Chapter 18 – Blood On My Hands

AN: Many thanks to those who alerted and favored my story. My thanks to pistonsfan75, IcyPinkLemonade, Shellibug, B Dizzy, lil bird Lina, pumpkinking5, wonderishome, J, MaidenAlice, LACR, hstrywlk, Nai1987, jmjames, Dramionelover26 and guests. Your reviews are greatly appreciated and for taking the time to write them. Your thoughts and opinions matter to me. Thanks again. This chapter is rated a very strong R for strong language and has Heath Undersee, Rye, Peeta and Katniss' POV's. Same disclaimer as before Hunger Games do not belong to me.

Heath Undersee ––

As mayor of District 12 nothing in my years of office prepared me for the aftermath of the dog attacks. Sure, the reapings were the worst thing that happened yearly but this… I was lost for words. With the reapings you anticipated and dreaded the outcome hoping that your children weren't called from the lottery. The attacks however, it was random as people––men, women and children were victims. There was no age limit or preference to male or female.

I was lucky that my eldest daughter survived her reaping years. However, my son ten-year son wasn't eligible until another two years.

"Dad," Madge interrupted my thoughts. "Is it okay if I go to the bakery? I want to pay my respects to Mr. Mellark and his family." I sighed. It's been hours since the attacks. Peacekeeper Darius had issued an order to do a count for every citizen in District 12. It wasn't easy but the next day people complied as they reported at the Justice Building. I remembered how shock I was when Darius appeared the day before.

Flashback ––

"Mr. Undersee," Darius called out to me as I stood in the middle of the Justice Building courtyard. "Are you okay?" I turned to look at the young man. He was tall and lanky, not muscular as I expected him to be for a Peacekeeper. When he arrived at 12 I was surprised as he was assigned to his original district. He was a good kid as I knew his father well before the accident.

"I'm fine, Darius," I said.

"Is Madge, I mean are Mrs. Undersee, your daughter and son okay?" he inquired. I was shocked that he knew my children's names. It wasn't as if we associated or personally interacted with Darius. All my interactions were through Cray.

"They're fine. I left them back home," I informed him. "Thank God, they were indoors when the attacks started." I was relieved knowing that my family was safe from harm.

"Do you know what happened?" I mean, I knew what happened since the timing of the attack was too coincidental to MockingJay's video. We were under attack with Snow's mutt dog. I knew it.

"Just a random dog attack as I can tell," he said. I snickered.

"This wasn't random, Darius," I expressed. "Did you see the size and numbers? The wild dog population in District 12…we never had that kind of attack before. Never. And the packs that came were unimaginable, nothing ever seen before."

"What are you insinuating, Mr. Undersee?"

Darius was young and was a Peacekeeper. He wouldn't believe that Snow sent the mutts to attack 12 and his Peacekeepers. That Snow sent the engineered dogs to attack anyone and everyone in 12 including the military that was suppose to 'protect' and contain us. But he was also one of us no matter what uniform he wore.

"Think about it, Darius. You're a smart kid. President Snow removed Cray, diminished your numbers in half and turned off the fence. The next thing we know, we're attacked by wild dogs never seen before in numbers and strength that even you guys had a hard time controlling."

"You're wrong, President Snow wouldn't…he wouldn't endanger innocent people for no reason." He shook his head in denial.

"Darius, I know you're smarter than that. Things have been tense here since Ivan's arrival and murder. You can't be that…obtuse to not realize that this attack." I gestured around us. "With all those dogs…he was punishing us."

"Punishing…us. What do you mean?"

"I know that you know the rumor that has been going around Peeta, Jimmy Mellark's youngest son."

"They're just rumors, Mr. Undersee. I don't pay attention to rumors." The latest gossip and rumor was that President Snow was not impressed with the MockingJay's video. The broadcast sent a wave of anger, discontent and dissidence throughout Panem. The image horrified the districts as Peeta was being punished and accused of murder with no evidence to prove it. Word spread that he was innocent and Cray had abused his office in order to railroad Peeta into a false confession.

"Be as it may, we were still attacked, Darius," I insisted. "Who knows what Snow will do next? Everyone––"

"I know that it has been difficult and rough these past weeks. You shouldn't spread rumors and accusations like that. It's…dangerous to be accusing him of attacking 12. Do you understand, Mr. Undersee?"

I nodded my head. I lost focus for a moment realizing that Darius is a Peacekeeper through and through even if his heart belonged to 12.

"Right now, all I'm focusing on is getting everyone settled, get medical help for the injured and find out how many are dead or missing." I flinched realizing that I wasn't doing my job as mayor. There was nothing I could do to sway Darius into believing that Snow targeted us. This attack didn't deter me from joining the rebellion. It only caused me to want to free us from the Capitol more.

"People are going to look up to you for guidance not speculate or start trouble." He was right I had a job to do. I had to prepare and protect District 12 for further attacks or retribution from Snow.

"I'm glad that your family was spared, Mayor Undersee," Darius spoke. "There is so much to do. I'll ignore the conversation we just had." Any form of resistance or noncompliance via word or action was considered a crime against the Capitol. Had I spoken freely to Cray there was no doubt I would have been stripped and whipped without a hearing. "We need to concentrate on the injured, take account for the dead and missing and get District 12 back to normal." I inwardly scoffed at his remark. After this, there was no way things would be back to normal in District 12. We were targeted.

End of Flashback ––

Should I tell Madge that Peeta and Katniss were in the list of people missing or presumed dead? "Madge, honey," I started. "There's something I need to tell you."

An hour later Madge and I were on our way to the bakery. The shop was closed in respect to Graham and Sonja as their bodies were taken to the hospital morgue. The news of Peeta and Katniss missing sent Jimmy on a tailspin. Rye comforted and consoled his father as best he could but he was inconsolable believing that he had lost his eldest and youngest sons during the attack. Little Tyler was currently cared for by his future aunt Delly Cartwright as Sonja's parents were on their way back from District 10.

Many Merchant citizens were missing along with eight from the Seam who at the time of the attacks were in town. It was reported that the Seam was barely touched.

As for Mrs. Mellark, she mourned for her eldest but didn't blink when she was first told that Peeta was missing.

"What a cold hearted bitch," Madge said with such derision. "She's probably glad that Peeta's dead." I gasped at her vehemence towards the woman as I couldn't blame her since Evelyn was a heartless and cold woman towards her youngest. "She better not be at the bakery or I swear…" She continued to mumble under her breath.

"Madge!" I was horrified and surprised by her protectiveness towards Peeta. I knew that she was close to Katniss so her scathing remark over Peeta's mom more than surprised me. Actually when you thought about it, I shouldn't have been surprised that Evelyn barely shed a tear for Peeta since the rumors of her abuse was well known secret. Evidence of the bruises that blemished his face and arms only confirmed it but no one said or did anything about it.

Rye greeted us as we made our way up to the second floor of the shop. Delly held little Tyler in her arms, as he was fast asleep.

"Delly," Madge called out to her. Delly looked sleep-deprived, as her eyes were puffy from crying. Rye had large dark circles under his eyes as he too looked like he hadn't slept in days. "I hope you don't mind the intrusion, but I bought you something to eat." She handed a basket to Rye who placed the basket onto the dining table.

"Hey, Madge," she returned as she rocked Tyler in her arms. "Thank you, we do appreciate it." I was grateful that Madge had the foresight to make food for them since I doubt food was on their minds.

"You look…tired. Do you want me to hold Tyler for a while?" Delly shook her head.

"Where's your father, Rye?" I asked. He gestured towards a door at the end of a hallway.

"In his bedroom," he answered. "He…hasn't slept all night worrying over Peeta. He was up all morning looking for them and just got back an hour ago."

"Still no news." Rye nodded his head. "I'm…sorry. I don't know what to say." I was lost for words. What do you say to someone who lost two siblings and a sister in law all at once? I may be the mayor of District 12 but when it came to loss of a loved one, it's difficult to know what to say or do. Words were meaningless and trite.

