Chapter 53 – New and Old Alliances

AN: This chapter is dedicated to everyone who has favored, alerted and reviewed "The Weary Heart." Thank you for your patience and hanging on until the end. Thanks to Matainer, Manaliac, IcyPinkLemonade and LACR for your reviews. All rights and characters belong to Suzanne Collins.


Delly POV ––

My stomach churned at the sight of food that Effie prepared for dinner. With her usual flair, Effie prepared an elaborate and delicious meal ranging from a rack of lamb to roast beef au jus. My stomach however, had other ideas settling for a simple vegetable soup with water crackers. My baby will probably wake me in the middle of night for a piece of lamb as a midnight snack. Consuming meat during dinner was the last thing I wanted or had any appetite for. My baby and I miss Peeta's cheese buns. I craved for them more than ever.

I was heartsick, worried and lonely missing everyone. Baby Cartwright was wreaking havoc to my system. I was nauseous and dizzy all morning. I couldn't sleep for the past two days worrying over Peeta, Katniss and Johanna. Images of them hurt or dying flashed in my mind. It didn't help that the tension in the air stressed everyone, especially Haymitch.

Both he and Effie had been stressed all day since getting Johanna's message early this morning. He was ready to go after her but Effie convinced him to stay. Haymitch had been out of commission for a while as a Victor. Effie had informed that he was not fit to be pouncing around in the woods with his lack of training and physical fitness. Had be been more proactive during his years as mentor, Effie would had let him go to help find Peeta and Katniss. I remembered the desolation and helplessness he felt when he received the message from Johanna hours before.


Flashback ––

"Haymitch, what is that annoying beeping sound coming from your datapad," Effie asked as her face scrunched in annoyance. The new Mrs. Haymitch Abernathy was as glamorous as ever wearing a light blue dress that accentuated every curve in her shapely figure. My admiration of her attire was interrupted by the incessant beeping sound. The pitch was short but sharp to the ears. Haymitch was glued to the pad, never leaving it behind wherever he went. Effie had put her foot down when he took it with him in the bathroom.

"That's so unsanitary," she balked at him.

"I wash my hands Effie," he defended himself as he raised both hands for her inspection.

"It's bad enough you took that thing into our bedroom, Haymitch," she complained.

"I just don't want to miss anything, you know. I don't want to be caught unaware incase she communicated with me." So for the rest of the day, Haymitch took the pad with him never leaving his sight. As far as he was concerned if Johanna hadn't call it was a good sign to him. Then suddenly, a high-pitched beeping sound emitted from the pad.

"Oh, my God. It's Johanna," he exclaimed. The incessant high pitch beeps continued in slow and fast pattern.

"How do you know it's her?" Effie asked.

"She's sending me a message via code. Morse code to be exact." Both Effie and I stared at him as he was speaking another language. "It was used during the dark days to communicate in long distances so no one but the sender and the receiver can understand it.

"How can a bunch of beeping sounds be used to send as messages? It's annoying," Effie whined as the beeps continued in a nonsensical pattern.

"Just shut up, woman. I'm trying to listen," Haymitch returned, irritated and impatient. He turned and left the room. "I need to write this down."

"Really, Haymitch. You didn't have to be so rude about it," Effie fired back. Haymitch growled at her as he sat down at the dining table with pen and paper in hand. He continued to write as the beeps sounded from the pad. It didn't make any sense to me.

"Must be a guy thing," Effie sighed. "Wouldn't had it been easier if she just called instead of sending those annoying sounds. It's grating my sensitive ears."

"I taught Johanna the basic. It's archaic but I prefer it since even Gale doesn't knows how to decipher it. He's too impatient to learn it. I didn't want him to pick up any communication between Johanna and me. I was going to give Alec a radio but Gale might be listening to the same frequency. I didn't want to take any chances so this was my only option."

"How is she sending it?" I asked. I knew that Johanna and Haymitch agreed to radio silence and would track her by the GPS oh her necklace. She also didn't want Alec or Rory to know how they were communicating. He may have sent them to help her but he still had some doubt in their loyalty, especially Rory.

"I modified her medallion. She has to press a button on the back of her necklace to send me the signals," he answered. "Okay, shut up, I can't concentrate with both of you talking." On the paper he wrote a few words, 'No K and P, med kit. Food and water.' Then he looked at the pad. There was a small map of District 3 with red dot in the middle of the district.

Haymitch sighed. "Looks like there deep in the forest. I hope she had better news."

"Me too. At least she didn't say that she found Katniss and Peeta were hurt or worse," Effie added. "I wish there was more than we can do. Can't we send more help?"

"No, we can't risk it," Haymitch responded. "Look what happened to Bron. Any hovercraft flying in that area will be shot down for sure. Besides that air space is reserved for the military. I can send a Supply Bot to them and hope Gale doesn't shoot it down." The bot served as a supply cargo. It was unmanned and flew by remote control. Beetee designed it in lieu of using the trains. It was faster to send but didn't have a large payload. Only a one-man bot was allowed in that area. You can send food, water and medical needs like drugs and bandages. Bron said they could have used it during the rebellion. It would have saved many lives that were lost due to starvation, dehydration and blood loss. Now, Haymitch hoped to use it to help Johanna.

End of Flashback ––


I was so distracted that I didn't hear Effie addressing me, "Speaking of Bron, Delly. How is he doing?" The thought of him the hospital alone and in pain brought tears to my eyes.

"He's fine, Effie. I think the doctor is ready to release him tomorrow after a couple of tests," I sniffled. After settling Bron into his room, I wasn't sure what I had planned to do, but since I am no longer his fiancée or girlfriend, I was told to leave the hospital once visiting hours we was over. I was saddened with the state of our relationship. I recalled our last conversation before I came home.


Flashback ––

"Your doctor said that you might be able to go home tomorrow," I stated with formality. I still love Bron but his betrayal was something I don't think I can get over. He hurt Peeta, someone who he didn't know but willing to hurt because of me.

"How's the baby doing, Delly?" he asked as his eyes were riveted to my belly. I wasn't showing much but my hormones and appetite affected me. It was difficult going through the pregnancy alone. I decided that I wouldn't deprive Bron his chance to be the father to my baby, but as for us, his betrayal stung and my trust and faith in him was shattered.

"He or she is fine, Bron." I placed a hand onto my stomach. As he sat on the bed with his legs incased in plaster, I wanted to wrap my arms around him and soak in his presence. Then I realized he was no longer my fiancé but father to my baby. My emotions ran amuck from love, joy, anger, sadness and frustration. I'm hormonally imbalanced since I wanted to slap him and crawl into bed with him at the same tine. The latter was tempting but I kept my distance.

"You had the doctor check you to make sure the baby's okay?" His voice was soft, reverent.

"Yes, first thing I did when I arrived here while they were admitting you." I took a step back. Bron was sad and depressed, feelings that were common for someone in his situation, but this time our broken engagement compounded to his emotions. Unlike the first time I met him, asking for my number and flirting with me while he lay on the bed incapacitated. If someone had told me that a year ago I was going to be having a baby and engaged I would have laughed in their face. It was the last thing I thought would happen to me. In the course of a year, I made a home in District 12, my best friends were Peeta and Johanna and I had fallen in love with Bron Masters. There were no more reapings and Snow is dead. Now, Peeta and Katniss are missing, Johanna is looking for them and I'm single again and pregnant. I held a sob that was caught in my throat. So many things changed at such a short time.

"Are you ever going to forgive me, Delly?" he asked.

"I already have, Bron." My throat felt tight as a wave of anguish bubbled on my chest. I had forgiven him. For days I was angry for his betrayal feeling the loss of our love and friendship. The ache in my heart felt like a stone was lodged inside. I had loved Peeta all my life thinking that I could never love anyone, but Bron crept into my life and heart. I made room for someone to love and took a chance with him. He was my first and I had planned to spend the rest of my life with him.

