Warnings: Swearing.

I don't own anything.

Prim's POV

I was so scared when I saw the blonde boy lying still in the grass on the other side of the road yesterday, I feared he actually might be dead.

But he was breathing. So I took as many blankets as I could find, I grabbed enough firewood, used matches like Katniss had shown me before the Games to light a fire, and once I was sure he wouldn't freeze, I watched him. It was strange to say the least, because every time mom and I had seen the boy on TV, he had looked scary and angry. But as he slept there in the grass, he didn't look angry. He just looked like a boy.

I went back to being worried when he began shaking. I didn't know what to do at first, I didn't even know what was happening. Was he having a nightmare? Katniss always screams and cries when she has one, so I hadn't seen this behavior before. But he began calling out in his sleep, pleading, for a girl to be saved, and something in his words just told me that it was about my sister. As he was crying, he looked so lost it was hard to not forget that he is eighteen. At that moment he was really what you would define as a man-shaped boy. And then he confirmed that his nightmare was about Katniss, and I knew that he couldn't be evil. I saw through him, through his shield that I now know he always puts up. He is trying to appear big, strong, angry and aggressive, but deep inside he is small, uncertain, sad and lonely. So I hugged him, because hugs always help when you're sad, and I told him I would be his friend.

I think he was embarrassed, as he told me to go home, but I could see that he was silently moved by what I had said. I left him a bit reluctantly, afraid that he wasn't fully awake and that he would collapse again, but to my relief I saw him standing up and walking to his home.

I have decided to not tell Katniss. I don't want to betray Cato's trust. He'll tell her when he thinks the time is right.

Katniss's POV

It's been three days since my visit to Madge. I haven't been out since, and yet Cato is watching my house like a hawk. Every time I look out of the window he's there, doing whatever, but always with his gaze fixed in my direction.

Today I am going to the woods with Gale for the first time since I came back from the Games. It's exactly what I need right now, to relieve some stress by hunting game, but more importantly to finally have someone to throw my thoughts at.

I take my father's jacket and tell my mother that I'll be back later, and I prepare to move to the Hawthornes. A voice in the back of my head is telling me I'm forgetting something. I find out the hard way what it is.

''Where are you going?'' Cato's deep voice calls from behind me.

I turn around. ''Somewhere where you''—I point my finger at him—''are not needed nor wanted. We clear?''

Cato smirks and walks up to me. "Hate to break it to you, Firegirl, but I'm not letting you out of my sight.''

I sigh. "I mean at this point I know you well enough to know you won't stop. If anything, four days ago was more than enough proof. Just... why?"

Cato shrugs. "You know why. But I'm following you regardless, so wherever you're going, lead the way."

I groan and depart for the Hawthornes. This brute is so infuriating. Seriously, what is he afraid of? The most danger that we could get in is if a mountain lion or a pack of wolves were to show up, but that has happened only three times before in my life. And even then we can just climb in a tree and be fine.

"You stay far back. I want to talk with Gale," I instruct Cato.

"That guy? Whatever."

I'm too annoyed to try to get any conversation going along the way. We arrive at Gale's house and Gale appears to already be waiting.

''What is he doing here?'' he spits with venom.

I throw my hands in the air in defeat. ''I don't know, Gale. But I do know that he's not leaving, so you might as well just accept it. I ordered him to keep his distance though,'' I say everything as though Cato isn't even here, since I'm kind of done with him.

Gale glares at Cato, who answers it with a glare of his own. I roll my eyes. With Cato already acting like he owns me, the last thing I need is for Gale to do the same. ''Shall we go then?'' I direct at Gale.

We finally get going. Thankfully Cato keeps some space between us, although he does come up when we cross the fence.

"So you did this like every day before the games?" he asks with curiosity as I fish my bow out of the log.

"None of your business," Gale fires from my right.

I keep my answer simple to avoid further tension. "Yes."

Cato catches the not now, shut up tone in my voice and backs off.

When there's a comfortable space between him and Gale and me, does Gale ask a question. "How are you feeling Katniss?"

