The Games we Play

by Mikael Jehocutt

Katniss and Gale have a third member of their hunting party that lives out in the woods outside District 12. He hunts, trades at the Hob and seems to get just about anything you might need. When Katniss takes her sister's place he volunteers to take Peeta's place and decides he must help Katniss win even if it costs him his life.

4. Chapter 4

He sat down in a chair, sipped his coffee and looked out over the city. He could hear the vehicles on the streets below. He began to wonder how the people lived, what they did every day, was it like other cities he'd been to. He wanted to leave the building and explore but that would be impossible. Even though it was a very comfortable jail he was still a prisoner here. A prisoner being remade into what they wanted him to be. Trying to take who he was. They even took the small gold colored charm he'd worn around his neck attached to a simple black cord. A simple metal Nordic cross given to him years ago by someone very special. Or at least he thought she was very special. They told him it would be tested and if it wasn't declared a weapon he'd get it back before the games began. He relieved himself of all the processed coffee he drank and met Katniss and Effie at the elevator for the ride to the training room. The training room reminded him of a high school gymnasium from hell. The center had climbing set ups with ropes, simulated trees and rock walls. The other stations surrounded the climbing set ups. There were places you could learn everything from what to eat to building shelter to camouflage. And then there were the weapons, lots of weapons. Just about every primitive weapon ever created by humans. The most advanced was archery, a simple recurve bow. You could learn pretty much anything here but with only two and a half days you couldn't really master anything.

Saint John noticed Katniss was staring at the silver bow longingly. He nudged her shoulder and said, "Remember the plan. Stay away from that bow."

"Just looking at it." She looked up at him and asked, "You think Haymitch's right about us staying together? I mean none of the others are dressed identical."

He looked around the room and realized they were the only ones wearing the exact same workout clothes. He laughed. "Don't know. So far he was right about the stylists but the whole staying together thing could back fire since we plan on working as a team in the arena. And it's going to make our finding out about the competition more difficult."

"So, we should ignore it?"

He smiled and replied, "Well, since I've already threatened him if this doesn't work. I guess I should go through with it. Besides he might be right."

One of the trainers placed a sign with the number 12 on his back while a young attractive black woman told them the rules. The stations were set up with instructors to teach them everything at that station. The tributes were free to go from station to station and learn as much as they could in the next three days. She reminded them not to underestimate the survival skills and that most of them would die from hunger, thirst or exposure as opposed to combat. The only real rule was tributes were not allowed to touch each other. An instructor would act as a partner if they wanted to practice a particular combat technique. When the head instructor dismissed them to begin their training he touched Katniss' arm to get her attention and said as the others began heading for a station, "I don't like the way this is set up." He looked at her and continued, "Let's try keeping track of the stations instead. You're the expert in survival so you watch them and I'll keep track of the combat stations."

She nodded and asked, "Where should we start?"

Saint John looked around the room. The tributes from Districts one, two and four made a beeline for the weapon stations while the others looked around like lost puppies. The boy from District two noticed Saint John was watching him and started to stare back. Their eyes locked for several seconds before Saint John looked away. That boy had killed before, he could see it in Cato's eyes. The girl from his District also looked at him. She had a similar look, she'd taken a life before as well. He didn't want to worry Katniss so he looked over at the closest station and said, "Let's start here." Knot tying.

The instructor seemed happy to have someone at his station and became almost excited when he realized Katniss already knew how to tie a snare. They alternated practicing tying different knots, even how to create a trap that could send a person that fell into it up a tree, and watching the other tributes for skills and weaknesses. After an hour they moved on to camouflage. Saint John wanted to practice that station, even though he'd been trained in camouflage techniques it was never something he'd ever needed to do before. They spent a couple hours there painting each other until they could passably blend into the back ground.

Lunch was served in a cafeteria, which again reminded Saint John of high school, with all the other tributes. The boys and girls from Districts one, two and four, what Katniss called Career Tributes or Careers all sat together like the popular kids. Saint John and Katniss sat together eating and comparing notes. The one Katniss called Foxface, a kind of cute redhead from District five, seemed to be very good with the plants and building shelters. Saint John told her the boys from Districts one and two were very good with blades but Cato was dangerous with a sword. The boy from one appeared to favor a spear. Every now and then he'd tell a joke to lighten the mood. At one time he started juggling the bread from the basket. Everyone in the room watched as he tossed as many as four rolls around in a circle. Then he'd toss them at Katniss trying to get her to catch them in her mouth. It was a fun diversion and might have done more to make them seem partners than just hanging around each other.

After lunch Katniss suggested they try climbing so they could get a better view of the training room without anyone seeing them. Saint John was impressed with her tactical mind; she was really beginning to understand combat and warfare. They climbed to the top of the gym, watch all the other tributes play with swords, build fires and toss spears around for a while. Then climb back down and climb from a different station. He noticed the small, dark skinned girl from District 11 had also climbed up to the ceiling and was watching both them and the others. Her presence in the game made him sad and angry. She was way too young and small to be forced to fight like that. They ended the day by playing around with more snares and weaving hammocks. By the end they had a pretty good idea of the careers strengths, they hoped tomorrow they would find the weaknesses.

That night after another tense dinner with Effie and Haymitch they went up to the roof and Saint John conducted his own training class. He covered anatomy and showed her the most vulnerable places on the human body. He showed her the best places to hit a human to kill them both with a blade and an arrow. They practiced her evasion and defense skills he taught her the night before and moved on to focused strikes. He showed her how throw a proper elbow strike against someone's throat or chest. Then moved on to how to sweep a person's legs out from under them and how to wreak a knee. After she mastered the strikes they went down stairs for their evening tea. He talked about not getting forced into fighting her enemies fight but making them fight hers. He told her setting up an ambush was just like hunting, you pick a good spot and wait for them to come to her. Use your opponents' weaknesses against them. When he was done they went over their notes on the other tributes and decided tomorrow to hit the rest of the survival stations and take a turn at a few of the weapons. Just before they broke up for the night he asked, "Who are you?"

