I DO NOT OWN THE HUNGER GAMES

Part Seven: The Mockingjay

I awoke to the sound on monitors beeping, the lights bright as I tried to open my eyes. Were the Games over? Was I alive? What was all that beeping? Where was I? I sat up slowly, and looked around to see I was on a hover craft. I panicked; where was Cato? Where was everyone? I looked to my left to see Haymitch behind the glass, talking to someone, waving his arms around wildly. I felt a jab of pain in my arm to see I had stitches. That's right, Cashmere knocked me out as Johanna began tearing into my arm. I heard the door open and turned my head to see Haymitch walking in. His skin seemed to have yellowed more since the last time I saw him. He sat in the chair across from me, his features sullen and hard. What the hell was going on?

"Haymitch… What happened?"

He sighed lightly, tapping his fingers on the wooden arm rest of the chair.

"Well sweetheart, after the Quarter Quell announcement, the Victors and Capitol Rebels made a plan to break you and everyone else out of the arena. Everything had been planned; the early detour into the arena, not being able to say goodbye to family and friends, your wedding dress… Every district is at full scale rebellion against the Capitol."

I sat silently as he spoke, letting all the information sink into my head. A rebellion had been formed after all? There were people in the Capitol who wanted to rebel their ever loving government?

"Who made it out Haymitch?"

He cleared his throat and leaned forward in the chair, fiddling with his hands a bit more. He was hiding something from me.

"Finnick, Beetee, and you were pulled out from the arena. Cashmere and Gloss died in the arena fending off the Peacekeepers, and during the mayhem, Chaff killed Brutus and Cato killed Brutus. Wiress was killed by the Capitol. Johanna and Enobaria are being held hostage as we speak."

But he was forgetting someone; someone very important to me was left out of that list.

"Haymitch… Where's Cato?"

His gaze dropped to the floor, a flash of pain entered his gaze as he told me the most terrifying thing since I was told I had to go back into the Games:

"Katniss… Cato was taken by the Capitol."

It had been over three weeks since Cato was taken by the Capitol; three weeks since District Twelve had been bombed by the Capitol, and three weeks since I had been fished out of the arena by District Thirteen. Yes, District Thirteen was alive and thriving, well hidden in underground bunkers, cut off from the rest of the Districts. When they had first brought me here, I held a grudge against the place. Why had they been left out of the Hunger Games? Why were they left untouched by the Hunger Games? Haymitch had tried to keep me calm, but nothing seemed to work.

Until the bombings.

Gale had been smart enough to lead the people of the Seam and some of the town folks into the woods, where a District Thirteen hovercraft awaited them. I had been relieved to know my family and Gale's had made it out safely, as well as some of the Hob vendors, but there were something I needed to know.

"Did the Mellarks make it out?"

Gale shook his head, his face full of grime and soot from the fires that ate up our home. I nodded once, but the last thing he had said to me pushed me over the edge:

"Madge and her family didn't make it out either. The bombs hit them first."

Since the bombings, I found myself drifting in and out of a dreamless sleep. At some point I noticed the medic bracelet wound around my arm, the only words making sense to me were in bold black letters: MENTALLY DISORIENTED. I knew I was unhinged; my home and friends had been destroyed, I had been thrown back into the Hunger Games, my stylist had been brutally beaten before my eyes, and Cato, the brutal monster that I had grown to care for, had been taken from me by the Capitol. Haymitch would stop by every so often during my awake periods, giving me little bits of news on the rebellion.

"District Two is still divided. Half of it is Rebel citizens and soldiers while the other half is still working with the Capitol."

"Beetee and Gale are working on making you a new bow sweetheart."

"Districts One, Four, Fix, Six, and Seven are finally in rebel hands. They're sending out more troops tonight to overtake Eight, Nine, and Ten."

I would always just nod and begin to tune him out. None of it mattered to me anymore; Cato was gone and so was my home. But today was different, today Haymitch made me do something with myself.

"That's it sweetheart! I'm tired of you moping around! Get up, get dressed; you have a meeting to attend too."

I gave him a cold glare as I got out of bed and slowly dressed myself, not really caring too much about my appearance. Gale had said something to me once about they were looking for someone to be a face of the rebellion, someone to be a rallying point for all the rebels. I had tuned him out half way through his little speech, but I wondered if they had finally found their face.

"You are the Mockingjay, Miss Everdeen."

