Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

TUESDAY

     Tyler reminded himself to breathe, no sense in asphyxiating from panic. He pressed his nose into Kate’s hair, willing them both closer to the wall. They were crouched on the ground. Bodies crushed together.  
     His arms were on either side of her waist, pinning her back to his chest. Their hands clutched the same rusted iron pipe. He offered a silent prayer to the concrete wall of the pool. If it gave way, the odds of their survival would be slashed to bits. 
     The muscles of his arms and wrists began to ache, straining from the effort of holding on. He couldn’t adjust.  Wind this severe only needed him to shift a fraction of an inch to rip him free, arm strength be damned. 
     Kate was steady as a rock. Fully tethered. Unmoving. Brilliant. 
     In the rush to get them somewhere safe, Tyler’s mind had become delirious with panic. Under normal circumstances, he was all bravado, eager for the upcoming chaos. But this time, when those sirens kicked off, his stomach had dropped to his boots. 
     Must be from being caught off guard.
     Kate had ushered him towards her motel across the street from the rodeo. 
     Find a basement. He thought. Basement basement basement.
     No basement. 
     His next instinct was to make their way back to his truck. But it was only rated for an EF1. And all these people would never fit. 
     Something had caught Kate’s eye outside. He had spurred everyone in her direction without needing to know what it was. Trusting her had been effortless. 
     And she had been right. The buildings and stands were ripped from their foundations. The truck with the bickering couple, well, he didn’t want to think about them. 
     Instead he focused on the four of them hiding in the pool. The mother. The daughter. Him and Kate. They were fine. They were all gonna be fine. 
     His mind shifted back to the motel employee. Tyler almost had him. Almost pulled him back to their huddled group. He tried not to blame the man for thinking he could stand. It was hardly human folly. Physics during a tornado ran in complete opposition to normal instincts. Man didn’t fly. 
     Until he did. 
     Tyler had nearly been taken as well. Except Kate had been there. Saved his life. 
     His ears popped.
     It felt like being dragged up from deep water. The wind died down slowly, then all a sudden it was quiet, devoid of sound. 
     He listened for a few seconds. His job had taught him caution. Silence didn’t necessarily mean all the airborne debris had landed. He could still get sliced in half if he stepped out too soon.
     “Is it over?” The mother asked, her voice dry. Her daughter was curled up into her neck.
     Tyler glanced at her, then up at the sliver of sky visible above them. He raked a hand through his wet hair. “I think so,” He answered.
When he stood, his calves and thighs burned. He hid his shaking hands in the pockets of his jeans. He stepped out into the open air, feeling the group move behind him. 
     He couldn’t see much beyond the 10ft high walls. The horse trailer sat pitched against the edge of the pool, another few inches and it would have killed them.  His eyes strained against the darkness, but given the silence and the unobstructed stars, it seemed the tornado had in fact collapsed. 
     The funnel had formed rapidly. 
     Too rapidly? Maybe that’s why it had run out of gas so quickly. 
     Kate would know, bloody tornado whisperer.
     Tyler looked over his shoulder expecting to see her at his side, studying the sky. She wasn’t there. He spun around, surprisingly desperate to locate her. Only the mother and daughter pair stood with him on the pool floor. He eventually caught sight of her blonde hair tucked behind the trailer, still crouched, examining the concrete wall,
     “Sapulpa, what’d you find?” He asked.
     As he walked back, he waited for her to point out something obvious he had missed. 
     She didn’t respond. 
     Tyler’s eyes narrowed. He couldn’t quite tell what she was seeing. Following her line of sight, it seemed like she was looking past the pipes; her eyes boring straight through the concrete. 
     He finally noticed she was clinging to the pipe they had held together. All of her muscles were pulled taut. 
     His gaze shifted back to her face. Her jaw was set, her eyes wide and unblinking. Tyler crouched down next to her, concern starting to show on his features. 
     “Sapulpa?”
     If she heard the nickname, she didn’t show it. 
     “Kate.” He said louder. 
     Her eyes looked glassy. Bloodshot. 
     Christ, she was barely breathing. 
     A flash of understanding. He’d been in the business long enough to have seen storm shock a number of times, both in his crew and in strangers. Frankly, it hadn’t occurred to him that she might have that reaction. She was too… steady. 
     “Kate, it’s okay.” He whispered.
     God he wished Boone were here. Man was an expert at coaxing people back to the present. Hell, even Dexter and all his quiet wisdom would be better than the obnoxious Tyler Owens.
     But no one else was here. It was just him and Kate in the little alcove. 
     Well, what’d Boone do?
     Tyler tried to give a reassuring smile. Getting out of his crouched position, he moved fully onto his knees, sitting back on his heels. The ground here was wet, the fabric of his jeans already soaking it up. 
     He sat to Kate’s side, only inches between them. She still stared away from him, still stared into the wall. 
     “Darlin’ you can let go of the pipe now.” His voice was low and soft. “Storm’s over.”
     Tyler caught a slight shake of her head. 
     “Can’t.” She mouthed the word more than she verbalized it.   
     He couldn’t help but crack a smile. “You can. I promise you can.”
     His words were rewarded with a slow sad blink. 
     She seemed lost, her mind adrift. This wasn’t storm shock, something else had her in a tight grip. It wasn’t letting go easily. 
     “Feel the air again Kate,” he prompted. “It’s light. The storm ran itself out.”
     A single strangled breath escaped her lungs. 
     “That’s a good breath.” He encouraged. “Can I have another one?” He took an exaggerated inhale, trying to demonstrate like he’d seen Boone do.
     She managed a few tight breaths through her nose. Her eyes flicked to him momentarily. Frantic. Like a caged animal. 
     “That’s perfect,” He focused on sounding relaxed. “Can you breath a little deeper for me?” 
     Her eyes closed. This was obviously taking an enormous effort on her part. Her breathing deepened. 
     He had gotten her to talk and to breathe. Next step was gettin’ her out of this damn pool. 
     “Okay. Let’s get to your hands.”
     Her eyes flashed to her hands and then away. Her eyebrows pulled up, pinched in pain. 
     “Hey,” He crooned. “Hey hey hey hey hey. It’s okay. I’m gonna be here the whole time. I’ve got you Kate.” 
     So far he had refrained from touching her. Arguing momentarily with himself, he made the decision to reach out and place a hand on her shoulder. 
     A violent shake overwhelmed her, like a full body flinch. Tyler immediately pulled his hand back like he’d been burned. 
     “I’m sorry,” he apologized.  
     She sucked in a deep breath, this time through her mouth. He carefully watched her chest rise and fall. 
     Okay. Okay? Okay. 
     He had no idea if he was helping or making everything worse. 
     “Kate?” he paused, “I really want to get you out of this pool. Is that okay?” He asked.
     At this, she may have nodded. It was hard to tell now that she was trembling.
     “Alright. Let’s start with this top hand.” Caution flooded every cell in his body. Slowly, he reached his hand out again. “Is it okay if I touch you?” He asked.
     Definitely a nod. 
     Not surging with confidence, but it ain’t nothin’.
     Taking a deep breath of his own, Tyler wrapped a hand around hers. Her hands were freezing. He rubbed his thumb lightly across the top of her fingers. 
     She finally looked at him. 
     “Okay, I want you to let go slowly. One finger at a time. Can you do that?”
     No response. 
     “I won’t let you go anywhere. I have you Kate. I need you to trust me. I have you now. I promise.” He meant every word. “Once you let go of the pipe, grab onto my wrist. Okay?”  
     Her attention turned back to her hands. She contemplated her fingers with intensity. Like they were alien life forms. Like they didn’t belong to her. 
     Her pinky popped up. 
     The ring finger followed next. 
     Tyler breathed a sigh of relief. It was like she had to manually force her muscles to release. Her thumb and index finger were stubborn, but 30 seconds later, her top hand was free. 
     “Atta girl.” He shot her a genuine smile.
     With his right hand, he guided her to his left wrist. She latched on with the same death grip she had on the pipe. Her hands were small. Delicate. 
     Her next hand let go without any prompting, hooking onto his arm, just below her other hand. 
     He could feel her pulse through her skin, it was pounding. 
     “You’re doing great Sapulpa.” 
     Her large brown eyes stared up at him, rimmed in red. 
     He gave her a second to catch her breath. She seemed exhausted from the stress of letting go. 
     Now what?
     It would be easy to sweep her off her feet and carry her out of here, but he didn’t really want to move her against her will. 
     “Can you stand?” He asked.
     She swallowed hard. Her eyes squeezed shut for a few breaths. “Yes,” she answered. Her voice was shaky, but at least it’s audible.
     It was a bit difficult to get out of his position on the ground. He braced himself against the wall, rocking off his knees and back onto his feet.
     “Alright. Nice and slow.” He used his left arm to pull her up, right hand under her elbow. Her knees faltered for a moment. but she managed to straighten and hold herself up. They both had to hunch to not hit the low concrete ceiling. Tyler walked backwards, his arms belonging to Kate completely. 
     When they were back in the open air, he studied her. She was completely unscathed. Her hair stuck to her face. Her clothes were damp and filthy. 
     She was staring back at him, but not with the same thousand yard stare from before. Instead she appeared completely preoccupied with his features.
     “Tyler?” She asked faintly.
     “Yeah?”
     Her face fell, any control she had slipped away. A sob broke free of her chest. It was a terrible sound, like she was suffocating. Her knees gave out and she collapsed against him, still holding tight to his wrist with both hands. Tyler pulled her to his chest. He wrapped his free arm around her shoulders. She was crying now, sobs interrupted by gasps for air. 
     “It’s alright now Kate. We’re safe. You’re okay. I got you. I got you right here.” 
     He didn’t know how long they stood like that, her head buried in his chest. At some point his hand found its way into her hair, stroking bangs away from her face, trying to be gentle with his callused skin. 
     He noticed the mother and daughter standing a respectable distance away. 
     Oh God,
     He had forgotten about them. The woman gave him a knowing nod and turned back to her daughter, clearly trying to give them space. 
     Kate was still crying in his arms, but her sobs were interrupted by quiet mumbled words. 
     He tilted his head lower, trying to understand.
     “Still here. Still here. Still here. Still here.” Repeated over and over again. Convincing herself. 
     “That’s right Kate, you’re still here.” He murmured in her ear. “You made it out. You’re alive.” 
     She peeked up at him, wearing an inscrutable expression. Her lips parted momentarily, but instead of explaining, she pressed herself back into the cocoon of his arms. Her crying stopped. 
     He could feel her sniffling, trying to pull herself back together, doing her best to keep her emotions on lock. It made his chest ache. 
     His eyes found the mother and daughter again. The mother’s eyes seemed strained, as if she were looking for help. It occurred to Tyler that they could have left by now, they hadn’t needed to wait for them to find first responders.
     It was then that he saw the rest of the pool. A mountain of debris had been haphazardly dropped into the chasm, effectively blocking off the stairs that sat on the shallow end. 
     The only way out was the ladder on the deep end, the lowest rung of which was easily 6 feet off the ground. 
     Ah
     “Kate, I gotta get these people out of here,” He whispered to her. 
     He felt her take a few breaths in quick succession, finally lifting her head. Her eyes looked tired. She took in the other two people stuck in the pool.
     Giving her one last squeeze, he released her from his embrace. She didn’t let go of his arm. By her panicked expression it was clear this was non negotiable. 
     Tyler considered putting her back by the pipes. However he wasn’t sure he’d be able to get her off again. 
     “Okay.” He thought for a moment, “Could you hold my hand instead?”
     She considered in silence. 
     “Yes.” Her voice sounded more even, but it seemed like a painful compromise. 
     She didn’t let go with her second hand until the first was tightly secured in Tyler’s grip. 
     Despite his preoccupation with the evolving situation, he allowed himself a moment to notice how well their hands fit together. Clearing his mind, he gingerly tugged Kate over to the ladder. Her steps were heavy and mechanical, but he was grateful she was able to move. 
     The mother and daughter waited at the bottom of the ladder. If they noticed Kate’s breakdown, they didn’t mention it. 
     Tyler knelt in front of the kid. “What’s your name?”
     The girl, couldn’t be more than ten, looked up to her mom.
     The mom answered for her. “This is Regan.”
     “Hi Regan.” He said, voice light, “My name’s Tyler. This is Kate.” He gestured to his side. “We’re gonna get you out of this swimming pool. How does that sound?”
     “Good.” She answered.
“Good.” He repeated.
     Tyler looked up at the ladder and whistled. Getting them all out of here was a challenge no matter what. Doing it one handed? 
     He positioned himself under the ladder, one knee on the ground and the other at a 90 degree angle. “Okay Regan, I’m gonna to keep holding Miss Kate’s hand. Do you think you could step up onto my knee?” 
     She checked with her mom again. This time receiving a nod. “I think so.” 
     Placing one hand on his shoulder and one foot on his knee, Regan pulled herself up. She could reach the lowest rung with her hands now, but her feet were still too far to be able to climb out. 
     “You know what Reagan? I think you’re gonna need to step onto my shoulder.”
     She looked down at him with concern. 
     “Now don’t worry about this shirt. I got lots of ‘em. It’s nothin special.” He flashed her one of his grins. 
     She gave him a bashful smile in return. Carefully she put her next foot on his shoulder. It gave her barely enough height to crawl out. 
     He turned to her mom. “Regan, I’m gonna get your mom out next, alright? Just sit tight up there for me.”
     He pictured the mess out there. Even if there weren’t any bodies visible, the material destruction was harrowing on its own. 
     “And keep your eyes closed, okay?” He called up to her. 
     “Okay.” She called back. 
     He held his hand out for the brunette woman. “And what is your name ma’am?”
     She blushed. “I’m Mary.” 
     “Well Mary, you’ve got yourself a very brave girl.”
     She took his hand and stepped onto his squared knee. She was tall enough to not need to step onto his shoulder, but only just. She needed to pull her knees up to her chest for her feet to connect to the bottom rung.  
     Then it was just him and Kate. 
     Even though her sobs had stopped, silent tears slipped down her face, cutting paths through the grime. 
     “Your turn Sapulpa.” 
     She stiffened at his words. Her dark brows furrowed with dread. She looked at him with pleading eyes. 
     “I know. We just have to get out of the pool and then you can rest.” 
     She bit her lip, but nodded. 
     He missed her voice.
     With a brave swallow, she grabbed the bottom rung with her free hand and stepped onto his knee. She was shorter than Mary. 
     "You’re gonna have to let go of me, Sweetheart.”
     She froze.
     “Once I’m out of here too, my hand is all yours.” Tyler promised.
     She gave him one last squeeze and then her hand was gone. He missed it immediately. 
     With both hands on the second lowest rung, she seemed stuck. 
     “Kate, shift your weight to your other foot.”
     She did as she was told.
     “Right, now step onto my shoulder.” 
     Her whole body shook. Her foot on his thigh was slipping, her practical boots caked in slick mud. 
     “Shit.” 
     In a split second decision, he grabbed her around both knees. She gasped in surprise, letting go of the ladder completely. 
     But he had her. 
     Once standing, he hoisted her into the air, her feet finally even with the bottom rung. Mary and Reagan waited for her at the top. He sent a silent thank you as they each took one of her shaking hands, hauling her up the rest of the way.
     Tyler didn’t even watch her clear the edge of the pool. He was already pulling himself out after her, desperate to be back by her side.

Chapter Text

TUESDAY

     Her psychiatrist called it dissociating. Kate called it slipping. 
     Slipping away. 
     Slipping down into herself. 
     Disappearing. 
     It was nice to slip. To disappear. To just… let go. 
     When she slipped, she stopped being responsible for everything. The world moved around her. Sluggish  and fleeting. She could let it slide around her. No need to be an obstacle in its path. Just an object to be pushed and pulled. 
     It was easy to be empty. To be vacant. She could stay here forever. 
     Her body felt silly. Far away. Maybe she was floating.
     Floating on the wind. 
     Then she smelled it. Stagnant water and old concrete. The smell of industrial parks. Basements. Highway overpasses. Empty swimming pools. 
     She felt sick. Deep in her stomach. But also in her chest. In her hands. How did you feel sick in your hands?
     Then she smells Praveen’s coffee grounds. He had it shipped in bulk from India. She had never smelled anything quite like it, so pungent, chocolatey. She had loved the taste when he made her a mug. 
     Now it’s suffocating. Enveloping her. Heavy. Nauseating.
     Her thigh is on fire. She can feel the blood dripping down her calf. She doesn’t dare look down. The sight of her exposed muscle and bone is too much, even in her numbed state. 
     Then she hears Addy’s voice. Begging. Reaching. Kate can see her. She looks terrified. Desperately trying to grab Kate. She’s too far. The wind, an invisible hand dragging her backwards. The incline is too steep. The tread of her damn sneakers are worn smooth. They can’t find purchase on the slick concrete. Kate knew how this scene ended. She didn’t want to watch. 
     But then Addy’s hand is in hers. Kate is pulling her up the pavement of the underpass. Jeb is beside her. He grabs Addy’s other hand. 
     Kate won’t let go. She’s never letting Addy go. If the storm wants one of them, it better be ready to take them both.
     “Sapulpa.” 
     Sapulpa. Her hometown. She’d brought them there. Their families had come to her house to collect their belongings. Because they were dead. 
     “Kate.”
     She hadn’t grabbed Addy’s hand. She had left her. Crawled up onto that railing. Pressed her face into the freezing metal. She can still feel its burn on her cheek. 
     And Jeb,
     Jeb wrapped himself around her. He had pulled her up to safety. He should have gotten himself there first. Gotten a better grip. But he hadn’t. He had waited for her. Saved her life.
     And what had it cost?
     “Kate, it’s okay.”
     It’s okay that they’re dead. It’s okay that their bodies were tossed like rag dolls. It's fine. It’s alright. 
That’s what they told her. Everybody. It’s okay Kate. You killed your friends. It happens. 
     “Darlin, you can let go of Addy now.” 
     Why was everyone so bothered that she couldn’t get over it? Let them go Kate. Move on with your life.
     Didn’t they get it?
     She can’t get over it. Can’t. She can’t. She can’t. Can’t. Can’t. Can’t. Can’t. 
     Can’t.
     Can’t. 
     Can’t. 
     Can’t.
     can’t can’t can’t can’t can’t can’t can’t can’t.

     “Feel the air again Kate. It’s light.”
     She loved the Oklahoma air. It had been her first love. Now she’s asphyxiating. Why wasn’t she breathing?
Her body finally responded. Her diaphragm released, flooding her with oxygen. 
     “That’s a good breath. Can I have another one?” 
     Yes. She’s starving for it. She missed the air here. The air in New York was awful. Damp. Contaminated. Even in the bottom of this God forsaken pool the air is better. 
     Her mind was catching up. Remembering. Dropping her back into the present. 
     “Alrighty Sapulpa. Let’s get to your hands.”
     Her hands? Her hands can go to Hell. She looked down; saw them wrapped around a corroded pipe. 
     Shit.
     She was doing it again. She’d slipped. Shit. Fucking Shit God damn it
     “Hey hey hey hey hey. It’s okay. I’m gonna be here the whole time. I’ve got you Kate.” 
     “I’ve got you Kate.” 
     And then Jeb is wrapping himself around her. He’s always holding her. Cradling her. Choking her.
     “I’m Sorry,”
     He doesn’t usually apologize though.  
     “Kate? I really want to get you out of this pool. Is that okay?” 
     Yeah it’s okay. I would also like to get out of this pool.
     “Alright. Let’s start with this top hand. Is it okay if I touch you?” 
     She nodded. 
     Then one of Jeb’s hands wrapped around one of hers. Oh how she’d missed him. He had asked her out a year into her phD program. 
     She looked up. It wasn’t him. It was Tyler. 
     “Can you do that?” He asked.
     Her mind was struggling to keep up, like heavy machinery filled with mud. 
     Do what?
     “I won’t let you go anywhere. I have you Kate. I need you to trust me. I have you now. I promise. Once you let go of the pipe, grab onto my wrist. Okay?”  
     That’s right. She’s still holding on to the pipes. In the pool. With Tyler. 
     But her fingers didn’t want to let go. If she asked her psychiatrist about it, he’d tell her it’s a trauma response. Something about the limbic system. Her amygdala. Fawning. Muscle memory from that first EF5. 
     But she doesn’t ask her psychiatrist. About anything. 
     Instead she glared at her fingers, willing them to let go. The storm was obviously over. She’d been here too long. She’d gathered that from Tyler’s face, sympathy mixed with unease. 
     This was so embarrassing. 
     Her mind filled in the blanks. She must have slipped while they were hiding.
     It was Tyler, not Jeb. Tyler, who was trying to get her out of the pool. 
     “Atta girl.” 
     He smiled at her. Her hand was on his arm. 
     Oh God, that’s right. She was supposed to let go of the pipe. She released her other one, her hand cooperating. Finally. 
     “You’re doing great Sapulpa.”
     She stared up at him. She knew what she looked like, behaving like a freak. He looked back at her with compassion. 
     Humiliation burned on her face. She knew she was being ridiculous. This was not how sane people acted. The rational part of her brain screamed. Pleaded for her to snap out of it. But that part had been relegated to some back closet of her mind, strapped down, and gagged. It could only watch. 
     “Can you stand?” He asked quietly.
     Talk Kate. 
     Say Yes. Say ‘Yes, I can in fact stand up.’  
     She didn't say anything. Her muscles were made of stone. 
     Are we really doing this?
     She could taste blood, had bitten her lip too hard. 
     She swallowed the saliva that filled her mouth. It tasted like iron.  
     “Yes.”  
     You sound like a child.
     “Alright. Nice and slow.” He was pulling her up. Her muscles protested the position change. Her body wanted to stay, to lay on the ground. Curl up. 
     He’s too strong, plucking her off the ground like a despondent toddler. 
     Moving helped shake her out of her stupor. She isn’t in Sapulpa. She was in Stillwater. She and Tyler had been at the rodeo. The sirens had gone off. They’d run to the motel.
     Then she saw him, really saw him. He stood in front of her, exhausted and tense. But his body wasn’t broken or contorted at odd angles. She could see him breathing. She could feel his pulse in her hands. His eyes were deep and searching, not blank like the dead.  
     He’s alive. 
     He’s still here. 
     “Tyler?” Her voice is full of disbelief. 
     “Yeah?” 
     She hadn’t killed him. 
     Something shattered behind her sternum. It crushed her lungs. It buckled her knees. It hurt.
 
