DISCLAIMER: HG characters do not belong to me.

Words not spoken in English will be italicized.

Chapter 36-One Step Forward

Katniss sat in Gale's office and continued to cry for ten minutes. She held her head in her hands with her elbows resting on Gale's office desk. After she calmed herself down, she leaned up and looked briefly around the room for she had never been in Gale's office before. It looked like a typical office, one that wasn't used that often. There was an office desk with a computer and a phone. There was also a file cabinet that was locked. Katniss wondered what was in the file cabinet.

Just when she was about to get up and go, she saw something off to the side of the computer hidden from view that caught her eye. It was a framed photograph of Gale, a young woman and a large dog. The background appeared to be a park for Katniss saw tall buildings in the background. She assumed it was District 2. She picked up the frame to take a closer look. She assumed the young woman was Gale's fiancé. She thought to herself that Spencer was right, she did look very young, and very thin. Katniss thought she herself hadn't been that thin since she was malnourished back in the Seam. She had the light blonde hair that Spencer said he thought looked too fake, Katniss agreed with that opinion as well. She had a lot of makeup on and her hair looked styled. While Katniss thought the young woman was very attractive, she reminded Katniss of a Capitol doll.

Katniss couldn't believe Gale would be with someone who looked so fake. She could feel jealousy emerge within her. For Gale looked happy in the picture, they both had their arms around each other with the dog standing in front of them.

She hadn't seen him look happy like that in, well, a really long time. She thinks perhaps the last time she saw him smile like that was when she woke him up after kissing him after he was whipped. She suddenly remembers that day like it was yesterday, how upset she was, how worried. How she leaned in and softly kissed him while holding his hand. When she realized that she did have feelings for him and wanted to be with him. They were each other's everything for a few days while he recovered and then, the Quarter Quell was announced and it was all over after that. At least for her it was.

She distanced herself from him after the announcement, she couldn't bear to see him knowing what could have been was no longer a possibly.

But as with the first games, it didn't quite turn out the way she thought it would. There was a hidden agenda to get her out of the arena safely, and, she un-expectantly realized she did love Peeta when he almost died and shared one of the most passionate kisses of her life on the beach with him. She had deep feelings for two people, as crazy as that was. But ultimately, Peeta's softness won her heart, or so she thought. Peeta taught her how to love again after Prim died, but by learning to love again, some of the feelings she had repressed have returned to the surface. Especially her feelings concerning Gale since she left District 12.

It was why she needed to figure things out on her own. She was scared, but ready to take that next step. She had hoped Rain would have been there with her, now, she would have to be with her in spirit.

She placed the frame back where she saw it and walked out the door, shutting it behind her. When she walked into the common area she saw Spencer and the others playing card games. She imagined they did that a lot during down time.

Spencer informed her they were going to be leaving within the hour and that the flight would take 4 hours. The plan was that they would set up camp for the night and meet at a large lake that the Sioux explained would be the meeting place. The plan was for the team to go there in the morning and wait for Red Bear and the others.

During the long flight Katniss decided to join the others in playing cards. She never played cards much, while it was a common past time in District 12, she found it never really interested her. The group spent time teaching Katniss the rules of the games they played and she was able to catch on pretty quickly, winning a few hands. She found the time flew by and before she knew it, they were about to land.

After their camp was set up Katniss informed Spencer she wanted to walk around a bit and possibly hunt. He informed her they had plenty of food with them, but Katniss stated she needed the time to relax. She relented in catching game, but wanted to get out and see the landscape. Spencer hesitated at first and then insisted she stay within a mile of the camp and gave Katniss a whistle to blow to scare off wildlife and to keep blowing the whistle if she needed them. He explained the whistle was extremely loud and that they would hear it as long as she was within range.

Katniss did as instructed and stayed within range. She continued to be amazed by the sense of tranquility in this vast wilderness before her. The freshness of the air, the abundance of trees, the absolute silence of nothing man made.

When she returned to camp Spencer said, "So, did you relax?"

"Oh yes. Being out in the woods is really the only that relaxes me."

"No offense, but didn't you just relax at your mother's in District 4? I don't get what caused you so much stress in such a short period of time."

Katniss was surprised by Spencer's remark, but understood it. "The phone call I made before we left—it was a phone call to Peeta."

"Oh?" Spencer asked surprised.

"Yes, I—I ended things with him."

"Why?"

"Because I need to figure things out on my own. Figure out what I want my future to be."

"Do you want that future to be with Commander Hawthorne?"

Katniss looked at Spencer in shock. "Why would you ask that" Katniss said with an edge to her voice.

"I told you my thoughts about the two of you." Spencer replied nonchalantly.

"What I need to do is be on my own. For some reason people seem to think I can't function without a man."

Spencer laughed at her remark. "Nothing wrong with an independent woman. I think a lot of people's perceptions come from the whole, star crossed lover's thing."

Katniss snickered, she didn't want to get into a further discussion with Spencer that it was Gale and Peeta whom she was referring to. She did decide to let him know one thing though.

"I saw a picture of Gale and his fiancé in his office. I agree with your impression of her, her hair does look too fake."

