A/N: Angst Warning!

I wouldn't really call it AU but the book mentions that Gale gets whipped 40 times. I don't have him whipped quite than many times below - I just couldn't do it.

Madge

Finally a good day for mom after a long time; all the Capitol people left and it's just us. Hopefully, I'll see Gale tonight too. Haymitch is here and it almost feels like the old days back when I was 10 years old. Mom, dad and Haymitch talked while I played the piano for them. Only difference today is that dad is not home. He had to go into the Justice Building even though it is Sunday. As I play my mom's favorite song, our lights flicker off. I raise my head to the window to be pleasantly surprised by a thin blanket of snow that has covered the backyard. We don't usually lose power here even in a bad storm so I get up to inspect. Suddenly the front door opens, almost knocking me down, and my dad walks in soaking wet with snowflakes all over his clothes. Karl helps my dad out of his wet outer layer of clothes and the lights flicker on.

Haymitch raises an eyebrow at dad; dad nods and says, "I just did it. Paylor called a little while ago and said more peacekeepers are being sent to all the Districts. They're under heavy duress there with the fighting. They've had a lot of casualties."

Haymitch asks, "Did she say how long we have?" Dad shakes his head. I listen to their exchange and watch their faces. I've never seen my dad or Haymitch have such an open exchange inside the house.

I hug my dad and very softly whisper in his ear, "Dad, the microphones. Won't Snow hear all this?"

My dad hugs me back and says, "I just disconnected all the microphones in our house. No one is listening to us in the Capitol anymore. Corn showed me how to do it. He said I would know when the time is right and this is it. By tomorrow our District will most likely be flooded with extra peacekeepers. Things are about to change; let's enjoy our last day of normalcy without having to worry about what to say. You'll need to talk to Gale and Katniss tonight; today was probably the last day of hunting for them."

It feels awfully strange to be able to say such things inside our house. I've grown up never being able to speak my mind freely. I've dreamt of sneaking Gale into my room for the night. I've wanted him here with me and now I can finally do it – finally, no one is listening to us. The feeling is liberating. There is a loud knock on the door and Darius walks in cold, wet, alarmed, and frazzled.

"Our new head peacekeeper arrived just a half hour ago," Darius looks me straight in the eye and continues, "His name is Thread." At the name a chill passes through my body; I haven't been able to forget those cold, emotionless eyes we saw in the stone cabin. This is not going to be good for our District.

Darius looks away from me and walks closer to my dad. He tries to whisper but I catch his words, "Gale showed up with a turkey for Cray only to find Thread there. Thread is taking him to the town square to publically punish him." The room spins and I feel like I'm about to pass out. I clear my head and run for the door. Haymitch catches up to me at the front door and grabs me by my waist, "Oh no you don't!"

I start thrashing in his arms, kicking him and punching him while I yell, "Let me go, let me go!"

My dad gets a hold of my flailing arms and pulls me against his chest, crossing his arms over my arms on my chest. I'm stronger than him and I'm almost out of his grasp when I see Haymitch grab two sets of handcuffs from Darius' belt; he quickly handcuffs my hands – a handcuff for each one of my wrists. I continue to kick and scream. It takes all three of them but they finally drag me back to the den where Haymitch quickly closes the other ends of the handcuffs around the 2,000 pound metal shelf by the wall.

"Daddy, please! Let me go. Please I'm begging you. He needs me. They'll punish him…they might kill him."

My dad comes up behind me and hugs me against his body again. "I'm sorry, honey, I can't let you go. They could punish you, kill you or turn you into an avox and I can't let that happen. I lived in the Capitol and I've seen the kinds of horrific punishments they give out for challenging a peacekeeper."

I tug at my wrists; an action I know will leave bruises on my skin yet it is useless against the two metal handcuffs and a 2,000 pound metal shelf. Haymitch grabs both my hands and says, "Now, you're going to stop this nonsense and behave until I return. I will go help him but you need to calm down first. I will not lose you to peacekeepers." Somewhere during my rant, I notice that Darius must have left. He'll help Gale, right?

