"Up you go!" Kaiden says giving me a hand up into the helicopter
I turned around and reached my arm out and helped him up.
"Everdeen! Long time no see!" Someone calls
Turning around I find myself looking at the one and only Finnick Odiar walking up to the chopper.
"Finn we had watch duty for the last 3 months together. I literally just saw you not 2 hours ago." I say teasingly
"So you didn't miss me at all?" He asks
"Nope, not at all." I reply
"Not even a little bit." He ask hopping up into the chopper
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Okay maybe a little." I say softly
"I knew it! You missed me! You can't hide anything from me Sugar!" He laughs
I smile and flip him off which only makes him laugh harder.
"Alright, buckle up you assholes! We're taking off" Joe our pilot calls
"You ready?" Kaiden asks me
"As I'll ever be." I reply with a heavy sigh
"Oh you'll do fine Sweetheart! You are after all the head of this." Haymitch says
"Excuse me?" I ask stunned
"Oh did I forget to mention that?" Haymitch laughs sheepishly
"I'm not in charge of anything! If I'm in change we'll all end up dead or-or-or something!" I shriek
"Oh calmed down Kat. You'll do fine and if you find the POW's and get back alive you'll be moving up sooner rather than later." Haymitch tells me.
"Nope we're all gonna end up dead." I mumble
Finn sits down next to me and shouts to Joe that we're all ready.
"You'll be great. Just relax." Kaiden smiles confidently at me
I just nod my head and close my eyes. I'm tired I just got off patrol with Finn. We patrol from 12am-6am, I usually go right to my dorm and sleep until about 2 in the afternoon. Soon after take off and saying a mental good-bye to Kuwait I drift in and out of sleep for the first hour with Kaiden humming a tune that I've never heard before. It haunting, and sad. If I had the energy to ask him what it is, I would I'm just to tired though. I finally fall into a light sleep, for the last leg of our flight.
We've just landed and I already hate Afghanistan, absolutely hate it. It's hot, like unbearably hot and it doesn't help being in full gear.
"You coming Sweetheart or you just gonna stand there looking like your brand new puppy just died." Haymitch calls
All I could do is scowl at him and start walking. We piled all of our bags into the waiting jeep, and start heading for the base we would be staying at for who the hell knows how long. It's about a half hour before we arrive at base.
"There she is. Captain Haylen Clove. Self absorbed bitch in other words." Haymitch announces as a sarcastic warning.
Haymitch gets out first then Finn, Kaiden and Finn holds out his hand to help me out.
"I can get out by myself, thank you very much!" I say slapping his hand away, and jumping down.
"Haylen, dear how nice it's to see you again." Haymitch says kindly
"As it is to see you Haymitch." She says with a tight smile
"Why don't you introduce your lovely crew here." Clove asks
"Of course, of course. These are Second Lieutenants Finnick Odiar and Kaiden Gloss, and this is First Lieutenant Katniss Everdeen." Haymitch introduces us.
"Nice to meet all of you." She says shaking our hands.
"And now what about your lovely specimens of life dear Haylen?" Haymitch asks
"Ah yes, this is Staff Sergeant Annie Cresta and these are Corporal Peyton Marvel and Shane Cato." Clove says pointing to each of them.
"Nice to meet all of you." Haymitch says nodding.
"How about you and I go talk about what our plan of action Haymitch." Clove says getting to the point quickly.
"Of course. Duty calls kids. Don't kill each other." Haymitch says with a pointed look at me.
I just roll my eyes, while Kaiden and Finn laugh.
"How about we go get some coffee an get to know each other?" Annie asked quietly Looking directly at Finn
Finn just about turns a beautiful and embarrassing shade of red when Annie looks at him. Everyone nods and follows her.
After dinner Haymitch told me I'd be staying in a dorm with Annie tonight and tomorrow we would figure out everything. I nodded and said good night to everyone and followed Annie up to her dorm.
"Well you can have this bed, and as long as you don't make a mess, and don't make a lot of noise in the morning I think this will work out" she says smiling even though she's dead serious.
I really hate to admit it but Annie scares the living shit out of me. She may be a short little shit but she can pack a punch if you pissed her off.
Annie had gone to the shower, so I had start making myself at home and the first think I did was take my boots and socks off. I'm pretty sure my eyes rolled back when I do. I've never been a fan of wearing shoes. Back home I would go into the field and just run barefoot.
I was just finishing putting the picture of Prim back in my bag when Annie returned.
"Goodnight Katniss. Sleep well." Annie says later when we've gotten ready for bed.
"Good night Annie." I reply.