Chapter 18: Thunder Chasing the Wind
Chapter Text
Chapter 18: Thunder Chasing the Wind
Grabbing Prim's hand, he hit the garage door running. Sae could only watch in amazement as the two ran as fast as they could to the waiting black car. Something was definitely not right. Not right at all.
Katniss and Gale both leapt from the car as Prim and Peeta came barreling toward them as fast as their legs could carry them. Peeta was half-dragging, half-carrying Prim. She was almost incoherent, tears rolling down her face in wide continuous streams. Katniss felt a prickle race down her spine as she moved quickly to take the girl's arm. She practically threw her in the car. Peeta dived into the driver's seat and gunned the engine. Gale managed to get his door shut just in time. "What's going on," Gale yelled from the back seat. "What happened? "
Peeta didn't waste time answering. He continued to drive erratically, eyes flicking between the rear view mirror and the closest lanes of traffic. Whenever he found an opening, he nosed the car into the space completely disregarding the surrounding cars. Katniss had Prim folded into a tight embrace, quietly shushing her and making nonsense comforting noises. As her eyes met the turbulent cobalt stare of the man she loved, Katniss immediately understood that something had gone terribly wrong. He shook his head by way of answer to her silent question, and turned his attention firmly back to the road. They made it back to the apartment building in record time. Peeta waited until the nondescript gray sedan being driven by Detective Boggs' team members had caught up then he nodded to Katniss to exit the car.
Gale and Johanna automatically bracketed Rue, walking swiftly to the elevator. Gale continued to shoot Peeta inquisitive glances; however, the man was completely preoccupied with getting his sister out of the car. The two cops flanked the group, eyes scanning suspiciously for any perceived threat. "Go upstairs with Prim; make sure that the door is locked. Don't answer it for anybody. I will be up shortly." Peeta ordered his tone clipped and terse. Katniss merely nodded and grasped Prim's arm tightly. He stopped her long enough to press a swift, hard kiss to her mouth. He pulled away whispering, "I love you both. Please just go. I'll be there in a minute." She turned and dragged Prim into the elevator, her gray eyes following his tall form as he ran to where the cops waited. He spoke quickly and gestured toward the open garage door. One officer continued to question Peeta while the other pulled out a cell phone and began furiously dialing.
As the door clicked shut, Gale demanded, "What in the hell is going on, Katniss? Did he tell you anything?" She shook her head negatively, eyes trained on the two girls as Rue drew Prim into a loose embrace patting her back comfortingly. "Katniss, do you know what happened?" Gale repeated.
She glowered at him and spat out, "No, I don't know what happened any more than you do. I know that he's panicked. I've never seen him react like that. Not even the night that he brought Rue here. It has to be something big, Gale. He wouldn't be doing this otherwise."
A small voice broke the uneasy silence. "We saw the man, the one who hit Rue. He was there. I got so scared. I didn't know what to do. I just blurted it out." Prim's azure eyes were awash in tears. She trembled slightly, her hands convulsively opening and closing. "Peeta got me out of there as fast as he could. I think I scared him to death."
Katniss drew her into an embrace, bringing up a hand to smooth her hair. "You did the right thing, sweetie, and so did he. The most important thing is to keep you and Rue safe. We'll figure the rest out later." The elevator chimed their arrival and the group immediately made for the apartment front door. Once safely inside, the girls collapsed on the couch. Gale locked the door and began to pace in front of it, his frustration clearly about to boil over. Johanna and Katniss each took one of the small dining chairs. They sat in silence until a quiet knock sounded.
Gale looked through the peep hole and then swung the door open to admit Peeta and one of the cops. Peeta looked exhausted, cerulean eyes cloudy and uncertain as he took in the other's strained expressions. He made sure that Prim had calmed down, murmuring too quietly for anyone but her to hear. Straightening, he held out his arms to Katniss. She walked into them without delay and they stood silently, both giving and taking support from the other. Finally, Peeta pulled away and made for the couch, keeping her hand firmly grasped in his.
