A/N: Hey everybody! I've been busy with school stuff recently and haven't had much time to write! So, here's the next chapter and I PROMISE the next one will have more action. You just wait and see ;)

Also, I'm starting another story and this time, it will be co-written with the AMAZING Dramatic Sneeze! :) So watch out for it! First chapter will be coming out sometime soon!

Finally, thanks to all my reviewers! I got 18 reviews (I think) for the last chapter! The number of reviews has surpassed 100 which is a feat I thought I'd never accomplish. I seriously thought that my story would maybe only get like 20 reviews or something. So thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far! It makes me EXTREMELY happy! You have no idea.

Last but definitely NOT least: An ENORMOUS thanks to my beta laxgoal31! If you're reading this, please know that all your help is sooooooo great and I am extremely grateful!

Okay, so on with the story!

10. New Mission

Carson POV

Location: Capitol

Time: 9:00am

"Shall I do it then, sir?" I ask, confirming that I am actually supposed to go through with the plan.

"Yes, Carson. It is the perfect plan, don't you see? Perfect..." President Snow trails off. "It is ingenious indeed," he continues, "because it ensures the death of both of our young star crossed lovers—and the most crucial part, it will make their deaths look like an accident—merely a malfunction of machinery."

"But what about the rest? Haymitch, Cinna, Portia... They'll all be killed if we follow through with this!" I exclaim nervously. It wasn't in my nature to be violent. I don't want to be involved with the death of anybody let alone a large number of people, but this was a special mission given to me by the President and only a fool would turn it down.

"Ahh, dear old Haymitch. Long ago, we were what one might consider acquaintances," the President says, thoughtfully—likely remembering a thing of the past. "Their deaths will be sacrifices towards the greater good. It's the girl and boy that I want, the rest are just collateral."

"But isn't there any other way to--" I begin but am cut off.

"Hush, Carson," the President scolds sternly. "There is no other way. Abernathy and the stylists are probably involved with the rebellion anyways. Think of it as killing two birds with one stone," he says. President Snow pauses for a moment.

"The rebellion is like a weed, and to get rid of a weed, you must cut it out at the roots, which in this case are Fire Girl and Lover Boy. If you don't, the weed will spread. If we don't get rid of them soon enough, the rebellion will grow." The President spins around in his chair to face me. He rests his elbows on the desk in front of him and clasps his hands together, his chubby fingers flexing and unflexing against each other like the legs of a spider.

"So now do you see, Carson, just how important it is to get rid of our most recent Hunger Games victors? Do you see just how small the others' casualties are within the greater scheme of things?"

"Yes sir, I see," I reply because I have no other choice than to agree with him. I wince, but try hard to keep the expression on my face as unfeeling and unaffected as possible.

On the inside though, I'm scared. I don't want to do it; I don't want to be the death of another person, but this was my chance to prove myself. All that hard work for the President would not go to waste. I could not let him down.

"Good then; it spares me the work of finding someone else to replace you," President Snow huffs, patting me roughly on the shoulder. "Now I don't care how you go about doing it, just make sure it is done. I want them dead, do you hear me?"

"Yes sir." I say, placing my fist over my heart and bowing—a sign of utmost respect.

"Thank you," he says with a malicious grin, "you are dismissed."

I walk out of his office, the heavy oak doors swinging shut behind me. I only know that I must complete my mission: kill Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.

* * *

KATNISS POV

"Katniss! Katniss, can you hear me?" A voice calls, echoing as if the speaker were shouting in a tunnel. The voice reverberates in my own mind; bouncing off the walls of my head and making it hurt.

"Katniss, if you can hear me, open your eyes, squeeze my hand... do something, anything...please?" the voice sounds desperate, frantic almost. Then I recognize whom the voice belongs to. It's my Peeta.

Well, I can hear him, so I try to open my eyes only to find that I am unable to.

I try again, this time attempting to wiggle my fingers. I succeed and in response, Peeta lightly squeezes my hand.

The corners of my mouth pull upwards into a smile which is answered with Peeta touching his soft lips to mine. My eyes flutter open in surprise and I see Peeta's smiling face hovering right above mine.

"Peeta," I say, grinning. My voice is quiet and raspy.

Peeta doesn't say anything, just peppers my face with kisses. They trace along my jaw, down to my collarbone and back up. For a minute I forget everything; all that exists is me and Peeta. But then a question comes to mind.

