Hey everyone! I'm back! From where, you ask? Well, the thing is, I meant to post this chapter before I left, explaining that I was going on holidays and wouldn't be able to update for 2 weeks, but of course I left it till last minute and I was literally finishing the chapter about 2 minutes before I had to go to the airport, so I didn't get a chance to post it! I hope you guys aren't too mad with me :) and that I haven't lost any readers...

I went to Tenerife and it was brilliant, but I did miss home. Even though it was raining when the plane landed. Typical Ireland!

Anyway, please read and review. Hope you like it!

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Chapter Ten - Katniss

"Katniss, you have to go," she told me.

Prim seemed much older in that moment somehow. "I'll see you in a few minutes," I smiled warmly.

But I didn't let go.

She smiled brightly. "Go," she laughed, rolling her eyes and giving me a playful shove.

I held up my hands in surrender. Smiling to myself, I climbed up onto the stage and sat down beside Peeta and Haymitch. Haymitch grinned sluggishly at me, sloshing the flask of whiskey in his hand and a few drops landed on Peeta. I grimaced. Good old Haymitch. You can always depend on him to be himself. Peeta smiled thinly and rubbed the droplets off of his skin with the back of his hand.

"It's weird," he mused.

"What is?"

"Don't you feel it too?" his blonde eyebrows rose skyward, "I keep thinking I am going to get used to being up here, but it's like six months ago all over again. I just can't relax. My muscles are in fight or flight mode."

I knew what he meant. It was like we were being sent back to the arena again, and it took everything in me to stay sitting in that chair. My hands were itching with the loss of a weapon and my leg muscles were tensed to spring. It felt like being caged in.

"Yeah," I muttered, "It is weird."

Maybe Haymitch wasn't so far off with the drinking thing. I would welcome anything to numb this feeling.

"How are we going to do this?" I whispered to Peeta, "How are we going to train these kids, knowing that they could die right off the bat?"

His bright eyes looked at me hollowly and I knew that he was feeling the same things that I was. He shook his head slowly. I sighed. I had so many things crashing around in my head. I had to do this and I had to help with the rebellion. It was going to be tough. Thank God I had Gale. He would lead when I couldn't.

Peeta sighed and turned his attention back to the reapings. I studied his profile from where I sat. He had classical features; a straight nose, clear white skin and high cheekbones. It was almost as if he had been carved from marble. But the bright blue eyes that mirrored mine and the blonde hair that tufted out from the top of his head said otherwise.

That thought caused me to flash back to the night before. To when I had last had a glimpse of his blonde hair. Along with another blonde head.

Madge.

I stared at Peeta in confusion, not bothering to be discreet. After all, we were supposed to be in love. And Peeta was supposed to love me for real. I was supposed to be the one with the problem about that. I was supposed to be the one who was unsure. Not him. I sighed. Maybe he had just gotten sick of me. Maybe the sense of closeness that the games had caused us to feel had finally worn off for him... and that was a good thing... right?

Do you love her?

Are you thinking about her now?

The irony of the situation suddenly seemed funny and I wanted to laugh. But I realised it would seem strange to be seen laughing in the middle of the reaping. As if I didn't already have enough enemies.

I searched Madge out in the crowd and found her standing with her age group, gussied up in a beautiful blue dress. I noticed the Mayor kept glancing at her worridly. So strange it was to be at the reapings and to have nobody to fear for. I knew that Prims name would be entered twice this time but the odds of her being called out again were second to none.

Following that train of thought, I found myself seeking Gale out too.

There he stood in his dead silence, his grey eyes meeting mine almost immediatly but his gaze flickered away before I could communicate anything with him. I sighed frustratedly. It was only then that I noticed Effie had called out a name. Swallowing my fear, I turned my gaze to face the girl who I would be training soon enough.

It was worse than I had expecteed.

