A/N: another chapter via iPhone! But my Internet will be back up tonight! Yay!
Gale didn't know what to think. He wished Haymitch's words could be true, but he just didn't see it happening.
But he followed Effie's instructions, packing his family's things into the train and sat and played with his daughter like a good father should. Katniss joined in every so often, but he knew her worry was seeping through the mask she wore.
Gale knew she was going to crack eventually, he'd seen this cycle too many times. In the tougher winters, he would escape with her to the lake to hunt. Often they wouldn't get as much as they wanted, and Katniss would lose herself under the pressure. Having to provide for two people before you turn 15 can take a tole on a girl. He never judged her for crying those days–everyone needed to let it out. Especially when someone had held it together like she had.
But it seemed that now she was trying to hold it together for Gale instead of letting it out to him. He felt bad, and he didn't quite know what he could do. So he grabbed her hand and just told her he loved her, hoping it would calm her.
Her mind was working in overdrive. If there really was a district 13, would they be able to go? Could they take their families? She wasn't sure if she could go without Prim, who was just like a daughter. But what could she do if she couldn't bring anyone other than Gale and Keegan? It wasn't like she could say no. They were going to KILL her child! And she didn't have much choice in anything these days.
She knew her mask was breaking, and she knew Gale could see straight through her. She just hoped he wouldn't ask, because asking would just make her cry.
But for every fault Gale had, bring able to read her was not one of them. He left her alone like he knew she needed, only holding her hand to offer his support. When she rose early to go to bed, Gale just missed her cheek, saying he'd put Keegan to bed and join her after.
Although Gale could read her like a book, Peeta could not. She groaned when she saw him get up to follow her and waited for Gale to do something. He just smiled, apparently wanting to see how she handled it herself.
By the time she reached the bedroom, he was right on her heels and reached for her hand. She snatched it away from him, "What do you think you're doing Peeta?" the acid in her voice hurt his feelings a little, but he kept trying.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry. And everything will work out. I'll take her and go if i have to."
Katniss could see the promise in his eyes, but she could also see an underlying motive. "Why, Peeta? You've been after something from me since before the games started. Now you're going to try to use my daughter for whatever sick purpose you have?!"
"No! No! It isn't like that at all! I–I just...I love you, Katniss. I want what makes you happy. Is that so bad?" he grabbed her wrist again, harder this time, to trap her to him. She strained to pull back, opening her mouth to yell for Gale, and Peeta crushed his mouth to hers.
This kiss wasn't like anything she'd ever shared with Gale. His kisses were passionate, full of love and devotion, and their purpose was pleasing her. Peeta was forcing her mouth to his–it couldn't even be deemed a kiss.
While one of his hands moved from her wrist to her shoulder, another tried to move down her back. She struggled against him, but he was so much bigger that it really didn't matter what she did. She felt his hands go lower and squirmed more, trying to find leverage against his chest.
At that moment, Gale made his way to the bedroom, having just put Keegan to bed. When he saw the two of them pressed together, he was jealous, and that made him angry. But when he saw his wife struggling against Peeta (who had still not registered Gale's presence), all he saw was red rage. He growled, past words. He grabbed Peeta by the collar of his shirt and slung him backwards into the dresser. The force knocked Peeta's breath away, abd he realized what had happened, his expression turned to one of fear and horror.
Gale only looked to Katniss, who nodded, before charging back at Peeta. Gale hit him once, twice, again and again till Katniss lost count. Blood was pouring from his nose and mouth, and every time he tried to hit Gale, he got hit harder.
"That is ENOUGH!" Katniss yelled. "You will wake up my child. Get out of here, Peeta!"
And so he obeyed. He went straight to Effie to get his wounds cleaned, because he knew they'd need it. He was so stupid. He deserved every punch Gale threw. Who kisses a married woman? Better yet, who forces a married woman to kiss you?
He hoped he could be forgiven, and he strived to do whatever it took to get her to forgive him.
...
Still in the bedroom, Katniss had jumped in the shower. She felt dirty because Peeta had forced her to kiss him. So she brushed her teeth twice to make herself feel better. Gale was still shaking with anger with an ice pack over his left eye, the product of one good hit from Peeta.
His main concern was what would've happened if he hadn't walked in. His rage mounted as his mind chewed over the possibilities, and he willed himself to not go find Peeta again.
He didn't think Peeta would've actually raped his wife, but he couldn't let the venomous weed escape his mind.
And he'd be damned if he'd let that pig near his daughter again.
After Katniss had scrubbed herself, she found that Peeta had completely destroyed her dresser and mentally noted to have it replaced. She started to pick up shards of wood and clothes when Haymitch stepped in the room, anger written on his face.
"Can anybody tell me what the hell happened?"
"Not a damn thing," Gale snapped back.
"Well why does one of my victors resemble a battered fucking tomato? Why do you have a damn ice pack on your face and why the hell is that dresser smashed?" haymitch's voice got louder and angrier with each question.
"Peeta tried to kiss me," Katniss surrendered. "Gale stepped in and saved me."
Haymitch grumbled under his breath, "So that's why he wouldn't tell me..." he grumbled some more before continuing. "We arrive in 12 soon. And the hovercraft leaves tomorrow. Your families are being brought too, unless you have a reason they should stay behind."
Gale and Katniss both shook their heads, still amazed they were even leaving. Haymitch left and they both readied themselves for bed.
Upon arriving in 12, the group noticed an immediate difference. Firstly, none of them were to go anywhere without a Peacekeeper as an escort. Haymitch had sworn under his breath, knowing the plans of leaving were all but lost now.
They allowed the Peacekeepers to take them home, where they waited outside the door of the house. This was the same for Haymitch and Peeta. Gale was beyond pissed and demanded to know why he was suddenly prisoner in his own home. Katniss hated it too, so she held tight to Keegan and let Gale handle the almost interrogation.
The poor peacekeeper, whom Katniss didn't recognize, was very shaky, considering Gale was at least 6 inches taller.
"Uhh, I don't know sir. All I know is President Snow authorized all Victors to start having escorts 24/7, sir."
Gale had punched a wall in his frustration.
The next morning, Haymitch came over with his guard and asked Gale if he could walk him to the bakery. Gale didn't need the money these days, so he helped the baker out for free, and for lack of something better to do. Gale had agreed and left Katniss with Keegan, making sure she had an easy to access kitchen knife in each room.
They walked out in front of the escorts just chatting. Haymitch thought he saw a disturbance and asked the peacekeepers to check it out. He pulled Gale close and began to whisper.
"They knew we'd run. They either knew or guessed, we're unsure. Keep her close. We're working a plan to get you guys out of here. Till then, don't feed her anything you don't taste yourself. Don't leave them alone, I'll be there while you're at work."
The Peacekeepers returned, and gale and Haymitch parted ways at the bakery with a handshake, leaving Gale with the reality that he might just lose his daughter.