"I feel…helpless. I don't know what to do? Graham's gone and Peeta…we don't even know if he's…just missing or…dead." Tears appeared in his eyes. He wiped them off with the back of his hand. "I'm sorry, I didn't offer you anything like coffee of tea. Dad would be so mad at me––"

"Rye, stop," Madge interrupted. "We don't need anything. As a matter of fact, you guys look like you haven't eaten. I'll go downstairs and prepare coffee and tea."

"That's not necessary––" Rye began.

"No, Rye," I said. "Let Madge help. You're going to need your strength. Delly, why don't you put Tyler to bed and help Madge? I don't think she knows where things are in the kitchen."

"But––"

"I insist Delly," I ordered. "It'll help you keep your mind busy for a while. Besides, I need to talk to Rye in private."

"Oh, okay," Delly responded. She tucked Tyler to bed in Rye's room as she and Madge left leaving us alone. "I'm sorry but I need to speak to you since…you're dad's indisposed and well…I didn't want to bring this up yet but…"

"What's wrong, Mr. Undersee," Rye asked. I didn't want to be the bearer of bad news but…I had to make sure that someone was looking after their interest during the lowest point in their live.

"I don't want to be insensitive to your loss and you need time to grieve but I think it's important that I speak to you instead of your father."

"You're making me worried," he said half nervous and scared.

"It's about your mom." I winced as Rye's demeanor change from nervousness to anger.

"And what does she want?" he spat.

"Well, a couple of weeks ago, she asked me advice regarding the bakery," I informed him.

"Well, it's not like she has any legal right to my family business. What did she want to know?" My professional background before becoming the mayor of District 12 was law. She knew to come to me for legal advice.

"She wanted to know if she had any legal recourse incase something happened to your dad or Peeta." I knew that Jimmy had every intention of leaving the bakery to Peeta since Graham worked at the butcher shop while Rye had no intention of wanting ownership to the family business. "She wanted to know if she had any legal means to take it away from your father before he hands the business to Peeta."

"That conniving bitch," Rye exploded.

"And she wanted to know if Peeta's future wife had any legal means to own the bakery." Rye remained angry as he started to pace the length of the floor. "I told her she could if Peeta signs over partial ownership to his 'wife.' I'm sorry at the time when she asked I didn't think much of why she was asking." I knew that Jimmy would never sign partial ownership to Evelyn.

He never included Evelyn in the business denying her any rights to the family bakery. He told her that the bakery was passed down only to a blood relative. No husband or wife of a Mellark owned part of the business since it was built and established over 100 years ago.

"This is bullshit," Rye added. "God damnit I knew she was up to something."

"I don't understand." What could she have done now?

"For weeks now, she's been trying to…marry Peeta off to Agatha Berridge. She's hounding him for weeks even after knowing that he was with Katniss Everdeen." He bent over hands on knees as if a large weight rested on his shoulders. With Graham dead and Peeta missing or presumed dead, he was line to take over once his father passed. He would own the bakery even if he didn't want it. "It makes sense now. She thought that if she married Peeta to Agatha, both of them would manipulate him into signing the bakery to them." Peeta was sweet natured and kind but I doubted he would have fallen for their machinations let alone marry her.

"I didn't know about that. I assumed that your father was against forcing the match?"

"He was against it whole heartedly. I mean, everyone knew that Peeta had a crush on Katniss since we were kids," he laughed. "I didn't think that his crush would last. Guess we were wrong?" We chuckled for a second or two as we realized the reality of the situation. "Beside, dad would never force any of us to marry against our will. Nor would Peeta marry Agatha."

"You need to watch your dad. He'll be vulnerable grieving for your brothers. I could see your mother taking advantage of his grief to manipulate him," I explained.

"You're right, I wouldn't be surprised that mom would do that to dad." The idea angered Rye as I watched his cheek turned bright red.

"Rye?" Jimmy's voice filtered in the air through the hallway. He appeared a second later his clothes rumpled and his hair in disarray. His eyes were blood shot and he carried himself as if the world trampled on him and crushed his heart.

"Dad, I thought you were sleeping," Rye interjected.

"I tried, but my mind…to many things going on in my head," Jimmy said as he turned to me finally noticing my presence. "Heath, do you have any news about Peeta?" I shook my head wishing that I did. I was lost for words. What do you say to man who lost his sons and daughter in law? Jimmy walked passed us and headed towards the stairs.

"Dad, where are you going?"

"I can't sleep. We still have a business to run, Rye," he said. "Why didn't you open the shop?"

"Dad, it's Sunday," Rye reminded him. I could tell he was affronted that his Dad was concern for the bakery instead of taking time to grieve for Graham and Peeta.

"Jimmy, give yourself some time to grieve. You just lost Graham. The bakery can wait," I suggested. I knew what he was doing. He needed to keep his mind off the pain and grief he felt. Had Toby and Madge been taken from me I would have reacted the same.

"I…people still need to eat––"

"Dad, for God's sake," Rye answered back with shock and anger. "Graham…and Sonja are dead and you want…to open the bakery? And Peeta is…still missing."

"Rye, what do you want me to do? Graham is dead and Peeta is probably dead too."

"Fucking hell, Dad. How can you say that? I'm not giving up just because you have."

"Rye, Peeta and Katniss have been missing for hours. Where else can they be if they're not––"

"So you given up just like that?"

"I'm being realistic. I want to believe that they're still alive but you can only hope for so long." Jimmy was resolved. I could see it in his face. There was nothing that anyone can do or say to change the outcome unless Peeta and Katniss walked through the door.

"You've given up on Peeta, fine. But I'm going to look for him while you open up the bakery," he returned with derision. "Until I see his body or at least have evidence that Peeta is dead for real. I'm not going to stay here and work like business as usual."

It tore my heart watching father and son fight each other. People didn't know how to handle pain well as it was obvious how Jimmy and Rye handled the loss of their family members differently. Anger, loss, helplessness and pain fueled Rye's emotions. Jimmy was heart broken as he was convinced that he had lost two sons.

"Rye, what's going on?" Delly asked as she appeared at the top of the stairs with Madge right behind her. "Why are you yelling? You're going to wake up the baby." Rye winced as she berated him.

"Dad wants to open the bakery." Delly's face was unreadable which was usually odd since she was very expressive. Granted, she was grieving as well. "Can you believe it? Graham's dead and Peeta is missing. He wants to open the shop like it's an ordinary day."

"Dad, did you forget that it's Sunday?" Delly reiterated. "You're not open today."

"I forgot," Jimmy said in an absent manner. "I just need to keep busy––"

"We should be out looking for Peeta," Rye demanded. "If Graham was alive, he would be out there looking for him not fucking opening the bakery on Sunday."

"Rye, people handle grief and loss differently," I started. "You can't get mad at your father. You lost two brothers, he lost two sons."

"Peeta isn't dead. He can't be," Rye seethed between clenched teeth. "I'm not going to believe he's dead until I see his body. If he is, I want to take him home and bury him." He started to gasp and lose his breath. "I…I…he's suppose to be my best man at my wedding. Who's going to stand beside me now…"

Delly caught him in her arms as his knees started to buckle but he held himself as he placed both hands on his knees. "How am I supposed to get married without my brothers? Tyler isn't supposed to grow up without a father and an uncle. This can't be happening."

"Rye, son," Jimmy approached him.

"No." He waved his hand. "Don't!" He stood up and walked down the stairs. "I'm going to find my brother. Go ahead and open the shop, Dad if that'll make you feel better."

"Rye," Delly cried and walked after him. We could hear her yelling out his name as he exited the bakery. It was painful watching Jimmy's family falling apart.

Delly returned with tears in her eyes. "Dad," she cried as she slipped into Jimmy's arms. "I couldn't stop Rye from leaving."

"It's okay, Delly," he returned. "He'll come back when he's ready to face reality. Let him find his way."

