Author's Note: I think I said this before but no good deed goes unpunished…it just depends on who gets punished, and who has the guts to stand up and take it…with that…

Thanks go to my reviewers: JB, E-W-Dragon, Pandora and Otter

Chapter 31

Locked, Stocked and Ten Days

It takes two days so we don't have anything to do but wait. I cried a bit last night because let's face it a lot of emotion cannot be contained even after several cups of tea. No matter how hot or strong.

I wake and change and head for the meadow, with the intent of having a jog before anything else. I bring my art supplies thinking of stopping at the Hawthornes after.

I think Gale has surveillance in my place because he's waiting for me at the meadow. In running gear.

He holds open his arms and I run into them. He kisses me deeply. I let the satchel drop, unknowingly.

Gale releases me and picks up my satchel.

"What's this?" he shows me my satchel and I blush, "Ariana?"

"Well" I take it back, "remember how every victor had a talent?"

He smirks, "you drew if I remember, you wanted to draw instead of a run? We can if-"

"No" I touch his chest, "can we…I mean I don't want to change routine it'll keep my mind off what's gonna happen"

He hugs me, "sure, last one to the apple tree has to enter the bakery first"

"Get out of here you filthy seam rat!" Mrs. Mellark screeches, Gale lost, I think he meant to loose, Mrs. Mellark has an even worse name for me since I lied to her about my identity, and have rallied her sons and husband, and pretty much changed how half the recipes are done purely out of curiosity with Buck.

"Leave him alone!" I snap, "He's a good person! Unlike someone I know!"

"How dare you!" she glares dagger at me as I step beside Gale, we take hands.

Buck comes to the front, he doesn't look happy, but he didn't look happy coming out. "Come to the back, dad wanted to talk to you guys when you came in"

Gale and I exchanged worried looks.

Harry is sitting at the back table, it's used for decorating.

Ryen isn't there.

"Mr. Mellark?" Gale speaks first; Harry is looking at a sheet of paper.

"Mr. Mellark?" I echo but no reaction, he looks so lost, I don't know why but I actually decided to say "dad?"

Gale quirks an eyebrow, but Harry acknowledges me saying that, his eyes are bloodshot.

"Ryen took my punishment for forewarning you about what the peacekeepers were going to do" Buck says, "they carted him off, didn't say what, that paper is a warrant for my arrest"

I go over and hug Harry, he holds fast to me.

"We'll fix this" I tell him and I feel him nod, "it's gonna be okay"

Why do I say that? I don't know but we end up not going to Hazelle's, or Haymitche's after. It takes Gale and I arguing with the peacekeeper guarding the justice building to gain access. It takes another two hours to argue with the receptionist to actually look at the books, books I had access to several weeks back.

Relief washes over me, it's not a hanging offence, it's either gonna be stocks or lashes. Gale doesn't seem happy though and I can understand, I really don't want Ryen harmed in any way, but at least he won't die. Taking Bucks' place negates a hanging offence, since it's his first offence aswell stocks are the more likely punishment. It's just time. A couple days in the summer and Ryen will probably start feeling the effects of dehydration and starvation.

I'm reading up on what is and is not allowed and it's a short list. We are allowed to give him food and more importantly water. But when I say this to Gale he snorts derisively.

"Do you think Thread will allow it? I've seen people out there for weeks, no one comes to help them, and some pass out. Some die from the elements" he looks at me worried when I don't react, "Ariana you can't go against this!"

"If Thread says anything I will throw the book at him" I retort, then when Gale really looks worried I add "metaphorically so, he can't tell us not to unless he wants to go against the rules, and I know he overstepped with your lashes, but he can't stop us caring for Ryen, and if we do, who's to say people see that they can't be punished for helping?"

I had a point. Ryen is taken to town square. We couldn't visit him, we had tried but they wouldn't allow access to the cells in the basement. He looks worn and he's bruised, one eye is swollen shut. To think all he did was take the punishment for Buck. Is this how they treat being noble and chivalrous? I shake my head, heart aching for my almost brother. I want to run to him and help him away because he doesn't look strong right now. As tall as he is he looks…broken.

