Chapter Ten

And Into the Fire

Haymitch Abernathy was not a romantic man, but he did know people. He watched Peeta go inside the dark farmhouse, then Katniss several minutes later. Haymitch had no doubt that there would be little talking going on between the pair tonight. They were so hot for each other, you'd have to be deaf not to hear the sizzle every time they got within three feet of each other.

He remembered Katniss and Gale and the way they were. There was definitely passion there. Fire burned in both of them, an angry type of fire that fueled each other. They fought, they loved, and they fought some more. He wasn't an expert in relationships, hell, he avoided most of them most of the time-Effie Trinket aside-but he had a feeling that the Hawthorne's might not of made it the long haul. And he didn't think that it would have been a pretty parting.

No, what Katniss needed was s different kind of fire. Slow, steady, solid. And Peeta Mellark was all of those things. How the hell a boy-man-so damn and decent came out of a harpy like Madeline Mellark was a mystery.

Haymitch had been around the farm for a long time. In fact, when Gale and Katniss had come to see the place, the old Farmer had told them that unless they kept Haymitch on, he wouldn't sell. Gale, he remembered, had just about walked off, his jaw clenched tight in anger. But Katniss had stood there, a newlywed and orphan at 18 and studied him with her glittery grey eyes. He saw that she was ready to follow her husband until Prim, kind sweet Prim, had told her they should keep him.

And despite Gale's protests, they did.

Maybe it was Gale's reaction to him that colored his opinion on who Katniss should have been with. Not that he should have had much of an opinion anyway. He was just a stranger. A burden they shouldered to keep an old man happy.

But they treated him like he belonged, so he felt he had a right to make a few judgments. At least to himself anyway.

Haymitch took a final drag of his last cigarette of the day. Effie was nagging at him to quit. And that damn woman had a voice that could shatter glass when she got going. So, he figured he might as well try.

He crushed the butt under his boot and watched the dark house for a few seconds more. He smirked as he saw the shadows moving in the window of the living room where they kept a light burning at night. He tipped his flask at the two inside and took a long swallow.

Katniss had been wound tighter than drum lately. Not the most pleasant of people on an average day, she'd been even more uptight than usual. Maybe Peeta could relieve some of that tension.

Haymitch chuckled and went into the barn, closing the large sliding doors behind him with a grunt. He huffed a little, annoyed that years of drinking and general crap living made even this task difficult. Three tours of duty will fuck a person up. Chase them straight into a bottle to battle the PTSD.

He knew it was his inability to be much use to Katniss that had Hazelle ask Peeta to come stay. He should have been ashamed, but that wasn't something he felt much anymore. He was relieved the boy was there. Might discourage that prick Thread from coming around.

Haymitch rubbed his eyes, checked on the horses then turned out all but one light. He then climbed the stairs to the loft Peeta and Gale had built for him. He used to live in a shack on the edge of the property. There was enough room in it for a bed and him. It had been all the old farmer had offered him when Haymitch had stumbled onto the farm years ago and he'd made due. He'd added a little potbelly stove to keep it warm during the winter.

He hadn't really expected that to change after the youngsters moved in. He'd been overwhelmingly touched when he'd seen the space they'd created for him for the first time.

He'd never told them that is was this place, this home they had given him had made him start to think that life wasn't so bad after all. He'd cleaned himself up, stopped drinking as much and started venturing into town. And that's when he met that strange bird of a woman, Effie.

God knew what she saw in him.

He couldn't quite give up the flask though. But he was never as drunk as he used to be.

Haymitch went into tiny bathroom and cleaned up for the night. He was busy digging out a pair of shorts and t-shirt to sleep in and daydreaming about seeing Effie the next day when he heard a noise down in the barn. He shot up to a standing position, every sense on alert. When all he heard was the soft whinny of the horses down below, he went back to what he was doing.

Once changed, instead of sliding into bed, Haymitch grabbed the knife he slept with under his pillow and crept back down to the darkened barn. He scanned the interior with shrewd blue eyes. The horses seemed a little tense, shuffling more than usual in their stalls, but other than that, he didn't see anything out of place. He walked over to shush the horses, checking one last time before turning to head back upstairs.

