The morning after my escape from the mines is absolutely brutal. My forehead stings, my joints ache and my fingers are swollen to almost double their size because of the vigorous digging over three days. However, the pain is mitigated substantially by the fact that I'm still holding Katniss' hand tightly in my own. We sat in the woods yesterday for another hour before Katniss insisted her mother take care of my wound. When we made it back to the Everdeen's, my whole family was there waiting. My Mother chastised me half-heartedly for running away after my ordeal, but softened even more when she saw Katniss' hand enclosed in mine. I'm extremely thankful that no one said anything about it, especially Posy, because I could tell she desperately wanted to. Her silence won't last forever.

Mrs. Everdeen stitched my head up expertly, and then gave me some horrid tasting concoction of herbs that eased my pain and also made me only partially lucid. Katniss and Prim fixed me food, which, after three days, tasted like the most amazing thing ever cooked. However, after the mixture of food and herbs, I was done for. I have vague recollections of being helped over to Katniss' bed and then passing out. Which means I must still be in her bed. I crack open my eyes and sure enough, I don't recognize the room as belonging to my house. My gaze shifts to my left and I see Katniss curled up on her side, her mouth open just slightly as she continues to sleep. I think it's the first time I've seen her sleep and for some reason I'm mesmerized by it. Maybe because when she sleeps, it's the only time when she doesn't feel the weight of so much responsibility on her shoulders. That's something I can relate to well enough.

Her hair is out the customary braid she keeps it in, and is falling into her face. I'm about to reach over and sweep it away, but I stop my hand inches away. I understand that she kissed me back yesterday, and that I'm in her bed lying next to her, but we didn't really talk yesterday. I have no idea how much of what happened was just pent up emotion, and relief over the fact that I wasn't dead. I want to be with Katniss. I have for the longest time, but I don't want it to feel forced. I finally decide to chance it, and brush the hair out of her face. Her nose scrunches as my rough fingers sweep along her forehead gently.

Her eyes open slowly until she is staring back at me. I'm afraid she'll pull herself away, but she doesn't. "Good morning," I whisper.

"Is it morning?" she asks.

"I have no idea," I answer honestly because I haven't even taken a look out the window, and I have no idea exactly what time I fell asleep yesterday. I glance up and see the first light of dawn. "Seems that way. We should have been up and in the woods by now. We're slacking."

"Gale," she starts, looking at me exasperatedly, "you've been trapped in a mine for the past three days. You aren't going anywhere."

"Eager to keep me here are you?" I challenge, unable to help myself, and the accompanying smirk.

She stares at me for a moment, her cheeks lightly red. "Maybe."

I know I can't put off this conversation. "Listen Catnip, this has been a crazy last few days for me, so I'm not going lie to you. What happened with us yesterday was something I've wanted to happen for a while, but..."

"What is it Gale?"

I turn onto my back and look away to the ceiling because what I'm going to say pains me. "Katniss, in all the time I've known you, you've never wanted anything like this. Hell, you've been completely against it. I don't want you to think there has to be something between us just because we both thought I was going to die. I don't want you to force yourself into something."

I feel her hand on my chin pull my face back towards her. "That was how I felt," she admits, "and I still have the same concerns about getting close to someone, and having kids one day in this awful place. But I also realize, that if I ever was going to experience those things in my life it would be with you. And you're worth the risk." That was good enough justification to push back my concerns for the moment. Katniss then leaning over and kissing me deterred them even more. My right hand immediately travels through her thick hair and to her neck. It then begins moving down her back until I hear a creaking floorboard and stop.

Katniss and I pull apart quickly and turn our heads to the doorway to her bedroom. There, looking back at us with wide eyes is Prim. She had clearly been trying to sneak by unseen, as she was standing on the tips of her toes. All of us just looked at each for several moments in silence.

"Um, sorry," Prim stutters, "I was just coming to get a change of clothes."

"You don't have to apologize Prim, its your room," I say, throwing my legs over the side of the bed and sitting up. I instantly regret doing that so fast though, because I'm hit by a wave of dizziness. My head falls into my hands to try and stop the sensation. I feel Katniss next to me, her hand rubbing my back.

"Does it hurt?" she asks.
I have to stop myself from shaking my head. "No, I'm just a little dizzy."

Then I feel another, smaller set of hands on my head, forcing me to raise it. I see Prim with a serious expression on her face, and she begins running a finger over my stitches. "These are good," she declares. "No more bleeding and the swelling is down. I'll make you a cup of tea with some herbs that should help with the light headedness."