"Sorry for the drama earlier but it couldn't be helped." He commented into the interested silence. "There's been a new development and all I could think was to get everyone out of there as quickly as possible. I've called Detective Boggs and Haymitch. They are both on their way over." He let out a quick breath and tossed Katniss a grateful smile as she squeezed his hand encouragingly. "The short story is that a guy who works in my office has been identified as an accomplice in Rue's attack. Prim recognized his voice. The really interesting part is that he has hired Rue's aunt as his personal assistant. We don't know how they are connected with the Gamesmakers. We don't know anything really. I just wanted to get her out of there and make sure the girls were safe."
Each face registered varying degrees of shock at this announcement. Finally, Rue questioned softly, "What is the man's name? Maybe I've heard of him before?"
Peeta eyed her cautiously, clearly weighing his options. At long last, he seemed to reach a decision. "His name is Daniel Cato. He's about my height or maybe a little taller. He has blond hair and blue eyes. He's stockier than I am. He has a more muscular build. Does that name sound familiar at all?"
Rue thought briefly, biting her lip as she mulled over all the possibilities. "There was a guy that I heard about. I didn't see him but the name is similar. I believe he went by Cato. He was an enforcer. He handled the punishments. He probably had a hand in picking out who went into the Hunt. He was supposed to be one of the worst. He is rumored to carry around a fancy watch that he uses to time how long it takes his victims to break. He likes to say, 'It's not over until the Mockingbird sings.' The watch has a bird design that's only visible when you hold it a certain way." Her hand strayed briefly over the covered bandage on her stomach. "They like their symbol. They like to mark the things they consider theirs. "
Peeta leapt to his feet, cursing roundly under his breath. Katniss and Prim shared a wide-eyed glance. He swung to face Rue, his blue eyes dull and leaden. "I'm a fucking idiot. I can't believe that I've been this stupid. How did I not see this before?" He swiped a hand through his hair and huffed angrily again. "I saw the damned watch. I even asked him about it. It was a few days after you were attacked, Rue. I found him in my office when Sae wasn't there. He said that he was looking for a client file. I didn't question him. Hell, he even asked me about Prim. We could have given this to the police days ago if I had just paid attention. "
Katniss halted his angry tirade by gently grabbing his arm. "Peeta, you can't blame yourself. You didn't know. Did anyone ever show you the bird symbol that the Games makers use?" He shook his head and she retorted, "Then how do you expect yourself to pick up on something that you've never even seen. Everyone at Better Way was familiar with the Mockingbird sign that the Gamesmakers employ. We're trained to look for signs like tattoos, clothing, hand gestures, and slang to monitor for gang activity. We knew that there were three girls who had the symbol on them but we never suspected that they were harassing and assaulting another participant on the property. You can't blame yourself for something you didn't even know."
Gale and Johanna agreed with her. Both of them reiterated the points that Katniss made. Even Rue concurred that he was being too hard on himself. "I ran away from them, Peeta. That is something they don't forget. They would have caught up with me sooner or later. I'm just glad that it happened when it did. At least, I'm still alive to talk about it. The odds are good that they would have killed me if not for Prim and you helping me. Don't blame yourself for something you had no control over."
Detective Boggs and Haymitch Abernathy chose that moment to arrive. Prim recounted her tale about recognizing the voice from the basement incident. Rue confirmed that her aunt was named Cressida Matisse and briefly outlined how her aunt had struck a deal with the Gamesmakers to keep her supply of drugs flowing. Katniss broke in to keep Rue from having to repeat the whole story. She reminded Boggs that Annie Cresta had sent over both transcripts and audio tapes of the interview describing Rue's ordeal. Peeta told of his encounter with Daniel Cato in his office and described every detail of the watch that he could remember.
When they were finished, Detective Boggs couldn't contain his excitement anymore. "Do you realize what you've done? You've given me a name associated with a group that's managed to stay hidden for years. If I can track down any of his known associates, then I can start moving on cracking this case wide open. Peeta, I'll need for you to give me anything you know or can remember about this Cato character. Rue, I'll have you talk to Ms. Cresta again while this is still fresh. Any details that you can give us will get us that much closer to taking these people down. Thank you all so much for your assistance. I think it is safe to say that we'll be suspending the outings until this mess is cleared up. We will have to ask that you stay here for the immediate future. Hopefully, we can wrap this case up fairly quickly and you can get back to a normal life."
Haymitch glared at each of them and then made to follow the detective out. He tossed Katniss a sour glare and muttered, "See, sweetheart, I told you this little shopping trip was a bad idea but you just had to have things your way. Well, I hope you enjoyed it."
