What if Katniss didn't Volunteer? (Complete) (2013 Watty Award WINNER:)

Part 24

Lately, I have thought of Peeta as a brother. The way he protects me and how sweet he is. So I think that is why I make Glimmer's death my second kill. It's a good thing I had my bow and arrow with me. She didn't know what hit her and she fell over the side of the branch. If the arrow didn't kill her, the fall down would have. She hit so many branches. I climb down as fast as I can, just as the cannon goes off. As long as there isn't a second one, Peeta is still alive. As I run over to where is lying, I know he can't breathe. The wind has been knocked out of him. Just a few minutes and he will be breathing normal again. He is lucky. He was smart enough to protect his head on the way or he probably would have broken his neck. But his hand hit many branches and seems to have a very bad sprained wrist, or a small fracture. I grab some tape from my bag that I didn't even realize I had on still. I jerk his hand so it is straight again. Luckily, he so winded that he can't scream. But that doesn't stop the moan that escapes his lips. I wait a few minutes, checking over his body. I find only minor cuts and bruises. Suddenly, for the first time since the games have started, I get a parachute. Floats right to me. It's a big one too. I open is and see a cast for a leg, and a cast for an arm. So they must know Peeta's wrist is broken. I'm really lucky I help my mom at home, because I know how to put these on people. I put on Peeta's and leave him on the ground for a minute to put on Rue's. When I get back, I see the claw of the hovercraft taking away Glimmer's body. The careers will be happy about that. I help Peeta up and he seems okay. The fall was about 30 or 35 feet down, but he seems capable of climbing back up. I decide to sleep on his branch with him tonight. I will probably wake up in the middle of the night. If I do, I will move down to Rue's branch with her. I curl up and Peeta whispers to me,
"I didn't know she would react like that. I wouldn't have said anything. I shouldn't have. I'm sorry you had to kill someone else. I promise I will take care of the rest." I don't blame him. And I do feel really bad about killing her, but this time I had a reason.
"It's okay. We shouldn't have let her be part of our alliance anyway. But if we didn't, she would have killed you sooner. Probably me as well. How is your wrist?" I say. He looks at the cast and then back to me.
"Well, it does hurt really badly. I will manage through it. I guess it's a good thing you moved it when I was winded or my scream would have drawn any nearby tributes." He tells me. I look at him and say,
"Well, it's a good thing Haymitch sent the casts. Rue got one too. I figured you would scream if you had the breath to, but you did get out a moan." I tell him. "I did? Huh. I don't remember." He gives a small laugh. "Go ahead and go to sleep Prim." He tells me and I curl up again in my sleeping bag. He plays around with my hair. The touch is smooth and gentle and reminds me of Katniss. My mother didn't do things like this, but Katniss did. As I fell asleep, I imagine myself in my bed at home, after a nightmare. Katniss is trying to get me asleep again. But I do fall asleep, feeling happy. The thought of home makes me calm down a lot.

I wake up to find a very sore Peeta. He is still asleep, but I can tell the fall really screwed him up. He is actually kind of fun to watch sleep. He moves around, he smiles, he scowls. But then he does something I don't expect. As he is sleeping, looking peaceful again, he whispers something. Katniss. I think maybe I heard him wrong, but he says it again. Katniss. I hope she is watching this. I say this next sentence very softly, so if she is watching, all of Panem and herself will hear.
"Katniss, if you are watching this, Peeta just said your name. While he sleeps. He really does love you." I look up and see a camera hidden in the tree and the lens focused on me. "If I don't make it back and he does, give him a chance. He is... amazing. You would like him." I hope she heard that.