"He's not going to stop looking for Peeta."

"I know. He's stubborn. I'm glad that he still feels hope but…"

"Do you really think that Peeta and Katniss are dead?" she asked. Jimmy was silent for a few seconds.

"I don't know," he said. "There is always hope but I want to be realistic." Suddenly, Tyler cried our needing attention.

"Oh, dear. He's probably hungry or I need to change him," Delly surmised. "Excuse me." She left the room. Jimmy turned to me.

"I'm sorry, Heath," he apologized. "Rye…he's not handling losing both Graham and Peeta. I don't know what to do."

"Hey, you've been going through a lot with Peeta and everything, you know? I don't blame you and I think the town can survive without you opening the shop," I said. "Rye was right for a couple of days. Take a couple of days off at least."

"I can't stop…if I stop I see Graham and Sonja. If I stop I see Peeta––the day he was whipped by Cray," he confessed. "If I stop I'll be imagining him dying and…I wasn't there to protect him."

"I understand," I stated. "But you look…I hate to admit it but you look awful. You need to rest and get some sleep."

"There so much to do," Jimmy imparted. "I have to make arrangements for Graham. Oh my God, Sonja's parents. Her parents are arriving today. Who's going to tell them?" I sensed his dread and panic.

"Don't worry about them, I'll take care of everything. Jimmy, wait until tomorrow to make plans. You need to stop, take a deep breath and think about Rye and Tyler. You can't afford to run yourself ragged." I didn't have the heart to tell him about his wife, Evelyn––what had she been up to. Now was not the time to add more grief in his life.

"I need to take care of Tyler and Delly," Jimmy started. "If Rye insists on…being gone all day looking for Peeta––"

"I don't mind sticking around, Mr. Mellark," Madge volunteered. "I don't have a lot to do today. Besides, I want to keep Delly company in case she needs me or anything."

"Thank you, Madge, I know that Delly will appreciate it. Thank you for stopping by, Heath," he said as he extended his hand. His handshake was weak and lifeless. It felt as though he lost his strength overnight.

With great reluctance I left the bakery leaving Madge behind. She was consoling Delly as she was angry and scared for Rye who left looking for his missing brother.

As I stepped on the streets, I felt angry and lost. I couldn't figure out what to do, where to go and how to move forward. My district, my home was attacked. Instead of feeling helpless I felt violated. As a mayor I had a job but not a purpose. For years I complied with the rules, guidelines and duties forced upon me. I didn't want to muddy the pond so to speak. I knew that Jimmy, Haymitch and Garrett had a few of the men making plans with the rebels. I turned my head at first not wanting to get involved. But my curiosity got the best of me, as I wanted to know what they were planning. It was an irrational thought process as I had one foot out the door. In other words, I lacked conviction and commitment to the cause. Jimmy and the guys were fighting for our future, our children's future while I stood idly by as they placed their lives in danger for my freedom from Snow and the Capitol.

It was time to do my part; it was time to fully commit myself to the cause.

Rye POV ––

'Peeta, where are you? Please be okay,' the words repeated in my head like a mantra. I ran to the park hoping against hope for any sign of my baby brother. A rock was lodged in my stomach. It had been stuck there for hours since Dad came back with news about Graham and Sonja. Graham. I closed my eyes and tried to stop the images that flashed in my head. I begged Dad to tell me how he and Sonja died.

Flashback ––

"I…it was bad enough to find them, Rye," Dad wheezed between his clenched teeth. "Please don't make or force me to tell you how I found them. I don't ever want you to remember seeing them like…it was a slaughter, Rye. It's just too morbid and horrifying to describe." I looked at Haymitch. He returned with Dad and I knew once they came back that Graham was dead. The expressions on their face said it all. That and the fact that he had Tyler with him.

"Where are they now?" Delly was besides me crying as she cradled baby Tyler in her arms. He was asleep not aware that both his parents were gone.

"Haymitch made arrangements to have them taken to the hospital morgue," he explained.

"What about Katja?" Delly asked. "What about Sonja's parents?"

"She wasn't harmed. Graham had managed to keep both her and Tyler safe." Dad announced. "Sonja's parents don't even know that she's dead. They're at District 10 right now. Katja is staying with other relatives."

"Oh my God, when are they coming back?" Delly asked her lips trembled as the weight of the situation sunk.

"Their train is scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning," Dad stated.

"I want to see him," I said. It didn't matter to me how horrified I would be to see Graham. My imagination alone supplied all sort of images of him brutalized and disfigured from the attacks. I needed proof that Graham was dead.

"No, Rye," Dad started. "They're not them anymore. Don't you understand? I don't want you to see him like that––"

"But what if I do want to? Do you have any idea the images that I keep creating in my head? Not knowing is worse. I need to see him."

"Rye, your Dad is right. Seeing Graham now…you Dad is right, you don't to remember him like that," Haymitch reiterated. "Besides, you have someone else to think about." I was puzzled by his statement. 'Who the hell is he talking about?'

"Tyler," Delly guessed. "Who's going to take care of Tyler?"

"You are next of kin who are about to get married," Haymitch said. "Legally Dieter and Agneth is next but you can petition to keep him that's if you want him."

"Can we not talk about this right now," I said frustrated and angry that the conversation veered into another direction. "Tyler will be with whomever takes care of him. I'm going to the hospital morgue to see Graham."

"Rye, please don't," Dad pleaded with me. "Why do you insist on traumatizing yourself?"

"You just don't get it. Both of you," I insisted. "Graham, survived his reapings. He wasn't supposed to die. He fell in love, got married and had a child. And now you're telling me he's dead. He's my brother…" The thought of him dead was unfathomable.

Impatient I left before anyone could stop me.

I ran all the way to the hospital. I could feel my heart beating in my chest. This didn't feel real. I kept saying it over and over. Graham and Sonja are okay and are working in the butcher shop. I barely acknowledge the destruction that the dog attacks left behind. It didn't matter to me.

The moment I walked into the hospital the scent of antiseptic and cold air assaulted my senses. I imagined Graham in a cold room like this alone with no one to watch over him.

I walked over to the front desk ignoring the visitors already inside the room. "I'm here to see Graham Mellark. I was told that his body is at the morgue," I told the receptionist at the front desk."

"Um…hold on a second," the girl said as she looked up and addressed me. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No, I don't." An appointment? Who the hell makes an appointment to view a body?

"You need to sign in to make an appointment."

"I don't fucking want to make an appointment," I roared. "My brother is dead. He's in your morgue, damnit."

"Is there a problem here," a security guard asked as he approached us. The guard was tall and lean. I looked him up and down. He didn't look intimidating even though he had a gun on his holster. I couldn't focus or think straight.

"I want to see my brother," I demanded.

"He's here without an appointment," receptionist added.

"Fuck your appointment. I want to see my brother now," I said losing patience.

"Hey, you're making a scene," the guard stated as he laid a hand on my arm. I flinched back at his touch as I was filled with rage and loss. "You need to make an appointment like everyone else or leave." Just at that moment, a man was wheeled into the emergency room. He was drenched in his own blood from stomach to his lower body as he was covered with a blanket. I could tell his legs were…gone, missing. The sight of him made me realize that he could have been Graham. Since my Dad refused to tell me how he died, the possibilities of his death filled my mind. Was he torn and brutalized so horribly that I couldn't recognize him anymore? Did he and Sonja die painfully as the dogs ripped their limbs from their body?

I hunched over in nauseam as I imagined Graham's injuries. "Rye," Haymitch's voice penetrated my haze. I didn't realize he was there beside me. "You shouldn't be here alone." I couldn't stop the tears brimming my eyes.

"Now, do you understand why you shouldn't see your brother?" His words didn't click for a second, as I was too busy trying to stop from throwing up. "Come on, let's go home." He led me out of the building. Once I was outside, I turned to the nearest bush and vomited.

