When Katniss woke up on the morning that the Games would be starting, she was already exhausted. She had been tossing and turning, screaming with horrific nightmares all night. She knew that she had kept poor Peeta up all night too, and she felt awful about it. He was so good to her, trying to soothe her to sleep and reassuring her over and over that she was safe, but in the dark of night, her brain just couldn't register that as reality.

Her nightmares always revolved around the Hunger Games... sometimes she was reliving her own game with Peeta, and sometimes she was imagining the upcoming game... having visions of watching Prim die, or watching Gale die, and being totally helpless to do anything about it. She knew that the next couple of weeks were going to be pure hell for her, total psychological torture that she wouldn't even be able to escape from in her sleep, and she was dreading it.

She and Peeta had done everything they could to prepare Prim and Gale for what they were about to face. After today, they were on their own. Katniss felt nauseous every time she thought about having to sit there and watch them on the big television screens, fighting for their lives. It would be a long, drawn out nightmare that there was no waking up from.

They gave their tributes the same valuable advice that their mentor had given them... do not step off your platform even one second before the countdown ends, or you will be killed. Do not stay at the cornucopia to collect weapons or supplies, it would be a bloodbath. Run away as fast as you can. Find Gale, Katniss told Prim. He will help you, at least for a while. Seek higher ground, find water, try to find some type of shelter in which to hide. No fires at night, it just broadcasts where you are sleeping, and when you are sleeping, you are vulnerable. And whenever you can, play for the cameras. Make the audience feel for you, make them feel a connection with you. Your ability to win sponsors may determine your survival.

And one more thing, Katniss thought to herself, please don't die.

Katniss and Peeta stood by and watched from their viewing area, holding hands as Prim and Gale were loaded onto their platforms and raised up into the arena as the countdown ticked off.

TEN, NINE...

"Breathe." Peeta gently reminded Katniss, as he squeezed her hand. She let out the breath that she hadn't even realized she'd been holding. Suddenly she was trembling all over. Teardrops spilled silently down her face. She was paralyzed with fear for Prim, and for Gale. She felt Peeta step up behind her, and wrap his arms around her, with his chin resting on her shoulder.

EIGHT, SEVEN...

"You need to be strong right now, baby. I know you can do it," Peeta whispered into her ear. "Don't let Snow see that he can hurt you. You know he's watching."

SIX, FIVE...

His words gave her strength and resolve.

Peeta felt her take a deep, cleansing breath, and just like that, she forced her tears to subside. He felt her straighten her spine and stand tall. She would rather die than give Snow the satisfaction of watching her fall apart on live television.

FOUR, THREE...

"That's my girl." Peeta whispered into her ear. He hugged her tighter.

TWO, ONE.

The countdown ended, and all the tributes went sprinting towards the cornucopia. Katniss struggled to see on the huge television screens where Prim and Gale were. She saw Prim first. Prim managed to grab a small pack near the edge of the cornucopia, and then took off running for the woods. Then she saw Gale, who had found a single knife with a large blade.. He was able to grab it in the blink of an eye, and then she saw him whip around with his arm outstretched, and sliced clean across another tribute's abdomen, causing a gush of blood to spill from his body before Gale ran off into the woods with his bloody knife.

The first cannon boomed, signaling the death of the tribute that Gale had just gutted.

One down, thought Gale.

Several more cannons fired in the following minutes as the tributes fought over supplies and killed each other.

Gale and Prim were both running as fast as they could, away from the others. Now they just needed to find each other. He was pretty sure he had seen the direction that Prim had headed into the woods before he'd taken his eyes off of her for a moment to grab the knife and kill the tribute chasing him.

"Prim!" Gale yelled.

She heard his voice, and it didn't sound too far away. She followed the direction it came from.

"Gale!" she called back.

He turned towards her voice and ran through the thick forest. Then he saw her, coming towards him.

"Prim! Come on!" Gale reached out as she closed the distance between them. He grabbed her hand and led her further into the woods.

Back at the viewing area, Katniss felt a small surge of relief, as she watched Gale take hold of Prim and lead her away.

"He's got her," Peeta said softly to Katniss. "She'll be safe for now."

Katniss nodded. Safe... for now.

Gale and Prim ran for what felt like a very long time. Once Gale felt that they had put a safe distance between themselves and the other tributes, he told Prim that they would stop and rest for a while, and decide what their next move should be. They both sat down on the ground to catch their breath.

"I see you found a knife," Prim said to Gale. "And used it on someone!"

"Yeah, I took down one of them at the cornucopia." he replied, as he used some leaves to try to wipe the blood off the large blade, but much of it had already dried. He would have to clean it better when they found some water.

"What's in the pack, Prim?" he asked.

"I don't know yet, let's see." she said. She opened up the small pack and was happy to see that it was a first aid kit. There were tweezers, scissors, bandages, antibacterial ointment, a bottle of sterile water, and three pairs of rubber gloves.

