Warning: Some violence in this chapter.

It was fifteen minutes later than usual when I finally slipped out the back door of the bakery. My mother had another one of her toothaches, and it was keeping her awake to pace in the kitchen, and keeping me trapped in my room. I waited anxiously until I finally heard the door to her bedroom shut, then I tiptoed down the hall, slipped down the stairs and through the bakery. I let out a gusty sigh of relief as I quietly shut the door behind me.

I knew I was probably too late to catch up enough to get even a glimpse of her. She almost always left her job at Sae's at eleven on the dot. I knew from past experience, though, that if I didn't at least trace her usual path to make sure she was home I would never be able to get to sleep tonight. I zipped up my jacket against the sudden chill of the evening and hurried around the side of the building.

As I walked towards the part of the District nicknamed the Seam, I asked myself for the hundredth time why I was doing this. Why did I feel this strong instinct to protect Katniss Everdeen? She didn't really need my protection. Wasn't that one of the things I loved most about her? How strong, how self-sufficient she was? Katniss was tougher than probably ninety percent of the boys at our school, and she could certainly hold her own in almost any situation.

Still, though...I couldn't help it. Had never been able to help it. I had loved her so long I couldn't even imagine any other way. So here I was, traveling through the middle of a dark, cold, night...acting as a silent guardian to a girl who didn't even know I existed. Who, if she ever found out about my nightly routine, would probably think it the height of creepiness.

I was a fool. But what else was new?

I paused at the entrance to the Meadow, debating for a moment which route to take. Surely, with this cold snap, Katniss would have taken the shortcut. Besides, if she went by the road, that was the safer route. I should cover the Meadow first, and then go by the road on the way back to make sure.

As I stepped onto the grass I thought I heard a noise. A voice. I stopped, listening. And then I heard it.

"PLEASE HELP ME! PLEASE!"

Katniss!

I started to run, my heart in my throat. This wasn't really happening, was it?

"STOP!" Her voiced screamed though the darkness.

I pumped my legs harder, desperate to reach her. Then I saw them.

Katniss was on her back, pinned down by two men. One was sitting on top of her, and the other held her arms above her head. Katniss was shaking her head weakly, and they were laughing. It was all too obvious what they were about to do to her.

I was blinded by rage. Without stopping, I charged at them and launched myself at the bigger one…the one sitting on top of her. I hit him full force, knocking him off of her completely. We rolled in the grass, struggling for control, and I managed to come out on top. Without any hesitation, I pulled back my fist and then slammed it down into his face as hard as I could. But before I could get another shot in, I was attacked from behind, presumably from the other cretin who had been holding Katniss' wrists. He grabbed me in a chokehold, pulling me back off of the big one, who stood up and immediately put his own fist into my stomach.

I grunted in pain, the air whooshing out of me as I bent over. But years of tussling with my two older brothers had allowed me to develop a quick recovery time. I swung back up, kicking my legs out in front of me. With all my strength, I kicked the man in front of me in the ribs, using the force of the kick to push the man holding me backwards and to the ground. Then I sent an elbow back into his stomach and rolled off of him and back to my feet.

I faced my opponents, who were struggling to stand. Now that I had a moment to observe them, I realized I recognized them. Devin and Ryland, two thug townies who had always picked on us younger kids. Devin was clutching his ribs where I had kicked him, blood dripping down his arm, and I noticed that Ryland's nose was swollen and bleeding. I hadn't done that...I realized with a sense of pride that Katniss must have gotten in a few licks before they had been able to overpower her.

Devin charged at me, his fist swinging wildly. I dodged it easily, grabbing his arm and twisting it up and behind his back until I felt a sickening snap. Devin screamed and fell to his knees, the fight in him completely gone. I had overdone it, but I couldn't really make myself care. What he had done to Katniss…what he had been planning to do to her before I showed up…he was lucky if I didn't outright kill him. Unable to contain my anger, I gave him one last kick, knocking him onto his face.

I turned to Ryland, who was staggering towards me. I realized he must be drunk. With ease I dodged his attack, stepping to the side and bringing my knee up into his stomach. He hunched over, clutching himself and moaning. I gripped his hair, pulled his head back, and punched him for all I was worth. He fell, now quiet, to the ground.

I stood there for a moment, panting, watching to make sure neither of them was going to get back up. Satisfied that they were done, I quickly turned back to Katniss.

I ran back over to where she was now lying curled up in a ball and fell to my knees beside her.

"Katniss?" I whispered, almost afraid to see what damage they had done. I gently put my hands on her shoulders and rolled her towards me.

She was unconscious, which terrified me. Her forehead was covered with blood, and I could see one eye was already starting to blacken. Then my eyes drifted downwards, and I realized that her waitress uniform was gaping wide open, her bra and panties on display. I quickly averted my eyes, wanting to cry for what had happened to her.

I was a red-blooded teenage boy. Of course I had fantasized about seeing Katniss scantily clad before. Many times, in fact. But not like this.

Never like this!

