Author's Note: I know I said come Mokingjay this will slant AU but I think I was a little off, so consider her entering district Twelve as the beginning of the AU slant, because in the books Peeta didn't have back-up for training Katniss and Haymitch. Also I took liberties with back stories and how certain people reacted to finding out she is 1) alive and 2) there, so my apologies if they aren't completely canon.

Thanks go to my reviewers: HL, Pandora, Seaotter, ASMF and JB

Chapter 7

Entering the Soot Trap

It takes me a couple days to get to Twelve it's three district from Five, but they are big districts, Eleven itself is massive because its all the agriculture. I get a warning from the peacekeepers on duty that I should head straight thru. No staying, there have been problems ever since the victor's tour. I shudder at the thought. It makes me open to full throttle in a rush to get to Twelve.

Security has been upped since I was last here two years ago. The guards at the entrance from the gate take their sweet time looking at my identity card and me and back to the card.

"What is your business in twelve Dr. Sparrow?" the female peacekeeper asks

I point to my black bag, "checking up on Mellark, I didn't have a chance since I went on sabbatical."

"A house call?" she raises an eyebrow at me

"Is there a problem officer?" I ask, I allow myself a clip of ice in my voice, a note of impatience just enough to tell her I am a capital citizen after all.

"No just unusual" she explain, she steps aside

"I get that a lot" I say taking back my ID. Just to make my naiveté stick I ask after a hostel of motel and she laughs

"You really haven't been to the outer districts have you?" she smirks, "talk to the mayor he will open a victor's house for you for your stay"

As I head in I mutter to myself "that won't be a problem"

I forgot that the town is small and most of the surrounding is meadow and grassy areas, right now still with the remains of snow, and the roads are just muddy, if this is spring to them what is summer? The woods are past the fence, it looks inviting except for the hum of the electrified barrier blocking my way.

I seem to always end up in my destinations late. So late I worry that I will have to fight an armed and blurry eyed Haymitch. I get to victor's village and all three houses are still with lights on. It's odd, but then again some games cause more nightmares than others, and I always found moon light soothing but to some it might not be as much. I go to Haymitche's house and knock politely on the door.

Nothing.

I have to stifle a laugh because it's no reminiscent of when I was fourteen. Instead of rapping harder and waking people up I check to see if the door is in actual fact locked.

It isn't, lucky for me.

Unlucky for Abernathy if I have to wake him up.

I go inside and find that the house seems to be tidied a bit more than before, like someone has made a start, and realized its gonna take a while to get thru the mess.

I let my eyes wonder, and they fall on a man face flat on the kitchen table. A bottle of liquor standing in hands reach.

I know it's late. But I don't want to wake him later by surprise, or someone walking in on me as I try and figure where I can stay and be hidden for now. I don't know how to approach Peet and not have him freak out just yet, I haven't said I'd come to Twelve after all, all I told him was he would see me again.

I go over and realize if I had startled him awake he would have been armed. A hunting knife is grasped in his other hand. I disarm him and he grunts and snorts in his sleep. I place the weapon out of reach and then try and jostle him.

"Haymitch" I nudge him, "come on y'drunk wakey wake"

He snorts and grunts again but remains asleep. I'm tired after my ride here and I really don't feel the need to be gentle. So I go into my backpack and take out ammonium salts. True it's used for fainting, but the smell is so acrid it will bring this slobering drunk out of his stupor.

It takes just a whiff, and his eyes spring open and he throws his arm around. I catch it in my off hand and push it away. He's incoherent for a moment or two before he realizes who it is, or somewhat.

"How the hell didjyou get'in?" he slurs

"Door was unlocked, thought you wouldn't mind company" I reply

He blinks and realizes who it really is, "What the hell are you doing here?!"

"Glad to see you too Haymitch" I smirk, "come to check on you three"

He blinks and rubs his eyes; I think I was really unexpected because he still looks at me confused by my appearance. He takes the bottle and has a long pull on it. I fear for his liver and kidneys but he doesn't so why argue the fact of his addiction at the moment. He clears his throat and looks me over.

"You missed a lot" he makes a circle with his finger to signify I should put my equipment on to block out the surveillance. In Haymitch's place I don't think I have to worry, he wasn't all that thought after…but I do put it on for my own sake.

"So anything of note?" I ask and he rolls his eyes.

"Where to begin" he grumbles