     But she hadn’t killed him. 
     She couldn’t breathe. Her throat twinged. It was closing up. 
     Her body was strangling itself. Her heart was ripping into pieces. 
     I’m dying. 
     “It’s alright now Sapulpa. We’re safe.”
     Tyler’s voice. She heard it reverberating through his chest. He was holding her. Her face was wet. Red. Puffy. She was pressed against his button down. 
     She should let go.
     But it felt so good to be held by someone real. It felt good to cry and break. It felt safe to shatter here, all her jagged pieces kept close. She could repair the damage later.
     She could hear his heartbeat straight from the source. The storm hadn’t stolen him. 
     How are you still here? 
     You didn’t die. You were supposed to die.
     He had wrapped himself around her during the storm, exactly like Jeb had. His body holding hers. 
     She imagined Tyler dying.
     Ripped into the sky. Limbs thrashing around hopelessly, trying to grab onto something, anything solid. His skin cut by sharp metal fragments. If he’s lucky he’d go untouched in the sky. But when the wind can’t hold him anymore, he’d drop like a stone. A quick death. 
     “You’re okay. I got you. I got you right here.” He whispered.
     He’s still alive
     She begged the gruesome images to go away.
     He’s fine. He’s safe. 
     She pulled herself closer to him, trying to prove to her trauma riddled mind that he was real. 
     He stayed. He’s alive. He’s still here. 
     Still here. It’s okay. He’s still here. Still here. Still here. Still here. Still here. Still here. Still—
     “That’s right Kate.” Tyler said it softly. “You’re still here. You made it out. You’re alive.” 
     She looked up at him in surprise. 
     You think I’m worried about myself?
     His mistake was so earnest, it kept Kate from recognizing she’d been talking to herself.
     She almost corrected him, but thought better of it. People tended to be horrified by her lack of self preservation. 
     Instead she hid in his embrace. She could afford to stay here for a little longer. He’s warm, cozy and alluring. 
     Something about being misconstrued bothered her though. Tyler thought she was scared for her own safety. He thought she was in shock, afraid she was going to die. But it isn’t fear that sent Kate Carter into a tailspin. It’s guilt. 
     Her face was wet. Her nose was full of snot. Crying always turned her into a sniveling wreck. Her hands were still holding tightly to Tyler’s forearm, so she attempted to wipe her tears on her bare shoulder. Probably not very discrete. 
     “Kate, I gotta get these people out of here,” Tyler whispered.
     Others?
     She unstuck her cheek from his shirt, hoping her face wasn’t too tear stained. Past his shoulder, she could see the little girl and her mother clinging to each other. 
     That’s right. Tyler pulled them out of their car. 
     He moved away, unwrapping her from his embrace. She wasn’t ready. 
     He can’t go. 
     “Okay.” He said it like an apology. He regarded her thoughtfully, like she was a spooked horse. She didn’t care. Anything was better than being alone. 
     “Could you hold my hand instead?” He asked.
     All she really wanted to do was take a nap in his arms. 
     Kate. You cannot take a nap in Tyler Owen’s arms. You barely know him. And he's a youtuber. 
     Something inside of her pouts. 
     “Yes.” She said finally. 
     His warmth was the only thing keeping her alive. Letting go completely would send her careening right back into the darkness. 
He didn’t rush her as she cautiously removed her top hand and slipped it into his palm. He received her gently, his fingers interlocking in between hers. 
     She let go with her other hand. It’s wrong. She’s untethered. A soft breeze would blow her over. 
     It’s already happening. She’s falling. She’s being swept away. 
     Except her feet catch her. They hit solid ground. She was walking. It wasn’t the wind. It was Tyler, pulling her towards the ladder. 
     Only four of them stood in a group.
     Weren’t there more? 
     The Motel Manager. 
     The couple in the truck. 
     All of them could still be alive, but in Kate’s mind, they were gone. 
     Who else?
     How many people in those stands are dead now? 
     Tyler is talking. She can’t hear him. People are moving. All Kate can do is blink. She can feel the tears welling in her eyes. They sting. 
     She pictures all of them. The dead. Eyes staring at the sky. 
     “Your turn Sapulpa.” 
     Tyler’s stupid twangy voice dispelled the image in her head. 
     He was kneeling on the ground, like he was proposing. 
     She needed to move, but she didn’t want to. She wanted to stay here. Let this pit be her grave, just as long as she didn’t have to see any more bodies. 
     “I know. We just have to get out of the pool and then you can rest.” he said.
     She believed him. She wanted to do as he’d asked. 
     The lump in her throat kept her from speaking. She could only nod. 
     She tried to swallow the lump, but her throat was thick with grief. It wouldn’t budge. 
     Her legs responded better. She stepped closer to the metal ladder. She set her free hand on the bottom rung above her head. It was slick from the rain. 
     She urged her knee to bend and step onto Tyler’s thigh. It protested. 
     This is too intimate! Too close.
     She pointed out to her leg that she was buried in his chest not five minutes ago. 
     The knee unlocked. 
     Trying not to think, Kate placed her shoe on his jeans. Hastily, she pulled herself up one handed. 
     “You’re gonna have to let go of me, Sweetheart.” He said with a smile. 
     Was he teasing her?
     “Once I’m out of here too, my hand is all yours.” He promised. 
     No, he wouldn’t tease her right now. He's an asshole, but he’s a nice asshole. 
     Still, the mere idea of letting go sent a panic through her hands and down to her toes. He wasn’t wrong. She was stuck unless she could use both hands. 
     Her right hand negotiated a final squeeze before relenting. 
     She wasn’t sure what to do next. The rambunctious girl who climbed all over the beams of her mother’s barn was gone. Left behind was a stiff and uncoordinated stranger. 
     “Kate, shift your weight to your other foot.” Tyler instructed. 
     She didn’t know her weight was unevenly distributed. She couldn't feel her feet. 
     “Right, now step onto my shoulder.” 
     She couldn’t. Her knees had started an insurrection. Her arms were giving out. Her whole body was shaking. She didn’t know how to make it stop.
     “Shit.”
     Suddenly she’s weightless. 
     Is this what it felt like for Addy?
     Except something was holding her to the Earth. No, someone. Tyler held her knees, forcing them into submission. Someone else had her hands, her wrists, then she’s being pulled out by her armpits. 
     Her knees hit the tiled lip of the pool perimeter. Before her ass could make contact with the ground, she was yanked to her feet.  
     A new voice yelled her name in her ear. 

Chapter Text

 TUESDAY

     Tyler had never liked Javi much. 
     They had met last year in Nashoba, fighting over an EF3. Rivalries between groups weren’t uncommon; betting on cells and the close quarters of isolated motels lent itself easily to the antagonism. But StormPAR was different. It hadn’t taken long to notice they didn’t think highly of Tyler’s crew. They didn’t hide their disdain for country folk or ramshackle equipment. Which made it all the more delicious when the Wrangler’s instincts beat Javi’s hightech gadgets.
     Tyler’s opinion of the man had soured even further when Dexter linked business tycoon Marshal Riggs as StormPAR’s primary investor.
     But now, watching Javi pull Kate into a tight embrace in the middle of the wreckage they had just survived together? His dislike turned into loathing. 
     He told himself that it was for Kate’s sake. She was exhausted. She should be sitting with her head between her knees, getting checking out by EMTs. 
     He did not consider that he was so entirely bent out of shape because his hand felt particularly empty.
     Neither Kate nor Javi had noticed him exit the pool. They stood a few feet away from the ladder’s top, regarding each other intently. 
     “—saw the size of it on the radar, where it was headed,” Javi fretted. 
     Tyler was about to yell at Javi to let go of Kate when he heard her voice. Steady and even. 
     “I’m okay, Javi, really” Kate told him. 
     She pulled away from him, though Javi kept his hands on her arms. Tyler could see her profile. Her face looked different. Her eyes were still red, but the desperate panic was gone. Between her and Javi, she wasn’t the one that looked rattled. 
     “I got us out here as fast as I could.” Javi continued. “I wasn’t gonna lose you too.”
     Too?
     “I’m fine.” Kate smiled. It didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Look, you even beat the first responders.”
     Tyler turned to see lights of emergency vehicles entering the parking lot of the motel. 
     He didn’t know how else to help Kate. She seemed happy to see Javi. He had gotten her to talk a whole lot better than Tyler had, that was for sure. 
     He did however know how to do this part of the job. Helping the victims. 
     “Come on you two,” he said to Mary and Regan who still sat on the pavement. “Lets you guys checked out.”
     Kate flinched when he spoke, turning quickly to look at him. Tyler didn’t miss Javi’s hand tightening around her bicep.
     “Owens?” 
     “Howdy StormPAR,” he shot back callously.
     “What are you doing out here?” Javi asked, full of suspicion.
     Instead of answering his question, Tyler pulled Regan to her feet. “What did I say about keeping your eyes closed, huh?” he asked her. 
     Her eyes snapped shut. “Oops,”
     Kate answered for him. “He was with me, Javi.”
     Tyler flashed him a grin. He wasn’t sure why he did it. Javi made it so easy to slip into his jackass Youtube persona. 
     He turned away from Kate and Javi, guiding Mary and Regan towards the paramedics setting up a triage tent. “These guys will take good care of you,” he whispered to Mary. She had Regan by the hand and led her across the rubble and debris. 
     He stayed with them until Regan was wrapped in a blanket and Mary got ahold of her husband. Once they were settled, he took in the scene around them. Parts of the rodeo stands were still standing. Most of the cars in the lot had shifted, a few were on their side. Kate’s motel was just… gone. 
     Her and Javi stood in the same place he had left them, still talking. He was pleased to see Javi now had his hands to himself. Tyler deliberated leaving them alone, but without really meaning to, he found himself sauntering back over. Kate faced away from him, but Javi saw him approach. Whatever they were discussing faded into silence. Tyler got the impression it was him. 
     “Were you guys chasing?” Javi spied Tyler’s red pickup across the lot. 
     “No,” Kate said. “It wasn’t like that. We were–”
     “Good,” Javi cut her off. “Cause I’m the one that’s paying you Kate.”
     “I’m well aware of that.” She looked hurt. 
     The two frowned at each other. 
     The awkward silence was broken by the arrival of someone else in a dorky StormPAR polo. The one that didn’t smile. Scott.
     Tyler noticed the other Stormpar vehicles, as well as a dozen little worker bees in baseball caps crawling around. 
     No, not bees. 
     Maggots. 
     Feasting before the body was cold. 
     “Hey, apparently this place was family owned,” Scott said. “I’m gonna start working up some numbers. Riggs is gonna want those first thing.”
     Tyler’s stomach curled. 
     Javi barely paid Scott any mind. “Yeah, sure.”
     Kate laughed. It came out like a bark, hard and unnatural.
     Javi raised an eyebrow. “What?”
     “I mean it’s not really you that’s paying me, is it?” She said. 
     Javi looked at her with trepidation. “Wh-what is that supposed to mean?”
     Kate scoffed. “I mean it’s Riggs isn’t it? In fact it’s these people,” she gestured around wildly, “Who just lost everything, that are paying through the nose so I can even be here.”
     Scott had the audacity to snicker. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
     Javi was silent. 
     “Yes it does.” The sadness and exhaustion had crept back into Kate’s face. “See I find you a storm. You collect you data on it and sell it to Riggs. Now he can buy up the damaged property for next to nothing because he knows the owners don’t have the means to say no. He’s profiting off of tragedy.”
     Get ‘em Kate. 
     Javi rubbed his eyes. “Look, yes. Riggs is an investor. And sure, he can access our data just like all of the other investors.” His eyes shifted around, looking anywhere but Kate. “But we don’t have any say on what he does with the data. That’s not on me.” 
     “Of course it’s on you, Javi.” Kate protested.” You have a responsibility to these people.” 
     Tyler knew it was wrong to smile, but he couldn’t help himself. Her hair danced with the wind, making it look like she was sparkling with energy. 
     Scott looked angry. 
     Javi almost looked amused. “Responsibility?” he challenged. “Really Kate?” He licked his lips and peered up at the dark sky. “What could you possibly know about responsibility?” His tone had turned cutting and harsh. “You don’t get to stand there and lecture me. Not when you went and put my three best friends in the ground. Nah nah nah. That one’s on you.” 
     No one spoke. 
     Kate looked like she’d been punched in the gut. 
     Javi’s mouth hung open. 
     Even Scott seemed startled by his partner’s outburst.
     Tyler was lost. 
     Sorry, who’s in the ground? 
     Javi closed his mouth, but his eyebrows were still accusatory.
     Kate just gaped at him.  
     Tyler felt like an unwelcome voyeur, but there was no way to exit without drawing more attention to himself. 
     “No, you’re right.” Kate nodded. Her voice was thick. She stepped back, increasing the distance between her and Javi, but bringing her almost shoulder to shoulder with Tyler. Her shoe caught on a piece of wood causing her to stumble. 
     Tyler caught her by the arm before she could fall. When their eyes locked, all he could see was horror. 
     She looked scared. 
     Scared of him?
     Her wide eyes danced between him, Javi and Scott. Without a word, she pulled away from his grasp and fled to one of the StormPAR trucks. 
     Then she was gone.

     Tyler held still for nine heartbeats. He could hear it pounding in his ears, feel it in his teeth. 
     By the tenth, he was lunging at Javi. 
     “What was that about?” He demanded.
     Javi didn’t respond. His self-righteous indignation had evaporated, replaced by a haunted expression. 
     Tyler yanked him forward by the collar of his ridiculous shirt. “Javi! What the hell.”
     “Hey.” Scott protested. 
     The Stormpar leader barely met Tyler’s eyes before gagging. Tyler released his grip just in time to let Javi retch onto the pavement. 
     “Fat lotta help you are.” He muttered, planting his hands on his hips. He couldn’t see Kate’s tail lights anymore. 
     “Yo T!”
     Tyler whipped around to see the RV pull up next to the ambulance. 
     Lily burst out the door before Dex had even put it in park. 
     “You’re okay!” she cried. “Where’s Kate? Is she okay?” she asked, out of breath. 
     Tyler watched his crew whole crew, including Ben, pile out like a clown car. His mind was fuzzy. “She was just here.” he answered slowly.
     “Well is she okay?” Lily repeated. 
     Dani and Boone reached him next, the latter crashing into him with a hug. 
     Tyler was still trying to process Lily’s question. “I– yeah, she was fine.” He patted Boone absentmindedly on the shoulder. “Why? Why would      she not be fine?”
     Javi threw up again. He was hunched by himself in the center of their group. 
     Had Scott just… left him?
     Boone released Tyler. “He okay?” 
     “Don’t even get me started on him.” Tyler answered. He focused his attention on Lily who was looking at Dani with a pained expression “Why would Kate not be fine?” 
     “It’s not anything.” she answered smoothly. “I was just worried about her.” 
     “Why were you worried about her?” Impatience threaded through his voice. “Because she wasn’t fine. She was freaking out and crying. I had to carry her out of the pool.”
     It sounded like Javi was crying. Boone was on his knees rubbing small circles on the man’s back. 
     Dani and Lily shared another glance. 
     “What? What is that?” Tyler knew he was being short with them. He tried to take a deep breath, but it came out as a huff. “Guys. Seriously. What is going on here?”
     Lily just stared at her hands which were holding a small tablet. 
     He looked to Dani with pleading eyes. 
     She sighed. “Okay, look. It’s not really our information to share, alright?”
     Tyler didn’t know how to respond. “Alright.”
     Dani continued. “After you took off after Kate, we were joking about you two. We tried looking her up, find out more on your city girl. Dex thought she was maybe familiar. It’s not his fault though, we were all snooping.” She took a deep breath. “We found an old article. I swear we didn’t mean to pry. And then we saw the doppler. And…”
     Lily handed him the tablet.
     “What is this?” he asked, but before they could answer, he read the headline. 

     ‘Severe Weather Leaves 3 Dead Near Sapulpa, Oklahoma’
     Tyler couldn’t process the neatly typed paragraphs. Instead his eyes skittered between lines, snagging on occasional words that pierced his lungs. 
             ‘fatalities’

‘EF5’
                     ‘graduate students’

     ‘pronounced dead at the scene’

             ‘missing persons’
     

                 ‘closed investigation’

‘sole survivor’

         ‘Kate Carter’

     He could hardly breathe when by the time he scrolled down to a picture of 5 kids posed in front of a trailer. He picked Kate out easily. 
     Her hair was brown. 
     He read the the names listed underneath. Most were unfamiliar. The last one, however, ignited his long standing contempt into burning hatred.

‘Javier Riviera’

Chapter Text

TUESDAY

     Kate’s hands held firm to the steering wheel. They should be shaking.
     She should have been crying. Or hyperventilating. Somewhere north of distraught.
     The face in the rear view mirror just looked bored.
     She had been accused of murder. She had almost died. She had witnessed other people die. And all she could muster was indifference. 
     What is wrong with you?
     Her mother’s farm was only an hour’s drive from Stillwater, though Kate wasn’t making any good progress.
     In her haste to get away from the oncoming emergency vehicles and Tyler's inevitable sympathy, she had gotten lost.
     The midwest wasn’t especially known for their street lighting, especially on narrow country roads. She passed field after field in darkness, the only light coming from the severe headlights of the Lion. From the occasional house number sign, she determined she was driving West.         Sapulpa was East. 
     Shit.
     She continued for another half mile, looking for a drive to flip around. There wasn’t one. 
     She let out an over dramatic sigh while pulling Javi’s behemoth of a truck into the weeds. She had to unbuckle her seatbelt and prop herself up on the opposite hip to fish her phone out of her pocket. 
     Her battery was at 2%.
     “Really?” she complained.
     It would be comical if it weren’t also incredibly predictable. She’d been out all day. Chasing the twins, trying to help in Crystal Springs, her argument with Tyler.
     And her phone was old. She’d never replaced the one she’d had during the EF5. Even on the best of days, the battery didn’t last that long. 
     And this was not the best of days. 
     Her lock screen was a picture of the Tamers. Addy, Jeb, Kate, Praveen and Javi. She couldn’t change it. She couldn’t erase them. 
Addy was laughing at Praveen’s worried expression. Jeb had his arm slung lazily over Kate’s shoulders. The camera had caught Javi mid bite of toast. He smiled even with his mouth full. He looked relaxed. Goofy. She hardly recognized him.
     The Kate in the photo looked happy. She looked eager. So sure that her polymer was going to work. Her eyes shone with confidence. Even her stance in the center of the group-

     The screen shut off. 
     The on button didn’t respond to Kate’s incessant squishing.   
     “Damn it”
     She sat in silence. She was going to die here. In the middle of nowhere. No one knew where she was. Her mom didn’t know she was in the state. She was a terrible daughter. Terrible friend. A bad employee if stealing a car was any measure. She was going to Hell as soon as the universe got up the nerve to kill her. 
     She let her head slump against the steering wheel.
     Kate pictured Addy laughing at her tantrum. “Jeez louise Carter, one thing at a time.” She’d tease. 
     Fine. 
     Surely there was a phone charger in here. She would deal with that first. 
     She had to contort herself in half to see underneath the massive screen above the gear shift. There wasn’t even a cigarette lighter. 
     What car doesn’t have a cigarette lighter?
     Next she leaned over the center console. The glove compartment clearly existed. Aggressive blue light outlined the shape, but there was no clasp. No knob. No button. She felt all around the smooth acrylic. Her hand wandered down below, into the passenger foot well. Her fingers found a hidden pull tab. 
     Lord have Mercy. 
     The glove compartment popped open with a smooth hiss. All she found was the car registration, an insurance card, and a small white box.
     Maybe they hadn’t unboxed the phone charger yet?
     Inside were at least 300 Marshal Riggs business cards.
     “Oh for Christ’s sake Javi.”
     Kate turned on the overhead cab lights. Cool toned LEDs blinded her. Once her eyes stopped watering, she opened the center console.
     Pens. tire gauge. 
     She dumped the top tray onto the passenger seat. She shoved her hand into the bottom compartment. 
     Completely empty. 
     Kate growled. 
     She rechecked the control panel. Wires ran up and down the windshield connecting to mounted cameras. She peaked behind the hulking tablet hoping for an exposed cord. It was permanently fixed to the dash, completely enclosed.  
     She twisted around on the leather upholstery. The backseat had been retrofitted to fit additional storage. Her attention moved to the metal containers strapped to the walls and floor. 
     Each box held contraptions more advanced than the last. Silvery metal and twirly bits. 
     “Fucking space station in here.”
     The seatback pockets were empty. 
     No back panel outlet.
“Please Kate, help me swindle innocent people.” She said in a patronizing voice. “Oh sure Javi, I’d love to.”
     She squirmed to the floor trying to get a look under the passenger seat. 
     “fucking Scott. Bitch ass sunglasses. Little shitba–”
     A knock sounded on the window. 
     Kate flinched so hard the back of her head smacked the car roof. Her heart stopped completely. Once it restarted, she finagled herself back into the driver seat and rolled down the window.
     “Howdy Kate.” 
     The Tornado Wrangler stood on the other side of the door smiling brightly at her. 
     “What the fuck.” she asked, one hand on her chest.
     “Sorry.” Tyler managed to look apologetic. “I thought you saw my lights.” He tossed his head towards his ginormous red truck parked directly behind her. 
     God.
     She closed her eyes and let her head hit the headrest. When she opened them a few breathes later, he was still staring at her. 
     “Am I in trouble, officer?” She asked expectantly. 
     Kate didn’t want him here. She didn’t want to look at him. He heard what Javi had said. It didn’t matter if he hadn’t pieced it together yet. He would eventually.
     Tyler watched her for another moment before leaning back, one hand held onto the window frame, the other slipped into a belt loop on his hip. He surveyed the scenic view in front of them. Wide open sky. The rustling wheat. 
     “Whatta you doing out here?” He asked. 
     She took a sharp inhale. “What are you doing out here?”
     He looked between the two trucks. “I thought it was pretty obvious.” He said with a smirk. “I’m following you.”
     “Why.” She questioned.
     The smugness left his face. “Cause I was worried about you.” 
     She couldn’t blame him for that. Not after her behavior this evening. “How’d you know I was out here?” She asked, softer this time. 
     Tyler’s eyes shifted to his hands. 
     “What?” Her curiosity had been piqued. 
     He rolled his eyes. “I punched Javi.”
     Kate gasped. “You what!”
     “It’s fine. The EMT’s were right there. Boone and Dani pulled me off of him before I did any real damage. At worst he’ll have a black eye in the morning.”
     Kate was horrified. And confused. 
     “I’m sorry, how does punching Javi lead you here?”
     “Ah, well.” Tyler swallowed, looking uncomfortable for the first time. “You took off. I punched him for what he said to you. And I figured that all the StormPAR trucks were covered in tracking doohickies. Surely they could see where you were headed. He gave me your location and in return I didn’t kill him.” 
     Tyler gave her a shrug. “That and you only made it about 5 miles out of town.”
     “Yeah, I know. I got lost.” 
     “Aren’t you from Oklahoma?”
     “I’m not from every small town.” The edge in her voice was gone. She almost smiled.
     He didn’t sass her back. His eyes went soft, warm. “So what are you doing out here?” he asked again.
     Did she bother explaining her situation to him? He had been there for her earlier, but she didn’t really know him. They had met, what, two days ago? 
     No. Yesterday.
     “I was driving home, but my phone died. And for the life of me, I can’t find a phone charger in this God damn truck.”
     “Y’know, you swear a lot more than I thought you would.” He teased.
     “Yeah, sorry about that. I tend to disappoint people.” She said under her breath.
     “I didn’t say that.”
     Kate was too tired to parse out what that was supposed to mean. Too rattled. Strung out. “Sure, okay.” 
     She didn’t know what else to say. It felt like he was waiting for her, but she didn’t know what he wanted. She just stared at her hands folded in her lap.
     “So, you’re really going to drive home?” He asked finally. 
     She sighed. “I mean, yeah. I don’t have anywhere else to stay. My last hotel kind of disintegrated.” 
     Her stuff was there. Her clothes. Her laptop. Her wallet. She didn’t even have her license on her. 
     “There are other hotels Kate.” He countered.
     She didn’t have a way to pay for one. “No, it’s fine.”
     He raised an eyebrow. “I trust you. You saved my life earlier. But I don’t know if I trust you to drive an hour and a half without falling asleep.” He poked his head into the cab. His eyes searched in vain. “Where's the clock?”
     she pointed to the bottom corner of the screen. “It’s 12:09.”
     “So you’re gonna roll into Sapulpa at 2 in the morning?”
     “1:30” She corrected. 
     “Well, I’m rounding so my point sounds better.”
     He wasn’t wrong. She didn’t want to wake her mom up in the middle of the night. 
     “Fine.” she acquiesced. “I’ll sleep in the truck and drive there in the morning.”
     “No.” He said flatly. 
     “No?”
     “I’m not letting you sleep in the truck. There’s probably not even a phone charger in here.”
     “Of course there’s a phone charger. I just haven’t found it yet.” 
     Tyler clicked his tongue. “Mmmh I don’t know.” 
     She rolled her eyes. “Well what do you suggest I do?”
     “You let me drive you to the motel the rest of us are staying at tonight. I’ll drive you to Sapulpa tomorrow.” He said. 
     “I can’t ask you to do that.” She protested.
     “You didn’t ask.” 
     Kate thought for a moment. “Well I can’t just leave the truck here.” 
     “Sure you can. Javi and his goon squad can come get it once they find their way out of Marshall Riggs' ass.” Tyler assured her.  
     “Javi’s a good person.” 
     “I’m sure he is.”
     “I mean it.” 
     “And I believe you.”
     God, she was so tired. Just thinking about sleep made her yawn. She avoided looking at his stupid satisfied face.  
     “You’re not trying to kidnap me are you?” She asked. 
     “If I say yes will you get out of the any truck faster?” He asked with a straight face. 
     By it’s own volition, her tongue escaped her mouth, sticking out in a decidedly juvenile gesture.
     Tyler tilted his head to the side and stuck his out right back.  
     “Fine.” She caved. 
     She pulled the keys out of the ignition and grabbed her phone. Tyler already had the door open. Her feet hit the dirt before she realized he was holding a hand out to her. She pretended not to notice him tuck it back into his pocket.
     She locked the Lion and crouched by the back gate, tucking the keys into the ignition pipe. 
     “That’s the first place someone would look for them.” He commented.
     “What would you do with them?” she asked. 
     “Toss them into the field over there.”
     “Tyler.” She chided. 
     He just grinned at her. 
     He opened the passenger side door for her, not offering a hand this time. She climbed in and let him shut it. She was alone in the cab for a moment. It smelled like him. And gun powder. 
     A second later he was in the driver’s seat. He immediately fumbled around behind him, making a satisfied sound. He turned back to her, producing a blanket. It was scratchy and small, but to Kate, it was heavenly. 
     Next he handed her a worn out charging cable. Plugged into the cigarette lighter. As god intended. 
     “It uh, only works if you hold it at a certain angle.” He explained. 
     “That’s fine.” 
     Her voice was quiet. It felt different being in his truck. They were closer during the conversation through the window, their faces had been inches apart. But now, now they were alone together, encapsulated in the darkness. 
     She wrapped the blanket around her shoulders as Tyler brought the truck back to life. It rumbled beneath her. Soothing. 
     A wave of fatigue crashed over her, causing her to yawn again. She pulled her knees into her chest and leaned her head against the seatbelt strap. 
     She was asleep before her phone turned back on.  

