Disclaimer: I do not own Hunger Games or Kickin' It

L

Training Begins

POV Kim

Pain. Immense pain radiating from my right leg near the ankle. Not a good way to wake up. Groaning, I slowly sat up finding myself in the room from the night before, the fire had been put out and three candles lit on the table in the center. Looking down, I saw a clean white bandage over my brand.

"Jack?" I called, peering under the table, seeing him still out on the other side. He had bandage on the side of his chest. With a sigh, I tested my right foot. It hurt, but I could push through it. Rolling my pant leg back down, I stood, wincing slightly.

A quick scan of the room revealed that we had been left alone and there were two notes on the table, one in an envelope with "From Haymitch" written on it. The other, just a plain piece of paper attached to the table by a knife stuck in the wood. Moving closer, I picked up the envelope first, opening it and unfolding the paper:

"Get with Greasy Sae to arrange all details. She knows how to get with me. Gale, you better have been right. Unite 12 as much as possible for Katniss and for Peeta.

~H~"

Just a simple 'H' for a signature? I shrugged, seemed to fit Haymitch, or at least the drunk Haymitch I was led to believe was true. If everything that was talked about last night is fact, then Haymitch is, in fact, quite the mastermind. Tossing the letter back onto the table, I took the knife from the wood and pocketed it. Leaning onto the table, I read the note:

"Jack and Kim,

Greasy Sae and myself had to return. I will be back after hunting and we will see Greasy Sae in the meeting room soon after. Until Haymitch returns, Greasy Sae is our acting commander. She will give all orders and/or assignments. Since you two are new, the most you will be doing is training, maybe teaching some of your 'karate' to us other soldiers. Know that what you've entered into is not light feat. It will be hard and it will be gruesome, but it will free Panem, and therefore, worth all sacrifices. I hope you both know I'm g lad to have you part of the Mockingjays and am honored to have the priveledge of fighting next to you both.

May the Mockingjay ignite.

~Gale~"

I laughed softly, shaking my head. This soft and emotional Gale didn't fit him. I much preferred the up front, in your face Gale. Though it makes him irritatingly annoying, at least I know he's not trying to play nice to get us to do what he wants. When he's so frustrating, I can't take it, I feel like I have more control of the situation. Then again, that could just be a way he manipulates us into doing what he really wants us to do.

"AGH!" Slamming my head down on the table, I let out a frustrated laugh. I just didn't know what to believe now! Everything I thought I knew about everyone is turning out to be false! Haymitch is a mastermind for bringing down Snow, Gale is a soldier for the cause, Greasy Sae is Haymitch's right hand, Katniss and Peeta were specifically chosen for the Games. I gasped. How did they know Peeta's apparent love for Katniss would make him volunteer for Jack? Jack's name was pulled, not Peeta's! Everyone knows that Katniss would do anything for Prim, of course she'd volunteer, but is Peeta's love so strong to do anything for Katniss? Even if he's never really spent any time alone with her? If Jack had gone, I would have volunteered, but I know Jack and have lived with him, my love for him is unconditional, could it be the same for Peeta when it comes to Katniss?

I looked over to Jack as I heard him groan. "Kim?"

"I'm right here," I said soothingly as I knelt down next to him. "How are you feeling?"

"It hurts," he coughed. "How 'bout you?"

"Same, but I can walk. Let's see if we can get you standing."

Slowly, we got him standing on his own. Going to stretch his arms, he winced as the skin was pulled taught over his brand. "Shit! Won't be stretching for a while," he laughed softly. "So, where is everyone?"

"Gale went hunting and Greasy Sae back to the Hob. They'll be meeting us here after Gale gets back from hunting."

"And that will be?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "No idea. But there are two notes on the table. One from Haymitch, one from Gale."

"Did you read them?" He asked as he headed for the letters.

"Yea, not much in them," I replied, heading to the aerial map of 13. "We'll be starting our training today." I called to him as I studied the map.

"Yea, I know." He placed a hand on my shoulder as he looked at the map as well. "What are you thinking?"

Shrugging, I took a deep breath. "I don't know, it's just weird, ya know? There's all these same markings," I pointed to a number of black rectangles that seemed to be strategically placed. "What do they mean?"