The sweet, metal smell of gasoline hit him the same instant he heard the footsteps. He turned in the direction he heard them, his knife ready to strike.

"You son of a bitch!" he cursed, swinging with the knife just as a shovel swung at his head. There was an explosion of pain. And then nothing.

Peeta and Katniss streaked out of the house to see flames dancing around inside of the windows of the barn.

"Haymitch!" Katniss screamed, starting towards the building. Peeta pulled her back, shoving his phone into her hands.

"Call 911. Need to get them here before the fire gets hot enough to set the propane tanks in the back off. I'll get him."

Terror struck her dumb for precious seconds as she watched Peeta run towards the fire.

"No," she gasped, her grey eyes riveted to his broad back as he got further away and closer to the danger.

"Katniss! Call!" Peeta bellowed bee lining for the doors. She watched in horror as he yanked and pulled, but they wouldn't budge. Haymitch never locked the doors for just this reason. "KATNISS!"

The desperation in his voice was what finally spurred her into action. She woke up his phone and dialed 911 while watching Peeta stride around the barn to the woodpile. He came back a minute later with the ax.

"911. Please state your emergency."

Katniss wasn't sure how she conveyed the information to the operator, but once he said the fire engines were on their way she shoved the phone in her pocket and streaked over to Peeta. He'd just busted the lock and was pulling the doors open. Three cats darted out, the bushy tail of Buttercup telling them both Prim's cat was safe.

"Get back, Katniss. The tanks could go up and take this building down." She didn't ask what the initial explosion was that had pulled them out of their post coital bliss. Or saved her from having a very awkward conversation. There wasn't time.

"I'm going to help you." She said, her eyes challenging him. Peeta knew they could argue and waste time or dive inside together. The heat was excruciating but the flames hadn't penetrated the outer walls yet. They needed to act fast.

"Fine. Get the horses." He didn't wait this time. He darted inside, squinting his eyes against the light and smoke. They moved forward together, Katniss to the stalls to free the screaming horses and Peeta towards the stairs to find Haymitch. The fire roared around them, hot and thick, gaining strength with the air they'd let in. It was only by chance that Peeta heard the moan.

"Haymitch!" He called, coughing as he choked on smoke.

"Boy?" Peeta turned, catching a glimpse of Katniss leading the frightened horses out.

"Haymitch?" He called again, careful to cover his mouth. This time, there was no answer. The smoked cleared a bit, enough for Peeta to see the sprawled from of the man on the ground. "Haymitch."

Peeta rushed forward, mindful of the groaning building around him. He reached the prone form, doing a quick study and noting the blood in the lank blonde hair and the bruises on the side of Haymitch's face. He jostled the older man's shoulder and was rewarded with a curse filled groan.

"Come on, old man. This place is going to go any minute." He reached down and hauled the other man up, then half dragged-half carried him out the doors.

The look of relief on Katniss' face was palpable in the red and white glow from the fire trucks that had just starting pulling into the yard. She kissed Peeta full on the mouth, the salt of her tears clinging to his lips when she pulled away. Then she threw her arms around the barely conscious Haymitch, nearly bringing both men to the ground.

"Don't finish me off, Sweetheart." Haymitch rasped. She pressed a kiss to his temple, surprising them both, before the paramedics came to usher him and Peeta over to the ambulance.

Katniss watched for a few brief moments as the firefighters brought the fire under control. Then, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on her, she followed the men to the ambulance.

Later at the hospital, Katniss sat next to Haymitch's bed listening to the soft beeps of the machines. He had lost consciousness again and paramedics had transported him to the hospital. By the time Peeta had been checked over, fed some oxygen and given a clean bill of health, the doctors had admitted Haymitch. He had a large lump on the side of his head and several scrapes and bruises on his face and body.

They were going to keep him for observation.

Katniss stared at him, her gritty eyes taking in the bandage covering half his head and the sickly pallor to his skin. Fear's desperate fingers were clutching at her mercilessly and she felt the threat of tears burning her eyes and throat. This man had been the closest thing to a parent she'd had since her parents died. She couldn't imagine losing him too.

"Hey," Prim's voice dragged her out of her reverie and she watched her sister in her Looney Tunes scrubs enter the room.

