Chapter 1: Impatience

Katniss' POV

What would it take to break me? Apparently snow figured that out before I did myself. Ironic; I tried to convince snow that I was in love Peeta to assure our safety, but it just brought the opposite.

Snow didn't want me to convince him to ease the rebellion. He wanted me to convince him so that he could gain leverage on me; something to use against me when the time comes. He knew all along that I was the face of the rebellion and he knew all of this when he visited our house at the beginning of the victory tour. He planned out everything before I even realized that I loved Peeta and now he's using him to break me.

I lie on the bed of the hospital; completely still, not knowing whether the two of them will come back. It makes me feel uneasy; not knowing if I was going to end up with Peeta or if I was going to lose them both. I tried to distract myself, but I couldn't seem to get the idea out of my mind.

Tick tock. Tick tock. With every passing second, the idea haunts me longer. I wanted to cry, but I was afraid that they might sedate me again and I don't want that to happen.

Minutes pass and I'm reduced to walking back and forth around the room; anxiousness creeping up in my heart. I tried to making knots to distract myself, but it didn't help much. The silence was deafening and I couldn't take it anymore. I was about to scream my head off, when Haymitch walked through the hospital door.

"How you holding up, sweetheart?" asks Haymitch, but there was no hint of his former humor in his voice or his face. I could only see my own anxiousness echoed by his expression.

"How do you think?" I say. I meant for it to sound sarcastic, but it came out wryly instead. Haymitch nods before taking a seat at the foot of the bed. The silence stretched on until he spoke up.

"They're going to be fine" says Haymitch "If they didn't believe that they wouldn't be doing this at all"

Haymitch's last sentence sunk in. Does it mean that they would leave Peeta at the Capitol if they couldn't save him they would just let Snow torture him more. Haymitch sees my distress and clarifies.

"All I'm saying is this: they wouldn't take that risk, if it wasn't worth it" says Haymitch. He eyes me with appraising eyes "And it's clearly worth it"

"What if they fail? They'll torture him even more. Snow will do anything to break me" I say, but my sobs made my words barely coherent.

"Sweetheart, They won't let anything happen to them." Haymitch says "if they have to blow up an entire army of peacekeepers to get them. They'll do it"

Of course they will. I think. They will get them out or die trying. I shudder at the thought.

"They're not back, yet" I say in a nearly inaudible whisper. Haymitch just shakes his head.

"It's probably just a minor step back" Haymitch says with a shrug. He leans forward and places a comforting hand on my shoulder "We're talking about Peeta. Do you really think anything is going to stop him from coming back to you now?" the corner of my mouth twitches, but not quite a smile.

.

Hours passed and they still haven't come back. The time is the only thing I can think about right now and the more I thought of it the more I got impatient. Impatience, I guess that would be appropriate. Impatient to see Peeta again, for them to come back, for me to confirm that they're still alive, that's all I really needed confirmation that they may still be alive.

I headed down to special weaponry, which was down below and find Beetee, who was sitting on a chair, while his fingers drummed at the metal table. He looks up and gives a timid smile.

If there's anyone I can go to for confirmation, it would be Beetee. He's the one who planned the whole rescue operation, surely he might have an inkling as to whether they're still alive or not, right?

"beetee, what's going on with them, why are they not out yet?" I asked, while Beetee just took of his glasses and flicked a few switches, before a holographic map of the capitol sprang up from the table.

Beetee just explained to me how his plan worked. I knew that he was trying to tell me that they're still okay, but all I understood was that it involved knockout gas distributed by the ventilation system and an explosion on the far side of the Capitol to divert their attention.

Beetee seemed to tell That I wasn't following anything, but he said that it was a good sign because the enemies won't be able to follow or understand his plan either.

"like your electricity trap in the arena?" I ask

"Yes, and see how well that worked out" says Beetee.

Well…..Not really. I think.

.

It's midnight and I was about to curl up into a ball and let the misery have me, when Haymitch came sauntering down to my compartment

"They're back we're wanted at the hospital" haymitch says and my mouth opens with a flurry of questions, which he silences. "that's all I know"

I wanted to run, in fact I wanted to sweep off the bed and race through the halls of district thirteen to find him, but Finnick was still curled up into a ball looking confused by haymitch's words.

I took him by the wrist and slowly led him to the hospital room like a child. It took an agonizing 15 minutes and when we arrived the hospital was in total chaos. Nurses were zipping around; carrying patients if not medicine.

One nurse got my attention, when I saw that she was pushing a table with a bald woman who looked so thin that her bones were evident under the scabbed and badly bruised skin.

Johanna Mason. I think. She was tortured worse because unlike the others she actually knew rebel secrets. I felt a twinge of pity for her despite the fact that she hated me with all her being. No one deserves to be tortured like that.

