Chapter Eighty-Nine; Dark Threats

(Stephanie's POV)

Stephanie raced up the stairs, but before she had even made it halfway up the first flight, Haymitch had met her as he raced down them.

"What happened?" Haymitch demanded immediately.

"I really have to talk to you," Stephanie stressed desperately.

And really she wasn't exaggerating.

She truly did have a lot to tell Haymitch, to warn him, to confide in him, to trust him with.

Haymitch didn't wait a moment before he dragged her down the rest of the stairs in the direction Stephanie had been coming in.

Stephanie almost had to run to keep up with him as Haymitch shouldered the front doors of the apartment block open and they hurried out onto the pavement.

Stephanie was momentarily surprised to see the car they had arrived in already waiting for them. It must have only pulled up seconds after she had disappeared back into the apartment building, Stephanie considered.

Haymitch didn't waste a second in wrenching open the car door and nudging Stephanie inside.

Stephanie immediately clambered into the car, sliding across the cool, leather seats as Haymitch followed her.

As soon as the door closed and the car started to move away silently, Haymitch turned to her, stormy grey eyes blazing as he waited expectantly.

Stephanie looked pointedly towards the driver's seat with an arched brow.

Haymitch caught her meaning though as he sighed irascibly, glancing too in the driver's direction.

Haymitch trusted the driver's sympathies enough to trust him to get him and Stephanie to Sterlin's apartment and keep silent about it. But Haymitch had no idea what Stephanie was about to tell him and that he didn't trust the driver with it in the slightest.

The driver simply thought it fair that those tributes who were clearly less physically skilled, should be allowed to 'practice'. However that was as far as Haymitch was willing to test the young driver's loyalties.

Haymitch nodded grudgingly.

Stephanie sighed slightly in relief, though she seemed no less discomfited that she would have to wait to impart to Haymitch everything she wanted to tell him.

Stephanie placed her head on Haymitch's shoulder, smoothing one of her hands over Haymitch's clenched fists.

She could feel the tension in Haymitch's shoulders, could see the muscles tight in his jaw.

"Haymitch?" Stephanie reached up, brushing a feather-light kiss across his jaw.

Haymitch let out a measured breath as he made a conscious effort to release some of his tension enough to take Stephanie's hand in his, entwining their fingers together.

…

They arrived at the penthouses and Haymitch had the door open before the car had even stopped. Stephanie leapt out of the car after him as they made their way hurriedly up towards the familiar building, after Haymitch had exchanged a few hurried words with the driver.

The lift ride up was silent and after a quick run-through, with a huge heave of relief, they ascertained that the penthouse was empty and that Isa must still be out with Frenkin.

Stephanie collapsed exhausted onto the sofa as the hours of training and having fainted caught up with her after the adrenaline rush of her chat with Fas had worn off.

Haymitch dropped down on the sofa beside her, "Stephanie?"

Stephanie inhaled deeply as she turned to Haymitch.

"Last night – when I disappeared, I was following Slena," Stephanie began.

"Slena?" Haymitch repeated. "The District 4 girl; tall, dark-haired?"

Stephanie nodded in confirmation as she immediately saw the questions forming on Haymitch's lips, so she quickly spoke across him.

"Do you remember when we were in The Chandelier Rooms? It was just before the fight with Vir and Cron." Stephanie inhaled deeply as she tried to organise her thoughts. She still didn't completely understand what she had saw herself. "I saw Slena and Ficen arguing just before it…"

"Hold on sweetheart – Slena and Ficen?" Haymitch repeated incredulous.

"Yes, I have no idea what it was about. All I know is that seconds after Slena went over to Vir and…again I don't know what was said, but I definitely saw Slena point to Cron and, and then…well you saw as well as I did what happened; Vir attacked Cron for no reason!"

Haymitch balanced his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward, hands clasped and his gaze distant as he brooded over the recent information.

After a moment of silent brooding, Haymitch spoke. "That's not the end of it – is it?" Haymitch said knowingly.

Stephanie chewed nervously on her bottom lip, shaking her head in the negative as Haymitch gave her a side-long look.

"Like I said I was following Slena…"

Haymitch sighed tiredly and Stephanie swallowed as she witnessed just how much strain she was putting on Haymitch.

