Disclaimer: If I owned it, I would probably be living in a massive house, next to an abandoned beach... unfortunately, I don't.

Chapter 15

Questions

I found myself, once again, staring at a wall. This wall was in the hospital though, rather than the bunker. But still. I seemed to be staring at walls a lot.

I replay what had happened in my head.

Gale reached out, and fastened his hands around Peeta's throat. I screamed, and ran forward to help Peeta prise Gale hands from his neck, but to no avail. I consider whacking Gale over the head, but I don't want to hurt him when he is already in such a terrible state. I yell to the doctors, and they search for a sedative. But they are being to slow. Disregarding my previous thoughts about not hurting Gale in my panic to help Peeta, I curl my hand into a fist and swing at Gale's head, knocking him out. But Gale's hands are still at Peeta's throat. With the help of Haymitch, who had seen what was happening through the glass, we managed to get Peeta free, but not before he had already passed out.

Why was this happening? Why had Gale tried to kill Peeta?

I had heard Haymitch and Plutarch talking, but I hadn't really been paying attention. All I heard was the word 'Hijacked', but I have no idea what it means. But I'm too worried to try and figure out what that means. Way too worried.

But I'm not worried about Gale.

I'm worried about Peeta.

And that scares me. Shouldn't I be more worried about the person that I have known my entire life than I am about some-one that I have only known for just over a year? And I hated them for about six months of that year. Shouldn't I be more worried about the person that will probably never be the same again, rather than the person that I know is okay?

Yeah, a doctor came out about an hour ago to tell me that Peeta's fine. He's got some bruising, and his carotid artery, windpipe and oesophagus are quite sore, but he's going to be perfectly fine. He won't even lose his voice.

So why am I more worried about Peeta than Gale?

Gale's been hijacked. As I said before, I don't know what that means, but if Gale tried to kill Peeta, then I know it's bad. I know Gale and Peeta were never truely friends – mainly thanks to me – but Gale would never hurt him. He knows what Peeta means to me. He's admitted, on several occasions, that Peeta's a good guy. The only reason Gale ever had to even slightly dislike him was because he had the potential to steal me away; and even that wasn't really his fault. Gale wasn't one to cause harm unnecessarily.

And that brings me back to my question; clearly, something terrible has happened to Gale. I know Peeta is going to be perfectly fine. So why, why do I want to run into that room and wrap Peeta in my arms when Gale is so clearly in a worse state?

I guess it might have something to do with the fact that Gale did try to kill Peeta. That's not something I'll be able to forget easily. But I know that wasn't Gale acting; it was whatever the Capitol has turned him into.

I shuddered.

Whatever the Capitol has turned him into.

Maybe that's what hijacking is; do they take a person, and twist their mind until they become something completely different? If so, what have they turned him into? Where did Gale go?

I was saved from these terrible thoughts when a doctor came out and told me I could see Peeta. I jumped up and ran into the room, practically throwing myself at him. I quickly got off him, though, when I remembered that he was hurt.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Are you all right? No, stupid question. How do you feel? Do you want me to-"

"Whoa, Katniss, calm down," croaked Peeta, reaching up and placing his hands on my shoulders. "I'm fine. I just nodded, not trusting my voice anymore. I just covered my face with my hands. "Katniss, what's wrong? It's Gale, isn't it?"

I just nodded again. Peeta took his hands off my shoulders and put them on my waist, pulling me onto the bed with him. I curled up next to him, and, as he buried hi face in my hair, suddenly found myself feeling slightly better.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine," whispered Peeta, his voice still hoarse.

"How? I don't even know what's wrong with him!"

"It'll be okay," he said, trying to get me to calm down.

"How?" I asked again. "He tried to kill you Peeta! How is that in any way okay?"

"Well, look on the bright side: at least he didn't try to kill you."

I was about to say 'I'd rather he had,' but stopped myself just in time. I really didn't need to be blurting out stuff like that. Instead, I said;

"How would that be any better?"

"Because at least you can still spend time with him. All we have to do is make sure I don't go anywhere near him. You still can."

"He probably hates me though."

"Katniss, I don't think he could ever hate you, even if he tried."

"Well, I never thought he would ever try to kill you, but that just got proved wrong!" Peeta didn't respond, so I looked up at him. His lips were pressed together, and his eyes distant, like he was thinking hard.

"But that's me, Katniss." He finally settled on saying. "If I were in his position, I would hate me too. But it isn't me we were talking about; we were talking about you."

"Why would you hate you if you were in his position?" I whispered. Peeta sighed, and looked into my eyes.