She replied in a somewhat weak voice, "I'm Katniss Everdeen the victor of the 74th Hunger Games."

Saint John shook his head and replied, "You don't believe that do you?"

She looked down and shook her head as well.

"You need to believe it. Katniss, I've seen you with fire and determination. You were the girl on fire long before Cinna made the costume. You need to focus that same fire into this. The same fire that gets your family what it needs to stay alive is the only thing that will make sure you get back to them. They need you. Gale needs you."

She looked up at him sadly and asked, "What about you? Isn't there anyone that needs you besides me?"

He tried to put on a comforting front but inside he felt the tears swelling in his eyes. There were people that needed him once. People that he believed he failed. He wasn't going to fail this time. He wasn't going to fail this person. He said, "Kat, no one needs me. Not you, not anyone. You could do this without me. You could win this without anyone. The problem is you don't believe you can win this. You have to convince yourself you can win and you have to be prepared to do whatever it takes to win." He took her hand in his, touched her chin and turned her head so she could look in his eyes. He said, "Killing people is a difficult thing to do. It takes a part of you every time you do it. To survive this it has to be automatic, fast and brutal. I'm not saying you have to hunt everyone down and kill them all but chances are you will have to take one or more of them out." He kissed her cheek and asked, "Do you understand?"

Katniss touched her cheek where he kissed her and nodded.

Saint John stood up, turned away from her and said, "Tomorrow night I'll show you how to kill someone with a knife. Good night Kitten."

This time all he heard was a sad, "Good night Saint John," as she went to her room.

The second day was more of the same. After a more or less restful sleep and a morning workout on the roof he had breakfast with Katniss, Haymitch and Effie, who was still drilling them about training. Saint John gave some vague answers and assured them they were following the plan. Katniss didn't say anything annoying both Effie and Haymitch. Even his usual, "Morning Kitten," didn't get a response from her. She ate her food, drank her hot chocolate and tried not to look at Saint John. When they arrived at the training center he started by asking her to run with him around the track. As they jogged, attracting everyone's attention he asked, "What's up Kat?"

She didn't say anything which prompted a, "Something wrong Kitten?"

She answered him by running faster. As she pulled away from him Saint John thought, really, and ran after her. When he caught up with her he said, "Kat, we don't have time for you to do the moody teenager act. So just tell me what's wrong and we can get back to the business of keeping you alive."

She stopped suddenly making Saint John have to turn around and jog back to her. She asked in an angry whisper, "What gives you the right to decide whether I get to live or not?"

He frowned at her. "I'm not deciding whether you live or not. In the end that's up to you. I'm trying to help you survive this." He took her arm and directed her to a group of pads by the climbing station. He had her sit down and asked, "You don't want to live? What you plan of just standing there and let Cato or the others kill you?"

She sits there for a few seconds and replies quietly, "I'm just tired of everyone making decisions for me." She looked up at Saint John with sad eyes and said, "You're wrong."

He frowned at her wondering what she meant by him being wrong. He saw a tear come down her cheek as she said, "I need you. Gale needs you and I'm guessing there's lot of people in District 12 that are alive because of you."

Shit, she would pick now to figure it out, he thought. Katniss was smart, it was only a matter of time before she realized he'd been smuggling medicine in for sick children. He looked around the room and noticed Cato and the other careers were watching them. He whispered to her, "We're being watched. Act like you have something in your eye."

She wiped her eye angrily, like she was frustrated about something. He nodded and said, "Good, maybe they'll buy that." They both looked around and saw the careers appeared amused by the drama that was playing out near them. The Gamemakers were also watching them intently. He tried to look unconcerned, like he really didn't want to be stuck with her. He asked, "Look, do you want to leave your mom and Prim and Gale alone without you?"

She shook her head.

Saint John looked up and said, "That's the choice you have to make. You volunteered to keep your sister safe. I volunteered to keep you alive. Those were decisions we made and we have to deal with the consequences of those decisions. I know if you asked anyone in 12 whether they wanted you to come back or me they'd choose you." He looked down and asked, "So what're doing? Are you going to fight to get back to them or are you just going to give up die?" He said, "Because either way I'm already dead." She looked at him puzzled. He nodded towards the other tributes and said, "To kill you they'll have to go through me. I'll live longer if you'll fight with me. If you make it home my death won't be in vain."

She stood up, said, "You want to die, who am I to stop you," and walked away.

Saint John sat there for a second, then got up and followed her a new plan forming in his head. As he walked past Cato he said, "I'm going to fucking kill Haymitch for this," without looking back. He smirked as he joined his fellow tribute.

They practiced building fires without matches. He also remembered from his initial survival training how to build a fire bundle that allowed you to carry glowing embers around without burning up. He also showed her how to defuse the smoke from the bundle so they couldn't tracked by it. They moved on to shelter building and finally tested themselves on edible plants again. It became apparent that their training was preparing them for a forest environment. Unless this whole thing was pure deception.

During lunch they continued comparing notes on the other tributes. Thresh, the boy from 11, didn't seem interested in practicing anything so he would be an unknown factor. The girl from one, named Glimmer, seemed competent with a bow but didn't really demonstrate much else. The boy from one was a loud mouth jerk that reminded him of a brainless jock; he wouldn't last that long. The girl from two, Clove, was a master knife thrower but it was the look in her eyes that gave Saint John pause. She had the coldest, iciest look he'd ever seen on anyone. She was ruthless, pitiless and absolutely deadly; easily the most dangerous person in the game. He would need to take her out as quickly as possible. The boy from her district was almost as cold looking and appeared to be the Career's leader. The two from four seemed to be moderately skilled with most weapons but not excellent with any of them. The rest of the field didn't appear to be any kind of threat; they were simply cattle awaiting slaughter. He worked out the details in his new plan deciding it not only would be more effective in the long run but a lot more fun.

