Author's Note

Hey everyone! Okay. DON'T hate me! I am SOOOO sorry about the long wait. I can't believe it has been over TWO WEEKS since my last update! I'm gonna try to update at least once a week. Sound good? Here's a shout out to all my reviewers! Thanks so much! It really inspires me to write! Special thanks to: Cloud-Lover 26, , and ! Read their stories, they are A-MAZ-ING!

PS: I know I already said this but…thanks to everyone who reviewed! I 3 YOU GUYS! I will try to fix my errors, and PM me! Any ideas?

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWE any OF THE HG CHARACTERS! Only Merideth Hamelett and her family….everything else goes to Suzanne Collins : P

What If? Chapter 3

Katniss POV

I feel as though a knife was just shoved into my heart.

"PRIM!" I shriek.

I don't hesitate to run to Prim, who is now unconscious lying on the ground with a deep gash on her arm, and a forehead that is heavily bleeding.

Gale looks surprised, then confused, then apologetic.

"Prim! Catnip! I am so sorry! I-"

Before Gale has a chance to finish his sentence, my palms roughly slam into his chest.

"SAVE IT!" I scream at him. Hurt flashes across his face. I notice his right side is bleeding, and his jaw looks a little dislocated, but I don't care. He hurt Prim.

Gale struggles to get up, then slowly walks over to where Prim is. I can see him attempt to help me pick her up.

"DON'T TOUCH HER!" I yell. He stops dead in his tracks. Our eyes lock and before I can stop him, he turns around and bolts into the direction of my house.

I ignore trying to figure out what Gale is doing, and focus back on Prim.

I don't have any bandages on me, so I do the only thing I can think of.

I take off my shirt, and press it against Prim's forehead. It's the only way I can think of to stop the bleeding, and keep her wound from getting infected.

I am so glad I chose today to wear an undershirt.

I look around at the three closest people and ask them to bring me a table without legs. Within minutes, they bring one. I recognize all three people who I asked for help.

Head Peacekeeper Darius, Madge, and Delly Cartwright.

Although Prim isn't very heavy, they help me lift her onto the table.

"Thanks," I say. "I've got it from here." I tell them. They all nod and wish me luck, except Madge.

"No, Katniss," She starts when they are gone. "Im gonna help you no matter what."

I really want to tell Madge no, but she's acting stubborn, and blood is already seeping through my shirt.

I refrain myself from rolling my eyes, and just nod my head instead.

My house is only ten minutes away from the square, but since Madge is helping me carry Prim, and we are rushing, we get there in five minutes.

Madge and I burst through the door. My mom is already at the table looking at another patient.

Gale.

He looks at Madge, then at me. Once again, I see hurt flash across his face. He's probably upset that I rejected his offer to help Prim, but accepted Madge's.

He's sitting up, allowing my mom to finish wrapping the last of his bandages around his side.

He pulls his shirt down and gets off the table.

"Remember Gale," My mom says. "Come to me every day for two weeks so I can re-wash and replace all your bandages. Okay?"

Gale nods and manages a thank you.

Before Gale leaves, I glare at him. I am still angry over what he did to Prim.

Once Madge and I get Prim across the table, my mother gets to work.

Madge and I sit on the old, torn up couch in my living room, feeling helpless.

The entire house is quiet, as my mom tends to Prim. It's not exactly an awkward silence, but more like one that's intense.

We wait like this for hours. Around 7:30 pm I decide to break the silence by telling Madge she can go home if she wants. Of course, she refuses.

"No Katniss," she says. "Im staying right here. Don't worry, my parents won't mind. I already texted them."

Madge and her parents are one of the few people who actually own a thing people used hundreds of years ago. It's called a cell phone I think. You can call someone who is miles away, or "text" them, which is when you send them a message, and seconds later it pops up onto the screen. She showed me this a few times, and I was amazed. We could never afford this in the seam.

Madge and I have to wait two more hours until my mom is done. I look at the clock. 9:08 pm.

My mom looks extremely tired.

"Well," she sighs. "I think that's the best I can do for now. Prim's forehead was heavily bleeding as you probably know, but whatever cloth you put on her head was able to keep the infections away, but now it's soaked in blood. I bandaged her head up but I think Prim may…." My mom trailed off. "She…well I think…" my mom couldn't finish her sentence.

She takes a deep breath, and I can see her debating whether or not to tell me something.

I guess she decides to keep it to herself, because she continues.

"Anyways, Prim also had a deep gash in her arm that had gotten swollen due to infection. I had all the right supplies to fix it so it's not too bad. Besides that, there were only a few minor scrapes on her arms and elbows, so she should be fine."

When my mom says that last sentence, I know something's was up, but I don't say anything, because she says everything I need to hear.

Prim is going to be okay.

I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding, and I can hear Madge do the same.

"Thanks," I manage. "That really-"

Prim's movement on the table cuts me off.

Nobody had been expecting Prim to wake up, because normally in district twelve, when you are unconscious, you don't wake up for a few days.

We all rush over to the table, and are just in time to see Prim open her bright, baby blue eyes.

Prim slowly sits up, and I can tell it must have been painful by the expression on her face. I can't stand seeing Prim in pain.

Prim looks around the room, and confusion sweeps across her face.

"Who are you?" Prim asks. "And…where am I?"

My mom is the first one to speak.

"P-Prim? Sweetie? It's me, your mother. A-Are you all right?" my mom asks, worried.

"Who's Prim? And why is my head wrapped in a bandage?" Prim asks.

When nobody responds, she gets upset.

"Who. ARE. You?" Prim repeats. I have never seen her this way. Ever.

She seems so…scared. So…Resistant. So…not Prim.

I get closer to Prim. Maybe even a little too close for comfort, but I don't care. I stare straight into her eyes, and she looks into mine.

"Prim?" I whisper. "Do you recognize me?" My voice cracks.

By the look in her eyes, I can tell she is trying to remember, but she comes up with nothing.

"No," she shakes her head, and her eyes soften just the slightest bit. "I'm sorry." Prim looks sad when she see's my expression. "Who are you?" She asks innocently.

"I was afraid this would happen," my mother whispers.

I turn to face her. What is she talking about?

"What are you talking about?" I keep from shouting at her, because Madge is still here.

"What is wrong with Prim? I thought you said she'd be okay!" This time, I do yell. Because even I knew she was lying.

"Katniss," my mom says calmly not looking at me. "I didn't tell you before, because I wasn't 100% sure, especially because Prim hadn't even woken up yet. But I do admit, I have had a few of these cases before. I know what's wrong with Prim." She finishes.

"What?" I ask. I'm getting very impatient. I want to know what is wrong with my little duck!

My mom takes a deep breath.

"Katniss," She starts.

Oh no. I know this voice. This is the voice my mom uses when she is about to give very bad news to a patients family. This time, it's me.

"Prim has temporary amnesia."