I still, just so Haymitch can leave. "Go now then!"

Haymitch looks at my dad warningly and says, "James, do not let her get out of this house until I come back - no matter what happens."

"Go," I scream to Haymitch.

Just as I say that, someone must have turned on the loudspeakers in the town square. They're designed to be heard all through our house and most of the town. A cold voice comes across the speakers, "Now, citizen of 12, you've been caught poaching. That is a severe offense and I hereby sentence you to 25 lashes with a whip."

Then there's silence and I scream, "No! Let me go, daddy, please let me go. We can take the peacekeepers right now. We've wanted an uprising in our District; this is the time to do it. Please, daddy, please just let me go." My dad just hugs me closer to him.

Haymitch walks over to my mom and hands the keys to my handcuffs over to her. "I'm leaving these with you. DO NOT let her out of this house. I'm going to assess the situation and then get my gun; we don't even know how many additional peacekeepers are here. Do not let her go. Remember the day she was born and we both vowed to always protect her and keep her safe? She is your Maysilee. Now is the time to make good on that promise."

My mom starts crying and I yell, "You, bastard. I hate you!" I've never used such language before but right now I don't care. He brought up Maysilee to confuse my mom. My dad just hugs me tighter. Haymitch leaves.

A loud, cracking sound of the whip reverberates through the entire house. "GALE!" I start thrashing again, "Please, daddy, just let me go." My wrists are numb from tugging on them yet it hasn't made any difference.

Thread's voice comes through the speakers, "You – come here. I tend to lose count so I want you to count out loud. I will crack the whip as soon as you say the number. Go!"

"Two."

Another crack of the whip resonates through the house. "LET ME GO!" I kick my dad in the shin but he doesn't budge.

"Three."

Another crack of the whip, "Please, daddy, I'm begging you. Let me go."

"Four."

Another crack of the whip. I kick my dad again.

"Five."

Another crack of the whip, "Mama, please open my hands. I love him, mama. You've always known what I needed before I even voiced it. I need to go. Please, mama?" I beg and she just cries in response.

"Six."

Another crack of the whip, "He needs me, please let me go."

"Seven."

Another crack of the whip. Each one comes down straight on my heart – pain I will never forget. "I love him, daddy. Please?"

"That is enough!" Darius' voice comes through the speaker and then a loud noise followed by silence again.

"Eight."

Another crack of the whip. I see Rose and Karl walk into the room. "Karl, please help me. Take the keys from my mom and open up my hands. Please help me get out of here. You know him; you know he doesn't deserve this."

With tears streaming down his eyes, Karl shakes his head and says, "I'm sorry Miss Madge, I can't."

"Nine."

Another crack of the whip, "Rose, they'll kill him. Someone has to stop Thread. Please, Rose, please help me. You've seen his family; they need him."

As she takes a step toward me, Karl holds her back. I look over at my mom - she's crying, her eyes are closed and ears covered with her hands. My dad hugs me tighter.

"Ten."

Another crack of the whip, "I hate you." I kick my dad hard again and push myself back to make him lose his balance.

My dad turns to Karl and says, "Get the morphling injection. NOW!"

"No, mama, no. Please don't let them give me morphling. Please, mama." Finally my mom snaps out at the mention of morphling.

"Eleven."

Another crack of the whip, "I'll never forgive you for this as long as I live."

My mom wrestles the morphling out of Karl's hands. She and my dad start arguing again. Once again I yell, "LET ME GO!"

My dad says sternly to me, "Madge, you need to stop this. We're doing this for your protection. Look at your wrists. Stop this childish behavior right now."

All my life I've admired my father for his principles, his strength and his compassion – all traits I've always believed he passed on to me.

"Twelve."

Another crack of the whip. I look at my dad and say, "Congratulations, daddy. You've finally earned the distinction of being the Mayor that just stands on the side watching."

"Madge, don't!" he whispers next to me.

"Thirteen."

Another crack of the whip, "I will never respect you again. I hate you. I hate you!"

"No! Stop it! You'll kill him!" a female voice comes through the speaker.

"Katniss," I whisper! If she stops this I will be forever indebted to her.