After lunch they moved over to weapon's training. Katniss leaned a little more about basic hand to hand while Saint John made himself appear to be barely able to hold his own. She practiced throwing knives and showed she could stick a knife in a target fairly accurately. Saint John allowed himself to appear to be competent with a knife. While they were practicing spear throwing he noticed the same small girl from 11 watching them again. He tapped Katniss on the shoulder and told her they had a shadow. She looked back, scowled but said nothing. After nearly a half an hour Katniss was fairly accurate with a spear if the target was about ten yards or less away. Saint John could throw a lot farther but would have trouble hitting a mountain with one. He laughed and said, "You know Kat, between the two of us we'd make one hell of a spear chucker."

She closed her eyes trying to keep from laughing and failed. She laughed, slapped him in the arm and said, "Sorry."

Saint John smiled back and noticed the young dark skinned girl was grinning at them.

He asked to her, "You think you can do any better?"

The little girl ducked behind a pillar. Katniss looked at him and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Not sure. When I figure it out I'll let you know" He walked over to the pillar and said, "If you're going to follow us around you might as well join us."

She looked around the corner of the staff at him. He smiled, held out his hand and said, "I'm Saint John."

She looked at his hand for several seconds like she was trying to decide whether his introduction was genuine or some kind of trick.

"You know I can't hurt you during training. I'm just being friendly."

She took his hand in her small one and said in a very quiet voice, "Rue."

He shook her hand and motioned for her to join them. She followed him to the spear throwing station. He introduced Katniss to her. This time the young Rue smiled and held out her hand. Katniss scowled but took the young girls hand. Rue spent the rest of the afternoon following them to the weapon's stations. They found she was incredibly accurate with a sling. Katniss wasn't impressed but Saint John knew any weapon that could reach out and hit you at a distance was dangerous. A rock shot from a sling upside your head could ruin your whole day. Katniss's notes on her stated Rue knew what plants to eat and could climb with great skill. Saint John thought this could be a problem. Despite her skill with a sling the girl wasn't much of a threat in a fight but she could survive and hide. That might mean they'd have to hunt her down to end the game, not a good concept. Training ended for the day and everyone left for their rooms.

He returned to his room, took a shower and dressed for dinner. He stood out on the balcony with his usual glass of whiskey watching the sun finish setting. Haymitch walked out and stood next him, his own drink in his hand. After a few minutes of silence he asked, "So, how's the training going? Are you two doing what I told you?"

"Yes dad, we've been good little children." He looked at his mentor and said, "I got something I'd like to run past you," and he explained what he was thinking.

Haymitch stared at him and asked, "Are you serious?"

"Yeah I'm serious. Katniss pulled a bratty teenage girl this morning and it gave me a chance to sow the seeds of it. Can you do it?"

Haymitch rubbed his chin for a few seconds and thought. He said, "Maybe, it's a little late in the game but if the Gamemakers give you a high enough score it might work."

"Don't worry about that. I'll get their attention if I have to collapse the building on their heads." Saint John finished his drink and said, "Don't tell Kat, don't think she'd take it well and I need her to trust me."

Haymitch grinned at Saint John and asked, "Having second thoughts about her?"

"No, the plan's the same, I'm just changing the details a bit. One more thing, I might have an ally for her as well." He told her who.

Haymitch scowled and replied, "Now I know you're joking."

Saint John just stared at him.

Haymitch said, "No, no, hell no," finished his drink and went back into the dining room.

Saint John grinned, he didn't think the old drunk would take that well. He might be right. Katniss might be better off alone. It was bad enough she was bonding to him. She didn't need to start caring for someone else. Effie announced dinner was ready and he went in to eat.

Dinner came and went without any major conflicts. There was a little quiet chatter about training and that tomorrow morning they would talk about what they were going to do for the Gamemakers. Saint John palmed a butter knife as a prop for the nights training and met Katniss on the roof. He started by showing her how to disarm someone with a knife. He had her hold it in her right hand with the blade out. He then quickly raised his hands, slapping both the back of her right wrist and the blade at the same time. She lost her grip on the weapon, he caught it and quickly brought it to her throat. Her look went from surprise to a smile as she told him to show her how he did that. They practiced that several times along with a few other disarming techniques. He then showed her how to properly cut a man's throat, where in the chest to stab someone to ensure it hits the heart, the brain stem in the back of the head and how to cut open major arties like the ones in the back and inside the thigh. The told her that when she stabs to twist the blade before pulling it out to make the wound larger. They ended the night with another complete review of all the techniques he'd taught her over the last three days. Back in the apartment they had their usual tea and spent more time talking about waging war. She still couldn't answer his question about who she was with anything resembling confidence. He just shook his head and told her to get some sleep.

The next morning he ran on the roof, showered dressed and ate before Katniss was even out of her room. During breakfast Haymitch asked him what he planned on doing for the Gamemakers. He told him he wasn't sure yet but it would get their attention. He met Katniss and Effie on the elevator and went to the final day of training. They spent the morning going over more of the weapons, trying not to show any real skill with them. Rue joined them again only this time Thresh was also watching from the background. He picked up a spear and showed the girls how to use a staff. He tossed one to a trainer and they each took turns hitting and blocking with the spear. The trainer appeared to be impressed as were many of the other tributes and the Gamemakers. Saint John wondered why no one had ever thought of using a staff in this thing. The morning ended and everyone went to lunch.

After lunch all the tributes sat on a long bench waiting to be called. Saint John being the boy from 12 sat between both Rue and Katniss, who would be last. The icy coldness that ended their private training last night was still present between them. When they called Rue she got up and started heading into the gym. As she left Saint John felt he had to say something to his new friend.

"Rue."

The girl turned around.

"Show them what you can do. Impress them and have fun. Remember, only the dead are without hope and you're very much alive right now."

The girl smiled at him and continued to the training room.

Katniss looked at him and asked, "Why did you do that?"

