This one's a bit short, but the next chapters hopefully will be longer. And they will have some interesting content.
Anyway enjoy reading!

After leaving Effie in her room, Haymitch walked along the hallway. He didn't have any particular destination but soon found himself in front of Katniss' room. What I'm even doin', he thought for himself before actually knocking on the door. It was unlike him to do such an act but he just felt the urge to tell Katniss what had happened. Maybe it, too, was because of the pride he felt for Effie.
When Katniss opened the door for him, she had a confused look on her face. It seemed like she didn't expected him of all the people to show up her door.

"What's the matter? Does Coin want to see us earlier today?"
Normally, Haymitch would only show up, if it was for things like this. Official things. But this time it was different. "Don't ya wanna let me in?", he growled. When she stepped aside, he walked past her and dropped into the chair, just like he did in Effie's room.
"So, what's the matter?", Katniss repeated after closing the door and sitting down on the bed.
With a small smile on his lips he looked at her for a moment before answering her question.
"Ya never gonna believe me who just had an argument with our dear President Coin, sweetheart." And he was right. Who would believe him if he told someone? Katniss might have been the only one to do so. Well, besides Peeta…

"Don't play with me, tell me." A word and a blow. "Effie Trinket! Effie fuckin' Trinket. If I hadn't seen it myself I wouldn't believe it either." If Katniss wasn't already surprised, she would have been then. It took her a moment to realize what he just told her.
"What? Why would Effie be so foolish? She knows it could get her into danger. And since when does she protest against someone with a higher rank?" She shook her head. No, she just couldn't see why Effie would do so. It seemed like she underestimated Effie Trinket.

"Well, sweetheart, I asked her the same. She said it was 'cause of something Coin said. Something 'bout ya. She got furious and.. Well, she defended your honor if ya wanna say so. Think about it'!"
And Katniss did. Effie Trinket defended her. She knew, she wasn't like the other Capitol citizen. Effie realized what the Games were. She turned. Became part of her side. And after all that happened, Effie found the courage to protect the ones she loved. Just because of this fact, Katniss should be amazed by her.

"She did it for me?", she asked to be sure. When Haymitch nodded, she did too. They were silent for a moment. It was Katniss who broke the spell first.
"Haymitch, she can't risk doing such a thing again. They won't let her. She'd get punished or imprisoned." She was right. Coin wouldn't let Effie get away with her way of acting, well, her new way of acting. She'd never do something to Effie with everyone knowing about it, though. They needed to keep an eye on her.
"Ya know, Effie knows what's right an' what isn't. But yer right and we need to keep her shut."

Before the third quell, Effie told the three of them – Haymitch, Katniss, and Peeta – that they were a team. It was her little act that showed the two of them the true meaning of her words. She would be there for them; she'd try to make up for her mistakes and job. But she didn't have to.
"Does she attend for supper?", Katniss asked after a moment. "I'll get her for it. She's taking a now. Why ya asking? " He looked at her in curiosity.
"I want to know when I get the chance to thank her. Not only for the defense." Haymitch nodded and looked around the room before looking back at her. "Think I'll now leave y'alone. See ya at supper." He stood up an headed for the door and finally left Katniss alone. Just like he did with Effie.

When he left, he headed for his room in order to pass the time till supper. They got their schedules, but right then he didn't feel like acting on it. Although they all got their jobs to do in the District, sometimes he had better things to do. Keeping an eye on Effie was one thing.
He even remembered when he first met her. That was a long, long time ago.

The whole nation, as if they even bothered, thought they first met when she became 12's escort. That was only half the truth.
They met before. More than once. But after his Games, when the drinking started, the memory of her began to fade. It took him a while to remember her. But he never told her.
He didn't even know if she remembered.

That was what kept him thinking for the rest of the time between then and supper.

That's it. R&R. :)