"Can we try again?" he begged.

"I don't know." I said back. I was certain that he loved me, grew to love me but had he been honest in the beginning of our courtship, we could have survived his duplicity. But, he kept quiet and Peeta got hurt and was abused by Gale and Eva because of his cowardice.

"I need to know something?" The thought had bugged me for days. I needed to ask something that bothered me. "When did you realize that you really wanted me and that you loved me?"

"Before you moved back to 12," he answered. "I realized that you meant something to me. I did go after you to spy for Gale, I admit that but the more I got to know you, the harder I fell for you."

Tears tracked down my cheeks. "When I asked you if you would move back to the Capitol with me, you said you would knowing how much you loved Peeta and Johanna. You put my happiness above yours. They were your family and I knew how much they meant to you. How could I not love you for that?" I remembered that day when he asked me. I debated back and forth wondering if I could leave Johanna and Peeta. They were what were left of my family, but I grew to love Bron. Both Peeta and Johanna would have understood had I followed my heart and left with him. They wouldn't have deprived of me that, a chance to have my own family and shot for happiness.

"I need to trust you again and I don't know if I can. If it wasn't for the baby…I would have sent you packing."

"I understand, Delly but…" He wiped the tears in his eyes. He was sorry and his repentance was heartfelt. "I do love you Delly, you and our baby…you both mean the world to me. I love you both so much." As far as I was concerned, the bump in my stomach was my baby. But hearing him say 'our baby' broke my heart again.

"I'll be back tomorrow to pick you up." The air in the room was thick with despair and sadness. I couldn't stay any longer. Being this close to him again was too hard for me.

"Delly, I swear I'm going to do whatever it takes to get you back," he promised me. "If Peeta waited 11 years to tell Katniss how he felt about her, I'll wait for you just as long as he did. I'll find a way for you to trust me again." Damn him. He may not be as eloquent or romantic as Peeta, but he must have been taking lessons from Peeta. He was beginning to think and talk like him.

When I left him, Bron had tears running down his cheeks. I stopped myself from returning to his room to hold him.

End of Flashback ––


The next morning, Haymitch was already up at the break of dawn. He was standing by a floor to ceiling window over looking the district's landscape.

"Good morning, Haymitch. Any more news from Johanna?"

"Not a single beep." He shrugged his shoulders as he took a sip of his black coffee. I can't help but admire him for his sobriety. All it took was two young teens to fire him back to life and start living again. He learned to love again because of Katniss and Peeta. "I'm so tempted, Delly. I'm so tempted to pack a bag and go after them."

"I know this is hard for you, Haymitch."

"This is worse than mentoring. At least I knew where they were and how they were doing." He sighed as he walked over the dining area and refreshed his cup of coffee. "If I had my way, I'd sent an army after them, but I can't. Peeta made me swear to not get any more people involved. Gale is irrational now. Any one in his way would get hurt or killed. Peeta doesn't want any more blood on his hands. I'm so worried about them."

"You have the best former victors out there. If anyone can survive this, it's Johanna, Peeta and Katniss. Gale doesn't know who he's dealing with." As I expected, I visited the kitchen around midnight since baby Cartwright decided to take over my appetite and hijack my sleep as I tossed and turned all night. However, this morning I was surprised that I didn't wake up and visit the porcelain throne like I usually did after my early morning snack. "I miss Peeta's cheese buns." With that said, I had some fruit and a cup of tea for breakfast. Haymitch ordered break and nothing seemed appealing; even Baby Cartwright agreed with me.

"When are we picking up Bron?"

"The doctor said that he's clear to leave around noon," I answered back. When I had told Haymitch that Bron was being released yesterday, he sensed my uneasiness and offered to help me bring him back. He even suggested that I return back to 12 with Bron and wait there. I was horrified and insulted at his suggestion. I was living with Bron back in the Victor's Village. We had a home there. Now we're no longer together. We still have yet to figure out our living arrangements…and who gets to keep the dog. I was not looking forward to returning to 12 since I knew the reality of my situation. I'm pregnant, stressed, heartbroken and missing my friends. There was no way I returning to 12 alone without them.

An hour later, I sent Haymitch ahead to the hospital and ran an errand for him. Bron was expecting me but I was too scared to face him alone so I agreed to pick up an item he had ordered the day earlier. I didn't know what it was since it was wrapped to conceal its' content but one good look at it, I knew what he had bought. After picking the package, I went straight to the hospital and completed Bron's release papers. It only took half an hour to get all the paperwork done which included picking up his medication. I was nervous returning back to his room to face him.

"Haymitch, you have to do something," Bron's voice echoed as I entered his room. He was seated in a wheelchair dressed and ready to leave.

"I know, Bron," he answered back. "I will as soon as I get back to the hotel."

"What's going on?"

"Delly, you need to send reinforcements to help find Peeta. District 3…they used that district as a model for the games," Bron explained.

"Oh my God, Haymitch is that true?"

"I don't know, Delly. It's not like the gamekeepers told me stuff like that. I'm just a mentor. How would I know that?"

"You don't understand. District 3 is the Guardsmen's training ground. Gale designed the training course," Bron added. "And there were rumors that…he let a pack of mutt dogs loose for hunting."

"Oh, hell," Haymitch exhaled. "I heard rumors that some of the arena were designed after District 3, 4 and 7. I thought all the mutt dogs were put down once the rebellion was over."

"Gale decided to keep them. He said they were perfect for hunting as a way for teaching the Guardsmen how to track down predators. He was trying to develop a special team, an elite group."

"Does President Paylor know they existed…the mutt dogs?"

"Who cares right now, Haymitch," Bron roared in frustration. "It's beside the point right now. They exist and are living in District 3's forest."

"Calm down, Bron." Haymitch answered back. "I've been worried sick about them too. Now you're telling me that there are mutt dogs in District 3. What more surprises don't we know about in that district?" It was a rhetorical question he was asking himself. "Next you're going to tell me that Gale recruited former Victors in the Guardsmen military as his own bodyguards."

"I wouldn't put it past him if he did," Bron stated. "The bastard is shifty and an egomaniac."

"Have you heard from Johanna?" I asked as panic and fear filled me.

"Not since yesterday morning. She didn't say anything about the dogs but that Rory was injured."

"Haymitch, they're in danger. Peeta and Katniss are not equipped to handle the dogs," I surmised. "We need to do something fast." I wasn't too worried for Johanna and company since they had equipped themselves with rifles.

"I know," he wheezed. "Let's get Bron back to the hotel and I'll figure something out." If Bron's claims were true Peeta, Katniss, Johanna, Rory and Alec were in danger not just with Gale, but also with the Capitol mutt dogs. I remember watching them run after Katniss and Peeta in their first arena. For weeks I had nights after seeing them. It's no wonder that both they had nightmares that haunted them then and even now.

Once we had Bron situated in his room, I found Effie and Haymitch preparing to send a bot to Johanna's location. With a few taps to the data pad, he sent a message telling her to be on the lookout for the bot. He was sending it low so that Gale couldn't shoot out of the sky. He wasn't a good shot like Katniss, but we couldn't take any chances for it to be shot down. The bot sat on the rooftop of the hotel where we were staying. It was large enough to carry enough supplies and still have room for other provisions.

"I'm sending her more rifles, ammo, food, water, clothes and medical aid," Haymitch stated. "I don't think I can send anymore than that." He sighed. "I just hope that Gale doesn't see it."

"We have to take the chance Haymitch," Effie reminded him. "At least they'd have better odds surviving an attack."

