A/N: Thanks to Belle453 for her help! Some pieces of text (speeches in the broadcasts) are taken straight from Canon and are the work of Suzanne Collins.
Before Naiya or I can react, a strained voice calls from the hall, "Maddie! It's me!"
Naiya lets out her breath, and I'm equally relieved when I recognize Bear's voice. I call back, "Hold on, I'm coming ..." and rush to the door to let him in. He pulls me into the hallway and hugs me.
"I'm so sorry ..." he tells me. I think he must have run over here as soon as he saw the announcement about Katniss. It's terrible news, and of course I'm feeling completely lost, but so far I've been holding myself together fairly well. That, or I'm just in shock. I'm tempted now to break down, but I don't let myself. "Thanks for coming," I tell him. I steel myself to face the broadcast and lead him into the apartment. When we get back into Naiya's living room, there's a new figure on the screen.
"Rebels broke in," Naiya says distractedly, glancing briefly to us before returning her attention to the screen, where an older woman with impeccably straight shoulder length gray hair and steely gray eyes - eyes almost colorless, much lighter than Seam gray - is praising Katniss' contributions to the rebellion. Its obvious they're not disputing the Capitol's claims that she and the others are dead.
"Who's that?" Bear asks.
Naiya answers with a sniff, "That is - well, apparently she's the president of District Thirteen. Who even knew they had a president? But then I never even thought about district 13's government before, why would I? I think she said her name is Coin, but I'm not real sure. She says she's been leading the rebellion. It makes sense, I guess. We knew district thirteen was involved in the Victor's escape during the Quell. Oh, can you believe they've killed Finnick? It's so sad. After everything he'd been through, and just married, I don't see why he had to be on the front lines after everything he's done. The whole squadron dead. Of course we all knew we wouldn't just march into the Capitol and take over, but to see it in the broadcast ... I guess I got used to the rebel broadcasts always showing the positive side. We knew it wasn't all so happy, but what a loss. Finnick gone, and those two babies from district 12. You know the rebels will rally around our fallen victors though. President Snow can say whatever he wants, but our troops won't back down now. I know my Rose and if anything this will only make her fight harder."
President Coin continues her big speech, so I turn my attention back to see what she has to say. After more praise for the Mockingjay and for the districts uniting under her, she seems to be drawing to a close. "If ever you waver in your resolve," she pronounces, "think of the Mockingjay, and in her you will find the strength you need to rid Panem of its oppressors." Then a fake-looking picture of Katniss in front of flickering flames fills the screen.
With that, the rebels turn the broadcast back to the Capitol, and President Snow is back on screen. His anger is evident but he rebuts Coin's eloquent speech, starkly declaring, "Tomorrow morning, when we pull Katniss Everdeen's body from the ashes, we will see exactly who the Mockingjay is. A dead girl who could save no one, not even herself." They close the broadcast playing the anthem with the Seal of Panem on screen.
"They act like no one cares about the others," I say softly, knowing Naiya and Bear will be thinking of Finnick, though my thoughts are on Peeta and Gale.
Naiya answers with a sigh, "Well honey, outside district 4 and .. well I guess district 13, they're probably right. Who else knows any of the others, really? Sure, people know the victors, but the rebels have been putting their Mockingjay front and center from the start. It's only natural they focus on her now. It's such a shame though. Finnick gone and hardly a word said in his honor. I'm sure the district rebels will plan something though, if they're able. Everyone would want to pay their respects, don't you think so?"
"Of course," I tell her.
Turning her attention to Bear Naiya says, "It's sweet of you to come Barend. Maddie tells me - what?" She stops mid-sentence, looking at him.
I twist to look at Bear, eyebrows raised in surprise and amusement, and the glowering look he's giving Naiya is redirected to me. "Don't." he threatens.
I can't help it though. "Barend?"
He sighs with such exasperation it sounds like a growl, and shrugs. Grudgingly he explains, "family name. It means Bear, it sounds like Bear." Turning to Naiya he asks with mock anger, "Where did you even hear that?"