"Peeta?" He stops the kisses and looks up at me. "Where am I?" I ask. I pointedly take a glance around the room. It is small, with plain, white walls and a tiny, curtained window. And it smells weird, like old people. It's not somewhere I've been before. I look to the side and see that I'm lying in a small bed with completely white sheets.

"Sorry, I didn't mention it. You're at the doctor's building."

Doctor's? is my first thought. Why would I be at the doctor's? Only the rich went to the doctor's.

"How did I get here?" I ask Peeta, giving him a quizzical look.

He looks at me as if I'm missing something big. "You fainted out in the rain, don't you remember?" I shake my head at him.

Peeta sighs. "Well you fainted, so I carried you here. I would've taken you home, but this was closer. By the time I got here, your lips were blue; the doctor told me that you nearly escaped hypothermia. Of course, the fact that you're wearing nearly nothing didn't help at all," Peeta chuckles.

I sit there confused for a moment, and then in a sudden rush, I remember everything; last night with Peeta, Gale walking in on us, chasing Gale for seemingly miles in the rain, blacking out on the cold, wet ground. My body goes completely rigid.

Peeta must feel my body freeze under his because he starts to gently stroke my face with his thumb.

"Katniss, are you alright?" he asks, concern tainting his voice.

"Gale," I whisper, staring blankly at the wall. I turn my gaze over to Peeta who now looks very worried. "Where's Gale?"

"Katniss," Peeta says slowly, "I'm sure Gale's alright."

"Gale..." I whisper and feel the prickling of tears in my eyes. Why did he have to find out the way he did? Now he probably hates me.

I sit up, ignoring the head rush it gives me and lean my head into Peeta's shoulder.

"I've ruined everything Peeta! Gale hates me!" I whisper into his ear. A small tear escapes me and rolls hot and slow down my cheek.

Peeta turns his head, catching my lips in a sweet kiss. His lips kiss away the falling tear and his hand comes up to stroke my hair.

"He doesn't hate you. You're impossible to hate," he whispers back, with his lips grinning against my cheek.

I let out a light chuckle despite myself. "You're biased."

"Maybe," Peeta laughs and then pulls me in for another kiss. It's slow and reassuring; the kind of kiss that makes you feel like everything is going to be alright.

Before things can progress any further, we're interrupted by a quick rap on the door. Peeta and I jump apart and he reassumes his position in the bedside chair he was sitting in earlier. The door swings open and a kind looking man with wispy, graying hair and a pair of green scrubs walks in.

"Ahh, Katniss," he says, smiling down at me, "I see that you're awake now. My name is Dr. Evans."

He sticks his right hand out at me. Smiling politely, I take it and give it a light shake.

"You seem to have taken quite a fall out there. Your hands and knees are pretty torn up, but I've sprayed some anti-bacterial healing spray on the cuts, so they should be completely healed in the next couple of days. I've got more here for you to take with you," he says, pulling a small aerosol canister from his pocket and handing it to me.

I take a quick look at the label which reads "Second Skin".

"Just spray it on the affected areas two times a day and you should be alright. Your ankle on the other hand…" he trails off and then reaches down to uncover my ankle which is hidden by the bed sheet.

He lifts my leg gently, gingerly examining my ankle in his hands. "Tell me if this hurts," he says. He slowly rotates it to the right and I feel a stab of pain. Wincing, I nod my head at the doctor.

"Your ankle is pretty swollen and you have pain when it is rotated. I'm assuming that you have a minor sprain. It's not anything serious, so you'll be able to go on your tour as scheduled," Dr. Evans smiles at me. "I'll go get some painkillers and anti-inflammatory pills so that the ankle doesn't get any worse. Stay here for a moment, while I go and grab those for you. I'll be right back." The doctor turns and walks out the door leaving me and Peeta alone again.

"Peeta, what time is it?" I ask him.

"It is…" he starts, pulling his wrist out in front of him to look at his watch, "1:30"

"But we were supposed to leave at 12:30!" I gasp in horror.

Peeta gives me a reassuring smile and takes my hand, rubbing the back of it with his thumb. "It's all taken care of. I phoned Haymitch and your mom to tell them what happened. Haymitch decided to take the train at 8:30am 'cause there was something he needed to take care of at the Capitol anyways."

Just then Dr. Evans comes back through the door with some bottles in his hands and his arm threaded through the hole of some crutches. "Okay," he says, walking over to me and handing me two small, rattling bottles. "Here are the pain-killers and the anti-inflammatory pills. Take one in the morning and if need be, you can take one at night. You will need these," he explains, handing me the crutches, "to walk for now, just until you feel good enough to walk on your own. Other than that, you're free to go." He smiles at me and offers his hand so that I can get up. Peeta is on my other side in an instant helping me get my balance. He takes the bottles from my hands so that I can properly adjust myself on the crutches. Once I'm upright, Dr. Evans ushers me towards the door and then walks Peeta and I back to the lobby.