The words hung in the air like a thick blanket. Once Haymitch collected me, we were escorted deep into Thirteen and brought into a conference room. At the head of the table sat a grey-haired woman with cold steel grey eyes. Her features were sharp and pointed, and she looked to be about fifty.

"This is President Alma Coin, president of District Thirteen and of the Rebellion."

She smiled coldly at me, and from then on I knew not to trust this woman. The way she spoke and carried herself reminded me of Snow, and therefore I lost any trust that I could have possibly built with her.

Now she wanted me to be the Mockingjay, the face of the Rebellion. My mind was flooded with thoughts of what this would all mean in the end. I would be the one the Capitol was after. I would be making myself Public Enemy Number One.

"What do you say Miss Everdeen?"

I shook my head; I was just another piece in the Games, and I refused to be that any longer.

"No. I'm tired of being used by everyone. I refuse to be the Mockingjay."

I heard Haymitch groan and saw him throw his hands in the air in pure exasperation.

"Sweetheart, have you not been paying attention? The Districts already view you as the symbol. You already are the rallying point. If you don't do this for the people, do it for Peeta."

I looked to Haymitch, my eyes swimming with emotion. Peeta would have wanted me too, and he would have been there for me every step of the way. If I did this, it would be on my terms.

"If I do this, I have my own stipulations."

President Coin nodded and gestured for me to continue. What did I really want with all of this?

"First off, if I'm going to be the Mockingjay, I want to personally help out with all the war efforts."

"No, absolutely not. We can't have you getting shot going into the Districts."

"Then you find yourself another Mockingjay."

Her face showed anger, but she nodded to my first stipulation.

"Secondly, I want Cato with me, by my side at all times. I want all the Victors rescued from the Capitol and exonerated for any crimes they may have done against the Rebellion, unbeknownst to them or not."

Coin's eyes grew ominously dark as I spoke, but she once again agreed. For all we knew, they could be tortured for information as we were in the safety of District Thirteen.

"Lastly, I want to be the one who kills Snow."

She laughed at this, her eyes filling with amusement as I told her my last condition to being the Mockingjay.

"I'll flip a coin with you for that one Miss Everdeen."

After the meeting with Coin, her right hand man Boggs escorted me back to the hospital, giving me the rundown of what I would be expected to do as the Mockingjay.

"Before you head out to any of the Districts, President Coin would like you to shoot a few propos to let the people know you are alive and well, and to send a message to both the Capitol and Rebels alike."

I nodded my head before I felt him touch my arm lightly. I looked to see him holding a black notebook towards me, my mockingjay pin sketched in a metallic marker on the cover.

"Cinna wanted you to have this if you agreed to be the Mockingjay. He was sure that you would be able to do it."

I took the notebook, opening the first page to see a sketch of me wearing body armor, my mockingjay pin pinned onto the front of it. I smiled lightly; the whole thing screamed that it was a Cinna creation, when I noticed the beautiful writing on the corner of the page:

I'm still betting on you.

I nodded at Boggs, tears brimming my eyes when I walked back into the hospital. Cinna had already known I would be the Mockingjay, and he had made sure I was the best dressed Rebel that anyone had ever seen.

A week after I had agreed to be the Mockingjay, Coin decided that we should begin filming the propos for the Rebellion. Haymitch had assured me he would be there the whole time, and that made me feel a little bit better about it. We knew we'd be filming in the remains of District Twelve, under heavy guard of course in case any Capitol soldiers were still looming around there. Boggs had put together a special team of soldiers that would escort me to the propos and the Districts when the time came. Gale and Finnick were among those recruited to become my body guards so to speak, while Haymitch would monitor everything from District Thirteen with Beetee.

The director of the propos was another Capitol rebel by the name of Cressida with her assistant Messalla, and two cameramen dressed in insect like shells with the cameras built in. I sighed inwardly as Messalla prepped me in my Mockingjay suit, braiding my hair into its signature braid and applying minimal makeup as possible. It wasn't the same without Cinna; all of the dressing me up, readying me for my first public since the arena brought back memories of the Games, of Peeta and Cato. I must have blanked out on the ride to Twelve, because Gale nudged with his elbow as the projection screen came alive.

There he was; as brutal and cocky as ever, dressed in a beautiful tailored suit the same color as my eyes. Cato. He was speaking with Caesar Flickerman about the arena break out, the rebellion, and me. There was something different about him, something that I couldn't quite place yet.

