It's Wednesday! So here's Chapter Fourteen! Thank you to all my reviewers and followers, you guys are amazing! Hopefully, I'll get a few more reviews for this chapter but even one review makes me happy so thank you guys for putting a smile on my face.

SakuraDrops141: Right! Darn cliffhangers, man. I hope you like this chapter then! Thank you for reviewing!

Setsuna Hyuga: Thank you for crying. I know that's weird to say but I'm glad my writing can make you emotional. Means I'm doing good, right? But really, thank you for reading and reviewing! Hope you enjoy this chapter, lurve!

MangoMagic: I know I'm evil. I like it sometimes haha. Thank you for reading and reviewing!

Through Darkness and Light: Yay, I love that you reviewed each one separately! You guys deserved a four chapter update after my mini disappearance. But I'm back to regular updating, woo hoo! I love you, like, really. Best person ever reward, here you go haha. But seriously, your reviews always makes me grin like an idiot. I know, I feel so bad for Cato. God, I just love Cato sosososo much, poor baby. But I have to put them through some pain, don't I? I hope you enjoy this chapter, it's good, promise! Thank you for reading and reviewing!

mmleach: Thank you for reviewing! Ah, his leg... you'll see what happens with it, hehe. Enjoy!

Thank you guys again, here it is! ENJOY.

Chapter Fourteen.

Peeta runs the tip of his finger along the needle of the syringe, the same needle that had just been in his leg. He knows the medicine will be working its wonder in mere hours and he can't wait till he's able to limp around on his own. Though, he isn't sure what to do. Katniss will certainly notice his leg's improvements and question its sudden turn to the better. He has to tell her, he knows that. But how much does he tell her? Would she even believe him? Cato... helping him. He thought for sure Cato would be out for his blood but instead, Cato comes and saves him. Proves to him he's there, there for him. He doubted Cato... he lost trust in Cato... he thought Cato was just a killing machine full of harsh games.

But all in five minutes, Cato disproved that. Cato proved he has a heart. The thought brings a sting to Peeta's eyes. He kept telling himself Cato didn't have a heart, when he really did, he kept telling himself Cato was just a killing machine, when he was obviously more than that. Cato, he was just scared, like everyone else around here. Maybe not as much or maybe he just hid it very well but Peeta knows he's scared and he needs somebody as much as anybody else. And Peeta became that somebody but he practically slapped Cato in the face when he came to be his savior. But what did Cato expect? With his upbringing, Peeta thought for sure he just knew how to play games with other's emotions and he was all about the kills. Did the rule change of two victors change Cato's mind? Or had Cato been trying to find Peeta this whole time, wanting him back, just because he honestly felt something for him? His head was beginning to hurt and he jerks, gripping the syringe in one hand and the rock in the other when he hears a few rocks scatter outside.

Katniss comes into view, an arrow notched in her bow, her eyes sweeping the place. She visibly relaxes when she sees Peeta, sitting on the sleeping bag, staring at her. "You're okay." she says, returning the arrow to its quiver and crawling over to him. She's about to get closer when she sees the rock and syringe. She pauses, her brows furrowing. "What happened while I was gone?" she asks, their eyes locking. Peeta isn't sure what emotion he's portraying, there's so many inside of him. "The rocks I set outside... they were knocked all over and I thought for sure I would come in to someone killing you..." she looks down. "Cato killing you," she adds softly.

Peeta's heart jumps into his throat. "Cato was here," he manages to get out, his fingers having a death grip on the two items in his hands.

Katniss' head jerks up, her eyes going round. "What?! What did he-" she stops, her eyes landing on the syringe. "What is that?"

"Cato... he brought me medicine. To save me." Peeta whispers.

Katniss gives him the reaction he expects. "No! Cato wouldn't do that, Peeta! It had to be Foxface or even Thresh but not Cato, Peeta. He's evil, he's..." she trails off, staring at the syringe, that had begun to slightly shake since Peeta's hands had started to shake.

He's angry, he realizes. That's the most powerful emotion. He's glaring at Katniss and she looks at him, with obvious surprise. "He isn't like that, Katniss," he says sternly and takes a deep breath. No, he needs to keep a grip. He had thought the very same of Cato and had gotten proven wrong. He couldn't get angry at Katniss for feeling the same way he had. "He helped me. I'm not sure why but he did. I'm sure my leg will be better by tomorrow." he explains slowly, their eyes never wavering.

"No," she whispers, shaking her head. "Why would he do that? He-he isn't your partner, I am. I'm capable of saving you, I am!" she grips her bow tightly, her hands shaking, and she refuses to let the tears in her eyes fall.

"Hey, hey," Peeta says slowly, dropping the items in his hands and grabbing her around the waist, pulling her into his lap. Her bow is pushing against them and so she quickly tosses it aside and melts into his chest. Peeta realizes, in that moment, Katniss needs him and he needs Cato. "You're capable of saving me," he says in her ear. This is so unlike Katniss, to be so weak and shaken. She must really care for him and it scares Peeta. But he knows what he has to do. He knows what he has to do to survive.

She suddenly shoves herself away, the strong Katniss back in place. She shakes her head. "Why would Cato do that?" she says, her voice loud, clear, and strong. She knows she has to keep acting for the cameras, keep putting up an act of being okay, even though she just wants to sink into Peeta's chest and stay there.

"I don't know. Maybe because I was once a team with him and there's the rule of two victors now..." Peeta drifts off.