She was tiny. Insufferably dainty, her body didn't live up to her fifteen year status. She was trembling all over and her folorn expression was frozen on her face. I could see it wouldn't take much to make this girl cry and that meant bad things for her. I turned away disgusted, no longer able to watch the false hope of the District that this girl would come back alive.

I was seeing red and my anger was threatening to bubble over the surface of the mask I was portraying. I took in several deep breaths and closed my eyes, trying to calm down.

That poor girl, her family-

I hadn't heard Effie call for volunteers, but suddenly a voice was calling above all the noise.

"I volunteer!"

I felt everyones attention shift to the same place in the crowd.

I frowned, opening my eyes and just as I was about to turn around to face the audience, a hand snaked swiftly in front of my face and covered my mouth and another hand wrapped around my waist and pulled me roughly behind the stage, away from everyone else's view.

I didn't think. I just acted.

Concentrating, I pushed back against my attacker instead of pulling away. He wasn't expecting that and it threw him off balance. I slammed my head back into his, whilst simultaniously stamping on his foot. I heard a low grunt and then I bit down sharply on his hand and before he could react, spun out of his grasp. But I didn't run off. I knew I wasn't top notch at hand to hand combat but the attacker was fazed from when I head butted him, so I whirled around and grabbed him by the throat, pushing him up against the wall as hard as I could.

It was only then that I got a good look at him.

"Gale!" I exclaimed in disbelief.

I let go of him in shock and he slumped against the wall a little bit.

"Nice moves," he croaked.

"Gale, what the hell are you-" I shouted but he cut me off.

"Shhhhhhh!" he hushed, putting his hand over my mouth again, but I slapped it away in anger.

"You have to be quiet," he explained "You don't want the cameras finding us back here. Right now, everyone is distracted and I'd like to keep it that way."

"But I have to get back to the reaping", I hissed, "I have to-"

"Forget about that for now!" he hushed, and I was getting very mad that he kept cutting me off.

"Gale, what is going on?" I asked through gritted teeth.

He said nothing for a few minutes. He just stared. Then suddenly, he reached up with his hand towards my face and for some reason, I thought he was going to hit me so I flinched and grabbed him by the wrist. But he relaxed his hand in my grasp and simply touched my cheek with his palm.

"Gale," I said warningly, "What-"

Then his head suddenly swooped in to meet mine and he covered my lips with his own. He kissed me fiercly, and I was so in shock that I just went limp in his arms and let him kiss me. I went still as a statue, and waited for him to stop.

When he did, I pushed against his chest with my hands and stood away from him.

"This is why you pulled me back here?" my voice sounded shrill, "This is what you want?"

"Yes and no," he said softly, "This is what I want, but it's not why I pulled you away. I knew I had to get you out of there."

"Why?" I demanded, perplexed.

In silence that followed, a voice rang out in my ears, stunning me into a state of shock.

But it wasn't Gales voice.

"Primrose Everdeen," I heard her voice clear and strong, "I volunteer as tribute."

And then Gale clamped his hand over my mouth again, but this time I didn't fight it off.

I was too busy screaming.

"Katniss!" he pleaded desperatly, muffling my scream, "Please be quiet. It's ok. Everything is going to be ok."

My scream ran dry and he pulled me into him as I hyperventillated into his shoulder.

"Gale," I gasped, "No.... Stop. Let me go. I have to.... I need to... No. ."

Denial.

I struggled against him, but he held me tightly in his grasp. "It's ok," he kept whispering over and over.

"HOW IS IT OK?" I shrieked and he winced at the volume of my tone, but apparently everyone else was too distracted to have heard me.

He didn't answer.

Because it wasn't ok.

It would never be ok again.

"What are you doing?" I shouted, "Let me go. I have to go stop this. I have to stop her. I need to save her!"

But his grip on me never wavered. "It's ok," he explained, "Because I have a plan."

That stopped me dead and I felt a sudden swell of hope.

Gale. Gale had a plan. Of course he did. Gale always had a plan.

