Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins does. I just play around with it.

Gale wakes up the next day with two hours of sleep and a raging headache. He learnt his lesson and that getting drunk on a Tuesday was not the brightest idea he had. Gale could've done plenty of things but getting drunk was at the top of his list. He now has to live with the consequences of his actions for the day. Just opening his eyes is a like a nightmare become reality, the sun beams into the room and reflects off any shiny object. He groans in pain and starts to get ready for the day; he hopes that the ice cold shower will sober him up enough to get him through the day. It doesn't do much apart from wash the shame away but even that lingers just a tad. When he prepares himself for work he is always the only one up, but when he goes to get breakfast Posy is sitting on the couch her legs brought up to her chest. Gale is in utter shock to see her there; it's too early for her to wake up. Gale makes his way over and sits next to her the couch dipping brining making Posy slide closer to him. Gale tentatively wraps an arm around her shoulders not knowing the problem. Posy still doesn't look up she just shrugs his arm away.

"Pose what's wrong? Why are you up? Where's Ma?" Gale asks wrapping his arm around her shoulders again. Posy looks up at him with scared, sad eyes. Her cheeks are red and puffy. She had been crying.

"Ma is in bed" her voice cracked and Gale's heart broke not knowing what the problem was.

"I had a nightmare Gale, you said I could always come to you when I was scared and I did. I tried Gale, I really did try." The girl whimpered tears on the brink of flowing.

"What did you try Pose?" Gale wipes her tears away stained cheeks and gives her his coal covered handkerchief, which Hazelle made for him when he started school, It had been cleaned countless times but it will never go whiter than a pale gray.

"I tried to wake you but you wouldn't wake up I tried everything" Posy pulls away from Gale and slams her hands into his chest over and over with as much force possible. It doesn't faze him, it feels more like a nudge every time she hits him, but the pain of not being there for Posy when was scared hurts him more than anything. Gale looks outside and he know he needs to leave for work in the next couple of minutes. Gale kneels in front of Posy; his big hands come up and cup her tiny face.

"Posy I didn't mean to not be there for you. I would listen to your nightmares a thousand times over if it made you feel better. If I had known I would've woken up straight away. I love you so much Pose and I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you." He now regrets ever getting drunk, he regrets that things got out of hand whilst drinking the homemade alcohol he bought at the Hob, yes it did feel good at the time but now he just wishes it never happened. Gale kisses her forehead, scoops her up strides to her and Hazelle's bedroom. He places her in bed next to their mother, tucks her in and kisses her cheek a final time.

"I love you Gale" Posy breathes out closing her eyes pulling the homemade quilt up to her neck.

"I love you too Posy" Gale whispers.

Gale forgot all about his hangover while he was with Posy, but now that he made his way to work he was remembering more and more of the previous night. The application for the butler's job, the argument with his mother, the meadow, Thom and Bristel and the drinking, so much drinking. The lift brought him and his colleagues down to the mines groaned and creaked with the descent and the tiniest bit of movement could be very dangerous. Everyone was out of the fry pan but they were all jumping into the fire. No one ever wanted to be in the mine it was the worst place to be but today was the worst day Gale could've been there, the pounding in his head felt like a bomb had just gone off and as they were brought lower and lower into the un-breathable mines. The lift doors opened and all the miners solemnly walked out their feet trailing behind them, Gale made his way to the furthest end and leaned against one of the rocks, rubbing his temples the pounding increasing every second. Thom stood next to him internally laughing at Gale's pain. The group leader Zeal hangs a canary in a cage at the entrance and everyone went to work. The sound of pickaxes clinking against the rock was getting to Gale and all he wanted to do was be in a dark room. Hours went by until someone shushed them all. The miners looked to who had shushed them. "It's too quiet" someone said. Gale looked over to the canary.

"Shit" He said, he ran to the cage, opened it and took a close look at the small bird. "When did it die?" He shouted to the miners. Most of them shrugged.

A small voice said from the back broke through the silence, "I heard it chirp away like crazy a few hours ago." The miners stepped aside so that Gale could get a good look at the boy. Boy was an appropriate word, he was not taller than five foot four, he was skinny in some places and stocky in others, he was the most asymmetrical person Gale had ever seen. He strode in three big steps to the boy.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Gale seethed

"I didn't think twice about it, I thought someone would say something. I didn't know I was the only one that heard it." Under Gale's patronizing stare the boy cowered away into his oversized uniform.

"When did you say you heard it?" Gale asked shoving the bird into his face.