Dad and Haymitch were right to stop me but I still needed to see my brother. "I…have to see him, Haymitch,' I insisted.

"Just wait for a day or two, you're reacting out of anger and grief. Give your self time," he advised me. "I want you to think about this. You're dad lost Graham, your nephew lost his parents and Peeta is missing. You're all your dad has left. Don't do anything stupid to make him lose you too." I ignored his concern for me, as the only thing that mattered now was Peeta. "Peeta could still be out there injured. You need to focus. Don't add any more grief for your Dad. He needs you."

"Do you think he's still alive?" I asked him. I needed his opinion even if he lied to me.

"Your little brother is resourceful and smart," Haymitch said with a small smile on his haggard face. He too looked like he lost someone dear to him. He did; he lost Peeta who meant something to him. I never understood his connection to my baby brother but then again everyone loved him. "Until his body is recovered I refused to believe that he's dead."

I smiled for the first time in hours. "You need to grow up and think about what's left of your family. Take care of them. Peeta will expect you to do that."

It was a small comfort to hear that Haymitch believed that Peeta was alive. I needed physical proof not wishes. My feet felt heavy as I walked back to bakery. I wasn't ready to face them so crept to the back of bakery hoping that everyone was still upstairs. That's when I saw 'him.' The bane of Peeta's existence––the one person who started all the problems and trauma he experienced.

"What the fuck, Hawthorne?" I said seething in anger. He was alive while my brother was missing. How was that for justice?

"Be quiet," he snarked back.

"Fuck you, if you think I'm going to listen you." I approached him ready to slam him down on the ground.

"Hide me," he whispered in a panicked tone. "There's still Peacekeepers everywhere." That's when I noticed that he held two bows and a quiver.

'Shit,' My mind sputtered. Gale may deserve a beating but that didn't mean that I would let the Peacekeepers find him with a bow for that matter. Besides, I knew Peeta would never forgive me if Katniss' best friend was found with contraband.

"Please Rye, I need your help." He was desperate.

Though the wild dogs were contained, Darius had a few Peacekeepers patrolling the town just in case they returned or found stragglers. My mind buzzed with images of being discovered with Gale so I yanked him inside the building just as two Peacekeepers appeared at the alley.

I slammed the door close and leaned back onto the door. My heart beat so hard and fast I thought I was going to pass out. I looked out window and watched the patrol pass the bakery. 'Thanks, I've been dodging the Peacekeepers for the past hour," he explained as set the equipment on the steel worktable.

"What the fuck were doing out there and with that?" I pointed to the bows and arrows.

"Mr. Everdeen and I was looking for Katniss," he stated. "Then we got separated and I've been playing hide and seek trying to get past them. They're everywhere." I didn't give a shit for his explanation.

"Well, the coast is clear," I announced. "Get the hell out of here." With his proximity there was one thing in my mind but I chose to control my urge to bring it to fruition. I was so angry that beating Gale Hawthorne would satiate my fury. Then, I remembered what Haymitch said to me.

'You're dad lost Graham, your nephew lost his parents and Peeta is missing. You're all your dad has left. Don't do anything stupid to make him lose you too.'

"Can't I stay here until it gets dark? The suns about to set in about half an hour." I flinched. Half an hour with Hawthorne would test my resolve.

"You got to be kidding me?"

"What?"

"You want me to hide you after everything you've done to Peeta? You got a lot of balls, Hawthorne. Get the hell out now." I said to him my teeth gnashed together as I clenched the hands onto my sides. I took a deep breath as anger and fury filled my mind. Here was a guy who hated my brother because Peeta had the nerve to have a crush on his best friend. His best friend who he mistreated as he slept with girls in the slagheap. What kind of man was he to think that a girl would want him after sleeping with half his classmates? I admitted that I took a girl or two at the heap. The last girl was Delly.

"I…listen…I know that there isn't anything I could do to make up for the hurt and damaged I caused," he started. "But your brother stole my girl––"

"He didn't steal anyone you didn't have in the first place," I reminded him. During our dinner with the Everdeens, Prim had explained that Gale was never anything but a close friend to her sister Katniss. She had never thought of him but as a brother she adored and trusted. He thought otherwise taking it for granted that she felt the same as him.

"Shut up, Mellark," Gale bit back. "You don't know anything about my relationship with Katniss."

"But I do, Prim told me everything," I announced. "She said that Katniss was never your 'girl.' I air quoted the last remark. He remained quiet.

"I'll admit that I took it for granted thinking that Katniss wanted me," he confessed. "I just assumed that she wasn't ready." He sighed in resignation. "Everyone keeps telling me that she's never going to be mine. Fine, I get it. She thinks of me as a brother. What I don't understand is out of all the guys in District 12, how could she even think of falling for Peeta? I mean he's younger than her. He's just a boy and a pretty pathetic one––"

I didn't let him finish. He had a lot of nerve insulting my brother. He was twice the man Gale could ever be. "Shut the fuck up," I balled my fists. My brother was missing, presumed dead and he was insulting him.

"It's the truth," he said with a smug smile on his face. "I don't know what she sees in him." I knew he was taunting me.

"I just saved your sorry ass just a few minutes ago you ungrateful bastard. And unless you don't shut up and stop insulting my brother, I'll go outside and gladly turn you in for the asshole that you are." Gale's eyes grew wide like saucers.

"You wouldn't––"

"Try me," I challenged him. "And for the record, I'll tell you why she chose my brother since you can't see it. I just had one conversation with you and I know why Katniss picked Peeta." I dared him to argue or contradict me. "You don't know Peeta. He's never done a single horrible thing to you and yet you'd find any opportunity to bad mouth him. What kind of person does that?" I asked him. "You're mean and jealous of him.

"Why would be jealous of him?" he scoffed. I knew the answer.

"He has Katniss. And Katniss seems to want him back. They're in a relationship and it's killing you that she chose him over you. And there is nothing you can do about it."

Gale gritted his teeth. I could tell he wanted to argue back but he couldn't since what I said was true and he knew it.

"You know what," I said with impatience. "You can hide here for a while, but that doesn't mean I have to talk to you or see you, you ungrateful asshole." This good deed stuff that Peeta did with ease was hard work. I could never understand how he tolerated people mistreating or bad mouthing him.

"Its' just words," Peeta explained. "Words and comments from people don't matter to me. I don't care what other people think or say about me. My friends and family know who I am." He believed that you treat people the way you want them to treat you. In theory that's great, but with a mother like ours it was a complete failure. She treated him abominably and despite the abuse he never lashed back in anger. My brother Peeta was no saint but it was difficult to measure up to him.

I hid Gale inside Dad's office. "Stay here." I ordered him. The less I saw him the less likely I won't be tempted to beat the crap out of him. I wasn't ready to face my dad so I stayed downstairs until the time was up.

Half an hour later, the sun settled beyond the horizon covering the alley in darkness. I stuck my head out the door checking for Peacekeepers. "The coast is clear. You should be able to head back now." I wanted him out of my sight since I had kept him a secret from Dad and Delly.

If Gale was caught I didn't want them to be involved. "Leave the bow and arrows," I told him as he picked them off the table.

"Why should I?" he asked. I rolled my eyes at him. For someone who considered himself to be smart and quick on his feet, he was pretty stupid.

"Do you want to get caught with them with you," I returned. "Think Hawthorne."He nodded his head realizing that I was right.

Before he exited the door, he turned. "Hey, Mellark, thank you," he said. I knew it was killing him to be grateful.

"I didn't do it for you," I said. "I did it for my brother Peeta." He grimaced and exited the room. I peered through the window as I watched him disappear and head back towards the Seam.

