Disclaimer: Huger Games does not belong to me.

This chapter will finally introduce us to Gale.

Chapter 5-Gale

Gale Hawthorne started his day like he usually did. He got up, took his dog for a quick run, showered, ate breakfast and was out of the door on his way to work. Each day before he left he went into the bedroom of his apartment and kissed his girlfriend, now fiancé goodbye. She officially moved into his apartment 4 months ago, so far, so good. He had never had a live in girlfriend before so he wasn't sure how he would adjust, but he figured since he had proposed to her why not try out the living arrangements first.

Destiny was her name. Dez was his nickname for her. Destiny Renee Mills was her full name. She was from District 2 and was 23 years old. Gale immediately thought her name sounded like a career name when they met. She confirmed that it was, and that her parents originally thought she would be a career tribute, but that by the time she was 7 they figured out she was not career material and enrolled her younger sister in the academy instead. At first Gale didn't think the relationship would work. He still harbored resentment towards the people of District 2, for forcing them into rebellion due to the Nut being blown up, for still blindly following the Capitol even after all that. But he was offered a good job in District 2 to help rebuild the district and made a commitment to stay there and start a life there. He figured most of the women he would meet there would come from similar situations. And he most definitely was not planning on being single while living here.

He decided the nickname Dez was a way to not associate her with the past he was trying to let go of. She liked the nickname and actually starting asking her friends to call her that. Her friends of course being smitten with Gale and thinking the nickname was insanely cute.

After the rebellion, her parents moved into government housing, their house being destroyed during the rebellion. She had just finished formal schooling and decided to become a hair dresser. That it would be a good way to earn a decent living and was something she enjoyed. Her hair was naturally light brown but currently she was dying it blonde. She had deep green eyes that Gale found instantly attractive. He never cared much for her hair color but didn't tell her that.

Gale met her 2 years ago at a local bar. He had been there with friends on a Friday night getting drinks after work. She was there with her friends. She couldn't help but blush as she noticed him looking over at her constantly. She finally decided to take matters into her own hands and went over to talk to him. They had an instant and powerful connection, and a highly charged sexual relationship as well. Sleeping together on the first date. She was unlike any girl he had dated before. She was outgoing, friendly, and spoke her mind. However, he did feel she was at times a little dependent on him. But she was young, he hoped once she got older she would be more independent. By the time their second year anniversary rolled around she had matured, enough that Gale was finally able to commit to her long term. They had been engaged for 4 months, asking her to move in right after he proposed. They still did not have a wedding date set. He was unable to commit to a date and blamed work.

That was an excuse. He couldn't admit to himself the real reason he keep postponing an official date. Work had nothing to do with it.

He got to District 2's official government building 15 minutes after leaving his apartment. Taking a short train ride into the district's downtown area. This area was newly built, all part of the rebuilding process. His job was mainly a paperwork job, being a government official required a lot of meetings with the districts residents. He also reported to President Paylor and often had to make short visits to the Capitol. And he was also still part of Panem's military. When he got into his office his secretary told him President Paylor needed him in the Capitol today and that a hovercraft would be picking him up at 9 am.

When he arrived in the Capitol though, he was greeted in the President's office with an unexpected visitor-Haymitch. He hadn't seen him since the rebellion.

"Haymitch" Gale said holding out his hand. Haymitch shook it stiffly. "Hawthorne" he replied with the smell of alcohol on his breath.

"Why don't you explain to Commander Hawthorne why are you here Haymitch" President Paylor said in a warn tone.

"Right. So I'm here because as you know, even though I live in District 12 I still have ties to the Capitol. And my contacts in the Capitol have told me that certain groups of people in the Capitol and in Capitol friendly districts that they are not completely on board with Panem's rebuilding. That small militia groups are forming and are becoming more dangerous." Haymitch wasn't saying anything Gale didn't already know.

"Yes, the President and I are aware of that Haymitch." Gale said as politely as he could. He felt his time was being wasted and he wanted to get back to District 2 and get back to more important things. "We have been keeping a close watch on these groups."

"Well, since some of these people have ties to the Capitol's new government, some have unfortunately acquired information they should not have. They know the Mockingjay is no longer in District 12 and are still hell bent on revenge." Haymitch glared at Gale as he said the last sentence.

