To Save Them All Chapter 23, a hunger games fanfic

Chapter 23 Struck Down

Katniss stood with Haymitch and Finnick as they waited for the tribute interviews to start. Haymitch nodded towards their seats before waving them off in search of their missing escort. The two remaining mentors shared an amused look.

"And they say I am oblivious" Katniss mused sharing a knowing look with her fellow mentor.

"They will have to admit it eventually. As will you" Finnick chuckled pulling her by the arms gently toward a waiting Mags.

"Finnick!"

"Shhh it's starting."

Panem's anthem began to play starting out low barely audible gradually increasing until it could burst the eardrums of everyone in the audience. Katniss instead of watching the tributes focused on the audience. She observed every laugh, the small fidgets almost all of it had a false edge to it. Everything happened collectively so few of them made comments independently. The parallels to District 13 were far too close to her liking.

"Disgusting isn't it" Haymitch voice echoed her thoughts perfectly.

"More than you know," Katniss looked at Haymitch with her usual defiant stare.

Haymitch shot her a grin as his attention turned toward the stage where their tributes were called. The stage was the same as always Katniss kept her eyes focused on her male tribute as he walked nervously onto the stage. He smiled softly into the crowd as Caesar shook the boys' hand. The crowd cooed at the boy as they sat down. Caesar grinned out into the see of people winking into the cameras as he started talking.

"So, Thomas how do you like Katniss Everdeen as a mentor?"

Haymitch and Finnick were almost visibly on edge in seconds. Katniss held her frustration at the three shared a dark look. Snow was trying to get a rise out of them, by focusing on his mentor not Thomas he will most likely loose sponsors simply because they would never hear something to endear him to them.

"She's wonderful sir."

"Cheeky" She muttered as the audience cooed over the young boy.

"The boy is smart" Finnick grinned at her obvious discomfort.

"Thomas tell us how you felt being reaped along with your sister?"

"Bastards" Katniss thought her hands curling into tight fists. Alex shifted into his seat his answer however struck the audience.

"Fearful but there isn't anyone else I'd rather go in with."

Her eyes met with her tributes and she found determination instead of fear or anger. She let go of a breath she did not know she was holding.

"Oh, how so?" Caesar sounded genuinely surprised. Katniss rolled her eyes as most tributes would be trying to pass their fear off with over the top confidence or nearly bawling. Not Thomas.

"Caesar my sister is the only person I will die for," Katniss almost sighed in exasperation as Haymitch muttered, "Brilliant."

The buzzer went off so the two on stage shook hands as the host had the viewer's cheer on. His sister walking in a brisk pace met up with him on stage pulling him into a tight hug. The crowd roared in pleasure. The energy her tributes gave off worried Katniss. It was this type of energy that Snow always felt the need to cut in the bud.

Usually in the most brutal way possible.

Instinctively Katniss knew something would go terrible wrong this year. There was a reason her memory of this year was blank. The gut feeling stirred harder as each day passed accumulating in the terror she felt watching the siblings. Haymitch wore a stern and as only Katniss could tell, worried, expression. Finnick grabbed her hand tightly shoving something into her hand. She already knew it was a piece of rope.

That night no one spoke at dinner. Effie sent the tributes straight to bed citing, "You both have a big day ahead!"

Katniss nodded giving them a small smile. As everyone left one by one she stayed. Ignoring the worried glances sent her way. In one hand was the piece of rope Finnick has given her. The rough material scratched her hands. Not that she even noticed that her hands had begun playing with the item. Her mind was far too busy trying to figure out what happened during this year's games.

Growling in frustration she silently went to check on her tributes. Both could be found in a single bed clinging to each other. The blanket curled around their feet. She could feel a hand over her shoulder, reaching out to grab the hand she pushed the intruder into the opposite wall. The haze left her eyes to find Haymitch against the wall.

"Skills still sharp I see" Haymitch groaned as Katniss pulled away slowly.

