Our nightmare is finally over and she is home safe.

It's so nice now the days are finally quiet again. Today, Katniss was planning on meeting Gale in the woods, at our dad's old spot, the lake. Good, she needs that, needs to get away and talk to him about everything that's happened.

Later that afternoon I hear a knock on the door and smile, that'll be her back home. My mother answers the door, and stiffens for a moment, not moving. I hear a voice I really only have heard on television, say tightly, *"New Head." Haymitch, I think. New Head? But, what…? I don't have time to finish wondering what's going on before my carefree mood vanishes, being replaced with horror as I see Haymitch, Peeta, Bristel, and Thom, bring Gale in unconscious, on a stretcher, with his back shredded. My mother moves automatically and I follow her. I don't know how to help exactly, but I know the medicines she'll use, even now as she calls them out to me, essentially painkillers, but other herbs as well. I get out basins, rags, and thank the tap in our new house, as it readily pours out water for use. Prepare a bit of snow coat, simple. I don't even have time to look for Katniss. She has other friends here. Right now, I need to help Gale and my mother. But, soon, I hear Katniss shout, ** "That won't be enough, I know how it feels. That will barely knock out a headache." I spare her a glance now, Peeta and Haymitch are standing close to her, trying to keep her calm. I'm horrified to see she's been hit, too. But, then, I recall already making snow coat and my mother passing some of it over. She has it on now, but, still. And, she's right. But, she must also know that even now we don't have medicines to spare. It's just as I'm thinking this that mother responds,*** "We'll combine it with sleep syrup, Katniss, and he'll manage it." But, she's barely begun to explain about the herbs when Katniss loses it. I don't know what to do. I only barely know how to help now. I want to go to her, but I'm needed more here. Peeta and Haymitch will take care of her.

"Prim," my mother says and I look up, "can you stay here with Gale? Help keep him hydrated and leave the door open a bit. He needs to stay cool. I'm going to go talk to Katniss."

I hadn't even noticed the open door until now. I want to come, too, but obey, saying simply, "I know."

She nods leaving me alone with Gale, half-conscious. I close my eyes for a second, just trying to stay focused and understand. Then, though, I go back to the now blood-stained sink, but fill a clean cup and grab a straw. I try my best to keep my concern out of my eyes as a go back to the chair they had put out for Hazelle. But, she's in the other room now, too, hearing what happened. I listen as I silently help Gale take sips.

It's not long before we hear another knock on the door. I freeze, fearing a repetition now of what's just unfolded, just with someone else, or as I hear them voice, Peacekeepers coming for Katniss. I see Gale barely roll his eyes toward the door, too. I can't clearly make out the conversation, but I can tell enough from a couple words and tones, whoever it is, it isn't Peacekeepers and it's not another wounded. Then, mother comes back in with a box of vials filled with something unfamiliar to me. Medicine, clearly, and likely to help, but of what kind? Mother answers the question, asked by Peeta, ^"It's from the Capitol. It's called morphling." I close my eyes, silently thanking the friend who brought it, and then make my way to get a syringe. That's why I haven't seen it before. Because medicine from the Capitol is outrageously expensive. But, now that I've heard the name, I know it, I've heard of it before. It's a strong painkiller. It'll do the job much better than sleep syrup. Gale goes out almost as soon as the morphling is empty of the syringe and we all visibly relax.

I decide we all could do with something hot and nourishing, so I make up some stew and grab some pieces of bread for everyone. I'm about to head back into the kitchen when I see my sister go in. For a moment, I'm surprised, because she normally goes running whenever someone severely injured is brought to us. But, then I understand, of course. This is different. This is her best friend, and I don't know if more. I look on sympathetically, but leave her alone with him. We've done all we can for now and he will be fine, just out of work for several weeks. I think of Hazelle and Gale's siblings. I know Katniss will hunt for them. I'll be sure to help cook up some things for them as well.

Katniss stays with Gale late into the night until Peeta finally convinces her to get some rest. I'd talk to her, but we're all so exhausted, I let her be. Rest is just what all of us need right now. Peeta and I share a glance full of thanks, understanding, and knowing, as it's decided I should get some rest as well.

The next morning I'm up early, but I hear my mother moving already. I head down to the kitchen. Mother simply says, "Wash these and bring over new bandages," as she hands me blood-soaked rags as I come into the kitchen. I take a look at Gale, half-conscious again. So, the morphling's worn off. You can tell he's still in pain, unsurprisingly, but I know mother will want to be scant with the morphling. Not only is the medicine valuable, but it's supposed to be addictive as well. So, I ask her simply, "Snow coat?" leaving an unspoken "or do you need another syringe for morphling" in my question. She simply nods and I respond the same way.

I pull down another bowl and head outside, scooping up a couple handfuls of snow. I can't help but take a quick glance down the lane that takes you into town, thinking about the new Head, but I shake off that thought for now and head back inside. With the bowl of snow, I pull down the herbs we add to make it into snow coat and stir it up. It cools the skin as well as helps it stay clean and begin to heal. I hand the bowl to mother who starts gently putting it on Gale's angry back. I'd help, but she seems to have it and I'm afraid to hurt him. Mother, on the other hand does it expertly and you can see the relieving effect it has on him.

I hear Katniss ask, ^"Why didn't you put this on him last night?"

I'm about to answer, when mother does, ^"I needed the wound to set first."

After a while, Katniss asks about Peeta, probably worried that he got home alright. Mother suggests, ^^"Why don't you give him a call and check?"

Over the following days, I help tend to Gale, much as we've done. Katniss goes into town with Peeta once, and shortly Gale is better enough that we can send him home. He'll have to come back so we can be sure his wounds don't get infected, but he should be fine.

AN: * Direct quote from Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, pg. 111. Do not own this quote.

**Direct quote from Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, pg. 113. Do not own this quote.

***Direct quote from Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, pg. 114. Do not own this quote.

^Direct quote from Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, pg. 125. Do not own this quote.

^^Direct quote from Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, pg. 126. Do not own this quote.