Author's Note: In my mind some deaths were pointless. You can have the same effect by severe injury than you can with killing outright. And there are some deaths that have to happen. Once the flames die down and we get into the denoument I'll be happy to explain my reasonings for why certain people live and some don't m'kay?
Thanks to RR for the review
Chapter 82
The Other Side
On night two of our journey we have to keep the identifications tags of two peacekeepers that accidentally set off a POD. They were dissolved by a plume of acid, when the stuff drained away only their metal dog tags remained along with a red gooey mess. I almost threw up there and then. But Boreal and Ken covered me and we ran for cover. Their jackets got hit and now we have to find them replacements because it's getting cold and I can't allow them to get sick trying to protect me.
The image of the two men screaming in pain and horror is keeping me awake. So much so I wish Gale was here to comfort me.
It's then that I feel my communicator vibrate, I had changed the setting so if an alarm goes off I can check it and decide if it's important to let my men know.
'Hey beautiful' it reads. Gale?
'Gale?' I can't help but ask
'Who else calls you beautiful?!' is the reply, it is Gale and he's teasing me!
It takes me a minute but I finally relax a bit, 'good to hear from you, we lost two peacekeepers today.'
'How?'
'Dissolved by acid' my hands shake a bit
'You okay?'
'Physically unharmed, but emotionally could be better. Miss you, miss all of you'
'We miss you too. But we're worried about Peeta, he kinda flipped when Boggs set off a POD'
'Is Boggs' I can't finish it, if he's dead how can I ask it so callously?
'He's okay but we ordered a medivac for him, he lost a leg, we used a tourniquet on him. But we lost a D13 guy names Mitchell, he tried to calm Peeta down and Peeta accidentally tossed him into another POD, razor wire net, guy died instantly but now Peeta is saying he should be handcuffed. How did he get handcuffs?!'
'I gave them to him, he has the key. If it makes him feel safer then let him, but please Gale don't hold this against him, he's as scared as we all are. More so because he's still unsure about Katniss and him'
There is a pause, 'Katniss feels the same way about him, wish I could help'
'You are helping' I reply, 'just talk to them if they need it'
"Hey who you typing to so late?" Ken finally asks when my fingers are blurring, "another team?"
"Star squad, they lost Mitchell and Boggs is out, too badly injured to continue" I tell Ken
"Who's in command?" he asks and actually it didn't occur to me to ask Gale. I was just glad to hear from him, it didn't occur to me…until now.
'Gale, who's in command now that Boggs is out?'
He doesn't reply
'Gale?'
'I am' he finally says, 'with Katniss in charge of the emitter since tech and I don't get along'
I close my eyes, that's why he can communicate he got the communicator, 'dunno if I should be happy you got promoted or not'
'Dunno myself' there is a long pause, I am sure he's doing the same as me, looking out the window hoping the other is okay right now.
'Love you' he adds
'Love you' I reply
'Get some sleep' he returns, 'I'm giving over my shift now to Cresida and Finnick. I kiss you and wish you pleasant dream until we see each other in the city center'
'Sleep well Gale' I reply and touch Ken's shoulder, "we should retire and give it to Kestrel and Boreal now."