"You should know better Haymitch" She muttered annoyed at his horrible attempt of being trying to sneak around her. Haymitch rubbed his throat silently agreeing. No one should sneak-up on Katniss

Everdeen.

"Haymitch why are you here?"

He shot her a look, "You're acting stranger than usual. I was worried."

Haymitch only just had the decency to shrug at the hard glare he received. Katniss stayed silent for a moment motioning for him to follow. Mentor followed former tribute to the living room before finally speaking.

"Now what is going on?"

Her steel gaze almost made him regret speaking his thoughts out loud. Almost. "Haymitch we have word from thirteen" She muttered eyeing him behind a gaze of fury that frightened even him.

His eyes narrowed, "They backed out."

The brunette begrudgingly nodded, "Snow apparently reminded them of their deal. They say there is no way they could have the technology needed ready."

Silence ensued as Katniss watched Haymitch growl punching the wall nearest to him. She lifted her gaze toward the window. Without thirteen they were doomed.

"They don't believe I can be the icon they need" Katniss laughed at the irony of it all.

"Bullshit. They just want to do it on their terms. They will come to our door sooner or later" Haymitch vouched, the steel in his voice the only clue to the emotions raging inside. Without saying a word Katniss lifted herself off of the wall before turning toward her mentor.

"Goodnight Haymitch."

"Don't let Finnick bite Sweetheart."

"You both are disgusting," She muttered low as Haymitch just laughed her off.

XXX

Her tributes could be heard getting out of bed and dressed. Making her way to the table she found Haymitch already up and eating. Haymitch was clearly already in his Capitol persona just sans drink in hand. Effie was sniveling as they took their tributes away into hovercrafts waiting to dump them into the arena.

If there was one thing she hated about the games more than anything else, Katniss would without hesitation say the goodbyes. Her female tribute was trembling despite the façade she showed outwardly.

"Shh none of that you hear me? Don't cry" She whispered into her tributes ear bring her into a hug.

"But…"

"Remember your training. Do not go for the cornucopia they will try to trap you. It's the blood bath."

Their locked hands only separated when her tribute stepped onto the platform into the tube.

"Good luck" She whispered.

When she was gone Katniss walked out the door.

XXXXX

Upon reaching the computer room Katniss scanned it for familiar faces. She spotted Finnick immediately standing off to the side already in conversation. Mags was standing to his right smiling softly at her once charge. Haymitch was arguing with Johanna bickering next to the District 4 mentors.

"I see you two are as close as ever" Katniss made her presence known chuckling at the pair.

The two stopped bickering only to stare at her for a second. Johanna was the first to speak shrugging, "Your partner is an ass."

"And you just realized this?"

"I had hoped for a nice quiet boy that only smiled for cameras," Johanna went on deadpanned.

"Then you must be so disappointed."

"I have never been more disappointed in my life."

Haymitch shook his head, "How the hell are either of you two going to get married with attitudes like that?" His eyes widened slightly smiling at the girls, "Try those death glares on Odair."

XXXX

Waiting was the hardest part of being a mentor. The games had yet to begin yet the horrible feeling only strengthened. Something horrible was about to happen, something was terribly wrong. Well worse than the shit hole they were already apart of. Finnick sat by her side his hand on her thigh. Neither really paid it any mind. The pair was drawn together like a constant pull. It was rather primal Katniss had to muse, the need for some kind of comfort that only he could provide through a simple touch of the hand.

Katniss could ignore the usual commentary as the TV roared to life. All 24 tributes circled around the cornucopia. The victors remained silent as each watched the countdown clock appear.

The arena was a desert. The heat would kill most of them off if they were lucky enough to survive the bloodbath. Katniss knew this year would be different. The air in the room was thicker than usual.

"I don't like this. Something is wrong" Haymitch muttered softly to himself. Katniss barely paid him any mind as her eyes caught something in the corner of the screen move. Her stomach lurched as she begged for her mind to be playing tricks. It just had to be from the stress.

