Chapter 15: Redemption
Peeta is expected to remain in the Capitol for about a month and is undergoing a new treatment being offered to hijack victims. Katniss is not able to have contact with him while he undergoes the therapy, she needs therapy of her own. That comes in the form of her mother and Annie who take it in turns to visit week and week about to keep an eye on her and make sure she recovers from Peeta's attack. They know it was not Peeta's fault, and Katniss would defend him to the death if anyone said otherwise.
Her belly is getting bigger and so she needs to rest more. Katniss decides it is OK to let other people look after her for a while and recovers quickly. The baby is becoming very active now and, even if she can't see or talk to Peeta, she knows she has a part of him with her. That is what is keeping her going.
In the Capitol, Peeta is being treated with the Revision method and also a new therapy. One of the first things the doctor had said to him was "It's not a lie if you believe it". In other words whatever Peeta was willing to believe would become his truth. Peeta needed to know he had a choice. He could choose to believe what he knew to be true about Katniss or he could choose to believe the lies the Capitol had implanted during his hijacking. He had been able to discern the difference for a while by the fact that the memories the Capitol implanted appeared different somehow. They were glossy, shiny. The trackerjacker serum had been the real trigger for his violent assault on Katniss. The hallucinations had caused him to almost lose complete control. It was impossible for him to differentiate between what was real and not real, the hallucinations had been so intense. Peeta found the therapy very helpful and, when it came to making choices about Katniss, he knew what choices he wanted to make.
While he was in the hospital it had been discovered that two Peacekeepers appointed by Alma Coin had hijacked a military vehicle and kidnapped Peeta, before injecting him with trackerjacker serum. They found the vehicle on the outskirts of District 11 and the syringe in the back. The disgruntled Peacekeepers had attempted to hijack Peeta in an effort to assassinate the Mockingjay as revenge for the death of President Alma Coin. What the hijackers didn't count on was the love between Katniss and Peeta, the one thing that had always helped them overcome the people that were trying to destroy them.
When Katniss heard about the trackerjacker serum she realized that Peeta had not had a flashback, but had been hijacked again. It was such a relief to know it was not just a random event, but a concerted effort by the enemy to get to her, and once more Peeta had been put in the middle. He had suffered so much for her. She hoped he could forgive himself, and that the new treatment was working for him.
Finally, it is time for Peeta to return home. Katniss has the house ready and Gale is going to bring him over when he arrives. When the vehicle pulls up outside her heart skips a beat. Then, she sees her beautiful baker's boy step out and runs straight to him. Peeta takes her in his arms. They kiss and Katniss stands back to look at him. He looks like the old Peeta again and, searching his eyes, she sees her love reflected. Katniss takes him by the hand and leads him inside. Gale follows them in and makes sure Peeta is OK before leaving them for a short while on their own.
Peeta notices Katniss' belly is very large now and he puts his hand on it straight away. The baby is doing somersaults. He is incredibly grateful and takes Katniss in his arms again. He can see she has healed well and the first thing he says is "sorry", again. He knows Katniss has forgiven him, she had on the very night it had happened. But he had been so ashamed, and needed to be sure he would never do that to her again.
They sit on the sofa together, Katniss leaning against him and Peeta with his hands on her stomach. She puts her head back and he kisses her softly on the lips. It is only two more months until the baby will be born and Katniss' mother is due two weeks before that to help Katniss prepare for the birth. Peeta really hopes there will not be any more complications. They have been through so much already. He is going to make sure he looks after her now that he is home.