Here is chapter 6! Hope you enjoy!

The next day I am left alone. By everyone except Finnick. Even Gale keeps his distance. I find it relaxing and a nice change of pace to the war efforts. But at the same time, I can't help but wonder what Coin and the other's are planning today, perhaps they will go and get him, perhaps they will go and get Peeta and Chase. But I honestly doubt it. I don't think Coin has anything but unifying the Districts and winning this war on her mind. I think Gale is right when it comes to the fact that Coin has more to worry about than my needs or wants.

Finnick and I spend a lot of time in the cafeteria, he shares with me the secret to his own saneness. He says he ties knots. After a few moments, he gets me a rope and begins to show me some more advanced knots. We sit there for a while. The simple task of tying the knots is somehow soothing.

I would have liked longer to mope around and ponder about Peeta's most recent interview but I was pleased with the day. A day I didn't think I would get ever. So when I wake up after my day of nothing I am not surprised, but rather annoyed that I am ordered to command just shortly after breakfast.

When I walk into the cafeteria my gaze travels around the room as I step into command. I seem to be one of the last to arrive, which I am alright with. Coin and Plutarch are in the middle of reviewing some notes, probably the topics of discussion for the meeting. Beetee is talking to Boggs and some of the other command team that I have not gotten to know their name. I glance at the three people I consider to be friends. Gale is silent as he attempts to pay attention to the Presidents discussion with Plutarch. Finnick greets me with a smile, it's more of a grimace but smiling isn't something people who have survived two Hunger Games do. Haymitch is the one that gives me the most of a greeting.

"Hello sweetheart," Haymitch greets.

His snarky statement kind of makes me feel better and I give him a small smile in my own greeting.

The meeting starts with Plutarch writing a list of propo ideas. Ideas they could use in the next propo. It ticks me off that they don't start by telling me exactly what we are doing to get Chase and Peeta back.

The list, however, does contain some good ideas;

District Twelve Reveal

Hospital Patrons

Mockingjay

Family Matters

We Remember

The three that concern me the most are the first and the last two. We will be heading to Twelve tomorrow. Seeing my destroyed District again knots my stomach in anticipation. It's the last thing I want to do, but Gale makes a point if people don't know why we are fighting, why the games can't carry on, why the Capitol must be destroyed. Then at the very least it is my duty to make sure they know. The last one concerns me because I know if anything this will make the Districts want to fight.

The plan is to make a mini-series of propo, each one is going to feature a dead tribute, like Rue or Mags. It will allow the propos to target each District personally, seeing their own tributes, maybe their most favorite tributes, the kids that had been forced to die at the hands of the Capitol. If that won't make the Districts rebel, nothing will.

The other two are not as important, at least not to me. But I do make a mental note to not watch the Hospital Patrons one, the one that will feature the scenes from the Hospital in Eight. Seeing little Adam on the screen will not sit well with me. The last one is going to feature my 'best moments' pulling out the berries, my speech in Eleven, outsmarting the Capitol in the games. I don't think I would call those my best moments. Family Matters will be the most impactful to me I think. It will feature mine and Peeta's story, ending with Chase. Mine and Peeta's engagement, our many love moments in the first arena as well as the ones in the Quell, Chase's birth.

When the list is finalized I am about to speak up about my number one priority but Haymitch beats me to it. I look at him with a look of appreciation.

"What are we doing to get Peeta and Chase back?" Haymitch asks.

"Soldier Abernathy, as we have said to Miss Everdeen, we are doing everything we can…" Coin says.

"See the thing is, I don't care," Haymitch says looking at her "I am only here to make sure I fulfill my promise to Katniss. I will stay until we get Peeta and Chase out. It is not fair, to either of them, Katniss is our weapon, Peeta and Chase are the Capitols weapon. Having them aimed at each other is not going to work forever. Katniss has done everything we have asked of her, she deserves to have her family with her. She deserves to have her son. So while she is out there rallying the rebels, the least you can do is be working out a real strategy about how to get them back."

I glance at Haymitch with a new feeling of friendship towards my mentor. He and Finnick truly understand how I feel. Haymitch likes Peeta, Finnick loves Annie. Haymitch wants to help the resistance but also wants to get Peeta and Chase back safely. Finnick shares that hope. Both have seen the inside of the arena. Finnick has seen one twice. Both have been hurt directly by the Capitol. They are Victors, and only Victors would understand what I am feeling.

