On the dawn of the 2nd day and the situation for those trapped in the barrack is desperate. Lives hang in the balance. As the 2nd day progresses the message that Katniss, Cressida, and her team made has been sent to the tower where the Guardhouse is located. Will the guardhouse receive the message or will it be too late?

I Do Not Own the Hunger Games

The Guardhouse

2nd Day

The guardhouse where all of the women Peacekeepers slept was different from the barracks the men slept in. The guardhouse had a tower that was used to regulate the airspace in and around District Twelve. It was also a communication tower between the Capitol and the other Districts. The guardhouse was the main hub for the Peacekeepers. It had training rooms, the kitchen, canteen, meeting space, and functioned as a base of command for the Peacekeepers.

Unlike the barracks which had long columns of bunk beds for the men to sleep in, and stalls for showers and bathrooms. In the guardhouse, the women enjoyed private rooms with private bathrooms. Though they did have communal bathrooms available for staff members to use when they were in the building.

The room Lavender was given was small but it was comforting to have a private bathroom. There was a knock at the door.

It was still early morning, Lavender wondered who could be knocking at her door. Eugene stood there smiling with a paper cup of tea.

"Good morning," Eugene greeted.

"Morning."

"I got you a cup of tea."

Lavender sipped it.

"Two sugars and three drops of milk."

"You remembered."

"Hard to forget, you were quite adamant about how you took your tea. Three literal drops of milk. That used to drive me bonkers." He laughed shortly and then said. "I never told you this, but I am glad you and I never ended up together."

"Why?"

"Well, to be honest, we're two peas in a pod. You would have killed me."

"You were always a character, Eugene."

"I know." He grinned. "I love teasing Boudica and we constantly bicker, but I love that stubborn woman."

"I guess you're right, I probably would have poisoned you."

"And you had the means to do it." He laughed then said. "I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"I'm feeling better, I got the all-clear to head back to work. I'm headed toward the clinic." Lavender stepped out of her assigned space.

He smiled easily. "You gave us quite the scare."

"The snowfall caught me by surprise. One moment I could see the person in front of me and the next, everything was whited out."

"It looks scary from the windows at the top of the guard house. I can't even imagine being caught out there in that storm."

Lavender closed her eyes recalling the battle and the bodies. She was glad her youngest Primrose was in the bakery with Boudica.

"How do you think Titus is doing?"

"I don't think they received many injured," Lavender said.

"We were trying to get however many inside the guard tower that night." Eugene sighed. "I wonder how my boys are doing…if…"

"I know," Lavender said. Katniss was in the thick of the battle; she still had no idea if Katniss was alright. "I don't know anything about Katniss."

"Your daughter gave one hell of a speech right before the weather went to hell in a handbasket. I think she made it to the barrack."

"I just wish there was a way we'd know." Lavender took a sip of her tea.

"I understand. The hardest thing has been not knowing, not hearing any news. You'd think by now we'd hear something?" Eugene shook his head, "Would you do it over again?"

"Would I do it over again?" Lavender repeated. She thought about the loss of her husband and the mental breakdown she was still dealing with. But then she thought of the way her daughter had sweetly opened her heart to love. And how if her daughter hadn't been born a Merchant she wouldn't have had a chance with Peeta. "Yes, I would. I would do it over, our kids and our grandchildren deserve a future where they are considered equals. All of the children in Panem deserve a better future."

Eugene smiled and then said, "You see, you were meant to marry Max."

Lavender chuckled. It was nice to have these talks with her old friend. "Are you heading to the clinic?"

"I've just finished my shift. Thinking of heading to the canteen to bake some bread. Not tired yet."

"Peeta does the same thing. According to Katniss, whenever Peeta is stressed, he tends to bake."

"Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Lavender." They were approaching the kitchens.

"No it doesn't," Eugene grinned. "Guess this is my spot."

"See you later, Eugene."

"Later, Lavender."

It didn't matter how many years passed by, Eugene was always the same gentle goofball. She didn't think she could ever love him the way she loved her husband.

Lavender walked into the clinic. It was still early in the morning. Many of the patients were either still asleep or just waking up.