She threw him a withering look. "Shut up, Haymitch." She bit out. She was rewarded with a sarcastic snort. She rolled her eyes, ignoring the inquisitive stares she received from the others. "Don't make me call Effie and tell her about the flask that you keep in your desk drawer, nor the spare that you keep stashed in the snack room. I doubt that she knows about that one." His steps faltered slightly and he gave her yet another disgruntled look as he followed Boggs out the door.
Johanna chuckled, "How in the world did you know about the second flask? I thought that I knew everything that went on in that office and I had no idea that he kept another stash. He won't thank you for bringing Effie into it."
Katniss grinned unrepentantly. "He had a little heart-to-heart with me earlier. I know that he means well but he's treats me like the daughter he never wanted. If I needed relationship advice, Haymitch is the last person that I would consult. Next to Gale and Finnick, of course."
Peeta followed the exchange with interest. "Do I even want to know if my name came up? I'm almost afraid to ask." He shook his head in slight disbelief. "I've never had to ask permission from a boss to date an employee before. You Better Way people definitely have a different method of doing things." He gave a brief shudder at the thoughts of having such a conversation with anyone, let alone the grouchy old degenerate who had just left. Katniss gifted him with a wicked grin, as if she were reading his thoughts. That smile caused another wave of quivers to dance the length of his spine. Lord, what had he gotten himself into.
. . . .
Cressida Matisse entered the Community Services building with a light step. Things were starting to turn around for her. She could just feel it. While dealing with Albert Coin turned her stomach to ice, so far he had been true to his word. She didn't ask questions. She did what she was told when she was told to do it. In return, she received an unending supply of the drug that she so desperately craved. She had been given a job at which she was required to do nothing. She hadn't been offered a salary, merely a set amount on top of what she was already receiving to facilitate her habit. Cressida had more use for the drugs than the money anyway. Getting it straight cut out the middle man. She was fine with that arrangement.
She had been confused by her last set of instructions but didn't inquire about the meaning behind them. It wasn't in her best interest to doubt or have reservations. It had been made clear from the start that she was to follow orders implicitly. Period. Cressida knew with absolute certainty that any deviation from this creed would result in swift and severe retribution.
The same social worker met and ushered her into the room. As before, three sets of eyes fastened on her the moment that she entered. There was one significant change; two of the three were smiling. Cressida noted that Macie still looked sullen and morose, refusing to acknowledge Cressida in any manner. She felt the urge to slap the girl take hold. For Cressida to get full rein with the children, the worker had to think that they were eager to return home with their loving aunt. That was the only way that the surveillance would be lifted enough for Cressida to accomplish her objective. Thanking whatever deity was responsible for her forethought; Cressida smiled disarmingly at the little girl and mentioned, "I noticed that you didn't have your bear on my last visit, Macie. Did you lose it?" The girl dourly shook her head still refusing to acknowledge Cressida except minimally.
Thresh piped up, "She gave it to Rue when she left. She said that she didn't want Rue to be alone so she sent Pip with her. That way Rue wouldn't be scared."
Cressida gritted her teeth silently and thought to herself that the ratty old bear wouldn't be of much help to the irresponsible girl wherever she had been foolish enough to run off to. Once Coin had recovered her, the bear would be the least of what Rue had to worry about. Putting the rash actions of her oldest niece out of her mind, Cressida pulled out a tiny immaculate white bear from the bag she brought with her. She held it out, "I didn't know. I got you this one. He's not as nice as Pip but he needs a little girl to be his friend. I promised that I knew one who would be the best friend he could ever have." She sat the bear on the table in front of Macie and waited patiently. The girl peeked at the bear, but made no move to pick it up. At Collette's directive, Macie cautiously picked up the offending animal and muttered what seemed to be a thank you.
The social worker smiled congenially. "I have verified your employment with Mr. Daniel Cato, Ms. Matisse. He seems very pleased with your quality of work. The next step will be to examine your residence and confirm that it is suitable for children. Can we set up the appointment for that visit today?"
