So I'm back! Back after a huge break. At last school is starting to come to an end, which means I will have more time to do writing. I do hope I still have fans out there for this story and that they will take the time to review at the end of this chapter, I would be very grateful if I could get some reviews

Chapter 12

I woke up and it looked to be about midday. My entire body ached and I felt like complete hell. Why was I still alive? I lay there, wishing I could just die when I heard soft footsteps. I didn't dare shift my head and didn't need to because she passed right by me, Katniss.

I figured I would get her attention; just have her kill me so I could finally be at peace. My voice was a little rough from lack water as I spoke, "you here to finish me off, sweetheart?"

Katniss jumped and spun around, not able to locate where I was, "Peeta? Where are you?"

I didn't answer, wanting to see if she could find me. When she came too close I had to speak up, "well don't step on me."

She jumped back as I opened my eyes. She gasped and I couldn't help smiling. She seems to be completely fascinated with my disguise.

"I guess all those hours decorating cakes paid off" she finally said.

"I smiled, "yes, frosting. The final defense of the dying."

"You're not going to die" she said.

"Says who?"

"Says me. We're on the same team now, you know."

"So, I hear. Nice of you to find what's left of me."

Katniss must have noticed how dehydrated I was because she pulled out her water bottle right away to give me a drink. The water tasted so good it's all I can do not to gulp it all down in one go. I can see the worry in her face when I told her where Cato stabbed me, she knew as well as I that I was fading, fast. But it doesn't seem to stop her. She hauled me out of my hiding place and tried her best to be gentle. The pain was so excruciating it was hard for me to keep quiet. I could tell she felt bad for having to do this and I felt bad I was unable to suppress my groaning.

"Look Peeta, I'm going to roll you into the stream" she said.

"Excellent" I managed to say through my teeth.

She got me to roll a good ways, but I can't help the cry of agony that escaped me. The pain from that simple roll was almost enough to knock me out. And it doesn't get better once I had stopped.

"Okay change of plans. I'm not going to put you all the way in" she said, I can tell by her face she's feeling really guilty.

"No more rolling?" I asked, relieved that I don't have to go through that pain again.

"That's all done. Let's get you cleaned up. Keep an eye on the woods for me, okay?"

I nodded and glanced up at the silent forest, trying to get my mind off the pain. After a little while though I couldn't help but glance back at her as she washed the mud off my upper body. I can see her surprise at how beat up I am when she finally got all the clothing away from my torso.

She didn't say a word as she got me propped up against a boulder. She washed all the dirt from my hair and skin and as she did I was reminded of a mother washing off a child that had been playing in the mud. It made me think of how much I wished I had a nice sibling. I had always wanted a sister that would care for me the way Katniss was doing right now.

The first relief I'd had in days finally came when Katniss applies some kind of leaf to my tracker jacker stings. My mind was able to function a little better now that some of the pain was gone. After she washed my clothes she came back and put something cool on my burns, which instantly soothed it. Katniss paused for a moment as if noticing something. She turned and grabbed something then turned back.

"Swallow these" she instructed and I did without protest, "you must be hungry."

"Not really. It's funny, I haven't been hungry for days."

Katniss seemed to be worried when I turned down the food. But she finally got me to eat a few dried apples.

"Thanks. I'm much better, really. Can I sleep now Katniss?" I asked, actually feeling like I could sleep for once.

"Soon" she promised, "I need to look at your leg first."

Cinna's POV

I had forgotten how bad of shape Peeta was in. When Katniss started to wash off all the mud and his injures were thrown into full light, it was hard to look at, especially because it's my love. But I was able to handle it after a few moments, what gave me a real shocker was when I caught sight of his leg. I had to turn away from the terrible it, feeling slightly queasy. I felt a strong hand on my shoulder and looked up to see it was Haymitch. He was actually trying to comfort me. I gave him a silent thank you and he nodded in reply.

I turned back to look at the screen with my new found strength to see Katniss and Peeta were trying to move somewhere else. It hurt me as much as it did him to watch Peeta struggling. When they got in the cave I noticed the way Peeta was looking at Katniss, the same way he would often look at me and I couldn't help but feel jealous. But after a few moments I wondered if he was imagining me in her place.

"Katniss" he was saying, "thanks for finding me."

"You would have found me if you could" she replied, I could tell from her face something was very wrong with Peeta. I could see the fear in her eyes that made me start to worry.

"Yes. Look, if I don't make it back-" Peeta started and my heart sank more. What if Katniss couldn't save him?

What if he was really going to die? As if these thoughts weren't unbearable enough, Katniss had her lips pressed to his now, that's when I couldn't watch anymore. I stood up a little too quickly and I could tell the action startled everyone. They all turned to me and I gave a slight cough.

"Sorry, not feeling well" I said and quickly exited.

It wasn't a complete lie, I did feel sick to my stomach, but it was lovesick. I felt almost betrayed now, acting or not Peeta played his part a little too well.

Peeta's POV

I thought that Katniss saving me was a good idea, but now I wasn't so sure. Now that she had removed some of the pain I noticed that I had a fever, and a bad one at that. I felt so achy and my body would suddenly start shivering uncontrollably. I knew Katniss was trying everything she could to help, but I was starting to doubt she could save me. It was a miracle she even found me.

The only thing that really seemed to keep me grounded anymore was the kisses. Katniss was no Cinna, but the kisses reminded me why I was still fighting, why I wanted to win, and now that Katniss and I were together it seemed possible we could get out.

I knew Katniss was just trying to make me feel better when she lied about my health, but it was an empty gesture. I could see the fear in her eyes no matter how hard she tried to suppress it. She knew as well as I that I needed medicine that no sponsor would willingly give us.

That's when I heard the announcement about a feast. Backpacks containing something each person desperately needed, I could practically see the wheels in Katniss's head turning as we listened.

"No" I said firmly, "you're not risking your life for me."

"Who said I was?" she asked a little too innocently.

When I finally got her to admit she was planning to go I could see her frustration at my stubbornness in not letting her go, but I couldn't let her. If it came down to one of us she had the better chance and I wasn't about to let her throw that away.

She seemed to get she wasn't going anywhere and she appeared to be ok with it. She left to go wash up and returned in a moment with a small container in hand.

"I've brought you a treat. I found a new patch of berries a little farther downstream" she said.

She held out a spoonful of it to me and I opened my mouth willingly, since it was part of our deal that I had to eat what she gave me. As I swallowed another spoonful I noticed how sweet the berries were. When Katniss told me they were sugar berries I wasn't so sure, I'd never heard of them before. I'd never tasted berried that were as sweet as syrup…wait syrup?!

At that same moment Katniss knew I had figured it out because she forced me to swallow the last spoonful. How could she do this to me? She was going to get herself killed for sure now. This ran through my mind as I slowly started to fade and knew nothing more after that.

So again I do apologize for taking so long to update. I will try to be better about updating. And Just thought I would mention too that I'm currently working on a few other stories. I have a Roosterteeth story that I'm doing that will be in the Minecraft universe. I also have a Star Trek story and a Disney and Hunger Games crossover. So keep a look out for these stories and please review if you can I'd very much appreciate it.