Finnick's grip on her leg tightened as they shared a grim look. She could see it in his eyes, he saw something. In the last two years the capitol has been snubbed, riots were beginning to act up again more than usual, Johanna almost had a co-victor…

Somehow Katniss knew Snow blamed her.

She was the liability that could not be squashed. Not yet anyway the crowds loved her. Both her and Finnick. Finnick who had stepped up to protect her from what he was forced to do.

"No" She thought.

The tributes had all gotten into their positions. The tension between them was so obvious to the victors.

Katniss held her breath as the clock struck down to five.

This was the 72nd Games, the games she could clearly not remember what happened. Katniss could practically taste the sponsor's glee at the horror the tributes would go through.

They didn't stand a chance as the clock struck so did the mutts. Nasty looking giant lizard mutts sprang from the shadows of the vast desert. Taking out half the tributes before they left their spots.

Screams echoed through as instead of fights breaking out between the tributes they stood together trying to fight off the mutts.

Her tributes were the first struck down.

XXX

Hot red rage was all she could see let alone feel. Katniss barely recognized Finnick attempting to hold her down causing her to fight against him. Kicking him somewhere along his foot and a good jab in the elbow had her escaping his hold. Storming out in her blind fury heading straight for the control room.

The guards she encountered were knocked out as she ran them down. Haymitch soon followed by Finnick pushed past them in feeble attempts to catch her. She raced to where the control room was located. The doors opening without complaint. Seneca Crane stood before her commanding his crew having yet to notice the brunette. He didn't even know she was there until she had him by the throat up against the wall.

His eyes widened in fear as he finally noticed their position.

"You bastard," Katniss seethed just as her boys caught up to her path of carnage.

"Miss Everdeen," He gasped.

"Shut up just shut up," She raged banging him with shocking force for her still rather small stature.

She could barely feel the hands that wrapped around her pulling her away from the Gamemaker. Katniss heard nothing but the rushing sound in her ears. Seneca Crane stood pressed against the wall wide eyed as a roar could be heard from the main screen.

Finnick, Haymitch and Katniss barely turned their head to see the remaining tributes stop fighting each other. In order to face the mutt charging at them together. The Girl on Fire looked on in horror as the mutt another lizard with a lion's head, gobbled up tribute after tribute.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Katniss seethed.

Finnick tightened his hold on her as the tribute total fell into the single digits.

Peacekeepers finally came and Finnick pulled Katniss away. Seneca Crane straightened his suit and began calling out orders as if he was not just assaulted.

"They…" Katniss began in a whisper only to be shushed by Finnick.

"Not now," He whispered harshly pulling her along until they reached the computer room.

It was only when the doors closed did he allow himself to let her go. The dark-haired girl pulled herself away screaming in frustration. Haymitch held up his hand to Johanna to stop her from stepping toward the enraged girl.

The victors watched with hallow eyes as she threw everything around. The commentary of the day's events being pushed aside. Katniss slowed down enough that her mentor was able to pull her towards his chest tucking her under his chin. Her shoulders shook hours later when the day finally ended.

Mags, Johanna, Anne and Finnick followed

District 12th victors up into the penthouse. Haymitch tucked her into her bed watching her let out small breaks she would only allow herself to sleep. The victors met up in the living room. They sat there quietly as the names of the fallen were played out as if they truly mattered to the capital. The rage Katniss unleashed was roaring back to life with them. The rage had yet to snap.

"Snow is not going to be happy," Finnick sighed.

"Pretty Boy is right we will have a lot of damage control to do."

Mags tugged on Finnick's arm muttering silently to him. He smiled softly, "The districts will be silent now at least for a while."

"Snow will be after her even more so now," Haymitch groaned as all the possible consequences ran through her mind.

Johanna snorted, "I bet Fin here will need to marry her now you know put her on a leash."