Ten days in the stocks. That's what he gets, it could have been much worse.

Gale walks me to the bakery. Harry and Buck hadn't shown, but Mrs. Mellark was there, I don't understand her honestly. When she smirked I wanted to hit her. It took Gale's steadying hand on my slim shoulder to stop me from charging her in the square.

"Ten days" I tell them as I come in, "do you guys have a canteen?"

Harry blinks as does Buck.

"No, why?" Buck finally says

"It's high noon, Ryen will get dehydrated, I'm bringing him something to drink" I reply nonchalantly.

"And get whipped for it! Ariana you can't be serious?!" Buck says

"Show some backbone Buck!" I snap, "your brother is taking the fall for you, Gale is staying with him right now to keep him company"

Before Buck can retort I have a bottle of water thrust into my hand and straw, Harry is standing beside me.

"I'll come with you" he says, "if they decide to whip you I'll take it"

"You aren't allowed to offer drink or food" the guard says, he has a gun and Gale and Harry look at me when I am standing steadfast.

"I'm sorry what law says so? You are a peacekeeper, bound by the laws of the district, I read them, we are allowed" I reply calmly, "are you going to go against district law?" I raise an eyebrow as the peacekeeper, probably the same age as Ryen, steps to the side.

Ryen looks up as I touch his face, it's sticky with blood from a gash on his scalp.

"Hey Ria" he croaks, he attempts a small smile but he hurts I can tell, I offer the straw and he drinks slowly.

"You had to be a brave one?" I chide him, "Peeta would be proud of you, but you shouldn't jump in without knowing what's at the bottom, you got lucky"

Harry comes over with Gale. "how are you holding up?" he rumbles

I'm sure if he could Ryen would shrug, "'m okay, they really beat me in the cell, said the sentence was too light so they worked me over"

"I'll have Sophie look you over" Harry says, "will keep her occupied"

"If you can get her outta the house" Gale mutters arms crossed, "I haven't seen her or Prim since the reaping yesterday"

Ryen tilts his head a bit to look at me, "go see to them Ria, take Gale with you, pop can keep me company" I look at him worried, "I'll be okay, alright, you can come give me supper tonight"

Gale has to guide me away because I don't want to take my eyes off him, I'm worried if I do he will be hurt or something.

"Harry is with him Ari" Gale reassures, "we have to see how Prim is doing, and her mom"

"One extreme to another" I mutter, it is not missed on my friend.

"Well Mrs. Everdeen is very attached to her girls, when she isn't closed up she's a very strong woman" he tells me

"Your mom is strong Gale, well except when she saw you were in pain" I say softly

"Yeah well" he smirks and rubs the back of his neck, "I was a pretty sick kid when I was born according to Ma, grew outta it all, but Ma is always worried about me, even in the mines."

"I had scarlet fever when I was just starting school, from what I remember. But I think in the districts illness is common, surviving is something else altogether" I reply as he takes my hand, I grip back, we can communicate without words sometimes. A glance, a touch.

"I miss them sometimes" I say meaning my parents, "then Harry said he always wanted a daughter…and he was so distraught this morning"

"I know, and you did fine Ariana, calling him 'dad' I think it meant a lot to him"

I lean my head on his upper arm and he wraps his arms across my back as we walk, giving me a gentle squeeze.

There are no lights on at the Everdeen home. In fact with Peeta, Haymitch and Katnis gone the victors village feels like a ghost town.

We shrug and head for Katniss home only to find no one there.

"Where are they?" Gale asks, "I checked on them after leaving you last night at Haymitch's and there were here" he runs upstairs while I head for the kitchen.

I get there and there is an official note.

'Mrs. Sophia Everdeen and Primrose Everdeen are hereby evicted from victor's village due to their daughter's reaping. They have been relocated to their previous residence.

Mayoral office'

"Gale!" I call to him looking thoroughly confused, I really don't understand the way people think.

Gale is down like a shot, "we have to go to the seam?" he looks confused at the note, "but this is their home! Prim's clothing is here! And all of Mrs. Everdeen's medical supplies and the black bag you gave her!"

"We should bring their stuff to them, at the very least" I look at him and he nods.