"Fourteen."

Another crack of the whip followed by a female shriek. "Daddy, please let me go now. They're hurting Katniss too."

Just when I've given up on Haymitch, finally his voice comes through, "Hold it! Oh, excellent. She's got a photo shoot next week modeling wedding dresses. What am I supposed to tell her stylist?"

Haymitch, Peeta, Thread and a female peacekeeper argue back and forth and finally Thread tells the other peacekeepers to retreat and he turns off the speakers. I think the whipping stopped.

I take a deep breath, expecting my dad to free my wrists now. He doesn't. I tug at my wrists again and say, "Let me go now. I need to see him."

My dad walks around to face me and calmly says, "Madge, I don't think you should see him right now. I'm sure they've taken him back to Katniss' house – to her mother. You see that things are changing. Haymitch and I had a long talk yesterday about Katniss. She feels something very strong for Gale; she doesn't know anything about your relationship with him. This isn't the time to tell Katniss and pick a fight with her. You're both hurting from his pain. Let her help him heal because that is best for him right now. Remember her house is still bugged."

"I don't care; you don't know what's best for him. Let me out of here." I say stubbornly.

"I can't do that, Madge. Not until you promise to think before you act. Katniss just saved him, you owe her."

If I was the kind of girl that could use bad language on my parents, then right now I would throw every bad word at my father. "I just want to see him once," I plead.

"Madge, I'm sure he's hurt badly. You won't be able to stop by just looking at him. Once you see him, you won't be able to leave his side. He needs help right now. So if you're willing to promise us that you won't go see him your mom and I will send him medicine. He needs morphling right now more than anything else."

I don't even recognize the cold, calculating man in front of me. He's not my father – he's just a negotiator…I can negotiate too. "Fine; I promise. But I will take the morphling there myself; I'll just drop it off."

My mom and dad exchange a look and finally they untie me. Both of my arms throb with pain but it's nothing compared to the pain I feel in my heart – pain for Gale, pain for losing my parents today. My mom hands me a box with six vials of morphling. Rose brings me my coat and just as I walk out the door, I say, "I hate you. I'm never coming back here again."

I run to Katniss' house faster than I've ever ran before. The snow is blowing hard now and the mixture of my tears and the falling snow make it hard to see the way. I don't care though. Nothing will stop me. I have to get to Gale. I slip and fall several times but I just get back up and keep going. Finally I see Katniss' house and I wait for what feels like an eternity for someone to answer the door. Mrs. Everdeen, Haymitch and Katniss come to the door; they're surprised to see me. Haymitch shakes his head at me but I ignore him. I'm about to push them aside and walk in when Hazelle walks up behind the trio and shakes her head at me. I can't ignore her. So I look at Katniss and say, "Use these for your friend. They're my mother's. She said I could take them. Use them, please." I turn around and run away from Katniss' house…towards the seam.

A girl with dark hair and gray eyes is home with the kids. She's surprised to see me as my face registers in her memory. Rory engulfs me in a hug and asks, "Madge, what is going on? Ma ran out of here in a hurry. She just told us to stay put." I don't answer, the girl leaves.

Vick and Posy stand somberly to the side; even they know something is wrong. I open my arms and they both rush to me. Posy climbs up into my arms; my arms hurt and it's a struggle to keep her up. Posy puts her head on my shoulder and asks, "Where's mommy? Where's Gale?"

I swallow the lump in my throat and say, "You know I came all the way over here in the snow to tell you a bed time story. Are you ready for bed?"

Posy hugs me and asks, "Will you tell me a story about the brave princess like you that saves the prince?"

I hug her tighter and will myself to not let any of my tears fall out of my eyes. "Sometimes even the brave princess can't save the prince." I convince Rory to lie down with Vick while I put Posy to bed. I run my fingers through her hair and tell her a story about a handsome prince who is strong and brave. Posy curls up into my body and falls asleep. As I get out of the bed, I finally let the tears fall out of my eyes. Rory's waiting for me on the sofa. I quickly wipe my tears but he sees them. Rory walks up to me, gets me some water and then pulls me towards the couch. A small yelp of pain escapes my lips as he touches my arm. Rory eyes my arm and he lifts my sweater sleeve up. My arm is now bruised badly with black and blue streaks that start from my wrist and travel all the way up to my elbow. "What happened to your arm, Madge?" Rory asks.