During the night of the battle, she and the rest of her unit were surprised to find the guard house contained a fully stocked medical suite for the Peacekeepers to use. It had the latest Capitol machines and medicines.

"Hey Mrs. E," Kristen said. She was a perky auburn-haired girl from the Capitol.

Kristen arrived with Cressida and her team as a way of support for the rebellion. Lavender learned yesterday Kristen joined the rebellion because her mother was forced to become an Avox after one comment against Snow. Kristen and her family realized no one person should ever have that much power.

"Hello, Kristen," Lavender greeted.

"How are you feeling?" Kristen asked.

During the night of the rebel attack, she had volunteered with Hazelle to help seek the injured and go to the old bunker. Lavender estimated they would have the most severe casualties because they were the ones that were nearest the burning buildings.

Lavender was the last one in the group that left the guardhouse. But as she followed, the snow became blinding and she became disoriented and lost sight of the person in front of her. For a few frightening minutes, Lavender thought she would perish out in the snow. Temperatures dropped quickly, she had felt dizzy and sleepy as she moved. Luckily, Corin spotted her heat source on the radar. Rain came out to find her. He had had a cord tied around his middle. Together they made it back to the guardhouse.

Kristen helped her get into one of the heating units that were located in the guardhouse to help fight off hypothermia. She needed to raise her core temperature.

"Better," Lavender said.

"You were pretty bad off," Kristen said. "You had multiple symptoms, shivering, fumbling, drowsiness, and slurred speech, just to name a few."

"That was quick thinking," Lavender said.

"Do you mind if I give you a quick check-up?" Kristen asked, her eyes bright.

"Sure," Lavender smiled. She learned Kristen was only twenty-four and was a medical intern when she joined the rebellion. As a cover, she feigned disinterest in medicine, stopped her internship, and began taking journalism courses. When the call went out to go to the districts to bring supplies, Kristen volunteered. The internship with Cressida and her crew came as a result of her friendship with Messalla.

When they learned they would be traveling to District Twelve, the outlying district, Kristen decided to come prepared. It was well known that the apothecary no longer existed, so Kristen's contacts in the medical field that were part of the rebellion, provided her with medicine such as burn creams, potent antibiotics, and other necessary things such as hemostatic agents to stop hemorrhaging, anti-nausea meds, and epinephrine -as a doctor never knew if a patient was allergic to the medicine being used.

Kristen reminded Lavender of Primrose. She was not prone to act violently, but Kristen came to fight, but in her heart, she was a healer.

Kristen led her to one of the exam rooms. Lavender sat down on one of the exam tables.

"Sorry about the coldness," Kristen said as she put the stethoscope on her back.

"No problem."

"Take deep even breaths?"

Lavender did as Kristen asked.

"Any body aches?"

"No."

Kristen then took her temperature, as she put the armband on to check her blood pressure. She took the thermometer from her mouth. "97.8 good."

She smiled and took her blood pressure.

"Any confusion?"

"No."

"Are you getting tired easily?"

"Yesterday I was groggy for most of the day."

"I'm glad you took my advice and stayed away from the patients."

Yesterday Lavender had to rest and take it slow, but not having a distraction caused her to go over everything that had happened. She replayed everything that happened in her life from leaving her home in town to marrying her husband up to her involvement in the rebellion. The projection of her life hadn't gone the way she planned.

As a child, she imagined working at the apothecary.

The rejection by her parents and most everyone that she knew in the merchant side of town. Her life with her husband, the birth of Katniss, and the joy of finding out she was pregnant with Primrose. Her husband's death, and the onslaught of depression. The memories of her daughter Katniss having to take care of her and Primrose and eventually learning how to deal with her depression were all the highlights of her day yesterday.

The best thing that happened was the closeness that resulted between herself and her eldest daughter. It was strange to think of her daughter falling for a merchant of all people and the son of her childhood boyfriend. Thankfully, Katniss had chosen a good boy from what she had seen, because kind, respectful, sweet, and generous were the things Katniss needed.

Kristen took her hands and carefully examined them. She was checking for sensitivity. She ran a popsicle stick over her fingertips. "Do you feel this?"

"Yes."

