Finding the Missing Piece: Book 4

Chapter Twelve

Katniss POV- (Two days until Peeta's birthday. Tuesday, September 17th)

"Peeta, I'm going to the store and to the post office." I say.

I really need to make up a better excuse for this but I just keep it at that.

"Hold on, I'll go with you." Peeta says and my heart drops.

I take a deep breath.

"I just want to go alone if that's okay?" I call back.

He tromps down the stairs and gives me a suspicious look.

"Oh. Okay..." He says slowly and hurt.

It's probably misleading, being that I've asked him probably a thousand times to go anywhere with me and now that he's agreed, I want to go alone.

"I'm sorry, I just need to get stuff for your birthday." I say and it's not a lie.

It's my doctors appointment today too, in like thirty minutes actually.

He shakes his head, "I don't want anything, Katniss. I'm actually dreading it."

I roll my eyes, "That's not going to work with me and you know it."

"Okay." Peeta groans.

I sigh, "I'll be back, soon." I say, taking my purse and walking out the front door.

I drive to the clinic and go inside, not having to fill any paperwork out this time, thankfully.

"Katniss, how are you?" Doctor Coles greets me as I walk in.

I've dreaded this since I go the call.

I hate needles, blood, or anything else that has to do with the doctor but I brought this on myself, honestly.

"I'm a lot better than before but it doesn't seem to be going anywhere with us. Actually, it hasn't gone anywhere." I tell her truthfully.

"Okay, well just keep trying."

"I am. I have already admitted it to him too but he doesn't want it now." I shoot back, impatiently.

"That's good that you were honest but give it time. Now, in a minute the nurse and I are going to take some blood and check out a few other things that involve your reproductive parts." She says, getting up and exits the room, leaving me alone.

About an hour later, I get to leave with a lot less blood and urine and even less dignity than I came in with.

I stop at the market too, buying a casserole that someone already made in the store that I can just warm up for dinner on Thursday.

I stop at the mall and pick up a few things for him too.

When I get back, it's already 3pm.

I sneak in and hide his gifts in the closet and put the food in the fridge, then I find him in the same spot I left him, the couch.

"Don't be in the fridge and don't be in the downstairs closet." I tell him sternly.

He nods a little.

"I'm going to go upstairs and take a nap. I don't feel too great." I tell him truthfully.

I think it's from the blood work, mostly.

"Are you alright?" Peeta asks suspiciously, sitting up a little I hide the bandages on my arms.

"Yeah, just really tired." I tell him, partly lying.

He nods a little, unconvinced.

I go upstairs and empty my bladder again, then I lay in bed.

Not soon after, I fall asleep even though I can't seem to find comfort without him at my side.