"Well, look at it from his perspective for a minute. He's been your best friend for years, and when you were reaped, he probably thought you weren't going to come back. I'm sure he believed you had a chance – anyone could see you did – but if I think, deep down, he believed you would die. But, you survived. He expected everything to return to normal, or as normal is it could get with you being a Victor, but it didn't. Because I was there. Sure, you still preferred him over me, you were still his best friend." I made a move to speak, to tell him that I didn't prefer anyone over anyone, that I just loved them in different ways, but Peeta gave me a look that said 'let me finish', so I held my voice. "Anyway, he would have told himself that you didn't love me, that it was all for show, but he would have begun to have doubts nagging the back of his mind. Then, on the Victory Tour, you agreed to marry me. Sure, it was for show, but that didn't change the fact that I was going to marry you. Then, in the Quell, we got even closer; and this time he would have known that you were not going to go back for certain. Then, you trying to die for me would have been the last straw. Just think about it Katniss; he has every right to hate me. The Capitol wouldn't have had to change him much."

As I thought about this, I realized that Peeta was right. If you looked at it that way, this whole scenario would have fallen entirely on top of Gale. I was rather amazed that he hadn't tried to kill Peeta before today.

And if the Capitol hadn't changed him much…

"That means you can still see him," finished Peeta. "He only hates me."

I groaned and buried my face back into Peeta's shoulder. He froze in shock for a second, then hesitantly started to rub my back.

"Katniss?" A doctor was at the door, staring at us with wide eyes.

"Yes?" I asked, not moving away from Peeta.

"We have news about Gale Hawthorne. Do you want to hear it?"

I froze, then nodded slightly, moving a little so that I was still curled up against Peeta, but in a slightly more respectable and upright fashion, facing the doctor.

"Mr. Hawthorne has many bruises and shows evidence of… physical torture," he said warily, watching my reaction. I realized that they probably expected me to brake down or something. "You broke his jaw when aiding Peeta, but this will heal soon. It was only a small fracture," he said. Peeta was staring at me curiously, probably from finding out that I had injured Gale in order to help him. I nodded again, silently asking the doctor to continue. "All of his physical injuries should heal in a matter of weeks," he said, smiling slightly.

I frowned.

"Physical injuries?"

The doctor's smile faltered, and he looked at me sadly.

"I'm afraid to tell you that Mr. Hawthorne has been hijacked. This is a new technique created by the Capitol, and is used rarely; however, thanks to our spies, we know rather a lot about the subject."

"Go on," I whispered, half excited to finally get to understand what had happened to Gale, half not wanting to know.

"What they do is inject the victim with tracker jacker venom, then show them images of themselves with other people. You have both suffered the effects of tracker jacker venom?" Peeta and I winced. The doctor continued, taking this a confirmation. "You know it make everything around you seem more sinister. Well, this is what the victim sees: they are shown videos of memories, or of other people; but they see that person doing something horrible." The doctor paused, glancing at me, unsure of how to continue.

"So, what your saying," said Peeta, "Is that the Capitol must have inject him with tracker jacker venom, then showed him images of me, making him think that I want to kill him."

"Basically, yes," said the doctor, with another wary glance at me. He took a step back when he saw my expression.

"How dare they," I growled. "How dare they take my friend and turn him into a monster! How dare they try to make him kill Peeta! Snow will pay for this. You mark my words, he will pay." The doctor ran out, and Peeta stayed silent; he just held me, letting me fume.

~~0~~

"So, remind me why we have to be here again?" Finnick asked.

"Because Coin said so." Replied Peeta.

"Ah."

I snorted, and Peeta rolled his eyes.

"So, any idea why we're here?"

I groaned.

"Finnick, I thought we'd covered this. Coin said so."

"Yes I know she did, my dear Mockingjay, but what I meant was, why did she say so?"

"Because she wanted us to come here," I said, matching his tone.

"Hey! I thought you were supposed to be on my side!" Finnick said to Peeta, who was trying to stifle his laughter. He turned back to me. "But why did she want us to come here?"

"Ah, now we're getting some-where."

"Shut it, birdie, just 'cause you're important now, doesn't mean I can't tickle you."

"When was I ever not important?" I asked, grinning. "Don't answer that. Anyway, how can you be sure that I'm ticklish?"

"I, erm, that is-"

I burst out laughing, ignoring the other people in the room that were giving me odd looks. I hadn't laughed properly for ages.

"Ha! Look at that – the amazing Finnick Odair, speechless!"

"I am not speechless, my dear; I was merely saving you from embarrassment in front of your so-called boyfriend," said Finnick, winking.

Peeta's laughter broke through his best efforts just as Coin walked through the door.

"When you're quite done," she said, sending a menacing glare in our direction. The three of us forced our grins off our faces, and paid attention. Well, almost.

"Great, now I can find out why we're here," whispered Finnick in my ear. I snorted, earning another glare from Coin.

"I have called you all here because a situation has arisen in District One." Announced Coin. The entire room filled with tension, everybody expecting the worst. However, Coin did the unexpected, and broke into a grin. We all stared at her with wide eyes; we'd hardly even seen her smile before! "District One has rebelled and joined our cause!"

No-body moved, expecting Coin to yell out 'just kidding!', for no matter how out of character it would've been, it was less unlikely than the fact that District One, the District second most devoted to the Capitol, would join our cause. When she didn't however, her words sunk in. District One was with us. District One!

The room suddenly filled with applause and congratulations. Coin allowed this to go on for about a minute, then called us back into order.