Maybe it would be better if he didn't know at all? Stephanie thought.

But when she paused, Haymitch leaned back, turning to Stephanie and giving her a long look that silently told her to continue.

Stephanie steeled her nerves as she reached for Haymitch's hand to provide some mutual comfort.

Haymitch took her hand, holding it tightly as Stephanie began speaking again.

"I overheard Slena speaking…well maybe speaking isn't the right word, but…" Stephanie shuddered and Haymitch's gaze immediately zeroed in on her. "Dess," Stephanie finished.

"Stephanie," Haymitch breathed, horror clouding his grey eyes as a cold dread settled in him.

Stephanie looked up at Haymitch through lowered lashes as tears misted over her eyes.

Haymitch gathered Stephanie to him then, wrapping her tightly in his embrace as he pressed kisses to her hair.

Stephanie's shoulders shuddered almost imperceptibly for a few moments as Haymitch held her tightly to himself.

"Stephanie – please tell me sweetheart," Haymitch pleaded quietly.

"He…" Another shudder. "He forced himself on me," Stephanie whispered.

Haymitch's breath hitched for a moment as his hold around her tightened until it was almost painful, but she clung just as desperately to his shoulders in return.

"Stephanie…" Haymitch breathed.

"No Haymitch, it's not as bad as you think." Stephanie pulled back abruptly, hastily brushing away her tears to hold his gaze for a few moments. "A few…vile kisses. Nothing more."

Haymitch looked at her sceptically.

"I swear Haymitch – that was it," Stephanie assured quietly, her whole body trembling.

Haymitch pulled her to him fiercely then and Stephanie could practically feel the rage coming off him in waves.

She clung to him tightly, thinking that even if President Snow were to walk in the door right then she would feel safe here in Haymitch's arms.

"He only did it so Fas could get some pictures for his magazine," Stephanie explained quietly.

However the effect on Haymitch was instantaneous.

He immediately held Stephanie out so he could meet her gaze with his own incredulous one, questions as clear as day on his expression.

Stephanie silenced him with a knowing look, before she recounted to Haymitch the conversation she had had with Fas in the car.

Haymitch had not been best pleased when he had learnt that she had willingly put herself in danger. But Stephanie had been so earnest about stressing how she was worried for her family or Haymitch, that he couldn't quite bring himself to tell her that if someone in the Capitol truly wanted Stephanie's family dead, or even him, there was nothing Stephanie could do about it.

"You can't trust Fas," Haymitch told her sternly.

Stephanie nodded a little grudgingly.

"Stephanie…I have known him for far longer than you," Haymitch warned.

Stephanie scowled lightly but relented.

"We mightn't be able to trust him, but I don't think he is working against us at least. He did warn me about…"

"About what? Who? Did Fas actually give any of these 'enemies' names, or just make vague metaphors concerning the Capitol?!" Haymitch snapped, his tone a lot harsher than intended.

Stephanie flinched, a trace of hurt flickering briefly in her eyes before her gaze hardened and she glared at Haymitch, extracting herself from his embrace.

Haymitch sighed heavily, running a weary hand over his face.

It just seemed indescribably cruel; the ultimate bitter twist of fate. First of all he would find the woman he loved as she was on her way to the Hunger Games and secondly that every attempt he made to help her was thwarted by others.

It was hard for Haymitch not to feel as though he had been punched in the gut everytime Stephanie told him of yet others who had some plot or plan against her.

For five years he had watched Seneca brutally butcher his tributes and not one person interfered; now it seemed that they all couldn't help but interfere!

Haymitch turned over the newest information in his mind; Dess – that piece of scum, had attacked Stephanie under Ficen's orders who had convinced Fas to take pictures to publish in his magazine to protect Seneca because…Haymitch exhaled as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

He should know by now that plots in the Capitol were far from simple.

But one other pertinent fact came to Haymitch then that he noticed Stephanie had omitted.

"What did Seneca want?" Haymitch asked her, spitting the Gamemaker's name like a curse.

Stephanie immediately tensed and she looked at Haymitch almost fearfully.

Haymitch waited patiently dreading the answer.

"He said he loves me."

"I'm going to kill him."