Chapter Text

TUESDAY

     Tyler tried to ignore the satisfied bubble in his chest. He was happy that she was safe. The fact that she’d agreed to come with him was just an added bonus. 
     He knew darn well he didn’t have any business chasing her down, especially after she’d looked at him like he was the grim reaper. 
     When Javi handed over the tablet, he was just planning on watching her location, making sure she got to Sapulpa safely. 
     Except she wasn’t going towards Supulpa. Or the airport. 
     Then he’d found himself in his truck going 90 in a 55, his eyes bouncing between the tablet and the road. When the little Kate Dot stopped moving, his heart beat matched the pace of the speedometer. 
     Had she hit a tree? Surely she wouldn’t try to hurt herself, right?
     Aside from being scared half to death by his knock, she had been perfectly fine. 
     Now she was asleep in the seat next to him, curled up and breathing softly. Tyler wasn’t sure when he had become preoccupied with her breathing, but he had. 
     His phone buzzed in his pocket. He answered it quietly. “Hi Lily.”
     “Hey. You alright?” She asked. 
     “I’m fine.” He reassured her. 
     “You took off quick there mister, I almost got Cairo out to look for you.” She scolded.
     “I know. I’m sorry.” He hadn’t meant to scare his friends. Not anymore than he already had tonight. 
     She didn’t speak for a moment. 
     “Did you find Kate?” she sounded tense. “I can see your phone’s location. It looks like you’re headed back into town.”
     “I found her, Lil. She’s with me.”
     “You didn’t kidnap her right?”
     Tyler chuckled. “She asked me that exact same question.” 
     “Good. Tell her I say hi.”
     “Will do.” He looked across the dark cab. Kate adjusted slightly, her head lolling to the side.  
     “Umm…” Lily hesitated on the other end of the line. “We’re just wrapping up here at the rodeo. None of us were wantin’ to drive back to Crystal River tonight, so we’re  checking motels round here.”
     “Sound’s good.”
     “Are you and Kate gonna stay with us?” She asked. 
     “Yeah, actually. I’m gonna drive her to Sapulpa in the morning.”
     Tyler thought he heard giggles in the background, then some hushing.
     “Okay, in that case. Oh, shut up Dani.” She sounded muffled. “Uh, we were just wondering how many rooms to get.”
     He could hear the suggestion in her voice. “Four of them, Lily.” He prayed Kate was really asleep. 
     He heard a scuffle and then Dani had the phone. “You know we could stick Ben with Boone. One for Lily and I. One for you and–”
     “Four rooms. I’ll pay for the extra.” Tyler maintained. 
     “Oh, like hell you will. We all like her.”
     “Thank you Dani.” 
     She hung up with a snicker. 
     Tyler drove slower on the way back into town, barely passing the speed limit. He tried to make use of the quiet moment to regulate his breathing. 
     His phone pinged. Lily had texted him the address of  a motel. It was only a 3 minute drive from their current location. He pulled into the lot slowly, trying not to jostle Kate.
     Tyler didn’t see the RV or the blue van there yet. He pulled into a vacant corner where they could set up camp. The door popped open quietly as he slid out of the truck. Kate might as well stay put while he checked in. She hadn’t moved an inch when he returned with a half dozen key cards. 
     He grabbed his duffle bag from the back before circling around to Kate’s side. He opened her door carefully, not wanting her to fall out. “Kate.” He whispered. “Kate wake up, we’re here.”
     “Go away,” she mumbled back, eyes still shut and blonde hair covering half her face. 
     He shook her shoulder. “C’mon, let’s get you inside.”
     She grumbled something about being comfy. 
     “You need me to carry you?” He said it as a taunt, but he had no qualms about following through. 
     She peeked one eye open, glaring at the harsh lights. “Fine, I’m coming.”
     He tossed his duffle strap over his shoulder and opened her door wider. He unplugged her phone and handed it to her. “Alright, come here sleepy pants.”
     She kept the blanket around her shoulders. She slumped out of the truck, one hand on the door handle, the other in his grasp. Once she was on the pavement, she didn’t let go. As they walked across the parking lot, she leaned her head against his forearm, nuzzling into him.
     “You’re warm,” she breathed. 
     He didn’t respond. He didn’t know how.
     Her room wasn’t far from the truck. He pulled her key card out of his pocket and stuck it into the reader. The light flashed green. 
     Kate pushed the door open, letting go of his hand and walking into the darkness. She flopped onto the center of the springy motel mattress. Tyler stepped inside, but left the door open. 
     He found a lamp on the bedside table and switched it on. He looked back to Kate. She had curled into a little heap facing away from the door. 
     “Kate, you have to get under the blankets.”
     “I have a blanket,” the heap responded. 
     She was technically correct, but his little blanket hardly covered all of her. “Fine, but you have to take your shoes off.”
     The little bundle squirmed. She tried half heartedly to kick her boots off. 
     He sighed with a smile. “Do you want me to do it?”
     She stuck her feet out in response. 
     He sat on the corner of the bed and undid the laces, arranging them at the foot of the bed. “Socks or no socks?” He asked. 
     She didn’t respond. Her breathing was slow and even. 
     “Socks on then.” He said aloud. They were cute, peppered with little cows in bonnets. 
     How had he thought this girl was a New Yorker?
     He stood, grabbing his bag. He grabbed the second key card from his pocket and placed both of them on the night stand. 
     “Kate, I’m gonna go.” He whispered. “I’ll see you in the morning.” 
     She made a soft noise of acknowledgement as he turned the lamp off and shut the door. 
     He only had to wait a minute or two in the parking lot for the rest of the wranglers to arrive. They looked beat.
     Lily gave him a mama bear hug. Dani joined in. Then everyone, including Ben, just stood in the parking lot and held each other. None of them saying anything. 
     Lily pulled away first, eyes a little misty. “Are you okay?”
     “I’m fine. Promise.”
     “And Kate?”
     “She’s okay. She’s asleep.”
     “We should be too.” Dexter said with false gruffness. “Now go away so I can get some shut eye before the sun comes back up.”
     Tyler handed out keys and everyone dissipated. He followed Boone to their room on the second floor. They had done this routine a hundred times in the years they’d known each other. Tyler always took the bed closest to the door. Boone got to shower first if he wanted. Tyler took longer. 
     The digital clock on the nightstand read 1:22 AM. He yawned as he dropped his stuff on the bed. “Shower?”
     “Nah, I’m good.” Boone yawned back. He looked haggard, blinking slowly. 
     “Kay, I’ll be quick.”
     “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Boone replied. 
     He did try to take a short shower. But grime had seeped into every little crevice. He washed his hair twice just to get the dirt out.
     When he stepped out, Boone had changed into a pair of shorts. They got ready in silence. Boone brushed his teeth while Tyler pulled on a pair of sweats and an old t-shirt.
     Tyler was plugging his phone charger in behind the nightstand when Boone broke the silence. “You sure you’re okay?” he asked. 
     Tyler considered how to answer. Overall, he really was okay. “Yeah, I’m good.” he responded. “I’m glad Kate’s safe.”
     “Course.”
     Tyler threw his worn clothes into their combined dirty laundry bag. He remembered wishing Boone was there with him in the pool earlier.      “Hey Boone, what does a panic attack look like?”
     Boone tilted his head. He didn’t seem bothered that Tyler had asked, more like he was trying to answer the best he could. “Depends on the person I’d guess. Seen people who swear they’re dying. Sometimes people get shaky. Lots of people cry. Others don’t have any of that. They just get all quiet like.”
     He looked over to Tyler with a sympathetic gaze. Tyler broke the eye contact, fiddling with his phone. “Have you ever had one?” He asked, looking down at his hands.
     “A couple.” Boone nodded. “They ain’t fun.” 
     “Right.” Tyler didn’t know what else to ask. Both of them had stopped getting ready for bed. 
     “Do you think you had one tonight?” Boone asked quietly. 
     “Me? No.” Tyler replied. “I was scared as hell, but no…” 
     Why am I being so awkward? 
     “I think Kate might have.” He explained. 
     “Yeah, that makes sense.” Boone speculated. 
     What did he mean by that? That Kate was weak? Having a reaction like that wasn’t weakness. It- it made her human.  
     He didn’t press Boone on it. They were friends. He didn’t want to make it weird. Instead he pulled down the covers and got into bed. Boone did the same. 
     Kate wasn’t weak.
     “Ready for the lights to be off?” Tyler asked. 
     “Go for it.”
     They sat in silence. He could hear Boone adjusting on the rock hard mattress. Tyler tried to get comfortable.  
     “Hey T?” Boone’s voice called out from the dark. 
     “Yeah?”
     “Never mind.” He sounded nervous. 
     That wouldn’t do. Tyler flipped back over and turned the light back on. “What?” 
     Boone looked at him with chagrin. “You shouldn’t have hit Javi.”
     That was not what he had expected. He expected something more along the lines of ‘Sorry for implying Kate was a pansy.’ Or even a classic ‘Glad you’re alive, I love you man.’  
     “What?” Tyler sputtered. 
     Boone didn’t say anything. 
     “B. He told her. To her face. That she killed her friends.” Tyler argued.
     “I know.”
     “No, you don’t know. You weren’t there.”
     “I know what he said.” Boone asserted. 
     “Well then what? You think that he’s right?” Tyler accused, pushing the covers off. 
     “Of course not,”
     “And what, I should have done nothing?”
     “That’s not what I said.” Boone’s voice was calm. It made Tyler agitated. 
     “Well. What are you saying?” Tyler faltered.
     “I’m sayin you shouldn’t‘ve hit him.” 
     “He was way out of line.” 
     “I agree. But when was the last time you hurled yur guts out after puttin’ your foot in you’re mouth.” Boone asked. 
     “Hardly counts as put–”
     “Tyler.” Boone interrupted. “I don’t think Kate was the only person who had a panic attack tonight.”
     Tyler was taken aback hearing his best friend call him by his first name.
     “They’re friends, T.” He continued. “Enough that she came back here to help him. I don’t know if us barging into their shit is helping any.”
     “It’s not like they’ve been handling it very well.” Tyler muttered. 
     “We don’t know that.” Boone pointed out. “Look man, I’m all for helpin’, I just think Javi could use some support too. 
     Tyler wanted say that it seemed like Javi was getting plenty of support from Marshall Riggs, but he managed to hold his tongue. 
     “I didn’t help with the relief effort tonight. At all.” Boone confessed. “I spent the last hour and a half talking Javi down from off’in himself. He cried in my arms and confessed his sins to me. All of ‘em. Even some real weird ones.” Boone looked at Tyler. “I know what he said to Kate because he told me.”
     “Is he okay?” Tyler asked apprehensive. 
     “I dunno. I found a StormPAR guy to take him back to their hotel.
     “It wasn’t Scott was it?” 
     “Fuck nah. That guy sucks.”
     “Good.” Tyler agreed. His hand where he had hit Javi’s jaw still stung. 
     “We okay?” Boone asked.  
     “Yeah. we’re good.” Tyler answered. “Do you want the light off?”
     “Sure.”
     Tyler turned the light off again and pulled up the covers. “Hey Boone, what did you mean when you said it made sense that Kate had a panic attack?”
     “Oh,” Boone’s disembodied voice responded.  “I guess that I’d be more surprised if she hadn’t had one. If I’d gone through what she had, I’d still be crying in that pool.”
     “Oh.” 
     “What’d you think I meant?” 
     Tyler rubbed his eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe that she was weak or something. 
     “Man, a course not.” Boone threw a pillow in his direction. “Hell, I think she’s brave for even being here.”
     “Me too.”
     “You like her?”
     Tyler could feel his cheeks reddening. He was grateful that the lights were off. “I don’t know.”
     “You like her.”
     “Good Night Boone.”

Chapter Text

WEDNESDAY

     Kate could feel the hook behind her navel. The striations in her arms. She begged it to stop. 
     She was unstable. Her hitched breathing fed the storm. As her panic got worse, so did the winds whipping around her. 
     “No. No, stop it.” 
     She just. She just needed to decrease the moisture. 
     Wasn’t that what her research had shown? 
     She needed to stop crying. 
     She tried. 
     She tried to stop the tears that fed the storm. She tried to hold her breath. Slow the wind speeds. 
     Ground yourself. 
     That’s what they recommended when you panicked.
     She looked down. She recognized her elementary school. The playground where she’d broken her arm as a child. The road leading to her mother’s house. 
     She was up high. So high. She could see the whole town. 
     Not here. Anywhere but here. She was going to kill people. 
     The cap broke. 
     She could feel herself stretching. Reaching towards the ground. 
     “Please no.”
     Her pleas were ignored. The storm formed around her. She touched down near the grocery store.
     Kate tried with all her might to pull North, towards empty fields. She managed to shift the path maybe 50 yards, narrowly missing the bank. 
     People looked at her with horror. They ran. 
     Surely they knew it was her. That she had come back and she was going to kill all of them this time. 
     She tried to tell them to run. To seek shelter. Get underground. 
     The wind drowned her voice out. 
     She saw the couple from the motel. In their Truck. Screaming. 
     There was nothing she could do as her winds swept them up and tossed them in the air. They crashed back down with a sickening crack. 
     She killed them. 
     The storm was moving. Her little nudge sent her spinning away from town. The path was headed East. 
     Oh God no. 
     The base of the tornado carefully followed the country road. Kate felt like a car with the break lines ripped out. 
     She couldn’t stop. 
     Her mother’s farm house came into view. The barn. The cows. 
     Please don’t be home. Be at the market. Be at Aunt Janet’s. Be anywhere but here!
     She spied lights on and her mother’s truck in the drive.  
     The storm was excited. Whispering in her ear. The little voices craved destruction, sang as objects were tossed into the sky. 
     Kate made a last ditch effort on the front porch. A strange sight. A furious tornado holding so still before a front door. As if waiting to be invited inside.
     Kate held. Straining against the wind shear. She couldn’t destroy her home. She wouldn’t 
     The storm grew impatient. Angry. Kate’s resolve was slipping. She tried to starve it. If she didn’t breathe, then it would suffocate, but by God she was desperate for air. 
     She inhaled against her will and the storm burst through the front door. She was everywhere at once. She flew through her mother’s living room. Flipping the furniture. Dashing to the kitchen. Ripping apart the gauzy curtains. The back corner of the pantry. Smashing all of her mother’s carefully mixed spices and splintering the wooden shelves. 
     Then she shot up the stairs. Breaking each and every frame on the way up. The storm couldn’t find her mother. It checked every room on the second floor. The wind reached into every jacket pocket. Yanked out every drawer. Slammed doors until there was one room left. 
Kate’s room was at the end of the hallway. Door shut neatly. The rest of the house was in pieces, but this sanctuary alone had been untouched. 
     The storm quieted. Kate watched as it slowly pushed her door open. Her mother sat inside, holding a photograph. She was crying. 
She looked up at the storm in the doorway.
     “I wanted to remember you, from before.” her mother whispered. 
     The storm peered at the photo. It was of Kate, just 16. 
     The storm howled. It lunged at Cathy. Pushing her up against the far wall. The two stared at each other. The storm hated her. Cathy glared right back. 
     “What did you do to my daughter?” She spat. 

     Kate knew she had been dreaming. She wiped her mother’s spit off her face. In actuality, they were her own tears. She took deep haggard breaths, reminding herself that her breathing didn’t impact the weather. 
     She had gotten tangled up in the top sheet and Tyler’s blanket. It pinned her down. 
     Her clothes were soaked in sweat. The bright green alarm clock read 4:39 AM.
     She fell out of the oversized bed and fumbled her way to the motel bathroom. She yanked off her twisted tank top, desperate to be free.
     The dream came crashing back down. The terror and abhorrence still lingered in her body. 
     It was a dream. She knew it was a dream. 
     But who dreamt about killing their own mother? 
     Kate slid to the floor, her back pressed uncomfortably against the vanity cabinet. She pulled her knees to her chest. She could still feel the strain in her muscles, trying to keep from damaging her mother’s house.  
     She felt a stab of pain—just below her collar bones. 
     Yesterday she had been disembodied. She’d hardly known where she was. 
     This was worse. 
     This wasn’t an ache or twinge. Not some temporary sting. 
     This was a constant thrum of white hot pain straight to her heart. Burning her slowly. 
     Kate fell onto the floor. Her limbs curled into the fetal position. She wasn’t even crying. She lay completely silent. 
     She sipped air. Her eyes shut tight, waiting for it to end. Her hands found her tank top lying next to her. Her fingers balled into fists, pulling and stretching the fabric. 
     She eventually got enough air to sob. The sound of her own voice was harrowing. High, drawn out vocalizations. 
     She pulled one hand away from her stomach to cover her mouth. 
     Revulsion flooded her. She imagined the adjacent rooms waking up. Tyler coming to check on her.  
     Maybe she did want that. 
     Absolutely not. 
     Hot tears finally started falling. 
     Kate acknowledged the dull pain in her hip. The bone had been digging into the floor.
     She coughed as she shifted, moving to a spread eagle position. She let the tears fall freely. They slid down either side of her face, into her ears and dampened her hair. 
     She tried to breathe. The pain still clawed at her. Like she was being struck by lighting, but oh so slowly. The pain rippled out from her core. Oscillating to her fingertips and toes, then back again. 
     With each sob, her head pounded. Forcing her eyes shut compounded the pressure building behind her temples. 
     She opened her eyes and attempted to unclench her jaw. 
     She turned her head to the side to stare at the  chipped linoleum flooring. 
     It was disgusting. 
     It grossed her out just enough to sit up. She was cold. The sweat on her skin had dried and the floor was cool. 
     Without standing, she turned on the tub faucet. As it warmed, she stripped off her remaining clothes. She gingerly lowered herself into the rising water. Stinging pain in her toes distracted her from the pain in her chest. 
     Kate replayed the last 24 hours in her mind. 
     The high of watching Tyler pick the wrong twin. Believing she could trust herself again. Having to force herself out of the truck to help Javi place the PAR. 
     Running into Tyler in Crystal River. Making such a fool of herself. 
     She could hardly stand to picture it. Accusing him of profiteering from t-shirts, all while lining the pockets of Marshal Riggs. 
     I’m an idiot.
     She buried her face in her hands. 
     Tyler had tried to point it out. He’d asked if she liked working for StormPAR. If she knew who she was working for. 
     Why had he come back for her? Taken her to the rodeo? She hadn’t even apologized. 
     Then she’d slipped right in front of him. 
     Kate didn’t slip in public. When she had nightmares at home, she’d push her mother away once she was conscious..  
     When she first started at NOAA, she’d slipped a few times. But those were always in bathrooms or  an empty conference room.  
     At least her mind had snapped back into place before Javi and Scott could see her.
     But Tyler had. He’d watched her completely fall apart. He’d held her together. He had treated her normally and asked her to come back. 
     How did he get under her skin so easily? He always asked her the exact question she hoped that he wouldn’t. It felt like being observed. Studied. 
     It made her want to hide.
     Kate’s mind pulled away from her thoughts as the water lapped at her knees. She turned off the tap. The movement created soft waves in the water. She let her hand move fluidly, following the small swells. 
     She noticed dirt had settled into the lines of her fingers. She rubbed at her skin, freeing the grime around each nail. Once she finished with one hand, she switched to the other. When her hands were sufficiently dirt free she moved on to her feet. 
     She spotted a packaged bar of soap on the shelf. As she washed, the water became darker and her breathing became smoother. She let the tub drain and turned on the shower. Massaging her hair helped with the headache; rinsing helped wash off the nightmare. When her hair was clean, she shut off the water. 
     As she reached for a towel it occurred to her that she didn’t have a clean change of clothes. She cringed at the idea of putting her dirty clothes back on. She obviously didn’t have anyone to borrow clothes from. It’s not like she could go out in a towel and buy a new outfit. 
She stepped out of the bath and wrapped herself in a towel. She picked up her tank top. It was originally white. Now it was a mix of gray and yellow. She couldn’t wear this.
     Feeling foolish, she refilled the tub. She gathered her clothes: her jacket, linen pants. tank top, socks, bra, and underwear. She took a deep breath and dumped them into the water. 
     She didn’t have detergent. Wasn’t clothing just made of hair fibers? And shampoo… No. That’s stupid. 
     The water was already an opaque brown. 
     Should I let it soak? 
10 minutes. She thought. I’ll let them soak for 10 minutes. 
     Kate realized she hadn’t had her phone since she fell asleep. She found it under one of the many pillows. It was now 5:06 in the morning and her phone was at 7%. She set a timer before googling ‘washing clothes in bathtub.’ She returned to the bathroom. The wind from the previous day had left her hair in a rat's nest. She didn’t have a brush so she ran her fingers through the mess. It took ages, and by the end, a good pile of hair sat on the counter. 
     Her timer buzzed quietly. 
     She shook her head as she knelt on the thin bath mats. 
     I’m insane. I’m washing my clothes in a tub. At the crack of dawn. Because…? 
     Tyler’s stupid face appeared in her mind, absurdly attractive. 
     Fucking dimples. 
     Her clothes were already wet. No turning back now. She rubbed the fabric together, agitating the dirt. It came out surprisingly well. She let the water drain and rinsed out the dirty water before refilling the tub. She lathered the bar of soap until her hands were red and irritated. The water was less brown this time. She rinsed a final time. 
     She rang each piece out. 
     Did she dare use the blow dryer? She didn’t want to wake anyone up. She decided the low setting would be safe. She laid a towel on the counter and set her clothes out on top. She dried each piece painstakingly slowly. She slipped on her bra and underwear once they were passable. It helped with feeling so exposed. She spent the next 20 minutes drying her pants. Flipping them over. Pressing the blow dryer right into the fabric. 
     Getting dressed the rest of the way settled her stomach. She was Kate Carter. She was a professional. An adult. 
She stared at her reflection in the mirror.  Her eyes looked fish-like. The skin around her nose was splotchy and red. 
Her hair was already starting to dry. If she didn’t style it, her bangs would puff up backwards. She had to rewet her bangs to get them to lay correctly. It wasn’t great, but it would have to do. She did her best to style the rest of her hair with the blow dryer and her hands. She felt best when it was straight, but the soft waves weren’t terrible. 
     She brushed her teeth with her finger and used half the bottle of lotion on her dry skin. She pointedly avoided the raised skin of her thigh. 
She checked the time on the alarm lock. 5:38 AM. Her mom would be up by now to tend to the cows.
     Her phone was at 5% now. 
     She navigated to her missed calls. She had about 10 from her Mother in the last month. She hesitated before hitting redial.
     Her mother answered on the second ring. “Kate?” 
     “Hi mom” Her voice was scratchy from disuse, but Kate was pleased that she sounded cheery. 
     “Hi Hon. It's a little early— guess it’s later in New York, what's going on?”
     “Um, I’m actually not in New York.”
     “Oh, where are you?”
     “I’m in Stillwater.”
     “Stillwater, Oklahoma?” 
     “Yeah.” 
     “Oh.” She heard Cathy swallow. “Are you chasing again?”
     “No. Not really.” Kate should have thought of a better answer. She should have known her mother would ask. 
     “Huh.”
     Silence. 
     “Do you think you could stop by the farm before you head back?”
     “Uh, yeah. I think I should be there sometime today. If that’s alright.”
     “Do you need me to come get you?”
     “No, that’s okay. I’ve got a ride from a friend.” She had to blink tears away. 
     “Is it Javi? He was here a few weeks back.”
     “Uhh, no. It's someone else.” 
     “Okay.”
     “I—” Kate’s voice cracked. “Um, would it be okay if I stayed for a few days?”
     “Honey of course. I’ll get your room made up.” Her mother’s tone was kind, but full of questions. 
     “Thanks Mama.”
     “Alright. Hey, are you okay?”
     “I’m fine. I’ll see you when we get there. I gotta go.” 
     Kate hung up quickly, drying her tears and censuring herself for letting them fall in the first place. 