"So, Cato, do you think the rebels truly have a fighting chance in all of this?"

He scoffed, shaking his head with that deadly smirk of his.

"Well Caesar, I'm sure the Capitol could pull a number on all of them. I mean, really? Katniss as their martyr, their Mockingjay? She was just a girl from the slums of District Twelve, not particularly beautiful or anything. She had about as much personality as a rock; sure, she was deadly and could shoot, but what good would that really have done her in a combat like situation?"

That's what I had noticed differently about him; his charade, well our charade of loving one another was gone. He had seen for what I truly was, and it hurt more than anything in the world. I hadn't seen the numerical pattern, in which his legs bounced, or the slight wringing and cracking of his fingers. I hadn't seen the tugging of his ears as he spoke. I had seen the Career from Two, ready to take me out in the bloodbath.

"We've landed in District Twelve, Katniss."

I nodded and stood up, grabbing my bow and arrows. My new bow was designed by Cinna to go with the Mockingjay garb, but Beetee and Gale had brought it to life. It seemed to hum at my touch, and only operated on my voice. I was grateful for it, knowing one day it could come in handy. As we stepped off the hovercraft, I stopped. When Gale had said they burnt the place to the ground, he hadn't lied. What was left of the Hob lay in a metal heap on the ground; the Justice Building was now reduced to a pile of rubble. I felt my throat go dry; maybe I couldn't do this after all. Maybe I couldn't be the Mockingjay. All of this was done because of me, because I had given up and didn't fight back in the first games. Because I had sang Rue to sleep, dressed her in flowers and wouldn't play by the Capitol's rules.

Finnick touched my arm, giving me a reassuring smile in the process. I looked at him, tears blurring my vision. He knew what it was like to be used by the Capitol; he knew what it was like to lose everything that was important to him.

"Don't let them break you, Katniss. You can do this; both Gale and I are here for you."

Finnick had a girl back home named Annie Cresta. Annie had been a Victor too, and like myself, only by chance. She watched her District partner be beheaded in the arena, and went mad shortly afterwards. Then one of the dams broke and she was the only one who survived. Annie had been taken by the Capitol not long after we were fished from the arena, but he had been holding up a lot better than I had been.

I nodded, and walked with him slowly to the others. I looked to Gale, to see his emotionless expression clouded by sadness and guilt in his eyes. Something sparked within me, and for some reason I knew I had to keep fighting. I had something worth fighting for; Prim. I would not let my sister grow up in fear of the Capitol or the Games a moment longer. I would not let Rue, Peeta, and Madge's memories go unavenged. I walked towards what used to be the bakery, looking over the remains. I could still see the beautifully decorated cakes, the fluffy pastries still in the window. I could still smell the freshly baked bread, with Mr. Mellark carrying it out from the back room. I could still see Peeta, flour sprinkling his features, tossing me the burned bread in the rain, saving mine and Prim's lives, giving me hope to survive.

"I want to let the Capitol know that I am alive and strong. Cato may be right; I may be just a girl from the Seam with a talent for archery. I may not be all that beautiful but I have something the Capitol doesn't have; I have hope. Hope that one day children will grow up with starvation or fear of being reaped into the Hunger Games. Hope that one day things will be good again. Hope that one day, our predecessors will look back on us and know that these horrors should never happen again. I want President Snow to know that he can burn down my District; he can take the ones I love from me; but if I burn, you burn with me."

The night we returned from District Twelve, Cressida and Beetee began editing the footage and would prepare to attack the Capitol airwaves to get it shown to all of the Districts. After our time in District Twelve, I found myself emotionally exhausted, drained of feeling anything. Prim had noticed and took to cuddling up beside me as we lay on the hospital bed. Having her next to me almost made me feel like I was back home again. As if we had never left the Seam, or been reaped into the Hunger Games twice. I played with her long hair, noticing that she was no longer the little girl at the Reaping. She was almost as tall as I was now; her blue eyes seemed to be weighted with tiredness and stress. She and my mother both had been helping out in the hospital area of Thirteen. I swelled with pride as she told me they were going to be training her as a doctor. My Primrose a doctor; it's something more than I could have ever hoped for with her living in District Twelve.

"Katniss, do you really think Cato meant all he said about you today on the TV?"