"Hey. I thought you were off duty tonight."

"Last night." Prim reminded her. Katniss glanced at her watch and grimaced at how much time had passed. The entire day was gone. Prim walked to the bed and efficiently checked Haymitch's vitals, her blue eyes belaying the emotion she felt. Her hands were steady and sure.

Then she bent over and pressed a gentle kiss to the grizzled cheek, making Katniss blink back tears once more.

"I saw Peeta downstairs."

"Yeah. They released him already. Just some minor smoke inhalation." Katniss explained, earning a nod from Prim.

"Have the authorities said anything?"

"No. I expect to see Cray at some point. But I guess their still out at the farm gathering evidence. I think it's pretty obvious that the fire was intentional." She pressed her lips together when her voice broke on the last word. Prim came around the bed and reached out for Katniss' hand. She took it gratefully, letting her younger sisters calm wash over her.

"You know, Gale couldn't stand Haymitch." This came out on a strangled laugh. Prim's lips curved in a smile. This wasn't news. "He could never understand why I took him in. Why Peeta did. Hell, most days I don't understand it."

Prim snickered and squeezed Katniss' hand.

"He's an acquired taste." Prim offered.

"Yeah, for sure." The sister's shared a laugh.

"You know, he used to answer my questions about sex."

"What?" Katniss practically shrieked.

"Well, you used to sputter and tell me I was too young to ask."

"But, Haymitch?" Of all people? Katniss could only imagine what the old drunk would have told her.

"Why not? He never treated me like a kid. It took me getting married for you to stop seeing me as one." Prim pointed out. Katniss didn't really have an answer for that. Prim checked her watch and stood up, squeezing Katniss' hand one last time.

"I have to get back downstairs. I'll come by and check on him after my shift. You should go home and get some rest."

"I can't yet. The fire department and police are still crawling all over my place." She reminded the younger woman.

"Well, maybe crash at Hazelle's. Or Rye's. But don't stay here too long. He's in good hands."

Katniss nodded just to set Prim's mind at ease. Then she took a shuddering breath and let go of Prim's hand. As her sister left, she offered a smile to Peeta as he came into the room carrying two cups.

"Rye dropped Posy off with Hazelle. She said to call her." He told her, handing her the cup of tea and settling into the chair next to her. Katniss just nodded in response and sipped her drink.

"Are you going to stay at Rye's tonight?" she asked after a few minutes.

"No. I already called and got a room at Ripper's. I don't want to disturb my family since we don't know how late we're going to leave here. Are you going to stay at Hazelle's?" He cautiously asked. Katniss almost smirked.

"No. I don't want to disturb them either. And Posy's not the person I want to sleep next to tonight." She looked at him then, her eyes meeting his slightly stunned gaze. He reached over and took her hand, rubbing his fingers over her knuckles. She appreciated the small comfort. "I'll be right back. I'm going to call and check on her before she goes to bed."

Peeta nodded and let her go so she could make her call. He leaned his head back and rested it against the chair, trying to ignore the soreness in his lungs from sucking in so much smoke. He must have dozed off, because he jolted when Katniss moved past him to sit back down.

"Why is this happening?" Katniss asked, almost to herself. Her eyes didn't leave Haymitch's unconscious form, but she could feel Peeta's eyes on her. "If what you think is true…I'm not worth killing for."

Peeta would have disagreed, but he didn't really think she wanted to hear that.

"I mean, why hurt Haymitch? He's not…" she trailed off, floundering for a word.

"Competition?" he offered.

"Yeah. Not like Gale would have been, or," she trailed off again, a horrible thought coming to her.

"Kat, are you ok?" Peeta's brows knitted together in concern when she turned stricken grey eyes to his.

"What if…what if Gale's accident wasn't an accident?"

"Don't. Don't think like that Katniss." His fingers reached out for hers again, almost painfully gripping the digits. She saw the bright blue dull as the idea took hold and she knew she was looking at the same renewed grief she was feeling.

"Oh my God, Peeta. You're in danger. Thread, the way he acted. You need to move out. We can't…" Fear splintered through her that if Thread was capable of hurting a drunken old man, what would he do to Peeta? What if she'd been later getting home? It could have just as well as been the house Thread decided to torch, not the barn.

