GAHHH THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS COMMENTED! You guys are seriously awesome, you really make me want to produce more chapters for you. X3 Don't you worry, it'll get REAL good, REAL quick. :) you guys are the best, I love you!

Much love and stuff!

-ImmaSlytherout

Smoke.

Lots and lots of smoke.

Dean opened his eyes and had to shield his gaze from the heat of the roaring flame that was consuming his house. Dean sat up from bed and noticed that Sam wasn't beside him, and he instantly began to panic.

"Sammy?!"

Dean cried out, pushing the covers away from his body. "Sammy where are you?!" He screamed, looking around him desperately, but he couldn't see him. "Dean!" Dean stopped and looked over to where he thought he heard the voice.

"Sam?!"

"Dean, help!"

"I'm coming Sammy!"

Dean pushed through some of the rubble that had fallen in their shared bedroom until he was able to get into the kitchen area. His lungs felt like they were on fire from all the smoke he was breathing in, and his skin was slowly burning from the heat of the fire; Dean however ignored this as his eyes searched for his little brother.

"Sam!"

Dean yelled once he spotted him, curled into a ball with his eyes shut tightly. Sam looked up and opened his eyes, and Dean could see clear tear tracks marked through the ash on his face.

"Dean, help I'm scared!"

"I'm coming Sam!"

But as Dean went over to Sam, the roof collapsed, falling on top of Dean.

Dean jolted awake in bed, his breathing labored and his shirt clinging to his back from the sweat. It was just a dream, only a memory. There's no fire, and Sam is safe, Dean thought as he ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm his heart beat and slow his pants. Dean could barely hear the small knock on his door, and almost didn't notice when the door opened anyways and Charlie poked her head into his room.

"Hey, are you okay? I just heard you screaming for Sam and I wanted to come check on you."

Dean looked up and swallowed, trying to quench his scratchy throat as though he had been screaming and inhaling smoke at the same time...

"Dean?"

Dean snapped to attention and saw Charlie sitting on his bed, a concerned look on her face. "Are you alright?" "I'm fi- I'm fine." Dean reply was interrupted because Dean had to clear his throat, for his voice was too gravelly to be understood.

"Sorry, I just had a bad dream."

Charlie gave a look of sympathy before scooting next to him. "Was it about what we're gonna face?" Dean shook his head. "No, it was actually about the fire that happened about a year ago." Charlie nodded, keeping silent.

"Dean, I can't sleep. Can I just hang out in here with you until morning?"

Dean's over protectiveness kicked in with his response. "Yeah; I'm probably not going to go back to bed anyways, so we can just stay up and talk."

The two of them stayed up for an extra two hours, talking about their lives back home and even sharing fond memories of the life they used to have. Charlie eventually settled in next to Dean, with her head on his lap actually, and he didn't mind; it gave him a great excuse to play with her fiery red hair. The two found that they actually had a lot in common, and they realized that in a different life, they could've been best friends. Dean learned that Charlie was an orphan because her parents threw her out of their house when they learned she was a lesbian, and then they died shortly after. Dean told Charlie that his mom died when he was young in a fire, and his dad became a huge alcoholic and died from alcohol poisoning one night when he drank way too much too fast. The two shared everything that had happened in their lives; they believed that this might be been their last chance to get to tell their stories to someone who might actually care, and to someone who might actually get to live to remember them. They wouldn't become just another face that was to be forgotten soon; at least, not to each other.

"Dean? Can I ask you something?"

"Of course Charlie, what is it?"

"Are you scared of what's to come? In the arena?"

Dean stopped playing with Charlie's hair so he could think deeply about how he would answer her question; but there was only one response for him.

"No, I'm not. I know that I will live and I'll get to see Sam again; I have to believe that." Charlie nodded, obviously thinking.

"Dean, I know that I'm not going to make it... But could you promise me that you'll be the one to kill me? The others have no mercy, and while I am afraid of death, I am also afraid of pain. So, would you be the one to kill me and make sure I feel no pain?"