I stopped struggling and it took me a moment to calm my screaming nerves and fight the impulse to hurt someone.

"You have a plan," I said in a small voice.

"I have a plan," he smiled thinly, "Now, follow me."

So, forgetting the rebellion and the reaping and everything except fot Prim, I followed Gale. I had expected some sort of elaberate plan that involved climbing and sneaking and fighting, but instead Gale pulled a dark hat from his pocket and slapped it on my head.

"Tuck your hair in," he instructed and I did so in confusion.

Then, taking my hand, he led out into the crowd, the crowd that was gathered furthest from the stage. The people who had nothing to do with the reaping, but were just there to watch. And watch I did. The anthem was playing and Prim stood up on the stage, looking at her fellow tribute. My heart caught in my throat at the sight of her up there. I felt Gale stiffen beside me and I frowned. It was only then that I realised that Reed was also up on the stage.

As a tribute.

I started to gasp but Gale shot me a warning look. So we both had an equal motivation to stop this, I thought. Prim and Reed were muttering something to each other, then they looked around and noticed the crowd. Prim stuck out her hand to shake and Reed slapped her what looked like a high five. I groaned inwardly. What were they up to?

Then the anthem ended and they were both immediatly led into the Justice building. My head was screaming profanities at the sight of her blonde head dissapearing into the building, insisting if I didn't get her now, that it would be official. But I stood my ground and waited, trusting in Gale. He would find us a way out of this.

"Ok," he whispered, "Come on."

We walked straight up to the door of the Justice Building and Gale adressed the Peacekeeper on the door and told him we were here to say goodbye to the tributes. At first, he wouldn't let us in, but in impatience, I whipped off the hat and let my hair loose. I saw instant recognition in his eyes and I snapped that we were the family come to say goodbye.

"Second on the right," he told me sympathetically, and I noted the glint of fear in his eyes. I nodded a thanks and followed Gale inside.

Inside, it was just as I remembered and I felt a familiar feeling of being trapped and alone. We stopped outside the door, and I reached in and hugged Gale, acting as if I were unable to go on. Another Peacekeeper was watching us from the end of the hall.

"So, what's the plan?" I whispered into Gale's shoulder.

"We go in and talk to her," he said neutrally.

"Yes, but-"

He pulled away. "I'm sorry Katniss," he avoided my eyes, "But this is the plan. It's already going accordingly."

I did a double take.

"I... I don't understand..." I frowned, trying to meet his eyes but they were glued to the floor.

"We planned it," he said hollowly, "We planned all of it. Prim and I. She was supposed to volunteer. I helped her. I've been training her for months now."

I felt fear slam into me with brute force.

"What?", I choked out.

But before I could get anything else out, he opened the door and ducked inside. I didn't give him a chance to say anything. The anger that had meerly been simmering beneath my surface exploded in a deadly eruption. I stepped into the room, stepped around Gale and locked eyes with Prim. Her expression reminded me of a deer Gale and I had once cornered in the forest. Right before we killed it.

"What. The. HELL. Were. You. Thinking?" I asked quietly, dangerously.

"Katniss, wait, just let me explain. I-" she pleaded but I cut her off.

"Gale already explained your plan," I spat, "Your foolish, reckless plan. Do you realise how much could go wrong? Do you realise you could get killed!"

"I already went through all of this with Gale," she sighed, "I'm ready for this, Katniss".

"NO," I screeched, "No, you are NOT ready for this. You have NO IDEA what it's really like in there. This isn't a game Prim, this is your life!"

Anger.

"Don't you see," she was shouting then too, "That is exactly what this is. A GAME. I just have to play it right and everything will be fine."

We were standing eye to eye, huffing with effort from our shouting and Gale stood gingerly to the side. I would deal with him later.

"I won't let you do this," I said through gritted teeth.

Then she smiled at me and she looked like a different person to me. It was a sad, but wise smile that spoke of years past and it burned into my mind.