The boy gulped and stuttered out an answer "A-A few hours"

"A few hours" Gale dropped the bird. "Everyone to the lift we are getting out of here, the mine could collapse any second" As he said the words there was a light rumbling and everyone stopped and looked around. Gale knew that sound, everyone knows what the sound is. "Everyone out to the lift" He shouted again this time more urgently. The miners dropped their tools and in the chaos of it all no one but Gale saw the small crack in the roof appear. Gale tripped on a pile of coal not looking where he was going and fell to the rough ground, he hissed as his ankle hit a sharp rock, the blood staining his uniform's leg, he knows he'll need stiches. He kept looking at the crack as it grew bigger and bigger above him. Feet trampled his face, arms, legs, chest and Gale could feel the bruises coming but that was the least of his worries. Gale quickly stood up; half of the miners had already made it to the lift and were leaving the mine. He stumbled to 'safety' with the other miners staying as close to the lift shaft as possible. All of a sudden the rumbling could be felt in the bodies of the miners and as Gale strained his eyes he could see small rocks fall at the far end of the mine. Gale's eyes went wide as some other miners were still running from that end. What were they doing back there? Gale asked himself. All of a sudden the roof of the end of the mine completely collapsed. Gale looked up at the shaft and saw the lift coming back down. He silently prayed that it would arrive in time. He looked back to the collapse it was already halfway towards them speeding up as it came closer. The miners who were running towards them never arrived and Gale could see a hand or foot in odd places along the tunnel. The lift doors opened and they all piled in trying to fit in the last miner, they all felt like sardines in a tin but they are just glad they are getting to safety. As the lift started to ascend Gale could see the last of the tunnel's roof collapse. The all let out a breath.

When they get to the top all hell breaks loose, families are screaming for husbands, sons, wives and daughters. Gale sees a board with a hoard of people around it, probably a list of those of those missing is on it, the air smells worse than usual and Gale feels nauseated. He sits on the ground knees bent and his face buried in his hands. He can't believe what just happened, how could that happen they had the canary. It was so sudden and he has no idea how he got out of there alive. Now back to safety the adrenalin in his system drained out and he could start to pain in muscles he never knew existed and all the bruises he took from being of the ground. He looks up and around the dusty, open area, there are a lot of families, too many for just Gale's team. Gale suddenly feels dizzy and he spins around on the ground and throws up in the bush behind him. Gale wipes his mouth with his sleeve and tries to find his family.

He sees Hazelle pushing through the large crowed carrying a confused Posy in her arms, he doesn't see Rory or Vick, and they must still be at school. Hazelle scans the paper with the names of the missing miners; her hold tightens on Posy when she see's his name. Gale Hawthorne. Hazelle suddenly feels the sense of déja vu. Her head spins and she drops Posy who lands on the ground crying like she was a baby again. Gale trips and stumbles his way over to his mother. He picks Posy up giving her the biggest hug he had ever given to her. Hazelle's eyes look at him and it takes her a few seconds to realise who the person holding the little girl is. Her breathing hitches when she sees Gale, she wraps her arms around his neck her chest buried in his chest her breathing still strong.

"I thought I had lost you. I was so scared. Your face it's all bruised" she cries into his chest.

"It will take a lot more than a mine collapse to get rid of me Ma, a lot more" He smiles sadly at her.

Gale had never been so happy to be home. School was let out early due to the collapse and Vick and Rory burst through the front door nearly taking it of its hinges. When they see Gale on the couch they rush to him giving a hug. Gale winces but still hugs back with all his might. Gale looks to Hazelle who looks at him with concerned eyes, He stares at her for a few seconds, having a silent conversation, he nods to her. He untangles himself from his brothers and goes to the dining table where the yellowed crinkled paper sits from the previous night. Gale picks it up and reads through it. Name, Date of Birth, Address, Phone Number, Education details. Gale looks to his mother who knowingly comes and sits with him to help him fill it out. Gale isn't too sure what some of the stuff on the form means, like references or superannuation but he just leaves those out. A few minutes later and he is finished.

"Do you want me to take it back to the justice building?" She asks

"No I'll go to their house now" Gale doesn't know why he said that but there it is out in the open and there is no taking it back now. He folds the paper and shoves it into his back pocket.

"Gale, wait can you give this to Mayor Undersee" Hazelle waves a small envelope in Gale's face. He takes it as well. Grabbing his coat he makes his way to the Undersees house.

Gale stands in front of the Mayor's house for fifteen minutes before knocking. There is music coming from the other side, he waits a few more seconds and the door swings open. He looks at the girl; it's the mayor's daughter, Madge. The last time he saw her was the day Katniss got reaped. She has definitely changed in a year. Her hair is longer, her waist is smaller, she grew but is still shorter than Katniss, this girl is definitely not curvy but in a good way, everything is proportioned, boy did she have good genes Gale thought. Madge isn't the same girl that bought strawberries from them last year, and Gale had to admit that this girl is stunning. He gapes for a few seconds then hands her the application, she raises her eyebrows in surprise. Either she didn't see him gaping or she did but decided against saying anything.

"I didn't know you were applying.," she says still looking the form.

"Neither did I, until this afternoon" Gale says gruffly. Her eyes look up to his face but she stays well away from his eyes, she tries to discretely examine the bruises but Gale just scoffs at her.

"Is your dad home?" he asks remembering the letter from his mother.

"Not yet he's still at work"

"Can you give this to him then" It wasn't a question. He hands her the letter and turns to leave.

