Author's Note: Poor poor capital swine Plutarch and oblivious Coin…do they not know her yet? (*evil maniacal laugh*) Enough with this…we're in D 13 again people you know what that means! The old gang is back! Yay!

Thanks to my reviewers: JB (who's mind must be lather-rince-repeated a few times), EWD (who is excited about the faintest hint that our heroine is planning and plotting even if she didn't say anything ;) ), HL (the 200th reviewer! Well done!), and Arrow (who realized no one really knows Ari all that well)

Also I would like to thank ejames237 who started (or finished) the 69th and reviewed…that was a happy moment to know people are still finding and reading part 1!

Chapter 45

Welcome Home!

Ari POV

My guy, the rebel leader. Knowing Gale is with me makes my shoulders feel a little lighter. I feel it easier to breathe knowing I have an ally.

Mind you I had allies before, but Gale is…well Gale is special to me. Before we kissed it looked like he had wanted to say something, but instead he just kissed me.

We land and Boggs comes over and pats my shoulder.

"See you at the debrief?" he asks

I raise my communicator, "if it says so I will" I respond and he nods.

The refugees of Twelve are disembarked and Katniss, Beetee and Tracer are rushed to the hospital ward. I stick with Gale and his family and the Everdeens. I have to make sure at least they are safe.

Our group is last off. When I raise my eyes to look out I feel my spirit lift a little bit more.

Maverick and Ziggy are waiting there. I let go of Gale and rush to my friends. Tears spring to my eyes I almost topple Maverick in his wheelchair as we collide but he manages to keep upright and holds me fast.

"Thank god you're okay" he says to me, and holds me tight, "we were so worried, and then we heard district Twelve was attacked, and we tried to contact you but your communicator was off!"

"I had to hack the alarm on it to get to you" Ziggy says, "from now on leave it on, even if we say radio silence" she doesn't get anything else out because I have tackled her in a hug. Of course Ziggy is taken aback because I've never hugged her before, she does hug back eventually and when I release her she adjusts her glasses on her head, "we missed you. Him most" she elbows Maverick who smirks bashfully. Then his line of sight adjusts to over my shoulder…crap I left Gale behind!

I turn around and Gale looks stunned a bit.

"So that's 'sketch guy'" Ziggy says in her blunt way, I groan inwardly at that remark, Gale doesn't know about the journal. Ziggy goes over, "yes the resemblance is remarkable, though you're older now"

"Erm" Gale looks a bit uncomfortable, "thanks I guess?"

"Ziggy not now" I remark, "later, over supper maybe"

"Oh of course they have to be checked out, make sure they aren't injured" she shakes the hands of Hazelle and Mrs. Everdeen. "pleasure to meet you all"

"Ma? Why she have those glasses?" Posy asks and Ziggy answers

"They help me look at things that are hard to see with the naked eye" she says, "who might you be?"

Gale clears his throat. Right I should get them checked out and settled.

"Guys can we get together later?" I ask

"Sure" Mav says though he doesn't look happy about it, "if not at supper maybe at the debrief"

"You have a lot to catch up on" Ziggy adds

"So I've been told" I reply, Mav pulls me down to kiss my cheek and steers himself out of the hanger with Ziggy close in his wake.

"Who were they?" Hazelle looks bewildered, "the young disabled man, and that woman"

"Maverick Letorch and Ziggy Watts" I reply

"Wait Maverick Letorch as in the guy from your games you-" Gale looks at me and stops dead, "he died!"

"Everyone thinks he's dead" I reply, "kinda like me Gale" I lead them to the hospital wing and I can see Mrs. Everdeen physically relax then tense in a different way, like she is on the job.

"There's my prized pupil!" Makenzie comes over with a smile, "how did Church treat you?"

I shrug, "she's a workhorse" I smirk, "sorry I left you hanging but I have someone who is right up at your level" I usher Mrs. Everdeen towards us, "Mrs. Everdeen meet Dr. Gene Makenzie"

"You taught her well" Mrs. Everdeen says, "I am willing to help out if you need me, and my daughter is rather good at natural remedies"

Makenzie smile brightens, ah I missed that smile, comforting and strong, "well we have to get you all checked out first, and from how Ariana is talking I think she ate some smoke" she looks at me concerned, "did you do a silly heroic thing?"

"She probably did" Gale says, "I think we should get you checked first" he looks at me, "don't want you being sick and not know it"

"Little kids first" I reply, "then you and I and your mom and Katniss' mom"

Getting checked out means a cold stethoscope on my chest and breathing in and out, my voice is a touch raspy but you wouldn't know unless you were looking for it.

Mrs. Everdeen is then passed a white doctor's coat. Now that they are all alright, and Makenzie says she will look after the families I have to check on Tracer. I make to go without telling Gale but he gently grabs my shoulder.

"Where you goin'?" he looks worried, "Ariana you've been thru a lot, what are you doin' now?"

"I have to see Tracer" I say to him, he sees my concern I guess he feel the same but for Katniss.

"Ok but I'm coming with you okay? I worry about you more here than in Twelve" he replies, the unspoken is plain, he wants to protect me, but how can one protect in a lion's den than to make yourself the target? I nod all the same and after finding out where Tracer is we head for my old hospital room.