Naiya laughs, "Oh honey, Spinner let it slip sometime. Rose was asking him about it. I don't think he wanted to tell her, but she could tell he was hiding something and my Rose sure can be persistent. She just wouldn't let him be until he told her, though he did swear her to secrecy first. I just happened to be around to witness it. Besides I think it suits you. You're not an animal, you know. You can't expect me to call you Bear, really. It's not a proper name."
He gripes, "I should have known swearing him to secrecy wasn't enough."
I take his hand and with a smirk say, "I guess you're just going to have to live with us knowing too." I can't believe I didn't know. I'm pretty sure I asked him something - like what kind of a name Bear was, but that was so long ago, soon after I came to district four, and I think he just distracted me by asking about my own name, Maddie, which I probably replied to defensively. It's cute, him getting all defensive about it. I smother a giggle at the look on his face.
"So what did I miss? I headed over as soon as the initial report was broadcast," Bear asks, blatantly trying to change the topic. I really didn't need the reminder of why he rushed over in the first place though. Remembering my dead friends, I push away the urge to cry. I won't let this be about me; we've all lost something today.
"Honey I tell you, I wish I hadn't seen it," Naiya answers. "They showed the whole squad out on some street in the Capitol. They had to take refuge in a building, from some strange goo that filled the street, another of those booby traps - then Peacekeepers throwing bombs that blew up the entire building. Well I guess they've got to wait for the fires to die before they can recover any bodies. The Capitol had footage about the Mockingjay and what she's done with the rebels. Then President Snow's speech, well you could just hear it in his voice, that evil man taking so much pleasure in her death. He's had her in his sights ever since her first games and now I guess he's got her." A few stray tears roll down her cheek and her voice cracks a bit as she goes on, "Well I guess that's what you missed. The district 13 woman had just come on after Maddie went to let you in. They showed photos of everyone killed, I guess, that was earlier though. I know it's a war but it's still so sad to see all that ..."
"How many were killed?" Bear asks.
I think back to the reports and mostly to the video they showed of the squadron on the street. Naiya speaks up before I can find an answer. "Twelve, I think. I didn't know all of them. Just Finnick, and Katniss and Peeta of course. There was that cousin of hers and another guy that's been in the Mockingjay broadcasts. The other ... I think there were eight more, but I didn't even hear their names. Maybe the Capitol doesn't know who they are either. Could that be? I suppose if they were soldiers from 13, the Capitol wouldn't know them. I don't know that they were from 13, they could be from anywhere I guess."
I nod. "That sounds right. Finnick, Katniss, Peeta and Gale. There were two dead on the street. Then the guy Katniss was crouched beside? And four others? Maybe the rebels will air a tribute."
"Poor Annie. They were just married," Bear murmurs, his eyes wet.
We talk for awhile longer, eventually drifting off the topic of the fallen victors. We're all waiting for another broadcast, but none comes.
"You two have kept me up long past my bedtime, and we have a busy day tomorrow don't we Maddie. I'm gonna have to put an end to our little party. You're welcome to stay here if you want, though I'd have to insist you slept in different rooms," Naiya tells us. A little embarrassed, I smile, ready to tell her that's fine, but wondering if Bear wants to head home.
Bear answers quickly, "We don't sleep together at home ... I mean, in the same room, not ... you know. Which we also, do not do! What I mean is," he says with a quick glance my way, clearly flustered, "we wouldn't expect anything else. I'm sure Maddie would like to stay. Besides, I won't sleep anyway. I brought my tablet just in case, so I'll probably just get some work done. You two should get some sleep though. I'll let you know if anything happens."
I give Bear a kiss goodnight and whisper, "Goodnight Barend," earning a glare from him before Naiya shows me to a bedroom. "He's not going to sneak in here as soon as I turn my back, is he?" she asks me. I reassure her that he won't. He doesn't sneak into the bedroom at home, so he's definitely not going to do it here.