Their silence to her response was an answer in itself. Snow would be after blood, luckily this incident would be pushed under the rug. Katniss would still be punished how was the only question. Jo doubted a wedding would be enough for Snow. It would only be giving them borrowed time.

He would find another way to hurt them. Snow already made a deal, for that to work snow would make more demands. Johanna shuddered at the thought of what Snow had planned for them all.

"We cannot do anything else," Johanna whispered.

"We just need to buy more time."

Johanna glared at Haymitch, "Just what are you planning old man?"

He smirked, "You'll know it soon enough."

Her screech of annoyance was well worth the headache she will cause later.

XXX

Katniss work up face to face with a sleeping Finnick. Memories of the past few days flashed through her mind. She began to shake silently trying to get a hold of herself. It took a few minutes for her to realize warm arms had pulled her into his embrace.

"You stayed."

It was a statement not a question. Finnick stretched onto his back pulling her on top. He chuckled as she scowled down at him.

"You wouldn't want that scowl to be permanent now do we?"

Katniss dropped her scowl looking at him with questioning grey eyes. Neither said anything as the girl stoned her face as she felt something shift. Pulling herself up she kept a gun off her face as Finnick groaned.

'You are awfully sensitive."

"I'm a male darling, cannot say I am immune to pretty girls."

"And here I thought it was just me."

'It is just you" He muttered quietly.

Katniss looked down, "Finnick you can't mean that."

He pulled her chin down so she had to look straight at him. "Katniss Everdeen accept that you made a mistake yesterday. One that is going to require you be careful and let me help protect you. And do not care complain it is your actions that caused all of this."

Katniss stayed quiet for a moment her mind quickly going through the possible scenarios that could be thrown her way.

"One condition," She finally spoke.

He raised his eyebrow at her.

"You will not sacrifice your own life to save mine."

XXX

Katniss rejoined the other victors to find that this year's games would be coming to the end quicker than normal. Anne quickly pulled her to the spot between her and Finnick. Anne told her these were the final two tributes in the arena.

'This will not please Snow. I approve." Katniss thought with a little bit of mirth. Katniss noted the last tributes were the boys from one and four. Katniss spared a look toward Finnick. His warm hands were running through hair. His eyes set in determination constantly turned to his tribute. Neither tribute made a move.

As the tributes circled one another eyeing each other with a trained killer's precision. One's tribute made the first move, aiming low towards his opponents' stomach. Four's tribute sidestepped just in time raising his arm. Just as one stepped forward to regain his balance he was hit in the neck by a sharp elbow.

The tributes separated again as they attempted to quickly regain their breath. Katniss reached out holding Finnick's hand as Anne curled up against her in a ball. The tributes took continuous swings at one another both trying to wear the other out first. It was only One's lucky hit to the back with a knife that managed to hit a major organ that ended the battle. Finnick's tribute was just out of reach for a killing blow.

The sound of a canon flared as the 72nd Hunger Games came to a close. The victor's sat in silence as the Hovercraft collected their newest addition. It was only Finnick hand and Anne's body curled against her that stopped her from shutting down. Adrian Fletching was to be crowned as the latest victor. Katniss did not know what to think.

XXXXXX

Katniss stood with Finnick inside her room. Finnick sat on the edge constantly pulling on a piece of rope. Katniss knelt beside him laying her head on his knee. She smiled feeling his hand run through her hair.

"Thank you," he whispered.

The District 12 victor sighed, "Snow will be after my blood."

Finnick snorted, "No one said you thought things threw despite that. They deserved it."

They shared a smirk as Finnick pulled her up. He reached out of tug a piece of hair behind her ear.

"You know he'll want something."

Her grey eyes narrowed, "Already received an invitation."

"Want me to go with you?" His sea green eyes searched for signs of distress.

"It's okay. Go home."

"But…"

"Go home," Her voice left no room for argument. The bronze haired man shook his head kissing her cheek.

"See you soon Girl on Fire."

