Chapter 66: Consultation
Peeta had returned with Katniss to their apartment after the two of them had rested together for a long while in Haymitch's apartment. He was quiet and preoccupied. Katniss decides she needs to speak to Gale about what is happening. There are unintended consequences in their plan to bring Snow to justice and Peeta is not the only one paying the price. At the moment, they are nearing the end of their first week of training, but it is already beginning to take a heavy toll on some of the Mentors and there is another training session this afternoon. Katniss finds Gale in the meeting complex where food is being served.
"Gale, we need to talk" Katniss says when she sees him.
Gale can see Katniss looks tired and a little preoccupied.
"What's up Katnip?" he says trying to cheer her up.
"It's Peeta" she tells him.
"What about Peeta?" asks Gale as he gathers some food from the buffet.
"The interviews last night seem to have had an effect on him that we weren't expecting" Katniss says.
"What kind of effect?" Gale asks becoming concerned.
"He left the apartment last night after he came back from the interviews. He thought he was going to have another flashback" Katniss tells him, apprehension in her voice.
Gale becomes uneasy. Katniss had taken the brunt of Peeta's flashbacks before and she had been lucky to survive. The last time he could have killed their unborn child as well.
"What did you do?" asks Gale.
"He didn't tell me at first and said he just needed to be alone. I went back to bed and when I woke up I couldn't find him in the apartment. He had gone to see Haymitch and fallen asleep on the sofa there. That's where I found him this morning and he told me he left because he thought he was going to have another flashback" Katniss tells him.
Gale looks thoughtful. He assumed Peeta had buried his demons after the last incident with Katniss. There had been no indication that the results of Peeta's hijacking would become an issue again and it could not come at a worse time.
"Gale, these Games are taking a toll on us all. Haymitch, Peeta, me. I don't know what I would have done if you and Peeta hadn't been there the day I saw Plutarch again for the first time. The Games are bringing up old memories and stirring strong emotions. I'm not sure if this is the best way to bring Snow to justice" says Katniss.
"Katniss, the toll has already been taken by the actions of the Capitol. These are just reactions to what the Capitol has already done. That is why we need to confront them…so that you, Peeta, Haymitch, all of us can finally have peace. And part of that is justice. We can't stop now" Gale says.
"It's just, well, it seemed we were moving on with our lives and things were getting better. Now I feel we are being dragged back to the darkest days before we defeated Snow. I feel like I am one of the Tributes being thrown into the Arena again…not knowing what to expect, what the dangers are, who is going to come out of the ordeal alive…"
Gale knows Katniss is afraid for Peeta. She is afraid for her family and her future. So is he.
"Katniss, this was never going to be easy and we all have to remember why we are here. Of course, these Games are going to trigger strong reactions, even if you are not the one going into the Arena again. You have had to live through them twice, which is bad enough. We are going to have to band together and help each other".
Katniss knows Gale is right. They will need to meet the challenge of these Games together.
"I will keep an eye on Peeta and you need to let me know if you think his condition is deteriorating. Hopefully, that won't be the case, but we have the resources in the Capitol to help him again if it does. You need to be watchful as well, Katniss, and be prepared to leave the apartment on short notice, if necessary, and take the children with you. You should tell your mother as well".
Katniss is hoping it won't come to that and believes there is still a chance someone might come forward with some information about Snow. That really is the ultimate goal and the reason they are putting themselves through this. For Katniss, seeing Peeta this way again makes it even more imperative. Peeta deserves justice.
"I will also talk to Paylor and Plutarch about completing the training sessions sooner than the two weeks we had agreed on which will end your involvement with the Tributes. Once the Games begin, there will be nothing more you can do for them and you don't even have to watch" says Gale.
Katniss knows that Gale means they can excuse themselves from any more heartache if they do not want to experience the demise of their Tributes, but she is always astounded at the way he can be so detached from the human element of suffering whether it be during the Rebellion or during the Games. Gale is hardened in a way Peeta has never been. Peeta is reachable in a way that Gale is not, even after his hijacking. Katniss needs to get back to him now and excuses herself after thanking Gale for offering to talk to Paylor and Plutarch.
When Katniss gets back to the apartment she finds Peeta and Prim all covered in flour. Peeta has decided to do some baking to take his mind off the Games, her mother's suggestion, and he and Prim have been working together to come up with a tasty home baked lunch. They have obviously been doing more than focusing on the task at hand and when Peeta sees the look on Katniss' face as she returns, he begins to laugh. Katniss scoops Prim up in her arms and then wraps an arm around Peeta as well. She holds him tight and kisses him. She doesn't care about the mess. Whatever Peeta is baking it smells delicious and she can't wait to eat with the Peeta and the family before the next training session. This is their time to enjoy and Katniss wants to make the most of it.