"It's nothing," I say as I try to pull the sleeve down with my other hand and he catches the other hand and moves the sweater sleeve up to find similar marks all over that arm too.

Before I can say anything, Rory states, "Madge, you need to see Prim's mom. What happened to your arms?"

"It's nothing." I pull away from him again.

"I'm going to take you there now. Gale will be really upset if he finds out I knew about them and didn't do anything."

At the mention of Gale's name, I can't hold myself back and I start crying. "I can't go to Katniss' house because her mom is busy with Gale right now."

"What do you mean busy with Gale?" Rory questions.

I take a deep breath and tell Rory the truth. "We have a new head peacekeeper. He found Gale with a turkey and he punished Gale."

"Is he going to be okay?" Rory asks displaying his biggest fears on his face.

"Yes, because he's Gale. He's strong." I take a deep breath and continue, "He is going to be fine. He has to be."

"Did the peacekeepers hurt you too?" he asks. I shake my head. Rory doesn't ask any more sensing that I'll talk about it when I'm ready. I send Rory to bed by reminding him that he needs to keep up his strength in order to help out around the house while Gale recovers.

I sit on the sofa, pray and wait for Hazelle. An extremely heart-broken, fatigued Hazelle finally comes home. I don't have to ask, she says, "He wouldn't have made it without the morphling. Thank you. He's asleep for now. Katniss is sitting with him." Her eyes flicker up to mine and she continues, "I'm sorry Madge, I stopped you from seeing Gale. But just before you got there you should have seen the scene in between Katniss and her mother. Katniss went so ballistic with her mother that Haymitch and Peeta had to carry her out of the room so her mom could concentrate on Gale. I'm sorry, I know it's selfish but I didn't know how Katniss would react to you and I didn't want her mom's focus shifted away from Gale. If Katniss and her mom find out that Gale loves you, they might stop treating him. I know it's not nice to think that about anyone but I'm just scared for Gale."

I hug Hazelle and say, "It's alright. I understand. The kids are asleep and why don't you get some sleep too?" I tell her about how much I told Rory and as I put my coat back on she asks, "Madge, it is late and still snowing outside. Where are you going?"

"I'll be back in the morning but right now I have to see Gale. Don't worry I'll make sure I do it when Katniss is not around." Would Mrs. Everdeen stop treating Gale? I'd like to think she has better principles as a healer but now the seed of doubt is planted in my head and I don't want to risk Gale's care and treatment.

Hazelle takes a deep breath and says, "After you left, Haymitch and Peeta raised an eyebrow to your possible connection with Gale and Katniss got…"

"Defensive? Jealous?" I question Hazelle and she nods her head. I've always known there was something there. For Gale, that 'something' has been gone for a long time. He loves me; I have faith in him and in us…nothing is going to shake that faith.

"Don't worry, Hazelle. I'll be careful," I say and walk back out into the snow and cold. I wonder why Mrs. Everdeen didn't say anything; she doesn't know that Gale and I are in love but she knows we're friends. She knows Gale used to carry me around; she knows we watched the games together alongside her and Prim. She knows I'm close to Posy. It seems everyone is treating Katniss like a walking time-bomb; I'd like to think she's my friend and she would understand. But, my dad was right about one thing at least, this isn't the time to tell Katniss especially if she feels something for Gale.

I run into Haymitch and Peeta outside Katniss' house. Haymitch immediately admonishes me, "What the hell were you thinking, Madge? You should've sent the morphling with Karl. I told your mom to keep you home."

I ignore Haymitch and ask Peeta, "How's Gale now?"

Before Peeta can answer, Haymitch blurts out, "He's asleep and if you really love him then go home and let him recover properly."

I've had it with Haymitch. "Shut up! Is Maysilee all you care about? AND for the record, I am not Maysilee. She's dead – let her go!" I yell.