Jack rested his chin on his fist. "Hm," he hummed softly. "They seem to be encircling this entire area," he said slowly as he indicated the medium sized area on the map. "But look," he continued, pointing to four larger black rectangles along a black dotted line that took up the majority of the map, "this appears to be the fence line, so these four must be entryways into District 13. If that's true, then these smaller ones must be entryways too."

"But entryways into what?"

"I'm not sure, Kimmy, maybe it's an underground haven or something. Maybe it's the headquarters for the Mockingjays."

We both jumped at the sound of soft laughter. Turning around, we found Gale leaning against the stairwell banister.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

Gale joined us in front of the map. "'Underground haven'?" Gale shook his head with a smirk, "'Headquarters of the Mockingjays'?" He looked at us both with a humorous grin. I averted my eyes, crossing my arms. He was making me feel foolish, stupid for even considering Jack's suggestions. Why else would they have a map, and not just a map, but a huge map, of District 13? Granted, there were no buildings indicated, just what appears to be the fence line, what we assume to be entryways, and surrounding forested areas. However, the way that he was smirking, it was almost kind of like he knew something and that we were almost there to figuring it out. "Do you two even know where 13 is?" Gale's voice broke through the silence. "Or realize that our main leaders, commanders, organizers, whatever you want to call them, or located in different Districts?"

"That doesn't matter," I replied, slowly bringing my eyes up to his. "Where we come from, our military wasn't only spread out through all of the US, but also in many different countries throughout the entire world. Not everyone was at the HQ, hell, the number of people who were actually at HQ doesn't even come close to the number of soldiers that fought in our military."

Just as Gale was about to talk, Jack took a step forward. "Communication."

That's all he said. What? I gave him a questioning look. Is that really all he's going to say? The silence stretched on for what felt like hours as we waited for Jack to continue.

"The boy is smarter than one would think." Snapping my head to the voice, Greasy Sae was standing at the top of the stairs. "What gave me away?"

Jack shrugged. "I thought I heard the door close," he said softly as she took a seat at the table where I found the notes.

"Is that all?" she sounded disappointed to me, "And why'd you blurt out 'communication'?"

Jack cleared his throat, shooting me an apologetic smile. "While I see where Kim is coming from, there is one main difference between the military we know from our world and your rebellious group in this world, and that's communication.

"I mean, where we are from we have cell phones, land lines, fax, text messaging, e-mail, social networks, regular post, all sorts of ways to get information out to our people. But here, in this world, none of that really exists, except for landlines, but those are only for people of importance to Panem, not really an every home necessity, like it is in our world.

"So, without those means communication, and without the freedom to travel whenever, wherever, the only time you all can communicate, I'm assuming, is during the actual Games or times when Haymitch may have needed to go to the Capitol for appearances at parties or something."

I looked from Jack to Greasy Sae, who was nodding her head with a smile. Great, so now I'm apparently the group idiot, way to go me!

"I must admit," Greasy Sae said, focusing on Jack, "you have surprised me. Communication, as you have guessed, is difficult and really only done between all our main leaders, because of the means to do so." She pulled an envelope out. "I've had word from Haymitch, he's not too pleased about you three entering his home, but he's made it clear that you two will be training with Gale, as I suspected. Before you two lay any hands on weapons, you need to get physically fit, learn to move silently, then learn how to use weapons properly, then how to move silently while holding and using your weapons. There is a mandatory viewing of the Games tonight, until then, train and train hard," Greasy Sae took out pen and parchment and lit a new candle near her spot. "You two head back home, visit the Everdeen's if you need help with your burns, just be sure to keep your mouths shut. You'll be meeting Gale where you always do in the forests. Gale with me for a moment."

Gale nodded to us, "Forest clearing, one hour." And with that, he joined Greasy Sae. Jack put his left arm around me and we headed up the stairs and back out into District 12, shielding our eyes from the brightness of the natural sun.

~One Hour Later~

Jack and I had decided to skip going home and headed straight to the forest where we know we could talk freely. We hadn't discussed much, just different ideas about what training will be like. We had started a small fire and a rabbit roasting over it when Gale appeared.

"Catnip would gut you alive if she saw everything you're wasting," he took a seat next to Jack, pointing at the little pile of rabbit skin and innards. I just couldn't bring myself to actually eating the guts of any of the game we caught.

Shrugging, I pulled a rabbit leg off and started to eat, blowing on it to keep my fingers from getting burned from the greasy fat. "It's not a waste," I said, taking a small bite as Jack grabbed some. "It will attract a scavenger, and who knows, maybe that scavenger will end up on my dinner table after a promising hunt."