End of Flashback ––

The encounter with Gale left a bad taste in my mouth that I refused to think about him longer than necessary. I concentrated on finding my brother. I didn't want to believe that Peeta and Katniss were dead. Fighting with Dad was the last thing I wanted to do but, it was better than wallowing in self-pity and feeling helpless. I needed…to find him. It was a mistake to try to see Graham yesterday, that was true. I wouldn't have been prepared to see him decimated and ripped apart. I'll forever be grateful for Haymitch for stopping me. All night I twisted and turned in my sleep that I left my bed not wanting to disturb Delly. Dad bought an old cradle from the attic for Tyler as he slept in my room.

Haymitch was right that he was my responsibility now. Not even married yet and I had a child to support. I swore that I would protect and take of Graham's son as if he was my own.

All around me I noticed the damage the dog attacks left in my town––businesses and homes broken into and trails of blood on the ground. The images wasn't what disturbed me, it was the silence. It was too quiet. What were missing was the sights and sounds of children running up and down the street, Mrs. Gordon screaming at them for making so much noise, even the smell of bread emitting from the bakery was absent. The town looked dead and deserted. It didn't look or feel like my home. If I was Peeta where would I be at the time of the attacks? Did they linger at the park since Delly packed them a picnic basket? There was only one way to find out.

I found myself at the park with no problems. I anticipated being stopped by a Peacekeeper telling me to go home since the town felt deserted. There was evidence of dog attacks as the smell of blood and traces of it was left on the ground. I gulped feeling a ball of saliva stuck in my throat. I prayed that it wasn't Peeta and Katniss' but since they were not listed as dead, I prayed that it wasn't theirs.

"Hey, Rye! What are you doing here?" Peacekeeper Darius called out to me. I turned to face him. Behind him were his patrol buddies––the same guys that were with him yesterday.

"I was…I'm looking for my brother Peeta," I said.

"Oh I see," he returned. "What makes you think of coming over here?"

"He and his girlfriend Katniss Everdeen were here having a picnic yesterday," I explained. "Do you have any idea whose blood is that?" I pointed to pool of blood on the ground.

"It's not your brother's or his girlfriend I assure you."

"Thanks for letting me know, Darius," I said. I was grateful. I mean I knew it wasn't but hearing from him assured me.

"I'm sorry for your loss," he said. "I heard about your brother and his wife." I nodded my head, as I was speechless. It still didn't seem real to me that Graham was gone. "I know that your other brother Peeta is missing." Hearing him say Peeta's name made it real.

"How many are missing?"

"Twelve Merchant and 8 from the Seam," Darius answered back.

"The Seam. I thought the Merchants were only attacked."

"They didn't go to the Seam itself, but those who were in town were attacked. I think you know one of them. Gale Hawthorne." I gasped in surprise. He was attacked? How was that possible? "He was last seen being dragged into the woods."

'Huh,' my mind sputtered. Gale was caught and dragged into the woods during the dog attacks. And there was a witness? The thought boggled my mind. I was certain that he was alive the last time I saw him as he left the bakery yesterday. The dogs had left by the time Gale hid at the bakery. It didn't make any sense. I schooled my reaction and emotions hoping that Darius couldn't detect my surprise and confusion. He equated my silence as indifference.

"I guess no love lost between you two, huh?" I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't blame you. Gale's behavior as of late has been a problem especially for your family." Darius approached me. He leaned over and whispered in my ear. His gestured puzzled and surprised me. "Listen, the fence was down, I know you knew that. I think Peeta might have crossed the fence when the dogs attacked." It never dawned on me that it was a possibility. The fact that he told me was more surprising. Why was he helping me?

Then he turned and walked away. If what Darius said was true then it was possible that Peeta and Katniss survived the dog attacks as they were far beyond the fence. However, how are they able to return home since the fence was back on again? I needed help and I knew whom to turn to.

Peeta POV ––

The sound of Katniss' screams woke me from my sleep. It was dark inside the tree as the fire blew out by the early morning. "Katniss?" I cried out into the darkness as I felt my way out of our shelter. I looked around me straining to see what direction her screams were coming from.

"Peeta!" she screamed. "Run." 'Run?' She expected me to run when I knew that the Peacekeepers found her. Why did she leave our shelter?

"Come out, Mellark," a loud booming voice filled the morning air. "If you don't want to see your girlfriend hurt, come out now." I felt for my knife sheathed on my leg. It was missing. It must have fallen off when I was asleep. I ran back to the tree and dropped onto my knees feeling the floor for the knife. I winced as I cut myself but managed to grab the handle. I stepped out just in time to hear her scream again.

"Peeta, run," she continued to scream. No fucking way was I about to desert or leave her in their hands. I thought for a second what I needed to do. I took off my heavy threaded shoes. On the way over Katniss teased me saying that my footsteps could be heard all over the forest alerting every prey and game. I smiled at the memory realizing it was her first attempt in flirting with me. It was cute.

To my left I saw a flash of white amongst the trees. I deftly walked over taking each step slow and light hoping that I wouldn't alert my presence. Ten yards away a Peacekeeper held Katniss with an arm around her neck. The other two held their rifles as they looked around them waiting for me to appear. I leaned my back against a tree. Three against one as Katniss was immobile.

"Tell me where he is or I'll just start burning everything around us," the Peacekeeper said as he held her. One of the soldiers held a long rifle. It was heavier and bigger than the military issue they carried. He was carrying a flame-thrower.

I knelt onto the floor, grabbed a rock and grasped into my hand. Suddenly I noticed a light brown deer a few yards away from me. He looked back as we sized each other. I threw the rock at it hoping it would be spooked and catch the Peacekeeper's attention. It worked.

"There's movement over there," one of the Peacekeepers spoke.

"Well, go check it out, you idiot," he ordered him. The Peacekeeper took off running after the deer mistaking it for me. "Reynolds, go with him." He ordered the soldier with the flame-thrower.

"What about you?" he returned.

"I think I can handle one girl," he said as he squeezed Katniss' neck. "Go." Reynolds nodded his head and ran off after his companion. "You better hope that your boyfriend cooperates. I don't think that President Snow will care if we bring his carcass back to him."

"Don't hurt him," Katniss uttered. "Peeta hasn't done anything wrong."

"You're wrong about that. What are you two doing out here?"

"Nothing. We…just wanted to get away from the district and…have some privacy."

"There are plenty of places for you to fuck around," he leered at her.

"You don't understand because you're not from here," Katniss started. This was my opportunity. I walked around as I edged closer to them. I needed the element of surprise if I was to free Katniss from the Peacekeeper's hold on her. 'May God forgive me for what I'm about to do.'

"Peeta is merchant and I'm Seam," she continued. "Our relationship is not accepted. It's forbidden, not socially accepted. We've been sneaking out to be together against his mother's wishes."

"Oh, you two are the Star-Crossed Lovers of District 12 that President Snow talked about," he sneered. 'What?' Star-Crossed Lovers?' "You two are fucking joke if you ask me. What makes you both so goddamn special that I had to be brought to this wretched district to come after your boyfriend?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. We're not special or Star-Crossed anything." Her denial stung but it was true. We weren't lovers at all. Didn't she just admit the night before that she wanted to be with me? Never mind, this was not the time or place to thing about our complicated relationship.

"Aw, but you see President disagrees with you. And I was brought here to bring Mellark to him."

"I don't know anything. All I know is that I want to be with Peeta and coming out here was the only place we could be together." I was impressed at Katniss' lies. I too was mesmerized with her explanation that it granted me the time to sneak behind them. He wanted me? He'll have to fight me to get me. I won't go willingly and not involve Katniss with my troubles. I had to free him from her.

"You know the penalty for crossing beyond the fence?" he stated rather than ask. We knew the penalty––incarceration, stripped and whipped or death depending upon the reason for crossing the fence.

"I don't care," she returned. "Peeta is worth it. We have done nothing wrong. We just wanted to be together."

"Aw…how disgusting sweet––" I took that moment as a distraction and ran as fast I could. Once I reached them, I pushed the Peacekeeper onto the ground praying that his hold on Katniss loosened. All three of us landed on the ground with a loud thud. I was fortunate to land on top of the Peacekeeper from behind. The fall gave me an advantage.