Haymitch looks like he is about to slap me when Peeta steps in between us and says, "Haymitch, go home. Madge, you're coming with me."

Haymitch turns to leave and Peeta pulls me by my hand as he asks, "So you're in love with Gale? Why didn't you tell me?" All the emotions of the day catch up to me and I stop in my tracks and begin sobbing. Peeta picks me up in his arms as if I weigh nothing and carries me into his house. He gently puts me down on the sofa and helps me take off my jacket. I continue to cry and in a rush I tell him everything that happened today and then I look up horrified at him just realizing that his house is bugged too.

"Don't worry. Your friend, Corn, showed me a long time ago how to rip out the microphones from my house. Katniss knows too but we've left her house the way it is because Snow doesn't need any more ammunition against her. If it's just my house, it could be a fluke. And this way we have at least one house where we can openly talk."

I take a deep breath and Peeta brings me a sweat shirt and sweat pants to change into. His clothes are also designed by Portia and for some reason after everything that happened today, that is comforting to me. Thinking of Portia reminds me of Corn and I wish he was here right now.

"I am going to see Gale." I tell Peeta.

"Madge, I don't think that's a good idea right now. Why don't you wait till tomorrow?"

"Because I love him and I need to see him."

"Madge, I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't tell you that Katniss loves him too. I saw it today…and they've known each other for a long time," Peeta says. He doesn't know how much Gale loves me and I'm not about to justify my relationship to anyone.

I shrug my shoulders and say, "It doesn't matter." I walk out and sneak around to the back window. I see Gale fast asleep on the kitchen table; his back is bandaged and there's still blood seeping through it. Katniss is asleep in a stool next to him with her fingers laced through his. Anger and jealousy over take me – that should be me. But then I remind myself that Katniss saved him and I'm indebted to her. I, quietly, climb through the window and walk up to Gale. Even in his sleep, pain is etched throughout his face. I run my hand through his hair and on his face. His face smoothes under my touch and I kiss his forehead. Katniss is still fast asleep; I drape a blanket over her. She may be in love with him too but he's mine and I'm his. I watch Gale sleep; I'm oblivious to Katniss in the room. Gale's face tightens with pain again and I rub some of the salve on his back that Mrs. Everdeen left beside him. I watch Gale sleep the whole night, afraid he'll disappear if I even blink my eyes. Peeta comes through the front door and taps on my shoulder. When I turn around, he puts his finger to his lips and leads me outside where he tells me, "Madge, get some sleep. I'm sending Katniss to bed also. I'll sit with him for some time and after that I'm taking you to see Dr. Lem for your arms. I don't want any arguments from you." Peeta finishes authoritatively. I kiss his cheek and head off into his house to sleep for a while.

Dr. Lem wraps up my right arm in soft bandages – that one just has a sprain. He puts a hard cast on the left one where I have a hairline fracture near the wrist. The bruises will just go away on their own - with time. I refuse to let Peeta take me back to my house so he sends a message to my parents that I'm staying with him and that I'm alright.

Rose brings a bag with my things to Peeta's house and informs me my mother packed it herself. I don't care; I'm still mad at my parents. They had no right to make that decision for me and I don't know if I can ever forgive them. Together we could have stopped Gale's whipping.

I get to Gale's house just before a blizzard bombards the District. Posy has a high fever, runny nose, and a dry cough. She's sick as can be. Fortunately, Dr. Lem had given me some medication for my arms – even fever reducers in case I developed a fever – that will help Posy. A couple days later, Posy's fever and cough worsens and I see signs of measles. Luckily Rory, Vick, Hazelle and I have all had measles. Hazelle and I do what we can to keep everyone warm, safe and fed through the blizzard. Posy's either stuck to me or Hazelle throughout the day. She snuggles up with me at night and every night she asks me when Gale will be home. With the blizzard, there's no way to go out of the house so we can only hope that Gale is recovering. Over the three day period, Hazelle and I try to eat as little as possible and even then we pretty much diminish all the food in their house.