"She looked like she needed it."

She shook her head and said, "It's not a good idea to make friends. We may have to kill her later."

Saint John looked at her and said, "If it comes to that I'll do her." He looked back down the hallway to the training room and said, "I'll make it quick, she won't feel a thing."

"That easy huh?"

Saint John shook his head and replied, "No, I think killing someone that young will be the hardest thing I've ever done. Besides chances are one of the Careers, as you call them, will probably take her before I'll have to." He turned to face Katniss, looked her in the eye and asked, "Are we still friends and partners?"

She looked away and said, "Saint John, if I don't make it back promise me you'll take care of Prim and my mom and help Gale feed them and his family."

"You don't believe I'll sacrifice myself for you do you?"

She shook her head.

Saint John put his arm around her shoulders and said, "They don't need someone to take care of them, they need you. You're not going to die, I won't let it happen."

She looked up at him like she wanted to say something when an electronic female voice called his name.

Saint John stood up and said, "Show time." He looked back and said, "Shoot straight Kitten, impress them, hell scare them. Remember what I told Rue, only the dead are without hope and we're both very much alive."

"What are you going to do to impress them?"

Saint John smiled and replied, "I'm going to do what I've wanted to do since I got here; play and have fun."

He walked into the gymnasium. The training room was set up the way it had been for the last three days. All the weapons were neatly stacked on their racks. Several targets, dummies, human silhouettes and bulls eyes were set up at varying ranges. A large punching bag hung at the center by the rope climbing station. Saint John studied the set up for a few seconds wondering how best to impress the Gamemakers. He looked up at them and noticed they all appeared to be drunk and singing really badly. Great, this is going to be fun, he thought. He looked at the climbing wall, the target dummies and smiled. He closed his eyes and thought about all the twisted, horrors his mind could conjure. He could feel his muscles swell and his nerves quicken. His sense became sharper and clearer, he could hear everything the Gamemakers were saying and could even smell the wine they were drinking. His mind became clear and focused on what he had to do. But carefully, he thought. He wanted to look extraordinary not superhuman. He walked over to the weapons rack, picked out three small throwing hatchets and tucked them into his belt. He then picked up two throwing knives and tucked them into the top of his boots. When he felt he was ready he walked over to the wall and climbed to the top. Twenty feet in the air he stood on top of the ledge at the same level as the Gamemakers, smiled at them and started juggling the three hatchets. He stood there balanced on the top of the wall juggling, waiting for all the so called game officials to look at him. It took a few minutes before all of them had stopped drinking and looked his way curiously. He could hear them asking each other, "What the hell is he doing?"

Saint John tossed one of the hatchets a little higher, grabbed one in his right hand and threw it. The blade stuck itself in the chest of the dummy on the right some fifty feet away. He juggled the last two for a couple more seconds and threw another one aiming at the target on the left. He missed it completely. The small axe hit the ground with a clang and a couple of sparks. Saint John held the last hatchet in his left hand and jumped off the wall. He grabbed a hanging rope six feet away, used the blade to cut the rope and swung towards the target range. He gave a Tarzan yell as he flew at the middle dummy. He cut its head off with the hatchet, pulled up on the rope, let go and did a flip before landing on his feet. He walked behind the center dummy, buried his last hatchet in the top of its decapitated body. He then pulled the knives out of his boots, one in each hand and threw them at the backs of the dummies heads. Again he hit the one on the right but the one on the left hit handle first and fell to the ground. Damn it, he thought, well, I never could throw with my left arm anyway. Then just for good measure he spun around and kicked the center one so hard it flew from its stand and slammed into the far wall nearly thirty feet away. He looked up at his audience; a few didn't seem that impressed and went back to drinking. He nodded at them. He thought about tearing the punching bag apart with his bare hands but thought that might be a little much. Instead he grabbed two small swords and cut the limbs off both the remaining dummies. He juggled the swords until one of the Gamemakers dismissed him. He saluted them with the sword in his right hand and threw them both into the wall under their balcony.

Saint John contained his laughter until he got to the elevator. Then he started laughing all the tension that had been building over the last few days out. That felt great, he thought as he arrived at the penthouse level. He went straight to his room, stripped down and took a shower. He started feeling very tired as his body came down from its artificial rush. Once the game started for real he'd have to be a bit more careful. He couldn't afford to crash like this after every fight. He let the hot stream relax him as he slowed his breathing and lowered his heart rate. After a few minutes he felt a little fatigued but pretty much himself. He was hungry for the first time in days and looked forward to dinner for a change. He dressed in comfortable clothes, went into the sitting room for a drink. He sat nursing a whiskey with ice and watched more replays of the reaping and tribute parade. He wondered if they ever showed anything but propaganda and Hunger Game crap. He felt proud of himself despite losing some of their interest. He thought he did well without giving away what he could really do. He'd find out what the organizers of this nightmare thought soon enough. He finished his drink, set the glass on the table and started to drift off. He was awakened by a door being slammed. He looked towards the hallway where his and Katniss' bedrooms were and thought, guessing hers didn't go as well as mine. He was about to get up when he saw Effie head down the hallway. He could hear her knocking on a door and a muffled order for her to go away. Then Haymitch tried and received the same result. Both of them came into the sitting room and looked at him. He chuckled and said, "Girls. Everything's the end of the world with them."

He looked at the Avox girl standing in the corner, smiled and asked her to bring some strawberries and melted chocolate. She returned with a sliver tray with large red berries surrounding a small silver pot. He thanked her, took the tray and headed for the hallway.

Haymitch asked, "What the hell are you going to do with that?"

Saint John shook his head and replied, "You really need to get out more and learn about girls. Chocolate, the way to a girl's soul."

He knocked on her door and said, "Kat, let me in."

"Go away!"

He continued knocking and said, "I'm not going away so you might as well let me in." He kept knocking for several minutes until a very angry looking Katniss finally opened the door. He pushed his way past her, sat on the bed and looked at her. She scowled at him from her doorway obviously wanting him to leave. He held up the tray and asked, "Chocolate covered strawberries; want some?"