Chapter Text

WEDNESDAY

     Tyler didn’t stir until Boone’s obnoxious snoring woke him. His eyes were crusted with sleep and his limbs felt heavy. He groped for his phone on the nightstand, nearly falling out of bed when his brain registered the time. 
     Ten a.m. 
     He had intended to be up before eight. 
He tugged on clothes, styled his hair and threw the rest of his stuff into his duffle. He ran down the metal stairs to Kate’s door, but then hesitated before knocking. 
     She was exhausted last night. He didn’t want to wake her if she was still asleep. 
     He opted for knocking softly, if she was still out,  hopefully it wouldn't bother her. 
     The chipped brown door swung open before his hand finished knocking.
     Kate looked perfect. Her blond hair fell over her shoulders in soft waves. Her brown eyes looked up at him with a warm smile. “Mornin’.” 
     Her accent was getting more and more pronounced. She looked refreshed. Completely awake. Whatever panic had dragged her down the night before was fully gone. 
     He was staring. “Uh, sorry.” He laughed. “I didn’t mean to sleep in so late.”
     “S’all right.” She said lightly. “Haven’t been up long.”
     “Are you ready to hit the road?” Tyler asked. 
     “Yeah, let me grab my stuff.” She ducked back into the room. 
     Tyler leaned against the door frame. The bed had been stripped. The sheets and bedding lay in a heap by the door along with neatly tied garbage sacks. 
     Someone had a productive morning. 
     She flipped all the lights off and returned with her phone, room keys and his blanket folded under one arm. “Okay.” 
     “They have a continental breakfast. Did you want to grab something to eat?” Tyler asked as she shut the door. 
     “Sure.”
     They walked side by side down the cracked sidewalk to the front office. The breakfast corner was crowded, but Tyler wasn’t surprised to see that none of the other Wrangler’s were there. 
     Kate checked out of her room while Tyler waited in line for the waffle maker.
     “Where are all your friends?” she asked as they sat down at a vacant table in the corner. 
     “If I had to make a prediction, still asleep.” Tyler answered, smothering his waffle in syrup. “I wouldn’t exactly call us morning people.”
     She nodded contemplatively. “Do they know you’re giving me a ride?”
     “Yeah, they know. Boone’ll probably still be asleep by the time I get back.” He reassured her. “Does your family know you’re coming?”
Kate’s face was impassive. “I called my mom this morning.” Her eyes wandered to the clouds outside. 
     Tyler finished his waffle and healthy pile of rubbery eggs. It didn’t escape his notice that Kate only ate half a poppyseed muffin.
     “Ready?” He asked. 
She nodded and threw the other half of the muffin in the trash. He held the door for her as they left the lobby and walked across the cracked asphalt. Tyler unlocked the truck. 
     “I can take that,” He offered, referring to the folded blanket she still held in her arms. He tossed in the blanket and his duffle before circling to the driver’s side.
     The daylight revealed what an absolute mess his truck was. 
     We put this on the internet?
     Chocolate smothered switches. The floor littered with loose debris from previous storms. Tyler prayed Kate didn’t open the glove compartment. 
     She sat primly in the passenger seat, belt buckled. She stood out in his grimy cab. Clean and soft. 
     Hang on. 
     “Did you wash your clothes?”
     Kate looked at him, surprised. “No.”
     You’re a real idiot Owens. 
     He turned over the motor and backed out of the parking space. “Right.”
     Luckily she changed the subject. “Do you want me to navigate?”
     “On your phone, yes.” He chuckled,“I don’t know if I trust your instinctual navigation skills after last night.”
     “Fair enough.” She conceded.
     He hadn’t meant it as an insult. Why did it land like one?
     Where was her biting wit from last night?
     “You’ll hang a right out the parking lot.” Her voice was even. 
     “Kay.”
     “Then in half a mile you’ll take a left onto highway 51.” She added. 
     The road took them through the main part of town. They could see some evidence of the storm, overturned trees and some damaged fences. 
     Tyler glanced over to Kate, her eyes were glued outside.
     He made the second left turn. “Now what?” he asked. 
     She tore her eyes away from the dusty windows and down to her phone. “Now you drive straight for 37 miles. We’ll be there around noon.”
     “Sounds good.”
     He readjusted in his seat and set the cruise control. She didn’t move. They drove in silence as they left Stillwater behind. 
     “Do you want to play some music?” He asked.
     “Okay,” she snagged the cord and plugged in her phone. “What do you want to listen to?”
     “Whatever you like.” He smiled. 
     Her nose scrunched as she flipped through her phone. It was adorable.
     Soft music started over the speakers, a welcome reprieve from the ear piercing bass that usually played from his stereo.  
     Tyler checked the clock. He had less than an hour with her. “You know, I’m still waiting for that iced tea you promised me.” He informed Kate seriously.  
     She looked confused. “Oh, right.” her face flushed. “Sorry.”
     It was his turn to look confused. “Don’t worry about it.”
     Had he done something wrong last night?
     Lily and Dani would have his ass if he had been anything less than respectful. So would Boone. And probably Dexter. 
     He replayed their interaction from the night before. Maybe she was upset about him hitting Javi. He couldn’t fault her for that. Maybe she was annoyed that he had kept her from driving home last night. He entertained the idea that she had wanted him to stay the night with her. 
     That one was quickly dismissed. 
     The silence stretched on. He checked the clock again. 
     10:55 a.m. 
     The song changed. 
     “Simon and Garfunkel.” Tyler said aloud. 
     “What?” Kate looked over at him. 
     “Cecilia, the song.” He explained, gesturing to the radio. “It’s by Simon and Garfunkel.”
     “Oh. Yeah.” She ran a hand through her soft hair. “I only know a few of their songs.”
     The conversation died again.
     The drive seemed to drag on and simultaneously fly by. They didn’t have any plans to see each other after this.
     “Are you heading back to New York?” He asked, hoping it wasn’t an invasive question.
     “Yeah, I was only going to be out here for a week anyway.”
     “So just a temporary thing with StormPAR, then?”
     “I think Javi wanted more, but I like my life in New York. And he didn’t tell me about Marshall Riggs.”
     “I figured.” 
     He also figured that Javi wanted a lot more from Kate. 
     “Right.” She looked down at her phone. “Um, you’re gonna turn right onto highway 48 in about 3 miles.”
      As they got closer to Sapulpa, she seemed to get fidgety, twisting her hands in her lap, her eyes becoming unfocused. Tyler had the strong desire to hold her hand, just to reassure her. 
     Her nervousness was infectious. He found himself gripping the steering wheel tighter. 
     11:20 a.m.
     He wondered about her home, where she grew up. Did she have siblings? What were her parents like? His stomach twisted at the idea of meeting her father. 
     It’s not like she’s your girlfriend bringing you home for Christmas.  
     He looked down at his outfit. He had dressed in such a hurry. He was wearing his least favorite shirt, the one that Lily told him washed him out. At least he’d styled his hair. 
     “You’ll take your next left,” Kate said. “Highway 33.” Her hands sat in her lap, folded tightly. Her breathing was steady, but shallow. 
     Maybe she didn’t get along with her family?  
     Tyler tried to focus on the song playing, but he didn’t recognize the melody.
     11:51 a.m.
     If he was going to say anything it needed to be now. 
     He wanted to tell her it was okay that she’d had a panic attack. 
     He wanted to apologize for punching Javi. 
     He wanted to know if she was okay.
     11:57 am
     His mouth was dry. 
     His mind wandered back to the night before. Her head against his shoulder as they crossed the parking lot. Her hand in his. 
     She directed him to a country road leading away from downtown Sapulpa. 
     Should he say goodbye? That he was glad they had met? Good luck with her future endeavors? 
     “It’s the white house on the left,” She pointed. “You can just pull into the drive."
     12:00 p.m.
     Time was up.  
     It was a small craftsman style house, well worn but clearly taken care of. Little blue flowers bloomed on the bushes lining the foundation. 
     Kate was out of her seat before he had put the truck into park. A brunette woman waited on the sidewalk. She pulled Kate into a tight embrace. 
     It would be weird if he didn’t get out and say hello, right?
     He rolled his eyes as he pushed open his door. He stepped out onto the gravel and walked around to the other side. Unsure of what to do, he leaned his shoulder against the body of the truck and popped a foot up on the front tire. 
     What had gotten into him? Tyler Owens was not awkward.
     He watched the door to the house, waiting to see if anyone else joined the reunion. 
     The woman, he assumed she was Kate’s mom, pulled away from the hug, rubbing Kate's shoulder softly. She shot an easy smile at Tyler. 
     “Who’s your friend?” She asked.
     Kate looked flustered. 
     Tyler pushed off the truck and sauntered forward. “I’m Tyler, ma’am. Pleasure to meet you.” He shook her hand. 
     “Oh, the pleasure’s all mine.” She corrected. “I’m Cathy.”
     “Nice to meet you Cathy, you must be Kate's sister.” Tyler said brightly. 
     Cathy grinned. “I’m clearly her mother, but I’ll gladly take the compliment.” They both turned to Kate who was distracted by her childhood home, looking pale.
     “It’s all still here.” She whispered. 
     “It’s only been four years, Katie-Bug.” Cathy laughed. “I hope it hasn’t gotten too dilapidated in your absence.”
     Kate shook her head. “No, sorry.”
     Cathy didn’t seem ruffled. “Is your luggage in the truck?” 
     Kate glanced up at Tyler. “Uh, no… it’s—”
     Tyler explained for her. “We got caught in a tornado last night. Her stuff was collateral damage.”
     Cathy’s face fell. “Oh darling.” She pulled Kate into another hug. “Alright, we’ll get you figured out.” 
     Kate shrugged. “It’s fine, just stuff.” 
     Cathy still looked concerned. “Okay then. Let's get you settled on in.” She started walking towards the house before she turned around. “Oh, Tyler. Can you stay for lunch? I made brown sugar brisket.” 
     Tyler’s stomach grumbled, but he spoke before he had a chance to think. “That sounds delicious, but I actually have to get back to my team.” 
     “Of course. Thanks for bringing Kate home.”
     “No problem.”
     “Thank you.” Kate said sincerely. 
     He held eye contact with her for a moment longer before getting back into the truck. 

     The discomfort in Tyler’s chest grew as he drove farther away from Kate’s house. 
     He studied the town where she’d grown up. An elementary school where kids played during recess. He pictured a ten year old Kate running around the playground. A bunch of restaurants in a neat row. He wondered which was her favorite. Did she miss any of it or had she just been eager to get away?
     It didn’t matter. It wasn’t any of his concern. She was home safe. She wasn’t crying in an empty pool or stranded on the side of the road. She would be alright. 
     Once he merged onto the freeway, Tyler pulled out his phone to call Boone. 
     “Well hello there mister. Was wonderin’ when we’d hear from you.” Boone sang. 
     “Hey, Boonie Baby. Where you guys at?” Tyler asked. 
     “We’re at the Stillwater fairgrounds. The city’s got a clean up effort going on. Whereabouts are you?”
     “I”m just leaving Sapulpa. I’ll be there in an hour.” Tyler responded as he changed lanes. 
     “Kate witchya?” Boone prompted. 
     Tyler laughed at the absurdity, “No, I dropped her off.” 
     “Fan-diddly-tastic! Lily and Dani just lost twenty bucks each.” Boone whooped. 
     “What for?”
     “We got a lil bet goin’. I bet that Kate would stay in Sapulpa and you’d be comin’ back alone.” Boone explained. 
     “And what did Lily and Dani bet?” Tyler asked. 
     “Lily bet that you’d be spendin’ the night in Sapulpa. An’ Dani bet that Kate would spend the day with her ma, an come back with you.” Boone continued. 
     “Why would she want to come all the way back?” Tyler laughed. “I literally just drove her home.” 
     “Are you shittin’ me?” Boone asked 
     “What? No. Besides, you literally bet money that she wouldn’t.” 
     “I bet money that she wouldn’t, tonight.” Boone clarified. “I figured she’d need a few days. An I was right.” He sounded pretty satisfied with himself.  “So when are ya gonna see her again??” 
     “She’s not coming back, Boone.  She’s headed to New York.”
     “What?”
     “It’ll be good for her to get out of here.” Tyler decided to change the topic. “StormPAR still around?”
     “Yeah, I’ve seen ‘em fiddling with their sensor thingies. I think one got damaged.” 
     “Did Javi seem okay?” Tyler asked cautiously. He still felt bad after their conversation last night. 
     “He was there, but I didn’t get a chance to talk to em.”
     “Alright.” Tyler answered solemnly. 
     “Hey T, I gotta go, I’m taking over for Lily at the food stand. I’ll see you when ya get back okay?”
     “Sure thing, B.” 
     He drove in silence, but continuously hummed the chorus of Cecilia. When he noticed, he turned on the radio. 
     30 minutes later Tyler pulled up to what remained of the fairgrounds. He parked next to the van. He found Lily and Dex pulling food and paper products out of the RV. 
     “So no Kate?” Lily shouted over the sound of garbage trucks and sirens. 
     “Nah.” Tyler shook his head. 
     “Damn.” she grumbled. “I wanted another woman to hang out with.” 
     “What about me?” Dani objected, walking over to the group.
     “Dani, you're more masculine than Boone, Dex, and Tyler combined.” Lily complained.
     “Aw, thanks love.” Dani smiled. 
     “You’re welcome.” Lily gave her a kiss on the cheek. 
     Tyler surveyed the area looking for Boone, expecting him to be at the food service table. “Where’s Boone at?” Tyler asked
     “He went to help Ben organize volunteers,” Dexter said, opening up a variety box of Lay’s chips. 
     “Gotcha.”
     “Oh, hey.” Dani addressed Tyler. “I volunteered the truck to tow wreckage off the streets.”
     “Sure, where at?” Tyler asked while walking back to the truck. 
     “Oh, no you don’t.” Dani ran after him. “You left to play hooky with City Girl. My turn.” She held out her hand for the keys with a gleam in     her eyes. 
     Tyler gave a huff, but handed over the keys. “Do you want help?” he asked. 
     “Nope!” She hollered, climbing into the front seat. “I got it.”  
     Instead, Tyler spent the next 3 hours handing out sloppy joes and bottled water to emergency responders and volunteers with Lily. 
     He heard from the news crew that there were 4 fatalities so far with a couple people in the ICU. 2 horses and a bull had been killed. 3 nearby houses had been pretty torn up, plus Kate's old motel and the fair grounds themselves. The damage was easily in the tens of millions of dollars. He was sure Marshall Riggs was pissing himself with glee. 
     Around 4 in the afternoon Ben and Dexter came to swap them out. He and Lily headed to the collapsed structure of the motel. Tyler couldn’t help his eyes wandering to the empty pool as they passed. 
     A woman in a FEMA vest spoke into a megaphone to the crowd of gathered volunteers. “Water, gas and electricity has been turned off. There are safety paths in and out of the wreckage. Please do not deviate from them. We are looking for personal items, documents, and valuables. Don’t bother taking anything else out such as bedding, decor, or furniture. If you find anything, please return it to the white tent. Masks and gloves are required.”
     He and Lily put on PPE and entered what used to be the south wing of the motel. Together they picked through destroyed hotel rooms, gathering the occasional suitcase and backpack. Most everything was trashed.  
     Tyler finally got eyes on Boone among the wreckage. He was walking through the remnants of the rodeo stands with someone Tyler didn’t recognize. It took him a minute to realize it was Javi. He just wasn’t wearing his stupid Storm PAR get up.  
     Once the sun dipped below the trees, the woman with the megaphone announced they were closing off the whole block until morning. 
He and Lily dropped their haul off at the designated tent and helped Dex pack up the food table. Tyler caught sight of Boone and Javi still standing in the rodeo grounds. 
     “I’ll be right back” He told Lily and Dexter before setting off to collect his best friend. Once he got close enough, he could see the bruising of Javi’s black eye. Guilt tightened his throat. 
     “Hey B, they’re shutting this place down. We’re heading out.”
     Boone smiled at Tyler. “I’m actually gonna go grab some food. Javi says there’s a pretty good diner in town.”
     “Nice. I’ll tell the rest of the crew.”
     Boone was looking at him weird. And shifting his gaze to a pile of twisted metal behind Javi. 
     “What?”
     Boone shook his head and laughed. “Javi and I are gonna get dinner together, kay?” 
     Ah. 
     “Right…” Tyler said with a nod.
     Javi was avoiding eye contact and Boone seemed to find the whole conversation hilarious. 
     “Night then, Boone.” He felt his face flush. “Javi.”
     He drove back to their motel with Dani, riding in the passenger seat. Where Kate had sat just hours earlier. 

Chapter Text

THURSDAY

     “So you do live here?” 
     Kate took a deep breath and tried to figure out a different way to explain her situation. “No. I used to live here. And I had an Oklahoma license, but then I got a New York license.” 
     “So you’re renewing your Oklahoma license?” The DMV employee asked. Her crooked name tag read ‘Leigh-Anne’. 
     “Maybe?” Kate considered. “Is there like a temporary ID I could get?” She’d read online that that was an option in some states. 
     “Why’d you get a New York license?” Leigh-Anne looked befuddled.
     “Because I moved there?” Kate answered impatiently.
     “But you’re moving back?”
     “No.” Kate closed her eyes for a moment. “I live in New York. And I’m staying there. But I lost my ID here. And I need a new one.” 
     Kate had taken the earliest appointment the DMV offered. She’d driven the 30 minutes to Tulsa  in her mother’s truck wearing one of her old blouses in the event she needed her picture taken. Memories of getting her learners permit kept plinking up. 
     “If you’re a resident of New York, you’ll need to apply for a new ID there.” Leigh-Anne explained.
     “Right. Except I can’t get to New York without an ID. And I have a flight in 2 days but I can’t get on it without identification.” Kate responded with a frown.
     “The TSA is able to use a valid passport as identification.”
     “I don’t have my passport with me.” 
     “How bout a credit card or a utility bill? If you’re traveling domestically you can use those too.” Leigh-Anne offered. 
     “My whole wallet is gone. And I don’t happen to have a utility bill on me.”
     “Did you try looking for your wallet? Sometimes it’s just been misplaced.” 
     “It, uh, got eaten by a tornado,” Kate stumbled out. 
     “Really?” Leigh-Anne’s whole face lit up. “These storms are getting crazy, right? I’ve been watching the news non-stop. Did you see that 5 people died in Stillwater a few days ago?”
     Five?
     Kate could feel the blood drain from her face. “Thanks for your help. I’ll figure something out.” She choked out as she walked away from the linoleum counter. 
     “Sure thing hon.” Leigh-Anne called after her. 

     Kate spent the drive back trying not to catastrophize. “It’s okay. It’s fine.” She told herself. “I am going to get out of this state if it fucking kills me.”
     After Tyler dropped her off, she immediately logged on to her mother’s computer to block her credit and debit cards. When that was done, she tried figuring out how to apply for a FEMA case number. An hour of research later, she determined it probably wasn’t worth the effort. It was unlikely she’d hear back for ages and who knows if she’d even get a reimbursement. 
     She hadn’t lost much, except all her best clothes. She’d splurged on a few good pieces in an effort to look like a real adult. Replacing those would burn a hole in her already meager savings. She’d be wearing H & M polyester slacks for the next year if she wanted to keep seeing her psychiatrist. 
     She didn’t even consider asking her mom for money. It wasn’t necessarily that Cathy couldn’t afford it. The farm did well and she lived frugally, but the idea of needing help made Kate sick to her stomach. 
     Her mother did alright yesterday. Between peppering her with questions about Tyler and Javi, she kept slipping plates of food next to Kate as she worked. 
     Cathy had put fresh linens on Kate’s bed upstairs, but when Kate stepped into her old room, the flood of memories forced her right back out. Instead she settled into the guest bedroom on the main floor. She had slept in there that summer after the EF5. She couldn’t walk up the stairs on her injured leg. 
     Two more nights. Then she’d be back to New York. That is if she could figure out a way to get there. 
     She bit her lip as she pulled into her mother’s driveway. She didn’t bother locking the truck as she walked up the porch steps. Maybe she had an old ID laying around her mom’s house. She still looked like a twelve year old, maybe she could get by with her highschool lunch card.  
     Kate walked inside to find her mother holding a feather duster and the home phone she refused to give up. 
     “Oh, hi Hon. There are chicken salad sandwiches in the fridge.” Her mother hummed. She walked through the living room with the phone tucked between her ear and shoulder. 
     “No, not you. I was talking to Kate.” Her mom opened the hall closet and swapped the feather duster for a dustpan and broom. “Yeah, she’s here for a work project.”
     Blood froze on the way to her brain. Kate hadn’t considered other people knowing she was here. Just letting her mom know was difficult enough. 
     “It’s just a few days. She might not have time to come over.” Cathy kept talking.
     Kate’s anxiety screeched. No. Stop! 
     Cathy closed the closet door with her hip. “I don’t know, I'll ask.”
     Something oily twisted in her gut. “Mom.” 
     “Sorry, sorry, I’m going,” Cathy waved her hand half heartedly, heading back towards the kitchen. 
     Kate grabbed her mother’s arm. “No.” she snapped. 
     “Honey? What?” Cathy asked, finally turning and looking at her. 
     “Who’s on the phone?” Kate asked in a hushed tone. 
     “It’s Aunt Janet.” Her mother looked confused, which just pissed Kate off more. 
     Cathy’s attention returned to the phone. “Hold on Janet, I missed that last part.”
     Kate swiveled to get in front of her mother again. “Why did you do that?” 
     “Do what?” Cathy asked. 
     A muffled voice kept talking through the phone. “No Jan, not you.” Cathy corrected, struggling to keep up with both conversations. 
     Exasperation forced the patience from Kate’s mind. “Why did you tell her I’m here?” She begged. 
     Cathy stepped backwards. “Honey, it's fine. It’s just Janet.” She reassured. “I’m still here. Yes, you told me about the mailbox.” 
     “Mom!” Kate shouted. 
     Cathy turned back, startled. “Kate?!” Imitating the same tone of voice. 
     “Please for the love of God. Will you just listen to me?” Kate cried, emotion raising her voice an octave. 
     Cathy took a sharp breath and spoke quickly into her phone, “Hey. Janet let me call you back. Yep, no I know. Yep. Kay. Bubye.” She ended      the call and studied her daughter. “What’s going on?” 
     “Why did you tell her I was here? I didn’t even want you to know I was here. And now Aunt Janet knows. Which means everyone knows.”
     “Janet’s excited that you’re home.”
     “No she’s not.” Kate scoffed.  “Janet doesn’t give a fuck that I’m here.”
     “Honey, that’s not true.” 
     “No you’re right.” Kate rolled her eyes. “She’s ecstatic that I’m here. Now she can barter gossip from Grandma cause she knows that the family felon is back in the state.”
     “Kate, you are not a felon.” 
     “I should be.” She was pleased with the edge her voice had regained. 
     “Why?”  
     “If I had killed three people while drunk driving I’d be a felon.” Kate answered. 
     “You didn’t kill three people.” Her mom insisted. 
     “No? Then why doesn’t Addy come around any more?”
     “Katie.” Her name was accompanied by the look of pity, the kind you gave broken things.  
     Tears slipped down her face, but Kate paid them little mind. “What did you think this was going to be? That I’d finally come back, we’d have a grand homecoming?” The sharp barbs eased the tension in her ribs. “I’m not moving back. And I’m not all better.”
     “Kate, I know that.”
     “Then start acting like it.” Kate admonished, before stomping to the guest bedroom. 
     Hidden from view. 
     By herself. 
     Just like she wanted. 
     Congratulations Kate. You did it. 
     It was too colorful here. Too familiar. She felt exposed at every angle. Like a tooth with a gaping cavity. Flinching at every touch. 
     That’s what she was. A cavity. A decaying hole. 
     If she couldn’t pull the tooth, she needed to contain it, cap it. New York was good for that. Keeping her steady. She desperately missed her apartment. It was made up of soft washes of gray and white. Memorabilia stayed safely tucked in boxes. Something about being there let her get a full breath of air. Even if the air was disgusting. 
     Her tongue ran along her cheek, she tasted where she bit herself during the Stillwater tornado. She must have reopened the wound. 
     Maybe her mom could call Aunt Janet and tell her urgent business called Kate back to New York and she was already gone. Best to just forget she was ever here. 
     Revulsion flooded down her back at the idea of people thinking about her.
     A memory of first grade sprung up. She had laughed so hard at Michael Caldocott’s impression of their teacher, she had accidentally wet her pants. Her cheeks on fire. Her hands going numb. Alisia Gentry had noticed and laughed. Everyone at recess saw. It still made her squirm. 
     What must Michael and Alisia think of her now? The girl who pissed herself went on to orchestrate the local tragedy? 
     The thought made her burn. 
     She stared at the popcorn ceiling. Even people she didn’t know thought about her. They stared at her in public. Her mom had once forced her out of the house, a month after the EF5 to get groceries. Kate had felt eyes on her up and down each aisle. The fucking cashier said she was sorry while she scanned the items. 
     Your soul is permanently dislocated and there is now an impenetrable wall between you and the rest of humanity. Sorry.
     Kate had left the store empty handed and crying. That night she’d applied to all seven NOAA offices. 
     She curled on to her side, under the cool sheets. She turned on her phone and tried to find something to distract herself with. She didn’t really want to watch the next episode of The Night Agent. She’d binged half the first season last night, and frankly the plot went downhill after episode two. She exited the Netflix app. 
     After opening Youtube, she typed quickly before her sense of decency stopped her. 
     ‘TORNADO WRANGLERS’
     Their channel was listed at the top, followed by some of their most popular videos. She had expected the thumbnails to be highly saturated and accompanied by click baity titles. These were almost… respectable. 
     Kate scrolled through their most recent uploads. She clicked on one titled: ‘Truck Set Up | What We Use To Stay Safe Chasing Tornadoes’.
     “Howdy folks! Today we thought we’d show you—”
     Kate paused the video immediately upon hearing Tyler's voice. 
     She swiped back to Netflix and started episode five of the Night Agent.
     Before she was ready, a knock sounded on the door. “Kate?” 
     “I’m in here.” she called back, sitting up on the bed.
     Her mom entered with a plate of food piled high. “Do you want to talk about it yet?” Cathy asked. 
     Kate’s annoyance sparked so quickly it shocked her. It took a deep breath to be able to squash it back down. “Okay,”
     Cathy set the plate down on the bed side table. Baked beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sliced turkey. 
     Kate gave her mother a pointed look. “Momma, it’s May, not November.”
     Cathy looked unbothered. “What? I haven’t had you for Thanksgiving in ages.”
     Kate shook her head, but knew she’d already tested her mother’s patience. “I’ll let it slide.”
     Her mother nudged her over then sat next to her on the bed. “I didn’t consider you not wanting people to know you were here. I’m sorry.”      She apologized. 
     “No. it’s okay. I just…” Kate faltered. “I don’t know.” 
     Cathy bumped into her shoulder. “I know.”
     “Still, I didn’t mean what I said.” 
     “I know, Hon.” 
     “I’m sorry.” Tears stung the corners of her eyes. “I don’t know what’s happening to me. I’m all over the place. I used to be so solid and consistent and now—” a very ugly sniffle escaped, “Now I’m just a wet paper towel.” She broke into tears for the third time in as many days.  
     “Oh, Katie-Bug. You’re not a paper towel.” Cathy insisted, pulling her daughter into an awkward hug. “You’re like…” She thought for a second. “You’re like an old mop.” 
     “Excuse me?” Kate coughed. 
     “You know. You’re a little wrung out, but you’re still functional. You’re dependable. You just need a good rinse and dry.”
     “Thanks.” Kate accepted with a laugh. “I don’t think Tyler’s interested in mops.” She said without thinking. 
     Cathy made a sly look. 
     “Please don’t.” Kate protested. 
     “Fine. Fine.” She chuckled. 
     Desperate to change the conversation, Kate sat up. “So how’s Aunt Janet?” 
     “Oh, Terrible.” Cathy shook her head. “Her neighbors hit her mailbox.”
     “Again?” 
     “Yep. I’m trying to convince her to move it to the other side of her driveway.” 
     Kate closed her eyes, picturing her Aunt Janet’s front yard. “If she moved it, she could grab the mail while staying in the car.”
     “I know, I told her that. But apparently the mailbox clashes with her zinnias so she can’t put it over there.”
     “Couldn’t she get a new one that matched?” Kate asked. 
     “I don’t know.” 
     “God.” 
     “How’d the DMV go?”
     Kate shook her head 
     “You could rent a car and drive back.” her mom suggested. 
     “You need a valid driver’s license to rent a car.” Kate shot down.
     “Greyhound?” 
     “I googled it. They check IDs too.”
     “Damn.” 
     Kate nodded her head and traced her finger along the top sheet. 
     Cathy looked up at the ceiling. “Alright. I’ll call Preston and his boys.”
     “What?” Kate asked. 
     “Well somebody’s gotta watch the cows while I’m gone.”
     “Where on earth are you going?”.
     “I’m driving you back, of course.”
     “Mama, you can’t do that.”
     “What else are you gonna do? Hitch hike?” Cathy chuckled. 
     Kate shrugged. 
     “Okay. I’ll go call. We can leave bright and early tomorrow morning and get you back before work on Monday.”
     “Thank you, Mama.” 
     “And I’m not sorry I told Janet you were here.”
     Kate gave her mother an indignant look. 
     “I am sorry I didn’t consider how you’d feel.” Cathy clarified. “But you’re not anyone’s dirty secret, darling.” 

