Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games. I know right? I can barely live with myself. But I do have this story so I guess I can deal!

Big thanks for the reviews of: tencentblues, barbarella-1980, Fashionaddict22, EpicStories339494, and VieWasOnFire

I greatly appreciate the feedback! I was originally going to update Wednesday, but I just couldn't wait :) So Tuesday it is!

Love you all! Enjoy the story my fabulous readers!

Gale POV

My back is sore on the hard mattress. It's not helping that half of my over six foot frame hangs off the old thing.

It hasn't been too long since my whipping. The deep lashes are healed. Only scars are left in their place. There's no constant agony like the first few weeks after the incident. Though sometimes, when the skin is pulled taught from swinging an ax in the mines or from drawing back on my bow, there is a permanent pain. An ache set deep into my bones that radiates throughout my back.

I don't complain though. It wouldn't do any good nor could there be anything done about it. So I suffer through it and continue my work. I look forward to coming home and easing myself onto our meek furniture until the pain passes. I hate how I have to put off playing with my little sister, Posy, because of it. How I have to wait to wrestle with Vick and Rory. How I can't help my mom with the laundry right away.

Today is worse than usual and only made more terrible by our power outage. Now on top of worry about my back, my job, and my family, I have to worry about Katniss. Not that I wasn't already worrying about her, but she's like me. A survivor. While she might try and sacrifice herself for the good of others, she could never die. After her first Games, I think I convinced myself of that. Enough to focus on life again anyway.

I love Katniss Everdeen, we have known each other since childhood and depend on one another. My feelings started about a year or two before her first Games. Little hints here and there. Like how I would catch myself staring at her during school, or find myself in the woods a little too early just to wait for her, or realize I had been watching her fierce determination as she took down prey.

But now I'll never get my chance to tell her, because I know she loves Mellark. No matter how much it kills me, I know this. From the time she volunteered on Reaping Day to the moment she put the deadly berries into her and Peeta's hands, I knew it. Her Games almost sent me to my death. Watching her day in and day out, staring at the screen as my eyes dried out until I was sure she escaped every situation she was put in. I only concentrated on her and keeping both our families alive. My heart clenched painfully at her near death experiences, hunger, and saddening losses. It bruised when I was announced her cousin. It cracked at Peeta's confession of love for Katniss. Finally, my heart broke when she kissed Peeta Mellark.

Then she came back, and they were no longer a couple, I stupidly thought I had a miniscule chance. At my first opportunity, when we were alone, I kissed her. I put every feeling and all my love into that kiss, but she rejected it. Rejected me. Katniss Everdeen took my broken heart and trampled on it with her hunting boots.

Then my whipping. One of the worse days of my life. Maybe the worst day of my life. I'd tried to sell a turkey to Cray, our head peacekeeper, only to find out we had acquired brand new one. One that wasn't too fond of illegally poached turkey.

Romulus Thread's whip cracked against my skin numerous times. I'd lost count when I finally and thankfully blacked out. When I did come out of the blackness, it was to yelling people with worried looks and frantic motions. I was in so much pain, and then everyone left me. I was worried and immobile in misery. I could hear the door open and someone mumble something, but I didn't know or care who. In a flash Mrs. Everdeen was back in the kitchen. She leaned over and injected something into my arm. I had fallen asleep on the kitchen table in an instant. No more pain. Well, until Mrs. E stopped giving me whatever was in the needles.

I had two weeks to recover and I was back in the mines, spending my free time trying to hunt even more discreetly. Only to be hit with worse news, Katniss was going back into the Games.

I roll over to my side and wince. I carefully listen to what is going on in the next room for a distraction. Hearing Posy's light laughter and Vick's soft chuckles lessens my discomfort some. I think Rory is telling them a joke, trying to turn their attention away from the Games and the oncoming darkness. Another thing to worry about, Rory. He's been becoming more and more determined to go hunting with me. I won't let him. It's just too dangerous, especially with all the new peacekeepers.

Although, I did see them sending many of them away on the train. I don't really know whether I'm thankful or offended. Thankful for the lessening in brutal and unnecessary force, or offended because we aren't seen as a threat to the Capitol.

The Capitol. I have hated them for as long as I can remember. I recall my father hating it before he died. Hell, I bet he still hates it from wherever he is now. My whole family hates the Capitol, but they don't express it as openly as I do.

I hear my mom's footsteps echo through our small house. They stop in front of the bedroom my whole family shares. "Gale, dinner's ready." I hesitantly stand and stretch. Grimacing at every painful pop and crackle as I try to work out the kinks in my neck and back.

