mgowriter's notes: Last chapter! I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this story! I loved reading all of your comments and reviews. I set out with the goal of writing on a regular basis with a weekly deadline and I'm happy to say it worked out better than I expected :] Weaving a story for Haymitch and Effie while sticking to what was already written in the book was a challenge I really enjoyed. Thanks again for reading! This chapter's reference: pages 253-260 of Catching Fire.

Chapter 10: Chasing the Storm

"A mockingjay, I think," says Katniss in answer to Caesar Flickerman's question. She examines the flowing sleeves of what was once her wedding dress. They are now covered with smoldering, black and white feathers. "It's the bird on the pin I wear as a token."
The shadow that falls across Haymitch's features mirrors that of Caesar's. The audience may not know the full meaning of the mockingjay, but Haymitch, Caesar, and thousands of others in the districts are well aware of what it symbolizes.

The camera pans to Cinna as Haymich turns to Effie. They stand just offstage, watching everything unfold on a TV screen.

"Did you know he was going to do that?"

Effie shakes her head. "No," she says sadly. "They won't let him get away with it, will they?"

Haymitch regretfully shakes of his head. It is an open act of the rebellion. Cinna, now bowing to an audience full of exuberant applause on the screen, will pay the price for what he's done.

. . .

As Katniss returns to her chair, Peeta takes the vacant seat next to Caesar. They settle into an easy back and forth that allows Haymitch to relax his stance. But when he breaks the news to Caesar that he and Katniss are already married, the frown on Haymitch's face returns. They're in dangerous territory; Peeta must know that. No matter how much the audience empathizes with the star-crossed lovers, President Snow will never let the Games come to a stop.

"We give them one day off and this is what they come up with," he says to Effie. But even he has to give Peeta credit when the younger man becomes visibly upset, playing fully to the audience's sympathy. The camera turns to Katniss, who smiles sadly at the adoring crowd. The tears in her eyes look surprisingly real.

Caesar's next question, however, does not prepare the rest of Panem for the answer that it receives. "Surely even a brief time is better than no time?"

"Maybe I'd think that, too, Casear, if it weren't for the baby."

. . .

There are a few moments of absolute silence. Emotions ranging from astonishment to anguish wash over the crowd in seemingly slow motion, forcing their faces to contort into unnatural states of affliction. The cameraman can't decide who to capture, and the image switches wildly between Peeta, Katniss, and the citizens of the Capitol. Even Caesar, with his unflappable demeanor, has to adjust the look of shock on his face. When the crowd finally reacts, it is with a blinding wall of noise.

"Come on," Haymitch says to Effie, quickly grabbing her hand. He leads them away through the deafening screams and cries, walking faster and faster with each step until they're almost running.

"Haymitch," Effie shouts above the noise.

"We have to get out of here," he says behind him, just as the first note of the anthem begins to play. It's so loud that the ground shakes below them and they can feel each beat of the music inside their bodies. They reach the tunnel that connects to the Training Center. As they race toward the elevators, they catch glimpses of the victors joining hands on passing TV screens. Before they reach the end, the screens start to flicker off, one by one. The feed has been cut.

"What happened?" Effie asks, panting slightly. "The crowd—"

"I know," Haymitch replies.

"Do you think President Snow will do anything to Peeta and Katniss?"

"I don't know. Maybe. The Game starts tomorrow. He has better plans for them in the arena, so probably not. I don't know. Dammit. Peeta shouldn't've done that. He pushed too far."

They reach the first set of elevators and are about to hurry inside when a Peacekeeper appears before the doors, blocking their way.

"What's the problem?" Haymitch asks, forcing his voice to remain calm.

"Essential personnel only," the man in the white uniform says. "Escort, come with me." Haymitch is quicker than the Peacekeeper, and he steps in front of Effie before the other man can reach for her. "She's staying with me."

