Hello, chapter 3 is up! Please be kind and leave a review, I'd like to know what you are thinking about the story! This is my first fanfiction and I need feedback! Thank you very much.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games
Gale doesn't know why he agreed to this. Maybe because there was something in the way she talked to him that felt right. She really cares, you can sense that. But caring isn't enough for this tough job. They step out of Gale's office to find a very amused Dan.
"Dan, this is Doctor Reven." Gale introduces Jordan to him. "Doctor Reven, this is Dan Gallnell".
"Nice to meet you. You can call me Jordan, we are probably the same age"
"It's my pleasure to meet you, Jordan." He looks at Gale and tries to contain a laugh. She notices this and says "I see that everybody is surprised to see someone wearing a skirt today".
After that awkward moment they leave for a survey in Warloo. They will be riding jeeps and it takes about forty five minutes to get there. There is no road and the path is completely covered in mud due to the recent floods. It's not going to be a pleasant journey. Especially considering that Gale is fuming. After the trip he will call Bayle and make sure he knows he is not very pleased, to say the least, with his choice.
What is he trying to do, sabotage me? He knows how important this is to me, to the people who need the hospital.
They get into the cars. Gale, Dan, Jordan and Colt get in one, other two, heavy with supplies, water and drugs, following. Colt drives while the others are silent. Colt works at the office and helps with everything that needs to be done. He is from district 2 originally and he is known for his drinks and his cheerful attitude, mostly because he is drunk most of the time. He is short and slightly bald and sports earrings on both of his lobes. Dan and Jordan take the backseats. After some uncomfortable minutes of silence Colt makes and attempt at small talk with the newcomer.
"So, you are the doctor, girl?" Jordan nods. She doesn't care to be nice. She is too mad about the way she was "welcomed" at work. I can't believe Johanna didn't talk to him before. She said she would.
"You from district 2?" Another nod that Colt sees in the rear view mirror. "Ya know, I'm from 2 too" he laughs at his rather silly joke. Needless to say, he is the only one. "Where exactly?" This time she won't get away with a nod.
"Northern Aileas" she answers, casually looking at the window. Colt whistles. "A girl from there on the road towards Warloo? This must be a first!"
"Yeah, today has been all about firsts apparently" Jordan says looking at Gale and catching his eye roll.
"I thought people from there had enough money to go to the moon or something". Jordan doesn't say anything. "Lots of career kids used to come from there, are you from a career family?"
"No" Jordan whispers while still looking away.
"You are a lucky girl. You are one lucky girl. I always wondered what life was like for people like you. What about your folks? Are they happy you are working here? Why do you even do that, by the way, it's not like you need to" Colt coarsely laughs filling the stiff air of the car with his alcohol breath.
Yes, why is she doing this? Can't she go back to her precious life?
"It's got to be quite a change from there to here" Dan adds.
"Exactly my point" Jordan says, this time staring at her hands resting on her lap. She didn't want to talk about her parents or her brother or the many reasons she picked a medical career and this specific job. Too many memories, from before the war and during it. Colt would be surprised to know she isn't that lucky after all.
They spend the rest of the car drive in silence occasionally interrupted by Colt's cursing due to the muddy path. They come to a stop right at the entrance of Warloo. They get out of the cars while the other two are pulling in. People start passing boxes, supplies, sacks, all the things they brought to the poor inhabitants of the village. Jordan looks around surveying the area while Dan, Colt and Gale are taking something from the trunk of the jeep, talking in hushed voices.
"Are we going to give one to her too?" Dan asks
"Oh, please! I don't think she's ever touched a syringe, let alone one of these" Gale scoffs.
"What are we going to do then, she can't go in unarmed!"
"She will stay behind us during the visit, it's not like she was going to do something anyway" Gale says.
"Guns?!" Jordan has reached them and is looking bewildered at what the other three are loading. "Why do you think you need guns? We have come here to help them, not to shoot them" she says in a raised voice.
"That's very naïve . You should know that once-wealthy villages that have suffered a significant crisis after the war tend to be rather unfriendly toward the new government, and that's a nice way to put it. Violent would be a more appropriate word." Gale says in an annoyed tone.
"But that's because you go there with weapons! They feel in danger and then they get defensive! You have to leave them here!".
"Sweetie, a guy of ours came back from here with a bullet in his leg three weeks ago" Colt tries to reason with her.
"They already have trust issues toward the government, do you think that you going in with guns will somehow sort them out?" she is yelling at this point but they can't risk to be heard by Warloo people. Gale grips her arm and shoves her against the car. Jordan is taken aback and looks at him with shock mixed with anger and bewilderment. How dare he?
"Now, you listen to me, you know nothing, this is your first day and you do what we tell you to do. This is dangerous, serious work, not a stupid Aileas diversion. You follow our lead and stay behind and, most of all, keep your mouth shut. I will not let you put any of us or yourself in a dangerous situation, am I clear?" To say he is mad is probably an understatement.
Dan and Colt are looking at the ground. You can tell they are shocked too by Gale's impulsiveness and forceful methods. He has always been very protective of his people and work but maybe this time he might have crossed the line. Nobody talks, even the other people have stopped to look at the two of them who are gazing at each other. If looks could kill.
"Get your hands off of me" she hisses, freezing the air.
