A/N: Another chapter? I also want to clarify that my updating will not be as regular as the story progresses. For some stupid reason, halfway through my stories, I always get writer's block for days and don't update. Yeah, I'm really stupid. I don't know why.

Chapter 5

I wake to see that Peeta is awake.

"Hi, Kat," he offers a small smile. Leave it to Peeta to have just been whipped and smile.

"Hi, Peeta. Do you need anything?" I ask, immediately worried. 70 lashes are too much.

"No. Thanks for giving me that morphling. I think it really helped," Peeta smiles. Then, he surprises me by asking, "Kat? Will you help me back to our house? The table isn't the most comfortable and I wouldn't want to intrude on your mother and Prim."

"No. It's too cold out there and you haven't fully healed yet. Don't push it. We can go back to our house when you're fully healed. If you need anything, I'll just get it for you. Don't worry. We'll get you upstairs to a guest room. Mom and Prim won't mind. I've got you," I say.

"Thank you," Peeta says.

So I help him upstairs and as soon as he hits the bed, he falls asleep.

As Peeta is asleep, I go to Madge's home. One of the mayor's maids opens the door and leads me to Madge's room.

"Hi, Madge," I say.

"Hi, Katniss. How's Peeta holding up?" Madge asks.

"He's asleep, but he's fine. Thanks," I say.

"If it were, G-Gale, you'd ask too," she says, but chokes up and Gale. I can see why. She was in love with Gale, and now, he's dead, killed the same way as her aunt. I wonder if she'll become a duplicate of my mother; zone out and sink into depression.

"It'll be okay. Everybody will help you. They know that you loved him. They're helping Gale's family," I say sympathetically.

"I hope you're right. I hope that you're okay, too. That was harsh, last night. They could have easily made him an Avox. But they would never do that to a Victor. No one has to know about a whipping, but they would know about a new Avox," Madge says.

"True, though he could have died. 70 lashes? A normal person would have died," I say. "But Peeta's not normal. He's faced death many times before."

Madge smiles sadly. I look at her clock and see the time. "Oh! I should get back to Peeta! He'll be waking up soon!" I exclaim.

"Okay. But remember that everything will be alright. Things have a funny way of working out," Madge says. I keep that in mind as I return to Peeta.

A/N: What'd you think? I know, it's a filler chapter, but I swear, it'll get better! Next chapter is the Victory Tour for Prim! So review, favorite, and follow!