I stopped playing with her hair for a moment, thinking of earlier today when Cato had hit the newsfeeds. The look in his eyes, the cockiness of his voice; the Cato on the television today was not the Cato I had come to know.

"I'm not sure Little Duck. I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

"KATNISS! WAKE UP! WE DID IT!"

I jumped out of bed, my stance in attack mode as Finnick Odair came running into the bedroom with only his underwear on. I gave him a glare as he pushed the door open, a look of pure joy on his features.

"Katniss! Beetee hacked into the system! You've been all over the newsfeeds today!"

I gave him a blank stare as the information settled in. I had been announced to all over Panem as being alive; I guess there was no turning back now.

"That's great Finnick. I'm sure Coin is happy with the progress."

He smiled more, running from my room and back to his own, yelling in celebration. I sat back down on the bed, unsure of what to truly think. Would this mean danger for Cato and the others?

The propo had been aired several times for the last few days. Plutarch and his assistant Fulvia had made their way back to District Thirteen after helping out some in District Ten with rebel propaganda. They were now teaming up with Cressida and Coin to figure out how to get more propos in when Boggs approached me.

"Coin is having you sent to District Eight. There's been a massive bombing there and she wants you to film another propo there with the Rebels."

I nodded once, staring off into the concrete flooring. Boggs sighed, scratching the back of his head lightly as if trying to find the best way to put things.

"Odair, Hawthorne, and I will be going with you. Your mentor will be keeping an eye on things here along with Beetee."

So it was settled; I would fly out to District Eight as soon as I was prepped, camera crew in tow. Gale and Finnick were given strict instructions to keep me as safe as possible. Haymitch had instructed me to wear an earpiece at all times so he could keep contact with me. The more I thought about it, the more the idea appealed less and less to me. I wondered if Cato and Snow were working on counterattacks against the rebels; I wondered if Annie, Johanna, and Enobaria were safe. What if I said something that caused them certain death?

We landed in Eight a few hours after Boggs told me of our assignment. We were greeted by the sight of burning buildings, wounded civilians, and rebel soldiers scattered about. My insides turned as I saw the make shift hospital in the town square. Smells of rotting, burning flesh, and debris filled my senses and I wasn't sure if I would be able to hold out much longer without throwing up. Gale must have seen my hesitation because he guided me up to the hospital, Finnick guarding my other side and Boggs brought up the rear. A large woman came out with bandages wrapped around her forehead, a large gun in tow as a she spoke to us.

"You must be Katniss Everdeen. I am Commander Paylor, leader of the rebels of District Eight."

I nodded in acknowledgement as Paylor and Boggs started up a conversation about the bombings.

I looked around to see all the faces of the dead and wounded; I felt tears spring to my eyes as a little girl sat on the ground next to her dead mother, calling out for her to wake up, even though she never would again. Would that be Prim if Gale had not gotten them out in time? If I had ever decided to have kids, would that have been my daughter after the Quell? My thoughts were racing when the alarms went off. The whole District seemed to go into a mad panic; those with artillery began positioning themselves for the oncoming attack, while Boggs and Paylor began shouting orders to the foot soldiers.

I had been so disoriented that I let out a cry of shock as Finnick pushed me to the ground and covered me with his own body. That's when the first wave of bombs hit; that's when I saw the little girl crying for her dead mother be blown to bits, joining her mother in the afterlife.

"ODAIR! HAWTHORNE! GET THE MOCKINGJAY TO SAFETY! ANOTHER WAVE IS EXPECTED TO HIT IN FIVE MINUTES!"

I felt myself being pulled upwards again, and Gale handed me my bow and arrows, his eyes telling me everything I needed to know: this was a war zone now. No propo, just shoot. Stay alive. We ran for cover as Capitol soldiers stormed the town square, with the Rebels holding them back as long as they could. Finnick pulled me the right, yelling at me to load my bow as we came across a platoon of Capitol soldiers. I did as I was told, firing my arrows as fast as I could load them, watching them fall to the ground as we shot at them.

I felt the earth shake and I could tell the next wave of bombs had begun. Gale grabbed me this time and led me towards the top of a building where Paylor had been standing with a few of her soldiers. I saw the hovercraft aiming for us, my eyes widening in realization and I yelled it, knowing Gale would get the hint and back me up on it:

"Geese!"