"Finnick!" Something between a shriek and cry of joy sounded in my ears. A lovely, if not bedraggled woman runs towards us in nothing, but a sheet. She slammed on with Finnick and suddenly it's as if nothing else in the world mattered to them. They were trapped inside their own world.

I felt a pang of jealousy. Not because they were together now, but because no one could doubt their love. Anyone would just have to look at them and they would see the love between them.

"We got them all out except Enobaria" Boggs says. He looked worse for wear than the others "Peeta's in the room at the end over there" Boggs pointed to the end of the hall.

Peeta.

Alive and well—okay maybe not well, but alive. Away from snow. Safe. Here. With me. In a minute I can see his smile, hear his laugh, and feel his warmth.

Haymitch is grinning at me. "Come on, then"

I'm light-headed with giddiness as I approached the room at the end of the hallway. What will I say? Oh, who cares what I say? Peeta will be ecstatic no matter what I do. He'll probably be kissing me anyway. I wonder if I'll feel that hunger that overwhelmed in the beach again.

Before I can answer my own question, we we're already at the door. We could see that Peeta was being examined by a trio of doctors. I was a little disappointed that my face wasn't the first thing he saw after his wake up, but he sees me now.

His eyes widened and disbelief and a smile stretched across his features. "Katniss" his voice whispered and it was filled with the same kind of joy that I thought was lost forever.

The monitor that displayed his heart rate started beeping frantically, then he was suddenly on his feet and running towards me "Katniss" he calls my name with pure joy and love.

Long out of patience, I ran to him my arms raised to embrace him and we locked ourselves in each other's arms. I was vaguely aware of the sighs of awe behind me, but right now I couldn't focus on anything, besides the warmth of his body, his arms, which were wrapped tightly around my waist and my back, and the smile on his face that I thought I had lost forever.

"You're as beautiful as the day I lost you" Peeta's eyes begin to tear up and I can feel my own tears welling up in my eyes. He moved his hand and caressed my face. I pressed his hand closer to my cheek and closed my eyes.

I didn't want to speak, I didn't want anything to ruin this moment. I've never felt this happy since that afternoon in the arena. I gave him a genuine smile, while my tears welled up and spilled over my face.

"Don't cry" he said, while he leaned in and pressed his forehead to mine. The simple gesture overwhelmed me with a sensation, similar to the hunger I felt in the arena, but this was much stronger. It was almost mind-numbing. I curled my toes wallowing in the sensation of joy and happiness. Getting more impatient with the delay, I leaned and crushed my lips to his.

I could feel that he was startled, but he doesn't pull back. On the contrary, he leans in closer; his lips moving in ways that sends a ripple of desire rushing through my entire frame. Sensing more of the hunger my lips moved along with his in synchronization. I curled around him so that our bodies were closer to each other. My arms were wrapped around his neck, while his hands were wrapped around my waist.

I was wrong. This didn't feel like the kiss in the arena, not by a long shot. This was so much more potent, much more overwhelming, and much better. I can't seem to bring myself to stop and neither could peeta. When we finally pull back after what felt like hours. We just stared into each other's eyes. He was smiling at me as if all his torture meant nothing anymore, while I couldn't bring myself to even force a smile.

I still couldn't get past the deep circles under his cerulean eyes, the deprived look of his face as if he's been starving for months rather than weeks, and worst of all the drained impression that his entire body suggests.

I touched his left cheek, which was sickeningly pale and my heart constricted, as if my chest was being squeezed. During the arena I promised myself that I would do whatever it takes to protect Peeta, and yet here he is now, battered, abused, tormented and there was nothing I could do about it. On the contrary, I was the reason he experienced so much pain because I was the mockingjay.

"I'm so sorry" I get out in a broken sob, before I smashed my face onto his chest; hiding my tears. Peeta's hand began brushing against my hair reassuringly saying things like; it's okay or I'm alright, but I know that he's beyond okay and alright.

"It's okay, katniss, we're okay now" He whispers in my ear before planting a kiss on the top of my head. Somehow the warmth of his lips slightly calmed me down, until my sobs were reduced to quiet whimpers. He rubbed my back soothingly.

"So, how are things, Peeta?" haymitch asked casually and I could almost see the glare that Peeta was giving him.

"I'll be angry at you later, haymitch" says Peeta in a slight angrier tone, which made me laugh. I forgot that peeta hasn't had an outburst with haymitch, yet.

"Go easy on him" I say before lifting my face from his chest and fiddling with his hospital gown. "I already raked my fingernails across his face" for the first time in a long time he actually laughs. I wanted to look up and see his expression, but I was afraid that I would start sobbing again.

