Chapter XV

"Catnip!" A panicked voice calls out my old nick name. Who gave it to me again? I can't even recall the simplest details anymore. Not that any of it matters here. The comfortable blackness surrounds me. I feel like I'm floatin' in a warm bath.

It's perfectly peaceful except for that voice which keeps echoing inside my mind. What was happening before this? I can't seem to recall. All I know is that I'm happy here in the blackness, floatin' in comfort.

"Katniss Everdeen don't you dare think you can go dyin' on me!" The voice, a man's voice, screams. The once peaceful stillness I had been enjoyin' begins to crumble.

Everything begins to shake, like a quake. The warmth rushes from in, leaving only cold in its wake. The comfortable floatin' feelin' is long gone, all I feel know is pain and stiffness.

"Come on Katniss, you're stronger than this. Don't you dare give up on me."

Gale.

"Gale." The word tumbles from my mouth, not very strong, but still enough for him to hear.

"I'm gonna get you back to the ship. That doctor of yours is gonna fix you up. I promise." I feel my weight being lifted and carried. My mind would normally try to fight unconsciousness…but right now I just can't seem to care.

…:::…

Finnick's unconscious body weighs me down as I trek back to the ship. It's a longer walk than I realized before and my knees are quaking with the effort.

The ship comes into view and I force my burning muscles to push forward.

"Peeta!" Rue's small and worried voice floats from the ship.

My throat burns with every deep breath and I struggle to keep each leg moving forward.

Large footsteps come towards me before Finnick's weight is lifted from my shoulders.

Thresh grunts and turns to walk towards the ship.

"Put him in the infirmary." I huff out.

When I've caught my breath I rush to the infirmary.

Finnick is lying on the bed; Thresh is carefully arranging his limbs. For such a large and intimidating man he is very gentle.

I head immediately for the sink and wash up. Hurriedly I grab my tools and all the supplies I'll need.

"Thresh. Wash up. I'll need your help."

He grunts and nods before doing what I said.

Thresh is a useful assistant, he hands me all the right tools whenever I ask.

"Finnick!" Annie's scream echoes through the ship, it's filled with panic and fear. It's heart wrenching.

Stomping feet begin to approach.

I look down to Finnick. He doesn't look good. He's pale and his breathing is fearfully slow. I don't want Annie to see him like this.

"Stop her." I look Thresh dead in the eye to force him to understand the severity of my request.

Annie starts through the infirmary door but Thresh intercepts her. She thrashes and screams, she cries and weeps but Thresh holds her steady as I continue to work. She shrieks Finn's name over and over between her sobs.

Tears prick my eyes as I listen to Annie behind me but I force myself to concentrate on Finnick. I remove the bullet, which had been buried deep and laced with a slow poison, before patching him up and give him a general antidote. He's lost a lot of blood but it looks like he'll pull through. I sigh in relief as I step back.

Finnick's breathing slowly evens out and his heart beat begins to grow strong on the monitor. He'll be ok.

Johanna has joined us in the infirmary and is hugging Annie from behind while Thresh is still consoling her, her face buried in his massive chest.

"Annie." I speak softly, she raises her red rim eyes to me and wipes her tear stained cheeks. "He'll be ok. I promise."

She rushes to me and wraps her arms around my waist. "Thank you Peeta." She whispers, interrupted only by a few hiccups. "I almost lost him didn't I? Please be honest with me."

"Yes. I didn't know if he'd make it back to the ship. But he's fine."

"Thank you."

I look to Johanna; her face is fallen. I ask the silent question and she lowers her head.

"We didn't find her, but we haven't heard from Gale yet. I thought he had come back with you." She says before silence fills the room again. Annie moves to Finnick's side and gently takes his hand.

A loud pop disturbs the room before noisy crackling erupts from the radio on Johanna's hip.

"I…basement…not good….Katniss." Gale's voice emerges amidst the white noise. Everyone jumps at the mention of Katniss.

Johanna grabs the radio, "Gale! You're breakin' up!"

