To Fight in a War

Chapter 7: Trying To Get By

June 1944

It's like I'm looking from a distance
Standing in the background
Everybody's saying, "He's not coming home now."

-Just a Dream, Carrie Underwood

The sun shone down and Katniss didn't think that she could spend a day better. She was spending time with her new friend Annie, who coincidentally was married to Peeta's best friend in the army, Finnick. They both had children that were around the same age.

It was one of the easiest ways to bond for the women. Both could be considered loners and in that moment Katniss was happy to find a small positive of Peeta being in the army.

Laughter bubbled from her throat as she watched Sage chase Finn around the small yard. Annie just smiled reminiscently. The sound of soft footsteps caused Katniss to turn around, her mother just left to meet the women in her sewing circle. And Prim moved out a few days ago, because of her marriage to Rory Hawthorne.

Rory Hawthorne was Gale Hawthorne's younger brother. Gale had been Katniss's best friend when growing up, but they had grown apart when she had started dating Peeta. He had disapproved of her dating someone from town as did Peeta's family. Thus they grew apart. Last Katniss had heard was that he was serving his part in the war.

Katniss stared at the doorway and the sight of her sister standing there brought a larger smile to her face. She quickly stood and walked over to Prim. She wrapped her sister in hug and was thankful for the embrace.

"How are you?" Asked Katniss as she pulled back from the hug.

"Fine, Rory's leaving tomorrow." Prim said, attempting to provide a smile for her sister.

"I know it's hard," murmured Katniss as she glanced back at her daughter.

"Thanks," said Prim as she faked a smile.

"Come and join us," implored Katniss as she nodded over to where Annie was sitting and their children were running in uneven circles.

Prim nodded and took a seat beside Katniss.

The three women sat in the sun and let themselves react and not worry about their husbands. Katniss still worried for Peeta's safety every day and she had even confessed her fears to Annie. And Annie had reciprocated her feelings about Finnick.

Almost daily Katniss would show her daughter a picture of her father. She had nearly cried when Sage had pointed at the picture and said daddy. It was one of the moments that she was most proud of her daughter.

.

.

The ocean spray brought an element of salt into the air that made Peeta nauseous. He was sure that he would be fine if he never tasted salt again. The skies were dark as if they knew that the gunfire around them could only result in misery.

The sand was wet under his feet and it felt as if he could sink beneath it. He tried to run. He vaguely remembered his orders, but the sight of already dismembered bodies were making him feel sick.

It wasn't right that they were lying that way. But would that thinking get him besides killed? He had to focus on staying alive as it seemed that a lot of men from both sides were dying. He tried to run but it felt as if he wasn't moving an inch.

A shell hit only feet away from him and he went flying. His ears were ringing as he opened his eyes. Black spots dotted his vision and he blinked a couple times trying to gain his bearings. Everything was fuzzy for a moment before the world focused again.

The world was in screaming color and the sand was wet against his back and the loud sound of cannons and shells echoed. He pushed himself up and quickly got to his feet. His world was blooming in red and speeding black dots. He could hardly believe that he was there, it felt like some surreal dream.

Ahead, he recognized Finnick firing at some of the enemy. And in that moment Peeta was happy to see anyone that he relatively knew. His feet move as fast as they can through the wet sand to reach Finnick. It felt like he was trying to walk through wet cement.

"Hey," said Peeta next to Finnick's ear. Finnick turned slightly nodding at him.

Peeta aimed his rifle and aimed into the seemingly endless abyss of their enemies. It went on for awhile and time passed like sand in an hour glass.

Peeta doesn't know how it happened. All he knows is that a moment later he is lying in the sand, pain radiating in his head and it felt like someone was stabbing a sword through his leg repeatedly.

He tried to open his eyes and all he could see was large black dots. It was like someone was trying to drill through his skull. The only thing that kept him conscious was a rasping noise he heard that sounded remarkably like his name.

"Peeta," the voice rasped again. Peeta noticed that it was Finnick that was calling him and in that tone of voice it certainly couldn't be good.

Peeta forced himself to turn on his side and ignored the pain that licked up his body like fire. Finnick was lying there taking in large shallow breaths. Red stained his uniform and Peeta could feel his stomach drop like a cannon. His arm was ridiculously mangle and so was one of his legs.

Finnick couldn't die. It seemed impossible that a man as lively as him couldn't possibly die. He would be able too outwit death somehow. Couldn't he?

It was like he was stuck within a horror film and couldn't escape. Watching the spark of life fade from his best friend's face.

"Tell Annie I love her, please." Said Finnick and Peeta tried to form the words yes, except it felt like cotton had been stuffed into his mouth. He settled for a nod.

"Thank you," rasped Finnick as his breathing grew softer. A tired smile froze across his face and his eyes were glassy. Bile rised in Peeta's throat and he could feel his breath coming quicker.

Finnick Odair was dead.

Tears pricked Peeta's eyes like needles and he wasn't sure if he could control the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm him. Mixed with Finnick's death and the pain that was threatening to overtake him each moment.

His vision grew dark and he thought of the way Katniss looked on their wedding night. Her eyes blazing with fire, her hair fell in tangles down her back and her cheeks were slightly stained with pink, she was beautiful.

A/N: Thanks for reading, I love reading the review. Please follow, favorite and review.

Disclaimer: I own noth- WAIT I OWN SAGE! But I don't own Katniss or Peeta soo...