"You don't have a choice," she said simply.

I stared at her in disbelief, a thousand emotions bruising my mind.

"Prim," I warned.

She couldn't... She just couldn't...

I couldn't stand by and watch her die.

I wouldn't.

"Maybe there is something, some rule or loophole that can get you out of this," I reasoned out loud with myself, "Or I could volunteer to go instead of you. Yes, the Capitol would love a chance at revenge, they would allow the switch".

Bargaining

Prim and Gale said nothing, they just looked at each other and then back at me and I felt something I couldn't quite name when I registered their looks. Pity. It filled my mouth with a vile taste and I wanted to get sick. Gale started talking but all I heard was a loud roaring in my ears, as if I were falling, without anything to hold onto. I only realised I was crying when I tasted the salt on my lips. Gales voice faltered, then stopped completly. He look at a loss for words.

After all, what were words, only sounds that lose meaning in the face of action.

"It's too late," she whispered and I saw that she was crying too, "It can't be undone."

I nodded miserably. "I know," I croaked, "But Prim, you are my sister. I have to try to do something. You are my world. If you die.... so do I."

Depression.

She smiled sadly through her tears and reached up to brush a tear from my cheek. "Well then," she sounded more composed than I did, "Lets both of us live while we can. You don't need to try anything. I'll be fine. You just stay here and .... and follow your heart. Trust your instincts."

In that moment, it was as though our roles had been reversed. She was the older, stronger sister. I was the younger, scared sister. Or maybe both of us were the strong sisters, sharing a weak moment. I don't know when she made the change. I don't know how she grew up in front of my eyes without me really noticing. She was strong. And brave. And loyal. And true. Worthy of so much more than this, but not caring none the less.

I pulled her into my arms. "How will I know you're safe?"

Acceptance.

"You're my mentor, you can watch over me," her voice tickled my ear.

"I don't like this."

"You don't have to."

"I love you, Prim."

Just then, the door swung open, breaking the spell. "Time's up," grunted a Peacekeeper from the hall. I stared at Prim, dismayed. She was right. I was her mentor, I would see her soon. But this felt too final, like death. Gale put his hand on my shoulder to encourage me out of the room. I heard him murmer a few reassurances to Prim. With one last strangled cry, I kissed Prim roughly on her forehead.

"I love you, Katniss," she whispered, "You have to let me go."

I met her wide eyes one last time, then let Gale pull me gently but forcefully from the room. I stumbled down the hall, and out into the open air, gasping in lung fulls of cool air that burned my throat and spread my tears across my cheeks. Gale pulled me into his warm arms. "Shhhhh," he soothed but I recoiled from him sharply.

"Don't touch me," I choked out in a hoarse voice.

"Katniss..." he tried to step towards me but I backed away. He stared into my eyes.

I spat on the ground at his feet. That is what I thought of him. The anger that was so familiar and accesible to me flooded my veins and gave me a surge of new life.

"Don't. Touch. Me," I sounded out every syllable slowly, the coldness resonating in my voice. I turned on the spot and stalked off swiftly.

Denial.

Anger.

Bargaining.

Depression.

Acceptance.

The five stages.

Of Death.

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Ok, thanks for reading and I hope you liked it enough to review!

I just noticed that HG has 229 fics! We are on the rise people!!! Watch out Twilight!!!!

Anyone seen HP6?? Thoughts, comments....???I read some great books over the holidays:

The Recruit by Robert Muchamore - Brilliant! Should be made into a movie! I can't wait to get cracking on the rest of the CHERUB series.

Hunted by P.C and Kristin Cast - I loved this! I can't wait for the next book Tempted.

Demonata/ Dark Calling by Darren Shan - Much better than the last two! A bit of a rough start but it got very good in the end and I really want to read the last in the series Hells Heroes.

Right now, I'm reading an absoloutly brilliant book called The Time of the Reaper by Andrew Butcher! You should get a copy if you see one! Definetly worth the read!