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Sacrifice

Chapter Twenty-six

Written by: kmac13

7/ 12/14 - 7/13/14

When it was time again for Katniss to return to District Twelve for the Seventy-Fifth Hunger Games she was almost looking forward to the vacation. They had been stuck in the Capitol since her Victory Tour and had only left for a few days to go back to Two here and there.

The Quarter Quell announcement had aired while they were in Two and Katniss just knew for sure it is a way to punish her for something. This Quarter Quell will only reap from those who have not taken tesserae. In other words; Prim and Rory.

Cato knew it was only three days and then they would see each other again and it would give himself and Brutus time to get things in order for when there were in the Capitol. Apparently, President Snow had caught wind of some of plans and changed the Quarter Quell card from having the reaping pool be past victors to those who have not taken tesserae. They had to show Katniss that she wouldn't be able to volunteer this time due to the fact that not only is she a victor, but also that she took out tesserae, it stated in the rules no one who has taken tesserae may volunteer. So in the likely chance Prim's name is called Katniss can't do a damn thing and he knows it's killing his wife, that is why he and Brutus and working so diligently right now to make sure all plans a ready to get Prim out alive.

Stepping off the train in District Twelve Katniss thought for sure she would be welcomed home with open arms as she had been. She was, but only by the most important pair, Prim's. Her mother and all the Hawthorne's were missing. Once the girls separated Katniss asked where they were and just upon seeing Prim's downcast face she knew.

"Well…" Prim started hesitantly, "Mother and Gale are not happy and well Gale forbade his brothers and sister from coming and Hazelle is at Haymitch's trying to find out answers." Prim was fidgeting, hopping from foot to foot and knotting her fingers and wouldn't look Katniss in the eye.

"Why?" Katniss asks as the girls started their journey towards the house.

"He brought home a magazine a month back and well, he, well went ballistic with Mother joining the chorus. I tried to explain, but only Hazelle and Rory will listen to me. Haymitch tried to explain and that just made matters worse I think."

Katniss just nods her head in understanding. She had hoped that none of the "fashion" print ads her and Cato had to do would make their way to District Twelve. "You didn't happen to see the pictures, did you?"

"Ummm… Rory and I may have stolen it from Gale when he was away one day. He was becoming a bit obsessed." Prim says blushing from her roots. "You looked beautiful, by the way. I mean you always do, but I'm sorry." Prim says covering her face.

Stopping abruptly in front of Prim and making sure she is looking directly in her eyes, Katniss says "You, Prim, have nothing to ever be sorry about. I'm sorry you had to see them and I am sorry they have caused problems at home."

Prim takes Katniss's hand and the two sisters walk home heads held high.

Haymitch and Hazelle seeing Katniss and Prim walking past his house hurry out and greet her, Haymitch with a nod and Sweetheart and Hazelle with a tight hug and a whole bunch of concern for her welfare. The four of them walk into Katniss's home and she is immediately assaulted by the three young Hawthornes hugging her and welcoming despite their brother's glare from the corner.

"Enough!" Gale finally bellows "Kids go out back and play, the adults need to talk." Prim and Rory send a concerned glance towards Katniss and upon her reassuring smile they usher the other kids out back.

Gale flings the magazine at Katniss as though it disgusts him. And it does, but only because he wants her to be like that for him and with him only, not for all of Panem. "Good to see you too Gale, Mother." Katniss says sickly sweet and sarcastic. "I see you have been wasting money on Capitol trash now. It's good to know my sacrifices have been well used." With that she walks out the front door and straight into Haymitch's house leaving all the adults in the room stunned.

"You have some nerve boy" Haymitch is shaking in his rage now as he can't believe that this is the welcome she gets after everything she has been through and has done. He looks over at Hazelle "Will you please go talk to her, I'm sure she needs a mother right about now and since hers isn't doing much" Haymitch trails off that thought and Hazelle nods as she leaves to find Katniss.

Haymitch turns and looks at Gale straight in the eye "You self-righteous prat, where do you get off making her feel bad for something she was forced to do?" With that he walks back to his house barely containing his desire to go back and punch Gale. Once inside he calls Cato to let him know he will have one upset wife when she gets to the Capitol.

The day of the Reaping all of the kids who have not taken out tesserae are roped off into age and gender section and Katniss and Haymitch are on stage along with Effie and the Mayor. Effie calls the first name and it is not who anyone was thinking it would be, luckily. It was a Towne girl named Delly Cartwright, sweet as pie and the same age as Katniss and was one of Peeta's best friends. The boy Rory Hawthorne and Katniss feels her knees give way as she grabs onto Haymitch for some support. He at least has been out in the woods, has some skills. She wishes Gale hadn't tried to shield him so much growing up, now.