The Quarter Quell

They arrived back home in District 12. Not long after they got back did a large processional of Peacekeeper tanks follow them. The Peacekeepers began going through peoples things, burning them in the streets. They arrested everyone in the Hob, District 12's main market, before burning it as well.

Haymitch and Jeanetty made their way to Justice Square. There they found Katniss standing between the new Peacekeeper Comander and one of her friends who was chained to an iron tower in the center of the square. The Comander pulled a gun on Katniss when Haymitch stepped in between them. "Woah, woah, woah!"

"Get out of my way!"

"No, you don't want to shoot her." Haymitch attempted to reason.

"How about I shoot both of you?"

"Look, Comander, you're new here," Jeanetty whispered hoarsely so she could be heard as show walked closer with her hands raised. "Trust us, we're trying to help you."

"I'm Haymitch," he introduced himself, extending his hand. When it was ignored he continued. "You recognize her?" He pointed to Katniss when he got no response. "Katniss Everdeen. Darling of the Capitol."

The Comander lowered his weapon. "She interfered with a Peacekeeper."

"Never said she was smart," Jeanetty said coming up to Haymitch's side.

"Look, you already got a couple of lashes in, right?" Haymitch began to reason again.

"That's not good enough. She's an agitator." The Comander raised his gun again and pointed it at Jeanetty.

Peeta stepped between them. "Easy, easy..."

"Look," Haymitch said as Jeanetty pulled Peeta back. "You sure Snow wants four dead Victors here? Because that's what we're looking at. It's bad enough that you marked up her face on the eve of the big wedding. Let it go. And we will, too."

The Comander considered for a moment before agreeing. "All right." He lowered and holstered his weapon. "Okay. But next time, it's the firing squad."

Haymitch nodded his head. "Excellent idea."

"I dont care who she is." He paused a moment. "CLEAR THE SQUARE!" he turned to the crowd. "You're all under curfew. Anyone out after dark will be shot on sight." he turned back to the Victors. "Get him out of here."

Katniss and Peeta quickly undid the bindings on her friend as Jeanetty waved some men from the mine to assist them. The group led them to Katniss' home where her mother and sister helped him.

Two days later President Snow made an announcement to the Districts. Everyone stood by and watched. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the 75th year of the Hunger Games. And it was written in the charter of the Games that every 25 years, there would be a Quarter Quell to keep fresh for each new generation the memory of those who died in the uprising against the Capitol. Each Quarter Quell is distinguished by Games of special significance. And now on this the 75th anniversary of our defeat of the rebellion, we celebrate the 3rd Quarter Quell as a reminder that even the strongest cannot overcome the power of the Capitol. On this, the 3rd Quarter Quell Games, the male and female Tributes are to be Reaped from the existing pool of Victors in each District. Victors shall present themselves on Reaping Day regardless of age, state of health, or situation. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor."

Jeanetty reeled in her own waking nightmare as Haymitch threw his bottle at the imager. Peeta burst through the door and began speaking to Haymitch, who began arguing back. Jeanetty stormed to the kitchen to grab a bottle of whiskey. She hadn't had much over the last few years but she still drank it like it was water. It soured her stomach, but it clouded her mind and made her feel numb. She felt the bottle being pulled away hrom her as Haymitch's arms wrapped around her. "Easy, easy does it, love."

"I can't go back, Haymitch."

"I know, I'm not gonna ask you to. Peeta wants it to be fair, but he also wants to save Katniss' life."

"By asking me to Volunteer for her."

"I'm not gonna let that happen." He kissed her temple and led her to a chair. "Let's just sit and drink, like we used to."

She nodded and took a sip out of a bottle that sat on the table. Half an hour later Katniss walked in. "There she is," Jeanetty said morosely. "Finally did the math?"

"And you've come to, what," Haymitch asked waving his open bottle to her. "Ask me to... Die?"

Katniss sat in a chair adjacent them. "I'm here to drink." She took the bottle from his hand and took a sip.

"Finally, something I can help you with. What's it say that Peeta was here 45 minutes ago practically begging Jeanetty to be Tribute for the Games. Begging to save your life and only just now show up?"

"It means we have to save him."

"You could live 100 lifetimes and never deserve that boy." Jeanetty took the bottle back.

"Come on, Jeanetty. Nobody decent ever wins the Games."

"Nobody ever wins the Games. Period," Haymitch countered. "There are survivors. There are no winners."

"Peeta has to survive." Katniss went on as she took the bottle back from Jeanetty. "We have to do what it takes to save him."

"All right, if..."

"No!" Jeanetty begged.

"If they call his name, I'll volunteer in his place..."

"Haymitch, thank you."

"If you do the same for Jeanetty, because there's nothing to stop him from volunteering himself if they call my name."

She nodded in agreement. "You can help him in the arena. Like you did for me."

He sighed. "I think these Games are gonna be different."

"I don't care. Do whatever you can. Peeta lives. Not me." she handed the bottle back. "Promise me."

He nodded. "Okay."

Katniss left and Haymitch pulled Jeanetty to him. They said nothing but held eachother tightly until they finished the many partially full bottles on the table.

The next morning they dressed and waited for Peacekeepers to escort them to the Hall of Justice. Jeanetty shed silent tears as she led the parade through the silent town, her favorite long brown coat billowing loosely behind her in the breeze. She took her place beside Katniss, who had reminded her once again that she was going to the Games so that the older woman wouldn't have to.