Chapter Text

THURSDAY

     The bell chimed as Tyler stepped into the Taco Bell. He spotted Javi eating a crunch wrap supreme by himself in a corner booth. A little sad if he was honest. Tyler moved quietly through the near empty restaurant and slid into the booth. 
     Javi flinched, choking on a piece of tortilla.  
     Tyler put his palms out in front of him. “Relax, I just came to apologize.”
     Javi swallowed harshly. “For scaring the shit out of me? Thanks.”
     “No.” Tyler grunted. 
     Calm down, calm down. You need this to work. 
     “For the other thing.” Tyler clarified. 
     “This thing?” Javi pointed to his now swollen eye. 
     “Yeah,” Tyler paused, “and everything else.”
     Javi stared at him. “Did Boone put you up to this?”
     “He told me off, but he didn’t tell me to apologize.” Tyler steeled himself with a deep breath. “Look. I got in the middle of things and I shouldn’t of.”
     “Okay.” Javi conceded. He sounded despondent. 
     Tyler glanced up. “Okay?”
     “Is Kate doing alright?” he asked softly. 
     Tyler shrugged. “I hope so.”
     “But you’re not sure?”
     “No. I haven’t really talked to her.”
     “Why not?”
     “Because… She's in Sapulpa?”
     “Why should that matter?”
     Tyler stared at Javi for a second with a confused look on his face. 
     “Never mind.” Javi sighed and put down his half eaten taco burrito monstrosity.  “I fucked things up with Kate. And I’ll probably never see her again. And despite what our last interaction might suggest, I actually care a lot about her.”
     Tyler nodded. “I know that. And she knows that. She cares a lot about you too. Enough to drag herself out here even though it’s tearing her apart.”
     Javi looked surprised. “What are you talking about?” 
     “She’s had at least two panic attacks since she’s gotten here. She’s terrified of tornadoes, Javi.”
     “No she’s not.” Javi objected. “She was just fine after Stillwater. And after the other two.” 
     “Was she?”
     “You don’t know her, Owens. That girl loves tornados.”
     “Yeah and then one killed a bunch of your friends. Don’t you think that would strain the relationship a bit?”
     “Hey, don’t talk about our friends that way, asshole. You don’t know shit. You’ve known Kate for 2 days. I’ve known her for 6 years. She’s not scared of them. And neither am I.”
     Tyler shook his head. “Okay, I’m not even going to engage with that last statement. And even if you weren’t scared of them, you fucking should be.” 
     “I don’t even know why I’m talking to—”
     “Jesus Christ, StormPAR, I can’t believe I’m trying to convince you that she loves you. Look, Kate hasn’t been home in 4 years. She did that because you asked her.” 
     “Yeah and then I fucked everything up. She hates me.” Javi whinged. 
     “She doesn’t hate you. Look, you have a fucked up company and you lied to Kate about it. You dragged her back into all of her trauma and then blamed her for the deaths of all of your friends.” 
     “Is this supposed to be helping?” 
     “I’m just saying it’s a complicated situation. But it’s not unfixable.” Tyler insisted. 
     “I’m not too sure about that.” 
     “When I went after her, she was adamant that you were a good person and I’m inclined to believe her.”
     “Why?”
     Tyler thought for a second. “Well, she clearly adores you. And Boone thinks you’re alright. And you vomited all over yourself after you were mean.”
     Javi rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. “Alright.”
     “Alright.” Tyler breathed a sigh of relief. “So go apologize to her. Tell her you’re an idiot and that you didn’t mean a word of what you said.”
     Javi scratched the back of his neck. “I don’t know man. I think she’d prefer it if I just left her alone.”
     “Do you think she actually prefers that, or do you? She deserves an apology, Javi.” 
     He hung his head. “I can’t just show up at her house for no reason.” 
     Tyler winked at him. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.” He reached into his pocket and set a blue clutch on the chipped table between them.”
     “Should I know what that is?”
     Tyler rolled his eyes. “It’s her wallet, dumbass. Someone found it last night in the wreckage. Go give it back.”
     Javi frowned. “Why aren’t you giving it back?”
     “I am. I’m giving it to you to give back.”
     “Why aren’t you giving it to her yourself?”
     “I can’t give it back. I barely know her.”
     Javi looked unconvinced. “Are you shitting me?”
     “No.” Tyler threw his hands up in exasperation. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
     Javi shook his head. “Good God man. Fine, I’ll take the wallet. Do you have her number?”
     “Do you not have her number? I thought you guys were like best friends.” Tyler said. 
     “I have her number dip shit. I asked if you have it.”
     “No.” Tyler answered defensively.  
     “Great. Give me your phone.” Javi demanded.  
     Tyler leaned back against the bench. “No.”
     Javi rolled eyes and smiled. “I’m not going to steal it.  I’m giving you her number.” 
     “Why?”
     “Cause she’s into you. And you’re clearly into her.”
     Tyler’s breath caught while he simultaneously made a face of severe judgement. “Javi, I don’t know what—”
     “No. Shut up.” Javi interrupted. “I’ll take back the wallet and apologize, but in exchange, you have to text Kate.” 
     It wasn’t a terrible deal. Kate got her friend and wallet back. Javi got to believe he was doing him a favor. And Tyler… Tyler got Kate’s number. Which he would never use. Obviously. 
     The two glared at each other. 
     “Fine.”

Chapter Text

THURSDAY

     Kate sat alone at the kitchen table, mapping out the drive for tomorrow morning. If they left early enough, they  could reach Indianapolis by dark. They’d need to break the drive up over at least two days, but they had until Sunday night to get to NYC. Maybe they’d stop in Saint Louis. Her mom mentioned wanting to see the arch. 
     She flinched at the sound of tires on the gravel. 
     A fantasy dashed across her thoughts of Tyler pulling up, eager to see her after their separation, his eyes sorry for leaving. He’d march up the stairs and pull her into a searing kiss. 
     Fantasy Tyler was apologizing profusely while Kate slipped to the living room and peeked through the lace curtains. 
     It wasn’t Tyler.
     She watched Javi get out of the Lion and walk towards the house. 
     Shit. 
     She had signed documents to work as a contractor for StormPAR. She definitely did not fulfill those requirements. 
     Did she owe him money? 
     There was probably a clause that stated she owed them a hundred grand if she didn’t complete her 40 hours.
     She didn’t have a hundred grand. 
     She ducked away from the window. 
     Javi knocked twice.  
     She didn’t have to answer, right? 
     Except all the lights were on and her mother’s truck was out front.  
     Fuck! Did he get his truck back? 
     She shook her head. That’s how he got here, idiot. 
     He knocked again. 
     Kate knew she was being a coward and hiding on the floor from her friend was more proof than she needed. She threw her shoulders back and swung open the front door.. “Javi?” she asked, with an impressive tone of surprise. 
     His half swollen eye caught her attention. “I brought your wallet.” He said flatly. He held it out to her. 
     “Oh.” She looked to his hands, seeing her blue Kate Spade knock off. “Thank you.” 
     “Yeah.” 
     She was about to offer that he come inside when he turned on his heel and walked back to the Lion. 
     He was angry. He’d had to explain to the rest of StormPAR that she’d abandoned them. Scott must hate her. She’d let the whole team down. Now Javi was paying for it. 
     Kate closed the door and sunk into the couch. She opened the clasp of her wallet to see her state of New York driver’s license tucked safely inside the front pocket. 
     At least I can fly home. 
     A knock sounded from the door again, causing her to almost drop the wallet. She cautiously opened the door to see that Javi had returned, this time with tears in his eyes. “I’m so sorry.” He whispered. 
     “Oh,”
     “I didn’t mean it.” Javi continued through his emotions. “ I just, I know Marshall is an ass. And Scott is... And I swear to God, I don’t blame you for what happened. I have never thought it was your fault. I don’t know what happened. You were just looking at me like I… not that that excuses it or anything. But I just.” He took a gasping breath. “I’m sorry.” 
     “Um, that’s very kind of you Javi.” She gave him a half smile.
     “I never should have asked you to come back here. It’s just. I– I should have been paying more attention to the sensors. That day. I was eating fucking Nacho Twisters . And distracted. If I had seen the change sooner. I could have gotten you guys out. I had to just watch it turn into this monster. And I was perfectly safe. And then the same thing happened at Stillwater. I was safe, but I put you in danger. And then Tyler was there. and—” 
     If Javi had seemed tired before, he now looked deflated. His curly hair was puffy, something that only happened when he nervously ran his fingers through it. “Anyway. I couldn’t let you go without making sure you were okay.” 
     “I’m alright.” Kate said, a little overwhelmed. 
     “I’m sure you are. And you were right about Riggs, but he’s just a start-up investor. Once we get real data off the PARs, we’ll be able to get better investors and real revenue streams. Right now the only data we produce is a record of property destruction, which there isn’t a huge market for.”
     Kate nodded.   
     “I swear once this season is over, our contract with him is up.”
     “That makes sense.” Kate shrugged. “But you should have told me.”
     “I know. I just— You were always the successful one. Brilliant Kate helping ol’ Javi finally pass advanced hydrology . And you were killing it in New York. I didn’t want you to know that I had been rejected by so many investors that I decided to go into business with the monopoly man.” Javi admitted.
     Kate laughed. “I’m really not killing it in New York. I have three roommates and I sit behind a computer turning weather advisories on and off.”
     The back door slammed shut, causing Kate and Javi to peer inside the house. 
     “Kate?” Cathy hollered. Her mother walked into the living room to see Kate and Javi standing on the porch “Oh Javi. How are ya?” She greeted. 
     “Evening, Ms. Carter.”
     “You got quite the shiner there.” She gestured to her own right eye. 
     Javi blushed, “It looks worse than it is.”
     “I hope that’s true.” Cathy frowned. “Preston is good to watch the farm until Monday, so we can make a little trip out of the drive if you want.” Cathy told Kate. 
     “Are you guys going somewhere?” Javi asked. 
     “I’m driving Katie back to New York.” Cathy explained. 
     Javi turned to Kate. “You didn’t want to fly?”
     “I couldn’t. Didn’t have my license till now.” She held up her wallet. “Momma, look what Javi found.”
     “Oh, I didn’t find it. But… yeah.” 
     “That’s real nice of you Javi. So no more mother daughter road trip then?” Cathy smiled. “Unless you still wanted to?” 
     “No. Thank you.” Kate said.
     But that meant staying put in Oklahoma until Saturday. Maybe she could just stay in bed for the next two days. 
     Cathy wiped her brow, “I’m gonna go wash up. You kids want to scrounge up some food?” 
     “Are you busy?” Kate asked Javi. 
     “I can stay for a bit.”
     “Scott won’t tell you off for wasting company time?”
     “He doesn’t need to know I’m here.”

     Kate and Javi sat at the table with a full thanksgiving meal in front of them. 
     “I don’t think your mom knows what ‘scrounge up some food’ means.” Javi observed. 
     “Oh absolutely not.” Kate agreed. “She’s made about 4 different dinners in the 30 hours I’ve been here, including brisket.” 
     “Her brown sugar brisket?” 
     Kate nodded. 
     “Fuck. Is there any left?” 
     “There’s only two of us, Javi. It’s in the fridge.” Her phone buzzed with a notification that the battery had dropped to 5%. 7 p.m. wasn’t too bad for her phone to last these days.
     “Hey, where are the phone chargers in your truck?” Kate asked as Javi returned with his brisket. 
     Javi’s eyes shifted between Kate and his plate, confused. “They’re embedded in the center console.” He answered. “You know the mag safe thing?”
     Kate shook her head. 
     Javi pulled out his phone and flipped it over. On the back was a white ring. “Does your phone not have that?”
     Kate frowned. “No?”  She flipped hers over to inspect it.
     Javi laughed. “It’s cause your phone is a decade old.”
     “It is not.” She argued. “I got this one after I left my old one on top of Addy’s car and it got run over. And that was in my second year of my phD,” She counted in her head. “That makes it…five, six. It’s only six years old.
     “That’s pretty ancient for a phone.”
     “Well it works fine,” Kate lied, turning it on and hoping Javi didn’t notice the cracked screen. 
     “Is that us?” He asked. 
     She smiled, showing him her lock screen. “Yep, the day Praveen got struck by lightning.”  
     Her phone buzzed in her hand. It was a text from her supervisor at NOAA. Kate typed out a quick message confirming she would be back by Monday. 
     “Is that Tyler?” Javi wagged his eyebrows suggestively. 
     “What?” Kate’s voice was confusingly shrill. “No.” 
     “You’ve always been a terrible liar.” Javi smiled. 
     “I am not lying.” 
     Why did she sound like she was lying? 
     “It’s not Tyler, It’s my boss Sharon.” Kate shoved the screen in front of his nose. “See.”
     He grabbed the phone out of her hand and scrolled through her recent texts..
     “Javi!”
     “He hasn’t texted yet.” Javi said, almost disappointed. 
     “Who?”
     “Tyler.”
     Kate rolled her eyes. “No, he doesn’t have my number.” 
     “Yes he does. I gave it to him.” 
     “What?! He asked you for my number?” She gasped. 
     “Yeah...”
     “When?” Kate demanded. 
     “A few hours ago, when he gave me your wallet.” Javi answered. 
     “And what? he asked for my number in exchange?” 
     “Okay, no he didn’t ask for your number.” Javi closed his eyes and took a breath. “I sort of made him take it, but he was not opposed.”
     “What the hell does that mean?” Kate pleaded. “Was he like, ‘Ew gross, why are you giving me Kate’s number.’ Or was it like, ‘Hell yeah, gimme Kate’s digits.’”
     “Who says digits anymore?”
     “Javi!”
     “It was more like ‘Javi, Kate deserves an apology you, fucking dunce.’ And then I asked about you and he said you hadn’t talked. Which is dumb as hell, by the way. So I said ‘Fine, I’ll take the wallet, but you have to text Kate’ and he was like why. And I said 'cause she’s clearly into you’ and then he agreed.”
     “You told him I was into him!” Kate smacked Javi on the arm.  
     “Relax, Boone says he’s been mopey ever since he dropped you off.” 
     “Boone? The Wrangler?” She asked. 
     “Oh. Yeah.” Javi blushed. 
     “So I leave and then everyone is a big group of friends?”
     “What? No.” Javi looked annoyed. 
     “But you’ve been talking to Boone and Tyler.” Kate pressed. 
     “Yeah… It’s not. Erm.”
     “What?”
     He shifted in his seat. “This isn’t about me. It’s about you.” 
     Kate narrowed her eyes. “Fine. So Tyler found my wallet, but he gave it to you?”
     “I don’t know if he was the one that found it, but yes, he did give it to me.”
     “Why wouldn’t he just bring it himself?”
     “No idea. But he seemed pretty worried about you.”
     She burned at the thought of him worrying over her. It flooded her with shame and filled her with satisfaction. Javi didn’t need to know that. “When was this conversation?” Kate asked. 
     “The fucker tracked me down at Del Taco while I was eating dinner.”
     So he had her number. Thrill zipped through her as she pictured her contact on his phone. Then dread coiled in her throat. 
     Why hadn’t he texted? 
     Apparently her apprehension showed on her face. 
     “He likes you Kate. I promise.”
     She nodded half heartedly.
     “I’m serious. He punched me in the face for you.” Javi joked. “What happened the last time you saw him?”
     “He drove me here, he met my mom, he left.” 
     “Did he say goodbye?”
     “Not really,”
     “Hmmmm.”
     “Javi, it's fine. It’s not like I’ll see him again. My flight is on Saturday and then I’m back in New York.” Kate reasoned. 
     “You don’t have to go back.”
     She ran a hand through her blonde hair. “I’m sorry Javi, I do. I can’t stay here.”
     “Even if I tried to hire you full time?”
     Kate shook her head. “I miss New York. It feels good there, like I’m on solid ground.”
     He gave a huff. “Alright.”

     Kate crawled under the covers of the guest room bed before 9 p.m. Two more nights and then she was home. 
     Javi planned to be in New York some time next year for another investing round. She looked forward to seeing him. 
     Her phone pinged. 
     Her hands burned with adrenaline. 
     It wasn’t Tyler. 

She couldn’t text him, she knew that. But if he ever got around to texting her, she’d at least know it was him. She added him to her contacts. Not as Captain Capybara, but Tyler Owens. Her phone slotted him in right below Jeb O’Hara. 

Image Description: Texts between Javi and Kate

Javi: I won't try to convince you to stay, but I gotta try one last thing
Javi: Captain Capybara [Contact Card]
Kate: ???
Javi: That's Tyler's number. Boone has him in his contacts as Captain Capybara
Javi: I didn't ask
Kate: You seem to be talking to Boone a lot...
Javi: Just add him to your contacts so that when your phone inevitably breaks you won't have to ask me for it again
Kate: I didn't know you were such a romantic
Javi: Middle finger emoji

Chapter Text

FRIDAY

     An awful noise broke the silence in the dark motel room. Tyler’s eyes squished shut in reaction to a blinding light. It took him four seconds to realize his phone was vibrating on the nightstand. It took an additional eleven seconds to valiantly fight off his charging cord and free his phone.
     “Ayye! Shushhhh.” Boone groaned as he rolled over and pulled up his blanket to cover his face.
     Tyler’s eyes were bleary from sleep, but they slowly focused on his screen. It was an incoming call from Kate Carter.
     He answered without another thought. “Kate?”
     A hitched breath came through on the other line and then silence.  
     “Kate, can you hear me?” Tyler asked louder. 
     There was a muffled scraping and then Kate’s clear voice on the other end. “Yes! I can hear you.” She sounded relieved. “Tyler,” she sniffled.
     “Kate? Are you okay?” Tyler asked. 
     “I’m so– so sorry.” She hiccuped over the words.  
     Boone made a low noise of annoyance and turned on a lamp.
     “You have to believe me,” Kate continued to say. “It was an accident.” 
     Tyler’s stomach dropped. Had she been in a car accident? “Kate, where are you?” 
     Was she back in New York?
     A plane Crash?
     “I’m so so sorry. Please don’t hate me.” She begged. 
     Tyler pushed off his covers. “Kate, I promise I don’t hate you, just tell me what’s going on.”
     “I don’t understand.” Kate’s voice was wet and heavy. “How can you not hate me? I didn’t mean for you to die. No one was supposed to die!”
     Tyler was thrown by the disjointed conversation, but he knew he was very much alive. “I’m okay Kate. I’m fine.” 
     “You are?” Her voice rose an octave. “Is heaven nice? I’m so sorry. Tell the others. Tell the others I’m sorry.”
     “Kate, are you at home?” Tyler asked. 
     “I think so, but I didn't mean to survive. I think I was supposed to die.”
     “No. Kate, it’s good that you lived. Are you at your mom’s house?” 
     “I’m in the guest room. I can’t stand being in mine.” She confessed. “Should I go back?”
     “No Kate. You stay where you are.” He instructed. 
     “Okay.”
     Tyler’s breath slowed knowing she wasn’t in active danger. 
     Boone sat on the edge of his bed, watching in confusion. Tyler didn’t know how to explain any of what was happening. He pulled the phone away from his ear and put the call on speaker. 
     “Kate, is your mom home?” Tyler asked.
     “Don’t make me wake her up. She doesn’t sleep well.”
     “Okay.” Kate’s voice was clearer now. That was good. “Are you in bed?” 
     “No, I'm– I’m on the floor. Tyler? Does dying hurt?”
     Tyler shot Boone a hesitant glance. How was he supposed to answer that? 
     Boone’s sleepy demeanor had vanished. He looked alert. And worried. 
     “No. No, it didn't hurt.” Tyler assured her. 
     “My thigh hurts.” Kate whispered. “I think living hurts too much. I don’t like it.”
     “Kate, can you crawl back into bed for me?” 
     “Okay, but I don’t want to sleep. I get nightmares.”
     “That’s just fine, you don’t have to sleep. Just stay on the— just keep talking to me.”
     “Okay.” He heard her move around the room. “Is it alright if I close my eyes?” She asked quietly. 
     “Yes, you can close your eyes.”
     “Don’t go away again okay.”
     “Okay. I’ll stay right here.” He promised.
     “Why do you think you answered my prayer when none of the others did? Do you think they don’t want to talk to me?”
     “No Kate,” Tyler smiled softly while his heart ached. “I think they would love to talk to you. I think maybe I’m just a little easier to reach.” 
     “Oh. Is it okay if I fall asleep?” Kate asked. 
     “Yes.” Tyler smiled again, for real this time. She sounded exhausted. “That's just fine.” 
     “Will I still be able to talk to you again when I wake up?”
     “If you want to.” 
     “Of course I’ll want to. I missed you so much.”
     Tyler swallowed hard. 
     How much of this was real? 
     “Would you talk while I fall asleep?” Kate requested.
     “Sure,” Tyler coughed, trying to pull his thoughts back to the present. “What do you want me to talk about?”
     “I don’t care.” Her voice was soft and sleepy. “I just like to hear you talk.” She yawned. “Tell me a story.”
     He looked back to Boone, trying to think of a story to tell her. His best friend just shrugged.  
     “Do you want to hear about the first day I met Boone?” Tyler decided. 
     Kate hummed her approval.
     “Alright.” He started. “I told you that I used to compete in the rodeo, right? Well, I’d been in the circuit a while. I was in some town in Arkansas. Warren, maybe?”
     “Waldron.” Boone corrected. 
     “It doesn’t matter.” Tyler shot Boone a smirk. “Anyway, I was competing and this skinny punk was working as a rodeo clown and trying to film at the same time.”
     Boone layed back down and adjusted his pillow. “It was GoPro strapped to my head. “I’m not an idiot.”
     “I’m telling the story.” Tyler chided. “Anywho, I got bucked off. After the 8 seconds, obviously. I scramble to get out of the way. Boone, as you might have guessed, distracts the bull so I can get out. Throwing rubber chickens and what have you. I get up on the rails safe and sound. Then who’d have guessed, the camera slips off and lands right under the bull. Genius goes in after it. The other rodeo clown—”
     “His name was Jared.” 
     “Jared and I have to jump back to distract the bull so that Mr. GoPro can get his camera.”
     “It was expensive. They’d just come out.” Boone whined. 
     “After multiple minutes of goading the bull around Boone snags the camera and we all get out of there. I chased him down outside the arena to see what all the fuss was about. Booney Baby was so excited to see what he recorded. There’s a huge crowd of us gathered to see up close footage of the bull. He turns it on… And there’s nothing. Kiddo didn’t hit record. Hear that Kate? Didn’t even get any footage of me.”
     There was no response. 
     Tyler could just make out the sound of her breathing. Slow. Even. He listened for a few cycles, letting it wash over him. 
     “I think she’s conked out.” Boone interrupted.  
     Tyler ended the call; from start to finish it had only lasted seven minutes. With the line silent, the room immediately felt smaller. 
     “I didn’t even know she had my number.” Tyler said absently.  
     Boone made a face. “I might’a given it to Javi.”
     “I thought StormPAR wasn’t around here.”
     “They ain’t. They’re up in Atoka.”
     “Then how’d you get Javi my number?”
     “I texted him. Javi and I are friends. It’s how I knew he was at Del Taco yesterday.”
     “Oh,” Tyler tried to be straight forward, the way Boone was with him. “Are you guys…together?”
     Boone tilted his head, looking thoughtful. “I dunno, I’m interested.”
     How did Boone do that? Just say things he meant. 
     Tyler shook his head “Does it have to be Javi?”
     “Yep.”
     Tyler sighed.
     “Thanks T.”
     “Yeah, yeah. Turn out the lights. I’m exhausted.” 

