The Hunger Games - Surviving The Storm - book 3

Chapter 10

It was well past midnight and everything in the house was sleeping. Everything but myself and Tierney. I sat by her bedside and watched as she stared blindly at the ceiling. She had been doing this for the past hour and half. I remember my grandmother doing this on her death bed 5 years back and knew it was only a matter of time.

Carefully I leaned forward trying not to disturb Tierney in her stooper and kissed her on her forehead.

"Soon enough all your pain and worries will be over." I whispered as I sat back in my chair.

I watched the pendelum on the grandfather clock swing back and forth. Slowly I could feel the exhaustion of life pulling me under into a much needed sleep. It seemed like the harder I fought against it the harder it tried to pull me under. Finally I just gave in.

I was pulled from my dreams of Jackson running through the garden with a beautiful little girl with long blonde pig tails. She looked remarkably like myself and seemed to be around five or six years old. Her laughter was like wind chimes.

I blinked several times and looked around. Suddenly my mind remembered last night and I looked quickly towards the bed to where Tierney laid. She was smiling and talking to Jackson.

I sat up quickly and moved to his side. "Babe why aren't you at work?" I asked as I sat on his lap.

Jackson wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer. "I don't have work today, Finnick gave me the day off."

Oh his own brother gave him the day off. I wonder why?

"Oh thats nice." I said as I looked at Tierney. "She is looking alot better I think she might pull through."

Jackson squeezed my hand gently in reassurance and then moved me off his lap so he could get to his feet. "I was thinking we might show her around the garden and grounds." He suggested.

That of course was a wonderful idea. Tierney hadn't seen light in several months and had no color at all. A little bit of sun would be good for her.

Jackson carefully brought Tierney into his arms and set her in a wheel chair before we headed outside. The moment the sun engulfed us as we stepped outdoors Tierney began screaming.

"It's too bright!" She shrieked over and over again.

Jackson ran back into the house and got a hat to place over her head and then we tried it again. This time there were no screams.

All those days of being inside and away from the light caused her to grow sensitive to the light. This would be something she would have to grow used to.

We all headed into the flowers where we sat in silence for a few moments taking in the suns rays. It felt nice and warm and relaxing. It took me a while to realize that it had been just as long since I had really been out in the sun. I needed to change that. Tierney and I would spend as much time possible outside once she was fully recovered.

"It's about time for lunch." I said as I looked up towards the sun that was positioned right over head.

Jackson looked up at the sky and nodded before getting to his feet. I quickly rose and told him I could get lunch and bring it out to the garden. After Jackson reseated himself I headed into the house to begin cooking.

I decided on simple sandwiches and rose petal tea with my mothers dandilion salad. For dinner we would have mine and my mothers favorite dish. 15 minutes later I was headed back outside with a large silver platter in my arms ladled with a plate of sandwiches, a bowl of salad and a tea kettle filled with tea that had matching porcelain tea cups.

I smiled as I headed towards the garden. I was excited as things were beginning to look better. Soon Jackson, Tierney and myself would be like a little family and in less than 5 months she would become a big sister. Tierney deserved a good family and that is what I wanted to give her. I would be the mother she never had.

As I headed around the house I stopped. Jackson was kneeling over Tierney and he seemed to be panicking. Without waiting I dropped the platter, the dishes crashing and breaking into pieces and took off running.

"What happened?" I shouted as I dropped to my knees beside them.

"I don't know, I don't know Cal. She said something about her father and his warm arms and then she was gone. She isn't breathing." He added in a distressed whine.

I pushed my hair behind my ear and leaned in to try and listen for her heart beat. There was none. Immeadiately my healing instincts went into motion and I began giving her mouth to mouth and chest compressions. This went on for almost 15 minutes before Jackson pulled my away from her souless body.

A few avox's came over and took her body and carried it off somewhere. I didn't even know how they got there but Jackson was giving them instructions. He made sure that they handled the body with absolute respect and care and then sent them off.

This was three people I loved dearly that I lost, first my brother River and then Cinna's daughter Katniss now it was my daughter or the closest thing I had to one, Tierney. This generations graveyard already had four members from my side. River, grandma Everdeen, grandpa Everdeen and Katniss Eamon. The Eamon's though not blood related were still just as good as family.

"Cal" Jackson whispered to me.

I was unsure how many times he called my name but I finally hear him. I looked at him but his face was blurred from my tear obscurred vision.

"She is no longer in pain be happy for her. Don't think that it is weak to cry, only the strong aren't afraid to show there tears but don't let this tear you to shreds."

I listened to him silently and wanted nothing more than to scream at him. Only when he spoke his next words did I really grasp what he was asking from me.

"Don't disappear like your grandmother did when your grandfather died all those years ago."

How did he know about my grandmother and her depression. Then again he had spent several moments with my parents while I was at Tierney's side so they probably told him everything.

"In a little under 5 months you are going to have a little boy or a little girl and that child is going to need you as their mother."

I wiped my tears away and nodded my head before I wrapped my arms around his neck and sobbed into his chest.

"Her pain is gone that is all I wanted for her." I whispered. I rose to my feet and looked at him. "I need some time to myself, I'm going to the graveyard."