I shuddered at the image of them running from a pack of mutt dogs. I feared for Peeta's safety. He was a fast runner before he lost his leg. However, we didn't know if Katniss or Peeta sustained any injury or if Gale captured them. The wait and the uncertainty was killing me.

I needed to do something. A thought crossed my mind. I looked at Effie and Haymitch who were busy finalizing the bots flight destination and doing a checklist for the supplies. It would track and follow Johanna's GPS signal.

"When are you going to send the bot off?" I asked.

"Its' scheduled it to take off in about ten minutes, Delly. Effie and I are making sure we send everything they need because this may be the only chance we have to send it. Why do you ask?" Haymitch responded.

"I want to add something to the bot. Can I do that before it leaves?"

"What are thinking of sending?" Effie wondered.

"Peeta's leg is probably hurting him by now. I want to put his ointment in the bot."

"Good idea. Why don't you go ahead then," Haymitch suggested. "Then make sure you secure the hatch then it's good to go."

I rushed into my room and quickly changed to a pair of dark slacks, long shirt, jacket and boots. My hair was in ponytail underneath a cap. Johanna would have been very proud of my attire. Once I placed Peeta's medication in my pocket, I ran up the stairs. The bot looked like an orb with two rectangular feet underneath it to keep it steady. I opened the hatch and sighed in relief.

God help me for what I was about to do. There was enough room for me to squeeze myself inside it. Once Haymitch realized what I had done, he and Effie will be furious and horrified at my recklessness. As for Bron…well, I'm my own person. I couldn't stand by and watch my friends die in Gale's hands. If there was something I could do to help, this was it. I've placed my life and my baby's life in danger. I knew that with great certainty, but my friends needed me. Hopefully, Gale won't shoot me out of the sky, but it was a chance I was willing to take.


Johanna POV ––

It was another day of interrupted sleep and nightmares that caused my mood to sour. After my incident at the cliff, I was shattered and felt discomfort of having both Alec and Rory see me at my weakest state. I wished Peeta were here. He was the only man that I felt comfortable with. He wasn't anything like Finnick who was self assured, arrogant and outspoken. Peeta was soft, gentle and sweet. He took my anger and frustration without returning it with derision or pity. He never threw it back in my face ever. I have yet to meet another person like him who can handle me at my worst and still accepted me for who I was. It was his inner strength and friendship I depended on, never asking for anything in return.

Though I was embarrassed at my display of weakness, I gathered the strength I had left and drudged through the forest to find Katniss and Peeta. Yesterday was another day wasted. We had reached the area where the fire was coming from and discovered that Gale had shot down an express delivery bot that ran between Districts 3 and 4. Inside the bot were boxes and packages that were personal or business related. Some poor kid out there was not getting his toy truck for his birthday. Too bad someone wasn't sending food, which we could have confiscated.

I really need to find Gale soon before he discovers Peeta and Katniss. God help him because once I find him…he's dead. No law or person in Panem will stop me from killing him. I don't care what the consequences will be. All I know is that he will be out of our lives forever.

As usual Rory was out and about snaring rabbits for our dinner. At this point, I could care less what he did. I had a mission. He and Alec took care of our provisions since it left me less to worry about. We looked amongst the debris from the bot to see if there was anything useful. We came up with nothing.

Last night dinner was rabbit again which was better than starving. Rory wasn't useless even if he was a liability. I can't trust him to do what was needed to done to stop Gale. Rory needed to make a choice because in the end, I will make it for him.

The stress and non-productive day had finally caught up to me. I was short and abrupt with both Alec and Rory as we settled in for the night. I steered clear from their company. Alec made a few attempts to comfort me but I resisted. He was a stranger to me. All I know about him was that Peeta hired him to oversee his bakery. He was a baker in his district. Other than that, I knew nothing of him. Where he's from, what he did for during the rebellion. I couldn't trust him. My faith and trust in men was non-existent. The thought of having a relationship with any man caused me to hyperventilate and have a full-blown panic attack. I wasn't ready nor do I think I ever will be. My sessions with Dr. Aurelius unblocked all the memories of my time in the Capitol from the time I won my arena to my years as a Victor. I had suppressed so much of my anger, the memories of sexual abuse and pain. They were forefront in my mind now. They were the cause of my volatile behavior to every one around me. I only left comfortable around Peeta and Haymitch.

I needed time to heal. It would take years before my emotional wounds and scars to mend, if ever. It would take a man like Peeta, who had waited for Katniss with love, patience and tolerance to put up with me, and my brand of crazy. It would take resilience and understanding to stand by me. I'm a mess.

I snapped at Alec all too often since his arrival. I knew he meant well but…I couldn't accept his offer of comfort. I'm not in the right frame of mind to accept it and not lead him on. I'm not stupid. I've seen the way he's looked at me since I've met him. Delly teased me to no end about setting me up with him. As for Peeta, he just smiled and voiced his opinion when I asked about Alec.

"We're free to live our lives as we see fit," he said. "Wouldn't it be nice to have someone to love and not be scared all the time? Don't be afraid, Johanna. Life is good now, find someone to share it with."

He never dared to push or attempted to play matchmaker. But, leave to Peeta to know the inner workings of my mind and heart. Yes, I'm scared. I guess I'm like Katniss in that respect.

"Johanna, look," Alec, pointed to a small dot beyond the horizon. It too small to recognize so we waited until we could see it more clearly.

"Oh my god, it's the supply bot." Earlier this morning, Haymitch had sent me a message letting me know he was sending it.

"How do you know––"

"I hope Gale hasn't seen it," I said interrupting Rory. The bot was bigger than the express delivery bot; so the chance of Gale seeing it was probable. Then out of nowhere I watched as a projectile hit the bottom of the bot.

"Shit he saw it," I exclaimed. "Damnit, Gale."

"Yeah, but now we know where he is," Alec stated. We knew the area from where the project originated. The bot was down a good three miles ahead of us. I hope that it wasn't too damaged since we could use the provisions it carried.

"Come on, let's go intercept it. If were lucky Gale will head towards it." I ran off without them. If they followed I wasn't sure. All I knew was that if Gale was curious he would head to the direction where the bot crashed. I reminded myself to keep an eye on Rory. He initially failed to apprehend his brother a day ago. I wasn't about to let him do that again. This time, Gale is mine to handle. I just hope Peet and Katniss were aware of the bot and headed towards it as well. I know by this time they were probably out of food and water. I hoped to get there first.


Peeta POV ––

I woke up disoriented as the light from sun hit my eyes. In front of me was Katniss cradled in my arms. We were able to find a tree large enough to hide us inside the tree trunk from Gale and the mutt dogs. For the rest of the day, Katniss tracked him and the dogs making sure we kept our distance. I was afraid that I couldn't keep my treads from alerting Gale or the dogs our position, but for once I was quiet. Katniss kissed me as a reward then went back to business following her former hunting partner. So much has changed since the war ended, her relationship was amongst them. It saddened me.

Along the way, I watched my girlfriend. She was focused never letting me out of her sight with her hand clasped to mine while she kept an eye on Gale. She was so scared that we even stood by each other as we took a leak amongst the bushes. A year ago that would have horrified her. There was a familiar look in her eye I haven't seen since before the rebellion. It was a look of anger that reminded me of the times she was with me or with Snow. I shuddered at the memory.

I felt sorry for her. Gale had meant a great deal to her and now she's forced to hunt him down like an animal. She had already lost so much and now she had lost her best friend because she chose me over him. I told myself that I would never ever let her regret her choices, even if it meant choosing Gale over me. But I am the lucky one and it made me love her more than ever.