When she just stood there scowling he shrugged and said, "More for me." He took a strawberry, dipped it in the molten candy and bit into it. He said, "MMM," even though he really didn't like strawberries. He ate three of them before she sat down and had one.

He looked at her and asked, "So what happened?"

She finished eating her berry and looked at him with tears in her eyes. He set the tray behind him and she threw her arms around his neck and started crying. He held her for several minutes letting her cry it out of her system. When the stem of tears had stopped he asked her what happened. She told him the Gamemakers weren't paying any attention to her even though her shooting was superb until she shot at them.

He looked at her with shock on his face and said, "Holy shit, Kat, I told you to scare them but damn."

She explained she wasn't shooting at them but at the apple in the pig's mouth they were so interested in. He chuckled which made her even more upset. She said, "It's not funny. They're going to execute me or worse, take it out on my family."

Saint John scowled at her and asked, "What makes you think that?"

"I embarrassed them, humiliated them. They're going to punish me for it. Maybe my family."

Saint John considered that for a second and said, "I don't think so."

"Why?"

"They'd have to explain what happened to the tributes from District 12, the boy and girl that were on fire during the parade. The whole county would demand answers."

She looked at him and asked, "Why the boy and girl? Why would they punish you for what I did?"

He hugged her and said, "I made you a promise. It doesn't matter whether it's in the arena or out here. Anyone wants to hurt you they have to go through me."

The shocked look on her face made him laugh again. Her looked went back to her usual scowl and she asked, "You'd fight the Peace Keepers knowing there's no way we could win?"

"Who says we couldn't win? I'd kill them, take their weapons and we'd fight our way out of the city or die trying." He looked her in the eye and said with determination, "They'd have to break us before we give up. They'd have to kill us before we die. We haven't been broken and we're very much alive."

She smiled and hugged him tightly for a long time. He hugged her back as tightly as he dared enjoying the closeness and dreading the fact that it would end soon. There was a gentle tapping on the open door. Effie was standing there smiling and then suddenly sad. She told them dinner was ready. He nodded, took Katniss' right hand and help her to her feet. She walked ahead of him to the dining room. As he followed her he thought, let them come, this is as good a place to plan B it as anywhere.

Sometime while they were talking Cinna and Portia had arrived to share dinner with them. Saint John was a little surprised to see them and then realized of course they'd be here for the Gamemaker's scores. He hoped his talk helped but Katniss looked just as depressed as she did in her room. The soup was some kind of salty disgusting fish brew that he hated. He noticed Katniss either didn't like it as well or she was still too upset to eat. The others started talking about the weather and other minor subjects staying away from the main topic that had to be on everyone of their minds. When the main course arrived Haymitch said, "Alright, enough small talk, just how bad were you?"

He looked at Katnisst and smirked. She just sat there staring at her plate. He knew their mentor was asking her, since she stormed to her room and slammed the door, but figured Haymitch would ask him eventually so he might as well go first. He casually described his demonstration of abilities, leaving out his misses with the axe and knife, and then started eating his dinner. He thought the pork chops were a lot better than the soup. He looked up and noticed the others were staring at him.

Haymitch asked, "And just what the hell did you think you were doing; auditioning for a circus?"

Saint John scowled at him and said, "They were drunk off their asses. I had to get their attention some how."

Haymitch pounded on the table. "You get their attention by showing you will survive the damn arena."

"You told me to save what I could do until the private session. I did. I showed them balance, agility, fighting skills not to mention one hell of an accurate throwing arm."

Haymitch looked down and asked, "When are you going to take this seriously?"

Saint John wanted to show him just how serious he could be by breaking all of Haymtich's limbs one at a time. Then he noticed a glint of amusement in his eyes. He wondered if this was some way of deflecting some of Katniss' distress. Was he trying to make her feel better by making him look bad. Saint John could play the same game. He smiled and asked, "I thought this was a game? Aren't you supposed to have fun in a game?"

He looked over at Portia and winked. She smiled back at him and nodded. Despite Haymitch her, Effie and Cinna all seemed pleased with his attempt to gain the Gamemaker's favor. He looked across the table at Katniss and noticed she appeared even more depressed than before. He figured she was thinking if Haymitch was pissed at him for climbing and juggling what would he say to her shooting at the Gamemakers. He suddenly felt a need to be a little mean. Besides that might just release some of the tension in the room. He said as he cut off another chunk of pork chop, "Maybe your right." He pointed across the table with his meat laden fork and said, "She had no trouble getting their attention." Katniss looked up at him with the meanest scowl he'd ever seen on her young face. She ducked slightly in her chair and he felt a sharp pain in his right shin. He yelled, "Ow!," and kicked her back. She looked surprised that he actually kicked her. They started trying to kick each other under the table. Saint John and Katniss laughed like a couple of kids with an occasional ow. That was one of the reasons he loved her. Her and Gale were the only people that could bring the child in him out. Cinna and Portia were trying to keep their glasses from falling as the table bounced around. Effie held her plate down telling them in a stern voice that was not how young men and women acted at the dinner table. Haymitch put his elbows on the table and his head in his hands. He just sat there until the table jumped up so violently that his elbows flew up along with his head and landed back on the table with a loud thump.

Haymitch had enough and yelled, "Knock it off!" After the table stopped bouncing around he shook his head and said, "I've mentored twelve year olds that acted better than you too." He looked at Katniss and said, "Alright sweetheart, what happened?"

Katniss glared at him apparently she liked being called sweetheart less than being called Kitten. "I shot an arrow at the Gamemakers."

Effie asked with horror in her voice, "You what?"

As if the kick fight was bad enough. Now everyone was staring at her except Saint John, he continued eating the pork chops. They were very good, especially if dipped in his mashed potatoes.

