Thank you for the reviews! Just a little update. Hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 38

"What would you like to do today?" Merrick asks as he sits on the edge of my bed. He often asks me this on days when I confine myself to my room.

"I don't know." I quietly tell him as I stare at nothing in particular.

"It's nice out…finally starting to feel like spring. Maybe we could go into the woods." He suggestion lets me know he's desperate to reach me. I haven't been kind to him the past few days. It does sound enticing. It's been a while since I've been there and since it's a weekday, I won't have to worry about running into him.

"Ok." I say sitting up.

"Really?" he asks with an accomplished grin. I give him a look that tells him not to expect too much. His grin disappears. "I'll be downstairs." he says, leaving the room. I slowly prepare myself as I get ready. It's been a while since I've left this room. I wonder if the District I live in has changed since my own entrapment. When I'm ready, I meet him in the front hall. He's quiet as we walk out the back of my house and along the fence.

"I'm sorry." I apologize.

"What for?"

"I haven't been the most pleasant person…I know that."

"Yeah." he says, looking down as we walk. The silence continues until he breaks it. "Were you this bad after I left?"

"Worse." I say before ducking under the fence. He follows me and I hurry my pace to the woods.

"How did he help you get over me?" he asks after catching up to me. I sit on the hallowed tree that hides my gear and he takes the spot next to me.

"He was just there for me." I say as I look at my fumbling fingers. "He'd stop by after work, hold me, let me cry."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"We both knew it would come to that eventually. You'd left so many times before."

"Am I doing enough to help you?" he asks.

"Let's hunt." I say, ignoring his last question. I quickly collect my things and start for the clearing. Merrick follows. We cut through the clearing and when I'm near the edge of the clearing, I find that we are not alone. Gale is there, collecting game from his snares. I think about making a getaway but he discovers us. He drops his game and walks towards us.

"What are you doing here?" I ask in shock.

"Mines closed today. You brought him here?" he asks with disapproval.

"It was his suggestion."

"Yeah I'm sure it was." he huffs.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask taking a step towards him, my anger igniting.

"Do you know how many Peacekeepers would like to catch Katniss Everdeen out in the woods?"

"You think I'd turn her in?" Merrick asks him with a furrowed brow.

"Wouldn't put it past you. It would make you look very good."

"What did I ever do to you?" Merrick asks Gale with frustration. "And what makes you think you know me so well."

"I've never met a Peacekeeper that wasn't in it for himself. Doing whatever he could to help himself."

"I'm different." he says through gritted teeth.

"You take everything for yourselves." Gale says approaching him. Merrick brings me behind him, as if to protect me.

"I played fair." Merrick retorts.

"Katniss, can we have a minute?" Gale asks me, wanting to talk privately to Merrick. I nod, as I retreat. I don't wander too far in case I need to intervene. I see them exchanging words, both with lots of vigor. Gale takes the first swing and I instantly bolt towards them as they wrestle with one another.

"Stop!" I shout as I approach. They don't though. I try to break them up but I can't. Before I know it, I'm knocked to the ground, my head hitting the earth before totally blacking out.

When I come to, I feel myself being carried and a throbbing in my head. I look up to see Gale's worried face.

"Where's Merrick?"

"You hit your head on a rock. I need to get you back." is all he says. I have a feeling something's wrong.

"Where is he Gale?" Silence. "Put me down." I demand. He ignores me. I flail my body as I continue to ask him to release me. Eventually his grip loosens and I am freed from his arms.

"Katniss we need to get you back."

"Where is he?" I press.

"Right where you left him." he jeers. I shoot him a disapproving look before racing back to the clearing. I see Merrick lying on the ground, croaking in pain.

"Merrick!" I cry as slide to my knees. There's blood soaking through his shirt.

"Katniss." he faintly whispers, relieved to see me.

"What happened?" I ask stroking his face.

"His knife got me."

"What?" I ask in disbelief. He recounts the story of their fight and Gale stabbing him in the abdomen. When Gale finally realized that I wasn't ok, he stopped the fighting and fled with me. I find it hard to believe that Gale would use that type of violence on him. Sure, Gale liked to put up a fight when it's due but he's never stooped to such violence.

"We have to get you back." I say, trying not to panic. After tying his shirt around him to try to prevent more blood loss, I help him up. He's lets out a gut wrenching moan. "We'll go to my house. My mother will know what to do." I say. To be honest, I'm not sure how we're going to get back. It's difficult keeping him upright and my own dizziness isn't helping.

As we make our way through the woods, I can only hope that no one will see us once we are inside the district. It wouldn't fare well for me. It takes an eternity to get home. We collapse on the floor, unable to keep standing any longer.

"Mom!" I shout as I hover over him. "Mom help!" A few minutes later she is beside me, asking me what happened. I try to string together the details but it's hard to make sense. My brain is foggy. She tells me to lay down and I pass out, once again.

Sorry this is short and a little rushed. I promise not to leave you in suspense for too long.

Don't forget to review ;)