Author's note: I greatly apologize for the length of time since the last update. This one is pretty long, and I hope it makes up for it. It's kind of heavy and packed with some important information, but there are also a couple light moments.
I want to thank you all for sticking with this. I know it's a bit hard to get through at times, but the payout will be worth it in the end. But if you want something lighter, go read my story Cheese Buns and Bad Puns.
Huge thanks goes to my beta LavenderVanilla for sticking with this and helping me find the right words. Go look at her stuff if you haven't lately because she's got some new stuff going.
Happy reading!
Chapter Twelve
Finnick paced their tiny apartment as Katniss watched from the floor. There were wood shavings all around as she carved arrows. She'd add the stone arrowheads later, but she needed to shave them down a little first.
"I wish you would sit down." She said as she added an arrow to the complete pile and picked up a new stick.
He shook his head and stooped down in front of her. "I have a bad feeling." He admitted. "And this morning you told me to be careful. So I have been." He stood with a huff and ran his fingers through his hair, resuming his pacing around the apartment. "I don't know what it is. Maybe it's just your injury. But I feel even more helpless than I have ever in my life."
"Want to take your mind off of it?" She asked, hoisting herself up into a chair.
He smirked. "What do you have in mind?"
She rolled her eyes. "Something that requires clothes."
He chuckled. "Well, as long as you're sure."
A smile creeped over her lips. "Maybe we can hold each other for a while." She looked up uncertainly. "Do you think it will help?"
A relieved look crossed his features and he nodded. "I think so."
"Good." She looked around at her mess and sighed. "This won't be easy to clean."
"I'll get it." Finnick offered. "You dress for bed."
It was her turn to be relieved. "Thank you, Finnick." She took up the crutches her father had made for her and headed toward the other end of the room. She paused by Finnick and rested a hand on his arm a moment. "Will you get something for me?"
"What do you need?" He asked.
Katniss pointed to the cabinets that lined the wall above the counter. "In that corner one, up top and far in the back, there's a box. Will you get it for me?"
"Sure." He headed toward the other end of the room as she stepped into their bedroom area.
She changed for bed and climbed under the blanket just as Finnick slipped through the curtain holding a wooden box just a little bigger than his hand. There was a woodland scene carved on the top. Her father had given it to her for her birthday long ago and she always hid her most precious items in it.
Finnick walked around to the other side of the bed to change as she opened it up. Underneath a rock that looked like a heart and a small stack of her grandmother Everdeen's recipes, Katniss retrieved an old folded up map. She spread it out on the bed as her husband slid in beside her.
She pointed toward the more western side of the map. "I drew the new borders in. This should be District Four." She pointed to the eastern end. "We're here. And if you know where in District Four your home is, we can plot this and plan our journey."
He leaned over and indicated a spot on the Gulf of Mexico. It was part of the state formerly known as Texas on the border with Louisiana. "That's home. Unless something changed, she should still be there." He looked up. "How long have you had this map?"
"I just got it a few weeks ago. I've been trying to find one with the old roads." She leaned back and looked at him critically. "Most of the maps now are just a basic shape. They don't want us to know how to get out."
He gave her an impressed smile. "I'm shocked you found one at all."
She smiled. "The Hob has almost anything you need if the price is right." She pointed at the map. "This cost me five squirrels and bushel of apples."
He chuckled and then looked back at the map. "How long do you think it will take?"
"If the weather is good, probably three weeks. But I think we'd be better off expecting a month or more of travel. We'll be on foot and have to stay off the roads most of the time." She chewed her lip. "And I want to bring Prim."
"Katniss, what we're planning on doing…" Finnick examined her features. "It won't be safe. You'll have to look after both of us—"
"But if she's here, Finnick, I'll be worried." Katniss chewed her lip and then shook her head. "Forget I said anything."
He placed a hand on her arm. "It would be up to your parents, wouldn't it? If she goes or stays?"
"I don't think she'll be safe here. Once we leave, Snow could…" She swallowed. "He threatened her, Finnick."
He thought a moment and then nodded. "As long as you're sure and your parents are, I'm for it."
She sighed. "If I knew they could manage it, I'd get Gale and Madge out too."