Katniss continued, "I shot an arrow at them. Not exactly at them. In their direction. It's like Saint John said, I was shooting and they were ignoring me and I just…I just lost my head so I shot an apple out of their stupid roast pig's mouth!"

Cinna asked slowly, "And what did they say?"

"Nothing. Or I don't know. I walked out after that."

Effie gasped, "Without being dismissed?"

Saint John laughed quietly. Leave it to Effie Trinket to find not being properly dismissed to be more of an offence than scaring the shit out of someone.

Katniss replied, "I dismissed myself," in a somewhat dejected tone.

Saint John thought, Great, everything I did including eating strawberries which I hate and this lot ruins it in less than a minute.

Haymitch said, "Well, that's that," as he buttered a roll.

Katniss asked the same question about her being arrested or her family being punished she asked Saint John. Haymitch gave a better explanation about it being too difficult to replace her now and since the tribute training is secret there would be no point in taking it out on her family. He said, "More likely they'll make your life hell in the arena."

Saint John said around a mouthful of food, "They're going to do that anyway."

Haymitch replied, "True," and ripped a piece of pork chop with his fingers and dunks it in his wine.

Saint John smiled and said, "Well, I don't care what you all think, I like it."

Haymitch replied around his food, "You would." Then he chuckles and asked, "What were their faces like?"

Katinss starts to smile and tells them they all looked shocked and terrified. In fact apparently one of them fell over the punch bowl. Everyone at the table started laughing. Even prim and proper Effie in the end agreed the Gamemakers deserved what they got for not paying attention to her charges.

Katniss still looked down and said, "I'll get a very bad score."

Saint John replied, "Who cares?"

"Scores matter, its how you get sponsors."

"And there's nothing we can do about that now. Can't change the past. All we can do is deal with what happens next. Just remember, we're in this together. You're not alone Kitten."

"Don't call me Kitten"

The whole table started laughing again. Portia told her scores only matter if there high, no one pays attention to low scores. Besides we could have been holding back as a tactic to hide their true skill.

Katniss looked like she felt better. She smiled at Saint John and dug into her food like she'd been starved. After dinner they retire to the sitting room. Saint John pours drinks all around, taking a small glass of whiskey for himself. Katniss has a small mug of hot chocolate and they sit around the television to watch the official scores. The Careers rank between eight and ten, most of the others average around five. Even little Rue somehow pulls a seven. As usual District 12 comes up last. The announcer mispronounces Saint John's name. Saint John scowls at the screen and says, "It's pronounced Sin-Jin you hammer head."

More chuckles from the group as a whole. Katniss said, "He can't hear you dummy."

Saint John hissed back at her. Then his score came up under his picture and everyone was shocked; a ten. Portia gave him a small hug. Cinna and Haymitch shook his hand congratulating him. Katniss smiled at him. At least he scored high, maybe that'll help them.

Then they announced her name. Her picture came up on the screen and there was a pause like the announcer couldn't believe what he was reading. When the eleven came up under her name everyone became very quiet. Then suddenly everyone was cheering, hugging and congratulating her. It was another first in the Hunger Games, the two tributes from District 12 score a ten and eleven.

Saint John smiled at Katniss and said, "And you were worried, good job Kitten." If scores meant sponsors than she should have several by now.

Katniss looked more shocked than anyone. She asked, "There must be a mistake. How…how could this happen?"

Haymitch replied, "Guess they liked your temper. They've got a show to put on. They need players with some heat."

Cinna hugs her and said, "Katniss, the girl on fire. Oh, wait until you see your interview dress."

She asked, "More flames?"

He replied, "Of a sort," with a smirk on his face.

When dinner broke up they changed into more comfortable clothes and met on the roof for more private training. He didn't teach her any new techniques but instead taught her how to apply what she learned in as realistic scenarios as he could devise. It's one thing to learn techniques it's another using them. He reminded her that her objective was to escape not fight it out unless she had no means of escape. He reinforced the concept of not fighting her enemies fight but making them fight hers. He told her that the others, even the Careers, had most likely never been in a real fight before. Most if not all of them would freeze out of shock and give them the initiative. They had the advantage of knowing more about the others than they knew about them. They continued practicing, he would attack her and she was to attempt to escape or if she couldn't try killing him as quickly as possible. The then showed her how to set up an ambush and even break through one that was set to catch her. It was very late and both of them were sweaty, winded and more than a little sore when Saint John decided it was time to quit for the night. He had her sit next to him in a bench and said, "I think were about done here. I've taught you as much as I dare with the time we had. So, rest up tomorrow night, were taking it off."

She gave him a questioning look.

He smiled. "Too much training can be a bad thing. We need to take a night off before the game starts and I doubt either one of his will be able to sleep the night before. That night we'll go over our final strategy. Decide how we're going to get you through this. Just remember, all warfare is deception. Don't believe anything you see or hear in the arena unless I'm looking you in the eye. Go get some sleep. It's going to be a long day."

Katniss got up and started to walk towards the door. Then she turned around and asked, "You were never worried about what I did with the Gamemakers; were you?"

He shook his head. "Not really."

"Why?"

"I'd plan B it."

She gave him another questioning look. "What's plan B?"

He shrugged. "Told you, kill the Peace Keepers and fight our way out of the city. Beyond that I'm not sure. I'd make it up as I went long. Good night Kitten."

"Don't call me Kitten." She left Saint John to his thoughts.

He watched her walk away smiling slightly. He always did like the rear view. He wanted to tell her about Plan B. He wanted to tell her more. He wanted to tell her everything but there was no way she'd understand. Besides there were a lot more people's lives in the balance than the 24 stuck in the game. He left the roof and tried to get a couple hours of sleep before the next bout of stupidity began.