She whimpered in her sleep. I held onto her for comfort incase she awoke from a nightmare. I swore until my dying day that I would love and protect her to my last breath. I guess some things haven't changed. I'd soon die for her in order to keep he alive. She was the MockingJay, the leader of the rebellion. She had fought and won her freedom at the cost of her sister's life. She earned to live a long and happy life. Katniss deserved it and neither Gale nor I had any right to stop her from having it.

"Peeta," she whispered in her sleep. I placed my chin onto her shoulder rubbing my cold nose on her cheek. It's moments like these that I dreamt and fantasized since I was eleven years old. Just to hold her as she slept with my arms wrapped around her. The night air turned chilly by the time the sun set. We had decided to not make a fire incase Gale was near by and attracted the mutt dogs. So we huddled together as best we could as I placed her in front of me her back to my chest. We ate the last of the cheese buns by dinnertime and our water canteen were near empty. Katniss had suggested snaring rabbit or whatever game we could find the next morning. As long as we kept our distance from Gale and the dogs we had the upper hand. We couldn't keep up with just tracking him. I knew we had to make a move soon. I recalled our conversation the night before. It was a conversation that needed to be addressed.


Flashback ––

I couldn't sleep. Every noise or sound distracted me. Now that we had settled down for the night, the events of day finally caught up to me; I remembered killing the mutt dog, blood everywhere and finding Gale in the forest as he looked for us. I shivered at the memory of killing the mutt dog earlier this morning. Everything started to come back to me. I was surprised I wasn't triggered as I felt anger at Gale and fear for Katniss' life.

"Peeta, are you okay?" Katniss asked with concern and worry on her face. "You're shivering." She felt me tremble as she pressed her back on my chest.

"I just realized that I killed a mutt dog today."

"You saved our lives, Peeta," she said with awe. "You didn't hesitate or blink. You were willing to sacrifice your life to save mine." She sighed. "I should be really mad at you for trying to kill it on your own."

"I was afraid that…I was going to get triggered, especially when I saw the mutt dog and Gale."

She turned around to face me. The night was dark and the only thing illuminating was the moon high above us. I could see the trace of the right side of her face. Her hair was still in a single braid, just the way I liked it. She had dirt and grime all over her face and still…she looked beautiful to me more than ever. "But you didn't Peeta. You faced your fears and didn't get triggered."

"I think was too scared for you to have an episode. I'd die Katniss. If anything happened to you, I don't know…" I confessed. "The only thing that ran inside my head was that I couldn't let anything happen to you."

"It was the same for me, Peeta." She turned and knelt between my legs and placed her forehead against mine. "I have never been so scared in my life…when the dog landed on you, I thought you were dead," she sobbed back her tears. "I really thought…that I had lost your forever."

"Hey, I'm still here," I said as I took her hand and placed it over my heart. "Do you feel that? It's still beating." She grabbed me tight wrapping her arms around my neck.

"Please don't ever leave me. Don't you ever do something that stupid again," she said with anger and relief in her voice.

"I can't make that promise."

"Peeta––" I ignored her.

"I guess I was trying to protect you that my mind was too focused on the dog. It didn't matter what happened to me as long as you were safe. That was all I concentrated on." She didn't argue with me. She knew not too. I was adamant in protecting her no matter how much she objected. She would always be first to me.

"I have to confess I was a little scared when I saw Gale," she admitted. I hung my head down in shame for I had thought that too. "I mean, not that I was afraid of you, Peeta." She placed both hands on my face, forcing me to look into her eyes. "I was afraid seeing him would trigger you. The last thing you need is to be triggered. You're heart can take the stress. I don't want you to have another heart attack."

Could I admit to her that I was seeing something shiny in my head as Gale appeared before my eyes? It only took a second as I closed my eyes and concentrated on Katniss.

"Katniss, we need to talk about Gale," I started. Her eyes grew hard.

"What about him?" she returned as I could detect her anger in her tone.

"What are we going to do?"

"We…" She pointed between us. "…are not going to do any thing. I will take care of him myself," she announced.

"Katniss, if you think that I'm going to let you handle him all on your own…then you really don't know me at all," I said frustrated at her stubbornness.

"I want him dead," she seethed between her lips with such vehemence.

"He has a problem with me, Katniss. I will…"

"He's my problem. I take full responsibility for his…obsession with you and his need to take you away from me," she spat in anger. "He thinks that once you're dead, I'm all his. It's sick and pervert. I toyed with his feelings and look how he turned out."

I sighed and took a deep breath hoping to contain the anger that I knew was at my tipping point. "You are not responsible just as I'm not going to let you think otherwise. He's a grown man who couldn't accept the fact that you love me and not him."

"But he is after you because of me."

"No, he is after me because I love you and I let all of Panem know it. You are not his keeper. He's responsible for his own…vicious and hateful behavior towards me. Not you, the rebellion, or his addiction. He did this all to himself."

"But he––"

"Katniss, I do love you, but you have to realize that Gale and his feelings for you was never your fault. People will make choices on their own and how they behave and react is up to them." She wasn't convinced. She would gladly take the blame in order to make Gale the innocent one in our love triangle. Her guilt ran deep. It stemmed from her experience with Snow. He used me to get to her and me getting tortured; she took my abuse unto herself. It was her fault I was tortured. It was far from the truth.

"Honey, I know that you're anger with Gale for what he and Eva did to me," I started. "But you were his friend for the longest time. You told me how you saved each from starving, how you supported your families. When all is said and done if you hurt him…or kill him. In the long run, his death will affect you. You may not feel it now but you will in the future." She began to argue with me.

"Listen, please. The Gale you know now is someone you don't know or recognize. How will you feel months from now or better yet years from now knowing that you killed your best friend because of me. What will you tell Hazelle, Posy and Vick? I couldn't live with myself if you got hurt in any way because of me. How do you think I'll feel?"

Katniss' shoulders slumped as she absorbed my reasoning. "Underneath that angry, hateful and obsessed guy is someone you used to love…as a friend and companion. He's sick Katniss. Give him the chance to get better…like you gave me the chance to be get better and be worthy of you." She gasped. "You forgave me for almost…killing you." The memory still haunted me.

"He's no longer best my friend or anything to me for that matter. You're my best friend."

"Who almost killed you."

"Peeta, I forgave you a longtime ago. And, it's me that was never worthy of you," she mumbled. "You would have never behaved like Gale if I had chosen him. You would place my happiness over yours. You love me that much."

"I do."

"I love you so much," she returned. "God help me, Peeta. If he touches a single hair on your head." She caressed the hair at the back of my head. "I'm so angry...what he and Eva did to you. I can't forgive him for that. You suffered so much––"

"Just like you suffered––"

"It's not the same," she retorted. "Don't you dare make that comparison. It's not the same, Peeta. It isn't, it's not even close."

I placed two fingers on my trembling lips. "Okay, just promise me something, Katniss."

"I will try––"

"No, you swear to me. Right now, that we will apprehend Gale. Take him back to the Capitol so he can detox or whatever they do to addicts to help him get better."

"I promise––" Katniss held me tight in her arms.

"Swear to me, Katniss," I demanded.

"I promise Peeta that we will bring him back in one piece, alive," she returned. "You're just too good for this world."

"Seriously, I'm not. I'm selfish. All I want is you. I just want to be good to you."

"You are Peeta," she whispered in my ear and kissed my lobe sending a thrill down my back and reaching my groin. I tried to contain the moan in my throat.

"You're the perfect one." She snorted in protest. I held the back of her head with one hand as I placed the other on the small of her back. She gasped as my lips devoured hers then she whimpered while I trailed my tongue down to her neck sucking her delicate skin. We made out for a few minutes relishing the taste and feel of each other.

End of Flashback ––


I remembered the long, wet kisses she gave me. How her tongue sought entrance in to my mouth tasting cheese bun on her lips. I wanted to devour her with my body and my soul, but it was hardly the time or place to sate my desire. I vowed the next time we make love would be in her room back in District 12. My body ached and longed for that moment.