When Gale and I would hunt geese, we have developed a system so neither one of us would shoot the same bird. He caught the message and began shooting in our formation, taking down the hovercrafts down one by one. Paylor watched with ever increasing astonishment as one of my arrows detonated itself in one of the wings of the hovercraft. I had no idea that the camera crew was filming us from a distance, and that Beetee had taped into the Capitol's systems once again and that I was displayed all over Panem, fighting side by side with rebel leaders, taking down the Capitol.

Coin had not been happy with my unauthorized combat in Eight. Boggs, Haymitch and Paylor had stood up for me, saying I had given the rebels a new found hope with me fighting alongside of them. I hadn't been asked to do any propos for a while, considering my insubordination on my last District visit. Beetee and Cressida worked their magic once again, and getting it on the air in a matter of hours. But Snow had been working just as diligently, and only after an hour of having the propo run throughout the feeds, Beetee lost control to the Capitol.

Cato had the floor once again with Caesar, but Beetee hadn't cut in on Coin's orders. Everyone wanted to hear what he had to say. This time he looked a bit thinner, more rugged than he had before. The boy I was knew was officially gone.

"So Cato, tell me, how do you feel about the recent propaganda strikes feature Katniss in them?"

He thought for a moment before speaking. His tone seemed off, even a bit colder than it normally was.

"I wasn't too surprised. Sure, I thought when the hovercraft lifted up her body I thought they had finally snagged her, putting me one step closer to victory. But things happen, and now that I know she's alive, I have something to fight against."

His fingers moved slightly displaying what seemed to be a 'V' shape. That was odd; I hadn't noticed that before.

"Do you believe that the rebels should call a ceasefire?"

"Yes I do Caesar. They're only making it worse for themselves. If they surrender now, I'm sure President Snow would be a bit more lenient with their punishments."

There it is again; his three fingers are splayed out. He seems to be somewhat sweating, his legs twitching slightly as he spoke. I didn't get it; was he trying to tell us something?

"There have been rumors of bombings in the Districts; what are your thoughts on this?"

He scoffs now, rolling his eyes dramatically. His fingers are splayed in fours now on both hands, his foot now tapping rhythmically. I get it now, I know what he's trying to tell us: 23:44; at 11:44 something will happen. It's 11:30 now; I wonder what he's trying to tell us.

"I think that the rebels should give up before their bunkers give out. That Katniss should step up and turn herself in to the Capitol before she detonates her own death."

That's it: the Capitol is going to bomb us. Cato was trying to warn us that District Thirteen was going to be bombed. The conference room was in frenzy, people making phone calls, sounding alarms, and going on lockdowns. Cato looks directly at the camera, as if locking eyes on me from so far away.

"And I won't let the Girl on Fire get away this time."

That's when he's hit in the head, blood splattering on the floor and the feed is cut off.

I'm paralyzed with fear as Boggs and Haymitch begin to escort me down into the bunker. What was going on? If he was helping the Capitol, why would he warn us about the bombings? Why would he address it so nonchalantly as if lives weren't at stake? I'm lead into another room where Finnick is tying knots in a small length of rope. I sit next to him, staring off into my own little world when he finally speaks.

"You know, when I first saw you two together, I thought for sure both of you were faking that romance. But when we were in the arena, and Cato fell into that force field, you were devastated at the thought of losing him. And you truly showed how much you felt for him. And after I revived him, the way he held you told me how much he cared for you."

He stopped tying his knots to look at me, his sea green eyes filled with regret as he spoke.

"Katniss, Cato knew about the Rebellion since the Quarter Quell was announced. There was a reason he stayed behind, because the day we broke you out of the arena it had been decided that Cato would get captured and play the double agent."

I looked at him, anger coursing through my veins as he spoke. They all knew about this and yet no one bothered to tell me? And why now? Why wait to tell me so late in the game?

"Why didn't anyone tell me Finnick? You of all people should know how I've felt about all of this!"

He sighed; his beautiful features were full of shame and hurt. He did know how I felt without having Cato here. It's how he felt because Annie wasn't here with him either.

"Because we couldn't Katniss; for a while there you were just a shell, and we didn't want to put either one of you in more danger than we already had."

That voice didn't belong to Finnick, but to Haymitch. I felt the anger and bile rise up in me once more, and it was everything I had to not come across the table and claw his eyes out right then and there.

