Chapter 36: Reunion
Peeta arranges to catch the first train in the morning with Prim and Annie. Annie is going to head back to District 4, but with a promise that if Peeta and Katniss need anything at all they will call her. Meeting them at the station in District 4 will be Katniss' mother. She will travel to the Capitol with Peeta so she can be with Katniss, too, and help mind baby Prim.
The journey is uneventful and Prim sleeps for a good bit of it. The motion of the train relaxes her and Peeta holds her gently in his arms while he and Annie talk about her reunion with baby Finn. She has missed him and, after everything that has happened to Katniss, knows how precious her time with Finn is. When the train pulls into District 4, Peeta gives Annie a big hug and she takes Prim to give her a special farewell hug before saying goodbye. Katniss' mother is also waiting on the platform and holds Peeta and Prim tight when she greets them. She can only imagine what they have all been through.
It is still four hours until they reach the Capitol, so Peeta rests for now. Katniss' mother takes charge of Prim and they play games to help pass the time. Prim is so much like Katniss, she thinks. Her smile, her laugh, her beautiful black hair. When it is long enough she will braid it, just like she did for Katniss when she was a little girl. Prim's eyes are a reflection of Peeta and she sees the warmth in them. Prim is a good natured little girl. Only time will tell if she has acquired any of Katniss fiery nature.
Peeta's sleep is restless and filled with dreams of the past. Some of them good and some of them bad. He is unsure how he will approach Katniss when he sees her. Part of him is still angry with her for wandering off, but he knows he can't stay cross with her. He has never been able to in the past.
The train finally arrives at the Capitol station and there is a Peacekeeper there to meet them. He will be their transport to the hospital. Gale has arranged everything for their arrival. It is only a short drive and when they get there, Prim is getting restless. She is out of her routine and is hungry and tired as well. Katniss' mother offers to take her to their accommodation, which Gale has also organized. There is an apartment for them to stay in during the time it takes for Katniss to recover. The Peacekeeper offers to take Prim and her grandmother there after dropping Peeta at the hospital.
Peeta heads straight to the ward where Katniss is recuperating. She is in isolation, due to her infection, and when he gets to the room he sees Gale sitting by her bed. Gale's arm is in a sling and Peeta realizes that Gale must have been hurt, too. Peeta knocks on the door and Gale looks up. He sees Peeta and immediately goes to open the door.
"Peeta!" says Gale.
Peeta gives him a big hug and thanks him again for rescuing Katniss. Gale tells him that he is happy he found her in time and decides he will relate the whole story after Peeta has had a chance to spend some time with Katniss. Peeta asks him about his arm.
"Looks like you didn't get away unscathed" he says.
"It's fine. The bullet just grazed me. Unfortunately one of my men wasn't so lucky".
Peeta is sorry to hear this. He knows Katniss will be, too.
"How is she?" asks Peeta.
"After they captured her, they didn't treat her wound and it has festered. She has a nasty infection which they are trying to treat, but she is still feverish and sometimes delirious. Just be prepared. She is saying a lot of things that don't make sense" says Gale.
Peeta is worried now. If Katniss is delirious, that means her condition is worse than he first thought.
"Thanks for staying with her, Gale. I'm sure you could use some rest now, too".
"I will see you tomorrow, Peeta" Gale says as he leaves the room.
Peeta goes over to Katniss. She is silent and still in the bed right now. Lying on her left side, he can see the bandages covering the wound on her right shoulder. She has a drip in her arm and also has a heart monitor attached. It is beating steadily at the moment. Peeta leans over and kisses her on the cheek. He brushes the hair away from her face and feels her forehead. She is still very warm and Peeta just hopes the medication is working. He pulls a chair close and sits beside her, placing his hand over hers. Suddenly, Katniss begins to whimper.
"Peeta?" she says, still with her eyes closed and in a semi-conscious state.
"I'm here, Katniss" he says.
"Peeta!" she calls again. The heart monitor begins to quicken.
"Katniss…" he manages to say before she becomes more agitated.
"Don't let him hurt our baby. Please, Peeta".
Peeta wonders what she is talking about. The monitor is racing now.
"Prim is OK, Katniss. I promise. She is with your mother and I will bring her to see you tomorrow".
"No, NO!" says Katniss. "Don't let Snow hurt our baby!" Her eyes fly open. They are wild and lock on Peeta's. She is not making any sense.
Katniss grips her belly as if to tell Peeta what she means.
"Don't let Snow hurt him" she begs as tears squeeze themselves out of her eyes.
"Katniss…" An alarm begins to go off on the monitor.
"Please, Peeta" she cries as she grips his hand.
A nurse quickly attends to Katniss and injects her with something to calm her down. Peeta knows Gale has told him that Katniss is delirious and she doesn't know what she is saying. As the injection starts to take effect, he decides the best way to comfort her is to climb onto the bed and gently hold her, as best he can, without hurting her wounded arm. It usually works when she has her nightmares and he hopes it will work now. Katniss is still gripping his hand as he lays down beside her, but she is only whimpering now. With a final movement she takes his hand and places it on her belly, before finally falling asleep again.