Chapter XVI
Bu-dum.
One gentle thud.
Bu-dum.
The tender thumps of a heartbeat growing strong. A choked laugh escapes me. Relief courses through me.
She's alive.
The steadily growing beats are like the most heavenly melody.
Her chest begins to rise and fall with deep breaths and I find myself able to breath again. I wipe away the streams of tears that had tracked their way down my cheeks. I hadn't even realized I was crying.
…:::…
Annie peers her head around the corner, "Anything?"
"She still hasn't woken up." I rub my tired eyes. I haven't really left the infirmary since yesterday. Finnick woke up early this morning and Annie helped him back to his room to continue recovering. I've only left twice to quickly check on Finnick.
"Let us know if she does." I nod and she leaves.
I stand up to stretch my sore muscles. I busy myself with tidying the room…just like I did this afternoon…and this morning…and yesterday evening. Keeping my hands busy helps distract me.
Yesterday I cleaned and bandaged her wounds. Reset her arm and nose, and taped her ribs. I'd done all I could; her body would have to do the rest.
I'd already changed her dressings twice today…a third would really be overkill.
A low groan pulls me from my obsessive cleaning.
"Katniss." I rush to her side again.
She blinks rapidly, but I catch flashes of those beautiful gray irises. Her face contorts and relaxes before her eyes fully open.
She looks around, squinting occasionally into the lights.
"Doc?" Her voice comes out gruff and raw.
"Yes Captain." I try to answer her formally and try not to laugh at such formalities in a time like this.
"Wha happ'n'd?" Her lips fumble around the words.
"We rescued you Captain. You're going to be all right. You'll just need a lot of recovery time."
"I died…" She says matter-of-factly.
"Yes."
"You bring me back?"
"Yes."
"You told me you loved me when you thought I couldn't hear?"
My heart stops for a brief moment before racing uncontrollably.
"Err…I…well." I stammer.
"Yes or no doc. It's a simple question…just needs a simple answer."
"Yes." A forced whisper.
"I heard you." She whispers in return. "It was real nice of you to say all them pretty things. It was probably one of those in the moment things."
"I…err…yeah one of those in the moment things." I attempt to agree with her.
"Didn't sound like of them though." She states.
"Katniss I…"
"Peeta." She stops the beginning of my excuse.
Peeta…
She used my real name…and it sounds so beautiful falling from her lips.
"Yes Katniss?"
"Kiss me again."
And I do.
…:::…
He leans in; even though I know it ain't…it feels like slow motion.
His lips connect with mine, gently at first. Tingles run through my body, starting where his lips caress mine and running all the way to my toes. His lips linger, just brushing mine.
"Is this real?" He asks with disbelief.
"Yeah, it's real." I almost don't believe it myself.
"I'm really happy you're all right Katniss. I don't what I would have done if you had died."
I don't know where this came from. I'd been tryin' to avoid him, avoid all those feelings he was bringing out.
"Oh Cap'n you're awake!" I groan as I hear Annie's shrill voice and her stomping footsteps.
"The Cap'n is awake!" I suddenly hear over the intercom.
Within minutes everyone is crowded into the infirmary.
They all chatter and inquire about my health. Quickly I grow tired of it.
"You all got jobs so go do 'em!" I holler, "I need to rest."
…:::…
A few weeks later I've healed enough to move around the ship. However everyone is still very adamant about me takin' it easy. They won't even let me lift small objects. Peeta is the worst of them all. He hovers occasionally…until I holler at him. He tries to do everythin' for me and when I get angry he kisses me deeply and I can't remember why I was angry to begin with. I can't remember ever being so happy and it scares me a little. All this time I lectured Gale on his relationship problems when I had my own. But every day I force myself to stay. I force myself to resist pushing Peeta away. I force myself to go against my every instinct.
Ever since that kiss in the infirmary we've grown increasingly closer. It wasn't until last week that we really discussed the status of our relationship. It sure feels strange being a girlfriend. We spend nearly all our time together now and when no one is looking we steal kisses. I must admit that I really enjoy kissing him.
Peeta relocated from his bunk to mine. He insists it is so he can observe my injuries but I know it is more than that. I must admit that I like waking up next to him. It's like he changed me with one kiss. I like it, even if it terrifies me.
Now we are on a mission to Dreck. A simple drop off of medical supplies to the poor settlers there. We are less than an hour from our destination when Annie tells us all to prepare for landing.