But yet, something kept gnawing at me; Cato's appearance was different than the last time he was interviewed by Caesar. What was Snow doing to him behind closed doors? I didn't have much time to think as the first wave of bombs hit, making the whole bunker vibrate. I closed my eyes, trying to take as many deep breaths as I could. I hated being in Thirteen; it reminded me too much of my father's death in the mines. And now here I was, sitting in a bunker as the Capitol bombs Thirteen, all because I am here and the Mockingjay.

Four bombs within a ten minute period; if it hadn't of been for Cato's warning, most of Thirteen would have been obliterated. Coin had us on a twenty-four hour lock down until they were sure that no more bombs were headed this way. I had stayed close to Finnick that night; both my mother and Prim were helping out with the patients while Haymitch had stalked off to talk to Plutarch, Beetee, and Boggs. I assumed Gale would be with his family, and decided to leave them be right now.

"Did you love Annie right away Finnick?"

He was back to tying knots again, his brow furrowed in concentration tinged with sweat.

"Not at first. She sort of… snuck up on me."

I nodded my head, staring off into the stone bunker walls. Had Cato snuck up on me? Had I really loved him like Finnick said I did?

"I know you noticed something was wrong with him tonight Katniss. We all saw how you closed up from the rest of us when you saw him. Snow is willing to do anything to break you. And it's harder to pull yourself together than it is to fall apart."

I took in his words and nodded solemnly. Finnick Odair, the bronzed God from District Four had finally fell apart. The only thing that held him together were his knots and our friendship. Maybe that was what holding me together; maybe knowing I wasn't alone in this kept me stronger than I could have imagined.

After the lock down, Coin ordered us to make a propo telling us we were all alive and safe. Messalla immediately began prepping me, while a team of body guards was made up so I could venture outside. Haymitch could see my look of indifference and told me it would be very short and I could go back to moping around afterwards. I sent him a glare; he should be one to talk about moping around. We made our way outside, large craters denting the earth from the bombs that were dropped. I shuddered lightly, moving away from them as quickly as possible.

But then I smelled something, and before I actually saw them, I knew what they were: roses. The genetically engineered roses that Snow wore to cover up the scent of blood on his breath; my pulse quickened and my palms began to sweat. The message was clear, and it was intended for me only: I can always find you. Boggs was quick to turn his attention to what I was looking at, and quickly ordered the two guards that accompanied us to take them to the lab to check them for anything poisonous. Cressida motioned for me to stand directly next to a crater, Messalla and the camera men standing on either side of her.

"Now Katniss, just say that you are alive and well in Thirteen. Nothing can stop you from bringing the Capitol down."

I nodded and cleared my throat, ready to begin the simple sentences that would soon be aired all over Panem. But as I tried to speak, my throat ran dry. I could still smell the roses, even though they weren't there anymore. I tried once more, my voice shaky and my palms began to sweat even more.

"I am alive and—"

I couldn't finish the sentence; it was physically impossible for me to say the words aloud.

"I am—"

I couldn't do it; Cressida tried coaching me a bit more but I shook my head, the tears running down my face. I turned to see Haymitch and Finnick looking at me, and that's all it took. I began sobbing, running to Haymitch with my arms outstretched and threw myself into his embrace. He hugged me tightly as I cried into his shirt, what little makeup they had put on me stained the white fabric. Everyone around me began talking, wondering why I had all of a sudden burst into tears. This made me cry harder; Finnick's voice was pained as he told everyone what was going on.

"She's figured out how Snow is using Cato; everything she says will be used against him after last night's bombings and him giving it away, giving himself away as a spy."

I feel the snot dripping down my nose, my cries coming out as violent chokes as he spoke the words that I was feeling. Because, I am the only person who is damaged beyond repair if something happens to Cato.

Boggs had made it his personal mission to set up a rescue squad for all of the Victors who were being held in the Capitol. Haymitch had shot me with morphling during my breakdown, causing me to pass out for several hours while the mission was being planned out. When I woke up, I saw Haymitch sitting in the chair across from my bed, a silver flask in hand. I was still a bit groggy, but the emptiness it left in me was unbearable.

"What's going on?"

He sighed and sat forward, the flask still in hand as he told me what happened.

"Well, when you broke down Finnick told everyone what was going on. We gave you a shot of morphling to knock you out for a while. Boggs got angry and started making phone calls putting together a rescue squad for Brute Boy, Fangs, Mason, and Cresta."

I sat up slightly, my head spinning as I did so, trying to soak in the information.