"Alright, I'll be there in a minute," I gruff. She sighs, but leaves. I think she's aware that my back causes me problems, no matter how hard I try to hide it. She never says anything though, and I'm grateful. She knows I would fight anything she says tooth and nail to keep my meager miners pay and hunting meat. I suppose mothers are just like that, they know everything.

I stiffly walk to the door, the floorboards creaking with every step. I'm halfway to the kitchen when I hear a deafening blast. It's like a clap of thunder, loud, scary, and a warning. A warning something is coming.

I'm still and unmoving. Even as the vibrations rumble underneath my feet and the few possessions we have quiver, I'm still. Then my family starts screaming.

I break into a run and hurry the small distance. I enter the kitchen and stop to assess my family for a short moment. Everyone is fine, only frightened and shocked. My mom is the first one to break out of her trance and move in front of me. "Gale we need to get out! I think- I think we're being bombed," she says quickly. I'm not sure how she instantly knows this, but the realization hits me like a ton of bricks.

We're being bombed.

I nod and grab my game bag from the kitchen counter. "Mom, get the kids and grab some clothes! I'll pack some food and get things together," I yell. They are all frozen and staring at me wide eyed, only my mother starts at my words. "Now! Go!"

They're scrambling out of their seats and running to find what they can. When I'm assured they're all working, I reach into our cupboards to grab anything edible. I stuff cans and jars into my bag, I run to the place where we keep all our smoked meat and cram it into the bag as well. What food we have is not even enough to last us a couple of days, I grab the last of our bread and a knife.

I rush to the front door to wait for my family, but almost trip over a small object in the living room. I muffle a curse and look down. No, not an object, a person. Posy, my five year old sister, is standing right in front of me. I have to jerk my body uncomfortably to avoid running over her. She is sniffing and biting her lower lip, tears are threatening fall from her gray eyes. She looks up to me questioningly, a ratty teddy bear in her hands. The teddy bear is probably the one possession she thought to grab during a crisis. "What's happening, Gale?" Posy whispers.

I shift my game bag over and bend down to pick her up. I offer her a reassuring look, despite our situation. "We're going away, but don't worry we'll be okay," I stress. She nods then buries her head into my shoulder. I don't think she really understands. She only knows something bad is happening and her big brother is keeping her safe, like always.

Posy's black curls are hiding her face from my sight, so I don't know if she starts crying. I'm about to set her down so I can check on the rest of my family, when everyone stumbles out of our bedroom. They are all carrying something on their backs or in their hands. My mom goes to take my bag, but I give her Posy instead.

"I need to get everyone out, mom. Meet me at the meadow, where the gate is. If I'm not there in ten minutes, go under it and get to the pond."

My mom looks like she wants to argue, but resignation settles over her features. She looks at me sadly, clutches Posy tighter, and gives me a peck on the cheek. "Be safe," she murmurs.

I smile sorrowfully at her and then shift to a comforting expression for my siblings. I turn to leave, but someone reaches out and seizes my arm. I look back and Rory is looking at me with a firm expression.

"Let me help. I can help," he pleads.

"No!" I bark. Yanking my arm away, I glare at him. I see his angry scowl and soften a little. "Please, stay here and get our family to safety," I reason. It takes a moment, but his scowl contorts into a compliant and grim understanding. He moves to take a protective stance in front of everyone. It's the spot I usually stand in. Even though he stands like a man, I see the innocence, that's still managed to stay in him after all we've been through, in his eyes as I turn away.

I sprint into the street. I dash through the Seam and only stop to knock on people's doors. I tell them to run to the fence. They already know something's wrong so it doesn't take much convincing to make them leave their homes. They all grab what little they have and round up their families. I see people pouring into the street with children in tow and bags slung hurriedly over their shoulders.

I mentally curse how far away Katniss's family lives. I would never leave them behind, but it is very inconvenient to run all the way to the Victor's Village for them. I see a fire where the town is, but I can't stop to help them. Katniss's friend, Madge, briefly flits through my mind. I don't think I'll have time to go rescue her.

I shake my head. Of course I can't rescue her. She probably already knew this would happen. She most likely left with her family and they are living in some high dollar house in the Capitol. Even as I think it, I feel guilty. I brush that feeling aside and grit my teeth.

I've knocked on half the people's doors and am halfway to the Everdeen's place when the second bomb drops.

As you can see, it will alternate between Madge's and Gale's point of views. I appreciate reviews and/or messages. I'll send you a little preview of the next chapter if you review. I welcome any criticism. Tell me what you think, I would love to know!