Cressida shook her head, "I haven't moved into the new place yet. The former tenant has until next week to vacate and then it will have to be cleaned. I had to find something big enough for all of us. Can I get back with you during my next visit?" The worker agreed and took her usual seat in the corner of the room. Cressida turned her attention back to the three children, her stomach twisting itself into a knot. "I'll be moving in soon and getting the place ready for us. It's real nice. There's a nice playground and plenty of other kids for you to play with. There is a good school close by that you can walk to. I think that you'll really like it."
Thresh looked brighter at the prospect of the playground. He asked hesitantly, "Will Rue stay with us too? Can she come home?"
Cressida flicked a worried glance at the social worker. She felt the tight hold on her composure slip slightly. The need to move away and detach welled up to fill the void, her nerves firing as the craving coiled its way to the forefront. Her hand moved of its own accord to her front pocket. Cursing herself silently, she stayed her hand and linked her fingers together to keep them from blindly seeking the pocket again. She smiled gently at the little boy, "I'm afraid that she won't right now, honey. She still has to finish up her special program. After that, she will be staying with your uncle Cray for a while." The two oldest shifted at the name, Collette's mouth already opening to refute her. Cressida glared at them, eyes promising all sorts of dire payback should they contradict her in front of the worker. Collette snapped her mouth shut much to Cressida's delight. She decided this was the perfect moment to insert the suggestion she had been sent here to make. "As the matter of fact, Collette, Cray has decided that Rue will be much more content if you join her. He has requested that you come to stay as soon as you can. I had told him that you must have time to settle into our new place. He is quite insistent."
The social worker, Ms. Pollux, smiled indulgently at the group, "I'm sure that arrangements can be made for the children to see their sister. I believe that she is currently doing the Better Way diversion program. I'm very well acquainted with one of the therapists, Annie Cresta. I can give her a call to see what days that they are allowing visitors. We might be able to get the kids some time with her in addition to the weekly phone calls." Cressida eagerly agreed. She couldn't wait to report to Coin that she had opened the door for direct access to Rue. Mr. Coin had set up the weekly phone calls but surely this was better.
The rest of the visit passed uneventfully. Cressida promised to call Ms. Pollux as soon as the new apartment was ready, which was impossible since there was no apartment to be viewed. The woman pledged to have an answer about the children's going to see Rue by the next visit. Smiling, she took her leave and assured them that she would return soon. She swiftly made her way to the front entrance. The black car was there as before to pick her up. She eagerly climbed inside.
"Report," the serpentine voice rasped. "Did you accomplish what you were sent to do?"
"Yes, sir, I did." Cressida gushed. "I mentioned to Collette that Cray wanted Rue and she to stay with him. I told her that he was quite insistent. I told that dim-witted social worker that he was the children's uncle. She offered us an even better opportunity so I took it."
The ice rimmed eyes studied her coolly. "What opportunity is that exactly, Ms. Matisse? I don't recall authorizing you to make a decision. You were to carry out my orders implicitly and nothing else. You were told what the consequences would be if you altered our arrangement."
Cressida cowered, fear evident in her face. "Pollux offered to set up face-to-face visitation with Rue for the kids. I knew that you wanted her to be able to speak with them. I thought that this would be better. I thought you would be pleased."
Coin motioned with one finger, and the other occupant of the car slid forward eagerly. His vacant eyed stare terrified Cressida even more than Coin's icy visage. "Brutus, my friend, I'm afraid that our Cressida is unable to follow simple instructions. She must be taught a lesson. Please prepare her. "
Cressida scrambled across the seat, futilely trying to ward off the massive arms as Brutus dragged her forward. Her horrified expression melted into a vague blankness as the needle lanced its way into her arm. She slid into blackness, her scream fading along with her awareness.
. . . .XO
She awoke to an ear-piercing scream. Shaking her head to fight off the insulating fog still shrouding her brain, Cressida raised her head listlessly. She was propped up on a table, arms and feet restrained. The coldness of the white walls and floor hammered her aching head almost as much as the heavy grayness threatening to envelop her again. The anguished shrieking continued. She rolled her head to the side, vainly trying to catch a glimpse of what could possibly be making that agonizing sound.
The only identifying feature on him was the dark blond hair plastered wetly to his head. He was covered in bruises, his voice hoarse from shouting. His eyes were swollen until only the barest glint of blue peered out. She felt a throat-tearing wail leave her mouth as she recognized Daniel Cato. Her head wrenched back, moving back in forth in denial of what her eyes were telling her. It couldn't be him. It couldn't be him. She repeated it like a mantra, willing herself to stay calm.