Gale. My mind drifted to her ex-best friend. Katniss declared that I'm her best friend now. I'm overjoyed and scared at the same time. What if I hurt her, what if see finds out how truly fucked up I am and leaves me? She shifted on to her right side nestling her body between my legs. Her hip grounded onto my groin. 'Fuck,' I moaned. Even with her asleep she had the capacity to excite me granting I woke up with my morning wood.

My need for her caused a sharp pain in my groin. "Katniss, honey," I winced. "It's time to get up." She had explained that we needed to up as soon as the sun rose since she was certain that Gale would up at the crack of dawn. She didn't want to lose him though I knew she could easily track him.

"Five more minutes. Too comfy," she sighed. How could I deny her?

Half an hour later, I held on to her as she gradually woke up. "Peeta?" I traced my hand down her cheek and upper lip. She kissed my finger and smiled. "When we get home, can we stay in bed for a week?"

I laughed. We are so in tune to each other with our thoughts. "Whatever you want, Katniss," I murmured as kissed her forehead.

For breakfast, we feasted on wild berries. I let her picked them remembering my nightlock incident. It wasn't enough to satisfy appetite but it would have to do. I had less or not at all in the Capitol. We washed them down with water.

"How far is he?" I asked Katniss as we trailed behind Gale twenty minutes later. Hungry, cold and tired, I walked behind her as she led the way.

"He's over there." She pointed to a large tree 30 yards away from us. Gale was on his knees inspecting the ground.

"He's laying down a snare, I think," Katniss explained. We snuck up closer behind him making sure he didn't hear us. Or at least he didn't hear me.

I gasped. "Katniss, he laying down a trap," I whispered to her. On the ground was a metallic trap similar to the one the mutt dog got caught in. "Shit." I prayed that Haymitch didn't send anyone after us. My thoughts went to Johanna. If there was anyone who would come after us, it would be Johanna.

"We need to be careful," Katniss said the obvious. I nodded my head in agreement. My leg started to ache an hour later as we trailed after Gale. Where he was going, we didn't know when suddenly, he stopped and looked up into the sky. Ahead of him, a small dot appeared. I couldn't tell what it was when he reached behind him and pulled out his compound bow. He drew an arrow and aimed at the flying object. Once released it hit the object causing it to crash land into the earth.

As it barreled down it passed overhead and landed half a mile behind us. Gale then ran towards it. "Shit, hide," Katniss whispered as she grabbed my hand and pushed me against a wide tree. "He's coming this way."

Once Gale passed us we ran right behind him making sure we kept our distance hoping that he wouldn't detect our presence. The pain in my leg increased with each step I took that I finally stumbled. "Peeta are you okay?" I nodded my head. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I lied as I grimaced. "I just lost my footing." I stood up. "Come on, Gale is getting ahead of us. We don't want to lose him."

I ran as best as I could with the pain radiating from my lower left leg. Katniss was determined to keep Gale in our sights. We couldn't afford to lose him.

The smell of oil and burned wood filled the air. I gasped in horror and fear once we reached the crash site. Katniss and I hid amongst the trees as Gale inspected the down bot. The capsule was still intact as Gale's arrow shot up the landing pad. He looked around the bot and pulled the door open.

"Well, isn't this a nice surprise," Gale spoke. He reached and pulled out…Delly from the capsule. Both Katniss and I gasped in horror. Just as I was about to leave my hiding spot to confront Gale, Johanna and…Alec arrived with Rory right behind them.

All three had aimed their rifles toward him. Gale quickly reached into his belt and held a knife on Delly's throat.

"Delly?" Johanna screamed. "What the hell? What are you doing here? Oh my god, Delly!"

"I'm sorry Johanna," she said. Delly appeared shaken but unharmed. She wore a dark pants, shirt and jackets with boots; an attire I was not accustomed to. It was a look I hated on her. She didn't look like Delly, my childhood friend who wore dresses and ribbons in her hair. I blinked my eyes twice making sure she wasn't a figment of my imagination.

"Isn't this a nice reunion among friends," Gale said in a sarcastic tone. "All I need is Katniss and Peeta to complete this little party." His voice was gleeful as though he was enjoying himself. He looked disheveled and in need of a hair cut and shave. His eyes were bloodshot and there were deep dark circles under his eyes. It was obvious he was using.

"Let her go, Gale," Johanna roared at him. He laughed. "Glad to see you in one piece, little brother." He smiled at Rory. "I hope you enjoyed my love tap." Rory winced, the comment meant to hurt and distract him.

"Gale, let her go," he begged his older brother.

"Now why would I do that?" He tightened his grip around Delly. "She's one of Mellarks girlfriends."

"I'm not Peeta's girl––"

"Shut up, bitch," Gale exclaimed as he screamed in her ear. Tears formed in Delly's eyes. I knew she was trying to remain strong, but I could tell she was frightened out of her mind. "I mean it's only fair that I should take something from him since he stole Katniss from me."

"Katniss was not stolen, Hawthorne," Johanna said. "You can't steal something that was never yours to begin with. She willingly chose Peeta."

"Katniss was mine," he bellowed. "He had no right to steal her from me."

"You sound like a broken record. Blah, blah, blah. Just put the knife down, Hawthorne," Johanna instructed as she cocked her rifle at his head. "Let Delly go, she's an innocent bystander."

"I don't take orders from you, Mason," he spat. "I want Mellark. I have a score to settle with him."

I stood up from my hiding spot and walked over to Gale. "Peeta," Katniss yelled. "What are you doing?" She attempted to pull me back but I was already walking over to them.

"I'm right here Gale," I said with my hands up in the air.

"Peeta, thank god you're all right," Johanna said in relief.

"I really wished you…" I sighed. The three most important people I cared about were here. I had hope that my confrontation with Gale would only involved me but of course, the women in my life stuck their necks out for me placing their lives in danger. How lucky can a guy be to have that kind of friendship and bond with three amazing women?

"Stay back Johanna. This is between me and Gale."

"Do what he says unless you want me to cut your girlfriend's throat."

"You do that, Hawthorne and I won't hesitate to shoot you in the head." She leveled her rifle at him. "And I won't miss I assure you. Just give me any reason to shoot you."

"Johanna, please let me handle this." I turned to him. "You have my undivided attention."

"I had a feeling that you were out there, but I couldn't figure out where," he returned. "Where's Catnip? I want to see her."

"Delly are you okay?" I asked ignoring him. She didn't appeared injured but I was concerned and worried about her baby.

"I'm a little banged up from the crash but I'm all right, Peeta."

"Shut the fuck up and tell me where is Katniss," Gale hollered with impatience.

"I'm right here Gale," she said as she stood beside me and grabbed my hand. It was gesture he noticed right away.

"Hi, Catnip," he jeered at her.

"You really need to stop this Gale," she said as released my hand and took a step towards him.

"I will once you leave him and come back to me," he suggested. "Tell Peeta that you really love me and that you're with him because you felt sorry for him." He was focused on Katniss gazing at her with love in his eyes. I knew that look of love and longing. I was once in his shoes.

"Gale––"

"You know that we're good together. Don't you remember back in 12 how we protected and saved each other? We're best friends and hunting partners. You're the love of my life, Katniss. I love you."

"I love you too, Gale," she returned. A big smile appeared on his face as if she had given him the world. "But I'm not in love with you."

"No you love me." His face fell.

"Yes, I do but like family. I love you like a brother." I winced as Gale's face turned jubilant to fury. Had Katniss told me she loved me like a brother, my heart would have shattered. I could imagine what it was doing to him. I felt sorry for him.

"A brother, you mean like Rory? Fuck you, Catnip. I don't want you to love me like a brother."