Once he was out of ear shot Katniss let out a sigh. She scanned her room, her single bag already packed. Taking a deep breath, she turned quickly ignoring Haymitch and Effie going straight toward President Snow's office once she hit the ground floor and into the limo awaiting her.

XXXX

The stench of roses almost made her vomit. Steeling herself for battle she waited until she heard his call. Turning the knob opened the door to find Snow leaning on his forearms sizing her up. Only he no longer scared her. He could kill her, but she already fought that war.

"President Snow," She bowed her head slightly.

"Ms. Everdeen I assure you know why…" He paused to take a longer look at her.

"My disagreement with Gamemaker Crane?" Katniss questioned, internally enjoying the disgruntled look he gave her.

"You are trouble Ms. Everdeen."

"I don't see how President Snow."

Snow paused starring at her with a cold murderous gaze. Katniss could practically feel the knife to her throat.

"We cannot have a repeat of this Ms. Everdeen may I suggest something to ensure your…ah… cooperation." She nearly growled but he continued on.

"With your outbursts the Districts have been restless. I think a union would sooth them don't you think?"

"I don't understand, Sir" Katniss growled out emotionlessly.

"A wedding Ms. Everdeen. Perhaps yours to Mr. Odair."

'You can't I'm only…"

"Yes, I can. You don't want to earn my displeasure. Your age means nothing to me, but perhaps I'm being too hasty, you will hear from me soon."

Katniss knew when she was dismissed. She did not expect Finnick to be waiting or her in her bedroom. Neither said anything as she was pulled into his arms. Tears fell from her eyes as Finnick kissed the tip of her head. Katniss did not know what came over her. She was not betraying anyone; the timeline has changed after all. She never did marry Peeta, Finnick never fell for Anne. Perhaps it was being forced into another relationship?

Going through the games again must be affecting her more than she had thought it would. Either way she did not fight the urge that shot through her body. She lifted her head just as Finnick was about to say something her lips met his. Kissing Finnick Odair was pleasurable, it was the one thing Katniss thought she would never want to do. She used all of her pent-up energy from all the hurt and anger stored inside pushing it into action.

She let out a small gasp as she felt his hands ride up her sides. Nimble fingers caressed her sides gripping her waist. Soon the brunette was flush against him feeling his chest against hers as his hands lowered to her bottom. His mouth opened immediately responding to her kiss.

All she could feel was fire as it coursed through her body. It fueled her as she felt his tongue gently prod her. Her hands traveled down his arms then back up to grasp the back of his neck pulling him closer if that was even possible. Memories of warmth enveloped her as she felt his lips along her neck, Katniss shut her eyes shivering at his touch.

She nearly purred feeling his hands wander up to squeeze her hips. She deepened the kiss as he lowered her to the mattress. All too soon he pulled away kissing her forehead as he lay over her keeping all his weight onto his arms. She didn't dare look at him as he rolled over pulling her to him wrapping his arms around her waist. They stayed silent with Finnick running his hand through the loose strands' hair, tucking her into him laying her head under his chin. Neither one of them spoke, nothing needed to be said.

XXX

It was morning by the time Katniss found herself once again aware of the world. Her eyes scanned Finnick's chest as it raised itself with every breath. She would never admit it but having Finnick by her side as the aftermath of yesterday trickled back into thoughts was more helpful than she once would have thought.

It was Finnick's change of breath that signaled his alertness rather than the question that followed. "Are we going to discuss what happened yesterday? Or are we going with denial."

"Snow threatened to order our arranged marriage, to help soothe the republic."

"And here we were hoping he would wait until you had at least reached your majority" He chuckled darkly pulling her closer to avoid Katniss pulling away.

"Finnick if you don't…"

"Katniss Everdeen, we will figure this out. I'm not going to let you get married off to just anyone. But Snow is after blood, he does not like having to keep replacing his Gamemaker." Finnick told her.

Katniss was quiet for a moment. Green eyes met grey as seconds passed between the two.

"Do you think an exclusive look into the life of a victor would buy us some time?"