Effie called attention to herself once the Tributes were on stage. "Welcome, welcome, as we celebrate the 75th anniversary and 3rd Quarter Quell of the Hunger Games. As always, ladies first." She nervously reached her hand into the pot and picked one of two papers that lay in the bottom. She re-took her place and read the name. "The female Tribute from District 12, Katniss Everdeen." She spoke without her usual flourish and watched as Katniss squeezed Jeanetty's hand before taking her place beside Effie. "Wonderful," Effie said with forced enthusiasm. And now for the men." She swiftly picked a paper from the other pot and returned to the microphone. "The male Tribute from District 12, Haymitch Abernathy."

Jeanetty's face had little time to show despair before Peeta spoke. "I volunteer as Tribute." Haymitch grabbed the younger man's shoulder and spoke to him in a low tone. He responded and moved to Effie's side.

"Very well," Effie continued to force words out of her mouth. "The Tributes from District 12: Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Melark. Well, all that remains is..." She stopped when Katniss's mother and sister saluted the stage, followed by the rest of town, including some Peacekeepers.

The Tributes saluted back before they were pulled into the Hall of Justice. They were given no time to say goodbyes as they were forced onto the train. Jeanetty, still shaken from the entire ordeal, had curled into her chair next to Haymitch, as he poured a generous shot of whiskey into her tea. She had refused to let go of him once they had reached the train and now had her right hand balled into his left sleeve.

Effie entered the dinning car just as Haymitch finished one-handedly preparing his own late-night drink. "All right. Before we begin, I've had a thought."

"You don't say?" Haymitch received a look from Effie and a squeeze from Jeanetty.

"Katniss has her gold Mockingjay pin. I have my hair," she said gesturing to the golden wig on her head. "I'm going to get the rest of you something gold."

Haymitch turned his head to look at Jeanetty before speaking. "Why is that?"

"A token." Effie seemed insistent. "Show them we're a team. And they can't just..."

Katniss caught one of Effie's hands in hers and gave her a genuine smile. "Thank you."

Effie looked on the verge of tears before she batted them away. "All right, now. Everything will be different because it's a Quarter Quell. The Capitol has spared no expense. A new training center. New Tribute living quarters. And of course a very special arena."

"But this year you'll be facing other Victors." Jeanetty spoke softly, surprising the room by using her voice. "Capitol favorites. Smart, cunning, skilled."

"And they all know one another," Effie said with a proud smile to her recovering friend. "You two are the outsiders."

The train ride to the Capitol seemed to go more quickly than before. Not long after, they were setteling into their new apartments and the Mentors began their duties. "I want you guys to forget everything you think you know about the Games."

"Last year was child's play," Jeanetty continued Haymitch's opening in her usual whisper from her place beside the Tributes. "This year, you're dealing with all experienced killers."

"All right," Peeta said sitting back in his chair. "What does that mean for us?"

"That means you're gonna have to have some allies," Haymitch said handing a glass of water to Jeanetty.

Peeta nodded. "Okay. I think that if..."

Haymitch interrupted him. "You're not the problem." he pointed to Katniss.

"No."

"Look," he continued, sitting next to Jeanetty. "You're starting at a disadvantage. Most of these people have been friends for years."

"That just puts us higher on their kill list," Katniss argued.

Jeanetty held up her hand. "Do it your own way, but we know these people. You go it alone, their first move is gonna be to hunt you down."

Haymitch pointed between the Tributes. "Both of you."

"Katniss, come on," Peeta pleaded.

She turned back to the Mentors. "How could any of us trust eachother?"

"It's not about trust. It's about staying alive." Haymitch stood and walked to a viewing screen. He pulled up a video file and began. "Cashmere and Gloss. Brother and sister. District 1. They won back-to-back Games. Capitol favorites. Lots of Sponsors. They will be lethal."

He brought up a new clip and Jeanetty continued. "The other half of the Career Pack: Brutus and Enobaria."

"What's with her teeth?"

"She had them filed into fangs so she could rip people's throats out."

"She's committed, I'll give her that."

Haymitch continued. "Wiress and Beetee. Not fighters, but brilliant. And weird. Real tech-savy. He won his Games by electrocuting six Tributes at once."

"Morphlings. Masters of camouflage," Jeanetty carried on. "Basically, won their Games by hiding until everyone else was dead. Self medicating ever since."

"Which, I applaud." Haymitch switched the screen again.

"Finnick Odair, right?"

"Yes, he won his Games at 14. Youngest ever. Extremely humble."

"You're kidding."

"Yes, I'm kidding. He's a peacock. A total preener. But he's a Capitol Darling. They love him here. Charming, smart, and very skilled in combat. Especially in water."

"Any weaknesses?"

"One," Jeanetty said. "Mags. She volunteered for Annie. Mags was his Mentor and basically raised him. If he's trying to protect her in anyway, it exposes him."

"A guy like that has to know she's not gonna make it," Katniss commented, looking at the elderly woman in screen. "I bet when it really comes down to it, he won't protect her."

"Well, Katniss, I just hope when she goes, she goes quickly." Jeanetty fixed her with a stare. "She's actually a wonderful lady."

"Perhaps we should get to bed. Finish this up in the morning," Haymitch said stretching his hand out to Jeanetty. The Tributes noted their own tiredness as the Mentors walked to their room.

A/n: Hi everyone! Thanks for reading!