I don't own it! Enjoy.

With Gale here, I know each glance or touch I give Gale will hurt Peeta in some small way. Even though we aren't really together, it still feels wrong, especially in here where we have to pretend. It will be the same with Peeta as it was with Gale last time. Every kiss I gave to Peeta back in the seventy-fourth Hunger Games, I can't imagine what is was like for Gale to see that. Only difference is this time I have to see the effects first hand. At least there won't be kissing this time, if I can help it, not between Gale and me anyway. I'm not sure how I feel about that, which only saddens and confuses me even more.

My resolve to save Peeta's life strengthens. He deserves to find a girl who can appreciate his kind heart instead of someone who keeps on breaking it in the cruelest way possible. Me and my indecision, that is. This is the only way I can repay my debt to him. He's saved my life too many times. Between the two of us, he's the one that deserves to live. Not me. I try not to think of how Gale being here changes things. It doesn't. But there's a part of me that's screaming inside at the thought of Gale dying because of me. How can I protect them all? Prim and Mom. Vick, Rory, and Posy. Gale and Peeta. I can't. And whoever is left, will have nothing. When I'm dead, they'll be no money for food for them to eat, and no Gale to hunt for them. No Peeta to watch over them. What do I do?

I noticed we stopped running seconds before I run straight into Johanna. "Watch it, will you?"

Breathing heavily from emotion and exertion, I answer her, "Sorry."

Gray eyes try to focus, but fall shut soon upon opening. Gale is fighting to become lucent. I see Finn stand still for a moment unsure of what Gale's going to do next. Fight? Flee? Fall? Finn whispers to me, "Katniss. I think he's waking up."

"Katniss?" I hear Gale say groggily. "You there, Catnip?" he says. I can hear the hope in his voice. I smile. Gale.

I motion for Finn to put him down. Finnick leans over and places him on the sand. I realize I have no idea what slice of the clock we're in. I can only hope the others have been keeping track.

"Gale, are you okay? What happened? Why are you here?" I ask with a frantic edge, a bit annoyed with him actually.

His eyes open and he rubs the back of his head. "Ow." He smiles at me and I want to jump into his arms, but this is the games. I keep a hold on my emotions. Cousin. He's your cousin now. Act like it.

Swallowing, I take his hand in mine. He brings it up to my face and I close my eyes for a second too long. I'm vaguely aware of Peeta offering to draw another clock for everyone. Gale watches them leave but I never take my eyes off of him. I've missed him so much. I thought I'd never see him again. I let go of him on the train. I said goodbye to everyone from my life, but now here he is. There's a sick sense of happiness I feel, being near him again, but it's mostly overwhelmed by dread and doom. I know that he's not safe here. At least, before it was only me that would die. Now I know I can't save them both.

"Figure it out did you, Catnip?" He reads my face just like a book. I shake my head with a weary watery grimace barely holding the tears in. He knows I'm lying. He grins squeezing my hand. I know he's happy to see me, but just as scared as I am.

"Why are you here?" I whisper shakily.

"I think the pretense was to protect you and the little one," he points our clasped hands to my stomach. "But come on, Catnip. We both know why I'm here."

Of course I know. It's another kind of psychological torture. Snow is forcing me to prove to him that I really am in love with Peeta, by giving up Gale and myself. In essence, I'd be killing Gale to protect Peeta and in turn keep the people from revolting. I hate him for doing this. What do I care anymore if the districts begin an uprising?

"I'm here to protect you Katniss," he winks at me even though I can tell he's in pain. I see he's got bruises on his body that I didn't notice before.

"What's this? What did they do to you?"

"Reminders. That I have to protect you." Gale doesn't need reminders to protect me, I think. Then I get it. They're reminders for him to act right, or I will be in even more danger. Cousins, or else. One winner, or else. Or else what? I can only guess it has something to do with hurting Prim and the rest of District Twelve. Apparently Snow is threatening Gale too, like he is me.

"How is Prim? She's not going to be dropped in here too, is she?"