"Who's all going on the rescue mission?"

He barks out a laugh, shaking his head and taking another swig from the flask.

"I volunteered, but Boggs ignored me. Probably one of the best calls he's made on something."

Haymitch is hiding something from me again, I can just tell by the way he's talking to me and making jokes at his own expense.

"Tell me, who is all going on the mission Haymitch?!"

He sighs again, looking to the floor, talking quietly as if to himself.

"You know damn well who went Katniss. His hand was the first to go up so he could bring Cato back to you."

I felt the tears threaten to escape again; why had Gale wanted to go and rescue Cato? He despised Cato, and hadn't said much of two words to him when we had come to Twelve on the Victory Tour. I swallowed hard, laying back on the bed and Finnick burst in the room, wearing nothing but a hospital gown, and no underwear underneath.

"I WANT TO GO! HAYMITCH! KATNISS! TELL THEM I'M ALRIGHT TO GO! YOU HAVE TO LET ME GO 'MITCH! PLEASE!"

This wasn't the Finnick Odair I knew; this was the Finnick Odair who's lover was being held hostage by the Capitol, being tortured for all we knew for information she knew nothing about. Boggs followed in shortly behind him, shell shocked at the sight before him. Haymitch guffawed and stood up, clasping Finnick on the shoulder.

"Finn, buddy ol' pal, you need to stay here and look after our Mockingjay. Someone has to protect her while Gale is off on the mission!"

I sat up again and swung my legs over the side, standing up slowly to make my way towards Finnick. He had a deranged look in his eyes, but not in the same way that Cato's held.

"Right, right… Someone needs to protect the Mockingjay. I'll protect her 'Mitch. I promise."

Haymitch smirked at him and made a beeline for the door. He must have been dealing with the communications for the mission. Finnick began fiddling with the rope again, muttering to himself about taking me down into the control room where Beetee was at creating new weapons for the Rebels. I blushed as he turned around, exposing his backside to me as he went towards the door.

"Finnick…. Um… pants?"

He stopped for a moment before realizing all he had on was the hospital gown and nothing to cover up his private areas. He struck a pose, giving me the most seductive look he could muster.

"Why do you find this… attractive?"

For the first time since I had been in Thirteen, I laughed. Boggs shook his head, utterly embarrassed at the sight. I realized then that this was the first time I had seen Finnick be the guy I had met before the start of the Quarter Quell. Maybe things would start to get better…

Something had gone wrong, I was sure of it. The rescue mission was supposed to be over hours ago, but still none of them returned. Haymitch and Beetee had lost communication with them half way through the mission, so Finnick was instructed to keep me busy until they returned. We had been tying knots on the control room, listening to Beetee and Haymitch go over some details in a new weapon when we heard the announcement: the hovercraft had landed. Finnick and I looked to each other, and then to Haymitch. Every emotion ran through my body in that moment: excitement, worry, elation, and contentment. I didn't even bother to hear what Haymitch had to tell us as Finnick and I sprinted towards the Hangar.

We reached the Hangar just in time to see Thirteen medics rush to the hovercraft, taking care of the wounded and leading them down to the hospital. I heard an airy voice call out to Finnick, and that's when I see her. No older than her early 20's, long and wild reddish brown hair and beautiful green eyes. This must be Annie Cresta. I smiled as they called out to each other, Finnick's pace picking up as he recognized his Annie. I turned back to the hovercraft; Cato still hadn't gotten off yet and neither had Gale. That's when I saw him; still tall and beautiful with beautifully sculpted muscles, even if they were a bit smaller. Next to him stood Gale with a bandage around his upper arm; I felt the tears sting my eyes, but I took off running towards them, the tears escaping as I got closer.

I threw my arms around him as I impaled him, sobbing once again as I felt the familiar muscles beneath my body and his familiar scent fill my senses.

"Cato…"

It was the only thing I could manage to say as the strong arms wrapped around my body. He was here, he was finally safe from Snow. I could protect him here; no one could touch him while I was here. I heard his deep voice whisper soothing words into my hair, and it made me sob harder. He was here… That's all that mattered to me.

"Katniss… Shh… It's okay… I'm here…"

I looked up into the ice blue eyes that I had missed so much. The blonde hair that stood up into spikes, the softness in his voice when he would console me from my nightmares of ghosts. I realized that as long as he was by my side, I was unstoppable.