Finnick gave her a concerned look. "The more people we add, the harder it will be to get anywhere safely."
"I know." She pointed to the map. "We should leave really late at night when it's dark."
"But I'm scared of the dark." He joked.
She laughed. "I'll be sure to hold your hand."
"Thank you." He kissed her sloppily on the cheek. "So what do we need to take?"
"We need plenty of food for a month, just in case we get held up somehow." She said, still pondering the paper.
He looked at her in confusion. "Can't you hunt?"
She shrugged "I can and I will for most of the time, but fires so close to towns will be very telling. So we'll need to be prepared for anything."
He nodded. "Okay, what else?"
"I'll ask Mama for some basic care mixtures. Stuff for cuts and fevers and pain."
"What about snake bites?"
"Just don't stir up a snake and we'll be okay." She grinned. "We can start gathering the stuff we need and figure it out more when we go along." She folded the map back up. "And I want you to learn how to walk quietly. We can't sneak out of town when you lumber like an elephant."
"I'll to my best." He slipped an arm around her shoulders and looked in the box. "That's an interesting rock." He said, easily changing the subject.
She hesitated before she lifted it out. "Peeta gave it to me." She sat it in Finnick's hand. "Our last Valentine's Day before..." She turned her head and pressed her eyes to Finnick's shoulder. "Sometimes it feels like my heart is being ripped from my chest when I think about him."
He smoothed a hand over her hair. "We'll get back to them." He kissed the top of her head and placed the rock back in her palm. "Let's get some sleep."
She nodded and put everything back in the box, placing it on the floor underneath the bed. She rolled over and saw Finnick watching her intently. With a smile, Katniss reached out to him and pulled him close.
He sighed. "This is what I needed."
She gently rubbed his back and hummed until he fell asleep. After a while, she removed herself from his embrace and rolled away. She'd probably find his arms wrapped around her in the morning. And she knew that for those first few groggy seconds she'd imagine it was Peeta beside her instead.
Katniss woke up when Finnick kicked her ankle. She groaned in pain and shot an angry look at her husband before she managed to get out of bed.
"Sorry." He mumbled before he rolled away.
"No, you aren't." She hopped around gathering her things and then picked up the crutch from beside the bed and made her way out to the hall, grumbling to herself the entire time.
Delly saw her and gasped. "What happened? I noticed you weren't around yesterday, but I heard about Madge Hawthorne's baby and I just thought you were still over there."
"It's nothing." Katniss said as she leaned against the wall.
The door opened to the washroom and Delly looked toward Katniss. "You can go ahead of me."
"No, I'm fine." Katniss said, not wanting to disturb the natural flow of the morning.
"I insist." Delly said firmly.
Katniss tried not to sigh audibly as she hobbled into the other room and leaned over the basin to look at her reflection in the dented mirror. Just a few more months and then on to Four. They could make it. As long as they were never found out, of course. Something could be done to keep her and Finnick in Twelve if they weren't careful.
She'd heard the rumors of people's babies being taken. But there were people gone because of it. She remembered Clove Roberts sudden disappearance not too long ago. She never heard the real reason she was gone, but the official reason was that she'd been a thief secretly for years. The rumor was that she'd tried to escape because she was pregnant and didn't want it taken.
Katniss finished getting cleaned up and then stepped out of the washroom. She gave Delly a grateful nod and then noticed Finnick down the line behind Wiress. Katniss locked eyes with him and then made her way back to their apartment to make breakfast, not an easy task with an injured ankle. After stumbling around on the crutch for a few minutes, she cursed and threw it down.
Finnick came in as she filled their plates and walked to the table with gritted teeth.
He rushed across the room and took the plates from her. "What do you think you're doing? Your mama said you wouldn't get better unless you stayed off your feet."
"And you really care?" She shot back as she sat down.
He gave her a hard look. "How would we get out of here?"
She sighed and started eating. "You'd find a way. I know you would."
"I'd never make it without you, Katniss." He admitted softly, pushing his food around his plate. "I put your box back, by the way."
"Thank you." She mumbled.
The last minutes of the morning were quiet. The crowd thinned outside and went away, the noise slowly going with them.