"Good." She then took a tablet and wrote several notes. "Do you feel any numbness in the rest of your body, like in your toes, feet, or ears?"

"None, I checked yesterday and again this morning."

"Looks like you have a good bill of health," Kristen said, washing her hands.

"Have you seen any of the patients?"

"Keegan..."

"I am worried about him, in my experience not many people wake up from a coma."

"He didn't make it."

"What about Darius?" Lavender asked.

"I was on my way to see him next."

"You remind me of my youngest, Primrose."

"Your daughter wants to be a doctor?"

"She does, and she has the steadiest hands. She has the ability to become a great surgeon."

"Your knowledge of medicinal properties of plants and medical practices is vast and impressive."

"I was raised to practice in the apothecary, then I fell in love with a miner and continued my practice in the Seam. My husband would trade for medical books when he came across them in the Hob."

"I am sorry, Hob?"

"The Hob was our kind of black-market. It was attacked by the Peacekeepers before Thread arrived."

"I hope after all of this we are free," Kristen said.

"You are worried about your family?"

"Yes, they're all in the Capitol fighting against Snow."

Lavender nodded.

"I hope your daughter made it to safety," Kristen said. "She is an inspiration to us all. I couldn't believe she stood up to Thread to defend her fiancé. He's a monster. I've known lots of monsters like Thread. They hide behind the power bestowed to them by the Capitol."

"You sound like you know him," Lavender said, noticing the steely look in the younger woman's eyes.

"He was the one who imprisoned my mother and ordered her tongue cut out."

"I am so sorry about that."

"As much as it hurt me, it opened my eyes to just how dangerous Snow really is. Any government that cannot take criticism is not a government for the people."

"You sound like my husband," Lavender said as they entered the room where Darius was located.

The machine beeped softly.

"What is his condition?" Lavender asked quietly.

"We operated on him as soon as he came in, removed the bullet. It missed his heart. He lost a lot of blood."

"He had a complication?" Lavender asked, reading his chart.

"He developed a fever yesterday, we gave him antibiotics in his IV drip."

Fevers were dangerous things, they notated infections that could spell death if not treated. Lavender took Darius's hand and squeezed it, "Remember your little girl, Darius."

Lavender straightened out his blanket and fluffed his pillow before going to the drawer his clothing was kept in and searched his pockets.

"What are you doing?"

"Most men carry with them a picture or a token that reminds them of home." Lavender grinned and pulled out a small scrap of material. She took it and put it next to his face. "This should smell like his spouse and or child. I hope it'll help him heal."

Kristen looked confused.

Lavender said, "Medicine is one part medicinal care and one part human touch." At Kristen's frown, she elaborated, "We need a kind touch. I've seen people who should die but because they have something worth living for they fight and live. Yet people who are alone let a simple cold kill them."

"Oh, interesting."

"It's not just remedies and concoctions; you have to understand the human condition to be a good doctor or healer."

"My mother always said, 'any healer, nurse, or doctor worth their weight would tell you healing was something that still boggled the minds of even the best medical caregivers.' "

"Your mother was wise."

"She was a midwife. She had a heart attack and passed away after…" Kristen's words drifted, and her eyes became glossy as she recalled her mother.

"Your mother would be proud," Lavender said.

"Thank you."

When they finished their rounds Lavender promised she would come back. Kristen was still learning, but she was incredibly bright. There were things that they each could benefit from learning from each other.

It was near lunchtime, Lavender rubbed her face, weary as she recalled the conversation she had with Eugene earlier in the day. Her mind kept on thinking about her eldest. She kept going over Gale, and everything she experienced. She and the rest of the crew who were stuck in the guardhouse had seen Katniss's impassioned speech. It fueled all of them to help those in need. She was proud of her eldest.

Katniss was such a reserved, practical girl. To see her shine brightly and vie for peace, she reminded Lavender of Katniss's father. He had the ability to rally people behind a cause. "You would've loved to have seen her last night," Lavender spoke out loud to her dead husband. She didn't do it often these days, but every once in a while, she had the habit of speaking to him, especially when she felt he was near to her, like at this moment.

