A/N: Okay! Here is the other chapter i was promising tonight, complete with a little more Gale jealousy that was asked for! I LOVE when you guys give me suggestions on what you'd like to see more of, so keep'em coming!
Chapter 9.
The tributes were given one more day before they were sent into the arena. Gale decided to work extra for the day, and thought about asking the baker if he could take tomorrow off. He knows he needs it, but he doesn't know if he can handle pacing in front of the projector screen for more than a few hours.
He's hidden in the back, stacking and stocking and taking inventory. The baker handles everything up front. He usually tries not to listen to the mundane conversations of the people rich enough to come to the bakery, but it seems as if his senses are on high alert today.
"Yeah, that Katniss girl. They're all talking about her getting back to her kid, but there's no way she will."
A second boy chimed in, "Yeah. If only she hadn't gotten knocked up by Hawthorne. She'd probably win, and then she'd be open for business in the Capitol."
The first boy sniggered again, "What a fine piece of ass she'd be. We'd have to save for a year just to get it."
More laughing, "Hell yeah. It'd be worth it though." He grunted, and Gale couldn't stand to hear or see anymore.
He charged to the front of the bakery, forgetting everyone who was staring at him, he grabbed the shirt of the boy who had spoken last. He was at least 6 inches shorter than Gale, and not muscular at all.
"If you have something to say about my wife," he spat through his teeth, "Say it respectfully." He turned to the other and grabbed his shirt with his other hand, "I'd love to kick both your asses right now, but I think I'll just let Katniss take care of it herself when she gets home."
The boys tremble in Gale's grasp, he knows he must be terrifying. "And if I were the both of you, I'd use my savings to send her sponsor money instead of trying to get in the pants of a married woman."
He then punches the first one across the face, catching the second by surprise and elbowing him in the nose. The first turns back to Gale and gives him a weak punch in the jaw before Gale launches him across the bakery, hitting into a chair as he went. The other just stared at Gale for a few more seconds, unsure if he should help his friend or run for the hills. Gale laughs, because the boys can't be more than 17 years old, much too young to get into a real fight with. He smirks at them, "Get the hell out of here and keep your foul language to yourself." The boys exit the bakery and start running the moment they hit the street.
Gale then turns to the baker and is horrified by what he's done. "I'm so…I'm so sorry. I was going to ask for tomorrow off, but I guess that's out of the question now… I can fix everything."
The baker smiled warmly, "Don't worry about it, son."
"What time should i come in tomorrow?"
"Don't worry about it, Gale. Take the day off."
"I was going to ask, but now i'm kinda afraid to."
"Well if you didn't, I was going to demand that you did. You need sleep, Gale."
He ran his hands through his hair, "It's easier when I don't sleep. There's only so many ways she can die in my dreams before I get fed up and just start staying awake."
"In that case, why don't you do something constructive? If you'll wait here just a moment…" the baker trailed off, running to the back room for something. When he finally came back, he had several books in his hands. "I knew your father was something of an avid reader. These were a few of his that I never got the chance to give back. I've read them over and over—give'em a look. Might help you sleep a little better." He winked and shooed Gale out the door. Gale turned to wave as the baker called his name a last time, "Son," he winks, "I would've reacted the same way."
Gale goes home and eats supper with his family. He feels a hole in his heart, missing the only person who could make this complete. He play wrestles with Vick and Rory, just like always. He reads Keegan and Posy a story about princesses and being rescued by the prince. Halfway through the book, Gale hears his voice break. He knows he should be rescuing his princess from the dark dragon called the Capitol.
Posy hears his emotion and turns to him, "There isn't anything you can do, Gale. She will come home. I know she will." Posy turns back to her book and is asleep within minutes. Gale feeds his daughter her nightly bottle and takes her to their bed to sing the lullaby.
If Katniss stays alive, he will sing the lullaby every night to keep her safe. Just as every night before, he whispers the last line into his daughter's cheek, hoping her mother can hear it too, "here is the place where I love you…"
…
For the first time since Katniss has left, she feels complete. She knows that Gale and Keegan were watching, and she knows Gale would see her blowing kisses and know they were all for him.
As she crawls into bed, she realizes that tomorrow begins the most trying days of her life. She knows that one mistake could be fatal in the arena. But she knows her husband, daughter, and her baby sister are safe, and that is enough.
As she looks to the left side of her bed, she sighs. Gale always slept on her left and she misses him more than ever. The past few months of waking every few hours with the baby make it impossible for her to get a good night's sleep, but she knows this will help her once she's in the arena. For now, she pulls one of the larger pillows to her left side and puts her arm over it. She begins to hum the melody she sings to Keegan every night, finally giving up and singing the words softly.
Here, it's safe, and here, it's warm,
here the daisies guard you from every harm.
Here your dreams are sweet, and tomorrow brings them true,
Her voice starts to bubble over with tears, and she can't even finish the last line. She looks to her window and hopes Gale is watching the same stars she is. She thinks the last line in her head, sending them the thousands of miles to wherever he is, "here is the place where I love you."
In the morning, Effie wakes a groggy Katniss. She is taken aboard a hovercraft, then deep underground below the arena. The Peacekeepers plunge her into a room with Cinna. He smiles to her as he pins the Mockingjay on her jacket and kisses her forehead. They sit holding hands until a voice tells her to enter the tube. Cinna smiles and winks to her, "If I was allowed to bet, I'd bet on you, Girl on Fire. Go win this for your family."
As the tube rises to the surface, she takes in her surroundings for the required sixty seconds.
She looks around her and smiles.
In the control room, Haymitch and Peeta look to each other and smile.
Watching silently in the square, Gale smiles too. This woodsy arena was built for Katniss.