7.

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"WELL, AS YOU WISH..."

--¤☆¤--

After another round of test's and blood work, I was allowed to leave the infirmary; under the condition that I meet with President Coin and a few other member's, that I wasn't given the name of. As much as I wanted to protest, I knew that leaving the infirmary was a start; if I couldn't leave permanently, then leaving for a few hours would do for now. Shakily walking to the Conference Room, Finnick clamps onto my hand a little tighter as the door's open up.

"We got this." I mutter, taking a deep breath.

"Remember that you can leave at any moment you feel overwhelmed." Finnick reminds me, as I nod my head in understanding.

"I got this." I whisper, letting out a small shaky breath.

Approaching the table, I held my head high as a woman stands up from her seat; giving me a better look at her. She was dressed in the same grey jumpsuit's that everyone in the District was sporting, but she some adjustments made to it. It was more sleek and professional looking, like it was a pantsuit for someone high up in politics. Her hair was left down in a sleek bob, showing off the mixes of grey and blonde hair of her's. Her lips were pulled into a straight line, no signs or hints of a smile; which struck me as odd. She was the one who requested my appearance, so why was she acting so cold? 

Looking at her body posture, she held herself high and confidently and yet both relaxed and cool at the same time; letting me recognize the signs of masking. She was masking her true emotions, making me feel unease around her already. Her eyes were squinted and seemed to be both cold and calculating as she looks at me then, me and Finnick's hands. Her hands were tucked at her side, before she extends a hand out; making me tense. She reminded me of Snow.

"Good Morning, Miss.Grey. I am Alma Coin." She said, holding her hand out for me to shake; but I refuse to shake.

"It's nice to meet you." I said, plastering on the best fake smile as I nod my head in acknowledgement.

"Do take a seat." She said, pointing to two other free seat's directly in front of us.

Sitting down, I took in the entirety of the room; from the screens that we on the walls to the people sitting in the chairs. Drifting my eyes from person to person, I recognized Beetee and Haymitch right away. Seated directly across from me was Plutarch, Haymitch and Beetee were on both sides of him; while Alma was sitting at the end of the table. Smiling at Haymitch, he looks up from his hands making eye contact with me; his entire demeanor changing. From bored, to happy and excited. 

"Hey kiddo. Anyone ever tell you that you look pretty good for a dead person?" Haymitch said, winking at me.

"Glad to see you still have your sense of humor." I said, smiling softly at him.

"Back to meeting. As you may know, Panem is at war. We have gained control of a few of the District's. Five, Seven, Eight, Ten and Eleven. Some of the other's are still pushing the Capitol back." She said, showing clips of fighting from the District's.

Staring at the screen, I watched as people burnt down Peacekeeper outpost's; cheering as they collapsed. Some people were standing on top of car's, holding up signs and home-made flags with Mockingjay's painted on them. This was chaos, but it was showing that they were willing and going to push back; making a small dwindle of pride, spark up inside me.

"With all do respect, what does this have to do with me? The only connection's that I have with any of the District's. Is my own." I said, as Plutarch perks up in his seat.

"You showed bravery when other's wouldn't have. For that, I respect you." Plutarch said, making me scoff.

"Respect means nothing to me, Plutarch. I want a direct answer as to why you have called me into this meeting. If it was to preach about how you respect me after all the crap I had to go endure while in the Capitol, I'd rather go back to the Infirmary." I said, earning a small chuckle from Haymitch.

"Respect has everything to do with it. The District's need someone to cling onto. You were⎯are respected. They see you as a reason to fight back, just like Katniss." Haymitch said, cutting off Plutarch before he could say anything.

"So? I fought back against the Capitol. Okay and? Every Victor one way or another has done that. Mags has⎯Peeta has⎯Katniss has. I did nothing special." I explain, staring down Plutarch from across the table.

"You gave them hope." Plutarch said, making me look away from him.

"Hope?" I said, rolling my eyes.

"When Peeta's interview was released, many of the people of thirteen here were upset. They booed at him, but when we finally released your interview. They stared, they didn't have the same negative reaction that they did with him. They looked as if they were in awe or a trance." Beetee said, making me furrow my brows. 

"What are you trying to say, Beetee?" I ask, looking at him.

"You have more influence on the people of Panem, than you think you do. This influence can help us in defeating, Snow. The Capitol will crumble if you and Katniss work together. If every living Victor were to show the District's, that no matter where they are from. That if we all fight together as one, we can and will overthrow Snow." Beetee explains, making me shift uncomfortably in my seat at the mention of Snow.

"What will happen to Snow, if we win?" I ask, curious to know what will happen to the man; who made my life and so many other's a living hell.

"We will have a steady trial and see what is best⎯" Plutarch said, but Haymitch cuts him off once again.

"Don't worry, he'll pay for everything. I'll make sure of it." Haymitch pipes in, sending me a small reassuring smile.

Thinking, I thought about all of the people I had lost because of Snow; my friends, family. I then thought of all of the help that had died in the Games, all of those children who were killed because of the Capitol's lust for blood. For Snow's lust for blood. So many innocent people had died, because of Snow; and I knew that many more would continue to, if I didn't do anything. 

Yet, I didn't want to get involved as selfish as it sounded. I wanted to enjoy my time with Finnick, I wanted to spend time with my Family. If I got involved, then who knows what they will as of me to sacrifice. The last of my sanity? My own life? My time that I should be spending with Finnick? They needed me, but it was going to come at a price. 

"I⎯I agree in helping, but I have some condition's." I said, looking at President Coin.

"Understandable. If you can list them out, me and Plutarch will see if we can meet some of  them. You are all dismissed for the rest of the day." Coin chimes in, as I nod my head.

Walking out of the meeting, I stand up from my seat only to be embraced into a tight hug from Haymitch. Wrapping my arms around the man, he pats my back as I relax into his hold; it had been far to long. Pulling away, he gives me a small smile before walking over to Finnick; opening his arms. Grabbing his shoulder's, he pulls Finnick into a headlock; making me chuckle at the motion.

"So did you have the balls to tell her?" He ask's, ruffling Finnick's hair in all direction's.

Feeling Beetee's stare on me, I turned to him; finding that he was now in a wheelchair. I guess that I had missed a lot of things, since my 'death'. Lowering my eyes to meet his own, he gives me a soft smile; to which I return one back. It was good to see him, even though we were as close as I was with Haymitch. 

"Yes, Beetee?" I ask, as he pushes up his glasses.

"Thank you..for giving them hope." Beetee said, making me dig my nails into the palm of my hand.

"I didn't give anyone hope, that was all Katniss." I said, as he nods.



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