"It's lost all meaning!" The cameraman complained. "Hasn't it?"

"I say we should just give them the country and forget the story already… or I would if I hadn't spent all night editing it." The editor laughed.

The reporter shook his head. "I can't believe you two." He looked out in to the hallway. People were coming in to work. They had been there all night.

"Here, lets get a fresh opinion." He stood up. "Edna?" He said out the door. "Will you come here luv? We need an unbiased opinion or six. Can you get the girls from the office to come and watch this piece we've put together?"

The reporter smiled at the other two. Now we'll see.

Kurt woke up slowly with a smile. Although the sun was not yet up, the room was lighter and he could tell it was almost his shift to keep watch.

Tabitha had laughed when she realized that she had startled him by being so forward. And she made quite a show of keeping space between them while drifting off to sleep.

A pretense that was obviously now abandoned as she was snuggled up behind him and had one arm wrapped under his arm and across his chest.

Her breath was warm and soothing on the back of his neck. Oooo… If I could just stay here… He sighed and reached down, taking her hand in his, and kissing it.

"Good morning." He whispered to her.

She shook her head 'no' and hugged him closer.

He chuckled. "Tabitha… Ve have to go finish saving the world." He teased.

She made a pouty, sleep addled face. "Figures." Then she smiled slyly as though remembering where she was. "Can't leave the world alone for a minute, can we?"

He stood up slowly and stretched.

Alistaire peeked in to the room. "Oh, you're up. You've another twenty minutes yet."

"Ugh. Don't tell me next time." Tabby rolled out of bed.

"You going to nap some Alistaire?" Kurt asked.

"I should if I want to be up through the afternoon." He shrugged. "I have to say… I've been waiting for sun-up. Am I insane to think that daylight lessens the threat?"

Kurt shook his head. "No, you're not. The darkness adds to the element of surprise and provides plenty of concealment. Anyone attacking would have to consider those things. If anything, during daylight it would have to be some form of specialty attack."

Alistaire nodded. "So it's probably something abstract as opposed to something predictable."

"Ja." Kurt nodded.

"Well, that'll help me sleep." Alistaire said, turning and leaving the room.

Poor Guy. Kurt thought. Deserves a… well, a paycheck first, then a raise…

Kurt slipped out and in to the hall. Forge's room was empty, and the bathroom door sat open.

With curious eyes, Kurt leaned around the doorframe and looked in to Lucy's room.

Lucy was sleeping in the bed, under several blankets but scooted up close to one edge. Forge lay reclined in a chair that was scooted up along that same side of the bed.

Kurt had glanced casually at Lucy, then Forge, but by the time he had looked back to Lucy her awareness of him had awakened her and she met his eyes with a small, tight-lipped smile.

She looked at Forge and he snored slightly, causing her to shake her head and smile. Then, with a quick move, she sprang out of the bed and on to her feet. In two wide steps she had cleared the room and she did so without a sound.

Wow. Kurt thought. Talk about stealth. She didn't even stir a breeze…

She slipped out of her room and smiled at him. "I've been thinking about something Kitty said." She whispered. "I need a code name, right?"

Kurt nodded as he considered this. "Ja. You should have one. We all should. Alistaire included."

She looked as though she had really thought about it. "Because… I don't want anyone calling me X23 anymore. Okay?"

Kurt nodded. "Sure."

She looked side to side. "They … designed me… to kill." She said softly. "And… I can't change what I am… much." She met his eyes. "But I don't want to be a killer."

"I know." He said softly, casting his eyes in to her room.

"Logan once said that… Hunters kill, but hunters aren't killers." She swallowed. "Because Hunters feel bad after. They know that… it took … sacrifice … to keep them alive."

Kurt nodded. "You're not a killer." He said in understanding. "You're a hunter, aren't you?"

She nodded. "Is that okay, just 'Hunter' as a code-name?"

He smiled, a flurry of emotions crossing his face in a blur; relief, pride, admiration, hope and more.

"I think it's perfect." He said softly. "It suits you."

She nodded. "I'm glad."

"I can tell." He whispered. "You should get some more sleep." He told her. "Tomorrow might be a long day."

"Today you mean." She laughed once quickly as she turned back towards her room and slipped away.

"Ja… Today." He shrugged and wandered towards the kitchen.

"Kitty made coffee." Alistaire told him as he passed.

"I'll be careful." Kurt replied. "Sleep well."

Meanwhile, back in the editing room, six women sat with the last few seconds of the video flickering by.

And when it ended the reporter turned on the lights.

"Well, ladies? What did you think?"

They were all in tears.

One grabbed his hand and squeezed it – then said "God bless you."

Three couldn't speak at all.

One took the day off and spent it with her daughter in the park – celebrating life and family.

And the last one fell hard – in love with Kurt.

"You see?" The reporter looked back at the others. "I told you so!"

The cameraman watched them leave and turned to the editor. "Did you feel that?"

"What?" The editor asked.

"I just got a chill like we've done something … huge… or historic."

The editor looked over and watched one of the women blow her nose.

"Actually, I think maybe I did feel that. At least… I do now."

Authors note to Kemious: No worries.

Authors Note: Lucy's code-name is given in honor of one of my all time favorite writers, and one of my two real world heroes - Hunter S Thompson - who took his own life while I was writing this story. Without Thompson I never would have trusted my thoughts to the page. He expanded my definition of honesty and excess – and for that I will always be grateful. And I believe in my heart of hearts that if this is a just and proper universe – then there is something more for him. Some great and waiting challenge that can only be overcome by one who lived like he was unafraid to die and died like he was indignantly storming the walls of heaven accusing God of both segregation and heresy. God bless you Hunter. I loved you, I lost you, I missed you, I mourned you and now I celebrate all you've left us. Thank you for everything.