She rubbed her shoulders. It was cold even though the building was heated. It had a generator and it kept the furnace working. "You would've been so proud of her. Our baby girl is all grown up. She found love with Eugene's son just as you said she would. You were right, we would see war in our lifetime, and our children would be part of that push for change."

A solitary tear fell from her eye and she wiped it away. What she dared not say out loud though, was the fear that Katniss had not gotten to safety. She knew her girl would put herself last, that she could have been caught out there in the snow because that self-sacrificing part came from her.

Needing to find out information, Lavender walked to the control room.

"Any word from the Capitol?"

"None," Corin said.

"Everything is radio silent," Rain said. He had been learning from Corin how to operate the system.

"How about our own teams?" Lavender watched Corin shake her head.

"Communications are down. The storm is blocking the signals. I couldn't tell you what is happening out there, who is alive or gone." Corin sighed. "I don't even know if my sister is alive."

There were many sacrifices made and many died for the chance of freedom. It was nerve-wracking to not know who lived or who died, to not know if they were free indeed.

"How are you feeling Ms. E?" Rain asked.

"Better, I actually got to do rounds this morning."

"Glad to hear it. When I found you, you were barely coherent." Rain grinned and he swung his foot around. He turned to look at a button, his finger hovered over the button.

"For the last time, touch that and I will stab you," Corin said sweetly.

Rain took his hand away and feigned innocence. "This red button?"

"Rain…" Corin growled.

Rain laughed. "Seriously Corin, I wouldn't. I know this launches missiles."

"You've got to help me, Mrs. E, isn't there anyone who can help me up here?"

"Unfortunately you're stuck with him." Lavender grinned. Rain was teasing Corin. Rain was a responsible boy and very smart, but he was still very much a clown.

"How is Thom doing?" Rain asked, breaking the silence.

"He's fine, trying to get Darla, his nurse, to go out on a date with him. He actually said, 'you must be a snowflake cause I'm falling for you.'''

Corin burst out laughing. "Has that pick-up line ever worked?"

"Nope." Rain laughed and shook his head.

"I feel bad for the poor Darla. She didn't know what to say." Lavender couldn't believe it when Thom used the line. He was pale and at the same time flushed. He didn't know that if he just talked to the poor girl, she would like him.

"Sorry, ma'am. I've told Thom that line doesn't work." Rain winced.

Lavender chuckled. She was glad she had girls. She didn't think she could deal with boys. How Hazelle coped with her boys Lavender didn't know.

"I'll talk to him," Rain said. "Someone has to tell him that flirting with that antiquated line when it's freezing outside will only guarantee him striking out."

Lavender sighed. "That poor nurse has at least one more day with Thom. Maybe if I intervene it will be better."

"What are you going to say to Thom?"

"Thom," Lavender said. "No, I'm going to switch the nurse. She might poison Thom if he keeps it up. I think I'll ask Eugene to attend to Thom."

Corin started laughing and she then got a mischievous look on her face. "I would've put a pillow on his face."

"You're cute but you're scary," Rain said, a little horrified.

Corin winked saucily. "That's exactly how my family describes me."

Lavender smiled watching Rain and Corin flirt. Corin was 19 and Rain 18. They had two more days being trapped in the guard house together. She just wished she knew if her baby girl was well. Lavender knew if Peeta was with her, Katniss would be fine.

As she thought this, the small screen in front pinged.

Corin turned around and stared at the control panel in front of her.

"What's going on?" Lavender asked.

"Is it the Capitol?" Rain asked.

"No, this is coming from a closer source," Corin said, typing commands into the system.

"District Three?"

"Wrong again Rain."

"From where then?" Lavender asked.

"The bunker," Corin said, flipping a switch. "It's almost like a facsimile is being transmitted."

Lavender was clueless.

"It looks like they are doing it through radio waves. I'm trying to lock into the signal."

Fascinated by what Corin was doing, Lavender walked forward and watched Corin. There were several touch screens before her. Several radars, one for weather, one that monitored the heat and movements around the tower, and one that monitored the airspace. She had a keyboard, a mouse, and several switches and dials scattered around the console.

"I think I got the frequency." Corin moved one of the dials and then typed something before one of the screens began showing static and then an image began coming in. It looked like a pair of feet then legs and a sign being held up by Katniss.