"What do you mean? When did Katniss leave District 12 and why?" Gale felt his blood pressure start to rise at the thought of Katniss being in an unsafe situation. Even though he knew she wanted nothing to do with him ever again, he remained active in Katniss's whereabouts with the other districts and the Capitol. After she assassinated President Coin, some did not feel her exile to District 12 was justified and Gale and other government officials arranged for increased security surveillance in District 12 to make sure no one came into the district planning to do her harm. He of course, wouldn't have as much control if she left the district. He had assumed she would never do that.

"She left about a week ago. She originally went to District 9 but is now in the wild territory with a resident of District 9." Haymitch waited to gage Gale's reaction before saying anymore.

"Is Peeta with her?" Gale couldn't imagine she would go anywhere without him.

"No. She's on a journey to find herself" Haymitch said sarcastically taking a sip from a flask he took out of his jacket pocket.

"What?" Gale couldn't believe what he was hearing. He knew Katniss would never leave Peeta willingly.

"Not that you care, but Katniss has not been doing all that well. She's still dealing with a lot of baggage from her past. No thanks to you" Haymitch hissed at him.

Gale punched Haymitch in the face. Haymitch stumbled back and chuckled. "I see you still have your fiery temper. You and Katniss sure are two of a kind".

"Enough" President Paylor said in a stern manner. "I will not have fighting in my office ever again do you hear me Commander Hawthorne?"

"Yes ma'am" Gale replied stiffly.

"Very good, please continue Haymitch" the President said helping Haymitch to a chair.

"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, Katniss hasn't been doing well. Peeta reached out to her mother and her mother suggested she go on a-retreat of sorts to figure things out. They did all this without talking to me about it. I would not have suggested she leave District 12. Peeta and her mother don't know of course about the dangers of leaving."

"You said she is in the wild territory. Why?" Gale had a feeling he knew the answer but wanted to hear it from Haymitch.

"The woman she is with is uh-one of them I guess. Part Native, she took Katniss to the region a tribe occupies north of District 9." Haymitch didn't know much about the Native people but couldn't see how being with them was going to help Katniss.

Gale knew about the Natives. He of course heard the same stories the rest of District 12 did about them but when he started working for President Paylor he had learned about the different tribes that resided in the wilderness. He had seen some video footage of various tribes that were taken by remote camera pods hidden in the forests. The President had explained that the tribes had been under surveillance since Snow ruled Panem and that now the cameras were still in use to ensure the militia groups left the regions alone, and to watch for the off chance the Natives would want to return to Panem though the President did not look at them as a threat. Gale had seen for himself they pretty much kept to themselves. He admired their hunting ability and how they still lived off the land. He sometimes wished he could have grown up with them instead of in District 12. He also found out from President Paylor that one of the reasons the Capitol never tried to wipe them out which they easily could have was due to superstitious fear that revenge would be taken upon them. He saw old video footage of former peacekeepers saying when they approached their villages they saw objects that were not there, and started hurting themselves for no reason. He guessed Snow and his predecessors before him didn't want to take the chance of pissing them off. So instead they just spied on them.

"Our cameras picked up this image of Katniss and the woman she is with" President Paylor brought up an image on a TV screen that popped up. Gale's breath caught in his throat as sure enough, he saw Katniss on the screen walking with a woman who looked slightly older than her. She looked the same, she was dressed in a thick animal fur over what looked like her usual hunting clothes. She had a bow and arrows strapped on her back. But it didn't look like the old hunting bows she used back in 12, they were the bows used by the tribe. She appeared to be smiling at what the woman was saying to her. He envied the unknown woman.

"We are sending a small unit to District 9 to keep close to the area, our sources inside one of the militia groups we have been watching informed us a person who works in the Capitol who is a sympathizer of the group informed them where Katniss is. We have reason to believe they are planning an attack. A move to spark a new rebellion, kill the face of the old one. Haymitch and I both agree you should lead this unit." President Paylor looked at Gale waiting for his response.

Gale turned to Haymitch and said, "why me? After all, you just I was the reason she's hurting in the first place."

