The limo pulled up shortly after, and I pulled away from Hunter, sliding into the back seat. I blinked back tears, swallowing the lump in my throat. Hunter pulled me against his side like he normally did after I had my spells.

"Shh. it'll be fine," he murmured. I sniffled, looking up at him before burying my face in his chest again.

"No, no it won't. I've never snapped that quickly, Hunter. Ever. You know that," I sobbed. He rubbed my back.

"Calm down before we get to the headquarters. Or yuo can reach your room as quickly as possible and get you something to calm down. You choose," he muttered. I pulled back, looking up at him. He wiped some more tears away as we pulled into the garage of the headquarters. I got out of the limo and headed up to my apartment. I slid out of my dress, making a mental note to ask Ultimate if I could get another one. I actually liked the dress. I hopped in the shower, scrubbing the blood off my arms and leg. I stepped out, pulling on a pink Wrangler shirt, underwear, and camouflage pajama pants. Sitting on the bed with my brush, I brushed the knots out of my hair. The door opened and Hunter walked in, two bowls of Baskin Robbins in his hands. He passed me one, with Jamaican Almond Fudge, York Mint, and Peanut Butter Fudge ice cream. I smiled up at him.

"You know me too well," I said. He smiled.

"It comes with knowing you for so long," he said, sitting down next to me. I sighed, nodding.

"You've got a point, Hunt," I said. He looked over at me.

"I know," he said, taking a bite of his ice cream. We ate our ice cream in silence, occasionally taking bites from each others' bowls. When we finished, I put them in my kitchen trash can, sitting back down on my bed.

"Y'know, Rai, what did I tell you earlier when I said it'd be okay?" I looked at Hunter.

"Hunter, he called us scum. You really expected me to not react?" He looked at me.

"Rai, I expected you to react. I expected you to snap, yell at him in Greek, just not to shoot him," he said. I looked away, swallowing. He placed a hand on my cheek and turned my face to look at him. I felt tears prick at the backs of my eyes. Hunter wasn't the one who normally criticized my decisions. Normally it was Ultimate. It hurt to hear Hunter disapproving. I felt a tear slide down my cheek and I bit my lip. Hunter brushed it away.

"Rai, I didn't mean it like that," he said. I shook my head.

"No, it's just... different to hear it come from you and not Ultimate," I said between sobs. He pulled me close to his chest, stroking my hair. I sobbed into his shirt.

"I know it seemed harsh, hearing it from me, and I'm sorry, Rai," he murmured. I buried my face in the crook of his neck and shoulder.

"It's okay. I needed it," I said, breathing in the scent of thyme and leather. I quickly fell asleep to the lull of our breathing, the scent and warmth of Hunter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, I woke up under my many blankets. I smiled. Hunter must've gone to bed. I sat up, rubbing my eyes before heading to the bathroom. My hair was a mess since I didn't braid it last night. I looked in the mirror. I noticed I didn't take out the contacts from last night and took them out. I splashed water on my face when I heard a knock at my apartment door. I wiped a towel over my face before walking out of the bathroom. I opened the door to find Hunter. He looked surprised, probably because I hadn't brushed my hair yet.

I stepped back, letting him in before closing the door. I walked over to my bed, grabbing my brush and running it through my hair. I began braiding it before he spoke.

"Ultimate wants a mission report at 0900," he said, watching me. I tied off my hair with a blue ribbon and slung it over my shoulder before looking at the clock. 0846. I sighed.

"Let me get dressed and I'll be right out," I said. He nodded, getting up and walking to the door. I looked in my closet for a shirt and jeans. I pulled out a blue tank top and jeans. I went to the bathroom to put them on and walked back out. I sat on my bed and pulled on socks and my boots. I then got up and walked over to the door. I opened it, feeling the necklace he'd gotten me resting against my throat. Hunter stood there, and I looked up at him.

"What?" I asked. He reached out and fingered the pistol charm.

"You still have this?" He asked. I nodded.

"Of course I do. It's a symbol of our friendship," I said. He looked at me.

"Let's get the mission report over with. I have something in mind for today," he said. I smiled up at him before walking off in the direction of the elevators.

We arrived at Ultimate's office at exactly 0900. She looked pleased that we'd made it at exactly 0900, not before. Hunter and I sat down and Ultimate steepled her fingers. I looked down, knowing I was going to get reprimanded for shooting Smith before we got the information we needed.

"Mission report," Ultimate said. I looked up as Hunter started speaking. When he got to the interrogation, I started up. I got to the part where I snapped and trailed off. Hunter told of my snap as I looked away.

"Night." I looked up at Ultimate.

"Yes, Ultimate?" I asked. I felt Hunter bump my hand with his.

"How many times does this make that you've killed someone before we got the information we need?" I inhaled, biting my lip as I tried to figure out how many bodies I've left behind.

"Five, Ultimate," I said, looking away. She sighed.

"Raiyne..." I looked up. Ultimate almost never used my first name. "You've been getting more volatile lately. Is there any particular reason?"

I shook my head, not looking at Hunter. "No, Ultimate. Nothing at all," I lied.

She nodded. "Well, until you can get your temper under control, I'm taking you and Hunter off the search." I inhaled sharply. I wasn't going to be on the search team? And because of me, Hunter wasn't going to be, either? I thought about protesting, but knew better than arguing with Ultimate. I looked down.

"I understand," I said.

"Dismissed," she said. Hunter and I both got up and bowed before leaving. I made my way to my apartment, watching the floor as I walked. I stopped outside my apartment and Hunter placed his hand on my back. I looked up at my friend.

"Hey, it's not all your fault. I let you have the gun," he said. I turned away, walking into my quarters. I tried to close the door, but Hunter stepped inside, closing the door. I flopped onto my bed, burying my face in my pillows. Hunter sat next to me. I curled up, my back facing him. He leaned over to look at my face. I put my hand over my face so he couldn't see the tears making their way down my cheeks.

"C'mon, Rai, sit up so I can look at you," he muttered. I grunted, turning so my face was in my pillows again. He wrapped his arms around me and lifted me into a sitting position. I crossed my arms, not looking at Hunter. He chuckled and moved so he could look at my face.

"I love you," he muttered in German. I blinked. His warm breath on my cheek sent a shiver down my spine.

"I love you, too," I said in Spanish, turning my head to look at him. He smiled.