"No."

"Peeta? Yes. You can't stay there any more. I'm kicking you out." Fear snapped to anger and she snatched her hand away from him.

"Tough shit. I'm not going anywhere."

"Peeta!"

"Katniss!" he snapped back.

"Can't a body get some rest around here?" Haymitch's slurred voice broke into their argument.

"Haymitch, thank God." Katniss bolted up and gripped his hand, offering him a small smile. "How do you feel?"

"Like I got hit in the head with a fucking shovel. How do you think I feel girl?" He growled.

"Sorry," she said with a relieved chuckle.

"Listen to the boy, sweetheart."

"Shut up, Haymitch. Someone hit you in the head with a shovel, remember." She didn't chuckle this time.

"Someone shit. I saw the fucker."

"What?" both Peeta and Katniss burst out at the same time.

"Get that idiot Cray in here, I'll tell him. Fuckin' Thread." Even as he spoke, Haymitch's eyes were drifting closed.

"All right. We'll get him. I have to ring the doctor to let them know you're awake now." Katniss pressed the button on the side of the bed.

"Oh Haymitch!" Effie Trinket, a tall blonde woman dressed in a sea of pink and Chanel no. 5 flew into the room, her make up perfect despite the concern on her face.

"Oh damn," Haymitch muttered.

Katniss moved before Effie could strong-arm her out of the way. She and Peeta shared an amused look as the other woman flapped around the bed.

"Calm down woman. You're making my head hurt worse."

After the doctor came in, Peeta drew her out into the hall.

"Peeta, Katniss." Cray's gravelly voice reached them down the hall.

"Did you find anything?"

"Arson unit will be out once the site cools. Damn lucky the propane tanks didn't ignite. Woulda blown a hell of a lot more than the barn." Cray gave Katniss a sorrowful look.

"When can I go home?" Katniss asked ignoring the sharp look Peeta gave her. Cray sighed and scrubbed his hand over his balding head.

"Not before tomorrow. At least." Katniss scowled at his answer but nodded.

"Haymitch is awake. Says he saw who knocked him out." Peeta told the Sheriff.

"Well, that's something. I'll go in and talk to him. You two get some rest and I'll call if there's anything else I need from you. Goodnight." Cray moved around them and into Haymitch's room, where Effie was still fussing.

They stood in silence for a few minutes, then Peeta gripped her elbow and turned her to look at him. He didn't speak but he reached up and brushed a thumb over her cheek. Her eyes drifted closed and she leaned into his touch, allowing herself to enjoy his touch for a moment. She was afraid, terrified really, and his warm touch soothed her.

"We should go," He murmured, his voice husky. When she opened her eyes she found his to be dark and intense, the concern in them overwhelming.

"He'll come after you, too." Katniss whispered. Peeta jerked a shoulder.

"Let him try."

"Peeta," she started, her tone too close to begging for her liking.

"Kat, lets just go to the room, get something to eat and some rest. We can argue about this later."

"Fine." She practically snarled, her annoyance covering up her fear.

"There she is," he teased, gently tugging the end of her braid. "Come on."

Katniss let him lead her out of the hospital. But they both knew this conversation was far from over.

A/n-Well, this chapter ran a little long. Ok so, I need you guys to suspend believe about arson investigations and police procedure in general. I know what I've seen on CSI and Law and Order. So I'm not even sure how long they have to be away from the scene of the crime so to speak, even if it's not the house. Not sure if the police would want them on the property. So, I'm taking liberties. Because it is a farm and someone does need to at least go take care of the animals. Also, I'm not sure how hot or how long a fire has to burn to set propane tanks off. Suppose I should considering I have two behind my house, but I figure they are pretty well fireproofed up to a certain point. Hope you can forgive me.

Also-I would like to draw interest to a new story I'm writing. I'm calling it Everlark 2, because it's a Prim/Rye story set after the first games. It's called The Games We Lost and it's posted both at AO3 and ffnet. The prologue is posted and I'll be putting the first chapter up later this week. I hope you try it out.

Review, review, review. Feel free to join me on tumbler at Jypzrose or drop me a pm. I'm a personable person.

Jypz/Lisa