I grab onto Prim's hand and plant a light kiss on the back of it. "Thanks Doctor Prim." She simply blushes, grabs some clothes, and exits the room. "She would make a great doctor," I tell Katniss.

"She would," Katniss agrees. "I wish she could go learn in a good school, and work in a big hospital. It would make her so happy. She's so much better than this life."

"Maybe one day she will."

"Maybe." She says it, but I can tell she doesn't believe it at all.

I stand up and grab her hand, pulling her with me out of the room. We walk into the kitchen, and Prim is just pulling a teapot off the stove. She pours the dark green liquid into a cup and hands it to me when I sit at the table. The tea is hot, and bitter, but it has a subtle calming affect on me that does help my head. I sip contently, and note that Mrs. Everdeen must still be sleeping or out early for another patient because I don't see or hear her. After I've finished, I decide it's time I get back home, because I haven't forgotten about my meeting with Haymitch. Katniss, of course won't let me walk alone for fear I might pass out again in the middle of the street. Normally, I wouldn't be thrilled with the idea of being escorted up the street like a child when I'm perfectly capable, but Katniss' arm circled through mine is enough incentive not to complain.

We walk slowly through the streets, enjoying the warm and clear weather, but we live so close that it only takes five minutes before we're standing at the stairs to my porch. It's only seven, still early for a Sunday morning in the Seam, and I can't hear anyone moving around inside.

"You should go inside and rest all day. Get your strength back," Katniss tells me.

"We should have just stayed in your bed all day if that was the case," I joke, all though it doesn't sound like a bad idea at all.

"I think our mothers knowingly allowing that to happen was a one time thing. Or maybe only after near death situations."

"You should have left the last part out. I may not be able to resist the temptation of doing something stupid and dangerous if that's the end result," I state, clasping my hands behind her back.

"Well I'll promise to do this," she starts, before reaching up and kissing me quickly, "if you promise not to do anything stupid and dangerous."

I shake my head. "You know I can't promise that Catnip. I'll be back in the mines at some point. And anyway, I don't think you could stand not kissing me."

"I went sixteen years without it, care to test me?"

"No, not really."

"I didn't think so. I'll stop by later, okay."

"Sure Catnip." I lean down and kiss her one more time, my lips lingering on hers for several moments before we break away. Katniss smiles at me, genuine happiness in her grey eyes that I wish was there all the time, and starts walking back towards her home. As I'm about to turn back to go inside another voice stops me in my tracks.

"Well if that wasn't the sweetest thing I've ever seen." I know the owner of the voice instantly by their sarcastic and slightly disgusted tone. I turn and see Haymitch leaning against my neighbor's home, arms folded against his chest. He smirks at me, and I have to resist my initial urge to hit him, knowing he was probably standing there the whole time while Katniss and I said goodbye.

"Abernathy. I'm actually a little surprised you showed up."

"I was sure as hell surprised when I heard they pulled you out of the mine yesterday," he confesses. "Thought I might have cleared my schedule out for today."

"And what does someone like you have to do on Sunday, other then sit in their giant house and drink themself stupid."

"You may not count that as doing something, but I do. I see your cheerful personality hasn't improved since last week."

"Are we here to insult each other, or did you have something to tell me Haymitch?" I ask, tired of the back and forth.

"Your mine ordeal hasn't left you unable to walk has it?" Haymitch inquires finally moving towards me.

"I can walk just fine, but why would I need to?"

"Because we for damn sure aren't standing in the middle of the street and talking. I'm not looking to be arrested today. Follow me."

He walks away, obviously expecting me to go with him. I stand still for a moment weighing whether or not I should go with him when I have absolutely no idea where he is leading me. However, my curiosity needing to be sated wins out and my feet start moving quickly to catch up. We start up one of the main roads in the Seam, but Haymitch makes a sharp left turn into off the street and towards the meadow that separates us from the woods. We go for another five minutes, now well away from town until we're walking along the inactive fence.

Haymitch leads me into a thick copse of trees on this side of the fence and then suddenly stops. I think this is where he plans to talk, but he looks towards the ground and starts moving brush around with his feet. At this point, I'm pretty sure he's crazy, drunk, or both. Next thing I know, he's found what he's looking for, which looks like a thick black stick. He reaches down and grips it, pulling it towards him. I'm surprised when a square patch of ground lifts up, dirt falling off to reveal a wooden hatch, which is covering a large hole in the ground.

"Alright kid, get in."