Chapter Text

 FRIDAY

     The window was not where it was supposed to be. The guest bedroom was dark, but Kate could see well enough to make out the shape of the oak dresser sitting where the bay window usually resided. 
     She rubbed her eyes. 
     The room spun until she realized her head was at the foot of the bed. 
     She lay back down on the mattress, her feet tucked under the pillows. Her hand swept over the quilted covers, then under. Her feet skimmed the sheets. 
     Nothing. 
     When had she had it last? 
     She got out of the bed and shook out the bedding. At last, her phone fell onto the carpet with a thud. 
     She grabbed it and walked across the hall to the main bathroom. It was a little after six. Not bad considering how early she went to bed. 
     Her pee was practically orange. She was doing terrible at staying hydrated. Kate eyed herself in the mirror while she washed her hands. Her face looked puffy. Which made for an odd combination with the purple shadows settling below her tear ducts. 
     She grabbed a glass from the kitchen and filled it with water from the fridge. On her way, she spied her mother out the window, already tending to the cows. 
     She slipped back to the bedroom and turned on the lights. The room was a mess. In the corner lay a pile of clothes she’d retrieved from her bedroom upstairs, none of which were particularly nice. She’d left them here for a reason during her exodus to New York. Scattered around the room were food wrappers and used tissues, looking like some sort of depression confetti. The nightstand, which at one point had looked like it belonged in a 4 star hotel, now played host to a stack of dirty dishes and one pair of copulating flies. 
     She was a shit guest. 
     As her mom had taught her, she pulled the non descript curtains apart and slid the window pane open, allowing a soft Oklahoma breath into the stale room. She didn’t bother making the bed, but she piled all the blankets together and fixed the fitted sheet that had started to slip off, exposing the mattress cover. She felt a bit like a child at a parade picking up all the garbage off the floor, but it all made its way into the bin. 
     It took two trips to get all the dishes into the kitchen sink. And then once there, she couldn’t very well leave them for her mother to do. Kate filled the sink with warm soapy water while she watched the sun rise. She emptied the dishwasher, pleased to find her muscle memory kicking in as she settled the plates and cutlery back in their respective homes.
     When the dishwasher was humming with the remaining dishes from yesterday’s thanksgiving extravaganza, Kate peeked out the back door to see that her mom was still busy.
     She checked the fridge. They had over a dozen brown eggs, featuring little stamps from the farm up the way. Plenty for french toast. She grabbed the bread, flour and vanilla from the pantry and started mixing. On a whim, she decided to make homemade buttermilk syrup and whip cream too. Traditionally, they’d have french toast with raspberries, but her mother only had strawberries. It would do. 
Once the syrup was frothy and she had 3 finished pieces of toast done, she figured it was time to call her mom in. She navigated to her recent calls. 
     And then about dropped her phone into the batter. 
     Instead it hit the edge of the counter and bounced onto the floor. She picked it up with shaking hands. 

     Tyler Owens
     2:42 AM
     Outbound

     Oh no. 

     Oh no no no no no 
     Kate turned off the stove before the syrup boiled over. 
     Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck 

     Kate opened her messages and practically closed her eyes and texted Tyler.

     She sent the message quickly. And then reread it. 
     Fuck!

     She shot off two more texts in rapid fire, hoping to explain what the fuck had happened.

     She caught another God Damned typo. 
     You Dead?? You dead, Kate? You’re gonna be fucking dead by the end of the day you fucking idiot. Please Lord above, take me out back and shoot meeeeeeee. 

     Kate put her phone down. She gathered all the newly dirty dishes into the sink. And then put another piece of bread into her mother’s favorite pan. 
     She grabbed her phone, put it on airplane mode, and put it face down on the counter again. 
Kate drifted back to the guest room and changed out of her pajamas. She was currently cycling between two pairs of underwear; the remaining pair she’d brought with her from New York, the other was technically the bottom half of her old swimsuit. 
     Kate: 0
     Universe: 1000
     Kate returned to the kitchen. Flipped the french toast. Put the syrup into a rooster shaped gravy boat. Turned off airplane mode. Checked her messages. Grabbed two plates from the cabinet. 
     She turned airplane mode back on. 
     Then immediately turned it back off. 
     Then set the phone down. 
     And walked away. 
     Her phone buzzed. 
     Kate vaulted back to the counter. 

     He’d texted her. He’d text messaged her. He’d ignored everything and just. He just ‘Hi Kate’ed her. She could practically hear his dumb voice out loud.
     Obviously, she had to respond. Be Normal. Relaxed. 

     This was not ignoring it. 


     Ha. Only multiple a week for the past five years. No more than the average person. 

     Kate’s stomach dropped to her feet. 

     That absolute bastard. 

     Cathy opened the back door, startling Kate. “Oh, I was just going to get you up. What’cha making?”
     “French toast.” Kate said brightly. “Sit. I'll grab forks.” A familiar pain shot up Kate’s leg. She had been standing for too long, her thigh was acting up. 
     Her phone buzzed on the counter. She ignored that too. 
     “Thanks for making breakfast, Katie-Bug”
     Kate sat down at the table opposite her mom. “Course. I had to pay you back somehow for lettin’ me crash here.”
     “You don’t have to repay me.” Cathy said stubbornly. 
     “I know.” Kate laughed.  
     “Kate, I’m serious. You don’t have to earn the right to be here.” 
     Kate nodded, feeling slightly warm. “Okay.”
     “Alright.” Cathy acknowledged. 
     “So did you not want any french toast or…?” Kate asked flatly. 
     “You’re such a brat.” 
     Kate smiled and unlocked her phone, excited to see Tyler’s response. The text ping hadn’t been from him. It was from her dentist reminding her of her check up next week. 
     She checked their text thread. He left her on read. Her heart sank.
     People don’t like grammar nazis. Kate didn’t even like grammar nazis. 
     Fuck.
     She should apologize. 
     Should she just change the subject? Or straight apologize? Maybe she should—
     His response pinged. 

     The ache in Kate’s chest eased as she read his message. It made her smile. 

     “Kate, are you going to have breakfast with me or what?”
     Kate looked up at her mother, half of her plate finished. 
     “Sorry.” Kate put down her phone and actually started eating her breakfast.
     “Who are you texting?” 
     “No one.” 
     Her phone pinged again, an annoying, but thrilling chime. 
     Cathy lifted her eyebrow before taking another bite. “Do you know what time you want to leave for the airport tomorrow?”
     “Oh, um, I fly out of OKC. my flight boards at-”

     “-12:05 PM. And it’s an hour and a half to the airport from here?” Kate asked. 
     “Hour and 45 if the traffic is bad.“ Cathy answered. 
     “Okay. So leave here at eight? That gives me a little over two hours to get through security.”
     “That sounds fine.”
     Kate was desperate to check the rest of Tyler's text, but damn if her mother wasn’t keen.. 
     Any of them men? Kate imagined.
     “Is it okay if I do a load of laundry today?” Kate asked, knowing full well she wasn’t being subtle. 
     Any of them better looking than I am? I bet not. 
     “Should be. I have a load in the dryer, but I think the washer is empty.” 
     “Okay, great.” 
     Any of them romantically involved with you? Or are you single? I hope you’re single Kate so I can proceed courting you. 
     “I’m just gonna…” Kate stood from the table
     “A huh.” Her mother said knowingly. 
     Kate sped walked back to the guest room, shut the door, and then flounced on to the bed. 

     Well, it wasn’t exactly what she’d hoped for, but it would do. 
     She wrote back quickly, feeling bad that it took her so long to respond. 

     And then she realized her mistake. 


     Fuck. How did she respond to that?
     I don’t know?
     You’re calling me persnickety and difficult?  
     You clearly bested me at the game of cleverness?
     We’re flirting?!?

     Kate ignored the desire to tell him that you don’t use an apostrophe to make an acronym plural. 

     Kate didn’t care, but now she was curious. She knew scores didn’t mean much, especially in adulthood, but she couldn’t help but wonder how much he had applied himself in school.

     That would put him in the 91st percentile. 

     Now it was getting tricky. How far up did she ask without going too far?
     She settled on 95th percentile.


     Surely she was getting close? There wasn’t much higher to go. 


     Kate started to sweat. 
     He hadn’t beaten her had he? 
     It had been a while since that had happened. Beyond nerves, she couldn’t deny that she found how smart he was a bit attractive.

     So he was between 1400 and 1450. Impressive.

Probably emotional regulation.

     Kate was pretty sure he wasn’t capitalizing things on purpose to bother her. 

     New York is a little far from your mom, don’t you think, Kate?

     God, she was so annoying.

     He seemed the type to study a bunch of different topics for the pure love of learning itself. Kate wasn’t like that. She liked to drill in on one subject till she knew everything. 

     Now she just had to figure out what to do with the rest of her day until she heard from him again. 

Chapter Text

FRIDAY

     “You guys are flirting over acronyms?” Lily grinned and kicked her feet off the tailgate. They were camped out in the parking lot of a Tractor Supply Store in New Cordell. 
     “Did you guys know that ‘NEWS’ is actually an acronym?” Boone stated confidently from the back doors of the van. 
     “That can’t possibly be true.” Dani shot down. 
     Boone ticked the words off on his gunpowder covered fingers. “Notable Events, Weather and Sports.” 
     “No it doesn't.” Dani countered. “It’s just new. New information: News.” She turned away from the box of t-shirts she was sorting. “Dex, back me up here.”
     Dex clicked away from the angry looking radar map on his laptop and googled it. “News is not an acronym.” He confirmed. “But Laser is. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. So is Scuba.”
     “Surviving Caves Below Agua” Boone guessed. 
     “You forgot the U.” Dani pointed out.  
     “Surviving caves USING below… No, that doesn’t work.” Boone’s eyebrows furrowed.  
     “It stands for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.” Dex chimed in. 
     “That does make more sense.” Boone agreed. 
     “What is she saying now?” Lily asked, trying to see over Tyler’s shoulder. 
     “We’re, uh, talking about SAT scores.” 
     “Is this like a weird mating ritual for nerds?” Dani asked. “Seeing if you two are compatible?” 
     “Dan, they're obviously compatible.” Lily scolded.  “But fair. Only people who did good on the SAT still talk about it.”
     “I took it twice for an experiment.” Dexter announced. “Once high. Once sober. I actually scored better when I was high.”
     “Cool,” Lily said. “High on what?”
     Dexter looked down at the ground. “Permanent markers.” 
     Dani laughed. 
     “What? I was sixteen?” Dex defended. 
     “You probably had testing anxiety.” Boone said. “Vapor highs don’t last that long, but it could have calmed you down enough to be able to focus on the exam.”
     “Boone, what did I say about psychoanalyzing me?”
     “That it’s concerningly accurate?” Boone smiled bashfully. 
     “Yep.” Dex winked. “But now I’ve got sweet Mary Jane to calm my nerves. Probably would have scored better with her.”
     “I think I got like a 900.” Lily mused. “But they didn’t do time and a half for ADHD back then.” 
     Dani got up from her camp chair and joined Lily on the back of the truck. “Utah doesn’t really do the SAT. I took the ACT.”
     “What’d you get?” Dex asked. 
     “A 28.” 
     “What does that mean?” Lily asked. 
     “No idea.” Dani shrugged. 
     “Ben, do you guys take the SAT in England?” Boone asked, leaving the back of the van to steal Dani’s highly coveted camp chair.  
     “What is the SAT?” Inquired Ben.
     “It's a test to get into college, but it mostly determines scholarships.” Lily explained. 
     Ben considered for a moment. “Probably the closest we have are the GCSEs. Although, A levels deal with college as well. Though, I think scholarships are a much larger deal in America. Higher education is very expensive here.”
     “God, I hate capitalism.” Dani sniffed. 
     “Hmmm.” Ben concurred.
     “Tyler,” Boone hollered. “How’d you do on the SAT?”
     “Not as good as Kate.” Tyler complained, hardly paying attention to the rest of the crew. 
     Lily leaned over to whisper into Dani’s ear. “That man is whipped. Whipped I tell you.”
     “The cell over Hobart is picking up.” Dex handed the laptop over to Tyler to study. 
     With Tyler distracted, Lily seized the moment and grabbed his phone out of his hand. “She got a 1510?” Lily gasped. 
     “Shit.” Dex nodded. 
     “Is that not good?” Ben asked, looking puzzled. 
     “That’s almost a perfect score.” Lily clarified. 
     “Give me that.” Tyler huffed, which only caused Lily to giggle. 
     The cell over Hobart was developing, and quickly, meaning they needed to pack up and get on the road. 
     Tyler loved tornadoes. Which made it odd that he wished this one would go away. 
He shot off a quick text to Kate that he had to go. She responded almost immediately, her little text bubble buoying him up far more than it should have. 
     He slid his phone into the chest pocket of his flannel to keep it safe from Lily.

     It was a 25 minute drive to the center of the cell. Tyler steered in silence while Boone configured all the camera equipment and set up the live stream. Everyone else was in the van or RV. 
     “Okay, you ready?” Boone asked, pointing the camera into Tyler’s face. 
     Tyler felt a slow thrum of discomfort in the base of his throat. “Could we do a warm up? I guess I’m not feeling the energy yet.”
     “Sure thing.” Boone put the camera down. “You want me to start?”
     “Go for it.”
     Boone whispered under his breath a small “whoo,” while wiggling in his seat. 
     Tyler followed in kind, fighting the desire to roll his eyes. “whoo.” 
     Boone closed his eyes, hardly trying to ramp the volume up slowly.  “Whoo!”
     “Whoo!” Tyler whooped back. 
     “WHOO EEEE!” 
     Tyler laughed, Boone had maxed out in three turns. 
     “WHOOHOO!” Tyler howled, letting the sound come from his lungs. Boone joined in. 
     Tyler made himself enjoy the moment of screaming together, barreling down the highway. Boone let out a whistle that made Tyler wince. 
     They both dissolved into laughter. 
     “Thank you,” Tyler said sincerely. 
     Boone grinned. “You ready?”
     Tyler nodded. “Yes sir. Let’s give these nerds what they want!” 
     The camera lens stared back into Tyler’s eyes, he felt the persona slip over his features. Boone counted down with his fingers indicating when Tyler should start. 
     “Hello and welcome back to the Tornado Wranglers. We are live right now in Hobart, Oklahoma. We’re looking at tornado numero cinco this week.” Tyler began. 
     “Outbreak baby.”
     “That’s right. These storms keep on coming.”
     They made knowing eye contact with each other and began singing, “Ohhhhh the storms start coming and they don’t stop coming, eh blah ba blah,  and I hit the ground running—”
     “—And we probably have to stop there otherwise we’ll get a copyright strike.” Tyler interrupted. 
     “Very true,” Boone nodded. “Although, in a perfect world Smash Mouth would pay us to cover their songs.”
     “We can only dream.”
     Boone cut to the other camera’s in the van and RV. letting others introduce themselves. 
     That gave Tyler a minute to focus. There was no rain yet and it was mid day, so good visibility. They should get some nice clear footage. So far they hadn’t seen heads or tails of StormPAR. And Kate was in Sapulpa, which meant there was no one to cheat off of. Tyler had to get the team to the right spot all on his own. 
     Boone gave him the cue he was back on the main screen.  “I don’t think this storm is gonna get too big but hopefully she’ll give us a little something.” 
     He slowed down, and watched the clouds twist, waiting for the drop. Lily fed him data over the walkie talkie from the RV while Dani drove.
“Okay, it’s headed away from us. We’re gonna give it a good chase. Dexter, you stay on this road, I’m gonna cut East and move parallel to you. We’ll follow on either side. Dani and Lil, y’all stay back.” 
     “Aye aye captain.”
     Tyler took a breath of relief. They’d made it outside city limits before the funnel made contact with the ground. From here it was fields and the occasional tree. 
     She was just a little string of a tornado. Small ‘n wispy. Course, little ones could still still hit 100 miles an hour. 
     Tyler explained to the camera the difference between a tornado and a landspout. “Since this one showed up on the radar and we watched it begin in the sky and move to the ground, we know it’s a tornado. Landspouts don’t show up on a radar scan because they don’t form from cloud structures and they begin down low and move upwards. Also, landspouts tend to be cylindrical rather than fun–”
     “Tyler.” Lily warned. 
     The tornado started wiggling West, closer towards the van. 
     “I see it.” Tyler confirmed. 
     He hated it when he did that. Hated it. Sometimes he got so focused on teaching that he’d forget to pay attention to the tornado itself. 
     “Sorry folks. Remember. If you ever hear a tornado siren, believe it. Get inside and get low. Every. Time.” 
     The couple from the motel lobby would have been fine if they had just listened, Tyler thought. 
     “The path of this here tornado just shifted a whole bunch. You never know where a storm is going to move. Small tornados are actually more prone to—”
     “TYLER!” Lily yelled. 
     What!? He was watching the tornado. 
     He looked up into the rear view mirror to see a little red car following right behind him. 
     Uh oh... 
     Tyler slammed on the brakes hoping the compact would stop too. Instead, it swerved around and pulled ahead of Tyler's truck, racing closer towards the base of the tornado. She was little, sure, but she could still flip a moving car with ease
     He tried to accelerate after, but his truck really wasn’t that fast. He and Boone watched in horror as the funnel shifted back towards Tyler’s side. Closer to the small vehicle. 
     They could see the outcome, even if the driver couldn’t. 
     The flat surface area of the undercarriage was perfect for creating lift. If they were lucky, they’d just tip. More likely they’d be flipped, especially at the speed they were going. 
     Tyler was too far to do anything but watch. 
     “Oh my god,” Boone whispered.
     A flash of dark blue darted across the view of the windshield. The van had crossed behind the tornado, cutting off the compact, putting Dexter and Ben between it and the tornado. 
     To avoid hitting the van, the sedan made a sharp turn away from the base. 
     Dexter followed the turn, forcing the car to continue its curve. Once they were far enough away, Dex pulled back. The car came to a lurching stop. Tyler and Boone pulled up just a few seconds later. No one moved. The tornado dissolved. Tyler watched the dust slowly drift back to the ground.
     Then the RV came in screeching with Dani laying on the horn. Tyler and Boone exited the truck to watch Dani descend from the motorhome and stomp over to the red car. 
     A trio of teenage boys got out to face her. 
     “You absolute muppets.” Dani yelled.  
     The driver looked affronted. “Excuse me?”
     “You dumbasses about drove into a violent storm with a car that weighs less than I do.” 
     “That asshole almost hit us.” The kid pointed to Dexter. “And this is a brand new Volkswagen Golf.”
     “I saved your lives.” Dex said flatly. “You're welcome.” 
     “What are you guys doing out here? This is really dangerous.” Lily asked. 
     “Are you kidding?” The kid smirked. “That thing was tiny.”
     “Christ, where are your parents?” Dani asked. 
     “What are you, a cop?”
     “What are you? A little snot that almost killed his friends?” Dani snipped. 
     “You guys just don’t want people to find out storm chasing is really easy. You’ll lose your media following once the market’s saturated.”
     “Yeah?” Lily stepped closer. “Did you actually find this storm or did you just watch the live stream?”
     “Yeah, whatever, you dumb bitch.” 
     “EXCUSE ME?” Dani lunged before Tyler and Boone caught hold of her arms. 
     “Jace, let's just go.” One of the other teens suggested.  
     “Fine.” Jace turned to get into the stupid Golf. “Can we at least get some free t-shirts?”

     Tyler let Boone drive. They didn’t talk much on the way. 
     Now that he was thinking clearly, the tornado probably wasn’t strong enough to do that much damage. It was unlikely anyone would have died, even if Dexter hadn’t intervened. And everyone had been fine. Not even the vehicles had been scratched. 
     Then why was Tyler so sweaty? 
     Boone had the A/C on low, but even the temperature outside was pretty cool. They were in the middle of a cold front that would likely develop into a cell in the next 12-36 hours. 
     Tyler shivered, now feeling clammy.  
     [don’t let it take me]
     He knew that what happened at Stillwater was traumatic for Kate. And probably for Regan and Mary. Even Javi had been pretty torn up. 
     [nine times out of ten, there’s no tornado]
     Tyler knew people had died that night, but he didn’t know who. He wasn’t interested in knowing he was the last person to see someone alive. 
     [I can make it]
     Over the last few days, he hadn’t really thought about the people in the motel. He hadn’t told anyone what had happened at the rodeo.
But Kate knew.
     “Are you okay?” 
     “What?” Tyler looked up to see Boone watching him. “Oh, I’m fine. Just tired.” 
     “Alright.” 
     Tyler felt disgust in his stomach. He was a 34 year old man on the internet playing chicken with mother nature. And teaching others how to do it. 
     Today wasn’t close to the first time he’d seen amateur storm chasers get into sticky situations. Storms developed quickly. Changed quickly, often without a lot of visibility. He’d been in a number of sticky situations himself.   
     Kate was smart as hell and still got caught
     He looked at Kate’s little smiley face text. It made his heart sink.
     What happened to her? Was she okay? 
     Tyler hoped he’d get the chance to find out. 

     Kate’s ellipses appeared almost instantly.

     Unlikely he’d get that chance then.

     Her ellipses appeared. Then vanished. Then appeared again

     Well I might be one of those Youtuber’s that is actually really bad for society. 
     And I almost watched more people die in front of me. 
Kate didn’t need to hear about a group of friends almost dying together.

     Tyler wondered if she knew about Javi and Boone’s little flirtation. Maybe gossiping about their friends would let them stay in contact after she was back in New York. 
     But maybe Javi wasn’t out yet. 

     So she knew he had given it to Javi. 

     I wish I had brought myself. I wish I got to see you again. 

     I should’a lit the thing on fire. 
     'Hi I think you’re gorgeous and smart and funny and pretty, I want to stare at you all the time and ask you a million questions. As a special gift, here’s an express pass to never see me again.'
     Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. 
How was he supposed to respond to that? 

     He pictured her back in New York. Did she have friends there? A support network? 
     He knew she didn’t sleep well. And that she didn’t come home. But maybe she loved her job. Maybe she loved the night life. The big city had a lot to offer that Arkansas Oklahoma didn’t. 
     He pictured her in the cold, bundled up with a coffee and snow flakes in her hair. In some moments her hair was brown. Sometimes it was blonde. He liked both. 
     What if she didn’t have a warm coat?
She’d been there for a while. And she was an adult. Surely she had a coat. 
     But she’d held on to him like he was holding her together. He’d liked it. Being her warmth. Keeping her steady. 
     He pictured her roommates. He hoped they watched out for her. Made sure she ate dinner. 
     Did they notice when she had nightmares? 
     Tyler felt sick. 
     Boone pulled into a motel parking lot. It wasn’t even seven PM and Tyler felt like going straight to bed. 
     He’d get over this girl eventually. He’d known her for five days. By next week, he’d probably be fawning over some other pretty young thing.

     God, what an absolute dork. 