Choking back my sobs, I quickly shrugged off my jacket and covered her with it, hoping some of the heat from my body would help warm her back up. I glanced around and spotted her bag lying a few feet away. I quickly grabbed it and slung it over my shoulder so that it wrapped across my chest. Then, kneeling, I carefully lifted Katniss into my arms, one arm behind her knees and the other cradling her to my chest. I staggered to my feet and started walking as fast as I could towards the other side of the Meadow, leaving Devin and Ryland writhing and groaning on the ground behind us.

I knew I had to get Katniss home. Her mother would know what to do…she was a healer. She would fix Katniss. Make her wake up. She had to.

Even though I knew in reality it was only a few minutes, the trip seemed entirely too long. Not because Katniss was heavy. In fact, she was entirely too light in my arms. Despite how hard she worked, I knew she never got enough to eat. She probably went hungry often so that her little sister Prim would have enough. It was just one of the many reasons I adored her.

With relief I spotted the Everdeen's small house up ahead. I hurried to the front door, and then realized that with my arms full of Katniss, I had no way of knocking. Unwilling to release her, I settled for kicking the door instead, hoping those inside would forgive my rudeness. Much sooner than I had expected, the door flew open to reveal Prim standing there in her nightgown. She gasped when she saw us.

"Katniss!"

"She's hurt," I said, breathless.

Prim quickly stood to the side to let me in.

"Put her there," she said, gesturing. "On the couch. Mom!"

I crossed the small but cozy room to gently place Katniss on the long green couch as Prim flew to the back room, presumably to wake their mother. I gently adjusted my coat, pulling it up over her shoulders to make sure she was covered, before I reluctantly stepped back to make room for her mother, who had hurried to her side already. Prim ran to the small kitchen in the opposite corner, and I saw her putting water on to boil and gathering rags and other items I couldn't identify. I removed Katniss' bag from my shoulder and placed it on the kitchen table as I watched them both go to work.

"What happened?" Mrs. Everdeen asked me in a business-like voice as she ran her fingers carefully over Katniss' head and down her arms.

"She was attacked," I said. "By two men. In the Meadow. Please…is she going to be okay?"

Mrs. Everdeen spared me the slightest glance, I suppose surprised by the note of desperate concern in my voice that I had failed to even try to hide.

"She'll be okay. She has a concussion, I think, but she's breathing fine and her responses are strong. Prim, the rag…"

Prim handed her mother a washrag to clean Katniss' face, and then she looked at me.

"Who was it, Peeta?" she asked.

I was taken aback for a quick second at the fact that she knew my name, but then I realized I really shouldn't be surprised. Prim was widely known as one of the sweetest, friendliest girls in the district. She was the kind of person who paid attention to others.

"Um, it was Devin Courteney and Ryland Whitstone," I answered. "I know them from around town. They were still in the Meadow when I left. Do you want me to go get the Peacekeepers?"

Prim looked to her mother, who shook her head.

"No," she said. "We'll leave that up to Katniss. We know who they are, there's no rush."

I kept my objection to myself, remembering that this was the Seam, and they did things differently here. Still, though…

"Well, if she wants to report them, tell her I'll be more than happy to be a witness."

Mrs. Everdeen just nodded absently, still working on Katniss, but Prim shot me a smile.

"Thank you, Peeta."

I just nodded, and she turned back to her sister. I watched as they focused all their energy on the unconscious girl in front of them. I waited, anxious for Katniss to wake up, but her eyes stayed closed and her body limp. I hadn't been this scared for her since that awful day so many years ago, when I had seen her near death from starvation. And this could have been so, so much worse...

Now that I didn't have anything to do, the reality of the situation started to sink in. If only I hadn't been late tonight! My hands started to shake as images of what I had interrupted forced themselves back into my mind. And then, worse, images of what might have happened if I hadn't gotten there at all…

My stomach turned, and I made a mad dash for the door. I barely made it outside before emptying the contents of my stomach in the corner of the front yard.

When it was over, I decided not to go back in. I would only be in the way, and Mrs. Everdeen had assured me Katniss would be okay. There was nothing left for me to do here, and if they needed me, they would know where to find me. I started home, bracing myself against the cold wind. I had accidentally left my jacket behind, but it was no matter. I took the road home, avoiding the Meadow and what I might do to them if Devin and Ryland were still there.

By the time I finally reached the bakery, the physical effects of what I had done that night were starting to make themselves known. My whole body ached, and my face was tender to the touch. I slipped inside and made my way to the bathroom, where I inspected my injuries in the mirror.

Great. Another black eye.

I had had more than my share of injuries over the years, thanks to being the youngest of three boys, and especially thanks to my mother's violent tendencies. This was just one more black eye among many.

I remembered that this was the second such injury I had earned in defense of Katniss Everdeen. I wondered if I would be physically assaulted every time I had any kind of significant interaction with her. I couldn't help smiling ruefully at my reflection, knowing the truth of my heart.

It would be totally worth it, if it meant keeping her safe.

AN: So, I don't know if anyone is actually interested in reading Peeta's side of this story, but it's been niggling at me for a long time now, so I've just decided to go ahead and get it out there and off my back. I'm going to try and avoid duplicating dialogue, etc., as much as possible because I know how boring that can get, but of course, some of that will be inevitable.

Anyway, let me know what you think, please! I'm planning on covering the whole story, but let me know if there are any particular scenes you're dying to see in Peeta's POV.