I notice how he doesn't call me Katnip. This talk will be serious. "I'm just trying to rest. To not think about Peeta and the games."

Gale says nothing in return, but I can sense that he wants something. "What?"

"What?" Gale says harshly. "Am I going to get an explanation on what happened with Mellark?"

So that's what is bothering him. "Haymitch told us to do that. It was all for the cameras," I try to explain.

Gale is not satisfied with my answer. "Oh? So those kisses were all 'for the cameras'?"

"We needed sponsors, Gale! What is your problem?" I shoot into defense.

"Please tell me you didn't love him," Gale feigns disappointment, but I pick up an edge of fear.

"I-I... What does it even matter? Peeta is dead now," I say quietly. And here I thought talking with Gale would be relieving.

Gale changes his angle. "Maybe that doesn't matter. But you've changed, you're no longer the same."

"Of course I'm different. I went through the Hunger Games. What do you expect?" I exclaim in frustration.

Gale turns to me. "Why can't you go back to before you went to the Capitol? You won. You got out. Forget about the Games."

I sigh. "I can't, Gale. I'm sorry if I'm not how you want me to be."

Gale nods bitterly. "No, it's fine. I just thought you'd be happier to see me."

He runs off before I can contradict him. I don't understand what just happened, but it feels like Gale slapped me across the face. Why is he so upset with me? Did that kiss with Peeta really hurt him that much? But, again, why?

Cato comes up beside me. He doesn't say anything, which I appreciate.

"I don't understand," I complain aloud. "He says he wants me to be like I was before the Games. What does that even mean?" I don't get it. I'm still me, despite everything that happened in the last month.

"Why is he like that?" I change my attention to Cato.

Cato scratches the back of his neck. "You shouldn't ask me. I'm not exactly an expert on this thing, as you know."

I decide to drop the subject. "The great, almighty Cato from district two admitting he's not good at something? Unheard of," I chuckle.

"Don't get used to it, Firegirl." A cocky smirk appears on his face. "But can you repeat that first part? About me being almighty and stuff?"

I punch his arm, but immediately I'm worried that he takes it as a sign of aggression, so I give him a teasing smile and say, "How about no?"

Cato's eyes sparkle with mischief. Before I have time to react, he catches me and hauls me over his massive shoulder. A high-pitched squeal escapes my throat, causing him to laugh, while I kick and scream uselessly.

''Tell me I'm almighty,'' Cato demands.

Even though he can't see it, I cross my arms in defiance. ''Never!''

Cato lays me down on the ground and slowly approaches me. ''Are you ticklish?'' he asks dangerously.

How I wish I could lie. ''No...?"

Cato smirks devilishly. He pounces on top of me and begins tickling my side mercilessly. I squeal and cry and scream, but he is too strong.

He has his eyes locked on mine and they are filled with childish joy. ''One last chance. Tell me I'm amazing. Tell me... tell… me...''

All of a sudden he stands up and turns away, still lightly panting. I'm beyond confused. One moment he's playing around and the other he's not? ''Cato?''

Cato keeps his back facing me. ''No.''

'No'? What does 'No' mean? 'No', I don't want to talk? 'No', I want to go home? ''Cato, is something wrong?'' I ask worriedly.

He looks at me over his shoulder. ''Yes. I mean no. You-you can't do anything about it."

I want to know what is going on. ''Is it something I did?''

''No,'' Cato says without hesitation. ''It's me. I..." He shakes his head. "Please stop, I don't want to talk about it.''

I'm now back on my feet as well. I go for his hand. ''Maybe it helps if you share it with me. Like we said we would, right?''

Cato immeadiately pulls back his hand, as if burned by my touch. ''Don't touch me,'' he hisses.

I'm convinced something is very wrong now, so I don't budge. ''Cato, let me help you."

''Shut. Up,'' he is starting to look nauseous.

Apparently he decided that walking away would help his problem, but I won't let him escape before I know what is going on. I make another grab for his hand. ''Tell me what is happening right now,'' I sound slightly desperate.