Dean ran his fingers affectionately through her hair and gave her a sad smile. It was strange how in just a few hours, enemies became friends. "Of course I will Charlie. Nothing could stop me." Charlie smiled and blinked away her tears. "Thank you."

She whispered, taking Dean's hand in hers. Dean squeezed it softly and after a moment, Charlie sat up. "I suppose I should be returning to my room now. We need some sleep for tomorrow." Dean watched her stand before speaking, his voice holding his nerves.

"Charlie? Would you stay the night with me?"

Charlie looked somewhat shocked before smiling and nodding. "Sure Dean. I don't think I would've been able to sleep on my own anyways." Charlie crawled into bed and wrapped the blankets around her, and Dean followed suit, curling his body around hers and wrapping his arms around her waist. As he closed his eyes, willing sleep to come, his mind drifted off to a younger boy who he would hold close to at night, for extra warmth, or so he told himself.

Dean fell asleep, free of any nightmares.

x.x.x

Dean opened his eyes slowly and found the bed to be empty. He jolted straight up, panicking because he couldn't find Sam, before memories of the previous day flooded his mind.

Sam being reaped.

Dean volunteering.

Dean having to say goodbye to Sam.

Dean waking from a nightmare.

Dean getting comforted from his nightmare.

Dean gave out a small groan and held his head in his hands. A part of him was embarrassed of the way he had acted last night; but another part was thankful and glad that Charlie was there for him. Dean threw back the covers and stood to his feet, making his way to where the food cart was.

When he walked inside the food cart, he saw Charlie, Bobby, and the woman responsible for his possible death, all sitting around; Charlie was eating, and gave a small wave to Dean when he entered (not stopping to speak, of course), Bobby was drinking from his flask, obviously ignoring Becky, who was scolding him for drinking so early in the morning.

"Morning idjit."

Bobby grunted, drinking from his flask once more. Dean gave a curt nod in acknowledgement before filling up a plate with sausage, eggs, toast, a bowl of fruit, and a biscuit. For his beverage he grabbed a cup of coffee, and a cup of orange juice; all were luxuries he would never have back home, except for the fruit maybe. Dean sat down and began to eat, and noticed Charlie giving him a look of both horror and awe.

"You're going to eat all of that?!"

She demanded, giving Dean a concerned look. Dean winked and swallowed the eggs he had just shoveled into his mouth. "Gotta get some weight on me before they throw me in to die." An uncomfortable silence fell over the room as everyone thought about what Dean said; Dean just shrugged and kept saying. Bobby cleared his throat to break the silence.

"Alright idjits. We've arrived at the Capitol; that means that you have your interview tonight with Chuck. Your team of stylists are going to come in and make you look pretty and desirable; maybe that'll make you last longer. When you meet them, be friendly and smile a lot; these people talk, and if you can get them on your side, the better off you'll be. I want you smiling at every opportunity; no exceptions. Got it pretty boy?"

As Bobby finished his speech he turned to Dean, who was scowling at his "mentor". " smiling? Being friendly? Oh the horror! " Dean exclaimed dramatically, making Charlie giggle. Dean flashed her a grin, and the grin only widened when he saw Bobby's unamused face. "Don't worry Bobby. I'll do whatever it takes." Dean looked down at his plate of luxurious food and thought of his little brother back home, who was probably groaning out of hunger. Dean did all he could for his brother, but good wasn't good enough. Dean gripped his fork tightly in his hand and begun shoveling food again, determined to eat every last bite and drink every last drop.

Whatever it takes.

Hello again friends~(sorry I'm having another author's note. *sigh*) I'm so sorry this took awhile for me to update, I was right about to update it earlier, but when I was copying it, I accidentally pushed the space button and like half of it disappeared so I had to start all over again, and it made me so frustrated that I had too leave for a bit. - u -" anyways, I hope you guys are enjoying! How am I doing? Good? Bad? Let me in the comments, and of course, let me know if you want more! Your comments keep me going, so yeah. XD

Anyways, hoped you enjoyed!

Much love and stuff,

-ImmaSlytherout