Finnick sat their plates in the sink and handed Katniss her crutch. "I'll make sure you get to you parents' house before I head to the mines."
"You don't have to do that." She protested as she took the crutch.
"I do." He put together his lunch and turned. "I'll try to fish a little Sunday. If I can find the pond. We need to stock up if we're going to make it all the way to Four."
Katniss looked up. Finnick had a determined look about him. The decision to make a break for it was fully realized in him already. He had nothing else to lose. But she was still anxious about the prospect. She needed to get to Peeta, but she had to sacrifice her parents to do it and she wasn't sure she was ready.
Finnick watched Katniss stubbornly making her way down the road on her crutches. He offered to carry her, but she refused. He observed that she was stubborn to a fault.
She paused when they finally made it to her parents' home. Caleb stepped out onto the porch. Iris had followed and the pair were saying their goodbyes with smiles and kisses. It made Finnick's heart ache as he thought about all the times he'd parted from Annie in a similar way.
Katniss leaned in and said softly, "Be safe."
He nodded and kissed her forehead. "I'll see you later."
Caleb came down the steps and stopped in front of Katniss and Finnick. Flashing his kind smile, he rubbed Katniss's back. "Your mama has a lot planned for you today."
"Good. Keep my mind busy." Katniss chuckled and kissed his offered cheek.
Caleb kissed her cheek in return and then turned to Finnick. "Time for work, Finnick."
"I'm right behind you." Finnick said, turning to Katniss. "Can you get up those steps?"
She let out an exasperated sigh. "I got down all our apartment steps, I can make those."
He nodded and started to walk away.
She grabbed his hand. "Finnick, I…"
He squeezed her hand. "I know." He followed Caleb toward the mines. It was a quiet morning, nothing out of the ordinary.
Finnick spent most of the morning trying not to think about the worried feeling he had in the pit of his stomach with every strike of his pick.
Just before lunch break, a scream rang out from the back of the mine and then the sound of rocks falling came just a moment later. The cave shook with the impact of the stones against the ground.
Haymitch came running through screaming, "Everyone out! Everyone out now!"
Finnick dropped his pick and followed the rest of the crowd, looking for Caleb and Gale in the melee. It was a small town and Finnick knew the families of every one of these men, but Caleb and Gale were his family. Standing outside the mine with everyone else, he saw Gale and hurried over.
"Are you okay?" He grabbed the other man's arm when he didn't answer. "Gale, are you okay?"
Gale looked over wildly a moment and then nodded. "We were trying to secure the roof and it all started coming down."
"Where's Caleb?" Finnick knew that if he didn't find his father-in-law that it could mean something bad.
Gale swallowed. "He got trapped. Him and Rory and a few others."
Finnick snapped into action and moved back toward the cave, but Gale stopped him.
"We have to wait until we know it's safe." The fear in Gale's voice spoke volumes. His father had died in a mine accident the year before Finnick was brought to Twelve. And Finnick remembered that this was Rory's first day. It would be difficult for Gale to get back in those mines to work if something happened to his brother.
They stood and watched anxiously. Haymitch went around marking names off of a roll. Finnick kept close to Gale, patting his back every few minutes. That was mostly for his own comfort. His father-in-law was trapped inside with Gale's brother. If they didn't make it out…
"Finnick!" Katniss's voice called through the crowd. "Finnick!" She called again.
"Katniss!" He pushed through until he found her. He gathered her into his arms and pressed his face into her shoulder. It was then he started shaking.
"I'm so glad you're okay." She lifted his head up and looked into his face. "Where's my father?"
He swallowed and looked over his shoulder. "Trapped with Rory Hawthorne and several others. I don't know who. Gale was with them, but he got out."
Katniss looked around. Other members of town were arriving to look for their family members. Madge held a screaming Katy as she looked for Gale's face. He saw them first and pushed his way toward them, gathering his girls in a tight embrace.
Iris stepped toward Gale and pointed to his forehead. There was a cut there from falling rocks that he barely escaped. She had been through this enough times that treatment of others was her first priority. But she still kept glancing around trying to spot Caleb as other miners made their way to her to get patched up.
Katniss broke away. "I need to help Mama."