"Katniss, run," I screamed as I wrestled the taller Peacekeeper onto the floor face down and an arm behind his back. She stood frozen as she watched me wrestle with the taller and heavier Peacekeeper.

"No, Peeta I'm not going to leave you alone with––"

"Damnit, Katniss, run before other two Peacekeepers come back." The peacekeeper grunted in pain as I pulled his arm back.

"Yeah, you better run because when my men get back, you'll wish that you're dead," he said between clenched teeth.

"Go!"

"No!"

"Think of Prim, your parents," I reminded her of the most important people in her life.

"What about your family?" she started.

"Snow wants me, Katniss. Just fucking leave now." She looked into my eyes as panic and fear were stamped on her face. "Please go before they catch you." For a moment that felt like a lifetime, her gray orbs met mine. I saw pain, fear, indecision and frustration. "Go."

She ran. I sighed in relief and resignation knowing that she could take care of herself and was safe from harm. They were after all looking for me.

I was distracted for a moment that the guard bucked upwards causing to land on my back. I winced as I felt pain shot from the base of my back to my neck. He was on his knees as he reached over for his microphone. Without thinking of the consequences, I stood up and wrapped an arm around his neck and squeezed, hard and firm.

"Let me go," he wheezed between his teeth. "I swear that I won't hurt you and your girlfriend, much." I squeezed his neck some more. "She is a great piece of ass. I'm going to enjoy fucking her––" The image of him hurting her made me angry. I was enraged that I lost all sense of reason as I continued squeeze to his neck. The image of Ivan assaulting her resurfaced in my mind. I wasn't about to let it happen again. With a firm grip, he started to choke from lack of air.

I ignored his rant as I only thought of Katniss running for her life and the men hurting her if she got caught. He struggled, the more he struggled the more I added pressure around his neck. My arm ached but I continued to squeeze until he stopped struggling and his body went slacked. He slithered to the ground. Shocked, I stood up my heart raced hard against my chest as I breathed through my mouth. The Peacekeeper lay still on the ground as the reality of what I've done sunk into my head. "Oh God, oh God, oh God."

"Freeze," a voice spoke from behind me. "Keep your hands up and turn around." I turned and saw one of the Peacekeeper who went after the deer returned.

"You killed him," he said as he pointed his rifle at me. "Shit, you killed him." His anger grew with each passing second. "You fucking killed him." I wished he'd stopped repeating what I already knew. He was annoying.

"Get on your knees," he said as he took a step closer. I shook not out of fear but of exhaustion. "When President Snow ordered us to find you he didn't say dead or alive." I lowered my head in resignation. This was it. "And since you did kill one of us, I could easily say that I killed you in self defense." I looked up and faced him.

He pointed the flamethrower directly to me. I couldn't dodge or avoid the spray no matter how I tried. I was going to burn to death.

My only thoughts were that I wished that I had a chance to say good-bye to my Dad and brothers. I prayed that President Snow would leave Katniss alone. All of their troubles would cease once I'm gone and everyone in District 12 would be safe.

Just as I was resigned to meet my death, a soft whooshing sound filled the air. It came out of nowhere that it startled the Peacekeeper. He had a stunned look on his face with his eyes wide like saucers. Then suddenly he dropped the flame thrower on the ground, fell onto his knees and tumbled onto the ground face down. From behind, there was an arrow lodged onto the center of his back.

I looked up and saw my savior once again. "Peeta, Peeta," Katniss screamed my name as she dropped her bow and ran to me crashing her body against mine. "Oh my God, oh my God. He almost––" She sobbed and hugged me close. Her arms were clasped around me so tight, I couldn't breath. Numbed from the ordeal I was stunned and speechless to react in kind as my arms were pinned to my sides.

"Come on," she said as she rose from the ground pulling me up with her. "We got to get out of here before the other one comes back." She turned around and started to walk over to her bow when I turned my head. From the corner of my eye I recognized the last Peacekeeper. He appeared from behind a tree. He saw Katniss first, raised his rifle, and aimed it at her. Without thinking I lifted my knife from my waist and threw it at him.

I heard a gurgling sound before I noticed where the knife landed on his body. I gasped in horror when I noticed that the blade had connected to middle of his neck. Blood ran down coloring his white armor crimson red.

I didn't know what happened next as if I was watching someone's life instead of my own. Katniss ran to the downed Peacekeeper and pulled the knife out of his neck and sheathed it back onto my waist. She went to the other Peacekeeper and pulled the arrow from his back. She grunted for a second as she had a difficult time pulling it out. I saw her lips moved but I didn't hear a single sound or word that escaped her mouth. She picked up her bow and ran back to me grabbing my hand hard and dragged me away from the pile of bodies.

I didn't know how long we were walking. When she suddenly stopped and faced me. "Peeta?" I felt dazed. "Peeta, talk to me."

I couldn't feel anything––not the sun as the light shone on my head, the cold wind cooling my sweaty skin nor could I hear the birds in trees as they serenaded to each other. I looked down on my hands and saw red. My hands were covered with dirt, blood and stains from the berries. My mind was muddled that I forgot that I bled earlier. The blood on my hands was my mine own but my mind said it wasn't.

"I have blood on my hands," I muttered to myself. Then, I remembered that I killed two men. I had taken two lives. The thought sickened me with guilt, shame and remorse.

"Peeta?" she called my name again. I heard her voice but I lost focus as world around me turned black.

Katniss POV ––

I felt a weight on my chest and legs were numb. After Peeta fainted I caught his body just before he hit the ground. "Oh, Peeta," I said as I gently laid his head on my lap. I realized the weight of the situation finally caught up to him. It wasn't everyday that you took a life even if it was justified. As a hunter, I could accidently take a life. The odds were small but probable. For Peeta, the odds were possible in the event of saving one's life, which what happened. He had to. He had no choice.

When he opened his eyes steel grey met crystal blue brimmed with tears. "Peeta?" I spoke soft and low. "Hey, you're okay," I added. The turn of events flashed in my mind––the picnic at the meadow, the dog attacks, Peeta getting injured, hiding from Peacekeepers, me captured and killing three Peacekeepers. That pretty much summed up the last 24 hours. And this was our first date.

"What time is it?" he asked as he closed my eyes. I felt achy all over from sitting on the cold, hard ground that I felt exhausted. I brushed a lock of hair across his forehead. The motion calmed him for a few seconds as the reality of our situation reminded me that we were still in danger.

I looked up into the sky. "A little after six." Peeta tried to sit up but fell back. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Just got dizzy for a second when I sat up too fast," he explained.

Adjusting my eyes, I looked around me. The air was cool as slight breeze grazed my skin. I smelled earth, pine and the foliage around us. On an ordinary day, I would have been awed and appreciative of the beauty around me. Knowing what had transpired dampened my appreciation and interest. Peeta had a dazed look on his face as if his mind was trying to catch up to the reality.

"Peeta, you know that it wasn't your fault––" I started.

"I don't want to talk about it," he interrupted me. If he didn't talk about it, we could pretend that we didn't kill three Peacekeepers in order to save our lives. He was in denial and I wasn't about to press the matter.

"How's your ankle?" I asked changing the subject. I turned and looked at him for the first time since awakening. His hair was a mess and he had dirt and grime on his face. He looked… ethereally beautiful like a one of those marble statues I've seen in our old world history books. Me, my hair were probably sticking out like a wild bush and I looked as though I had been rolling in the ground, as I felt dirty and disgusting. I wanted a bath and clean clothes. This was fine end with my date with Peeta. 'How memorable,' my mind sarcastically echoed in my head.

He applied pressure to his foot in response as he bent his knees and stomped it on the ground. 'Where are your shoes?' my mind pondered. "I guess the leaves worked. I can't feel anything," he pressed. I traced the scabs that grew on his shoulder from the attack he endured the day before. Was that just yesterday? It felt like a week since then.