"She has a point," Jack said between bites, "no matter how unrealistic and probably, she does have a point."

Gale laid back, resting his head on his hands. "You two have each others backs, huh? Total trust in each other?"

"Of course," we both said. Jack was the one person in the entire universe I could count on. Yea, we have our moments, like the other day, but when it comes down to it, there isn't anyone I'd rather have besides me come life or death.

"That's good," Gale cut my thoughts off. "You'll need that on the battlefield. You can't fight with someone you can't trust to guard your back. You two will make good battle buddies." Jumping up, he brushed off his pants, grabbed our roasting rabbit and threw it into the forest.

"Hey!" I jumped up pissed. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

He shot me a smirk. "Training has started, and lesson, food rationing."

"Are you kidding me?" I threw my stick to the ground out of anger, a very common feeling for me lately. "First of all, I hunted that rabbit, I killed it, cleaned it, cooked it. There was enough for us, no need to ration it!"

"Kim, calm down," Jack tried to reason with me.

"No!" I turned back to Gale. "Second, when there is game to be had, rationing changes. Tell me, oh fearless leader of mine, have you fractioned game into any of your lessons? Not to mention the fact that I'm from the Seam and food rationing is a daily occurrence!"

"You are not from the Seam!" Gale yelled at me, stomping my fire out. "You don't know shit about what we go through in the Seam! You think because you've lived here for one year, you got it all figured out? You don't! You don't even know half of the shit we go through! You know nothing!"

"I know more than you think!"

Gale laughed. "Oh really? Like about the Districts? The mines? The dangers of the mines? The all too common illnesses? The endless nights of starving? The screams of children who don't understand why they can't eat? The girls who sell themselves for the first time for a piece of bread? You know all about that, do you?"

Balling my fists, I bit my lip as I realized whatever I say won't matter. He will just come up with other things, it was a battle I could not win. Turning my back on Gale and Jack, I headed towards some trees nearby and started to climb.

"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?" Gale's annoyed voice, still laced with anger, called.

Rolling my eyes, I responded as I continued to climb. "Greasy Sae said physical training was first, so I'm doing some upper body work."

"She also said I was your leader for training and I say weapons are first. Come down."

Grunting, I moved up another branch before throwing my response. "No, Greasy Sae out ranks you in your rebel group. If she says physical fitness is first, then physical fitness is first."

"Once she handed command of your training over to me, she lost the right to have any say in what we do, how we do it, when we do it, and where! That is all my decision as your Training Commander. Now get your ass down here!"

"No, that was –"

"Kimberly Crawford!" Jack yelled up to me. He never used my full name. I looked through the branches at him. "I don't know what the hell you're thinking, but this isn't like you. This have never been like you! You're a team player, you believe is what's right, and isn't that our focus here? To do what's right for the people of Panem?"

Looking away, I released a sigh. I know he's right. The right thing to do here is help fight this rebellion. Help free the people of Panem, destroy Snow, destroy the Hunger Games. I'm letting my frustration and dislike of Gale effect my judgment too much. It's just so hard! Gale comes in here screaming about how I don't know shit about Seam life, but he has no idea what it's like to be taken from your world and family and thrown into this situation. I may not know everything there is to know about the Seam, but I do know how to survive, granted not as well as some, but better than most, it's not fair for him to just assume I know nothing! Why should I fight for someone who only sees me as an outsider? But then again, that's what I am. That's what Jack is, but no one treats him like it. He's complied with their ways, but I'm not like that. If Jack and I were pulled here, we were pulled here for a reason, maybe that was to bring our ways here, maybe their ways just aren't enough.

Rubbing my eyes, I started to climb down. No matter the reason for us being thrust into this situation, now was not the time to fight over it. It was time to train. Jumping from the last branch, I joined Jack. "Just know," I said to Gale, "I do this for Jack, not for you. I will follow Jack, because I trust him and he's never wronged me, but you, Gale, I will only follow if Jack does. Jack is my leader, not you."

"I suggest you change that attitude," Gale threatened, "else you may just find yourselves in separate units come wartime."

Jack stepped forward, "That's enough. We have a job to do and not much time to do it. So, what's first?"

"Weapons," Gale said going to his hollowed out tree trunk and removing three guns, the same as the Peacekeepers. "This is what we will be fighting with and against."