"I heard about the mine" Madge blurts out. Gale stops one leg in the air. Madge internally slaps herself.

"I'm glad you got out" she smiles hesitantly at his back. Gale doesn't say anything but puts his leg to the ground. She goes back inside locking the door behind her. Madge stands on her tippy toes and sneaks a quick look at Gale through the peephole. He is still standing on the step not moving. Gale suddenly looks anywhere but behind him and leaves without a second glance back at the house.

Gale doesn't make his way home straight away. Instead he goes towards the Victor's Village where Katniss and Peeta live. Since they have been back from the games they have rarely left the house and Gale has only seen Prim when she is walking home with Rory. Again Gale stands outside the door contemplating for fifteen minutes, but this time he doesn't knock, the door opens and there stands Peeta.

"Are you just going to stand there or are you going to knock" Peeta laughs. Gale glares at him and makes his way inside shoving him in the shoulder.

"Hey Catnip" He greets.

"I thought you were where dad is" She whispers whilst she hugs him.

"What?" he asked confused. Katniss just makes her way upstairs.

"She's in a bit of a mood today"

"I can see that." Gale mutters under his breath, but Peeta still catches it.

"I heard about the mine, you okay?" Peeta tries not to stare at the bruises on his face, for him it looks like he was beat up, and then beat up again, it looks extremely painful.

"I'm fine, if you think being trampled on by a dozens of miner boots is fun." Gale says stupidly. Gale had grown close to Peeta since Katniss had returned from the games with the guy. Gale still didn't really like him but he could tolerate him with a few smart remarks here are there. They stop talking for a few minutes, Gale thinking about the mine collapse, it had been less than a day since it happened and his mind is already scarred with the sights he saw, everyone who wasn't part of it don't realise how horrible it is to be down there, the air is thin, the tunnels tight, rumbling and grumbling from God knows where and black, black absolutely everywhere. He could feel his chest tighten in pain just thinking about it.

Gale came to talk to Katniss, she makes a second appearance a few minutes later in her pyjamas, she kisses Peeta right on the lips, Peeta moans in shock, and Katniss looks straight at Gale silently giving him the message to leave. He is suddenly uncomfortable and feels like he has overstayed his welcome. Without saying anything he leaves.

When he arrives home Rory, Vick and Posy are all already in sets a bowl on the dinning table and instructs Gale to eat. This is the best meal he has had in a while and he very grateful for motions for Gale to sit on the couch.

"How are you doing Gale?" Hazelle takes Gale's hands in hers. He shrugs, looking down at his knees not knowing what to do or say. Hazelle pulls his chin so that he is now looking at her. "Gale, I'm your mother. You don't' have to be brave, or strong, or seem invincible in front of me, that's what I'm here for so you can talk to me. I know you are brave, I know you are strong I know you can be invincible but you don't have to be like that around me. You are allowed to cry and be sad, you are human even if a lot of people don't think so." Gale puts his head on his mother's shoulder and they lean back into the couch.

"I just thought I was safer than I thought. I thought they had done something to make it safer down there since dad died" Gale's voice cracked. No one, not even Hazelle has seen Gale this vulnerable, this was a new side to him. Hazelle wasn't too sure what to do. "Look Gale let's just forget about it for tonight. We need to clean up your bruises. Take your shirt off" While Gale does so Hazelle gets a rag cloth and a cold bucket of water. Gale sits on the floor in front of his mother.

"This is going to be cold" Hazelle carefully dabs the bluish red bruises. Gale winces and bows his head, breathing in and out evenly. This wasn't supposed to happen; the Capitol said they would put more effort into keeping the miners safe when down there. Gale can't believe that he thought the government would actually do anything, how stupid and blind could he be.

"God Gale what do they put in those boots. Rocks?" Hazelle finishes dabbing his back, chest and arms.

"Thanks Ma" He hugs her and bids her goodnight. When Gale is gone Hazelle sits back down on the couch holding the rag between her hands. Silent tears are running down her face and she can't stop it. Hazelle blows out the last candle and slides into bed next to Posy. She stares at the roof her heart shattering at the thought of being so close to losing another family member. Posy mumbles something while sleeping and Hazelle just pulls the small fragile girls to her own body.

AN: Hi, Thanks to everyone who read the first chapter I was so happy when I saw how many views I got, it wasn't much but I didn't expect there to be. I would love to know your opinions on this chapter, what I did wrong, what I did right, your favourite part. I love the Posy/Gale scene, Gale/Madge and Hazelle/Gale scene (but that's just me). I don't have a beta yet, (I really should get onto that), I have read this chapter multiple time after I changed parts of it, but I'm sure there are still errors. Again thank you for reading, I would absolutely be over the moon if you just left me a one worded review, and if you have any questions review or PM me.
Clearing up some things
- Katniss loves Peeta, she has no doubt but Gale still thinks he loves with her.
- This is set just after all the Capitol cameras have left but before the victory tour.