"I found her…rough condition…headin' back…prepare…infirmary now."

Rough condition. Infirmary now.

Those aren't exactly comforting messages.

"Gale! Gale!" Johanna yells into the radio but we get no reply.

"Thresh help me move Finnick to the counter over there." Gently we both lift Finnick onto the stretcher and relocate him to the counter.

I wipe the bed and utensils clean to prepare for whatever condition Katniss is in.

"Open the doors!" Gale's voice suddenly roars through the radio.

Johanna bolts from the room and she clambers through the ship with everyone, even Annie, hot on her heels.

She smashes her fist against the button to open the cargo bay.

Time always seems to slow when your heart is racing…this is one of those moments. The cargo bay doors seem to creep open, in fact I think they are slowing down.

The top of Gale's head comes into view. Then his full head, his back is to us. As more of him comes into view I can see that there is blood covering his sleeves. Dark, ragged hair hangs out from one side of his body; long legs covered in tattered pants hang from the other.

She's been missing for days. Cato has had his grimy hands on her for days…what could he have done?

When the doors land with a heavy thud he turns around slowly. I focus on his face first…worried of what I might find when I look down. Gale's face is hollow and blank.

Johanna gasps, Thresh lets out what sounds like a low growl, Clove—who I hadn't realized had joined us—whimpers, and Annie lets out a pained cry.

I let my eyes fall to Katniss' limp form. Her face is completely covered in bruises and blood…most of it dried. Her hair is matted with blood. Her nose is bent…broken. Blood has dribbled down her bruised neck. I can see the shape of fingers in her bruises. She doesn't have a shirt on anymore just a dirty and stained cotton bra. Electricity burns cover her skin. There is no pattern to them, just completely at random. The bruises on her ribs tell me that most likely her ribs are either bruised or broken. Her one arm is bent at an odd angle, also broken. Her legs look to be fine, except for the cuts and bruises. Much to my relied her pants appear to have not been touched or removed. At least I have that to be thankful for.

"She hasn't said anythin' to me since I first found her." Gale stumbles over his words. "She mumbles a bit but her breath is comin' shorter and shorter."

Annie has wandered over to where Gale stands, the only one who ahs been able to move from their frozen and shocked state.

"She ain't breathin' Peeta." She turns to me with worried eyes.

"Let's get her to the infirmary." A returned sense of urgency flows through my veins.

Gale sets her on the bed. I check her pulse…it's faint. I hook her up the machines and study her decreasing heartbeat.

"She's going into cardiac arrest." I try to say as calmly as possible, trying to focus myself instead of panicking. "I need everyone to clear the room."

"No way…" Gale begins to protest.

"Get out! She's dying Gale! Let me save her!" I holler.

Everyone quickly exits the room and I turn to Katniss' body.

I begin CPR, methodically administering it.

"Come on Katniss. Don't give in. I've only know you a short while but I sure as hell know you aren't a quitter." My voice is strained from my efforts.

Her heartbeat is slow and struggling.

"Please Katniss." I beg. "Don't give up, don't leave me. You have no idea the effect you have on people…on me. I need you. Ever since I came aboard this ship and saw you…I've cared for you. I couldn't explain it…not until the moment you were gone. I love you Katniss. I've been falling in love with you ever since you first punched me. I can't let you die without knowing that. I can't let you die without telling you how much I care. I don't care if you don't care about me that way…just please don't die. Not now."

Her heart flat lines.

"No!" I grab the defibrillator and press the paddles to her chest. Her body convulses but her heartbeat does not return. Again. Nothing. Again. Still nothing.

"Katniss Everdeen I love you…don't you dare give up yet." I command her…hoping it will help yet knowing it won't.

I lean down and grasp her face between my hands. I crush my lips against hers, which are cold and still.

"Please." I whisper and plead.

Again….

AN: Hey all! Thanks for sticking with me. The end is coming up soon. There are still a few more chapters but still I'll be sad when this story is over. I love all the reviews you've left and every follow/favorite means a lot to me. Enjoy!