"Katniss," Lavender whispered her hand on her neck. Her daughter was alive and well. Lavender controlled her face she didn't want to show her worry.

"They're alive, but they need help," Corin said, reading the sign with a list of badly needed supplies.

Twenty minutes later Lavender was in a group trying to figure out how to best help them. They had sent a return fax using Lavender letting the barracks know they had received the transmission.

"We need to send them supplies," Lavender said, holding the picture they printed.

They needed medicine, food, and other supplies like another generator.

"Even though we've got a lull in the snowfall. It's still too dangerous for one of us to make it to the barracks," Rain said.

"There's got to be a way to get them the supplies they need." Eugene ran his hand through his hair.

They had been sending messages back and forth. The news of Purnia's death left many of those gathered commiserating with Corin for her loss. Purnia was well known and liked. The news of her death was superseded by the imminent need for more medicine. If not, more were going to die.

Corin was putting on a brave face but her grief was apparent in her watery eyes. She said she wanted to be present, to somehow help, so that there wouldn't be any more deaths. Corin, like everyone else gathered, wasn't going to let Snow win or take another life.

Rye was one of those who was on the critical list.

"Eugene, I understand," Lavender said.

"They need medicine and life-saving equipment. The overflow of patients was supposed to be brought here," Kristen said.

"I wish we could send it to them on those trains," Lavender said, rubbing her temple.

Eugene frowned. "What do you mean?"

"In the mines, they have cars that drive themselves up and down the shafts. My husband told me they were automated."

"Mrs. E, you are a genius," Corin said.

"I am?" Lavender raised an eyebrow.

All eyes turned to Corin.

"You are," Corin wiped her face. She took a deep breath. "We can remotely control…," she began, then whipped out a tablet. Her fingers danced on the screen.

Lavender scooted closer to take a look at the screen. "Are you saying one of the all-terrain vehicles can send supplies to the bunker, like one of those trains they use in the mines?"

"Yes!" Corin said. "We have a modified SJ 6; it's a smaller model of the SJ 7. It's completely covered, and it will latch onto the door of the building that they are in."

"So they won't be exposed to the elements…." Eugene smiled.

"As long as the weather holds out, we can send them supplies," Corin said.

"How long do we have, Rain," Lavender asked.

"An hour and a half at the most," Rain said.

"Corin," Lavender turned her head to address the younger woman. "How long do you think you'll need to program the computer and the vehicle?"

"Five to ten minutes tops," Corin said.

"And it takes under 5 minutes to get a message to them, using the same technology?" Lavender asked.

"It's the equipment they pieced together. Whatever they're using doesn't have enough power. It slows down the transmission." Corin tapped her finger on the screen of the tablet, before saying, "If they had a steady source of power and better equipment, it would take under a minute, seconds really if they had a computer or even a tablet. And we can send them one."

"That's about 20 minutes. It's not much time, but enough to do something," Eugene said.

"It's plenty of time to gather supplies," Lavender affirmed. "Rain you're in charge of getting food & water. Eugene, blankets, and other survival needs. Kristen, medical supplies." Lavender turned to Corin. "You and I are going to send Katniss a message and let them know the calvary is on its way."

Twenty minutes later Corin glared at Rain. "What did you do to the vehicle?"

Rain gave her a cheeky grin. "Don't you like it?"

All around them people were loading up the SJ6 with supplies. After two days of doing nothing, everyone who survived the battle intact was excited to have an activity that will contribute to the health of their allies.

"What in 'tarnation!" Eugene exclaimed as he arrived with his team; his face was priceless.

"You added a bushy tail!" Corin you looked as if she didn't comprehend what she was staring at. Her eyes were wide, her mouth agape.

"Don't forget the pointy ears and the buck teeth," Kristen pointed out as she grabbed a box and handed it to the person standing next to her. A line formed to help pack the vehicle.

"I got some of the patients to help me decorate it. Everyone worked hard on it," Rain winked at Corin.

"You were only supposed to gather food and water!" Corin said through clenched teeth.

"I did, and it's already packed in there," Rain said, pointing to the inside. He gave a cheesy smile.

