Chapter 11

When Gale wakes, he sees that sometime in the night, Rue put some kind of leaves on Katniss's stings. The commentators explain that this sucks out the tracker jacker venom and will help Katniss heal, the leaves should also make her sleepy while they work.

Since she will be asleep for a few hours, and since it's Sunday, Gale decides to start doing odd jobs around the house, nothing too strenuous or complex, just things that have been on his to do list for a long time. He knows he'll be just a few minutes away if something happens, and it gives him something to do besides watch Keegan sleep.

He starts at his own house, where Rory and Vick spent the night with him and Keegan. The roof had been leaking lately, and Katniss had been begging him to fix it, so he started with that, then going inside to fix the sink, to his mother's to fix a broken door hinge, and to the Everdeen house to patch a leak in their roof. It took him almost four hours of pure manual labor. He had sweat through his clothes by lunch time, but he felt proud of himself for really accomplishing something besides feeding everyone.

He comes in to eat lunch, Rory already having gone hunting and Vick watching the baby. They feast on squirrel before Keegan gets her bottle. After she's full, Gale burps her and puts her down for her nap. He comes back into the kitchen to see his two smiling brothers, "What guys?" he asks, "With Katniss gone, I had to get good at being a parent somehow." They laugh and Gale easily smiles.

"Gale, I was actually going to tell you something I found out yesterday." Vick was always quite the reader, and Gale had noticed he'd been pouring over his books since the games started.

"What is it, bud?"

"Well, you know how they've nicknamed Katniss 'the Girl on Fire?'" Gale nodded, and gestured with his hands for Vick to go on. "Well, I knew that Keegan was a named passed through the family because of what it meant. I remembered Dad had told me after grandma passed away. So, I've been searching for the meaning."

"Alright, Vick. What'dya find?"

"Keegan is an ancient word that pre-dates Panem. It means, 'tiny little fire.'"

Gale looked at his little brother and smiled. This was perfect. They had unknowingly played into the whole Girl on Fire thing. This would be great when they did the final eight interviews of the family. He could play it just right and earn her more sponsors.

Rory turned to the screen and mentioned for the other boys to look as well. Katniss had woken up, finally, and noticed the leaves on her skin. She was startled, unaware how she had ended up like this. But then she heard a rustle in the tree above her, she smiled the same warm smile she always gave Keegan. "Rue? Are you there?"

The small slender girl jumped down from the tree and smiled at Katniss. "Don't take the leaves off, they suck out the venom."

Katniss rubbed her head, "How long have I been asleep?"

"Not very long," the girl replied, "the boy from 8, the girl from 9, both from 10. And I think that's all you missed."

"That's not very much. Has anyone came by?"

"No. I went to spy on the Careers though. I think the boy from one has a thing for you." She smiled, playing with Katniss.

Katniss shrugged and went hunting, taking down two squirrels and roasting them before nightfall. The girls stuffed themselves, little Rue's face lighting up when she realized she could have the entire thing.

…

Haymitch was asleep, which left Peeta one of about 3 in the mentor's room who was still awake. Finnick Odair, a victor from 4, and Johanna Mason from 7, were crowded around him trying to give advice. Not that Peeta was listening, he was at war with himself.

Katniss was a married woman, and he'd never had a chance. He had won the games, for her, and she didn't even notice. He doubted she'd even batted an eyelash at anybody except Hawthorne. He was furious because he'd even tried to hold her hand while trying to coach her, but he couldn't help himself. She was so close and just so lovely.

He sighed again; Gale Hawthorne could kick his ass without thinking twice. And with the way Peeta's thoughts were going tonight, he deserved it.

There were just nine tributes left in the arena tonight. Only one more needed to die before they'd do the interviews of people from back home and he'd have to hear it all over again.

Poor Katniss, being forced away from the family she so loves. Poor Gale, having his wife taken. Poor Keegan, not that she really knows the damn difference right now.

Peeta felt awful for having these thoughts. If he had really loved Katniss, he would be doing everything in his power to help her win, and that included playing up the angle with her family.

Haymitch had advised him to call Gale, since mentors were allowed to call families in case a certain approach was needed on the interview. Peeta had put it off and put it off, but he knew Gale would be able to continue with the family thing, even if Peeta didn't call him.

With Katniss standing watch for Rue, he calculated what time it was in 12 right now. He figured Gale would be awake and dialed the numbers.

…

The phone was ringing. Odd. Nobody ever called Gale. The only reason he'd had the stupid phone put in anyway was because the baker had insisted. Something about being so far away, there was no need to walk that far in snow or rain to find out the bakery was cancelled. Gale had accepted, but only because the baker gave him a slight pay raise in order to have the phone installed.

The phone kept ringing, so he hurried to answer it before it could wake Keegan. "Um, Hello?"

"Gale? This is Peeta Mellark, Katniss's mentor. With the way things are going, they'll be doing the family interviews tomorrow. I just wanted to call and chat about it."

Chat? Since when did Gale ever chat?"

"Uhh, okay. Just what did you have in mind?"

"Well," Peeta sighed, "they're still playing the family thing really big in the Capitol, so I suggest you linger on how great of a mother Katniss is. And since the Girl on Fire thing is big here too, you may wanna mention that."

"The family thing won't be a problem, Peeta. Keegan misses her, and I do too."

"I know, I'm doing everything I can here."

"You're damn straight. And you better be doing more than you think you can. That's my wife. I want her back home." Gale was starting to get emotional again, so he quickly switched topics. "My family and I discovered something yesterday that you may want me to mention tomorrow."

"What's that?"

"Well, Keegan is actually an old family name that's been passed down for its meaning. My brother found what the meaning was."

"Okay, well what is it?"

"Tiny, little fire."

On the other end of the line, Peeta smiled. Getting Katniss home was going to be a little easier than he thought.

…

As Katniss took the watch for Rue, all she could think about was her family. She missed Gale so much that it physically hurt her. She pulled Rue close, hoping that the warmth of another person would temporarily cure her of missing Gale. She sighed, knowing that it wouldn't help at all, if anything, it would make her miss him more. Since the temperature was dropping rapidly, she pulled Rue close anyway. Rue shivered a few times before she woke up.

"Rue, why aren't you still asleep? I told you I could keep the watch all night since I slept the last two days."

Rue smiled, still drugged from sleepiness. "I just can't sleep is all."

"Well, why don't I sing you a song?" Rue nodded, and Katniss began to sing Keegan's lullaby.

The mockingjays around them fell silent while listening to her sing.

Deep in the meadow, under the willow,
a bed of grass, a soft green pillow.
Lay down your head, and close your eyes,
and when they open, the sun will rise.
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,
here is the place where I love you.

When she finishes the last line, she puts her three middle fingers to her lips and stretches them high above her head. She knows the cameras are watching, and she hopes Gale is too. She hopes he let their daughter watch her sing the lullaby, and hopes she fell asleep to it. Just before the mockingjays stop repeating her melody, she whispers to no one, "I love you, Gale."