Finnick nodded. "I'm going to see if I can help get the men out." He pulled Katniss into another tight embrace, happy to be safe, and then she hobbled away on her crutch.
Finnick helped carefully remove rocks. The men on the other side called to them. Everyone was alive, but Caleb was hurt. The sun had made its journey farther toward the horizon by the time they were able to get to the trapped miners. The other men were pulled out easily, but it was just a little longer until Caleb would be able to be moved.
Iris crawled into the space after Finnick and Haymitch. Finnick looked over his father-in-law, holding the lamp so Iris could examine him. His left leg and arm were broken by the falling rocks as he saved the other men from the collapse.
"I guess I have to wait on you now." Iris teased as she wrapped a splint around her husband's leg.
"Hand and foot." Caleb chuckled.
She grinned, but then her face fell. "Caleb, you'll need nearly two months to heal."
Caleb looked between Finnick and Haymitch and pitched his voice low. "We'll be fine, Iris. You know we will be."
She nodded and moved on to his arm. "So how did it happen?"
"Pushing Rory out of the way." Caleb said softly.
Iris sighed. "You're a protector."
"Must be where Katniss gets it." Finnick commented, trying to lighten the mood once more.
Caleb smiled proudly and nodded. "My girls have always been fighters."
Finnick moved toward the opening they had created and called for the stretcher.
"I can walk." Caleb argued feebly as he tried to push himself up.
With a stern look, Iris pushed him back down. "Everdeen pride will only hurt you more. Sometimes you need to accept help, my love."
The stretcher came through the opening and Finnick took it so that he and Haymitch could help Iris get Caleb on it. They hoisted it up onto their shoulders and Finnick called through for Gale and Rory's waiting hands to grab it.
Out in the last rays of the sunlight, Finnick found Katniss and Prim waiting. Most of the men had been sent home earlier. There was no use waiting around, especially knowing that Caleb and the other men were alive and well.
Prim ran forward as soon as she spotted them and leaned over her father, relieved tears streaming down her face. "Daddy, you're okay."
"I am, my baby." He reached up and rubbed her back.
Iris stepped forward. "I'm sure your daddy will love for you to sit by him at home, Prim."
The young woman nodded and stepped back, keeping close for the journey to their home.
Finnick slipped his arm around Katniss's waist. "Lean on me." He requested. He wouldn't feel okay without her physically by his side. Her steps were even more unsteady after being up and about for so much of the day. "I want you to get home."
Katniss shook her head. "I want to make sure Daddy is okay. And I promised Mama I'd help her with supper."
Finnick agreed and pulled her tighter to his side.
They followed after the procession. Haymitch and Gale carried the stretcher into the small bedroom in the back of the house that Caleb and Iris shared. Iris bustled around to get the extra pillows from the parlor to cushion her husband's leg and arm.
"How can I help, Iris?" Finnick asked as the rest tried to keep out of the way.
His mother-in-law stopped and blinked a few times before she said, "You and Katniss could get some supper on." She looked toward where Rory and Prim stood close together. Prim held onto Rory's sleeve. "Keep an eye on those two while you're at it." She turned and stepped into the bedroom.
Katniss snorted and said softly, "You should point out to Rory that you're a whiz with a fishing spear." She stepped away from Finnick's side and made her way to the kitchen to start supper.
As Finnick moved toward the young couple, they stepped apart. Prim still had tears in her eyes and Finnick knew the way she was looking at Rory that it wasn't all because of her father's injuries but also Rory's well-being.
"How you feeling, Rory?" Finnick asked.
"Like I wish I never had to go back into that mine." Rory admitted softly.
Finnick nodded. "The first day is hard enough." He clapped the young man on the shoulder. "Just stay vigilant and you should be okay."
Gale and Haymitch came out of the bedroom followed by Iris.
Iris said, "I'd invite you all for supper, but I know two of you have wives that would prefer you to be safe at home."
Haymitch nodded and slipped out of the house, passing a piece of folded paper to Finnick as he walked by.
Gale nodded. "Thank you, Mrs. Everdeen. If you need anything, let us know." He locked eyes with Finnick and then stepped into the kitchen to talk to Katniss.
