Chapter 50: Visitors
Katniss has spoken to her mother and made arrangements for her to bring Prim down to the Capitol. If they need to stay a few more days, then Katniss wants Prim to be close by and see her new baby brother. She wants them to be together as a family. Thankfully, they don't need to stay in the hospital to wait for the follow up testing and can stay in the apartment Gale had organized. It will be more private and comfortable there.
Peeta has continued to hide the concerns around Pik's hearing from Katniss. She is content believing that all is well with their new baby and Peeta doesn't want to take that happiness away from her. Not yet, anyway. He needs to carry the burden of uncertainty for a few more days and tries to focus on enjoying the moment with Katniss while they wait.
A nurse enters their room to announce an unexpected visitor. People are not allowed to visit without being vetted by staff first and only family members and close friends can visit. Peeta and Katniss wonder who it could be just as a tall figure appears in the doorway. Gale!
"Oh my God! Gale!" Katniss cries. She jumps from the bed and wraps her arms around him. Gale holds her tightly for a moment and then Katniss steps back to take a look at him. He is not in uniform and looks thinner than the last time she saw him. He has let his facial hair grow and is now sporting a beard which makes him look older. She takes in the dark circles under his eyes and the pallor of his skin. Gale looks tired.
Peeta is watching and gets up to greet Gale. He is holding Pik in his arms and Gale leans across to look at him. What he sees is another miracle that Katniss and Peeta have produced, perfect and precious. Peeta offers to let Gale hold him and makes the introduction.
"Meet Pictor Gale Everdeen Mellark" Peeta says.
Katniss looks at Peeta. They had not chosen a middle name for Pik, but Peeta has just done it for them, and Katniss is captivated by his generosity once more. Always the bigger and better person, Peeta was naming their child after the man who had rivalled him for Katniss' affections. She falls in love with him all over again.
Gale feels honoured. Katniss and Peeta did not need to give their child his name, but somehow Gale knows it is their way of saying "thank you".
"He's beautiful" says Gale.
Pik begins to stir and Katniss "shhh"s him, offering to take him out of Gale's arms while she sits back on the bed.
"How did you get here?" asks Katniss.
"Under a different identity" says Gale. "I told them I was your cousin and, to be honest, I couldn't stay away once I heard the news. He looks perfect". Gale had also been worried about the outcome of Katniss' pregnancy once he realized she had been pregnant when Snow captured her. He was relieved it had all gone so well.
"He is" says Katniss looking lovingly at Pik.
"Well, the doctors are still running some tests, but so far everything seems to be fine" says Peeta.
Gale looks at Peeta when he says this. He picks up some unease on Peeta's part and it makes him think that there is something more Peeta is not saying. Katniss seems oblivious to this and Gale decides he will get Peeta on his own, before he leaves, to see what else is going on. Just as they are about to ask Gale about his undercover search for Snow, the nurse enters the room again.
"You have another visitor" she says. "A lady with a little boy".
Katniss knows it's Annie.
Annie walks into the room with Finn in her arms and sees the gathering of people, not sure who the taller man is. It takes her a moment to recognize Gale just before she greets Katniss and gets her first look at the new addition to the Mellark family.
"Oh, Katniss, he's beautiful" she says.
Pik has quietened in her arms and Katniss can see Finn is desperate for Annie to put him down so he can get a closer look at this strange new creature.
"Baby" he says.
"Yes" says Annie. "This is Peeta and Katniss' new baby. Do you want to know what his name is?"
"Uh huh" says Finn.
Katniss introduces them.
"His name is Pictor Gale Everdeen Mellark" says Katniss.
Annie is immediately aware of the recognition that Katniss and Peeta have given to Gale when naming their son. It increases the respect she has for both of them.
"Oh, that's a lovely name" says Annie.
"Pikkor" says Finn.
"No, Pictor" says Annie.
Peeta chimes in. "It's OK Annie. We call him Pik for short".
"Pik, Pik, Pik, Pik, Pik" says Finn.
"OK, Finn. Now you know his name. What is Katniss and Peeta's other baby called?" Annie asks him.
"Pim" he says.
"Close enough" says Katniss.
The group sit and chat for a while about Pik, about when Prim is coming to see her new brother and also when they might be heading home. Katniss tells Annie they are staying for a few more days so the doctors can finish running tests and then they will head home to District 12. Katniss doesn't mention what tests they are running, she has left that in Peeta's capable hands, and Annie doesn't ask. Katniss is basking in this moment of new motherhood and if there was anything seriously wrong Katniss thinks they would know by now.
Soon, it is time for the guests to leave and Gale holds Pik one more time before returning him to Katniss to feed. She puts one arm around Gale and tells him they want him to keep in touch and also to take care of himself. She misses him. Peeta walks Gale out while Annie says her goodbyes to Katniss.
"Why are they running more tests on Pik?" Gale asks.
"They did the last test on him the day after he was born. It was a hearing test. The doctor said it was inconclusive and they would need to do it again in a few days" Peeta tells him.
"What does that mean?" Gale wonders.
"Katniss doesn't know" Peeta says warning Gale. "The doctor thinks his hearing might have been affected".
Gale feels like he has been sucker punched, much like Peeta felt when the doctor first gave him the news. Pik looks so perfect. Gale knows how this could have happened, but he asks Peeta anyway.
"Is this because of the drugs Katniss was given after she was injured?"
"Yes" Peeta says. "At least we think so. There's no other explanation right now".
Both of them stand there and, without a word between them, somehow acknowledge that a heavy price will need to be exacted if this is what Snow has done again to Katniss. Gale tells Peeta he wants to know the outcome of the tests when they are done. He has spent three months chasing his tail, as far as the Rebels are concerned, with very little to show for it except the opportunity to foil some minor plots. Even with his men in place, there has been no talk of Snow, only talk of Rebel efforts to disrupt Capitol services and programs. Gale is decisive about what he will do if the tests are conclusive. Peeta knows what he will do, too. Talking won't solve this problem if Pik can't hear.