After an hour of lying in bed tossing around he gave up. He let the shower go through three cycles of high power massage wishing Jordan was there. He'd never admit it but a back rub could always relax him enough to sleep and she was very good at back rubs. In fact she was very good at lots of things; sex, flying, breaking past computer security and killing. She was the best at the close range kill or so he seemed to know but couldn't really remember the details. He wondered how good Katniss would be at taking a person's life. Could she do it or would she hesitate and most likely die. He wondered what else the young girl who didn't even realize her crotch in his face was a turn on would be good at. He felt himself smile and a slight tingling feeling in his own groin. A feeling of shame came over him. She was his friend. A friend that he was committed to protecting. Besides she was way too young compared to him or at least what he could almost remember. He shook the thoughts from his head, finished his shower and got dressed in the same dark clothes he worked out in. He thought about going up to the roof but didn't have the motivation. Instead he went into the sitting room, turned on the lights and just lied back on the couch. He started watching some old Hunger Game re-runs on the TV. The shows were all edited recaps and didn't give him a lot of details about how it might really feel like in the arena. They did show the final kills which he studied intently. The climatic fights seemed to be done more hand to hand or with rocks or sticks than with any weapon found in the Cornucopia. Suddenly a silver tray with two ceramic pots and a single cup appeared on the table in front of him. He looked up and saw the same male servant he'd seen since moving into the new digs. It was the first time he really bothered to notice him. He wore a perfectly white uniform about his height and nearly the same hair color. He asked to the supposedly mute servant, "Don't you guys sleep?" When the servant just stood there, his head down looking at the floor, Saint John smiled and thanked him for his kindness. He poured his coffee and crème, sat back and watched more forced brutality. He asked out loud to no one, "How could anyone enjoy watching this shit?"

He felt someone tap his shoulder. He looked up and saw the servant standing over him. The servant pointed at his throat and then at the TV.

Saint John nodded and said, "It was a rhetorical question dude, I already know the answer."

He shut off the TV and sat back. He said quietly, "Raven, bang my head." Quiet Riot started playing in his head and suddenly felt better. He started singing quietly to the song, "I'm a axe grinder, pile driver. My mother says that I never never mind her. I've no brain, I'm insane. My teacher says I'm one big pain. I'm like a laser, six string razor, I got a mouth like an alligator. I want it louder, more power, I'm going to rock it til it strikes the hour…Bang your head! Metal heath will drive you mad…" He finished that song and another began. One that was far more disturbing for him; MegaDeth's Crush'em. "Enter the arena and near the light. Step up now were in for a ride. This is war aint no fun and games…" He told the music to stop. He began to wonder how many of the other tributes hadn't even begun to live yet. How many of them were virgins, never having known what it was like to be close to another human being. He wondered how many of them he'd have to kill himself to get Katniss home. Finally he said angrily, "Get out." He noticed the servant bow his head and start to leave. Saint John said, "Not you dude."

The servant turned back, looked around the room and then back at him curiously.

Saint John chuckled slightly and said, "I'm talking to the thoughts in my head…" and explained to him what he was thinking.

The man smiled at him knowingly. He pointed at Saint John and then down the hall towards Katniss' room.

Saint John started laughing and replied, "Wish I could but that'd just make things worse for her when it's over."

The mute frowned at him like he didn't understand what he meant.

Saint John looked at him a little frustrated and said, "They didn't take away your hearing dude. You must know I'm not coming back from this."

The frown turned into the same sad expression that he'd seen on so many others when they finally believed his intentions.

It occurred to him that the servant didn't believe him until now. Because he can't speak there was no reason for Saint John to lie to him.

He pointed at Saint John, then to his own lips, then to Katniss' room and finally to his own heart.

Saint John shook his head and replied, "Can't. Telling her would be just as bad as banging her. It'd be easier for her to let me go as a friend and not someone who loved her."

The servant shook his head. He then pointed at him.

Saint John realized that the young man was telling him not to tell her for her but to tell her for him. It would make him feel better and maybe less lonely. He had to admit the mute was right, it probably would make him feel a little better. He shook his head and said, "It's not about me. She still has to live after all this is over. I don't want the burden of a dead lover hanging over her head her entire life. Trust me I know how that feels."

The servant shook his head again. He picked up the crème pitcher, poured a small amount on the tray and wrote, "Shouldn't spend the rest of her life wondering why."

Saint John hadn't thought about it until the servant had spelled it out for him. Maybe he was right. Maybe not knowing why would be harder than knowing someone who loved her gave his life for her. The real question Saint John had was did he really love her or was it simply infatuation with a young woman that needed him.

The servant wiped the words away and then wrote, "You keep fighting for her." After a few seconds he wiped that away, nodded and left the room.

Those words kept echoing in his head long after the servant left. The sun was just starting to peek up over the Capital skyline when he made a decision. There wasn't any real choice, the system had to be taken apart. First things first; get her out of the arena alive. He looked around the room to make sure he was still alone; it wouldn't be long before Effie and Haymitch came by. He quietly gave instructions to the mysterious voice in his head. Instructions it would execute if it didn't hear from him again. Effie and the servants came in just as he finished talking to himself. She seemed surprised he was already awake and up ready to begin his day. He moved to the dining room just as the servants finished setting up breakfast. The young man he'd spoken to earlier was noticeably absent. He hoped it had nothing to do with their conversation but put it out of his mind; couldn't worry about that now. He had a mission to accomplish. Haymitch came in, grabbed a plate and started piling on rice with lamb stew on top of it. Effie took a cup of black coffee and ate a couple pieces of toast. Saint John didn't realize how hungry he was until he smelled the food. He grabbed a plate and plied on eggs and sausage links. He ate that, grabbed another plate and filled that with biscuits smothered in gravy. He was shoveling that down like a starving man when he asked, "So, today were working on the interview prep, right?"

Both of them just nodded.

"I don't want Kat to know what I plan on doing for the interview so can we do that separately?"

Effie had a sad look on her face when she asked, "Are you changing your mind about working with her?"

"No, I just don't think I can say what I have to with her in the room, not yet anyway." He looked around and asked, "Is this a problem?"