"Hey, Finnick." Caleb called from the back.
Iris let out a long breath and averted her eyes from Finnick as she walked into the kitchen.
Confusion swirled in Finnick's mind as he walked into the bedroom where his father-in-law lay on the bed.
"Shut the door." Caleb said and pointed to a stool in the corner. "Have a seat."
Finnick followed his father-in-law's instructions and moved close. "Haymitch handed me a note. Is this what all this is about?"
Caleb nodded. "There's a meeting tonight."
Finnick unfolded the paper and read, "We're getting you out. Listen to your father-in-law."
"The Hob. Be there after dark." Caleb told him.
Finnick's eyes went wide. "The Hob? Isn't that dangerous? It's right in the middle of town."
"Not quite so loud." Caleb put a finger to his lips as he nodded. "They're watching us. Seeing where we go outside of town. So we have to stay in."
Finnick folded the paper and stuffed it in his pocket. "Katniss and I are already making a plan to leave. As soon as it warms up and she's better."
Caleb leaned back with a sigh. "I figured you would."
Finnick watched the older man a moment before he said, "Caleb, Katniss and I have been talking…"
"Yes?"
Finnick looked toward the closed door. "Maybe I should let her tell you what she wants. It's not entirely my place."
"She wants to take Prim?" Caleb looked away uncertainly. He heaved a sigh. "I knew she would."
"Is that something you want?" Finnick asked tentatively.
"I want my girls safe." Caleb turned back to his son-in-law. "I'm still thinking about it. You tell Katniss I need to talk to her."
"I didn't mean to step on toes, Caleb. But Katniss was concerned—"
"I know she was. She's not the only one. We trust you, Finnick, we really do. But this is a big decision."
Finnick nodded and asked, "So this meeting?"
"To discuss your escape, actually. You won't be the only ones, but they have to count." Caleb leaned forward a little. "This revolution is brewing and we don't what will happen. It could all blow over. Or it could erupt into another war. The country still hasn't recovered from the last, so it could be even harder on the losers."
"So what?" Finnick demanded. "We just hope for the best?"
"We do. But we make sure those that can be saved get out." Caleb swallowed hard. "That includes Katniss and Prim. Iris doesn't want to let either of them go."
Finnick looked down at his hands. "That's why Iris was looking at me like that." He stood. "I'll take care of Katniss, at the very least. You have to trust that."
"I do. Thank you, Finnick." Caleb sighed. "For what it's worth anyway."
Finnick clapped his father-in-law on the shoulder. "You get better." He stepped out of the room and found Katniss sitting at the table cutting up potatoes for frying. Dropping down beside her, he rested his head against hers.
She jerked away. "Stop it."
"Sorry." He sighed and leaned his head on his hand. "How are you?"
"Fine." She said slowly. "When they came running for Mama, I was so scared that you and Daddy were..." She turned her head. "Don't scare me like that again."
"I'll do my best." He promised, rubbing a hand down her arm. Leaning close, he whispered, "There's a meeting tonight."
She nodded. "I guess that's for the best."
"They're going to talk about getting us out." He whispered.
Katniss's head whipped up. "Don't tell them our plan."
"I won't. But I'll listen to theirs." Finnick kissed her cheek quickly and stood. "I'll see if your mama needs help." He kept his hand on her shoulders as he walked around her into the kitchen.
Katniss leaned into Finnick's side to keep pressure off her injured foot as much as possible. When she finally got to the right floor, she sighed and propped herself against the wall outside their apartment.
He chuckled and opened the door. Throwing Katniss over his shoulder, Finnick stepped into through.
She playfully pounded his back and laughed. "I can walk."
"Your ankle is swollen to the size of a melon." He kicked her door closed and walked toward the bed. He sat her down and lit the lamp beside their bed before leaning over her. "I have that meeting soon. If you weren't injured, I take you with me."
"Damn my ankle." She put her hand on his chest and pushed him away. "Please be careful."
"I'll do my best." Finnick stepped back. "I'll light the fire." He walked into the other side of the apartment and Katniss heard him curse and then he came through holding a white rose.
She sat up. "Where was that?"
"On the table again." He held it as both something fragile and something he feared.
