Sorry for the delay...here is the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Just working with the idea.
"You see it too, huh?" Johanna tells Peeta.
"Yes!" He grits his teeth.
"Something's not quite right with him," She says.
"Exactly!" Peeta exclaims. "Now to tell Gale." Peeta looks back from the open cockpit. He sees Gale and Katniss laughing away at something. Peeta smiles knowing that at least Katniss is enjoying other moments than just the ones with him. Then, his eyes fall to Thresh. Peeta's features harden as he turns back to Johanna.
"He doesn't see it. He thinks I'm crazy for even thinking that Thresh is dirty." She laughs. "He thinks I'm being racist."
Peeta snickers, "That's a stretch?!" Johanna hits him.
"I am not racist! That was just a misunderstanding."
"Understatement." Peeta mumbles. Johanna hits him again. "What happened to Cato?"
"He got hurt." Peeta watches Johanna do air quotes around the word hurt.
"What does that mean?"
"He was rock climbing at headquarters and he fell."
"Accident," Peeta says.
"That's what they want you to think. I had just used that harness to climb, Peeta. I left for maybe five minutes to get Cato. Then, he climbed and the rope snapped."
"He's probably twice if not three times your weight, Johanna."
"The rope was cut. Like someone wanted to knock Cato out of this assignment."
"Someone like Thresh..."
"It could just all be one giant coincidence, but it doesn't sit right with me."
Peeta straightens up. "Right. What do you know about him?"
"Not much. He's been with the bureau a few years, but he must not make a lot of noise because I've never heard of him."
"So Haymitch thinks he can just add whoever to this assignment?! Who does he think he is?!"
"The boss." Johanna says with a chuckle. "But seriously, my gut's with you on this one." Peeta turns to head back, but Johanna grabs his arm. "Watch her. And him." She tells him before releasing him. Peeta nods as he makes his way back.
"Gale, Johanna wants you back in there with her."
Gale sighs. "Who does that woman think she is?" He stands. "It was nice talking to you again, Katniss." Katniss only nods her head at him as he leaves. Peeta takes his seat. Katniss leans into him as Peeta puts his arm around her.
"Peeta?"
"Yes?"
"What are you keeping from me?" He smiles at her.
"Why do you think I'm keeping something from you?"
"You're tense and secretive. I know, Peeta."
He sighs. "It's a stressful situation. We'll be home soon." He kisses her on the head and pulls her up with him. "Come on. Let me get you to bed. You should rest for a little bit."
"But, Peeta-" He cuts her off by kissing her.
"Don't say anything." He whispers. "Just come on." He takes her hand and brings her to the back where there's a private room. Peeta catches Thresh's gaze when he closes the door to the private room. He didn't particularly like that look, but the closed door, for now, would keep Katniss safe.
"Peeta, what is it?" She watches as he pulls the covers back and pats down the bed. Katniss lays down where he gestures and Peeta puts the covers over her. He kneels next to her and gently caresses her face.
"Don't trust anyone." Peeta whispers. Katniss squints at him. "There's something going on here."
"You're telling me not to feel safe with your own people?"
"It bothers me that I suddenly can't tell apart my allies from my enemies." He kisses her head. "I can't give you a gun, but take this." He pulls a butterfly knife from his boot and hands it to her.
"Peeta, I don't understand."
"Katniss, just trust me." She only nods her head at him. "Okay." He stands to leave but Katniss grabs his hand.
"You can't stay?" Peeta looks to the door. Then, back to Katniss.
"The bed's really supposed to be for you and not for us."
"Stay?" Katniss asks.
He smiles at her. "Move over." She does and she instantly cuddles into him.
"Thank you." Katniss tells him. Peeta kisses the top of her head.
"If I get fired-" Peeta starts.
"I'll take care of you." Katniss lets him know. She looks up at him lovingly. Peeta bends a little to give her a sweet kiss.
Peeta didn't sleep but he did watch Katniss fall asleep. He wrapped one arm around her, his other hand gripped his gun. He stared at the door the entire time, convinced that something or someone was going to burst through the door and try to harm her.
It didn't take long to feel the plane making its landing. A knock on the door causes Peeta to grip his gun just a little tighter.
"Hey." Gale peeks through the crack of the open door.
"Gale." Peeta says.
"We're out of here in five minutes." Gale pulls a garment bag through and hangs it on the door knob. "For you. You know how Haymitch is."
"Thank you." Gale closes the door. Peeta gently jostles Katniss awake. "Katniss." She moans and just holds onto Peeta tighter. "Katniss?"
"Five more minutes." She moans.
"Five more minutes, we'll be the only ones on the plane." Katniss lifts her head.
"We're here?"
"Yes." Katniss releases him and stretches out on the bed. Peeta stands and goes to the garment bag Gale had left for him. He opens it and examines the suit.
"Damn! More ties." Peeta mumbles. He quickly strips his clothes and starts dressing.