Chapter Text

SATURDAY

     Kate hoped that her heart rate would slow once the plane’s metal door clamped shut. 
     It didn’t. 
     Through the small window, she watched the gate agent walk an empty wheelchair back up the jet bridge. 
     It was a direct flight. 5 hours. 
     It was like going through an old photo album, coming back here. Full of memories one could easily get lost in. But you couldn’t live in the past. Time to close the album and get back to real life. 
     Her phone pinged. 
     In a reaction that was too fast to be anything but Pavlovian, adrenaline flooded her hands. 
     It was only a text from a coworker.

     Kate closed her eyes. After a moment she swiped away. She'd respond later. 
     Kate unzipped her backpack stowed under the seat and snagged the wired headphones her mother insisted she take. Kate’s phone was old, but it wasn’t old enough to still have a headphone jack. She unboxed the dongle she’d purchased inside the airport and put her music on shuffle. 
     Cecelia came on immediately. 
     She skipped it. 
     Mrs. Robinson came on next. Kate skipped that song too. Best to avoid Simon and Garfunkel for the time being. 
     The bouncy rhythm of Heart of Glass started. Solidly inoffensive. Kate let it play. 
     She ignored the flight attendants doing their safety procedure demonstrations. If the plane went down, Kate would prefer to die immediately after the crash. Before if possible. 
     The well dressed man sitting in the aisle seat was getting huffy. Kate took out an earbud. He was mumbling about missing his connecting flight. She checked the airline app. They were supposed to depart 15 minutes ago. 
     A voice interrupted over the intercom, “Folks, we're just waiting for a clear runway and then we’ll be off headed to LaGuardia. Local time is 12:57 PM. Thanks for flying with us.”
     The plane started to slowly roll back away from the terminal. Kate closed her eyes and held her hands tight in her lap. She hated take off. 
She opened her eyes again when she felt the plane come to a gradual stop. They had only moved about 200 yards. Outside the window she had a view of a row of saplings shaking in the wind. 
     Almost there. Almost out. 
     Her music wasn’t providing enough distraction. She paused Video Killed the Radio Star and started playing the last episode of Night Agent. It mostly played in the background while her stomach twisted. 
     10 minutes later, the trees were doing worse. Their flexile trunks were bending and bowing in the wind. 
     That doesn’t mean anything. A strong sneeze could uproot one of those. 
     Kate’s resolve broke. She paused the stupid show and opened the weather app. There was a thunderstorm a few miles away with a slow moving mesocyclone on the edge. 
     A mesocyclone doesn’t mean there’s going to be a tornado. And a tornado doesn’t mean it will even get close. And even if it gets close—
     “Bullshit regulations.” The man next to her spoke aloud. “We should be 5,000 feet in the air right now.” He signaled sharply to the flight attendant coming up the aisle. “Can we at least get the food service going?”
     The pilot’s voice came on again. “Alright folks, it looks like today’s flight has been delayed. Hang out for about 30 minutes until the control tower gives us the all clear.”
     Man leaned over to Kate. “Bet that tower’s full a Mexicans trying to figure out how to look out a window.”
     Kate smiled tightly. “I think they’re just worried about the storm.”
     The man leaned forward and shrugged. “Just a bit of wind.”
     Kate didn’t respond, instead adjusting in her seat, avoiding the man’s elbow that jutted into her space. 
     “I tell you what,” the man continued, “when I was your age, airlines were so efficient. No security screenings. No baggage fees. None of these cramped seats.” His elbow extended further over their shared arm rest. “And we left on damn time.”
     “Like the Italians in the 40’s.” Kate said without thinking. 
     “Exactly.” The man agreed, not catching Kate’s meaning.
     Deciding she didn’t want any more conversing with this fellow, she stuck her nose in her phone. She wondered if her comment was too niche.

     I missed you. 

     yes

     The plane finally started moving. 
     Almost there. Almost— 
     “Ladies and gentlemen, we are heading back to the concourse. We are going to have everyone exit the aircraft. It is not safe to attempt to take off in these conditions.”
     The universe was really going so far as grounding my fucking plane, huh?
     Kate watched the jet bridge extend out with a dizzying sense of deja vu. The same gate agent returned with an empty wheelchair. 
     People were standing in the aisle and pulling down their carry ons before the plane stopped moving. Worried faces pressed towards the poor flight attendant assigned with getting the door open. 
     Kate slipped off with only her backpack. 
     The airport was chaos. She couldn’t see the storm, but she could hear it. It echoed inside the cavernous terminal.  
     She passed a harried woman in a jumpsuit demanding to board her flight.
     The gate agent responded calmly. “Ma’am, your plane isn’t here. Flights are being redirected away from OKC. There is no plane to get on.”
     Kate found a bench to sit on. She watched a 
     [ALL FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN CANCELED] 
     child crying on the ground while its parents argued a foot away. She pulled out the plastic water bottle from the side of her bag. It was 
     [AN OFFICIAL TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED] 
     almost empty. She spied a water fountain across the walkway, 
     [PASSENGERS AND EMPLOYEES, MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE STORM SHELTER LOCATED ON LEVEL ONE] 
     but a tsunami of people crashed between it and her. 
     Her phone buzzed. 

     Kate bit her lip and smiled. 
     ow.
     The place she’d bit her cheek days before had turned into a canker sore.

     Kate checked the radar scan on her weather app, but it only updated every 90 seconds.

     Was he being intentionally obtuse? Heaven forbid she be curious about what she studied for a decade.  

     No. No thank you. 

     Fuck.

     Kate felt her body become unstuck from the ugly bench. She joined the throng of people heading back towards the center of the airport. Her phone vibrated in her pocket. 
     [OFFICIAL TORNADO]
     Tyler was calling her. If she answered she would have to talk to him. Live. back and forth. 
     Her phone continued to shake. Almost angry that she hadn’t answered already. 
     Reality struck her. She could NOT handle seeing the real flesh and blood Tyler Owens while wearing a bright orange t-shirt that said ‘Are      You Cirius?’ 
     [MAKE YOUR WAY TO]
     The stupid vibrating phone made it difficult to think. 
     She would answer and tell him that she couldn’t go. She’d lie. Say that the airport was instituting a mandatory shelter in place order. 
     Yes that would do. 
     She pressed answer. He started talking before she could get a word out. 
     “Go to departures instead of arrivals.” His voice was just as husky as she remembered. 
     “...Okay” 
     “I figure hardly anyone is showing up with all the cancellations. It’ll be faster to snag you. 
     “Right, sure.” Kate forced herself out of the river of people, not making any friends in the process. 
     Tyler was silent. Kate held the phone away from her ear so he wouldn’t have to listen to her heavy breathing as she walked.
     “Still there?” he asked almost immediately. 
     “Yes.”
     “I’m just passing the cell phone lot.”
     “Okay.”  
     The second level was nearly empty. Through the wall of glass doors, she saw a beat up RV idling by itself. 
     Three steps later she could see him. 
     She pushed through the heavy door. A gust of wind blew her bangs into her eyes. At least the rest of her hair was in a bun. 
     He noticed her a second later. His reaction was normal. He smiled. Maybe he brightened a bit. It was hard to tell; it all happened very fast. 
     Tyler tried to reach across the seat to open the passenger door. He couldn’t reach, unfortunately, so he mostly just fumbled around a bit until Kate opened the door from the outside.
     She stood there for a second, the wind trying to pull the door off its hinges. “Hi again.” Kate felt like she was 13. 
     “Fancy seeing you here,” Tyler said. 
     Kate bit her lip and smiled. 
     They stared at each other for a few more seconds. “Are you gonna get in?” Tyler asked. 
     “Are you kidnapping me?”
     If I say yes, will you get into the RV any faster?”
     Kate narrowed her eyes, but pulled herself up and closed the door without comment. 
     Tyler pulled away from the curb as she put on her seat belt. “You can put your stuff in the back.”
     Kate slid her backpack off her lap and into the disheveled living space behind her. “No truck?” she asked. 
     “Nah, Dex and Boone have it.” 
     “Oh,” 
     “What?”
     “Nothing, I just kinda pegged as the kind of guy that didn’t let anyone drive his special truck.”
     Tyler grinned. “Well first, Kate, don’t peg me until I ask.”
     Kate coughed, “Excuse me?” 
     “Second, I am very trusting and sharing of my property. Most of it.” He amended. 
     She’d been in the car for all of 10 seconds. They hadn’t even left the airport proper. 
     “Okay.”
     He just winked. 
     She’d forgotten how disorienting he was. Her mental walls couldn’t fight someone who kept popping out from interior closets. 
After Kate’s project ended in a man-made tragedy, her mind was left to drown in a sea of introspection, trying to find that one variable that could have prevented it all. 
     Was it one of her teachers that instilled the ridiculous belief she was invincible? Or perhaps the combination of perceived intelligence and female rage began the irresponsible behavior. And if she and Jeb hadn’t been romantically involved, would he have felt obligated to sacrifice himself in her place? And if Jeb survived, would he have found the miscalculation in the polymer? How many people died because Kate had lived? 
     Her ruminations led to a severe bout of depression that landed her in a Bronx psych ward six months after she moved to New York.  
 She was better now. She kept those thoughts boxed up. Maintained a strict regimen of work and sleep and email inbox tabs. She kept her hair short and blonde, making mirrors easier to handle. She bought $85 blazers and drank earl grey tea. 
     It kept her safe. It kept her from disappearing completely. 
     Kate knew the world was a worthless place. But if she never thought about it, she could pretend it wasn’t.
     Kate knew she was worthless. But if she never thought about it, she could pretend she wasn’t.
     She killed the best friends she’d ever have. But if she never thought about it, she could pretend she hadn’t.  
     Being back in Oklahoma threatened this precarious dance. Boxed up memories kept being dumped out on the floor. 
     Cute boys threatened this precarious dance. They coaxed her back to the present and out of the safety of her mental divorce. Cute boys needed to stay in the photo album world. Ideally on one page. In the section where she’d gone back to Oklahoma, met a few strangers, then left. 
     Life in New York would continue, filling the next several pages of the photo album, hiding this bizarre little blip from her memory. 
     That would keep her alive. 
     A familiar leaden numbness took over.
     She wasn’t really in the RV. She wasn’t really anywhere. She was just packaging that once held a soul. Hardly existing, but refusing to disintegrate. 
     It was cold inside the RV. The AC was  pumping to stave off the summer heat outside. Goosebumps faded from Kate’s arms. She couldn’t feel it anymore. 
     Still.
     So still. 
     She watched the funnel drop. 
     It was wide. Wedge shaped. 
     They were still driving closer. 
     Paralyzed. 
     They were close enough to see it touch the ground. It kicked up more dust. 
     Black hole. 
     even light. Not even light can. Light can’t escape a
     She pressed herself into the faded upholstery seat. 
     what was the word for the edge of a black hole? Where nothing can escape. Where you just have to watch as you get sucked in. 
     Event Horizon. 
     How fucked up is that? You’re literally on the horizon of the event. Except the event is dying. 
     “Please stop.” Kate choked out. 
     Tyler immediately pulled the RV over to the side of the road. He put a hand on her knee, covering a large patch of her faded sweatpants.  
     “Is this too close?” He asked. She could feel him watching her. 
     “No. This is fine.”
     Kate turned her attention to the dark clouds outside the windshield. Even though it was nearly two in the afternoon, it looked like dusk. Instead of a sunset, the sky was a sickly green. The landscape was flat and dimensionless. 
     A flash of lightning lit up the dark sky. Thunder followed two seconds after. 
     You know that’s not a thing, right? Praveen whispered in her head. 
     Something above Kate’s head started speaking. “We won’t engage until it starts to die down.” It was a man’s voice. Not Praveen’s.
     It started again. A woman this time. “Copy that. Dani and I are chillin. Cairo's sittin’ pretty. Tyler, you around?”
     Kate obstinately acknowledged the cute boy in the RV with her. He laughed at her expression. “It's the trucker radio.”
     The cute boy took his hand off her knee. She could feel the fading warmth left on the fabric. He reached across and grabbed the microphone. “Yes ma'am. Kate and I are parked on I44 watching the show.” 
     There was a rowdy chorus of ‘Hi Kates’. 
     He put the mic back and Kate went back to pretending he wasn’t there. 
     Fences were rattling. Dirt was being swept up, limiting visibility. Claustrophobia crept up her spine. 
     Her breathing slowed watching the slow lazy rotation at the top of the tornado. They sat together in silence watching the storm. 
     “I’ve seen over a hundred tornadoes.” He said quietly. “They still amaze me. Each one feels like the first.” 
     Kate just nodded, leaning forward against her seat belt. She placed her hands on her knees, trying to replace the warmth he had supplied. 
     “You know, you still haven’t told me about your first time.”
     “Having sex?” Kate asked, the words sounding before she’d thought them.
     “Seeing a tornado.” He clarified, his cheeks reddening at the tops. “But I guess I deserved that.”
     “Ohhhhh.” she said in an exaggerated tone, hoping it covered her freudian slip. “Um, I was 11. Home alone. My mom was spending the night at the hospital. My grandpa was dying of colon cancer. Anyway, I was up late watching the weather channel.”
     “Obviously.”
     “And there was a tornado warning. I don’t even think I confirmed it was in my area, I just threw open the front door. It was the middle of the night, so I shouldn’t have been able to see anything except there was a full moon. It back lit the sky just enough that I got to watch this gorgeous funnel skate right past me. Gone in twenty seconds. 
     “I cried my eyes out afterwards.”
     “Why?”
     Kate took a deep breath. “Cause it was beautiful? Because I hadn’t paid enough attention? What if that was the only one I ever saw? 
I loved watching clouds as a kid.” She laughed to herself. “God, this sounds so stupid. The cumulous ones, they felt like creatures. Like giants crossing the sky. They moved and breathed. So when that tornado hit near my house, it felt like the clouds knew I was paying attention and came to say hello.”
     She blushed. “I don’t know. It made sense in the mind of a child.”
     “Were you scared?” It was the same question she’d asked him the night of the rodeo. 
     “Not then.” She admitted. 
     She turned away from him. The tornado had started to tilt sideways. It would die soon. 
     She shivered. Her attempts to keep herself warm weren’t working. 
     The cute boy turned down the AC. 
     He put his hand back on her knee. 
     Kate slipped her hand underneath his. 

Chapter Text

SATURDAY

     Tyler was vaguely aware that he had an erection. It was not the first time he had gotten an erection associated with Kate. There was one in the shower after the rodeo. One after she called in the middle of the night. 
     And of course the permaboner after the clean up effort in Stillwater.
     While Boone had gotten dinner with Javi, Tyler returned to their motel room. He tried to go to bed. Did the whole routine. Brushed his teeth. Got under the covers. 
     But his dick was restless. 
     It wasn’t a bad time for a five knuckle shuffle, alone and pent up. He kept imagining Kate pressed against him in the bottom of the swimming pool. It had been warm and close and full of adrenaline. 
     Meanwhile, Kate had been reliving the deaths of her friends.
     Getting off to her in that moment felt… perverse. 
     Which left him with a persistent and insistent hard-on for a girl he wasn’t going to see again. 
     The cold shower didn’t help. 
     Being alone in a motel room didn’t help. He grabbed the keys to the truck and drove back out to the destroyed fairgrounds. 
     The boner came with. 
     FEMA was not joking when they said the area was closed til morning. Roads were blocked by sawhorse barricades and the spaces between buildings were quartered off with yellow caution tape. 
     Tyler parked on the side of the road and walked the perimeter. It was a quarter mile later that he found Kate’s wallet on the ground.  
     He didn’t bother sharing with Javi the next day that the mystery of the missing wallet was solved by his stalwart and unyielding libido. 
     Kate didn’t need to know about any of that. 
     She also didn’t need to know that he very nearly crashed the truck when she agreed to see the tornado (Boone was texting for him, he wasn’t a moron). Or that he forced the whole group to stop and ousted Dex from the RV. Dani ended up in the van with Lily. He’d almost made Ben drive the truck on accident. 
     All so he could grab Kate from the airport. 
     He was holding her hand again. Her hair was up. The skin behind her ear looked lickable and there was a tornado in the background. 
     So yes, he was aroused. 
     Their fingers were interlaced, resting on her knee. They didn’t look at each other, they just watched as the dust settled. He could feel every minute twitch of her hand muscles. Every flex. He brushed the pad of his thumb over her knuckle. 
     She didn’t return the movement, but he heard her breath catch. 
     It was a wonderful five minutes, ruined by his favorite people in the world. 
     The truck and van pulled up next to them on the side of the road. Kate let go of his hand as if she’d been caught.
     Something intimate had developed watching that storm together, being quiet while the world raged outside. 
     The quiet was over. 
     Tyler looked in the side mirror at his friends approaching. “They’re really excited to see you,” he warned. 
     “Really?” Kate asked.
     “Oh yeah.” He opened his door, his heart thudding at the prospect of showing her off to his family. 
     “Kate!” Lily ran to the passenger side to hug Kate, who hadn’t even fully exited the RV. 
     Kate went stiff.  
     “Sorry.” Tyler whispered. “They’re not house trained.”
     Lily gave him a dirty look, but released her victim. The rest of the crew formed a corral around the RV, eager to see Kate like she was an exotic bird. Kate stood with her back against the passenger door.
     Tyler walked around to the other side of the RV, placing himself in front of her. “Back up, you vultures. She’s just a person.”
     They took a half step back, but leaned forward. 
     I don’t know what I expected. 
     Tyler shifted to stand next to Kate. “You’ve met Ben.” He pointed. “This is Lily, her girlfriend Dani. Boone, and Dexter.”
     “We’ve met too.” Lily protested. “I gave her a water bottle.” 
     “Okay. sure.” 
     “Lily. Boone. Dexter. Ben.” Kate repeated. “I’m sorry, what was your name again?”
     “I’m Dani.” 
     “Dani. I’m Kate.” 
     “We know. Tyler won’t shut up about you.” Dani laughed. 
     “Yeah, but he’s been keeping you all to himself.” Lily said. 
     “I have not.” Tyler said. 
     “Have too.” Boone smacked him on the ass. 
     Tyler changed the subject. “How did the chase go?”
     “Not terrible.” Dexter answered. “I’m not as good at driving into tornados as you are. You would have done better.”
     “We all gotta learn sometime.” Tyler deflected. “Good footage?”
     “Nah.” Boone said. “It got rain wrapped. Cairo’s a little hurt.” 
     Kate looked concerned. “Who’s Cairo?”
     Lily laughed. “It’s my drone. He’s fine, just a bent nose cone.”
     “Be glad it was the drone and not your plane that went down.” Dexter added.  
     “You were really about to fly out in this?” Boone asked Kate. 
     “Yeah.” Kate nodded. “We were on the tarmac and everything.”
     Boone looked over his shoulder. “She’s getting’ real close to the airport.” 
     The supercell continued to move Southeast. The tornado was gone, but that didn’t mean a new updraft couldn’t form another one. 
     “Do you know if your flight’s being rescheduled?” Tyler asked Kate. 
     “Oh, yeah.” Kate turned to grab her phone from inside the RV. Tyler managed not to stare at her ass. 
     She flicked through her phone, her mouth pulled to the side. Tyler waited in dread. She shook her head. “There’s no update. It just says that it’s delayed until further notice.” 
     Great!” Lily announced. She looked pleadingly at Tyler. “We've been eating sloppy joes for five days. Can we please get pasta?” 
     Tyler turned to Kate. “Can we take you out to lunch?”