"Burn it!" She looked up into his face. "And maybe you shouldn't go to that meeting after all."
"I'm sure that's what he wants." He sat the flower on the small stand beside her and sat down at the end of the bed, pulling her feet into his lap. Gently prodding at her ankle, he asked, "Would you stay here for a few days? So that this gets better?"
"So I'll be safe?" She challenged.
"So you'll get better." He said quietly.
She gritted her teeth and shook her head. "My mother needs my help."
"Prim is out for Christmas now. She can help." He finally looked up. "If we're getting out of here, we need you able to walk. You won't get better if you don't stay off this."
"I really couldn't help it today." She reached up and placed her hand on his arm. "I really am glad you're okay. I wouldn't be able to face Annie if something happened to you."
He smiled sadly and placed his hand on top of hers. "And I can't face Peeta if I can't even get to him. He needs you to get better, Katniss."
She nodded and squeezed his arm. "And Annie needs you safe. So keep your eyes open when you're out." She reached over and picked up the rose. "Get rid of this while you're at it."
He took it and crushed the bloom in his hand. He stood and walked into the other room. He was gone for several minutes and Katniss could see through the thin curtain that he was getting the fire going. "Where's the one that's supposed to ease pain. I'll put it on for you." He asked as he stepped back through the curtain with her bag.
It took her a bit of digging to find it. After the aid she gave to the miners, it was a mess. She handed it over. "One of the things we'll work on before we go is what all this stuff does. In case something happens to me."
He nodded and slipped her shoe off as he pulled her leg onto his lap once more. His hands were gentle, despite how much it hurt to have the pressure on her swollen ankle.
The pain slowly eased. "Thank you." She sighed when his hands finally pulled away.
"You're welcome." He placed the vial back in her bag and stood again. "I'll lock you in, okay? So you feel safe. And I feel safe leaving you here alone." He kissed her forehead. "Don't wait up."
"I'll try." She watched the curtain fall into place behind him and then listened for the door shutting and locking.
After changing and blowing out the lamp, Katniss settled into bed. She listened for the fall of Finnick's footsteps outside their apartment. Every time she started to doze off, she'd hear a noise and wake up again.
She finally gave up and stood up from the bed, retrieving her crutch from the floor. Wrapping a shawl around her shoulders, she stirred the fire and stared out the window.
Finnick finally ambled into view and Katniss hurried to the door to wait for him.
The door slowly opened and she let out a long breath when she saw him.
Finnick gave her a relieved smile as he gathered her into his arms. "I expected you to be sleep."
She shook her head and headed toward the bed. "I was worried about you."
"I'm home now." He picked her up and carried her the rest of the way.
"You need to stop that." She protested as he placed her on the bed.
"When you stop walking around on an injured ankle, I will."
She rolled her eyes.
"We're going to leave after the last snow melts." He walked around the bed and began to undress. He watched her for a moment before he said, "Gale and Madge are leaving next week."
Katniss sat up. "Next week?"
Finnick nodded and slipped in beside her. "Madge has family farther south. They're going to stay there and wait out a lot of the action." He pulled her close when he noticed the tears falling from her eyes. "Madge wouldn't leave without him."
"This is really happening?" She said into his chest.
"It is." He smoothed a hand over her hair. "All the things we decided were talked about there. We'll have other meetings to plan other exits."
"Who else is leaving?" She wiped at her eyes and moved away.
"Effie and her baby. But Haymitch said he'd handle everything with that. He doesn't want more people to know than necessary." He sighed. "Posy is going with Gale, but the rest of the Hawthornes are staying."
"And us?" Katniss asked.
He nodded. "Us. There may be one or two others that are smuggled out, but we can't have a mass exodus."
"No." She sighed. "It's late."
"It is." He wrapped his arms around her. "We'll invite Gale and Madge over for dinner. To say goodbye."
That brought the lump to Katniss's throat. "Thank you."
Finnick pulled her on her back. "They'll be safe."
"I know. But he's my best friend, Finnick. I never thought I'd have to say goodbye so quickly." She rolled away and pressed her face into the pillow. She felt his hand drop onto her back and he rubbed gently, taking his turn humming a soft tune to comfort her.