Coin and Plutarch actually seem to be listening for once. Haymitch's calm request seems to have a better effect than my demanding. The meeting is then concluded without another word about anything, but I feel better maybe for once, my priorities will matter to the people of Thirteen.

After the meeting I have training, but since I don't want to be alone with Gale at the moment I get permission to take Finnick to the woods instead. I spend the first half actually teaching him how to hunt with a bow. Then we just sit down and discuss Peeta's broadcast and the future propos.

"Every victory brings us closer to them," Finnick says as we prepare to head back.

That is true, and that thought I promise to hold with me whenever I do another propo. We head back and eat a bowl of minced Vince stew. I must admit the familiar taste of deer makes me smile. I glance around the cafeteria when we are finished and are just sitting in silence.

Gale is sitting at a table with his family, our gaze catches for a moment. I narrow my eyes before tearing it away. I don't see how my relationship with Gale can survive this, can survive Peeta and I. So best start saying goodbye now.

I bid Finnick goodnight before I head out of the cafeteria, I know Gale is following me, he grabs my arm and spins me around. I grab his wrist and notice that he has been given a communicuff. I don't know why but this alone rubs me the wrong way. Those are only given to high ranked, important officials.

"When did they give you that?" I ask glancing at him.

"Yesterday," he says his arm holding me securly were we stood "they figured if I am going to be in the field with you they can use it as backup communication."

"Yesterday?" I ask, for some reason I assumed everyone in command got yesterday off.

Gale nods "Katniss I'm not going to apologize, I don't think I need to… but everyone is terrified that this is going to make you sick…"

"It did make me sick," I say.

Gale raises a brow.

"But you know what makes me sicker? You fighting on the side of Coin, no matter what I am doing," I say.

Gale takes a deep breath.

"From where I stand Coin and Thirteen are doing exactly what the Capitol has done for years," I say "they are using the Districts for their own gain without a look towards the consequences. Those people in Eight died to make that propo, and no one cares! Everyone is just excited that it turned out well."

Gale glances at the ground, suddenly avoiding my gaze.

"I want us to win this war," I say "I need us to end this war. Snow will make sure Chase gets sent to the games if we don't. But I want us to win this war the way the Capitol wouldn't. When we come out I don't want to have to be serving another Capitol."

Gale sighs softly "must you always bring Chase up?"

"What do you want from me?" I ask "to walk away from my son and fiance? To be with you?"

Gale looks back into my eyes cupping my chin in a swift motion before he presses his lips to mine. For a moment I am still, my eyes flutter closed at the action. Then I realize what is happening, my eyes fly open and I make to pull away, Gale has a strong hand on the back of my head.

"Gmmmm!" I squeal trying to pull away or bit his lip.

"Get off her!" I hear a familiar voice say.

Gale pulls away after a short moment. I blink when I see Haymitch pinning Gale up against the wall, hand fulls of Gale's jumpsuit is clutched in his fists. Finnick is standing beside me watching Gale and Haymitch with narrowed eyes.

"Stay away from her," Haymitch snarls as he pulls Gale a few inches away from the wall before slamming him back against it "I would hit you now if I felt like I was the one that deserved to do it, but I feel like I will wait until Peeta is rescued, then he can do it."

The thought of Peeta beating up Gale almost makes me laugh. Peeta isn't that kind of person, he would be upset with Gale, probably yell, maybe even curse. But not hit or punch. He would get Finnick or Haymitch to do it for him. Even if he did, the fight would hardly be fair. Gale had been in fights in school before, Peeta never was. But I wish Peeta was. I wish he was here pinning Gale up against the wall instead of Finnick. I want him to yell and scream at Gale. I can't believe Gale! I ask him if he wants me to walk away from Chase and Peeta and he responses with a kiss. Is that a yes? Does he actually want that? What kind of mother would I be if I did that? Besides I love Peeta, we are better together than Gale and I would ever be.

"Let's go Katniss," Haymitch says as he lets Gale go roughly.

Finnick and Haymitch escort me to my quarters and only then do they leave. I don't say much the entire time except for thank you. I then head into my quarters, change into PJs and head to bed.

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