Destiny's Calling.

Hello all and many thanks once again to my faithful reviewers who motivated me to keep writing because I had slightly forgotten about it :S

I am so very sorry that it has taken me this long to update. One of my best friends recently died, so I put the story on the backseat for a while. Thank you if you are still reading it

Disclaimer- Susan Collins owns all.

Chapter 4

Just as Gale's fist sailed into Peeta's face.

Peeta lurched backwards, holding his nose, but I could still see the rivers of blood making their way between his fingers. He looked shocked, and really, really, angry.

Gale was still standing there with his fists clenched at his sides, looking deadly furious.

"GALE! WHAT THE HE-"

I was cut off by Peeta removing his hands from his nose, standing straight, stalking over and then throwing his own punch straight at Gale's face.

Ooooh my gosh. This was about to turn into a full on brawl, if it wasn't already, and I knew that a brawl was a really, really, bad idea.

Because I knew Gale would win.

Peeta was muscled, that was true, and he could throw his weight around if he really tried. But Gale was totally out of his league. Gale was tall and well built, though not stockily so, with muscles lining his entire body. Gale was lean, but he was incredibly strong, and he had the added bonus of having experience with grappling with wild beasts in the woods, and not to mention more than a few fights with some of the local boys. Peeta didn't have any of that. Yes, he had been in the Hunger Games, but he didn't REALLY do any hand-to-hand fighting.

Gale could sweep the floor with him if he wanted too.

Luckily, Gale had seen the fist flying towards his face, and quick as a flash he held Peeta's fist in the air.

I could see that Gale was infuriated by Peeta's actions and I knew I had to step in NOW.

I ran as quickly as I could covering the last few feet between us and placed my hands on both their sweat-slick chests.

"STOP! JUST STOP! I DON'T WANT YOU TO FIGHT!"

Once again an awkward silence fell around us.

Just then Prim opened the door and walked out on to the veranda looking for us. She gave us a quizzical look when she saw how we were positioned, but didn't comment on it. Smart girl.

"Um...I just came out with some news about Posy..."

Oh god. I knew Prim well enough to know that by the look on her face, this wasn't good.

And by the look on Gale's, he did too.

The fight instantly forgotten, Gale practically ran up to the veranda and gripped Prim by the shoulders.

"Prim, what's wrong! Is she okay?"

"Gale, I think you should come inside and sit down" Prim said nervously. She hated being the bringer of bad news.

Those words obviously didn't make Gale feel one little bit better, but at least he released his death grip on Prim's frail little shoulder as he made his way inside.

Of course, I followed obediently behind.

Quite surprisingly, Peeta then followed ME inside. I decided not to think about that.

We made our way inside and Gale sat down on our couch, me by his side, and Peeta standing by the doorway. Looking totally beaten up, which I suppose he was.

Prim sat down opposite us slowly and said, quietly and gently.

"I'm so, so sorry, Gale, but she probably isn't going to make it. Mother is trying her best right now to save her. I have to go and help her now, but I'm so very sorry" and with that the stood and made her way quickly and quietly out of the room.

Everything was deathly silent. I couldn't believe Posy was dying. Gale must feel...absolutely terrible. The only thing he ever wanted was to protect his family, and I bet all my money that right now he was blaming himself. I wish that Prim had told us exactly what was wrong with her, but I had a feeling that would just have made matters worse.

Gale's body shuddered as he tried to keep his emotions at bay. I could see how much he was fighting to maintain his cold mask, even though it was probably unhealthy to do so. I wrapped my arms around him and cradled his head against my chest.

"It's okay Gale, it will all be okay, Posy is a fighter, you know she is, she'll make it through" I soothed as I rubbed his back slowly.

Apparently that was the last straw for Gale, because suddenly his shoulders started quaking as sob after sob wracked his body. It hurt so much to see gale in this much pain. I can only imagine what he's going through. Just the thought of Prim getting that sick would have brought tears to my eyes, were they not already watery thanks to the news about Posy.

I continued to try to console Gale as best I could, rubbing his back and whispering positive words to him. Then I remembered Peeta had been present for this, and I looked up quickly to find that he was, in fact, still standing there passively, though staring at Gale with a shocked look on his face. I guess he thought, just like everyone else, that Gale was impenetrable. Unhurtable. Cold as stone. There were probably only about three people who had ever seen Gale cry, me being one of them.

Well, four now I guess.

Having Peeta here was a really bad thing, because not only was it now apparent that him and Gale HATED each other, I knew Gale would often try to rid himself of his sadness by turning it into anger and lashing out at people.

So, Peeta probably shouldn't be here.

"Peeta, I think you should leave" I tried to say it as quietly and politely as I could, without disturbing Gale. Peeta knew he was intruding but he still looked a bit offended that I had asked him to leave so I could console Gale, but now was not the time to be hung up about his feelings.

After he had left, I softly pushed Gale until he was sitting, then stood up and pulled him up with me.

He looked dead, and his eyes were puffy and red from his crying. I could see that he hated looking and feeling this vulnerable.

"Come on Gale, let's get you upstairs"

And with that I started to slowly lead him up to my bedroom, never letting go of his hand.

Once again thank you to all my reviewers and sorry for taking so long to update.

.B