I peeked around the doorframe into my small kitchen. There Gale lay, sprawled out the table. I could see the bloody gashes on his back. Suddenly my mother came into view carrying a bowl and some bandages. I waited silently for her to finish cleaning Gale's wounds. Although the light was dim and I could only make out Gale's profile, I still noticed him wincing in pain as my mother pressed the cloth onto his raw skin. It was strange to see my seemingly invincible friend look so fragile. I brushed a fallen lock of hair off of my face and felt a twinge of pain as my hand touched the lash that I received while trying to save Gale. Finally I gathered up enough courage to let my presence be known.

"Need some help?" I asked as I stepped into the room.

"I wouldn't mind if you took over for me, I need to get more supplies," My mother replied, handing me the bowl and bandages.

She proceeded to leave the room, leaving Gale and I alone. I reached into the bowl and grasped a cloth that had been soaking in the antiseptic liquid. I slowly pressed the cloth onto Gale's back.

"Ahhhhh!" he loudly moaned through gritted teeth.

"Sorry!" I squeaked, "I'll try to be more gentle."

I tried again, this time pressing even softer. I felt his body twitch beneath the cloth; it must be even worse pain than I had imagined before.

"No it's fine. It's not your fault, it'll hurt no matter how careful you are," He said apologetically. "I just hate that you're seeing me like this."

"Oh, come on Gale, you got whipped really badly!" I exclaimed, "Any person, no matter how tough they are, would be in pain after what Romulus did to you."

"Still, I should be the one protecting you, not the opposite." he countered. "Stop trying to make me feel better, there's nothing you can do."

I opened my mouth to protest, but then realized that I didn't want to further wound Gale. He was prideful but I decided to forgive him at that moment. Besides, he already was so helpless; I refused to make him feel even worse. I finished cleaning his wounds and then covered his back in the bandages my mother gave me.

"Can you try to sit up?" I asked, wanting to try something that I though might ease his immense pain.

He nodded and used his hands to push himself up. By the time he had sat up, his feet dangling off of the table, he was out of breath and had a pained look on his face. I gazed at his shirtless body. He was leaner than I had imagined, but he was still wide across; working in the coalmines had made him extremely fit and strong. I set the bowl down on the floor and moved so that I was standing between his legs. He peered down at me with a puzzled look on his face. I studied his handsome face carefully. He had replaced his usual relaxed smile with a knitted brow and pursed lips. Somehow his pained expression made me more attracted to him than I already did; maybe it was the fact that he was being vulnerable in front of me for the first time. I looked down to see that his hands were clutching the edge of the table on either side of his thighs. I placed my hands on top of his and squeezed them softly. I gazed back up at him and noticed that the confusion had now left his face; it was now replaced with a trace of a smirk. He knew me too well.

"You don't have to pretend to want me just because I'm hurt." Gale murmured, his eyes averted from mine.

"Weren't you just recently proclaiming your love for me?" I teased. "Did you change your mind about it already?"

"Of course not," he retorted, "but didn't you just recently reject me? I don't want you to do anything for me out of pity."

"My god Gale, just stop talking and let me show you how I feel about you." I cried, moving my hands up to his face.

I touched his chin and jaw and felt his stubble of his unshaven face. It strangely tickled my hands. His lips curved into a weak smile as I brushed my fingertips across them. The contrast between his rough chin and his soft lips intrigued me. I wanted to lean in and feel them with my own lips but resisted the urge. I moved my hands to his broad chest, tracing the outline of his collarbones. I ran my fingers through his chest hair, realizing that he was far from the boy I had met when both of our fathers had died in the mine. I finally rested my hands on his powerful shoulders, careful not to get too close to the wounds on his back.

"I love you, Katniss." Gale whispered, tracing the outline of the large cut on my face.

He slowly leaned in close to my face and softly pressed his lips to my wound. I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent. He smelled so wonderful, just like the woods where we would spend all of our time before I volunteered for the Hunger Games. He moved his hands down past my cheeks and jaw to the back of my neck. He pulled my face to his and finally brought his mouth to mine. He kissed me softly at first but began to become more frenzied as I weaved my arms around his neck. He lifted me up and placed me on his knee, draping my legs over his other leg. I felt a wave of longing crash over me as he gently pulled the hair at the nape of my neck with his strong fingers. I finally gave into the feeling of passion building inside me and kissed him frantically, as if I would never kiss him again. I sucked on his lower lip and bit down ever so slightly.

"Oh, Katniss, I've wanted this for so long" he breathed, lifting me up off of his knee and placing me onto the table. He climbed on top of me, a look of pain corrupting his beautiful face. I quickly pushed him off of me and sat up.

"Maybe we should stop, I don't want to hurt you." I exclaimed.

"No, it's okay. I need you." He urged, pushing me back down onto the table and laying on his side next to me, trying not to move his back.

He laid one of his arms under my head and draped the other across my abdomen. I leaned up to reach his mouth with mine and kissed him gently, not wanting to bring out the passion in him that caused him to strain his wounds. I placed one of my hands on his chest and reached the other behind his head. He ran his tongue across my lower lip as we kissed, prompting me to massage his tongue with mine. He lifted his arm that was draped over me and moved his hand under my shirt, caressing the sensitive skin on my stomach. I shivered as he moved his mouth down to my neck, gently sucking on its soft skin.

"Mmmmm…" I moaned, unable to hold back my pleasure that his warm mouth was causing my neck.

"I think I found your sweet spot." He said, smiling up at me.

I rolled my eyes at him, trying to distract him from the blush that was spreading across my cheeks. He chuckled and moved his mouth back to my neck, this time kissing the other side. His hand crept up past my stomach and moved to my breasts. He cupped my breast and began to gently caress it with his rough hand. I softly moaned again and he took his hand out from under my shirt. Before I could protest, he placed his hand on the outside of my pants, caressing between my legs. The strange feeling in my lower stomach began to grow with the touch of his hand. I pressed my legs together, squeezing his hand, which he removed. He slowly began attempting to unbutton my pants with his single hand, facing a small bit of trouble. I helped him unbutton my pants and he slipped his hand in and began rubbing me through my underwear. I whimpered, unable to control the noises that were coming out of my mouth. He locked eyes with mine, his pale green eyes boring into me. I nodded and he kissed me hard, sliding his hand below my underwear and rubbing my opening with his finger. He slipped one finger into me and although I felt some pain, it quickly subsided and began to feel wonderful. I began breathing heavier into his mouth as he kissed me. Suddenly, we heard a creak as the front door opened. I untangled myself from Gale, springing up from the table onto my feet. I quickly buttoned my pants.

"Katniss? Are you done cleaning Gale's wounds?" I heard my mother call from the door.

"Yes, I'm in here!" I yelled.

"Okay, I'm going to get some rest. Keep an eye on Gale for me." She replied, passing through the kitchen on the way to her bedroom.

Once she was gone, I looked back at Gale, relieved that my mother did not catch us together. Gale smiled at me but then quickly got a look of pain as he accidentally rolled onto his back.

"Don't think that this was a one time deal. Once I'm healed we will finish what we started." He said, once he had rolled back onto his stomach so that he could sleep.

"Whatever, Gale. Just get some rest for now." I interjected as I sat down on a chair. Although I kept my cool on the outside, inside I was screaming. I wanted him more than ever.