DISCLAIMER: HG characters do not belong to me.

Chapter 25-A New Friend

Katniss stared at Rain's house as she stood just outside the car, Spencer and the driver still inside. She took a deep breath and walked up to the front door, knocking.

After a brief moment the front door opened. A woman who looked slightly older than her mother answered the door. She didn't look like Rain at all. They were about the same height, but she was blonde and blue eyed. She reminded Katniss of District 12's town people.

"Katniss, Katniss Everdeen?" she asked timidly.

"Yes-can I come in?"

"Of course" she said as she moved to open the door more.

Katniss walked inside, it had been four months since she was last here. Even though she had only been there one other time the memory of the place was still pretty fresh in her mind. She walked down the hall into the living room, turning around to face Rain's mom.

"My name is Jocelyn Bridgewater" she said holding her hand out.

Katniss shook it and tried to give a smile, she was sure it looked forced. Jocelyn didn't beat around the bush and said, "Something's happened hasn't it? Where's my daughter?"

Katniss gulped. She ran her hand nervously through her hair. "Yes-while in the village, we discovered hidden cameras placed there by the Capitol. We destroyed the cameras but we left the village to go see the Comanche tribe to warn them of what we found. While in route there Rain and I were taken by two men. They were after me, they wanted to bring me to their leader. A few of the tribe members saved us, but shots were fired. Rain she's-"

But before Katniss could finish Jocelyn held her hand up, stopping her. She knew what Katniss was going to say. "Was she in pain?" she asked trying to keep her composure.

"She was for a little while, but it happened quickly." Katniss could feel her eyes watering.

"How long ago did this happen?"

"Almost a week ago. I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner. We had to get back to the tribe and when we got the Comanche tribe, they forced me to find their cameras and destroy them. I had to get help from the Capitol in order to do that. We just destroyed the cameras today."

"Where's her body? The tears finally breaking through and coming down softly. Katniss's heart ached for her.

"The tribe members who rescued us buried her beside another tribe member who was killed during the rescue. If you want, I could try to ask the tribe members who buried her to take me back there to retrieve it." Katniss didn't know if Paylor would agree to allow Gale's team to go back and get the body, but she didn't care, she would make her agree.

"No that's alright, I think even though we never talked about, I don't think she ever wanted to be buried in District 9. Being buried where her roots are is what she would have wanted."

"I have her belongings, here" Katniss handed Jocelyn Rain's backpack.

Jocelyn nodded gratefully as she took the bag, gripping it close to her body. Her head falling down as she continued crying. It seemed now that the tears flowed she wasn't able to stop, Katniss wasn't able to either.

Katniss knew she had to tell her the whole truth, she deserved that much.

"The men who captured us, they were both killed, but the one—he—he hurt Rain. He raped her a couple of times."

Jocelyn looked up at Katniss. She got a strange look on her face. She then started walking still holding the backpack in her hands. She walked over to a window and looked out.

"About a week ago, I woke up in the middle of the night, terrified. I knew then something was wrong, it was like I could feel her pain. I can't explain it. I'm sure it makes no sense."

Katniss walked over to her. She looked at her right in the eyes and said, "Believe me, it makes perfect sense. I always had this feeling like Rain knew what I was thinking or feeling before I did. Right before she died, she said something to me that has been haunting me. It was like she saw into my future."

"She might have, did you take the herb, the one sacred to their tribe?"

"I did yes, against my wanting to."

"Did you see something you didn't want to?"

"Yes, I saw something I have longed feared."

"I'm sure she knew that, she probably said what she said in order to help you not fear it."

Katniss didn't respond, absorbing what Jocelyn just said. If Rain said what she said in order for Katniss not to be afraid of a life with Gale that meant what she saw was the future, not a fear. That in order to find happiness, she had to stop hating him for what he did and be with him.

She still wasn't ready to face that fact yet. It was one thing to admit she still had feelings for him, that she wanted to try to reconcile some of what they had lost. It was another thing to want a future with him, a future like the one she saw.

She still wanted to be in control of her own fate. And her stance on children still hasn't changed.

And she still had Peeta to think about.

But enough about her, she was her for Rain, not to talk about her seemingly endless problems concerning Peeta and Gale.

"I'm truly sorry for your loss, Rain was a wonderful person, one of the best people I ever met. I considered a friend, and I don't make friends easily."

Jocelyn finally smiled, a sad smile, her eyes reddened.

"She also wanted me to tell you, that she loved you. She told me that the reason she stayed in District 9 was because of you, I think after Jackson died she didn't think she could return. But her love for you brought her back."

"She told you about Jackson?" Jocelyn asked surprised.

"Yeah, she did."

