DISCLAIMER: HG characters do not belong to me.

Chapter 23-Spencer

In the 40 minute car ride to Rain's mom house, Katniss learned quite a few things about Spencer. She learned that he was from District 3 which made him very knowledgeable about technology. Both of his parents were engineers, and he and his family were big supporters of the rebellion. He told Katniss had he looked forward to watching her on TV during that time and that her speeches inspired him.

"It's one of the reasons I wanted to join Panem's new military." He told her.

"Really? Katniss asked.

"Yeah. Our household were huge girl on fire fans. From your first games through the rebellion. I had never been a fan of any of the victors, except for Wiress and Beetee. But even those two were too weird for me. With you though, I felt I could relate to you. I have a little brother, I would volunteered for him the way you did."

Katniss had constantly been told since the first games that people looked up to her, while she saw it for herself during the rebellion, still hearing it all these years later didn't make it any easier.

"So how did you get into medicine if you come from the technology district?" she asked.

"Well, like I said, both of my parents were engineers, but I didn't want a job with technology. So when I turned 18 and joined the military, I asked if I could be trained in something with medicine or healing. After I took my aptitude tests they put me in a training program. I wanted to do something different, be something different. Thanks to you and the rebellion, I can be. Otherwise I probably would have ended up working in technical support. It was the only thing that somewhat interested me in my district."

"So what did you think being assigned to this mission?" Katniss was curious to hear this answer.

"I wish I could have told my parents. They would have been so proud. To be part of a mission to protect the Mockingjay. I was pretty excited to have been chosen. But then—"He trailed off, not continuing.

"Go on. Please" Katniss urged.

"Well, I don't want to insult you. But, this mission has been pretty boring up until the last ten days. For the first three months we didn't do much of anything. Just stayed at the main base looking at the monitor screens all day. Life there looks pretty dull."

Katniss laughed. She couldn't help but take a liking to Spencer. "Yeah, it can be. But the tribe actually kept me pretty busy. Life there is peaceful. And I got to do a lot of hunting."

"Yeah I saw." He said not realizing the implications of his words until after.

Katniss's expression turned serious. Spencer quickly tried to remedy the conversation by saying, "I get why you are angry, I'd be angry too, but try to understand, these militia groups are very dangerous. Once word got out you were no longer in District 12 membership in some of these groups soared."

"I heard" she said without emotion.

"Commander Hawthorne made it very clear your safety came first."

"Do you like working for him?" Katniss's curiosity creeping up again.

"Oh yes. He's great. Very laid back which I like. My first squad leader was a real pain. I saw him in some of the footage from the rebellion as well. Fighting by your side. He was also inspiring. Even though he is laid back he is focused and determined."

"He can be determined all right" Katniss said without thinking.

"Can I ask what happened between you two?"

"It's complicated." Katniss responded quickly.

"Aren't all things? Commander Hawthorne has always addressed you very formally, he's never called you Katniss. And I see he is acting even more formal since you joined us. It's like you two were never even friends."

"You don't think we're cousins?" Katniss asked mockingly.

Spencer snickered. "No, I never bought that. While in the Capitol getting ready for your first games they played your reaping a lot, I mean a lot. Especially after your popularity started picking up after Peeta gave his on air confession. I remember seeing him taking your sister away. And I remember seeing him after, I figured you two were a couple. I knew the Capitol made that up to keep the focus on you and Peeta."

"Well, you are correct about one thing, we are not cousins. We weren't a couple though."

"Could have fooled me" Spencer said with a wink.

Katniss stared at him in response, taken aback. "You do know Peeta and I are together right? It wasn't an act."

"Yes, I know. I am talking about the footage I saw prior to the rebellion. Even on the victory tour it just seemed like your kisses with him were fake. But I guess something must have happened to change how you feel. I'm guessing this might be why you are no longer friends with Commander Hawthorne."

"Part of the reason." Katniss replied.

"Well, I hope you two can work it out and become friends again. Especially since the Commander is getting married, it be nice if he could have an old friend at his wedding."

"WHAT?" Katniss said, raising her voice though she didn't mean to in front of him.

"Oh yeah, Commander Hawthorne is engaged. It took us a while to pry that out of him. We knew he had a girlfriend, he has her picture with his belongings."

"Is she pretty?" Katniss regretted asking the question.

Spencer raised his eyes in response. "Yeah, she's okay. She looks very young. And her hair is this light blonde color, it looks way too fake for me. She has a very bright smile though. He says she is very outgoing and friendly."

'Unlike me' Katniss thought to herself. Of course Gale would choose someone totally opposite of her to have a relationship with.

"When he is getting married?" Katniss figured since Spencer already has her figured out what's the point of pretending.

"I don't think those details are worked out yet."

Katniss didn't respond. For years she has wondered who he had been with, who he was kissing and screwing while she watched him on TV. She now knows one of those people is not just a fling.

"How long have they been together?"

"Don't know those details. Like I said, it was a struggle just to get him to tell us he was engaged. It took some alcohol to get it out of him one night while we were in the common area just lounging around. For someone who is with someone else you sure seem to want to know the details." His friendly wink returned.

"I guess you got me all figured out." Katniss said winking back.

He laughed. Katniss's face then turned serious. "Please don't tell any of your squad members what we discussed."

Spencer saw the look of concern on her face. "No, I wasn't planning on saying anything. Some of them are not the biggest fans of you. Especially the ones from career districts. I don't want them giving me grief for being one of your fans."

"Oh, I figured out some of them don't like me. Besides you no one else has talked to me except Sequoyah. And I don't say much to her because I wasn't sure what the deal was with her running away from your team."

"Commander Hawthorne told us about her and Trent, he also told us she was pregnant and that was why they ran away. She doesn't want to be dismissed. Some people were surprised to hear about the two of them. I wasn't, they were always together."

"Sounds like you are pretty observant."

"Part of coming from the technology district I guess. I'm the only one in the group from District 3."

Katniss was about to respond when she saw Rain's house come into view. The moment she had been dreading for the past few days finally arriving.