Haymitch rolled his eyes in classic fashion and responded with "Because I trust no one else to look out for her the way you can. You may have broken her heart Hawthorne, but I know you still love her and would do anything to protect her. Besides, maybe if she learns peace and love from these tribespeople maybe someday she'll forgive you, especially if she finds out you saved her life." Haymitch gave Gale a smug smile showing he didn't believe that last part.

Gale knew Haymitch was right even though he wouldn't admit it. He did still love Katniss though he had pushed the feelings far away. He had a girlfriend that he loved and was planning to spend the rest of his life with. But seeing Katniss again even in this camera image brought some of those feelings back to the surface. He knew he would have been asking to volunteer if the President hadn't approached him for it. He needed to protect her, it was second nature to protect and look after the Everdeen's. He kept in contact with her mother, writing letters to her once every 3 months just to see how she was doing and to see if she needed anything. Luckily for Gale, Mrs. Everdeen didn't blame him for Prim's death. He knew this time, he could help her hopefully from a distance, her never knowing he was there. But a selfish part of him hoped she would find out and would forgive him. Maybe they could become friends again, even more than friends. He quickly pushed the thought away. It was selfish and unrealistic. Not to mention it would break Dez's heart and he wouldn't do that to her. He wondered how he would tell her about going away for a while. And what exactly he would tell her.

Gale turned to President Paylor and said, "When do I leave?"

"The rest of the team should be assembled in a couple of days. Let me know if there is anyone you want on the team and I'll make arrangements."

Gale thought it over and decided it would probably be best if he didn't have any of his friends on the team. Since he was leading the group he thought it might work out better to work with people he didn't know. "Just send some of your best soldiers. Ones that won't mind laying low for a couple of months in the cold wilderness if it comes to that".

The President nodded in understanding. She dismissed Gale and Haymitch and stated to Gale she would be sending a hovercraft to take him to the Capitol when the team was ready. While Gale and Haymitch were being escorted to their hovercrafts Haymitch turned to Gale and said, "Just keep her safe and keep your distance. I mean it Hawthorne. Peeta told me that Katniss can't be around people she knows during this, whatever it is she is doing with them. It sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me, but the boy seems to think it is what she needs to get better. I can't have you running to her and messing things up. Peeta needs her and she needs him. I was there after all to see how she was when she returned to District 12 after her sister died. It is not a sight I care to see again."

Gale looked off the side, he wanted to punch Haymitch again but knew that the President would have his head if he did. After a few seconds of trying to calm himself he said, "I can't promise I won't see Katniss, if there is an emergency and we have to evacuate the area we will see each other. But if all goes to plan, it won't come to that, she won't even know I am there. The plan is to take out the militia group if they do try to attack. As for me not coming to District 12, she doesn't want me there. You know she never wanted to see me again. I'm trying to respect her wish."

"Sure, keep telling yourself that. You and I both know you stay away because it is easier for you. You lost her to the boy. It is okay to admit that you ran off to District 2 to try to forget her. But now that you'll be near her again I just ask that you don't try to woo her back. Not that it would work anyway." Haymitch knew he was being harder on him than he should have been but he didn't want to see his friends get hurt.

"Are you finished" Gale said seething. He wanted him to get on his hovercraft and go. If he never saw Haymitch again, it would be too soon.

"No. Good luck out there. Like I said, you are the only person I trust out there to look out for her." Haymitch then gave Gale a slight nod and walked over to his hovercraft.

Gale shook his head in disbelief and walked to his hovercraft. On the ride back to District 2 he thought about what Haymitch said. He was right again about staying away from District 12 because it was easier for him. He never wanted to go back to 12 and never planned to, but some days when he was missing Katniss he longed to go to District 12 to see her. But he could never bring himself to do it. Plus he didn't think he could stand to see her together with Peeta as a real couple. It was bad enough when he had to watch her kiss him in front of everyone while running to Tigris's apartment. There was no way he could stand trying to reconcile with Katniss while she played house with Peeta. 'Damn him for always being right' he thought to himself while walking back into his office.

He tried to push Katniss from his mind as he returned to his work. Of course all he could think of was the image he saw on the screen. That smile looking as beautiful as it did the last time he saw it. He knew it wasn't going to be easy telling Dez the truth of why he was chosen to go on this mission. But he owed it to his fiancé to tell her the truth.

He just didn't know how he was going to do it.