"You're not bleeding," I commented. "At least you won't need stitches." He snorted.

"Yeah, that's all I need more scars to match the ones on my back," he commented in a sarcastic tone.

"We should probably go over to my house and get something on them to make sure you don't get an infection," I mumbled.

"That's if we figure out how to get over the fence," he reminded me.

"One thing at a time, Peeta," I said. "Come on, let's get going in case there's another group of Peacekeepers looking for us." After relocating his shoes we headed back home. Hiding bow and arrow and knife behind, I placed an arm around his waist as he dropped an arm over my shoulders. It wasn't necessary for me to support him but I needed his proximity as I realized how I almost lost him.

After a few feet he stumbled. "Thanks," he said as I steadied himself tightening his arm around my shoulder. "That's all I need. To land on my face from being weak and helpless." I winced at his self-deprecating comment. Then he stopped.

"Peeta, what's wrong?" I inquired. His face was pinched with grief and pain.

"I can't go back," he said.

"What do you mean?" He couldn't be suggesting what I thought he was saying.

"I can't go back home. President Snow sent those men after me. He knew that I went beyond the fence."

"And he probably knows I'm with you."

"But he's not after you. He wants me. You heard those Peacekeepers." Then, his eyes grew wide. "Oh, God. I killed them. I killed two people."

"And I shot one too, Peeta," I reminded him.

"But they don't know that," he started. "You can still go home. I'll take responsibility for their deaths. They don't have to know––"

"No, I'm not going back without you. I'm not going to let you cover for me. I killed a peacekeeper too." I said to him my voice was firm and hard.

"You should just head back without me––"

"What are you going to do out here? How are you going to survive out here alone?"

He thought for a few seconds. "I…you can give me your bow."

"Peeta, you're being irrational. You won't last out here."

"And what do you think is going to happen to me when we get back?" he yelled. "We've been gone for twenty four hours."

"I don't care. I'm not leaving you out here alone."

"I'll just wait for Snow to get me. It's better this way. Better for everyone. " He was pissing me off. Just when I finally had the courage to tell him how I felt about him, he was sacrificing himself to President Snow. "Then everyone will be safe. "

"No, stop being so goddamn noble and thinking about everyone. What am I suppose to tell your dad? That I lost you in the woods? That I gave you up to Snow?" I knew that he was stubborn. He pressed me until he had his way, but I was just as stubborn. I wasn't going to give him up.

"I'm just so tired, Katniss," he admitted. "I don't know how much more I can take. Every day…it's so hard to just…I don't want to live like this." He struggled to focus. Peeta was usually good with words charming people around him without any effort. "Everyone I love is in danger. And now that I've…I took two lives. I don't know what Snow will do when he find out. He'll probably come after you and your family too. You'll never be safe with me in your life."

"No, I'm not letting you go." Was he breaking up with me? Already?

"It's for you own good."

"I killed two Peacekeepers, Katniss. Snow will––"

"You saved us," I shouted back. "We're alive because of you."

"And a bigger target for Snow. What have I done?"

"Peeta, please. Don't make me leave you out here," I begged. "I can't go back without you." He was in pain and riddled with guilt. Nothing I said comforted him. No sweet words or gesture enticed him. There wasn't an easy resolution. "Peeta, I brought you out beyond the fence. I am just as to blame. You wouldn't have had to kill those Peacekeepers if I hadn't led us out here."

"It'll be better for everyone if I just hand myself over to Snow."

"No, no."

"Once I'm gone, my family will be safe. You'll all be safe. Snow can't touch them or you anymore," he convinced himself.

"You're being selfish," I spat back.

"Selfish?" he retorted. "I'm trying to save my family and everyone I love and you're telling me I'm selfish?"

"Yes, because how do you think you're family especially you're Dad is going to feel when I come back without you? You're making a decision on your own without thinking about how you're family will feel when you're gone." 'And me, how you can give up now that I need you?'

"Katniss, my family is already in danger. Snow threatened me."

"I know––"

"No, you don't," he screamed. "You don't know anything."

"Then tell me," I yelled back. "Tell me what he said to you. Tell what he wants from you, tell me why you're willing to hand yourself over to him." I wanted him to fight, fight for his family and for the people he loved. I wanted him to fight me and for himself.

"He's using me to find out the identity of the MockingJay."

I gasped in horror. "I didn't know." He dropped his head in defeat. "How can you…how are you suppose to do that?"

"I…I don't know what to do anymore," he confessed. "If don't cooperate, my family's lives are in danger and if I do…I'll be sending someone to his death, him and anyone he's involved with." Finally, the truth was revealed. Peeta carried a burden that no one knew about. "Now, do you understand why I can't go back?"

"I don't care," I returned. "You're not handing yourself over to Snow. No one needs to know what happened in the woods. They're dead Peeta. Dead men tell no tales. For all they know we went out beyond the fence and got stuck. We stayed the night to be together."

"It's too risky."

"Well, it's better than what you're suggesting," I bit back. He looked resigned. "Peeta, we can do this. No one knows. You heard them yesterday, even Peacekeepers Darius didn't they were out there looking for us." I was tired of fighting with him over this. "Please. Just…we have to take our chances."

"We're gambling with our lives, we're gambling our family's lives." I was aware of the risk. "Can you live with the consequences?"

"I don't know. I only know one thing. You promised me more dates. You promised me to give me a chance to be your girlfriend for real."

"Katniss," he choked. I got him. What I said amounted to emotional blackmail, but if it worked I didn't care.

"I need you. I need you to survive. Don't make me live in this world without you. And for the last time, I'm not going home without you. I'm not letting you give yourself up to President Snow."

"Katniss," he sighed.

"Please, Peeta. Fight this. Fight for your family," I added. "I'll be with you every step of the way. You're not alone anymore. We can do this together."

"Together?"

"Together," I said with finality. He nodded his head tired and resigned. Once he agreed, I wrapped my arms around his lean waist. I wanted to laugh, cry and shout at the world. We stood there for a few minutes relishing the moment we had together. For now, it was Peeta and I against the world and I would do anything to keep it that way.

The walk back to town was fast as we reached the fence and stopped. "Stay here and let me go on ahead and see if the fence is up," I said as I set him down on a tree stump. "I'll be right back." He didn't acknowledge me at first so I grabbed his hand to get his attention.

"Peeta, stay here, okay?" He nodded his head acknowledging my presence. I looked around making sure that no one saw me as I picked up a rock off the ground and threw it at the fence. The rock sizzled and sparked as it hit the electrified fence.

As I walked back to Peeta I could see his drooped shoulders and weary form. He looked dazed and lost. I knew that his self esteem and self worth was at its' lowest as I took charge. Adding to the fact that he killed two people weighed heavily on his mind and heart. The thought that he was willing to turn himself in to President Snow gutted me.

My poor Peeta had a gentle soul. I couldn't imagine how he felt. He had never imagined that he would ever take a life as his occupation was a baker. As for me, killing the Peacekeeper was something I could never regret. It was him or Peeta.

"It's up," I sighed as I reached him.

"So what now?" he wondered.

"Well, those Peacekeeper yesterday were looking for us. So I guess, we wait for them to turn off the fence." I wasn't about to admit that they might not turn it off anytime soon.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him up. "We need to rest someplace where they won't see or find us." He let me lead him willingly as he was resigned that there was no point in arguing. The further I led away from the fence the less attentive he became closing himself off. I've only known Peeta for a few weeks and yet I knew that he was shocked, traumatized for killing two Peacekeepers. Their deaths would consume his soul unless I helped and consoled him. He needed me.

Along the way I gathered a few berries and nuts. We sat on a couple of cut tree trunks a few yards away from the fence. It was quiet and peaceful for a Sunday morning. Something in the air made me uncomfortable but I couldn't discern my uneasiness. The nuts and berries I gathered were tasty but not filling. It made me hungry and thirsty only temporarily satisfying my appetite. I wondered if I should check on the snares incase we needed to stay over night.