The Peacekeeper raises an eyebrow as his lips contort into a malicious grin. His fingers move to rest on the trigger of the assault rifle at his side. "Step away from her. This is your only warning."

Two other Peacekeepers emerge from behind him, with equally happy trigger fingers.

"Haymitch," Effie says behind him. "It's okay. Do as he says. I'll be okay."

Before he can answer, a door breaks open on the other side of the room and dozens of people stream into the Training Center. They're headed for the far set of elevators. Haymitch catches a glimpse of Chaff and Finnick before they disappear into the crowd of shouting tributes and Peacekeepers.

Taking advantage of the distraction, the Peacekeeper nearest to Effie grabs her by the arm.

"Hey, get your hands off her!" Haymitch says angrily. He moves toward the man, but two sets of hands are there to restrain him. The click of the two safeties simultaneously disengaging from their guns stops him in his steps.

He looks at Effie. He needs to tell her everything will be okay, because he doesn't know when he's going to see her again. He has always imagined their goodbye to be different, but there's no time. Instead, he says, "Remember what I said." Their secret conversation in her shower feels as if it happened days ago rather than yesterday morning.

"I will," she replies. "Remember your promise."

Haymitch nods. It's his way of saying he'll do the best to stay alive, to see her again. They have a few more precious seconds before the first guard leads Effie away, and Haymitch is left staring at the empty space of where she stood just moments ago.

"Where are you taking her?" he asks the Peacekeeper nearest him.

"Relax," the other man says. "All Capitol citizens are ordered to go home."

Haymitch sighs. He doesn't know if the Peacekeepr is lying, or if he's telling the truth and the truth is a lie, but it's better than nothing. At least for now, as least he can hope; Effie is safe.

. . .

The guard allows Haymitch into the elevator and he presses the button for level 12 until the doors shut. He leans against the metal interior, letting it support his weight. There's no time to waste. He needs to focus. He has to find Katniss and Peeta.

The three of them almost collide as the doors open. Haymitch hurries out of the elevator. "It's madness out there," he says. "Everyone's been sent home and they've canceled the recap of the interview on television."

The three of them move to the large window of the common room, and look down at hundreds of frantic people trying to navigate the gridlocked streets. Haymitch's eyes search desperately for a figure in an electric-yellow dress, but Effie is nowhere to be seen. When Peeta and Katniss ask about her, he makes an empty promise of giving her their thanks. His mind is racing in a thousand directions. He needs to find Plutarch to ask him about Effie, but he knows that it won't be possible. He can't risk the unscheduled contact now, with the Games beginning tomorrow.

When Peeta asks him if he has any last words of advice, he mutters the only thing that comes to mind. "Stay alive." As the words escape his mouth, he realizes that this could be the last time he sees either of them. Acting purely out of instinct, he gives each of them a hug.

When then break away and Peeta tells him to take care of himself, he almost loses it. Peeta. Katniss. Effie. He can't bear to say goodbye to the only three people that he truly cares about in the same night, but it's what he has to do. He touches the gold bangle around his left wrist, the silly team-building symbol that Effie gave him a few nights ago, and realizes it's the only thing he has of hers. Effie, wherever she is, would want him to go through with the plan, make sure Katniss, Peeta, and all of their allies get out of the arena alive. They've already crossed the room but the bangle gives him an idea, and he calls out Katniss' name.

"When you're in the arena…" he pauses, searching for his next words. She has to understand.

"What?" she asks.

"You just remember who the enemy is," he finally says.

She returns his gaze with a puzzled one, trying to decipher the message.

"That's all. Now go on. Get out of here."

He watches the two of them leave the room. The feeling of loneliness that clutches at him brings him back to the day he returned home a victor of the Fiftieth Games, to the death of his entire family. He looks down at the street one last time, searching for the same yellow dress that he knows isn't there. Wait for me, Effie, he concentrates on the image of her in his mind and wills his message to reach her. I'm coming back to you, I promise.