"Do I really look that ugly?" peeta asks in mock hurt, before I laugh.

"No it's just that" my voice trails off as I look up at his drained face. "I can't help, but think that this is my fault" I touch his battered face. I look up into his eyes to see that they were wide in shock.

"Katniss" he says in soft and gentle voice. "Don't ever think of something as ridiculous as that again" Peeta says in a soft, but authoritative tone.

"It's true" I insist "because snow was trying to break me by using you and I didn't realize that until it was too late" My voice faded in volume as I got to the end. I can feel throat get thicker with the tears and sobs that are trying to claw their way free from my mouth.

"Katniss" he whispers, he grabs my chin and his cerulean eyes look into mine. "I'm here now, okay? I'm safe now because I'm with you. Don't think about what I've been through because the moment I saw you it's as if all of that meant nothing to me." His sincerity was impossible to doubt. So I just nod, before leaning in again and kissing his lips.

That same overwhelming sensation ripped through me again. The warm sensation spread from my heart to the rest of my body, engulfing me in the hunger that can't be satisfied; a hunger that only Peeta can fill.

Someone cleared his throat behind us, but I didn't pay attention to it at all. I felt a hand rest on my shoulder, not restraining, but reminding; telling me that there's somewhere I need to be. I push it aside without looking at who it is.

"Katniss, we have to go to command" Plutarch starts "So, why don't you leave…"

My mind flickered to memories that I tried to shove into the back of my mind; leaving Peeta to go with Johanna, letting Peeta out of my sight, and peeta's torture. My eyes snap open at what he's suggesting. Does he really think that I could leave Peeta out of my sight again. My first impulse was to draw him closer and explain why I can't leave peeta again, but instead I did something else.

"No" I snarled in fury, which takes him aback and makes him withdraw his hand. I hear Haymitch and peeta's laughter at my reaction. After what happened to peeta today, I'm naturally opposed to any plan that involves letting Peeta out of my sight.

"Go ahead Plutarch" Haymitch says "we'll catch up after I calm our little mockingjay down a bit"

When Plutarch left, I somewhat calmed down, but not enough for me to let go of peeta. I lived for nearly two months without him I don't think I'll be able to survive another separation.

"Did you really have to snarl at him?" Haymitch asks with a tone that seems happier and more relieved.

"I've lived through a full 2 months without Peeta, I think I know my limits" I say as I pull back to stare at his face. he was almost amused—no not amused, but indulgent—at my reaction. He looked as if he would be happy to stand there for the rest of his life gazing at me and I felt exactly the same.

.

I managed to calm down a bit, but not enough to leave Peeta at the hospital. So after numerous and futile, efforts to convince me to leave Peeta, we went to command together; our hands intertwined.

I felt light-headed with giddiness as we walked to command with Haymitch trailing behind us. Peeta hasn't yelled at Haymitch, yet because apparently he's still too giddy to have an outburst. I couldn't care less about anything else.

We walked to command room and several eyes gazed at peeta questioningly, which was quickly dropped. The room started to fill with people and I could feel some of their happy glances pointed in our direction. I was only vaguely aware of them because right now there was nothing else in my mind besides the fact that Peeta was right beside me.

Coin calls the meeting to order and apparently there was nothing more to discuss besides the taping for new propo about my wedding with peeta. I actually didn't mind the whole wedding propo because it's not like this is for show or anything, but Peeta was a little miffed with the idea.

"Why? don't you want me as a wife?" I ask in mock hurt.

"o-o-of course I do, i-it's just that...well you..uh..I was only thinking….about you if…this is what you want that's all" Peeta stutters and I had to laugh because he's usually so good with words.

"Yes, this is what I want" I say and not just because of the propo, but because I really do want this to happen. I have brief mental flash of Peeta and I standing at the altar, while saying the binding words. I was too caught up with my own giddiness that I forgot about someone who would have a problem with this. Gale. I turn my head to his chair, but he wasn't there.

Right it's because of the injury he got. I think.

"Well we better get started, then the sooner we air this the better" Plutrach says and Fulvia started writing down details with him.

"We could do a double wedding with Finnick and Annie" Fulvia suggested and Plutrch nods at her suggestion. Coin was about to adjourn the meeting, when a broadcast from the capitol suddenly appeared on screen.

I wanted to turn it off because the only reason I watched these broadcasts was to see how peeta was doing, but now that he's here by my side I couldn't care less about them. I squeeze peeta's hand and he wrapped his arms around me protectively. I leaned into him, while I was forced to watch the old man who did this to peeta.

"I believe that this is a turning point for all of us" Snow says. "District two has doubled the supply of peacekeepers and our enemies in the districts are wounded, now's the time to remind these rebels that the capitol will not fall by their menacing hands"

How classic; making us look like the bad guys. I think.