I head to the cargo bay to supervise…not help…the unloading of the cargo. I watch as Peeta, Finnick and Gale prepare the cargo. Every now and then Peeta looks my way and smiles warmly and I find myself blushin' for no reason.
I feel the ship jolt slightly as it lands and the cargo bay doors begin to open. A small crowd of settlers awaits and they rejoice when we unload their medical supplies.
"Please would you do us the honor of joining us in celebration tonight? You will be our honored guests." The man who appears to be the minister asks us hopefully.
"We'd be honored!" Finnick exclaims jovially.
So now I find myself among the villagers. A large fire blazes in the center of the gather. Make shift tables are set up and a lovely spread of real food—not canned or frozen—is waiting to be eaten. Jars of ale are passed around. Music and dancing begin and the villagers all join in. Laughter fills the air.
Finnick and Gale are already very drunk. Annie is sort of following Finnick around…mostly makin' sure he doesn't fall into the fire. When Finnick gets drunk he thinks he can dance…he can't.
Peeta insists that I don't drink; apparently it won't sit well with the medication he has me taking to fight infection.
Johanna and Peeta, I notice, are getting' a little tipsy. Their eyes are getting hazy but they are still mostly in control. Johanna is getting angrier by the second. I notice that she is constantly glowering at Gale. Gale who is currently dancing closely with a pretty village girl who oddly resembles a fox, both of them wrapped in a vine covered in flowers. A vine? These settler types are weird.
And so the night continues on.
…:::…
The next morning most people are ill from the mass amounts of ale consumed last night. Thankfully Annie was still in her right mind and we were able to fly from Dreck last night. We've been on autopilot all night and are well on our way to District four where Haymitch said he has a job waiting for us.
"What happened last night?" I hear Finnick grumble as he stumbles into the dining room where Peeta and I are already sitting.
Annie follows him in, "You drank to much. You deserve how sick you feel." She states simply as she pours him a cup of coffee. "Drink. It might help."
Thresh and Rue come in. Rue is her cheerful self and Thresh watches her with happy eyes. It warms my heart to see how he protects his little sister. Reminds me of my little duck. Rue flounces around the room, greeting everyone with a hug and a smile. Thresh mumbles his good morning before taking a seat.
Clove brushes in wearing her fancy silk garments. "Good morning everyone." She takes her seat and begins to chat with Thresh. It's funny…he barely talks except with Clove and Rue.
"Ahhh!" A loud and masculine shriek fills the corridors.
Everyone jumps and rushes towards the crew's bunks. Judging by everyone here the sound came from Gale's room.
Peeta throws the door open…the scene before us is unbelievable.
Gale stands in the middle of his room, with a throw blanket wrapped around his waist. He looks completely horrified. But what is most surprising is the small woman with a fox-like face who is curled on his bed wrapped in his sheet. She looks as if she is about to burst into tears.
"Oh my…what happened here?" I exclaim. "And who the hell is she?"
"I…I dunno Katniss. I remember drinkin' last night. I think I drank a lot. Anyhow this mornin' I wake up and she…" he gestures wildly to the girl, "is in my bed…we're both naked and…"
"And…" Finnick prompts with a dopey grin plastered on his face.
"You tell 'em what you told me." He growls towards the frightened little fox.
Now she bursts into tears.
Between sobs she manages to say, "Do I not please you? A wife is supposed to please her husband. Please do not beat me like so many unhappy husbands do." Her voice is pleading and pathetic but that doesn't even register after the words husband and wife.
"You got married?" Annie cheers.
"You got married?" Johanna's glum voice comes from behind us.
"I didn't!" He defends. "Did I?" He sidles up to Finnick, "How drunk was I last night?"
"I don't know man I was completely trashed." Finnick murmurs.
"But last night at the wedding ceremony you seemed so pleased. Are you unhappy?" The crying woman chokes out the words.
"I didn't marry you!" Gale hollers.
"I can't believe you Gale Hawthorne! You're a pig!" Johanna growls.
"Johanna…" Gale begins.
"Shove it Hawthorne." She storms off.
"I didn't marry you." Gale attempts to reason with his crying bride.
"Last night you and I were wrapped in the ceremonial marriage vine by Father Patrick. It signifies the everlasting bond formed in marriage. Then you sealed it by kissing me and Father Patrick sprinkled the holy wine over our heads."
"Unfortunately I remember seein' all that Gale. I think you just might've married her." I say with restrained laughter.
A/N:
Hey all! I hope your week is going well. Thanks for reading. Please review!