His body curls around hers as she sleeps. He's an outer shell protecting her.

She bites her lip, her brows furrow, she whimpers. She's fast asleep in a terrifying world only he can understand. He just woke from that world and watches her stumble through it. She frowns.

His arm is around her, falling asleep. It feels heavy and the nerves feel dead. His fingers were tingling a few minutes ago but now they ache for his fresh blood, not the trapped circulation he positioned himself in. he wants to free his arm, to no avail. Her arms are wrapped tight around it, holding it to her chest. He can feel it between her soft breasts.

He lifts his hand slightly to flex his fingers, and it hurts, but barely. It's too numb. He rests his open palm on her sternum, fingers fanning up to her neck. He glances at her face; she's smiling in her sleep. She snuggles closer to him, lips curved up. Suddenly he hates that smile.

His body jerks, and he knows even though he's clouded with exhaustion what's coming. His heart drops. His hands clench into fists. He opens them once again, to finally close them around her throat.

She doesn't even wake at first, until he squeezes, because too quickly he sees her as his own monster. He throws a leg over her and shakes her, clutching her throat. She tenses and tries to flail before she realizes it's him. Even in his stupor, he sees how she stops fighting when she knows it's him harming her.

She chokes a little, trying to say his name. Her eyes are locked on his, apologizing.

His eyes uncloud, and he blinks as if waking from a dream. His eyes follow his arms down to his hands to his fingers to Katniss, who watches. His hands slam into the pillows, and he presses his forehead against hers. He strikes to pillows a few more times, shaking both of them.

He sobs, still straddling her body, back curved down.

"Its okay, it's okay." She tries to amend.

He pulls himself back. Places a hand to her face. Feels her pulse racing. Sees how red her face is. Her hair is sweaty and matted against her skin. Her eyes are scared, but only for him.

"You love me, real or not real?" he needs to know. Needs to be reminded.

"Real." She whispers, eyes glinting. Her hand goes to stroke his back. "You know it's real."

"How could I..?"

"We're the exception Peeta. There are things we have to do that no one can understand."

"I did everything I could to protect you. Now I can't stop myself from doing this." He shuts his eyes, steadying his breath.

Her fingers comb her hair back. She holds her head up, staring at him with a mask of comfort that doesn't cover her fear.

"Call Gale." He orders. "Tell him what I did. Tell Haymitch, tell Greasy Sae, tell everyone."

She shakes her head. "I want to take care of you, I don't need their help." She hugs him tight. "We'll fix each other."

"Tell them so they'll take me away from you. So I can stop hurting you." he begs.

She couldn't tell him he was not hurting her. She was a terrible liar.

"If they separate us, you'll stop healing me." She says quietly. She starts to cry.

He continues to cry. She tries to get him to lie down so she can hold him, bring him back.

He pushes away from her, striding out of the room. "I'm calling Gale in the morning." He warns as the darkness of the hallway devours him.

He sleeps on the couch. She doesn't sleep at all.