"It's all I a can offer you," she proclaimed.

"No, no, no, I don't believe you," he said as he shook his head in denial.

"I love Peeta,"

"No," he sobbed in anguish and fury.

"I'm in love with him."

"No, no. Stop saying that," he spoke, shaking his head.

"He's the only one I want. He's everything I never knew I wanted."

"How could you? What does he have that I don't?" he questioned her. I asked that question myself. How can she love me now as I'm broken with a hijacked mind and missing leg? Why couldn't she admit that she loved me when I was whole?

"There are a thousand reasons why I love him. Gale," she said, her voice was calm and confident. "Reasons that are important to me and me alone. I don't owe you any explanations as to why I love him. I just do."

"That's not good enough," he roared. "What the fuck do you see in him? I don't understand why women fall all over him. I can't see it."

"I see it and I'm a man," Alec surmised in a serious tone. Johanna cackled and snickered at him.

"Watch it Baylor," Johanna teased. "Katniss is very possessed with anyone who looks at him.

"Shut up all of you." Gale breathed hard through his mouth. For a few seconds, no one moved or spoke. The air was thing with tension. Rory was quiet and stayed behind Johanna while Alec flanked her on her right side. Just as I was about to ask what Gale wanted to do a series of howls pierced the air. The pack wasn't close but it meant that they were around in our vicinity.

"Great, more company," Gale sneered. "I hope you like my pets."

"What the hell was that?" Johanna asked as she looked at me for an explanation.

"There's a pack of mutt dogs loose," Katniss explained.

"You got to be kidding me," Rory exclaimed. "I thought you put those down, Gale. You were ordered to take care of them." He looked sick and scared. "Geez, Gale."

"I was hoping to use them to hunt Peeta down, but it seems that they're not trainable."

"You think asshole," Johanna spat. "You couldn't do the job yourself so you let loose a pack of dangerous animals in the forest. You're certifiable."

"There good for hunting." Gale shrugged his shoulders.

"You put everyone in danger Gale," I reminded him. "Do did ever think that when you sent those dogs after me, you were also putting Katniss is danger? She almost died yesterday." I understood that he sent the pack to find me, but he also endangered Katniss with his stupidity. I took a deep breath. I had expected a confrontation with Gale was about to happen soon, I just didn't anticipate Johanna and especially Delly to be involved.

"I knew you would sacrifice your life for hers. You're too predictable," he smirked. "Besides, I knew she can handle her own."

"One of them came after me, you bastard," Katniss roared. "If it wasn't for Peeta, I would be dead by now."

"But you're not and––" Out of nowhere a large buck crossed our path as it reached the center of the area we were occupying. A large mutt dog appeared pouncing onto the defenseless animal right after it. Rory froze as Alec pulled him to safety. The buck got onto its' feet as it recovered and took off. The mutt then turned to Katniss and me growling when it realized the buck ran away.

"Oh, shit." Katniss pulled out her knife from her backpack. I reached for my own.

"Katniss," I called to her.

Another dog careened into the area, growling at Gale and Delly. "Fuck." Johanna blurted shocked and surprised. Rory was nowhere on sight. Alec fired hitting the dog as it howled in pain. It ran into the woods howling.

"Peeta," Delly screamed causing the other mutt to divert its' attention from me to her. Distracted Gale dropped his knife and used Delly as a shield. Coward. He tried to reach behind for his pack when another mutt dog crashed into them sending Delly and himself crashing onto the ground.

"Shoot Johanna," I yelled at her. She opened fire hitting one that growled near Delly. She kept firing until it landed on the ground dead. "Delly, run." She ran to Katniss who was closest to her.

Gale stood up and ran leaving us to deal with the first mutt. It was larger, his size bigger than the others that his height reached my chest. Alec opened fire and shot its' hind leg. The mutt howled in pain but was still mobile as it turned to Alec at the last second. He shot the dog two more times walking backwards as it approached him. As he continued to fire he tripped backwards causing him to land on his backside losing concentration and focus on the approaching animal. It happened so fast that it didn't cross my mind what I did next. It was instinctual as I saw Alec helpless on the ground while the mutt dog was focused him.

I ran and jumped on its' back reliving yesterday's fight. This fight felt longer than the last dog I encountered. It howled in pain, the sound echoing in the air. My vision blurred ignoring everything and everyone around me. I held on into its' hair neck for balance while it tried to get me off its' back. "Peeta!" Both Delly and Katniss screamed at me. I can hear their voices in the back of my head but I was too focused as I stabbed the dog's neck over and over until it made a gurgling sound and dropped onto its' belly. Then it whimpered on its' last breath. It was finally dead.

Tired and feeling the pain radiating from my limb, I dropped on the ground beside it. My chest heaved from exertion and adrenaline. I closed my eyes for second just as Katniss knelt beside me screaming.

"Peeta, damnit," she sobbed and cried at the same time. "What were you thinking?" She examined my body with her hands feeling for any injuries on chest, arms and neck.

"Katniss?"

"Oh my God, Peeta. Peeta!" She pulled me onto her lap, cradling my head onto her chest. I felt her heartbeat and it was the loveliest sound I have ever heard. "Peeta, Peeta," she chanted. "You got to stop doing that."

"Huh, what?" My mind was too muddled to comprehend what she was saying.

"Katniss?"

"Oh god, oh god, oh god," she repeated as pressed her lips on my head.

"Katniss, I change my mind," I said, my voice low and soft as my breath even out.

"What?" She stopped and looked down at my face. There was relief, joy and love in her eyes. Something I hoped to see for the rest of our lives.

"I want to get a cat instead." She laughed and cried as pressed her cheek on my temple. Kisses followed as she peppered my nose, cheeks, forehead and my mouth. She kissed me hard, lips and tongue tangled against each other probing inside our mouths. I missed her kisses. I didn't know how long we were making out when someone cleared their throat.

"Ahem…"

Katniss and I stopped as we directed our attention to our audience. Alec had a goofy look on his face while Delly smiled with joy her hands clasped together in front of her lips.

"Don't mean to interrupt the love fest but don't you think we should book it incase we meet up with another pack of dogs," Johanna snickered.

"You have no idea how good it is to see you, Johanna," I returned as she knelt down beside us and embraced me. Then, she turned to Katniss also hugging her in relief.

"I knew that you two were okay," she commented. "I told Haymitch that as long as you two were together, you would protect and take care of each other."

"It's good to see you too, Johanna," Katniss repeated.

"Peeta, you saved my life," Alec boasted. "Man, you're were awesome holding onto him like that." I sat up and lifted myself off the ground with a bit of help from Katniss. As I stood on my feet, I wobbled for second trying to get balanced. Suddenly, Delly crashed onto me hugging me close. The back of my leg bumped into the dead mutt behind me.

"Oh, Peeta, I was so worried and scared for you and Katniss," she wheezed as tears formed in her eyes. "I'm just so happy to see you." Then, an irate Johanna yanked her out of our embrace.

"What the fuck Delly?" Johanna screamed. "I just realized that you were inside the supply bot." My brows furrowed as I turned my head to the bot. 'Oh shit.'

"How did you convince Haymitch to let you do something that stupid…crazy," she continued.

"I was so worried about you guys. I wasn't thinking––"

"You're damn right you weren't thinking. You could have died…Gale shot you down, you idiot. Of all the stupid, irresponsible thing to do…I should slap you––" Delly reached over and hugged Johanna around the waist. She hesitated for a few seconds then returned the hug. "You're supposed to be safe with Haymitch and Effie. You shouldn't be out here. You could have hurt yourself, you and the baby."

"I'm sorry. Please don't be mad at me."

"I'm not mad, Delly. I'm furious. I'm so furious with you. You could have died."