"What's wrong?" I asked as I watched him scratched the back of his head.

"Nothing," he responded back. He wasn't about to admit that he was uncomfortable and in pain. I knew him well enough to know that he kept his pain and his troubles to himself. I'll have to help him break that habit. 'Pot calling he kettle black,' I snickered to myself. I too had a habit of doing the same.

"Peeta? Why are you scratching your head?" I asked as I watched him dig his fingers into his scalp.

He shrugged his shoulders. "My head itches, that's all." He didn't want to make a deal out of it. I got up and stood behind him to inspect the back of his head. My fingers parted his hair at the spot he was rubbing. Then I gasped in alarm. "Oh my God, Peeta."

"What?"

"You have a cut on your head and it's still bleeding," I sputtered as my voice croaked from nausea. "Why didn't you tell me?" I looked around for the familiar plant hoping that there were within the vicinity. Plucking a few leaves from the bush, I pressed the leaf onto his cut. He winced in pain. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't know," he admitted. "I landed my on my head when the dog attacked me. I just thought I bumped it." His hands were filthy and discolored due to the nightlock but I could tell that there were traces of fresh blood on his fingers.

"Oh my God, Peeta," I exclaimed with concern and frustration. "Are you sure you're not injured anywhere else?"

"I'm fine Katniss," he returned. "Really. I don't think I hurt myself anywhere else, I promise." With my heart beating hard against my chest, I walked around and stood between his legs. He jumped in surprise as I wrapped my arms around him cradling his head on my chest. The gesture was intimate and personal unlike the other hugs were shared. Stunned, he was stiff at first at my…touch. "I'm sorry, Peeta," I said with such remorse in my tone. I rested my chin on top of his head.

He placed his trembling hands on my hips. "Why?" he asked. A simple word he said that didn't need explaining. I knew. He was just so tired. We both were. I relished this precious moment after having dreamt of holding him like this. It didn't feel real. I waited for the moment when I'll wake up in my bed and find myself asleep with Prim by my side.

"I didn't want our first date…our first real date with you coming home hurt. This was not how I wanted it to end. What is your Dad going to say when he sees you coming home with a sprained ankle, your shoulder shredded from a dog attack and a bleeding wound on your head and me, without a scratch on me." I sniffled as I fought to contain tears brimming my eyes.

"That a date with Katniss Everdeen will never be boring," he quipped back with a small laugh. I chuckled back glad that he found humor in our dire situation. This was what I admired about him. He remained calm, collect and optimistic despite the fact that we were stranded beyond the fence. I felt safe with him.

"I'm really sorry, Peeta." I pulled back and leaned my head down. His soft eyes met mine.

"Hey, don't be hard on yourself," he said. "The date part…best date ever." I scoffed. "No, I mean it. I had a date with Katniss Everdeen. I never thought that would happen." I smiled. He had a smile on his face that lit the world around me.

"You're lying just to make me feel better," I joked.

"I'd never lie to you, Katniss," he said low and soft like a wisp of wind. The timber of his voice sent a shiver up my arms and down to my spine.

I stared at his plump red lips. Lips red from the berries we ate. We were so close that I catalogued his facial feature, his eyelashes were the color of light honey, light brown freckles spotted his nose from sun exposure and his eyes the color of cornflowers that bloomed in the spring. I'm speechless and breathless at the sheer proximity of his body against mine. Could he hear or feel the cadence of my heart beating against my chest? Is this love? How did I live without this feeling? How I did deny myself this closeness for so long?

"You're a mess," I teased him as I ruffled hair on the top of his head.

"And you're beautiful," he said back with such warmth and sincerity. I blushed hoping that my coloring hid the heat rising on my face. No one has ever complimented me on my looks. Granted, my family was quite generous in complimenting my achievements but never a suitor like Peeta who saw beauty in things and in people. I felt beautiful around him.

I leaned down moving closer to press my lips…

"Ahem," a voice disrupted and startled us. I jumped in place. It was Peeta's brother, Rye. "I don't meant disturb your love fest but I thought you two might want to come back inside the fence." Peeta stood up.

"Rye, oh my God, it's so good to see you." He wrapped his arms around his brother in a tight embrace.

"It's good to see you too, kiddo," he returned both in words and embrace. "We thought the worst when you didn't come home yesterday." He ruffled his little brother's hair. "You have no idea just how happy I am to see that you're both still alive." He hugged me as well startling me.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Peeta asked. "What's happened?"

"Listen, now isn't the time to be having this conversation," he said. "Let's go home before someone spots us." He didn't have to tell me twice. I grabbed Peeta's hand needing his strength and comfort.

"How did you get over the fence?" I asked.

"Come on I'll show you," he explained. We walked around the perimeter until we reached the back end of Haymitch Abernathy's property. "Haymitch?" He yelled.

The back door slammed open. "Oh my God, Peeta, Katniss. Thank you God you're both okay," Peeta and I looked at each other clueless to his reaction. To my surprise, Dad, Mom and Prim appeared beside him.

"Katniss, oh my God," Mom screamed. "Garrett, she's alive." There were tears in her eyes. Prim looked relieved and happy.

"Katniss, Peeta. You're both okay. Thank God," she added. "Where have you been?"

In the meantime, Haymitch walked over to the fence with a long black pole in his hand.

"Stand back," he ordered. He placed the pole onto the fence. The low hum of electricity running through the fence fell silent. "Okay, it's off. I've neutralized the electricity so it's safe for you to come over." Rye stepped forward and crossed the fence easily. Peeta and I followed suit.

Dad, Mom and Prim ran towards me engulfing me in their embrace. I laughed with joy at the reception. "I'm okay, Mom and Dad." I tried to assure them. "Peeta and I got stuck when they turned the fence back on." I lied not revealing the true story of our overnight stay in the woods and the aftermath.

"Don't you ever do that again, young lady," Dad berated me. "I'm so mad at you for scaring us but now that you're back and well. I don't care. I'm just happy you're okay. Both of you." I looked over my shoulder to find Peeta.

The first thing Haymitch did was embraced Peeta in a bear hug enclosing his lean frame with his strong arms. Peeta chuckled in surprise. "Good to see you to Haymitch."

"You both gave everyone a scare. Where have you been? What were you two doing beyond the fence?" he barraged us with questions.

"What the hell happened to you, Peeta?" Dad noticed the long deep scratches on his upper torso. "You look like you wrestled a bear."

"Hey, let them for breath for a second," Mom scolded them. "Look at them. They probably tired, hungry and they look like they need a bath. Just thank God they weren't here when…" Then she stopped.

"Peeta, there's something you need to know," he started then stopped.

"What, Rye? What happened while we've been gone?" Peeta asked. The uneasiness I felt when we were outside the fence returned. I knew something was wrong as I felt it in the air. "Rye, answer me." I looked at my family for an explanation. They had a somber look on their faces.

"Um…yesterday, the town was attacked," he started.

"Attacked?" Peeta gasped. "By whom?"

"A large group of wild mutts attacked the town," Haymitch interjected. "There were several casualties, reports of people missing."

"Rye?"

"Graham and Sonja…they're dead," he announced.

"No, no…no," Peeta repeated. The look on his face broke my heart. In his eyes, there was disbelief, horror, pain and anger. "Graham and Sonja? Are you sure?" Rye nodded his head. "No…no…no," he chanted as he shook his head. "They can't be."

"I'm sorry, Peeta," Haymitch said.

"Dad?"

"Dad's fine, Peet," Rye stated. "Tyler is at the bakery. We thought we lost you when you didn't come home last night. Peeta?"

I extended my hand to comfort Peeta who remained shocked and speechless. Just as I was about to touch him he turned and ran.

AN: Thank you for reading this chapter. Any mistakes found are my own .My apologies if it's too long. I hoped you enjoyed it. Leave reviews and comments at your leisure. Have a great weekend. Daphne