Corin looked like she wanted to charge at Rain.

"MY NUTS!" Eugene shouted and everything stopped.

Lavender had heard about the escapades of Corky in the bakery from her daughter.

"That vermin has been living in my house playing with my NUTS!"

At Eugene's outburst everyone who was helping load the vehicle lost it and began laughing. Lavender coughed to cover her laughter.

Even Corin started laughing, as Eugene kept on talking.

"That darned squirrel is being idolized but he's been stealing my nuts!" Eugene's words were lost as a fresh bout of laughter infected people.

Rain had outdone himself in decorating the vehicle like Corky. Lavender knew Primrose would've loved this. No doubt this gave everyone something to do, a much-needed morale booster.

"We call it the SKR1L," Rain said proudly. "After all it was Corky that caught the Citizen."

"Peeta will get a kick out of it," Lavender managed to get out.

"And Katniss will try to shoot the vermin," Eugene muttered.

Eugene's comment caused everyone to laugh all over again. Katniss' prowess as a hunter was known amongst the group.

"Okay, let's stop laughing. We gotta get this thing loaded and on its way," Corin grumbled, though Lavender could see the smile playing in her eyes.

Rain winked and it got him a scowl.

Once it was loaded, the cargo bay was emptied. The cold wind rushed into the bay and immediately the temperature dropped. They quickly closed the dock door as soon as the vehicle had cleared the door.

From her perch in command, Corin maneuvered the driverless vehicle, newly dubbed SKR1L, to roll out past the guard tower and toward the old bunker. Everyone gathered around the screen to watch it go.

What was a 2 easy minute drive in good weather took forever. Ten minutes after SKR1L left, they still hadn't reached the barracks. The vehicle was stalling because of the frigid temperatures. Corin also had to avoid the debris field of the battle.

"Corin, there is a snow storm building up…" Rain said.

SKR1L was moving slower because of the cold. From the window, they could see it pause.

"Come on, Corky," Rain said and the vehicle began to move again.

Everyone's breath held as SKR1L approached the old barracks.

Lavender noticed Corin's hands were shaking. The temperature had dropped and snow had begun to fall once more. The most difficult part was the docking. In order for the SJ6 to dock, it needed to slide into the locking system. It meant she'd needed to parallel park. Corin could damage the exterior of the building if she wasn't careful, and this could put the survival of the people inside of the barracks in peril.

"You can do it," Rain said. "You can help them by bringing the SKR1L to dock."

Corin looked up at Rain, and Lavender smiled when she saw Corin nod before saying, "Commencing docking procedure."

Everyone watched as Corin maneuvered the vehicle to line up with the building. It moved slowly until the computer indicated that SKR1L was at the precipice of the locking mechanism.

They watched with bated breath as Corin maneuvered it into place. It locked and suctioned onto the hatch that surrounded the door of the old barrack. Corin then quickly went to the computer to extend the exterior portal over the hatch to lock the SKR1L into place and make it possible for those inside the barrack to access the interior of the vehicle.

Once it was locked in place, joyful and triumphant shouts were heard all around.

Corin sat back and wiped her eyes, as fresh tears fell from them. Her voice was shaky as she said, "This is for your Purnia. That bastard isn't going to win."

Lavender put a gentle hand on Corin's shoulder.

"Thank you," Corin said, nodding.

Lavender nodded as she watched the revelry.

As they celebrated, a message was sent to the barrack. Another message was sent to the rebellion command, where no doubt Haymitch was itching to get some sort of information.

A nurse caught Lavender's eye. She walked over to the young woman who smiled tightly at her.

"Ma'am I'm sorry, but Darius, his fever…"

"It's okay," Lavender said. Darius hadn't survived. Lavender turned to face the young crowd. She had tears in her eyes. For every battle won, there was always at least one sacrifice made.

A/N:

Are you mad at me?

Please do not kill me as I roll out the final chapters. It was hard to choose who dies and who survives. However, one thing is certain in this chapter Corky comes to the rescue, and Mr. Mellark still has no nuts!

Thank you to all of you who have waited patiently for the end of this story. I needed to figure out how to end this epic story.