Hell, he doesn't even know. He can come up with theories: Cato wants to team up with one of his fellow Careers, he just wants to keep playing a game with Peeta which Peeta himself highly doubts, or he honestly cares for Peeta. Peeta hopes it's the latter. Falling in-love or caring deeply for someone in the Games is a weakness and it's stupid because in the end, there's only one, but it's hard not to do. With the attraction between them and the high emotions in the arena but now, there's the rule change and maybe, just maybe.

"But you're my partner..." their eyes lock and if Peeta looks close enough, he can see Katniss' weakness there: himself. "Right?"

"Right." Peeta affirms, forcing his voice to be strong, for the lie to spew forth. "I'll always be your partner." he opens his arms up and Katniss falls into them, laying her head on his chest.

He lays his chin on top of her head and sighs, closing his eyes. He doesn't know if it's the medicine or the tiring emotions but he's ready for sleep. Katniss, though, she's tense and not relaxing. He takes a deep breath, telling himself to just go to sleep. He needs his rest but instead, he rubs her arm soothingly and kisses the top of her head.

"What would you have done if I hadn't told you about Cato and said I had licked the rock?" he asks softly, smiling some. Humor. His last defense to make somebody smile.

Katniss lets out a tiny laugh. "I wouldn't had believed you." she says, moving her head up.

Peeta angles his head down at her and smiles softly. A fake soft smile that he plays well. "Well, when my leg had healed up, you would have," he says before sealing her lips with his own. Somewhere between kisses, Peeta drifts off to sleep.

...

"Peeta, Peeta." Katniss is shaking him awake and he jerks, blinking open his eyes. He isn't sure how long he's been out but he feels fully refreshed, like he's gotten a whole day's sleep or maybe more. He reaches up, rubbing his eyes as Katniss beams at him, obviously happy about something.

"How long have I been out?" he asks softly, scooting himself up.

"Nearly two days. I thought you should get some sleep. And because of the medicine..." she trails off, her smile nearly splitting her face, and looks at his leg.

His eyes follow hers and he feels like he's been slapped because, holy hell, no way that's his leg. Through the rip in his pants, he can see the wound. Or what use to be one. All the swelling was gone, the skin back to a natural pale color, and there was only a long, jagged, red line that still had some angry red around it. He slowly lifts his leg up and his eyes grow wider. No pain. It's gone, just like that. Even though his leg still feels very stiff so he's sure he'll be limping for a few hours, if not a day. But still, his leg is fully healed.

"Even the cuts on your face," she reaches up, running her fingers along his jaw line, "are nearly gone. That's amazing."

He reaches up, grabbing her hand and looking her in the eye. "We can win," he whispers, his voice shaky. The lie actually hurts to say but it has to be said.

She nods and hugs him around the neck. "We can actually win!" she says and after a few minutes of silent embracing, they break away. She treats them to some leftover gosling that's close to going bad, some yummy, sweet berries she found yesterday, and water. He's glad for the food. He's felt like he hasn't eaten in days. After finishing off that food, she looks at his leg. "I'm still hungry," she concludes, looking back up at him.

He nods. "Me too." he says, staring at his leg, lifting it up and bending it. It's very sore, it hurts to bend it, but it doesn't hurt like it did when the wound was there. He smiles. He's okay, he's going to live, he's going to win. Alongside with the only person he wants to win with.

"I'm going to check some of my snares and go hunting," Katniss says, grabbing her bow and arrows. "I haven't checked them since two days ago so we should have something." she adds and before she can get away, Peeta grabs her arm.

"Katniss, wait," he forces a bit of fear into his voice. She looks at him, blinking in confusion. "Can you leave me a knife...? In case Cato comes back and this time... he isn't here to save me."

She stares at him and then her mouth turns into an 'o'. "I know why he saved you."

Peeta's brows furrow. "Why?" he asks slowly, not wanting to hear the answer.

"It's not fun to kill someone who's dying, Peeta," she says but as she says it, she's reaching into her jacket and pulling out a short blade with jagged edges.

Peeta bristles at her words, a scowl forming onto his face, but he quickly hides it when she looks up. He takes a deep breath as she hands over the knife. "I guess you're right," he lies, a bit of his anger making its way into his tone.

She gives him a confused look, hearing the bit of anger, but brushes it off. She leans over, kissing his cheek, and he wants to push her away but resists.

"I'll be back soon," she whispers and is gone, crawling out from the entrance.

He hears a few rocks clank together but that's about it. The instant he knows she's not coming back, he jumps into action. He pulls on his boots and laces them in record time, he rolls up the sleeping bag and quickly crawls towards the entrance. The soreness in his leg is hurting him but it's easy to ignore, considering it's just sore and healed. Healed! He feels joy crawling up his spine as he throws the sleeping bag out and then follows it, the knife gripped hard in his grasp. He stands up slowly, looking around, making sure Katniss isn't around and can see him. He tucks the sleeping bag under his arm, death-gripping the knife, and slowly glances back at the cave entrance. For one second, he hesitates, wondering if he should stay with Katniss. But the thought is gone as fast as it comes. He straightens his shoulders and lets a grin, a grin he learned only from the best, touch his lips and he looks up, knowing the cameras are zooming in on him. "Goodbye, Katniss." Katniss can't hear his farewell.

But all of Panem can.

...

There it is! How did you guys like it? I really like this chapter. Peeta is finally getting his feelings sorted, yay! So, Question of the Chapter time!

Would you go after Cato like Peeta is or just stay with Katniss and win with her?

Answer in your review when you review, hint hint! Love you guys so much! Till next time, my lovelies. Much love, LW.