"Thank you Dr. Evans," I smile at him.

"You're very welcome. It has been my pleasure, Ms. Everdeen," he says kindly. "I hope you have a good time on your Districts Tour."

"I'm sure we will," I say politely.

Peeta holds open the lobby door for me as I try to fit through with my crutches. Through the doors' glass panes I can see a black limo waiting for us.

"Here, let me help you," Peeta says gallantly, getting in front of me so that he can open the limo door. I probably could have done it by myself, but I let him do it for me. I hand him the crutches as I hobble on one foot and duck my head, trying to get into the car. Peeta laughs lightly at my disabledness.

"Shut up," I mutter playfully, but he does as I say.

He shuts the door softly behind me and walks around the limo to get in on the other side.

I'm gazing absentmindedly at the floor of the limo when I see a suitcase sitting there.

"What's that for?" I ask Peeta who is just getting in and shutting the door after himself.

"That," he says, "is for you. It's a change of clothes. When I called your mother earlier to tell her what happened, I also asked her to get a change of clothes ready for you. Then I had the limo driver go to your house to pick up the clothes."

"Thanks, that was nice of you," I smile at him sincerely.

"You're welcome. Besides I couldn't let anybody else see you like this—other than myself of course," he says, looking over my tank-top, short-short-wearing self with a devilish grin plastered on his face.

"Peeta Mellark!" I gasp, also grinning. I reach over and give him a playful smack on the arm.

"Joking!" he laughs. "But, I must say you do look beautiful, no matter what you're wearing,"

I feel my face flush with warmth at his words. Peeta leans across the aisle to give me a peck on the cheek.

"Now you'd better get changed. There'll be lots of cameras at the station," he says as he pulls away from me.

I reach down onto the floor and pick up the suitcase. I unzip the zipper, revealing a light yellow sundress, sweater and sandals. I take out the dress and shoes and place them on the seat beside me. Underneath where the dress lay, are some more clothes; undergarments, sweatpants and pajamas for the trip.

I think my mother intended for me to wear the yellow dress. I unfold it, half crouching in the limited space of the limo, and hold it out in front of me. I decide that I really should wear it. I could at least keep up my appearances for Cinna.

"Turn around or close your eyes or something," I tell Peeta.

"I don't mind seeing you," he says grinning.

I roll my eyes. "Do we have to go over this again? Now turn around! I mind."

"Okay, okay! Eyes closed," he chuckles.

I turn around, blushing, and start to remove my tank top. I slip the soft, yellow dress over my head and pull it down over the rest of my body. I take off my flannel shorts and toss them back into the suitcase.

"You can open your eyes now," I tell Peeta as I turn and sit back onto the plush seat. However, Peeta keeps his eyes shut with a dreamy expression on his face.

We sit in silence for a moment until Peeta speaks. "What do you think the other districts will be like?" he asks, sighing and finally opening his eyes.

"I don't know, Peeta."

"Do you think we'll get to meet the other tributes' families? Like Rue's and Thresh's?" he asks absentmindedly.

Silence.

Images of Rue fill my mind and my eyes glaze over with warm tears. Already my mind begins to vivdly recount the more gruesome moments of my time in the arena. I wouldn't be surprised if my next sleep period would be one filled with never-ending nightmares.

Peeta realizes his mistake at once and look of regret dominates his expression.

"Katniss… I—I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." He moves over to sit beside me.

I press my face into the nook between is neck and shoulder and allow my head to rest there. I don't say anything for a while; I just sit there as Peeta rubs my back with his hand.

"Peeta," I say, once I've found my voice again. "I'm glad you're here with me. I don't know if I could've handled all this alone."

"I don't know if I'd be able to live without you," he whispers into my hair. "I wouldn't be able to handle anything at all. There's no one I'd rather be with right now."

I smile and shut my eyes, listening to the soft pitter-pattering of rain on the windows and allow the constant rhythm of the moving limo to lull me into a tranquil, thankfully dreamless, sleep.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you did, please leave me a review! Anonymous, signed—whatever. You can even PM me if you'd like to! Tell me what you think! Also, I have a new poll on my profile: Team Peeta, Team Gale or Team "boy who brushed Katniss at the Reaping". You decide!