Spencer nodded, "She'd be much prettier with her hair natural."

Katniss figured she must have unconsciously given a look that hinted her jealousy, for Spencer said, "Why Katniss, do I sense jealousy?"

"I am not jealous, just surprised. Gale hated everything about the Capitol. His soon to be wife looks like a Capitol doll."

Spencer didn't look convinced. "A lot of people in Panem look like that now. I guess life must not have changed that much in District 12."

Katniss was offended by Spencer's comment. "The people of District 12 have a District to rebuild, they don't have time to worry about what is the latest fashion or hairstyle."

"I'm not saying it like it is a bad thing."

Katniss's look softened and she nodded her head in response. "It is almost time for dinner right? I better go help Penny" Katniss said changing the subject.

"Yeah, I better see what Robin and Stone are up to as well. See you at dinner?"

"Yes."

Right when Katniss turned around to go find Penny, she heard Spencer call out to her.

She turned around and looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"You know I am pretty observant right?"

"Of course, you are one of the smartest people I know."

"Well, I just wanted you to know, I observe everything, and I have noticed that the Commander has changed since you joined us."

"What do you mean?"

"When we first lost surveillance on you when you destroyed the cameras, he reacted in a way that was uncharacteristic of him. He lost his composure. Since you've been with us, I've seen his emotions fluctuate all over the place. I have never seen anyone have that kind of effect on him."

"What are you saying? That when I'm around Gale is not the calm, cool, collected person you love so much?" Katniss was offended again. She knew that Gale had been upset with her, she thought they had gotten past that.

"I'm saying that I think he must really love you for him to exhibit those kinds of emotions."

She looked down in shame. Haymitch felt she never deserved Peeta, she never deserved Gale either. Spencer eyed her and said, "I just thought you should know" and turned around and walked off.

She shot her head up and said, "Spencer!"

He turned around and gave her a pointed look.

"I don't deserve someone as good as Gale."

Spencer's look softened. "You deserve happiness Katniss. I just hope you find it with the right person."

"Thanks" Katniss said with a small smile.


The next morning, Katniss and the team found Red Bear and the other two tribesmen at the lake as instructed. Katniss ran into Red Bear's arms hugging him.

"You made it." She said relieved to see him.

"Yes, the ride is a long one. I am glad to see you are safe." Katniss smiled at her friend in response.

Red Bear explained to Katniss a little about the Blackfoot tribe. He explained how the Sioux had a decent relationship with the Blackfoot tribe. The tribe had about a 100 members and were known for hunting bison. The Sioux would sometimes trade with the Blackfoot tribe when the Sioux could not find Bison. This tribe also had a leader or chief.

They all waited while the Sioux member originally from the Blackfoot tribe spoke with the tribe's leader, explaining why they were there and the purpose of soldiers from the Capitol accompanying them. Spencer, Penny, Hance, Robin, and Stone along with Katniss tried to appear as least threatening as possible, for they were getting quite a few stares. After about a half an hour Katniss was informed that the tribe's leader would like Katniss and the others to take down the cameras right away.

Stone and Robin worked on locating the cameras with the coordinates they had been given. As back in the Comanche tribe, the object transformed into a weapon once the cameras were located, blasting them to pieces. The cameras in the Blackfoot tribe were not as well hidden as back in the Comanche tribe, but still pretty well hidden. She thought they probably could have found the cameras on their own, but, she was glad they knew exactly where the cameras were and how many there were.

Three cameras were destroyed. As before, the remaining pieces were collected by Hance and Penny.

Afterwards, Red Bear came up to Katniss and said, "The tribe thanks you."

"Let them know the pleasure was ours."

Katniss waited with Spencer and the others while Red Bear and the other tribesmen relayed the message. When they got back all nine of them began walking back to the large lake.

Katniss was about to ask Red Bear how long it would take for the Sioux members to reach the Cheyenne tribe when a device started beeping in Spencer's pocket. He removed the device which looked like a small rectangular pocket and stared at it.

"Shit." Spencer cursed under his breath. Katniss came up to him, looking at him with concern.

"We have to hurry back to the hovercraft, I got a message the Commander needs to talk to you right away" Spencer said to Katniss.

They jogged back to the hovercraft, Red Bear and the others following along as well. Once they reached the ship Katniss turned to Red Bear and said, "I will be back, I need to go in, my friend needs me."

Red Bear nodded and motioned that they would be waiting off to the side. Katniss turned and ran up the entrance with Spencer behind her.

Spencer grabbed the phone and dialed the number Gale provided him in the message, he then handed the receiver to Katniss.

Katniss waited while the phone rang, after one ring Gale answered, "Hawthorne."

"Gale-it's me, Spencer said you needed me?" Katniss said with unexpected urgency in her voice.

"Katniss, I need your help. I will need you to come to our camp right away-with your Native friends is possible."

Katniss didn't respond at first, for she knew getting Red Bear and the others to get on the hovercraft would be an impossible feat.

But she had to try, Gale needed her, he had always been there for her, now it was time for her to be there for him.