"Nice view." Katniss says with a smile. He turns to look at her as he slips his pants on. He throws his shirt on then tries to tie his tie. Katniss is by his side when she notices his struggle. "Peeta?"
"Yes?"
"How is it you're qualified to protect me, but you can't tie this to save your life?"
Peeta laughs. "I can tie it! It just takes me an hour or so." Katniss finishes tying it for him. Peeta throws his gun holster on then throws on his blazer. "How do I look?"
"Handsome. Like always." Katniss tells him with a kiss. Peeta watches as Katniss straightens herself up. Peeta takes her hand when she's done and leads her out of the room.
Outside, all the agents are ready to get off the plane. Several other agents are waiting outside once the plane door opens. Agent Cato approaches Peeta when they are on the ground.
"Agent Mellark, you are to come with me." He barks out.
"And why is that?" Peeta asks, tightening his grip on Katniss' hand.
"Haymitch wants you debriefed immediately."
"Yea?" Agent Cato begins to pull Katniss away. Peeta grabs her by the waist and keeps her by his side. "And where are you taking her?"
"The other agents will take her to the safe house."
"Well, you can tell Haymitch to meet me there because I'm not leaving her side."
Agent Cato is instantly in Peeta's face, "Don't make this difficult, Mellark."
Peeta doesn't back down. "Oh yea? What are you going to do?"
"Enough!" Johanna pushes them both apart. "Gale, go with Thresh. I'll go with Peeta. Cato, meet us at the safe house."
Everyone is still staring each other down as they head over to their respected vehicles. Johanna climbs into the passenger seat as Katniss and Peeta climb into the back. Johanna tells the driver to go and they're on their way.
"You know Cato was only doing his job." Johanna tells Peeta.
"I know." Peeta says dejectedly. He turns to Katniss who has a concerned look on her face.
"It's best you keep your emotions in check or Haymitch will rip you right out of this assignment." Johanna tells him.
"Geez, when did you start following all the rules?" She turns back to look at the two of them.
"You guys love each other, right?" Peeta and Katniss look at each other shyly. "It's not like you guys hid it very well anyway." Johanna says with a big smile.
"Yes, we do." Katniss says while grabbing Peeta's hand.
"Sleeping with the witness." Johanna wags her finger at Peeta. "It's not unheard of but it's definitely a stretch. Particularly, for you Peeta." Johanna starts laughing. "Wait until Haymitch finds out!"
Peeta brings his hand up to his face and groans. Katniss laughs at Peeta's predicament.
The agents setup base at the safe house where Katniss will be held until Snow's trial. Peeta leads Katniss to the bedroom.
"Peeta, we have to talk." Cato yells to him from the other room. Peeta sighs and turns to Katniss.
"I'll be right back." He kisses Katniss then goes to the rest of the group.
"Alright, so we'll watch her on an alternating schedule. I'll take first watch with Thresh." Gale let's everyone know. "Cato and Johanna, you guys are due back at headquarters with Peeta."
"I already told you, I'm not leaving her side!" Peeta says. He turns to Thresh and stares at him in particular. Thresh challenges his stare.
"Peeta, come on! You have valuable information to this assignment. Will you just come on! It's only an hour. Two tops." Cato tries.
'No!" Peeta yells. "I'm not leaving her. Especially not with him!" Peeta gestures his head towards Thresh.
"What is the deal?" Gale stands in frustration.
"He doesn't trust me." Thresh says calmly. "I get it. I'm new."
"Mellark," Gale pulls Peeta to the side. "You don't trust him. I get it. But you trust me, don't you?" Peeta nods. "I won't let anything happen to her." Peeta nods again.
"Can I at least say goodbye?" Gale steps out of the way and let's Peeta through. He goes into the bedroom and sees Katniss playing with the remote to the TV.
"How do I turn this thing on?" Katniss asks. Peeta comes over and turns the TV on. He pulls her into a hug and sighs. "What is it, Peeta?"
"I have to be debriefed at headquarters. I'll be back in a couple of hours." She looks up at him with a smile.
"I'll be fine Peeta." She pulls him down for a kiss.
"Yea?" She shakes her head and kisses him again. "You have my knife right?"
"Yes, Peeta!" Katniss gives him a particularly deep kiss. Peeta moans against her. "We haven't had sex in awhile…" Peeta looks at her awkwardly and counts his fingers.
"Two days is a long time?" Peeta says with a smirk.
"Well…you had me on a daily regimen…" She smiles back at him.
"Why are you doing this to me?" Peeta groans against her. He drops his lips to her neck.
"So you'll come back."
"You don't have to tempt me with sex. I'll always come back to you." Katniss grazes the front of his pants with her hand making Peeta moan. He pulls away and slams into the door. "I'll be back… real soon!" He goes to open the door, but stops and goes back to Katniss and gives her one last lingering kiss.
"Peeta, I love you."
"I love you, too." He finally pulls away and exits the room. He walks over to Cato and Johanna who are waiting for him.
"Let's get this over with."
There are only a couple more chapters so it's getting to that point where it's going to hit the fan...