In the morning I hurry out to the living room to find Bear, even though I know he would have woken me if something happened. He confirms there's been nothing more broadcast, but expects there will be a broadcast paying tribute to the fallen victors if nothing else today. We agree the Capitol will probably broadcast again after they recover the bodies.
"I met Finnick once," Bear says quietly. "And Annie. During the tour after my sister's games. You know how they expect the families to be front and center. I didn't want to meet him, I wanted to hate them all, but he was ... kind. I'll always remember it." I don't know what to say.
Later I admit to him, "I used to have a crush on Gale."
When Naiya and I head out to handle the incoming supplies, Bear heads home. I think we all want to stay and keep watch for the next broadcast, but Naiya and I have far too much to do today. We manage to get through the day, despite a few workers not turning up to their provisions sites. Luckily it only happens at sites with multiple people scheduled, so there's someone available at each store. Whenever we get the chance we ask about the broadcasts but no one has any news, except one person who's heard that district 4 is prepping a tribute to Finnick but hasn't aired it yet. After a busy day, I head home to find Bear asleep on the couch in front of the television. I wake him up and he tells me he stayed up watching for any new broadcasts, but none came.
In the evening, there's a report from district four rebels. A district reporter is on screen, announcing that the district will air a memorial broadcast to Finnick Odair following the news report. First, recent footage aired in the Capitol has provided new information on the Mockingjay squad deaths. The reporter says that the Capitol is offering bounties to their citizens for information leading to the capture of five of the Mockingjay squad members, now reported to still be at large in the Capitol. Those five, who are believed to have survived yesterday's bombing, are shown in photos as their names are announced: Mockingjay Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Gale Hawthorne, a young Capitol woman named Cressida Halloway, and a burly bearded man by the name of Pollux Ledakind.
Bear and I stare first at the screen, then at each other, in shock. I wonder if it can really be true. Then he grins at me. Squealing I throw my arms around him. "I can't believe it," I gasp. Bear pulls me off the couch and squeezes his arms around me, spinning me around him. Eventually we fall back on the couch, laughing.
Neither of us can believe it. I'm so relieved, to think that they have actually survived, that they are still out there somewhere. Bear is glad too, though I think it's mostly for my sake. "You sure you're not just glad your other boyfriend is still alive?" he teases me.
I shove him good-naturedly, telling him, "Shut up." I give him a quick kiss, because I just can't resist. I know he's just teasing me. "I wish Finnick had made it though." He nods sadly.
When the memorial to Finnick comes on, we watch somberly the footage gathered of Finnick as a tribute, as a Victor and mentor, back in the arena for the Quell, and finally as a rebel soldier. The rebels don't leave out Snow's abuse of Finnick, selling his favors to Capitol aristocrats. More than anything else, we can feel Finnick's strength to battle through everything he suffered at Snow's hand. It reminds me of what Katniss has gone through in just the last year and a half. I'm glad that, wherever she is, she's still fighting. And I'm glad she has Peeta and Gale; I know she can trust them no matter what happens.
With everything else going on, I don't even think to ask Bear if Spinner has been in contact.
A/N: Barend is a german name that means Bear. Thanks Annie for Bear meeting Finnick.
FYI Finnick has died by the time this last broadcast airs. We know from Tigris that there weren't any broadcasts in the Capitol from the rebels after they realize Katniss & co. are still alive. So I'm assuming there aren't any earlier ones in the districts either - the rebels in 13 probably planned to air something but were thrown when they learned the squad wasn't dead. However, the broadcasts in the Capitol eventually identify the 5 still alive. Here I have the rebels in 4 reporting from that information, so presumably nobody in district 4 knows (yet) that Finnick didn't die until the mutts in the underground (which happened the same day as the second half of this chapter).
Text quoted directly from Mockingjay:
(Coin:) "If ever you waver in your resolve, think of the Mockingjay, and in her you will find the strength you need to rid Panem of its oppressors."
(Snow:) "Tomorrow morning, when we pull Katniss Everdeen's body from the ashes, we will see exactly who the Mockingjay is. A dead girl who could save no one, not even herself."