There are two types of people in Panem; those that obey the Capitol and those that silently rebel.

District 12's Haymitch Abernathy is one of those that silently rebels.

His willingness to push the boundaries is what caused President Snow's wrath to rain down on his family so many years ago. Haymitch was taught a lesson that day when he came back from the Capitol to bury his parents and two brothers. That lesson taught him to let no one close, and that the Capitol would kill anyone that tried.

Maybe not what President Snow was trying to teach, but the lesson basically did what Snow wanted. Haymitch went inside the bottle and couldn't care less about what happened outside of his drunken haze.

Until last year.

Last year, something about Katniss cut thought the haze (It might have been her nearly stabbing him with a knife, thought don't tell her that.), and something about Peeta kept him out. He did his best to quit the bottle during their games, and to send out some fillers to get them sponsors. He had never done that before, and he was able to keep both of his tributes alive. At the cost of 22 others…

Haymitch tries not to think about it too much. He can't think about all of those young lives that he cut short. He can't think of the kids he had grown up with that died so he could live. He can't think of the lives he had to put second to his own Tributes' so that they could live. He can't think about the nights at the Capitol when he watched his fellow victors come in stumbling from 'work', and how grateful he felt that Snow had already murdered his family and didn't have them to force him to be like the others. He can't think about those times or he'd never put down the bottle.

Now, he had another reason to drown what was left of his life in a bottle.

An hour, or two, or maybe even three, a paper was drawn from the bowl. The last time that happened, three kids from his district died, and the boy he used to be did as well. This time he had another reason to be afraid, for what that paper said threw him back into the drawing. That little paper meant he had a 50% chance of going back into that hell, and a 100% chance of losing another friend to it.

Someone entering the room drags his attention away from the bottle on his desk. His eyes see Peeta, but it takes a moment before his brain comprehends what he is seeing. It takes even longer for him to make out what the boy is saying.

"…volunteer." Peeta finished whatever he had said with a smile that was a cross between determined and fear that Haymitch was going to kick the boy's puppy. Not that Peeta has a puppy, but…

"What did you say?" He hasn't drank that much today. Just a glass or two, which isn't that much considering that a year ago he would have had one or two bottles by now.

Peeta was now agitated and pacing the floor. Whatever he just said must have been very important to him. Too bad, he'd just have to repeat for Haymitch to hear. "I said that I need to go back in the arena to protect Katniss, and I need to make sure you won't volunteer." Ah, Katniss. That boy really does love her.

Haymitch takes another drink from the almost empty glass and slams it back down. "Pft, I didn't plan on going back into that hell hole anyway."

"I…I just thought."

"Thought what?" he poured himself another glass even as Peeta tried to hide his hurt expression. The poor boy should never play poker. "Thought that I'd be too attached to save my own skin? You wish."

Haymitch pulled back his drink and watched as Peeta marched out and slammed the door behind him. He places the glass back down, still with amber fluid inside. Maybe Coin was right. Maybe now was the time for change. Maybe he could save his Tributes just one more time.

He dials a number he knows well from his drinking days (which haven't quite ended). It rings twice before a groggy voice coms over the phone. "Haymitch? What do you want?"

"I think we need a drinking party, Nate. Before the next drawing." A door opens in the house, but Haymitch ignores it. Nate's answer could be the difference between life and death for many of their friends.

"Already had one planned, Abernathy." Nate still sounded like he had drank one too many, but he was the most functioning alcoholic Haymitch had ever met. "Three days at the Club, 3pm, room 13."

Nate hung up just in time for Haymitch's new headache to walk in. "What do you want, Katniss?"

"You to volunteer for Peeta." Katniss demanded, no fear in her. "He's too good to die in the arena."

"First time we've agreed on something." He gives her a salute with his glass before taking a drink of it. His fellow District Victors really drew him to drink. Well, he drank anyway, but an excuse is still an excuse.

"You'll volunteer?"

Haymitch just shrugs. "Course, but that'll only work if his name is drawn." Katniss nods again before gliding (what else would you call silent walking?) out. Cursed hunters. Hunters…

He call another number he knows well (drinking has given Haymitch quite a few odd friends). "Bobby Singer?"

"Sorry, no. It's Sam Winchester. Who are you?"

"John's boy?" Haymitch had a drink or two with John Winchester when the man was still alive. "You won the games three years ago?"

"No, that was Dean." The pride was almost physically pouring through the phone. "He volunteered for me."

So, at least one of John's boys got the chance to escape the hell. "Can you take a message for me?"

"Sure. Jo! Where's a pen?" Sam asked of someone on his side.

"Jo?"

"Ellen's daughter. I'm watching her while the others work." This time, Sam's voice was sprinkled with resentment. The boy is at least fifteen, nearly a man, with people still trying to protect him. A hero for a father, a Favorite as a brother, it's really no wonder why he resents their protection. "Message?"

Sam's request breaks through Haymitch's thoughts, and he has to think for a moment why he called in the first place. Maybe he should lay back a bit on the liquor… "There's going to be a Drinking Party in three days at the Club in Room 13 at about 3 in the afternoon."

Very faint scratching sounds are all he hears through the phone before Sam asks, for clarification, "Drinking party?"

"Yes, Drinking Party. I just thought Bobby would like to join me and Nate." Should he have ended that as 'Nate and I'? Haymitch doesn't know, and yet he asks that of himself. Every so often, he wonders what his life would have been like if his name hadn't been drawn 25 years ago…

"I'll let Bobby know when he gets back." Sam is the one that hangs up the phone.

Haymitch is then left with his thoughts, and half a bottle of scotch.