Her gaze caught on one single chair sitting facing the tables. He sat there, legs crossed with one hand absently cupping his chin. He unoccupied hand toyed aimlessly with a golden watch. He flipped the facing and let an illuminated avian form flicker to life before fading as the lid clicked shut. His eyes met Cressida's and to her absolute horror, he smiled. "As you can see, my dear, our friend Daniel also required a lesson in manners. He overstepped himself much in the same manner that you did today. He brought some unwanted attention down upon our little group. We pride ourselves on our anonymity. It's how our little game has remained undetected. Certain steps must be taken now to ensure our secret stays intact.
Both of you will remain useful. I want you chastised, not damaged beyond repair. That would be overly harsh. What I have in mind will be much more beneficial. You will lose your tongue. It is not essential to your survival or your ability to continue to be productive for our group. Daniel, well let's just say our dear Daniel will never curse the world with offspring as abysmally stupid as himself. It will not be a significant loss for him, but he will remember the price of his foolishness. You may thank me now, my dear, for my generosity. I am not usually so forgiving."
Cressida had just enough time to shriek before the blackness claimed her one again.
End Part 18
Chapter 19: Bread and Wine
Notes:
Since the last two chapters were so….I decided that a mood change was in order. This is an interlude after the events in chapter 18. It will focus on Peeta and Katniss. It's not essential to the plot…so if you skip it…you're missing fluff. A longer chapter will be coming soon…but I hope you enjoy this little break. Until then, Salanderjade
Chapter Text
Part 19: Bread and Wine
It was a struggle to get the girls to sleep following the events of the day. Prim, especially had difficulty settling down. She was plagued by nightmares and would wake up screaming into the blackness. Peeta sat with her for hours, holding her hand and assuring her that everything was fine. That she was safe. He was worn out himself after the day's events but refused to leave until she slept peacefully.
Katniss eventually persuaded him to go to sleep on the couch while she sat up with Prim. She positioned herself within easy reaching distance and let her mind drift while watching over the girl. Rue wandered in at some point and climbed in between them. The three slept tangled together, quiet and undisturbed.
Katniss didn't know how long she had slept, before being awakened by the gentle touch of someone stroking her hair. Not just someone. She opened one gray eye and found herself nose-to-nose with Peeta. He put a finger over her lips to keep her silent, and then motioned for her to follow him. Nodding, she slid her legs off the bed and trailed behind him. She was surprised to find Gale and Johanna in the living room, sprawled on the couch. She raised a questioning brow. His lips edged toward a smile, but he declined comment. He grabbed the loops of a bag resting on the dining table and moved toward the door. She stalked after him; her stare boring into the back of his head as he resolutely maintained silence. Verifying that the door was latched, she could only tag along as he continued to the elevator.
"Peeta," she demanded once the doors had clicked shut. "Where are we going? Why are Gale and Johanna sleeping on my couch?"
"You're not very patient or understanding, you know." He commented, his blue eyes studying her in an amused fashion. "I'm trying to do something nice for you and you're giving me the third degree."
"Sorry," she huffed. "I'm not used to being awakened at odd hours and dragged off on mysterious errands. It makes me grouchy. Besides, you know I'm not a morning person. I can't even stand myself until my third cup of coffee."
Peeta smiled understandingly. He ran an errant hand through the curls that had loosened from her braid during sleep. "I will apologize for waking you up. It was a long day and you have to be exhausted. We can go back down if you want."
She shook her head. "I'm already up now." She grinned suddenly. "I am also curious why you have called in reinforcements and dragged me out in the middle of the night. You're full of surprises, Mellark." The door slid open to the sounds of tinkling chimes and cascading water. She glanced around ruefully, "Why exactly do we always end up on the roof? Do you think there is some kind of subconscious message in that?"
His quiet chuckle briefly drowned out the soothing noises. "No doubt. It's some kind of unintentional superiority complex. This is your secret place, not mine. Maybe you have an involuntary need to separate yourself from the masses? Maybe you think you're above everybody else and need a physical manifestation of that?" He flopped down on the bench and regarded her in amusement. "Or maybe it's a beautiful garden tucked away from all the chaos and foolishness and you just need to get away every now and again."