"So, that leaves only District Two standing between us and the Capitol. As I am sure you know, the Capitol depends on the Districts for everything; food, money, coal, jewelery. It can't survive without the Districts. The only District that is now supplying the Capitol is Two. It is the most guarded and the strongest of the Districts, but it would be much easier to take down than the Capitol. So, we are going to attack District Two, and either get them to join us, or destroy and capture them. This way, the Capitol will have nothing supporting it, and could even fall down by itself." Murmuring and nodding filled the room, as people agreed that this was the best cause of action; however risky for the people involved. "Now, here is the general structure of District Two," said Coin, as she began to lie down the plan.

~~0~~

I groaned and sat up, unable to sleep.

Another mission.

This one was promising to be even worse than the one in Eight, because, this time, I would be fighting.

I know I fought last time, but was really only a little, and then I wasn't supposed to fight. Most people hadn't wanted me to go to Two at all; they thought it was too dangerous for the Mockingjay. However, Coin had shot them down, saying that I should be seen fighting in what was promising to be our biggest battle so far. So, I would be fighting; but only minimally, and sticking to the back of the attack, along with Peeta, and Finnick.

Coin had decided not to take Rory this time; as we now had Gale with us, there was no point in trying to make him seem a little less like a traitor. We had publicized the fact that Gale was with us, as well as Annie; Coin had announced that they were here, and recovering from injuries that the Capitol had given without reason or provocation.

"Katniss?" Peeta's voice was still hoarse, but I could hear the concern in it as he spoke my name. "Are you okay?" I sighed. I seemed to be hearing those three words rather a lot lately.

"I'm fine." Peeta's arms snaked around my waist from behind me, and I smiled slightly. Peeta could always make me feel better just by being there.

"Are you sure?"

I sighed again. He knew me too well.

"No."

Peeta pulled me closer to him and lifted me onto his lap. I leaned back into him, still smiling, despite the dread I was feeling.

"Is it the mission?"

"Sort of."

"Gale?"

"Sort of."

"You can tell me Katniss," he murmured, stroking my hair. "You can tell me anything."

"I know," I whispered. "I just don't know how."

"Just explain the best you can, and I'll try to understand." I nodded, and, glancing over to make sure Finnick was asleep, started to talk.

"First of all, I'm worried; I know I've been in dangerous situations before, but I've always known how to handle them; hunting, the Hunger Games; I've always known how to act. In Eight, it was all kind of sudden, and I was mostly acting out of fear for Rory. But, I don't know what I'll do in Two."

"I understand that," said Peeta, "But there's something else bothering you, isn't there?"

"Like you guessed," I said. "Gale. I don't know what's wrong with him, I don't know what will happen; what if he gets worse while we're gone? Or what if Coin does something to him while we're gone? He's just a liability if he stays here at the moment; he'll use up food and water, he's taking up room in the hospital. What if Coin decides he's better off dead? And what about my mother?" I shuddered, feeling guilty; I hadn't been in to see my mother since Prim.. I shook my head, and kept talking. "She's also taking up space, eating food; even if only a little food. What if Coin kills her? Or-"

"Stop." Peeta put and hand over my mouth and pulled away from me so he could look into my eyes. "Listen to me. Coin is not going to kill anyone close to you. Do you understand me?" I nodded glumly. There was something about his eyes that made it impossible for me to doubt him. "She can't kill Gale; hijacked or not, she gave him immunity, remember? And she won't kill your mother. What do you think you'd do if your mother died, Katniss?"

"I think I would die as well," I whispered. "I've never really been that close to her, not since my father died, anyway, but, she's still my mother. And Peeta, I don't think I could lose anybody else!"

Peeta nodded sadly, stroking my hair again, but never once taking his eyes from mine.

"Exactly. It would destroy you Katniss," he said softly, "and Coin needs you to win this war. She won't do anything that will make you depressed."

I nodded. Peeta's logic made sense; perfect sense. And suddenly I felt fine.

I smiled, and leaned back against him.

We just sat there for what must have been hours, glad of each others presence. I wasn't going to let him go; not when he made feel so much better; he made me feel more alive than I had since Prim died, since before the Quell.

No, I realized. I haven't been this happy since father died.

"Peeta?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

Peeta pulled away again, only to place his lips on my forehead.

"Anytime," he whispered, just like he had before.

I reached up, putting a hand in his hair, and, much to his shock, pressed my lips up against his.

Because I know now. It became clear when, despite Gales worse condition, all I wanted was to hold Peeta. I think back to the Quell, the Victory Tour, and our fist Games. I guess I've known for a long time with out realizing it. Peeta is the right person for me He makes me feel happy. Whenever he wraps his arms around me, I feel like I'm safe from the Capitol, the Games and the war. I feel like I'm safe from even Snow's evil gaze. I know that I belong here, wrapped in Peeta's embrace.

And here I wish to stay.

Okay, so this was just really a filler. Katniss is a bit OOC, but I figured, she would be a little different if she just found out Gale was hijacked, right? Next chapter is the attack on Two: she'll talk to Gale by herself in the Chapter after that.