"She's safe at home, along with everyone else. At least, they were, before I 'volunteered' to protect you."

This must be true; otherwise I'd have no reason to keep pretending. Snow knows that. As long as Prim is okay, I think I can pretend a while longer.

I can't help but feel a little sick to my stomach though. With Gale gone from District Twelve, it'd be like shooting fish in a barrel, as my father would say.

I try to look at his wounds, but they're mostly superficial. Peeta is in worse shape them Gale at this point. I look over my shoulder, remembering Peeta. He's with the others still. After studying them for a moment, I realize he's safe and turn back towards Gale.

His gray Seam eyes stare at me. I let go of his hand and sit down next to him as he pulls his self to sit upright. We both look out at the others. I'm counting up my arrows and trying to think of what weapons I can get for Gale, when he interrupts my thoughts.

"We should have left that day."

"Stop," I say worried that the audience is hanging on our every word, trying to figure out the dynamic between the girl on fire and her handsome cousin.

"I should have at least volunteered for Peeta. But I knew someone had to get food for Prim and your mom. My mom, my brothers... my sister. Still, I should have. Then things would have been different."

"Not by much," I say softly.

He squints his eyes at me. "What's that mean?" I can't say with everyone watching that I would have done the same thing with the nightlock if it was him in the games with me last time, but I know I would have. I can't say it would have ended the same with the two of us winning, but I sure hope so. It wouldn't have felt like such a lie either if it was he and I saying we were in love. We'd still be in the Quarter Quell fighting for our lives though, and I'd still be intent on losing to save someone other than myself. The only difference is, today it's Peeta I'm trying to die for.

"I screwed up Gale. I keep on screwing up. I know you wanted me to win, but…"

"No! Now you stop it, Katniss!" Gale says forcefully. "Look! Right now, I don't care if I live or if I die out here, but you have to. Because of Prim, and as much as I want to hate the guy, Peeta loves you too. And he wants you to live. Stop being so selfish."

I try to keep myself from crying. I'm not sure why I'm so upset though. Did he say too? Peeta loves me too? And then I remember. I love you. Gale said that. I remember because I told him the worst thing imaginable in response. I know.

"Think for once of the baby, and stop worrying about Peeta. He's made his decision time and time again. You'd see that if you were paying attention."

Annoyed now, I ask, "How is that selfish? I want to die so he can live."

"It just is! It's selfish, because he doesn't want that. If I was the one here, instead of him, and you were trying to keep me alive only to die later on, it'd be unbearable for me, Catnip. There'd be no life after it."

Breathing in deep, I take his hand in mine again and pull him up struggling to act unaffected. "Exactly. Unbearable, Gale." I let out a long sigh and then smile at him and his familiar gray eyes. "I really hate that you're here, but I'm glad to see you again. Didn't think I get that." He laughs and leans into my side for a hug as we walk. I feel him pat my head and run a hand down my braid.

"Good to see you too, Catnip. How 'bout you introduce me to your friends now?"

"Allies, not friends. I don't have any friends, remember? Except you, I guess, but considering your family, I don't think that counts." He laughs and pokes me in the ribs as I push him away. "I think you'll really like Beetee, though. He's smart, an inventor actually. Finn's the tall one that saved you."

"Yeah, I've seen him before. Some of the old Hunger Games clips, I think."

I nod as we continue walking towards the rest of the group. Remembering that cousins probably don't hold hands, I distance myself an arm's length away from him, but Gale doesn't seem to notice. I have to remind myself of these little things now. It's weird because even though I never felt the need for personal contact in the forest. Here, in the games, I need to know he's safe. He and Peeta.

"Johanna's… Well, I haven't quite figured her out yet. But we've decided to be allies for now. Let's hope it lasts. I'd hate to have to kill her."

Gale looks at me from the side of his eyes. I see him straighten up and harden his gaze at the others. He's preparing himself for the inevitable. Like it or not, allies or not, only one person can win, and it's important to remember that. It's the only way to survive out here.

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