"She's okay, Johanna," Katniss countered as she walked over and hugged them both. There they were, my girls were safe and sound crying as they held onto each other.

"You still didn't' answer my question," Johanna inquired as few seconds later as we collected ourselves from our ordeal. The moment was over and we still had to find our way out of the forest. Gale was another matter to settle. I still couldn't believe that two people that I love in the world besides Katniss was here with me. I blinked my eyes a couple of times while my mind caught up to the moment.

"Um…Haymitch doesn't know that I…snuck into the bot."

"What?" I hollered in disbelief. It was bad enough when I realized that she was inside the bot but with this new information, I was flabbergasted. "Delly, how could you do that?" I could admit that I was relieved to see Johanna because I knew she would come after Katniss and me. I had expected it, but for Delly to act without letting Haymitch know. That stunned me. It was impulsive, crazy and dangerous considering she was with child. I was going to berate Haymitch for letting her accompany the bot. "You shouldn't have…I can't even…" Words failed me.

"Peeta," she sobbed, her upper lip quivered. "Please don't be angry with me." Tears formed in her eyes. 'Shit.' "I can understand Johanna being angry with me but you…you…I couldn't stay at the hotel any longer with you guys in danger."

"Delly, you're my best friend and I love you, but this," I shouted and gestured to the bot. "…was irresponsible and reckless. You could have hurt the baby." I looked into her big blues eyes. "Now you're stuck with us. There's mutt dogs running around rampant, Gale is out there and God knows know Rory run off to." Our situation worsened.

"I'm sorry, please don't yell at me," she bawled.

"Peeta, calm down," Katniss replied. My throat tightened at idea of her losing the baby.

"Delly, you shouldn't be risking the baby over me," I stated in frustration. What is it with these women who nonchalantly risk their lives for me? "How do you think I'll feel if anything happens to you and the baby?" Delly placed her head down. 'Damnit.' Delly was beside herself with guilt. It didn't help with me berating her.

I'm a sucker for crying women. Her tears tore at me. My need to comfort Delly overtook my anger. It was from her heart that made her act impulsively, and her pregnancy moods swings made her irrational. She sniffled as tears ran down her face.

"Hey, I'm sorry. Don't cry," I comforted her as I took her in my arms. She trembled and cried onto the front of my shirt, weeping and bawling her eyes out. She was a messy crier. "I'm mad because you put your self in danger because of me. You shouldn't have. You're going to be a mother soon…I don't know what I would do if something happened to you and Delly junior."

She hiccuped and laughed. "It could be a boy, Peeta," she sobbed into my chest.

"Hey, don't cry anymore."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. I'm just glad that you're not hurt and everyone is alive," Katniss stated. "Come on, let's get out of here." Without further ado, we grabbed supplies that weren't damaged from the crash.

"Hey Katniss, look." I pulled out a package from Haymitch from the interior of the bot. "I think this is for you." Now, let me tell you for as long as I've known Katniss, she had always been calm and collected, never allowing anyone to see her soft and girlish side. She only revealed that side of her to me and in the privacy of her bedroom. However, she gave a loud squeal of surprise and delight as she grabbed a bow and quiver from my hand.

"Oh my god, Peeta!" she exclaimed as she wrapped her strong arms around my neck squeezing me tight in her embrace. Johanna smiled and Delly laughed with joy at her exuberance.

"Haymitch sent this not me," I reminded her.

"I know. I'm so happy." She kissed me and I laughed. I hated the fact that Katniss felt unsafe and defenseless. She wasn't comfortable holding the knife in her hand, as she wasn't adept to fighting in hand-to-hand combat. I grew up with two older brothers and was a member of the wrestling team. I never felt comfortable with a bow and knives, but using it became a necessity especially if it meant to protect the people I love. We both knew our strengths and weakness.

"I've never seen any girl react like that before," Alec blurted. "I mean flowers, candy, jewelry and night out to dinner maybe, but a bow?"

"You don't know Katniss Everdeen," Johanna snickered. "Only two things in the world matter to her." She pointed to me. "Him and her bow."

Once we collected all the supplies that were salvageable, we left the area in a hurry. My knee acted up once the adrenaline wore off from the excitement and danger. Katniss led the way with me trailing behind her. I hid the soreness and ache from everyone. I didn't want to slow us down.

"I don't want you out of me sight or far from me, Peeta," she said. "Stick close to me no matter what." Delly walked besides Johanna while Alec at the rear. We were safe in numbers but it also made us a bigger target for Gale.

"I'm worried about Rory," I told my hunter girlfriend. She nodded her head. Gale may no longer exist in her life, but the rest of the Hawthorne meant something to her. She couldn't abandon them just because she and Gale were no longer friends.

"He knows how to survive in the woods," Katniss informed me. "Gale needed another hunting partner and Rory was the perfect age to learn. He'll be okay. We just need to get to him before Gale does."

"And he also has his Guardsmen training," Alec added.

"I know that, but you saw how he reacted when the mutt dogs attacked us," I said. "He panicked and ran." I couldn't blame. He didn't experienced what Johanna, Katniss and I lived through at the arena. However, Johanna had a difference of opinion.

"He's just like his brother," Johanna spat with derision. "Fucking cowards, the both of them." She voiced what we dared not to say or wanted to admit.

"I can't believe Rory ran out like that," Delly said. She was blunt but truthful. I winced at her comment.

"I do, those Hawthorne boys are nothing but a bunch of cowards," Johanna continued.

"He's just a kid, Johanna," I reminded her.

"We all were when we were reaped," she added. "You didn't run away in the arena. You fought along side Finnick, Katniss and me. Rory may still be a kid but he's in the Guardsmen trained to be a soldier carrying a rifle. He was trained for combat and look what he did the first chance he encountered danger. He ran."

"He's not like us; you, me, Katniss and Alec," I defended Rory. "He may have been trained, but it still doesn't prepare you for actual combat. He panicked." It's true I fought in the arena for my life but I had another motive. My motive was Katniss. I'd die for her and I would certainly kill for her too.

We took a bio and lunch break two hours later. Johanna was leading us back towards the tracks. She didn't signal Haymitch yet to retrieve us. We needed to make sure that we gained enough distance from Gale. Which was probably unlikely. I was certain he was tracking us. Gale was anything but stubborn and persistent.

"Once we reached the tracks, I'll signal Haymitch to let him know we're okay for now," she said. I was going to ask her about Gale but stopped myself. "We designated a rendezvous point once I found you two. We have another day until we reach it."

Katniss sat next to me as we ate the food Haymitch sent on the bot. I felt a sense of relief and comfort amongst my friends. "When we get home, Peeta, you have to make some Cheese Buns," Delly demanded. "Baby Cartwright really misses them." I smiled at her optimism.

"Sure, whatever 'Baby Cartwright' wants, Delly." I teased her. Johanna in turn teased her over her attire. It was wonderful to be with them again.

Katniss leaned over and whispered in my ear. "You and I have a date with a tub and a soft bed back in District 12."

"I look forward to it," I returned as I kissed her forehead. She grabbed my hand squeezing tight sending me the calm I needed. Two mutt dogfights in over 24 hours had me exhausted and petrified for everyone's safety. We had no idea how many were out there.

I was pleased that Johanna took over leading us out of the forest. For hours we had no contact with Gale and Rory. I started to get worried for him.

"I hope Rory's okay," I whispered to Katniss. She nodded head. Rory was an innocent bystander roped into his brother' insanity. He didn't deserve any heat or blame.

"Johanna, can we take a bio break?" Delly asked. To my amusement, we had stopped several times due to her 'condition.' It seemed the more water she drank, she more needed a pee break.