As soon as the blizzard stops, I leave during the day to go to the Justice Building. I won't ask my father for money no matter how much Gale's family needs it. I start working there again but I don't talk to my father. Every time I see him all I can think of is Gale's bloody back. Thread and his army of peacekeepers have transformed our once lovely town square into a punishment post. I don't think I could ever step foot in there anyway; the square is tainted with Gale's blood. Mid-day, we get reports that the peacekeepers set the Hob on fire. At least my dad was right about one thing…everything is changing!

At lunch time, Corn surprises me with a visit. We walk out and he asks about my bandaged arms right away. I tell him everything. I know he's angry with my parents and Haymitch too but he doesn't voice that anger. I've learned to read his emotions well though. After a while, he sighs and says, "Madge, go home. I know you're mad at your parents but we'll never know if they made the right decision. Could the four of you have stopped Gale's whipping? Yes, it's possible. But, it's also just as possible that you would have all been killed or punished in other ways. Darius has been turned into an avox for helping Gale."

I try to imagine someone cutting out Darius' tongue; he helped us in the stone cabin and then he tried to help Gale again. He doesn't deserve that. I feel dizzy and I'm about to fall when Corn catches me. He walks me into the café and makes me eat and drink properly.

"I can't go home yet, Corn. Gale's family needs me. I can't leave them until he comes back home."

Corn takes out a wad of money and hands it to me. "Fine. Stay with his family until he comes home but stop working. You're going to permanently damage your arms by not properly taking care of them. Remember you're mad at your parents – not at yourself."

"Gale wouldn't want your money," I say.

"Madge, if Posy was going through a rough time, would Gale help her?" Corn asks.

"Of course he would," I reply.

"Then this is the same thing. Keep it. I have more money than I know what to do with. And this money belongs more to him than you or me anyway. Snow skims money off the working people of the Districts so people like me in the Capitol can have it. I don't want it." Corn also takes out a bottle and hands it to me.

He says, "They use this cream on the victors after the games. Massage it generously into his back after the wounds have started to close up. I spoke with a doctor in the Capitol. By the time Gale comes home he should be ready to use this. This will help numb the pain instantly as the skin heals and it also helps retain muscle strength and minimize scarring. His skin will heal quickly but once the muscles begin to degenerate, it takes a long time to build that strength back up. I assume he'll have to go back to the mines as soon as they re-open – this will help."

I hug Corn and say, "Thank you. You're an amazing brother."

Corn hugs me back and says, "Just take care of yourself, Madge and go back home soon. I know it won't be easy to forgive your parents but you have to try. I agree they could've handled the situation better but you'll never know if they made the right decision. Frankly, I'm glad you were nowhere near that square. They love you and they did what they thought was right for you."

After Corn leaves, I buy more medicine for Posy, bread, rice, and meat from the butcher to take back to the Hawthornes; all the stores only have limited supplies. When I walk in the house, I see a bag of tesserae grains near the door. Immediately, I call out, "Rory Hawthorne, where are you?"

Rory, Vick and Hazelle step out of the bedrooms. Hazelle eyes the grains and her face becomes pale to the point that she may pass out. I point to the bag and ask, "What is this, Rory?"

He looks down at the floor and doesn't answer. I don't know how Gale would handle this situation but I'm angry – angrier than I ever thought I could be at sweet Rory. "Gale puts his life on the line every day, your mother washes other people's clothes until her hands dry and crack all so you would never have to sign up for tesserae. How could you do this to both of them? Answer me!"

Rory looks up at me and I can see every bit of Gale in his face as he says, "Madge, look at where Gale is right now. Look at your arms – you're hurt but you're still working to support us. I went around the seam and town on a laundry run and no one wants to give us any work out of fear of the peacekeepers. This is something I could do, I can't sit by and let you, Gale and Ma carry on the entire burden." Rory starts crying. I step forward to hug him. I understand why Rory did it and I can't be mad at him but I feel like I've failed Gale today.

Rory hugs me tightly as he cries into my shoulder, "I'm sorry, Madge. I just wanted to help."

I calm Rory and then say, "I'll be back in a little while."