He looks at me expectantly, but this time I don't move anywhere. "You want me to get into a dark hole in the ground, away from everyone with no one knowing where I am? That doesn't sound suspicious to you?"

"You're not as brave as I thought."

"Or just less stupid."

"Point taken," Haymitch nods. "I'll go first, just pull the cover back on your way down." He walks forward, and when he doesn't just jump in, I realize there is a set of stairs. Once he's half way down, I move closer to the top step. Haymitch makes it down and lights something, which makes the steps easier to see. I pull the door down behind me and make it down to the bottom to see a large carved out room and table, which Haymitch is already seated at. In front of him sits a lantern, which is our only source of light, but it's enough to get a good look at the surroundings. The room is empty except for the table, chairs and some empty liquor bottles. However, I can see another dark path off of this main chamber. Instantly my mind reels back to my past days in the mines, and I have to take a seat to try and collect myself.

"Too soon to be underground again?" Haymitch asks seeing my discomfort.

"A little. I'll be fine."

"One good thing about winning the Games, was never having to set foot in those mines. I was on my way there just like you before I was Reaped."

"I don't think you can complain much about the money and the big house."

Haymitch leans his elbows on the table looking me straight in the eye. "Kid, the money and the house, all that stuff is for the people in the Districts-to make it look like there really is a prize at the end of the madness that is the arena. It's just to distract from the reality that Games are a ritual sacrifice for the Capitol. You're much better off dead in the arena."

"How are you better off dead?"

"Because before you're Reaped, the Capitol has no fucking clue who you are!" Haymitch exclaims. "You're just a number in the population records that they keep, someone who labors for their benefit, far removed from their gaze. Once they know your name it's over. They own you in a way you could never imagine. Nothing is safe after that moment, not your family, not your body, and sure as hell not your mind. You see this?" Haymitch asks, pointing to his still black and blue eye.

"Yeah, I see it."

"I got that when I walked off the train last week. One of the Tributes father's hit me in the eye because I couldn't bring their kid home alive. Try dealing with the fact that you can't save two kids every year for twenty years, and tell me how your conscience feels afterwards. Try sleeping at night."

This was the deepest conversation I had ever had with Haymitch Abernathy, and in only moments I could sympathize with him. I could understand his need to drown himself in liquor. "I'm sorry for what I said last week," I tell him, "about not caring for the kids."

He waves my apology off. "No, you're probably right to despise me about that. There was probably a time right after I won that I put everything I could into mentoring. But then my Tributes died, and then they died again. I lost the will to give them false hope."

"It would be false hope," I agree. "Twelve either sends malnourished miner's kids, or merchant's kids who couldn't survive in the wild to save their lives, which we all end up seeing proven true. None of us stand a chance against the careers."

"Don't be so modest kid. You and that girl of yours could probably give them a run for their money. Everyone knows you hunt. I wish I could have one of you as Tributes."

"That feeling isn't mutual," I practically roar.

"Again, point taken."

"You said you had things to tell me that I couldn't imagine. So far everything you've said isn't new. We don't need to reminisce about how awful the Games are."

Haymitch looks at me now like he pities me, and that immediately puts me on edge. "You want shock value? How about the fact that the Capitol killed your Father."

He has my attention now. "My Father died in a mining accident."

"Your Father died in a mine, but what killed him was no accident."

I'm on my feet without realizing it, chair thrown back and hand gripping the table in front of mean, jolting my already tender fingers. "Abernathy, what the hell are you talking about?"

"You see this place," he says pointing to the room and passage around us. "You're not the first person in the history of the District who has thought of rebelling against the Capitol. This place was started before I was in the Games. The tunnel goes for miles and miles towards the coast. No one ever got to finish it though."

"Why not?"

"Capitol got wind of the plan for the miners to attack the Peacekeepers, and move the women and children out of the District somehow. They never found out about this tunnel, but it didn't matter. The next day the miners went to work, but half of them never made it out again. The Capitol wiped out most of the conspirators and made the whole thing look like an accident."

"How the hell do you know this? How do you know it wasn't an accident?"

"Years spent in the Capitol with people who can't hold their liquor as well as I can," Haymitch answers.

"That's fine and all, but as far as I know my Father wasn't planning a rebellion before he died."

"Kid after that first time, Snow wasn't going to just wait for another plan to be hatched against him. He started using mining accidents as a way to control the Seam, whittle away at the population of its strongest men."

"So my Father, Katniss' Father..."

"Were just potential threats that needed to be eradicated."