"But Katniss uses a bow," I said softly.

"Katniss is also the public figure head. She won't actually be fighting. She's the embodiment of our symbol and cause; she'll be kept safe, away from any battle, while we are on the frontlines. So, you will become best friends, very quickly, with your rifles, or you will die. Your choice, either way, I don't really care, so long as our objective is met."

"If you don't care about our lives, why vouch for us then?" Jack asked, grabbing one of the rifles and looking it over with a frown.

"Cause I know you can fight if it comes to unarmed combatives. With a little more training, you'll be just as skilled with your rifles. You are pretty good with a bow, and Kim, you're great with your knives, but you also need to learn how to use this rifle properly."

Taking the rifle Gale handed to me, I carefully looked it over. I've never handled a rifle, or any gun at that rate. It was both frightening and empowering to hold such a deadly weapon and no matter how much I'd hate to admit it, but I need Gale to teach me so that I can learn to use it safely.

"Alright, so first things first, safety lock." Gale turned his gun to the side showing a lock mechanism above the trigger. Turning mine to the side, I saw the same thing, the little lever was pointing to the on, and I could see from many previous uses, the lever could be turned down to the off position. "As long as your rifles safety is on, it won't fire," he showed us that the trigger was disengaged by pushing on his, "now once the safety is off," he flipped the lever, "take aim," he aimed at a tree, "relax, and fire." BANG!

I jumped at the noise. "Once you're done, put the safety back on. Always leave the safety on unless you know for a fact you need to use it! I can't stress it enough. You cannot become reckless, understand?"

We both nodded. "Alright, first, we are going to disassemble and reassemble our rifles, then, we will do some target practice and call it a day."

It took me a few times to be able to take my rifle apart and put it back together correctly, but I can now do it. Sure, Gale can do it ten times faster than me, and even Jack is faster than me, but I shouldn't have to do it on the battlefield, right? Oh boy, I sure hope not! Otherwise, the result may be less than pleasurable.

Jack was currently practicing his aim while Gale hung our targets. "Why do the targets have a body on them?" I asked Jack.

He shrugged, "I'm assuming it's because we will be shooting humans," he said slowly.

"Humans?" I asked softly as the realization just hit me.

"Well, yea, Kimmy, what else would you shoot and kill in war?"

"You weren't supposed to hear that, alright," I replied getting into the stance Gale had shown us as he headed back our way. "It just hit me is all."

"What did you think was going to happen once the rebellion started?"

"I don't know, Jack!" My anger, once again, getting to me. "Just forget it."

Jack lowered his rifle. "No, if you have something on your mind, you need to tell me."

"It's nothing."

"No, it isn't, Kim. Don't just brush it off."

"Alright, Jack, you're first. Try to aim for the chest or the forehead," Gale interrupted as he pointed at the targets. For once, I was glad he entered when he did.

"Don't think this is over," Jack whispered to me as he took aim and shot. This time I was expecting it, but the sound still startled me.

Gale took out a pair of binoculars and nodded approvingly. "Not bad. Your shot landed just to the left of the center of the chest. Still a kill shot. Alright, Kim, let's see it." He lowered the binoculars as he waiting for me to shoot at my target.

As I got into position, I tried to focus on the forehead. Taking aim, I quickly decided to aim for the chest instead, bigger space to hit. Looking down my sight, I flipped my safety off and pulled the trigger. "Shit!" I cried out and dropped the rifle as pain exploded in my shoulder.

I shot a glare at Gale as Jack picked up my rifle and made sure I was ok. "Gotta watch the kick," Gale said between laughs.

"A little warning would have been nice," I replied dryly, rubbing my shoulder and giving Jack a small smile as I took my rifle back.

"Some things just need to be learned by experience. Yu will most likely have one hell of a bruise on that shoulder." Gale lifted the binoculars to his face. "Well, you hit the target," he said slowly, putting the binoculars away. "Let's shoot off a few more rounds and then head back for the mandatory viewing."

Now that I know the rifle will have kick to it, I can better prepare my aim. Maybe if I count that into my aim, my bullet will hit where I want it to. Gale wants me to learn by experience, then so be it. I will make him rue the day he began to train me. The student will become the teacher; mark my words, or thoughts I guess. Smiling softly to myself, I raised my rifle, took aim, and shot.