The ground is ablaze with the lingering stench of burnt flesh. Everywhere Peeta looked there were dead bodies. Constant enemy fire was falling all around him. He was hiding behind a broken down tank with two of his squad mates. Peeta knew they were fish in a barrel and had to move up the hill to their left. His Captain was the first to run and made it half way before a loud shot boomed through the chaos. Captain Price was lying on the ground bleeding from a sniper rifle bullet ripping through his torso. Peeta, acting under distress and adrenaline, ran towards his fallen friend. Immediately when he somehow reached his fallen CO he heard a massive explosion. He quickly turned around and saw a mortar destroy all remnants of the broken down tank and his squad mate hiding behind it. He sees something role from the explosion and land on his feet. He looked down and saw the severed skull of his once good friend lying below his feet.

Without time to panic, Peeta grabbed his bleeding compatriot and tossed him over his shoulder. He began running in full strides while fireman carrying the dying man. The blood from the wounded man over his shoulder kept flowing down on top of Peeta getting on his clothes, in his hair, and flowing down his face into his mouth. After several long minuets of constant running they reach the cover on the hill. He lays his dying friend on the ground collapses to the ground in exhaustion. He looks over to his friend with an accomplished smile on his face only for it to disappear. He sees his once good friend and commanding officer lying next to him eyes open and blood pouring but not a single breathe emerging from his body. Peeta reaches into his jacket pocket retrieving a note that was written to his family if he died. He also took his dog tags. Moments later an explosion blew the two men apart knocking Peeta unconscious.

Peeta woke up from his restless slumber screaming for his long dead friend with a cold sweat pouring down his face. Taking a few minutes to compose himself he quickly rose out of bed and stumbled his way to the bathroom. He stared at himself through the mirror and notices the dark circles under his eyes. After splashing some water in his face he takes a cold shower and gets dressed for the upcoming day.

The worst part during the reintegration phase of returning to society isn't the complexity of life it is trying to fit in to a place where nobody understands what you have been through. The worst part for Peeta is to have people smile and thank him for what he had done. Some treat him like the hero they all believe him to be, but in reality he sees himself as nothing more than a killer and a survivor.

Peeta left his house and began walking to a quaint diner down the road for breakfast. He hadn't been to this diner since before he was shipped off to war. He remembered this diner used to have the best bacon and coffee in the city. As he slowly approached the diner and opened the door he was met by the smell of bacon and coffee. A small smirk appeared on Peeta's face as he found an open seat. He didn't have to wait long before the waitress quickly approached him. Peeta looked up at the waitress and quickly recognized her. Standing before him was the girl he helped during is walk and desperately tried to avoid. The young and stunning Katniss was staring back at him with wide eyes.

"Well if it isn't the hometown hero Peeta Mellark"

Peeta took a second to register what she said. He recognized a bit of sarcasm with an underlining anger. He honestly didn't know what he did to revoke this response but honestly he doesn't know much about anything anymore so it doesn't surprise him when he is confused by such a trivial matter.

"Hello" Peeta responded blandly

"What can I get for you" asked Katniss

Peeta orders a simple breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, and finally his favorite of all, a nice steaming cup of coffee. Peeta smiled while he ate. This place reminded him of a simpler time when he and his family used to come here for breakfast on special occasions. Unfortunately those days are over.

After Peeta finishes his meal the young waitress sits across from Peeta and stares at him for a few seconds before opening her mouth to speak.

"What is your deal" demanded Katniss

This confused Peeta a little bit. "What do you mean" he dumbly responded to the pointed accusation.

"What did I do that made you act so cold towards me. I just wanted to talk and get to know the person who probably saved my life. I'm sorry if I pissed off the great war hero and all of his glory"

Peeta could feel the sarcasm and pain radiate from her voice. This deeply upset him that she was so hurt by his action. This was never the plan, to hurt such an innocent girl. Peeta quickly rebounded with "I'm sorry if you feel that way. I should probably just go.

As Peeta begins to stand up Katniss grabs his hand and with as much force as she could muster he is pulled back down into his seat.

"I just want to talk and get to know you a little bit better. Nothing more, Nothing less"

Peeta just wanted this girl to shut up and leave him alone to his constant agony. He sighed with a hint of frustration and came to the conclusion that she will only leave him alone if he plays along and talks to this girl.

"Ok what do you want to know" asks Peeta

"Hold up, let me get my things and we can go for a walk"

Peeta waited for the young girl to return and they departed the diner

"So" she asks nervously "Did you grow up in Panem"

He shakes his head in reply but elects to remain silent. He is cautiously waiting for her next question which he is sure is coming.

"I heard you were shipped off to the Pacific when you were only seventeen and you got the Medal of Honor and everything. Apparently everybody thinks you're a big shot."

"I am no hero" Peeta responds with a distant look in his eyes

"Didn't you run through enemy fire and pull two people out of a burning vehicle and was wounded in the process."

"None of the men made it." Peeta shakes his head trying to clear the images of his dead comrades from his head "Look I really don't want to talk about the war if you don't mind"

"Ok I understand, so have you spent time with your family since you have been back."

" Listen I know you mean well but I need to be going, it was nice talking to you Miss."

With that the Mellark turned around and quickly walked away from the brown haired girl. He made it a whole four feet before he heard a car backfire and immediately mistook it for a mortar shell. He quickly crawled under the nearest bench and held his knees shaking violently back and forth.

Katniss approached the blond boy and kneeled so she could face to face with the young man. She grabbed his head and whispered some soothing things to him. Next thing she knew he grabbed her and gave her a huge bear hug and broke down crying. She held him for what seemed like hours until he pushed away from her. Only at this moment did she realize how broken the man in front of her really was.

Finally realizing what just happen Peeta got up and ran from the young girl towards the safety of his own home unaware that the girl was in hot pursuit behind him. Once he got to the front door and stopped he felt somebody grab his shoulder and he turned around. The girl behind him was breathing heavily and trying to catch her breathe.

"It's ok Peeta" she wheezed out "I am here to help you, do you want to talk about it"

"No" Peeta responded and resumed his task of unlocking his door. Once he opened the door he quickly rushed inside to close the door. "No one can help me, just leave me alone please" and with those final words Peeta closed the door on the young girl. All the shock and stress of the day had finally caught up to the young man and next thing you know Peeta collapsed. Before he passed out, Peeta heard his door open and a figure standing over him yelling his name over and over again and gently caressing his cheek. Peeta was quickly consumed by darkness and off to another bout of painful thoughts and dreams.