"This is great!" she exclaimed, as she showed it to Gale. "This stuff will come in handy. Especially the gloves... I wouldn't be able to do my Fire Ivy trick without them!"

"What's Fire Ivy?" he asked. Prim told him all about her demonstration for the game makers. Gale was fascinated.

"So if you can find some, you'll actually be able to kill people with that stuff?" he asked.

"Definitely." she answered. "If I can get close enough to someone's supplies to rub the extract on it, once they touch it, they'll be dead before they know what hit them!"

He was intrigued. "What else have you got up your sleeve for secret weapons?"

"Oh, nature is full of deadly weapons..." she said. "as long as you know how to where to find them and what to do with them! Fire Ivy, red velvet berries, nightlock, oleander, belladonna... if I can find any of them in this arena, I can work my magic!" she said proudly.

"Wow, and I thought Katniss was dangerous!" he laughed, ruffling her hair.

Once they had rested, they decided to keep moving and try to find a safe place to camp for the night. Prim collected some edible greens she found along the way. It wouldn't be much of a dinner, but they didn't really have any way to catch anything yet, so it would have to do until they could get their hands on some more weapons and supplies.

They managed to find a stream with clean, clear running water. They would also need to find a way to store and carry water, but for now, at least they had the stream nearby. Gale waded into the stream and washed the dried blood off the blade of his knife.

Up the hill from the stream, they found a rocky outcropping where they could be fairly hidden while they slept, and they would have some protection from the elements. Once night fell, they huddled together in the small space to try and stay warm for the night. Gale told Prim to sleep first, that he would stay up and keep watch until closer to morning, then she could watch when the sun was coming up and it would be easier for her to see anyone approaching. He knew that she didn't have the same finely tuned ears and senses that he did from hunting. He would be able to sense someone approaching long before they ever saw him.

They lay next to each other in the dark quiet of the night. Prim tried hard to sleep, but despite being exhausted, she just couldn't. Before long, Gale could hear her sniffling.

"Prim?" He asked. "Are you okay?"

She turned over to face him. She was crying.

"What's the matter?" he asked her softly.

"I'm scared Gale. I don't want to be here. I just want to go home!" she sniffled.

"Come here," Gale told her, as he pulled her up to his chest and hugged her. He felt sorry for the young girl. She shouldn't have to be here. He felt very protective of Prim, just as if she was his own kid sister. That feeling only strengthened his resolve that he was going to get her out of this and make sure she got back to Katniss safely.

He stroked her hair, quieting her. "I know you're scared Prim. But we just have to get through this together, okay? I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I'll get you home to Katniss soon, I promise."

"Okay Gale." she said softly. Then she added, "I'm glad you're here."

He let Prim snuggle up to him and rest her head on his shoulder. He rubbed her back soothingly.

"Sleep now Prim," he whispered. "We've got a long day tomorrow."

Gale kept softly rubbing her back until she fell asleep, then he lay there, staring up at the rock ceiling above them. He was hoping that he'd be able to do what he promised her... that he could keep her safe and get her the hell out of this God-forsaken arena.

Back in the capitol, Katniss and Peeta watched this whole scene unfold. Katniss buried her face in her hands and bawled her eyes out. She hated that she had to watch her sister go through this, but she was grateful, so very grateful, that Gale was there, helping her through it.

Peeta was doing the best he could to soothe her, holding her close, drying her tears.

"Come on," he said. "Let's go to your room and get you ready for bed. You're exhausted."

The hotel they were staying in had given them both their own huge suites across the hall from each other, since they were both victors, but they always stayed together in one room or the other.

They headed to Katniss' suite, where he helped her get ready for bed and then they snuggled in under the blankets. As they lay there, spooned together for a while, she was thinking about how lucky she was to have Peeta here to take care of her, just like he always did. Her heart felt so full of love for him.

"Peeta?" she asked, seeing if he was still awake.

"Mmm?" he answered sleepily.

She turned to look backwards towards him.

"Will you make love to me?"

He propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at her.

"Are you sure? You're not too tired?" he asked.

"Well, I am tired, but I need you right now, I need to feel close to you. It will help me forget about today a little bit. I just want to forget everything except you. I just want to love you..." she said softly.

"Okay, I'll try to help you forget..." he whispered in her ear, then began trailing kisses down her neck, slowly pulling the strap of her camisole off her shoulder.

He moved unhurriedly, lingering over every inch of her skin as he kissed and caressed her. He wanted her to be able to think about nothing else but what he was doing.

When he finally made love to her, he was just as slow and deliberate, making her feel and enjoy every movement, making her pleasure last as long as possible.

When they finished, she felt wonderful. Her body felt totally relaxed and sated. She was like putty in Peeta's hands... oh, the things he could do to her.

"Thank you," she said. "That was amazing. I needed that."

"You're welcome. I'm glad I could make you feel better. Now come here, and let's get some sleep."

He pulled her in, snug against his body, wrapping his arm around her waist, and their hands together pressed against her heart. She made it the rest of the night with no nightmares.