Cato ignores me. I try to drag him back, aware that I'm playing with fire, poking at a nest of angry tracker-jackers that is about to explode.

One more tug and Cato can't take it anymore. He puts his hands on my sides and shoves me into a tree. ''YOU DIED, OKAY?'' he roars into my face, spit flying out of his mouth.

As quickly as his outburst came, does it disappear. All anger drains from his expression as he releases me and stumbles back.

I'm made silent, but I can see the internal conflict going on within Cato, so I moved to comfort him.

''You,'' he whispers when I take his large hand. ''And sometimes your sister. Every time. Every night.'' He lets his head hang.

I wrap my arms around his waist. He is surprised but he doesn't push me back. ''I never had nightmares before, but now they won't leave me alone. Every time you die in the most horrific way, and when I see you here I can't think of anything else. It's just too much.''

Now I understand it all. Why he is so protective of me. Why he is always so on edge. And why he is afraid of getting close to me. Why he was so scared of staying with me when I had those nightmares.

''The things I have done-am doing for you... You reduce me to a mess," he says in a defeated manner.

I need to tilt my head back really far to look Cato in the eyes, with how much taller he is. ''I don't mean for you to feel like this. I'm only trying to help.''

Cato looks at me with frustration. ''Exactly. For some reason you bother to care about me. But that doesn't make sense. I have only been a pain towards you. I tried to kill you for fuck's sake.''

I stiffen at that. "You did, but you aren't trying to kill me now. And you saved me as well. At the party in the Capitol. Maybe it wasn't lifesaving, but still."

Cato shakes his head. "That was for selfish reasons. And even then it doesn't explain why you are so... nice... to me."

I decide to tell him the truth, one that I've accepted myself for some time now. "It's... I have done things in the arena that can't be condoned. The two of us got out, but if the Games weren't decided on strength or survival, it's Rue that should have won. Or Peeta. But that's not what happened, and now I'm here living with the guilt behind my own actions. I just want the onething that I still have from the Games to be something good. If I succeed with that, then maybe, just maybe, I can forgive myself."

Cato's voice rumbles in his chest. "And that thing is me?"

I nod. "I believe the boy underneath all the career brainwashing can be a good person. I just need you to believe that too."

Cato shifts uncomfortably. "You talk like I'm... I don't know... handicapped or incapable or something."

I release him and take his larger hand into mine. "It's not your fault. It's what they did to you in your academy," I say. I tug at his hand. "We should go back."

Cato follows me without saying anything. It's silent for a while longer.

Finally Cato breaks it. "I-I think there's a chance that you might be right. It's apparent that the academy has been untruthful before. About my victory, which was supposed to mean the world. Who is to say that that was the only lie?"

My heart makes a small leap. I'm about to say something positive when I fall completely still, gesturing to Cato to stop walking.

Something is wrong. It's too quiet. The birds have stopped chirping, and all that's left to be heard is the soft rattling of the leaves in the wind.

Then we hear it. The unmistakable howl of a wolf. Cato sends me a worried glance.

"Cato, I hope you practiced climbing."

He laughs nervously. "I haven't really had the time."

We don't need to say it. We both run like hell.

The sounds of twigs snapping and leaves crunching around us can only mean we're being chased.

We get to a clearing that I know isn't far from the fence, but the pack has us surrounded. I look behind us and see three hungry wolves baring their teeth. Out of the trees in front of us jump an additional three, the biggest one, presumably the leader, in the middle. I count six more to our sides.

We're trapped.

"Twelve," Cato hisses. "Bow."

It scares me that I hadn't thought of my bow myself. I'm always alert when it comes to these kind of things. The fact that I'm not now is worrying. I take my bow and knock an arrow, pointing it at the wolves to my right, with Cato facing the ones to the left with his sword.

"When you're ready," Cato whispers.

I smile a little. "Just like the Games."

One of the wolves takes a step. It's all it takes for me to release my arrow. It hits its mark with deadly precision, the animal dropping to the ground with a whimper. Hell breaks loose right after. The wolves begin charging us one after the other. Within seconds I take down two more, and the sounds of the slashing of Cato's sword followed by tortured howls signal similar success on his side.