"You're right." She admitted quietly. "I do feel like I'm better than everyone else and require a place that mirrors that."
"Katniss," he scolded laughter evident in his tone. His merriment was contagious and hers soon joined his. He emptied the contents of the bag and arranged them on a blanket. She noted the presence of cheese buns, some type of berries, a flask similar to those that Haymitch liked to stash, a wedge of goat cheese, and a tiny kitchen torch generally used by pastry chefs. There was also a separate loaf that he took special care to set within easy reaching distance. She eyed him in confusion, but didn't question him as he gestured for her to sit across from him on the blanket.
"I realize that you probably think I've lost my mind, dragging you up here in the middle of the night. After this crazy day, I thought that we could use a little down time, just you and me. That's why I called Gale and Johanna over to stay with the girls. Gale was actually happy to do it once I explained what was going on." He remarked, watching her carefully as he poured dark liquid from the flask into a paper cup and set it by her knee. "It is going to cost me some baked goods when all is said and done, but I figure that the price is more than worth it."
Katniss bit her lip, her confusion evident on her face. "You decided to have a picnic in the middle of the night and bribed Gale with pastries to help you. Okay, I'll bite. What is going on? This is unusual, even for us."
Peeta grinned at her flippant tone. "There is a point. Trust me." He sobered suddenly, and Katniss was shocked to see a flush climb his cheeks. "This is something that my dad did with my mom when they were dating. Dad told me he found it in a book somewhere and the idea just stuck. It's supposed to be done with the person that you give your heart to. You know that you have mine; at least I hope you do. I wanted to make it formal, Mellark style." His offhand remark coupled with his serious expression sent a tingle of anticipation dancing up her spine. She nodded slightly, causing the grin to reappear. "Okay, then. Let's do this." His hands shook slightly as he readied the segregated loaf. He carefully sliced two pieces and set them on a plate. Placing it between their bent knees, he picked up the kitchen torch and turned back to face her, his face a curious combination of joy and anxiety.
"I'll go first." He whispered. His eyes sought hers; his words tumbling over themselves as he reached for her hand. "I wasn't looking for anyone when you found me. It had just been Prim and I for so long that letting anyone else in was incomprehensible. You burst in and flipped my whole world upside down. You left me breathless." He smiled as her face reddened but continued on. "I knew that first day that I wanted you with me. I hoped that the chance would come up and I could see you again. You petrified me. You are light, and breath, and everything good that was missing from me and Prim. The night that Rue got attacked and you went when Prim called. After it was over, I knew that I was a goner. You stepped up for her without thinking twice. You didn't hesitate." He flipped the burner on and skimmed it lightly over one of the bread slices, toasting it golden. He picked it up, presenting it to her shyly. "This is just a small token of what I feel for you. I want you with me always. I promise that I'll never let you down. I'll never hurt you. I love you, Katniss."
She felt tears well up as she took the sliver of bread from his fingers and ate it carefully. The ceremony seemed to lend an extra added weight to the promises that he was making. She picked up the torch and bravely met his eyes. "You pulled me out of my shell kicking and screaming. I was hurt, Peeta. I lost someone I loved in the worse possible way. It broke me. I promised myself that I would never open up like that again. But then you came along. You snuck up on me. You gave without asking for anything in return. You gave me a sister. I swear that I will never hurt you. I promise that I will never pull away and hide. I won't allow anything to harm Prim ever as long as I have the power to prevent it." The torch flared hot and bright, illuminating her face as she flicked it over the remaining slice. She dropped the burner carelessly aside and gingerly lifted the bread. "You have my heart. You and Prim. I love you, Peeta. More than you know." He took the bread from her hand, tears running down his face at her declaration.
Lips met softly. Arms reached out and held tightly. Warmth, light, heat, and fire flashed between them. He pulled away slightly, settling her into his lap. His heart beat a contented rhythm under her ear. He continued to drop gentle kisses into her hair and across her forehead. He drew her against him until there was no space left, where it was impossible to tell where one stopped and the other began. "I'm going to marry you one day, Ms. Everdeen." He breathed into her hair.
She smiled, her heart tripping in her chest at his words, "I just might take you up on that offer someday, Mr. Mellark," she whispered back, head tilting to meet his blissful gaze. "I love you, Peeta. Always."
End Part 19