"Starting tomorrow we will retake the districts that have been invaded and burned by the hands of the rebels, we will show them even the strongest cannot overcome the power of the…" Snow was interrupted by gunshots and five peacekeepers that dropped dead on the ground. Everybody started panicking and running around different direction, while the peacekeepers try to, unsuccessfully, locate where the attacker is. Snow can't seem to get his bearings enough to stop the broadcast he makes a beeline for the mansion; flanked by peacekeepers. One of his guards fall drop dead on the ground, which leaves him exposed to an easy shot.

Everybody's on their feet in anticipation as to what will happen next. A shot was fired, but it hit the part of the wall, where snow's shoulder should have been. Snow's inside the mansion already, but majority of the peacekeepers are still searching for the attacker.

Out of nowhere, a canister is thrown in the middle of the peacekeepers. There's an explosion, but this one's different because smoke came out instead of fire. Suddenly the smoke clears out slowly and as it does all of the flags with the capitol seal start burning down; replaced by black flags with my mockingjay symbol.

We're all stunned into silence. Has a rebel really been able to infiltrate the capitol and get that close to assassinating snow?

The broadcast ends with four more peacekeepers dropping dead on the ground, but the cameras managed to catch a glimpse of a black figure fleeing the streets; shrouded by the dark corners.

We're all frozen into silence; trying to process what just happened in the broadcast. The silence stretched on and only Peeta was the one who was able to break it.

"That's him"

.

Peeta's POV

Almost everybody was silenced by the broadcast. One second, snow was making his speech and the next the whole scene just tumbled into chaos; gunshots being fired, peacekeepers dropping dead on the ground, people screaming and panicking, and snow nearly being shot in the side.

Before the broadcast cuts off I spot a familiar figure fleeing in the dark corners of the streets. My eyes instantly zoom in on the figured and I'm jolted back to a scene that happened a few hours ago.

I was strapped to a metal table with restraints in a cell underground. I didn't know what they did to me, but at the time I was thinking that Katniss was a mutt and that she killed my family and friends, that she was an enemy that I couldn't trust her. it was really confusing, everything didn't make sense in my mind, but All I could register was to kill Katniss on sight.

I was awaiting another session of torture when a man in white came in with a syringe and a screen on top of a table. I knew that it was time again for my torture, but the man in white suddenly dropped to the floor and a man wearing a black trench coat and a hat suddenly entered with a syringe at hand.

My eyes widened at the new comer, but I managed to catch sight of the two guards that were lying unconscious outside my cell. he whispered something in my ear; a name.

"Katniss"

My mind went to the strangely intense memories of her that made me go berserk into a flurry of screams and struggles. I feel the syringe enter my arm and as the contents entered my body, the intense memories suddenly calmed and became clearer. I could remember everything about Katniss now; the first hunger games, the quarter quell, the nights on the train. It didn't trigger any fear. Whatever they did to my memory of her was suddenly fixed by this man in black.

"That's him" I whisper in astonishment.

"Who is it?" Katniss asked looking at me quizzically.

"That black figure it's him, he's the one who cured me in the cell, before I was knocked out" I blurt out in astonishment. Soon enough, all eyes were on me; waiting for further explanation.

"What do you mean cured you?" Plutarch asks in bewilderment.

I bite my lip and look at Katniss. What would she do if she found out about my hijacking, would she avoid me. Well, that would logical, but would she shut me out and never trust me again. Either way, I have to tell her, no matter what the consequences may be.

"Back in the capitol, Snow wasn't just torturing me. He was doing something that he had a name for" I explained. I look down at the table; not willing to see the expressions on their faces "He would make me watch clips of Katniss and I, then he would inject me with tracker jacker venom to make me hallucinate and to infuse the memory with fear"

"hijacking" says haymitch, but he sounded more puzzled, than alarmed. I nod my head at the familiar word.

"that went on for the next few weeks" I say "until one day that guy" I point to screen with the picture of the black figure. "knocked out my guards and injected something into me that sort of…cleared the memories of Katniss, soon after knock out gas made me lose my consciousness" I say, still looking down, but Katniss never released my hand.

"It's true" says Beetee who was equally puzzled by what I just said. "impossible as it may seem, but your memories of Katniss seemed to have been cleaned. I ran a test, while you were unconscious"

"Well if that's true, don't you think that this man is on our side?" Katniss says.

"it's possible, but it may be a trap" Coin says.

"if it is, then why did he cure peeta? If this was all a plot, then don't you think it would be easier to use peeta, while he was hijacked" Plutarch says.

However you look at the situation, one thing's for certain; someone's looking out for us, we just don't know who it is.

Reviews=love

Skullcandyklive-until next time