"Again?" Johanna blustered. Delly glared back at her, hands on her hips. "Okay, okay. We'll be right back." Each of us went with a partner whenever we needed a break. We couldn't afford to be ambushed by Gale. Of course, Katniss insisted she 'accompany' me to Johanna's amusement.

"He's my boyfriend. There is nothing he's done I don't know about." It was embarrassing. As Alec, Katniss and I waited, Rory appeared, he was dishevel and frightened pointing his rifle at us. There were tears in his eyes.

"Rory?" Katniss called out to him "What are you––"

"You need to leave my brother alone," he threatened us. "I won't let any of you kill him."

"Rory, I would never hurt your brother in any way." I tried to assure him.

"I don't believe you."

"Rory, put your rifle down," Alec demanded him. Alec was a seasoned soldier. He's quick on his feet and ready to fight. It was obvious in the way he reacted to Gale and the mutt dogs. How good of a shot he was, I wasn't certain? He was a decent baker and that was all I knew about him, but somehow I trusted him. He admired Katniss because he knew her as the MockingJay. She led a rebellion and he followed. As for Johanna, I knew he was interested in her. So I was concern with his pursuit of her. No one was good enough for her so I was weary of his intentions. But there was something about him I recognized in myself. He was kind, patience and thoughtful, someone that Johanna needed. Only time would tell if she would give him a chance. I warned him that if he hurt her not only would he be dealing with me, but that Katniss, Delly and Haymitch would come after him as well.

Katniss raised her hands in the air. Her bow and quiver rested on her back. "I promise you, Rory. I won't let anyone hurt him."

"Really?" She nodded her head. "Can I trust you to keep your word?"

"I swear Rory," she promised him.

"Hey, Hawthorne," Johanna appeared surprising him from behind. She hit his head with the end of rifle causing to land on the ground unconscious. Checking to make sure he was out, she leaned down and checked his pulse. "Out like a light. Thank god."

"You didn't have to do that, Johanna," Katniss threw at her, her voice hard.

"I'm not taking any chances with him," she returned as picked up Rory's rife and handed it to Alec. A look passed between them. She then removed handcuffs from her pack and locked it into Rory's hands.

"Listen, Katniss. Rory is unreliable and will likely help his 'brother' before he'll help Peeta," she explained. "My priority is Peeta. He…" She pointed at Rory. "…will think of family first…and that means Gale. No matter what he's done, he'll choose his brother over your boyfriend. Family is family, Katniss." She was right in her assessment as she checked his pockets. She found a small knife on his right ankle.

"Rory would never let Gale hurt Peeta or any of us," she defended him.

"You trust him to chose Peeta over Gale? He ran off leaving us to deal with the mutt dogs," Johanna sneered back. "Rory let Gale get away right after blowing us to bits."

"What are you talking about?" I asked. Something happened with between them. It was story I haven't heard yet.

"You can be mad all you want, Katniss. I think you should be thinking of Peeta's safety and not worrying about your ex-boyfriend's little brother. Where's your loyalty?" She was irritated and annoyed with Katniss.

"Johanna, you know that Gale was never my boyfriend," Katniss said in an exasperated tone. "And don't you ever question my loyalty to Peeta." I knew she hated being reminded of the mistakes and choices she made regarding Gale. Johanna just threw it on her face for good measure.

"Whatever," she responded.

"Hey, stop it," Delly interrupted them before they had a full-blown argument. Everyone was tired and uneasy. "We're in this together. Stop fighting with each other." My left leg ached and I needed sleep, but our day was far from over. "Peeta are you okay?"

Johanna, Delly and Katniss directed their attention to me. I stood on both legs but was favoring my left one. It was obvious that I was in pain. "Oh my god, did the two of you fail to see that Peeta is in pain or were you just too busy arguing?" She reached for me before I stumbled to the ground landing on my ass as I rubbed my upper thigh.

"Hey," Katniss screamed at Delly as she unbuckled my belt. "What the hell are you doing?"

"He's favoring his leg, Katniss. It must be hurting. I need to see his leg."

"I know that but that doesn't mean you have the right to be undressing him," my possessive girlfriend informed her.

"Oh for crying out loud, Katniss," Delly sighed in exasperation. "I'm his nurse. It's not like I haven't seen––"

"I'll do it," she grumbled under her breath. I lifted my hips off the ground as Katniss lowered my pants to reveal my stump.

"Shit, Peeta, your leg is swollen and red. Why didn't you say anything?" Delly flinched as she removed my prosthesis.

"Peeta?" Katniss cried out beside me. I'm stressed, exhausted and in pain that I didn't argue with Delly as she placed a pill in my mouth and I downed in it with water. The effects of the pills were instant as the pain on my leg lessened. However, it made me feel loopy as if I drank a bottle of Haymitch's favorite liquor. Johanna remained near Rory incase he woke up with Alec flanking her. I smiled at the two of them. They looked good together.

"Thanks, Belly Delly," I blurted, feeling sleepy and drunk at the same time. She giggled.

"Aw, Peeta, you haven't called me that since we were…8 years old," she guffawed. Johanna and Katniss snickered at my behavior. "He was always sensitive to morphine and alcohol. Johanna, do you remember on his birthday, he started to striptease us after we drank a whole bottle of Winter Solstice?" I watched as my girlfriend scowled at Delly. "That was a fun night."

The world around me was fuzzy. I reached out to Katniss needing her comfort as the pill worked its' magic. "How are you feeling," she asked me.

"Better." Meanwhile, Delly rubbed ointment on my leg soothing the swelling and pain around my stump. I sighed in relief. "You're the best nurse ever, Delly." Katniss replaced my leg and pants after she wrapped my stumt with the plants she picked. I felt uneasy with it off in the middle of the forest. I didn't want to be caught with my pants down so to speak.

For a few minutes I relaxed on the ground as the pill relieved the pain on my stump. Rory groaned as he woke up from the induced slumber he received from Johanna.

"What's going on?" he asked realizing his hands were cuffed and his rifle taken away from him.

"I'm placing you under arrest?" Johanna answered him. She was calm as she addressed him. This was the Johanna I knew, strong, hard and unyielding. She wasn't dressed in the Guardsmen's uniform but she held herself like she was born one. I was proud of her.

Rory's eyes grew wide. "What for?"

"For insubordination, abandoning your assignment and for threatening the life of a superior officer." She pointed to Alec. "When you volunteered, you were assigned to protect Peeta from your brother. You fail to do so twice. So as your commanding officers, I have the right to arrest you as I see fit."

"Katniss?" He sought for her help and assistance.

"I'm sorry Rory, but I can't help you." She knew better to involve herself with military politics.

"Gale is my brother, your best friend," he pleaded his case.

"And Peeta is my boyfriend. I will always choose him." The pills were strong causing me to feel sleepy. I had a hard time keeping my eyes open.

"Just close your eyes and rest, Peeta," Delly suggested. "We're not going anywhere."

Suddenly, the world around me turned bright and loud as trees around us exploded. The noise startled me. Bright lights and heat surrounded us. Katniss placed her body over mine covering me as debris, dirt and splinters of woods pelted us. I heard Delly scream as I realized that she too was hovered over me.

"Shit run for cover," Johanna yelled over the din of explosions. I tried to keep my eyes open as everything turned to chaos. I felt Katniss' breath as it brushed against my neck. It was harsh and hot. I wrapped my arm around her waist while she pressed herself on top of me. She trembled with fear. My last thoughts were of Katniss and everyone I loved. I couldn't help but close my eyes thinking this was not the way I wanted to die. We were being attacked and there wasn't a damn thing I could do as the world turned black around me.


AN: Thank you for reading this chapter. We're close to the ending. Maybe 2 -3 chapters left with a bonus chapter or epilogue. It depends how I re-edit and separate the rest of the story. Thanks again.