I look behind me and see that the other wolves are getting dangerously close. I prepare another arrow, but when I look the nearest wolf in the eye I'm suddenly paralyzed. My mind is no longer focused on shooting. All I hear is Peeta's screams.

I vaguely hear Cato's panicked voice asking me what I'm doing. The wolf lunges for me, but I'm shoved out of the way and instead of finding my throat, the beast bites into the blade of Cato's sword.

The remaining wolves turn their attention to Cato. I'm both in awe and in terror at how the boy in front of me slaughters each of them with such brutality and ferocity. At this moment, between Cato and the wolves, I can't tell which of them is more animalistic.

The fight is almost over when the pack leader joins in. He manages to claw at Cato's side, causing Cato to release an angry growl. The large wolf steps back a distance, barking aggressively, while Cato spits at the ground before him.

As if they agreed to, they charge at each other, seemingly to the death.

It's the last thing I see before I black out.

I regain consciousness, but I'm still disoriented. The last thing I remember was the wolves, and Cato, and...

I open my eyes slowly. I'm in my bed, my bed in Cato's house. He probably carried me home. No, he must've, since he's sitting at my side.

"Cato?"

Cato smirks lazily. "I gotcha, Firegirl."

"The wolves..."

He shakes his head. "The last ones fled after I killed their leader."

Cato cups my cheek with one of his big hands. "What happened there, Twelve? You went numb."

I begin to cry. "It's just... the Games... the cornucopia... the mutts... Peeta..."

Cato helps me up and takes me in his arms. "I'm sorry," he whispers.

"Why?" I ask into his chest. "You saved me."

"I'm sorry for what I did to your district partner," Cato says.

"You wanted to win," I protest.

"For the wrong reason," he insists.

I don't have a response to that, so neither of us talks for some time.

Cato gently lays me back on the mattress. "You should rest. You can eat when you wake up."

I pull him down with me. "Don't leave," I plead.

"Okay, I won't," he answers.

I relax and close my eyes. Just before I fall asleep I feel Cato releasing me and moving away. I can't help but feel hurt. I hoped we'd be over this by now. Nevertheless I enter a calm slumber.

I briefly wake to find that, to my surprise, Cato didn't actually leave. He had grabbed a chair and now he's sitting on it asleep against the wall next to me. It amazes me how young and innocent he looks this way. You could almost be forgiven for thinking of him as just another, perhaps slightly oversized, teenage boy. Almost.

I don't know how I feel about him. He opened up massively by telling me of his nightmares, and the kind and caring Cato that I now know can exist is definitely a good person. But still, the brute he seems to effortlessly switch over to at times, with Peeta's brother when we arrived back in twelve, and only hours ago with those wolves, that Cato scares me. Though had it not been for that second Cato, it could have ended a lot worse for me this afternoon. I'm left confused and clueless.

I do know one thing. He has wormed himself on my list of people that I care about, and if the time comes, I will do anything within my power to help him.

An: Okay, that's chapter nine.

Some insight on where I think Cato and Katniss are at this point in the story:

Cato is practically in love with Katniss already. He had never really received any form of affection before. Because of this, for him nothing feels better when Katniss does something genuine, no matter how small, and he wants more of it. It's kinda sad how he is so actively seeking affection, like a child seeking its parent's. But through this he came to know the Girl on Fire as a person, and from there it didn't take much for him to start loving her.

For Katniss it's a bit more complicated. She is subconsciously on a level not far from where Cato is, but with the trauma of Peeta still fresh she isn't really thinking about it much. With Gale, she never really considered him as anything other than a brother, but although Cato fits a similar image with how protective he is, the simple physical attraction Katniss has for him puts all that aside. And she understands him, can relate to him, about the Games and the Capitol. Important is also how Cato to her is like an anchor, a strong, independent force that she can rely on to be consistent. It will still take two to three more chapters for Katniss to realise her feelings for Cato.

Sorry to those who think I'm doing Gale dirty.

For now I hope you enjoy this chapter!(and please consider reviewing)