The tesserae sign-ups are under my dad's supervision. He is in-charge of those databases. For years, he's been manipulating the database to help the children in the District. No one in the District has ever had quite as many entries in the bowl as they should have. Luckily, I find my dad just outside the Justice Building; I walk up to him and say, "I need to talk to you."

"How are your arms, Madge?" he questions.

"They're fine."

"Your mom's health is deteriorating quickly without you. She really wants you to come back."

Guilt Trip! I don't know why I expected anything different from him. He's using my mom now. I chose to ignore him and say, "Several children have taken out tesserae today; I want you to wipe out all those records."

"Madge, you know I can't do that. I'll decrease all the numbers but I can't completely wipe them out. I can wipe out Rory's for you."

I cross my arms across my chest and say, "No! All of them. Those other children are also somebody's Rory. If you do this, I'll go visit mom - that's my deal – take it or leave it."

"Deal?" he questions. "Is this what our relationship has come down to – a series of transactions?"

"You started it when you tried to make me a deal in exchange for the morphling for Gale; I didn't get us to this point. Have you seen him? I can't even look at you without picturing Gale's bloody back. We could've stopped it." I yell at him. My dad doesn't say anything. I turn away from him and say, "Never mind, I don't know why I thought you would help or that you cared."

I'm about to leave when he says, "I'll do it. Just visit your mom; she won't last long without you."

"Fine. I'll go see her when Gale returns to his house." I walk away.

I hug Rory and say, "It's all taken care of. You don't have to worry. My dad's going to erase the tesserae for everyone that signed up today. Times are rough right now but we'll get through this as a District. You can't tell anyone yet."

Rory hugs me back and says, "Thank you, Madge. Katniss stopped by earlier to let us know Gale is better and then I went to see Gale too. I even helped him sit-up for a while."

"How is he?" I ask Rory, concerned.

"He said he was better; he can move around and the pain is getting better. He's more concerned about all of us and you. I told him everything that happened and he wants to see you, Madge."

I hadn't gone to see him again because I was following everyone's advice of letting him recover under Katniss and her mom's care. But if he wants to see me, nothing will stop me. I don't care if Katniss is there; I don't care if this upsets her. I wipe my tears and I almost make it out the door. As I'm walking out the door, Posy screams, Gale! Gale! I want Gale! Madge!" She is delirious from her fever and it takes all four of us to calm her down. She's scared to let any of us out of her sight. So I don't go see Gale because in the last few days, in her delirious stage, Posy started associating Gale with me. Even this innocent 5-year old can see that Gale and I are one. I climb in bed with Posy and hold her. Hazelle and I have been taking turns sleeping. Hazelle looks tired to the point of collapsing; I insist she take the first shift to sleep.

Posy stays up most of the night coughing and I sit with her on the couch so no one else would wake up. In the morning, Hazelle scolds me for not waking her – she treats me as if I was one of her own and I love her for that. She's still trying to make it up to me for stopping me from seeing Gale; I've told her it's not necessary. After all, we both want the same thing – for Gale to recover and come back home. I hug her, shrug and say, "I'll sleep now." Posy climbs in bed with me, snuggles up to me and we both fall asleep right away.

Hours later, I wake up to light murmurs outside and realize that Posy is no longer in bed with me. For a moment I think I hear Gale but I know it's not him. Rory's starting to sound more and more like Gale. Tonight, I'm going to have to sneak out to see Gale. My hair feels like one big tangled mess, I start to walk out of the bedroom while putting my hair up in a ponytail. As soon as I open the door, my hands drop to my side and my hair falls back down as I look up into Gale's stormy gray eyes.

A/N: There is the matter of kiss between Gale and Katniss not addressed here - here's my take on it: If Katniss kissed Gale then he doesn't remember it/know about it because he was under the influence of morphling and Madge didn't see it since she got to Katniss' house after Katniss had already fallen asleep.

At the end of last chapter I said that I would post the next two chapters together - I had forgotten that everytime I've tried to do that before, it's always messed up. So I'm posting this one today and the next chapter will be up first thing in the morning!