about Peeta now that Gale's been shot? REVIEW!