At this point I can feel the blood pumping through my veins. I spin on my heels and begin pacing around the small room. I want to hit someone, something, but I stop myself because I know it won't help anything. The thought of having to tell my Mother and Katniss the truth of this physically pains me inside.

"What about what happened to me?" I ask spinning back around. "Was the explosion planned?" I need to know if someone intentionally tried to murder me.

Haymitch shakes his head. "No, that was really an accident. Plenty of people saw the lightning strike the tank. The Capitol may able to control the weather in the arena, but not out here."

"That's comforting," I snort. "If it had been then I would have a reprieve for a while from attempts on my life."

"Yeah, well welcome to life in District 12."

"So that's what you wanted to tell me," I say, retaking my seat. "That my father was murdered."

"No, I really brought you out here because I need to know how far you're willing to go."

"Go where?" I ask, confused.

"To end President Snow and the Capitol."

This was the most serious I had ever seen Haymitch Abernathy. His eyes were cold and most surprisingly he looked sober. I could also tell that he realized the pure danger of what he was talking about. His hands were balled into fists, but they shook against where they sat on the table, and his lips were mashed together.

"I'm willing to give my life for it, but what is this to you?" I demand, needing to know his motivation. "I have brothers and a sister the Capitol can take for their Games. I've had my father murdered if what you say is true. So they make you mentor Tributes every year, and that sucks, but to the point where you're willing to commit treason?"

"You're right, I have nothing to lose anymore," Haymitch growls. "That's because it's already been taken from me. Do you really think that we all want to go back to the Capitol every year, or be their showpieces? They make all of the Victors realize early on that you don't say no. They make sure that they prove we're powerless against them. And our families pay the price for our refusal. My family paid the price."

I feel stupid for being presumptuous. I realize I know nothing about Haymitch Abernathy truly, other than what everyone else is District 12 can see. We write him off as a drunk, and rich, and we look no deeper than that. However, looking at the pain in his face, there are things that haunt him beyond the Games. The things that I fear for my family, he has already experienced.

"Your family was murdered?" Haymitch nods at me but can't form words. "I'm sorry for that."

"It isn't just me," he explains. "Many of the Victors have lost family members, or at the least had them threatened. Some of the Victors have been turned into the Capitol's playthings just to keep their family safe. Being an attractive Victor isn't advisable." I actually shutter at that statement, getting the implication.

"Is there something happening in the other Districts, some sort of plan?"

"District 11 is a time bomb waiting to explode," Haymitch pounds his fist on the table for emphasis. "That boy, Thresh, his family was taken to the Capitol and how long they'll live I have no clue. I'm in contact with a fellow Victor from 11, a friend of mine. The whole District is under curfew, and the Peacekeepers are beating and hanging people for the fun of it. It's only a matter of time before something happens there."

"How far away from us is District 11?" The Capitol doesn't want us knowledgeable about all of the aspects of Panem. They only teach us things that they deem necessary, and geography of the Districts isn't one of those things.

"Not far to the South," Haymitch reveals. "If fighting breaks out there, it won't be long before the Capitol turns its eye on us."

"What about the other Districts? Do they sympathize with us?"

"Besides 1 and 2, pretty much. District 4 is split, but I think their Victors could sway the rest. The real problem is the Districts that surround the Capitol. District 3 would be invaluable to a rebellion, but they border the Capitol and the Career Districts. They would be beaten into submission first."

"We'd have to move them first then," I put forward. "Gather our strength together."

"Easier said than done," Haymitch laughs darkly, "not that I don't agree. The problem is we're strapped for time."

"How so?"

"Snow is pissed. A Victor manhandled a representative of the Capitol on the national broadcast. He's going to take it out on the children in the Districts in the Quarter Quell."

"You know this for a fact?" I ask desperately, knowing what this means for Rory, Katniss and Prim.

Haymitch nods. "We have some friends in the Capitol, who have said as much. They doubled the amount of Tributes during my Quell, so we can only guess how far Snow is willing to go this time. But I think it's pretty clear he's going to go too far and spark a war with whatever he does."

"And we'd be more of a threat if we were able to synchronize our response with the other Districts then if we all went our own way."

"Exactly," Haymitch confirms. "Which means we only have months before they announce the Quell during the Victory Tour to come up with something."

"There are other problems though, that I don't see solutions for," I state. "We may be able to take on Peacekeepers if we use the strength of our numbers, but that won't stop the Capitol's other weapons. We start fighting and they bring in hovercrafts and jets to turn us into District 13."

Haymitch actually smiles at that, and I can't in any way fathom why. "Kid, it's funny you should bring up District 13."