Haymitch said around a mouthful of stew, "No, no problem. Might work out better. Besides, I have an answer for that question you asked me before. I'm sure you wouldn't want her to know this anyway."

Effie gave him a questioning look but neither of them explained. Instead Saint John gave them a real quick rundown of what he wanted to say for the interview. Neither of the older folks seemed very surprised. They were still discussing some details when Katniss came in. She stared at them for a few seconds then made her way over to the food. She came to the table with a huge pile of rice and stew and began eating. Saint John couldn't even find the courage to say Good Morning Kitten to her. When she asked what was going to happen today Haymitch had to be the one to explain that they were no longer training as a team. He could see pain and betrayal in her eyes for the briefest of seconds. Then she hid her feelings and appeared to not care.

When they broke up Haymitch and Saint John were supposed to spend four hours discussing not just what he was going to say but how to say it during the interview. It didn't take more than two; turned out both of them were thinking the same thing. When they had more or less agreed on how he should make his delivery during his interview Haymitch walked over to the bar and poured both of them glasses of whiskey. He took a drink and asked, "You know that plan you had to join the tributes from one, two and four?"

Saint John nodded.

"Well, you can forget it. May I ask what the hell you two were doing during training?"

Saint John smirked. "Who figured it out?"

"Cato. He noticed you two were watching everyone and spending your lunch comparing notes." Haymitch scowled as he slammed his drink. He asked with a hard edge, "While you were learning how to fight didn't anyone ever teach you subtlety?"

Saint John signed. "Cato's smarter than he looks." He finished his own drink, took Haymitch's glass and poured them another.

He sat down again, downed half his drink. "Trust me, I won't underestimate him again.

He took a drink, looked at Saint John and asked, "Tell me you at least got some good information?"

"We did. Pretty much know everyone's talents, who's going to fight it out, who's going to run and survive and who's just going to die when the gong rings."

He looked back at his mentor and asked, "You think we stand a chance?"

Haymitch looked out the window. He sipped his drink quietly for several minutes before replying, "Yeah. I always thought you stood a chance. Her, not until I saw her score. Now, I think if you two stick together there's a very good chance you two will be the last ones standing. Then it comes down to the question; will you give your life for a girl that doesn't care about you half as much as you care for her?"

"What makes you think she doesn't care about me?"

Haymitch laughed. "Please, I was young once. If she cared this much about you there'd be one less bed being slept in around here." He looked back at him. "And you know it."

Saint John nearly said some guy crap about tapping that ass if she'd let her but stopped himself. He was supposed to be a 17 year old boy and was already pushing it showing how much he knew about fighting and combat. Not to mention all the charm and his drinking. If he started talking like an expert on women it could blow his cover. He had to remember they might be monitored in these rooms. Instead he went with a shy teenage boy. He put on a shy look and laughed quietly. "Like I'd know what to do even if she let me."

Haymitch looked at him with a smirk. "Don't worry about that. If it ever happened you two would figure it out. But that's not what I mean."

He looked at his mentor puzzled wondering what the old man meant. It occurred to him how strange it seemed to be talking to him about his love life, or his supposed lack thereof.

"I mean you already knew she doesn't love you."

"Haymitch, I'm not sure I love her." He decided it was time to spin a story. A convincing lie that might answer the old man's questions. He put a sad look on his face and looked down at his feet. "As far back as I can remember all I've done is fight. I wouldn't know love if it came up and bit me in the ass."

Haymitch shook his head and asked, "Alright then, no bullshit. Why did you volunteer for this?"

He sighed, looked up at Haymitch's face and replied, "Because I do care about her. She has lots of people that care about her. And nobody knows my name." He looked towards the window like he was embarrassed to say the rest. "I'm tired of fighting, tired of living in the woods like some animal. At least if I die for Kat my life might mean something. Maybe then people will know my name, they'll know Saint John Jamison lived. Maybe they'll even remember me after I'm gone."

He looked back and saw Haymitch nod like he understood. Haymitch finished his drink and said, "Oh, everyone knows your name now. They'll remember you son. If we pull this off they'll remember all of us for the next hundred years."

"Just remember any gifts we get go to her. I'm counting on you to help her if I can't be there."

Haymitch put his hand on Saint John's shoulder and replied, "Let me decide who gets what. You just play it like I said and we'll have half of Panem ready to sponsor you two." He pulled out his pocket watch. "Go get some lunch and meet Effie in your room for her bit on how to act during the interview."

Saint John moaned as he got up. "Can't wait."

"Haymitch got up for another drink and asked, "What the hell are you bitching about?" He slammed the drink down and poured another. "I have to try to keep that spitfire of ours from pissing off the entire country." He looked at the drink and poured it out.

Saint John walked over to the dining room laughing. He decided that despite his drinking he's start liking Haymitch.

The moment he walked in the room he could tell that Katniss' class didn't go well. She had him dress in a dark suit and walk around. Effie seemed satisfied that he could at least walk tall and appear presentable. His class with her lasted just over an hour, whether that was because she thought he was ready or just frustrated with his fellow tribute he didn't know. He was just glad the whole thing was over. As soon as she left he stripped out of the monkey suit, put on his sweats and went to the roof for a work out. Two hours of running, calisthenics and shadow fighting made him feel a lot better. He sat down in the garden's grass and meditated until the sun was setting.

He went back down to find out there wasn't going to be the normal formal sit down dinner. He stopped outside Katniss' room. He thought about knocking on her door and asking her how things went but changed his mind. She might ask questions he didn't want to answer; at least not yet. Best leave her alone like he promised last night. He went to his room, ordered a steak, mashed potatoes and asparagus in hollandaise sauce. The dinner just appeared from below the table. It was absolutely perfect. He followed that with two pieces of banana crème pie and his usual coffee. He took a shower, the hot water made him feel very tired. Katniss would have to be on her own tonight, he thought as he crawled into his bed early and slept peacefully for at least twelve hours.

...