"His death crushed her. She must have really considered you a friend, she doesn't speak about him to just anyone."

Katniss nodded and smiled, glad to hear that. It reaffirmed to her that what they had as friends was special.

"I'm sorry but I need to head back, the Capitol soldiers who brought me here have to take me the Capitol and they need to-deliver something very important. I was lucky that they allowed me to stop here first."

"I appreciate it. Will you be returning to the village?"

"Yes, I need to find out from the Capitol why they had those cameras there. The plan is to take all the cameras down in all of the villages."

"Good, they don't deserve that. The people in Rain's tribe are good people."

Katniss nodded in agreement, not revealing that she knew more to her story. "It's too bad a lot of people still don't look at them as that." She responded instead.

"Well, maybe the girl on fire can educate the new Panem that."

Katniss thought about that suggestion, maybe she could do that, but that would mean being in the public eye again. She wasn't sure if that was ready for that, and she was pretty sure some people in Panem had no interest in hearing what she had to say.

"Do you know who the people are that captured you?"

"Yes and no. They are called the Jay Hunters or Jay Killers or something like that. I try not to think about it. All I know is that they didn't like the idea of a rebellion, and that they liked Panem the way it was before."

"You better find out from the Capitol more details."

"I plan to." Katniss said, determination in her voice.

While Katniss was walking out the front door Jocelyn called to her and said, "Katniss."

Katniss immediately turned around, waiting for her to speak.

"If you ever happen to be in District 9 again, feel free to come see me again. A friend of Rain's is a friend of mine. I can show you some pictures of her from when she was younger."

Katniss saw fear of rejection on her face. That Katniss would have no desire to come back here or want anything to do with her. She hoped her response would dispel that fear. "I'd like that." She said smiling.

When Katniss got back in the vehicle, Spencer turned to her and said, "How bad was it?"

"Well, a lot of tears were shed, but, I just made a new friend surprisingly."

Spencer gave her an encouraging smile and said, "That's not surprising at all."


When they got back to the main base, Gale informed her and Spencer that they would be leaving within the hour. It was already 7 pm and Katniss hadn't eaten since she left the village that morning. Gale encouraged her and Spencer to get food before they left, stating that he and the squad already ate.

They ate in the room where all the food was, sitting a small four chair table. Spencer chatting more with Katniss about life in District 3. They were laughing about a funny story he was telling when Abraham walked in, interrupting them saying, "Commander Hawthorne is ready to go now. You have 5 minutes to get your things." He gave them a disdainful look while he walked out.

"I don't care for that guy much." Spencer said after he left.

Katniss grunted as she headed to get her things. While she and Spencer walked up to the large hovercraft she whispered to him, "Can you show me where Sequoyah is being held?"

He whispered back, "Sure, wait and I'll come find you in your seat and show you. I will pretend that I'm showing you where the bathroom is."

Katniss nodded in understanding. She saw Gale eyeing her and Spencer as they approached. His wall of restraint in high gear. Spencer hurried up and walked past him and up the entrance while Katniss stopped. "Gale." She said politely.

"How was the visit?"

"It went as best as could be expected, thanks for asking."

He curtly nodded back. She could tell he was still angry at her, but it was nice to know he still cared just a little.

"The flight will take about two hours. Once we land we will be taking Sequoyah and Trent to the military headquarters immediately. Then we will go see the President."

"You will be coming with me to see her?"

"Yes, there are some things I need to discuss with her."

"Like what?" Katniss couldn't believe what she just said, instantly regretting it.

Gale looked at her incredulously. "Let me make this clear" his voice becoming increasingly serious, "We don't have the type of relationship anymore that you can just ask me whatever you want. I work for Panem's military, what I talk to the President about is not your concern. Not anymore."

"I know, I didn't mean—"but she didn't get to finish when he cut her off saying, "I quit making it all about you after I started my life here."

Katniss looked at him and didn't respond. Too shocked to say anything. She knew she had hurt him, but now she was wondering if he was purposefully trying to twist the knife in her. To show her she didn't mean anything to him anymore.

As if reading her thoughts he said, "Look, you better go take your seat. We have to go."

Katniss turned to finish walking up the entrance when Gale came up beside her and said, "I'm glad to see you and Spencer getting along. I know my unit hasn't been that friendly towards you."

"Nothing I haven't deserved." She responded.

"You always chose to keep a small of group of friends. It used to just consist of me and Madge remember?"

"That's how I always preferred it."

He nodded and gave a hint of a smile, turning to leave as she headed toward her seat.

She thought about the days when life was simpler, when the only people she socialized with besides her mother and Prim were Gale and Madge while the hovercraft took off, heading for the Capitol.