     They ended up at a self labeled ‘unfussy’ Italian restaurant, less than 10 minutes away. It was quiet and softly lit.
     A waiter led them to a corner booth in the back. The nearby tables were unoccupied. Kate slid in after Lily. Tyler sat on her other side, their thighs brushing when one of them moved. 
     Boone tried desperately to catch Tyler’s gaze, wearing a shit eating grin and waggling his eyebrows so vigorously they kept disappearing under his faded ballcap. 
     Kate didn’t notice. 
     “So a 1510 huh?” Dexter asked. 
     Kate swiveled to look up at Tyler “You told them?” 
     “Not even a little bit.” He nodded to Kate’s other side. “Lily here committed a misdemeanor and stole my phone.”
     Lily looked miffed. “He wouldn’t tell us anything about you. And I need more women.” 
     “News to me.” Dani muttered. 
     “Friends, Dani.” Lily looked back at Kate. “What’s it like living in New York?”
     The waiter came back, interrupting before Kate answered. “Can I get you guys started with some drinks?”
     Tyler finally got that iced tea he’d been craving for days. Kate got a water. 
     Boone shot his paper straw wrapper across the table. It hit Dani in the side of the nose. Dani retaliated by dipping the wrapper in water and trying to stuff it down the back of Boone’s shirt. Which was difficult as Dexter and Ben sat between them. 
     “Stop it you two.” Dexter swatted. 
     Tyler’s stomach curled. He glanced at Kate, worried she would find the display juvenile. She just watched in amusement.
     He felt safe to study the menu. 
     “We’re obviously getting garlic breadsticks.” Boone said. 
     “I want cheese ravioli.”
     “Who will eat pizza? Ben, will you eat pizza?”
     “Not if there’s pepperoni.” 
     “So maybe we get two?”
     “Hey Kate, is New York pizza really the best in the world?” Boone asked. 
     She thought for a second, doing the cute nose thing again. “It’s pretty good, but I think New Yorkers are just really competitive.”
     “Have you seen the Statue of Liberty?” Dani asked. 
     “I haven’t been to the island, but you can see it from pretty far away.” Kate said. 
     “Do you think we’re early enough for the lunch specials?”
     “What time is it?”
     “Almost 2:30,”
     “Hmmm, I’m not sure.”
     Tyler leaned over and whispered into Kate’s ear. “Anything look good?”
     “Oh.” She shifted and studied the menu. “ I’ll probably get a salad.”
     “Great,”
     Lily ordered for the group. An order of garlic bread. A cheese ravioli with spinach. Baked Ziti. One medium cheese pizza. One large specialty pizza. A philly cheese steak, no onions. A side of marinara sauce
     “Will that be enough for 7 people?” Lily asked. 
     The waiter nodded. “Oh yeah. They’re big portions.” 
     “And one house salad.” Tyler added. 
     “What dressing?” 
     Tyler looked at Kate. 
     “Um. Ranch?”
     “Okay,” The waiter clicked his pen and put it back in his pocket. “I’ll have that out for you guys in a bit.”
     “How's the article going?” Dexter asked Ben. 
     “Erm, good.” He pulled out a haggard notebook. “I’m very intrigued by—”
     Don’t say Kate. Don’t say Kate. 
     “Mr Riggs.” Ben finished. 
     “Ah, Mr Piggs, my beloved.” Dani hummed. 
     Kate laughed. 
     Ben looked at Dani with a soft smile. “Yes, he does seem to be a rather perfidious fellow.”
     “A what now?” Boone asked. 
     “Perfidious?” Ben repeated. “Unscrupulous. Exploitative. A snake in the grass?”
     “Man, why didn’t you just say that?” Boone complained. 
     Ben blushed. “It’s a rather fun word to say.”
     This led to Boone and Lily chanting ‘Perfidious Fellow’ over and over again. 
     Tyler heard Kate whisper it under her breath. 
     “Please continue,” Dexter instructed Ben, cutting off the chant. 
     Ben looked down at his notes. “I want to confirm I’ve accurately surmised his business plan. In exchange for investing in StormPAR, they provide real estate information for him. He purchases property from the underinsured at a newly reduced cost.”
     “Right.” Dexter agreed. 
     “But why invest in StormPAR to begin with?” Ben asked. “Why not procure a team that simply follows storms reported in the news and have them conduct research? Surely that would be less costly than funding a whole business venture.”
     “It’s likely a PR move.” Dex answered. “A group of real estate scalpers would have no real reason to be hanging around a disaster site. It makes people feel—oh what’s the word…”
     “Sad.” Boone guessed. 
     “No.”
     “Happy?”
     “No Boone.”
     “Unimportant?”
     “Suspicious.” Dexter said finally. “It makes them suspicious. Which is not how you want people feeling before a business transaction.
“StormPAR has a good image. They’re professional. They’re technical. And they’re trying—emphasis on trying— to solve the tornado problem. It makes them appear sympathetic to the victims of the storm.”
     The waiter returned to the table with a basket of garlic bread. Tyler handed one to Kate. 
     Ben flipped a page of his notebook. “And um, what is it exactly that StormPAR is trying to accomplish?” 
     Everyone looked at Kate. 
     She cleared her throat. “Uh. They have these things, It’s the PAR in StormPAR. It stands for Phased Array Radar.” 
     “An acronym inside an acronym?” Boone interrupted. 
     “A what?”
     “Radar. It’s not important.” Dani motioned for her to continue. 
     “Okay.” She set up the same demonstration Javi showed her in the coffee shop using sugar packets instead of jelly cups. “The PAR scans a tornado. And if three are used, you get a–” 
     “3D image of a tornado,” Dexter said.   
     “Not just an image. It’s a highly detailed model over the life of the tornado. It’s amazing. But they have pretty limited range, you have to get them really close. I don’t think they’ve done it yet.”
     “Question.” Ben interrupted. “Wouldn’t solving the tornado problem be detrimental to Mr Rigg’s business plan?”
     “He might not expect Javi’s team to make any real progress.” Dex pointed out. 
     “Ah.”
     Tyler was pleased to see that Kate was eating the garlic bread. Satisfaction bloomed in his chest. He just wanted to see her tended to. But then her face fell, and so did his stomach. 
     “What?” He asked nervously. 
     Kate was looking at her phone. “It’s boarding right now.”
     “Your flight?”
     “Yeah.”
     “Can they do that?” Lily asked. 
     Tyler’s brain started working quickly. “We’re close to the airport. We can get you there.” He promised. 
     “It departs at 2:51. It’s 2:33 right now. We’re a 10 minute drive without traffic.”
     “What do you want to do?” He asked. 
     “I won’t make it through security before it leaves.” She stared glumbly across the room. 
     “Surely there’s another flight soon.” Tyler searched on his phone. “You live in the biggest city in the country.” But everything was blank. The only flight Tyler could find was one leaving in 45 minutes headed to Phoenix, Arizona.  
     Kate took a shallow breath. “I think everything got messed up. A bunch of flights were diverted away from OKC to other airports. Can’t have departing flights without planes.” 
     “Alright. So you missed this one.” Tyler said reasonably. “People miss their flights all the time. It’ll take a day or two for the airport to get back on schedule. You’ll get back a little late.”
     “Okay.” Kate said, expression hardening. “I need to call my boss and let her know I’ll probably miss Monday.”
     Tyler stood to let her out of the booth. She stepped out of the restaurant. When he sat back down, everyone was grinning manically at him. 
     “No.” Tyler admonished. 
     “Kate and Tyler sittin’ in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G” Boone sang. “First comes the love, then comes the marriage, then comes the–”
     Tyler threw his stetson at him before he could finish. 
     Dani and Lily laughed, but stopped when they saw Kate slip back into the restaurant. 
     “Everything okay?” Tyler asked, his face flushed. 
     “She didn’t answer, but I left a message.” Kate said. 
     “It’ll be fine.” Tyler reassured her. “You’re doing your best.” 
     “I missed a whole week off of work, destroyed my company-issued laptop, and missed my flight. My best leaves a lot to be desired.” Kate sighed. 
     “There are a lot of extenuating circumstances you just left out.” Tyler argued. 
     “Oh, that reminds me of this one time I…” Dexter stopped to take a drink of water.
     “Killed a man .” Dani deadpanned.  
     Dexter glared at her. 
     “Committed arson?” Dani tried again.  
     Dexter grabbed the sodden straw wrapper from earlier and shoved it down Dani’s top. “No, I was thinking about… Now I’ve forgotten. God, I hate you.”
     “If you didn’t leave such large–” Dani took a deep breath,  “gaps in your sentences, I wouldn’t do it.”
     “That’s just how I talk.” 
     “Yes, and it drives me insane.”
     Kate giggled. 
     The waiter returned with multiple platters of food. “Who had the philly cheese steak?” He asked. 
     “You can just put everything in the center. We eat family style.” Lily said. “Could we get some extra plates?”
     “Sure thing.”
     Tyler kept passing food to Kate for her to dish onto her plate. She seemed to like the baked ziti best. He was secretly pleased to see her salad went untouched. 
     “Oh I remember.” Dexter announced a few minutes into the meal. “I was thinking about the time I was holding–”
     Everyone interrupted him at once. 
     “A cat?”
     “A Himalayan salt lamp.”
     “A bag of cocaine,”
     “A 44 inch dong,”
     “George Clooney?” 
     “No!” Dexter shouted. “I was holding a gentleman’s place in line while he was in the restroom and–”
     “Who said a 44 inch dong?” Dani interrupted. 
     Boone didn’t answer, but his face turned a furious shade of red. 
     Everyone busted up laughing. 
     “Why?” Dani asked. 
     “It just came to mind! I was meanin’ to say 4 inch dong. And then it was 44. I don’t–” He put his head down on the table in defeat.
     “Is it a dildo or is it actually attached to some poor fellow?” Dani asked the back of his head. .
     “In my mind, it was unattached.” Boone mumbled.  
     “If it was attached it would drag on the ground.” Lily said.  
     “You could just throw it over your shoulder.” Tyler mused. 
     “That or shove it in your boot.” Dani said. 
     Lily sputtered back into her glass with laughter. 
     “Wait, is it 44 inches erect or 44 inches flaccid?” Boone asked. 
     “It’s probably 22 inches flaccid.” Kate guessed. 
     “Well that implies that the average penis is half its length when flaccid.” Dani speculated. “Is that true? Or is it less than half? Or more than      half? Penis owners, report.”
     “Dan, you’re going to make me pee myself.” Lily said, tears streaming down her face. 
     “Hush, dear, this is important scientific inquiry.”
     “I’d say less than half.” Boone responded casually. “I’m a grower.”
     “Shower.” Ben said quietly. 
     “I’m not telling y’all a thing” Dexter folded his arms. 
     The whole table looked at Tyler. Including Kate. 
     Tyler had been hoping Kate would someday become equated with his cock. This was not how he pictured it going. 
     “I’m with Boone.” Tyler said quickly. 
     “Not a great sample size, but it will do.” Dani said.  “Maybe 15 inches flaccid?”
     “Great.” Tyler muttered. 
     “Is this thing to human scale?” Dexter asked. “Does it have a proportional circumference? Or is it just stupid long?”
     “Table, what do we think?” Dani asked. 
     “If it's proportional, is the rest of him large as well? Is he just a giant?” Dexter thought aloud. 
     “How tall would he be?”
     “How long is the average dick?” Tyler asked. 
     “Five inches.” Boone said. 
     “I love that you know that.” Dani said. 
     Boone shrugged
     “And the average male height?” Tyler asked. 
     “5 '9''” Kate answered. She had google open on her phone. 
     “Right so 5 times 12 plus 9. 69. Then 69 times 44 divided by 5.” He tapped his calculator. “607.2”
     “You need to divide it by 12 to put it back in feet.” Kate whispered. 
     “I know.” Tyler divided it by 12. “He’d be like 50 feet tall.”  
     “Damn.”
     “Have y’all ever seen a duck penis? Those things are insane. They’re like corkscrews.” Boone passed a picture around on his phone. 
     “Gross” Dexter pushed the phone away. 
     “Can you imagine if the average dick was 44 inches long?” Lily asked, having finally composed herself.  
     “That sounds terrible and I don’t even fuck men,” Dani grimaced.
     “What if it was just one dick?” Lily compromised. “All the others are still around five inches, but one is just crazy long.” 
     “How long would one dick have to be to move the world’s average to 44 inches?” Boone asked. 
     “Ummm?” Tyler thought for a long time. He wasn’t entirely sure where to start with that question. Probably needed to calculate the total current length of world wide dick. And then…
     “13 billion feet.” Kate announced. “Or…. she tapped on her phone a few more times. “2.5 million miles. Wait, let me check something.” She laughed. “Yep. If your dick was 2.5 million miles long, you could have it reach the moon 10 times. No need for a space slingshot, just use Jimmy's massive hog.”
     She looked up to see everyone staring at her. “What?”
     “You have kinda a corporate schoolgirl vibe going on, so hearing ‘Jimmy’s massive hog’ come out your mouth was just a lot all at once.” Dani explained. 
     “That’s what Jimmy’s girlfriend said.” Ben whispered.
     “Nice Benny!” Boone clapped the sheepish journalist on the shoulder. 
     “How did you do that so fast?” Tyler asked Kate. 
     “Oh, it was really easy.” Kate lit up. “You just multiply 4 billion by 5 and then multiply 44 by 4 billion minus 1. Then you subtract the sum of the first number from the second number. Everything else was just changing units.”
     “I don’t know what she’s talking about.” Lily said.  
     Kate adjusted in her seat and grabbed a napkin. “Does anyone have a pen?”
     Ben handed her one from his pocket. 
     “Okay. Say you have 5 tornadoes each with a height of 1 mile. She drew 5 identical tornadoes on the napkin. If you stacked all five tornadoes on top of each other, how tall would it be?”
     “5 miles.” Lily answered. 
     “Right, and 5 divided by 5 is 1." 

     “So we want the new average to be 2 miles tall.” She flipped over the napkin and drew 4 identical tornadoes. “4 of them would be the same height of 1 mile.  One would be taller. But how much taller?”

     Kate paused. “Have I lost anyone?”
     “No.” Lily said. 
     Boone shook his head. 
     “Okay. We can work backwards by finding the total height for this new scenario. In the original scenario the total height was 5 mi1les.”
     “It’s at least 4 miles because of the 4 one mile tornados we have.” Boone noted. 
     “That’s right. We can find the total height by taking the total number of tornadoes, which is 5, and multiplying it by the new average which is 2.”
     “So 10?” Lily guessed. 
     “Yep. We need this stack to reach 10 miles high. But so far, as Boone pointed out, we’re only at 4 miles.” 
     “So the last one has to be 6 miles to make up the difference.” Lily said. 
     “Correct. If we wanted to change one tornado to make all 5 have an average height of 2 miles, we’d have four 1 mile tall tornadoes and one 6 mile high tornado.”

     “Do I understand math?” Lily gasped. 
     “The dick problem is the same just with bigger numbers.” Kate continued. “There are 3.99 billion tornadoes with a height of 5 inches and one tornado with a height of 2.5 million miles.” She tucked the pen behind her ear. 
     Tyler was aroused again.

Chapter Text

SATURDAY

     Kate followed the Tornado Wranglers out of the restaurant feeling bubbly and a bit drunk. Their rambunctious behavior had blown off her seemingly permanent melancholy air. The group congealed in the parking lot only to immediately split apart again to run errands. Boone and Lily took off to find an electronics store, something about camera parts or an adapter cable. Dexter and Dani went to a plant nursery. Kate didn’t know what for. Which left Tyler, Ben and Kate headed to the nearby Walmart Supercenter for a supply run. Kate volunteered to ride in the back seat. 
     “So Kate,” Ben turned in his seat. “How did you get involved with storm chasing?”
     Tyler watched her through the rear view mirror.  
     “Oh.” Kate thought for a moment. “I guess I grew up around the storms. And I liked science in school.” 
     “And did you study meteorology at university?”
     “Yes.”
     “And what do you do now?” Ben asked. 
     “I work for NOAA. In their New York office.”
     “What does that entail?”
     “I’m an analyst for the National Weather Service. I compile research on hurricanes, winter storms, that kind of thing.”
     “Does your research extend to tornadoes?”
     “No, the office in Norman specializes in Tornado research. Or the atmospheric research department.”
     “Are you interested in moving to one of those departments if there’s an opening?”
     “Uh,” Kate laughed awkwardly. “No. I like New York. But I consult with the Norman office every now and then.”
     “Ah.” Ben jotted that down in his notebook. 
     Tyler pulled into the large parking lot and turned off the truck, effectively ending the interrogation. 
     Tyler gave her a hand as she climbed out of the back seat. Kate wondered if he would try to keep hold of her hand while they shopped, but he let go once she was firmly on the ground. 
     “I hoped I’d get to come here.” Ben beamed. 
     “To Walmart?” Tyler asked. 
     “To an American supermarket.” He explained. “You can purchase groceries, clothing, a bike and who knows what else all in one structure. Utterly nonsensical.” 
     Kate got it. Most grocery stores within 15 miles of her apartment were bodegas. 
     “Would it be alright if I did a loop?” Ben asked. 
     “Knock yourself out.” Tyler nodded. He grabbed a grocery cart and headed into the depths of the fluorescently lit store. “Alrighty, last week was sloppy joes. This week is chicken soup.”
     “Where do you prepare food?” Kate asked as she caught up. “Do you stay in a hotel with a kitchen?”
     “There’s a kitchenette in the RV. We stripped out the dining area and replaced it with two fridges and a bunch of instant pots.”
     “Lily said that the merch pays for the free food.” Kate said casually. It was the closest she could get to an apology. 
     “It usually covers the food and rooms.” He grabbed a dozen cans of chicken soup and tossed them in the cart.
     “Hotel rooms?” Kate asked. “For you guys?”
     “Nah, our rooms are paid from adsense revenue.” Tyler said. “We book rooms for people displaced by the storms.”
     “Isn’t it a lot of work to haul around a kitchen while living on the road?” 
     Tyler shrugged. “When Boone and I started the channel, we gave people cash to find a restaurant and book their own hotel, but half the time people’d be so shell shocked they’d keep wandering around the wreckage and forget to eat. By the time the sun set, they’d realize they never found a place to spend the night. 
     “We decided we’d bring food ourselves so people wouldn’t have to leave the site and reserve hotel rooms so they didn’t have to worry about it.”
     “Huh.” Kate felt a sudden dampness in her swimsuit bottoms  underwear. 
     Fuck. Had her period come early? 
     “We’ve been doing it for a while.” Tyler continued. It’s a shame none of us can cook worth a damn.” 
     I don’t have supplies. And I really need more underwear. 
     “I actually need to grab some things.” Kate blurted, leaving Tyler behind. 
     She found the pharmacy. She picked out a small box of generic tampons and sped walked to the women's apparel section. She grabbed a six pack of cotton underwear for eleven dollars. 
     Hoping she wasn’t bleeding through her pants, Kate ran to the self checkout, double bagged her items, apologized to the environment, then slipped into the women’s restroom. 
     There was no blood on her underwear. There wasn’t even creamy discharge. Just a dark wet spot. 
     Kate unlaced her boots and stripped off her pants. She managed to rip open the package of underwear with her teeth and tug a fresh pair of soft blue panties up her legs. 
     She chucked the wet swimsuit bottoms in the bathroom trash. 
     Kate returned to where she’d abandoned Tyler. He wasn’t there. She wandered through the store until she found him in the dairy section. His height made him easy to spot, though the two girls around him did their best to provide cover. 
     They were pretty. Probably college students. 
     “We literally drove from Florida to try and see you,” one of them gushed. She had brown hair down to her waist. Long tan legs and adorned by a short denim skirt. “I can’t believe we found you in a Walmart!”
     “I’m glad your trip was worth it.” Tyler said, gazing down at her.  
     The other one, a red head, eyed Tyler up and down. “Hell yes it was.” She wore a low cut crop top. Kate could see her belly button. 
     Kate had caught a glimpse of herself in the bathroom mirror. She was still in her sweats and the stupid orange t-shirt. Her bun was wildly off center.
     “Can we get a picture?” Short Skirt asked. 
     Tyler looked behind him. “Do you want the yogurt in the background?”
     “It’s more realistic that way,” the crop top one laughed. “Hey, would you take a picture for us?”
     Crop Top was talking to Kate. Kate blinked and accepted the phone. The girls pressed in close to Tyler, who, before turning on his dazzling smile, winked at Kate. 
     No one would assume she was there with the famous Tornado Wrangler. The girls clearly thought she was a local shopper. Kate snapped a few pictures and handed the phone back to Crop Top. Short Skirt asked if Tyler would sign her hand. 
     Instead of lingering like a creep, Kate backed away and wound her way around the refrigerated display cases. She was half way down the pet care aisle when her phone rang. It was an unknown number. Kate answered just for something to do. “Hello?”
     “Kate, it’s Lily.” 
     “Oh, hi.” 
     “Hi. I tried Tyler, but he didn’t answer.” Lily explained. 
     Kate passed pallets of bagged dog food. “Yeah, he’s busy. What's up?”
     “Boone and I are almost done at the electronics store, so I’m checking out hotels. Are you planning on going back to your mom’s house tonight?”
     “Oh, um.” 
     I forgot to tell my mom I missed my flight. Fuck FUCK fuck FUUU–  
     “I’m so sorry. I'm not sure.” Kate said. 
     “No! I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.” Lily apologized. “We just didn’t know how many rooms to book. We’d love for you to stay. We’re all bummed you’re going back to New York.” Lily paused then exclaimed, “But we totally get why you can’t stay in Oklahoma! And I’m so sorry about your friends.”
     Kate felt the world tipping. The heavy shelves seemed to sway. 
     “Thank you.” Kate said it with sincerity she didn’t feel.   
     “Yeah. A course.” Lily breathed. 
     “Do you mind if I call you back about the hotel rooms?” Kate asked.  
     “Yeah! And no rush.”
     “Okay. I’ll talk to Tyler and my mom and let you know.”
     “Kay. bye!”
     Tyler found her leaning against the metal shelving breathing slowly. “Hey, I was wondering where you ran off to.”
     “Oh, I just, uh–.” Kate stood up and tried to act normal. “Lily called and I can’t stand still while talking on the phone.” 
     “What’d she want?” Tyler asked. 
     “She was just wondering about how many hotel rooms to get.” 
     Tyler sighed. “Of course she did. I’m so sorry.” 
     Kate appreciated his concern. “No! It’s okay. I’m just not sure. I figured I’d talk to you first and then let her know.” 
     “Are– are you actually thinking about it?” He asked. 
     “Yeah. I’ve had a great time so far.” Kate tucked her bangs behind her ear. “And who knows? Maybe it’ll be good for me.”
     Tyler didn’t seem pleased that she might stay.  
     “Although, there’s my mother to consider.” Kate said quickly. 
     “Your mother?” Tyler croaked.
     “I don’t get to see her all that often.” Kate shifted her weight. “It could be good to have some mother daughter bonding time.”
     Tyler looked aghast. “Kate. What are you talking about?”
     “Staying at my mom’s house until my flight.” 
     He blinked at her. He had such long eye lashes. 
     “Or staying with you guys. In the hotel.” She faltered. 
     Tyler took a slow breath. “Oh.”
     “What did you think I was talking about?” 
     He ran a hand through his very tall hair. “I thought Lily was talking about something else, I don’t know. I got confused.”
     “Okay…” Kate scratched at her arm. “Well, I bet my mom can come get me.”
     “You don’t have to go.” Tyler said quickly. “It’s no trouble to bring you back to the airport once you find a flight.”
     Kate’s insides turned golden. “Yeah?”
     “But I don’t want to keep you from seeing your mom.” Tyler said. 
     “I can see my mom whenever.” Kate pointed out. “You guys might be back in Arkansas when I come back.”
     “That’s true.”
     “Okay…” Kate said hesitantly. 
     “So you’ll stay?” Tyler prompted. 
     “Sure.” 
     “Great. Good.”
     Kate exhaled, feeling pleased. 
     Ben found them shyly watching each other. “Pet supplies!” His face dropped as he eyed the bird cages and terrariums. “They don’t sell animals here, do      they?”
     Kate searched her memory. “I don’t think so.”
   

     Kate called her mom while Tyler and Ben checked out. A flat sheet of stratus clouds gave the landscape a foggy look. 
     “Katie-bug! D’you just land?” Kate could hear the cows behind her mother’s voice. 
     “Uhh,” Kate coughed. “I actually missed my flight.”
     “Just barely? I thought you boarded hours ago.”
     “No. Well I did.” Kate walked in a slow circle in front of the store. “My flight got delayed because of a storm and then I missed it.”
     Cathy was silent for an empty moment. “Did you have one of your episodes?” Her voice dripped with earnest concern. 
     “No, no. Nothing like that.” Kate swallowed hard. “I went chasing, actually.”
     “Do you need me to come get you? Are you at the airport?” Cathy asked. 
     “No, I’m with the friend from before. We’re hanging out in Oklahoma City.”
     “Tyler?” Cathy’s tone changed entirely. 
     She’d remembered his name. Not ideal.
     “Yeah. It’s not just him, though. It’s his whole team. And a journalist.”
     “He single?”
     “The journalist?” Kate evaded. “I’m not sure. I can ask.”
     “Charming.” Cathy said. “I meant the handsome cowboy that chauffeured you to my doorstep.”
     “Umm–” Kate spotted said handsome cowboy and journalist heading towards the truck with a full cart. “I don’t know. I have to go. Love you, bye.” 
     She jogged over to them, which was why she was out of breath when Tyler smiled so warmly at her. While Ben returned the ‘trolley to the trolley park’, Tyler helped Kate into the now crowded back seat. She tucked her grocery bag of unmentionables under a box of chips. 
     Tyler slid on his aviators (which disrupted Kate’s respiratory system) and pulled out of the parking lot. “We’re headed over to the nursery.” He explained. “Dex and Dani I guess ended up with more supplies than will fit in the RV.”
     “What, do you guys fight deforestation as well as natural disasters?” Kate asked.  
     Tyler smirked at her through the mirror. “Dani wants to try aerial seeding. We’re gonna see if we can use a tornado as a dispersal method.
     “Have you ever tried something like this before?” Ben asked. 
     “Nope,” Tyler laughed. “but we always need new content. You can only film a tornado so many times before people get bored.”
     “People get bored of seeing tornadoes?” Kate asked. 
     “So they tell me.” Tyler smiled.  
     They arrived at a greenhouse to see Dexter and Dani standing next to a cart piled full of bagged dirt and little green starters. 
     “I thought you were just buying milkweed seeds. What happened?” Tyler asked an unrepentant looking Dani. 
     “You ever heard of seed bombs?” She asked, a delighted gleam in her eye. 
     “No…” Tyler answered. 
“     It’s a guerilla gardening thing. You make a ball of seeds, fertilizer and sand. It gives the seed a higher chance to actually germinate. It has nutrients and protection all packed in. Kinda like a placenta.” 
     “Cool” Kate nodded. 
     “Do they actually explode?” Tyler asked. 
     “Only with the magic of new life.” She gestured to the pallet of starts. “I figure we do a mixture of straight seeds, seed bombs, and already sprouted baby plants to see what works best.”
     “Alright, let’s get it.” Tyler approved. 
     “I already bought everything.” Dani pulled the cart to the back of the truck.  “Any word from Boone and Lily?”
     “You know Boone has to look at every camera in the store,” Tyler said. “They’ll be here in a bit.”
     Kate and Dexter climbed into the bed of the truck while Tyler and Dani handed them bags of sand and fertilizer. 
     “How many of these are we making?” Tyler asked. 
     Dani glared at him. “Do you want the butterflies to die?”
     “No ma’am.”
     They had just finished loading up when the van pulled into the dirt lot. 
     Lily rolled down the window. 
     “Can you send everyone the address of the place we’re staying?” Tyler asked. “We gotta get going on making 100,000 mud pies.”
     “They’re mud balls!” Dani shouted.
     Lily bit her lip. “I didn’t know if Kate was staying. I haven’t booked anything yet.”
     Kate’s heart dropped. “I didn’t text you. Yes. I’m staying.” 
     “Yay!” Lily sang. “I’ll get us a place right now.”
     Everyone wandered through the large green house looking at exotic plants while Lily searched. When they returned to the parking lot, Lily looked harried. 
“All the places nearby are listed as having no vacancies.” She huffed. “But we can go check them out in person. They usually hold rooms for walk-ins.”
     Dani swapped Boone to drive the van with Lily. Boone got into the passenger seat of the RV with Dexter. Ben switched to ride with the girls so he could ask more about guerilla gardening. Kate wondered if she should ride with someone else.
     “You riding with me, Sapulpa?” 
     Kate turned to see Tyler holding the passenger door open for her.  His perfectly messed up hair matched the setting sun behind him. 
     God damned stupid fucking handsome cowboys.
     The first hotel was a scant three minutes away from the nursery. The next two were across the street from each other. No vacancies. The scramble around town gave Kate a stomach ache. 
     When Lily returned from the lobby of the fourth hotel, a pretty snazzy Hilton, she didn’t immediately shake her head and get back into the van. Everyone but Dani got out and joined her on the asphalt. 
     “They only have two rooms.”  Lily explained. “They’re both kings and no roll away beds. We can try finding somewhere else, but these two might be taken by the time we get back. They won’t hold them.”
     “We’re probably too close to the airport.” Dexter noted. “If we drive half an hour into the city, I bet a bunch of spots will open up.” 
     Lily looked at the van. “Dan’s getting a migraine. I don’t want to make her drive around if we can make staying here work.”
     “If we stayed here, where’s everyone sleeping?” Tyler asked. 
     “There’s seven of us and two beds. Three if you count the bunk in the RV.” Dexter listed. 
     “Dani and I share. Dex is in the RV like normal.” Lily said. 
     “There's a couch in the RV. It’s pretty short.” Dexter said.
     “I can sleep on the couch,” Boone volunteered.  
     “Okay,” Lily nodded. “Then Tyler and Ben could take the other room.” 
     “That leaves Kate without a bed.” Tyler said. 
     “Oh yeah.” Lily knit her brows.   
     “I’ll sleep outside.” Kate shrugged. “It’s my fault we didn’t get a hotel earlier.”
     “If someone is gonna sleep outside, it should be me. You take the king.” Tyler said. 
     “What about Ben?” Kate pointed out. 
     “I can sleep outside too.” Ben chimed in. “I actually slept on the deck of a–”
     “See? Ben’s fine.” Tyler insisted. 
     “So two people sleep outside instead of one? That doesn’t make a lick of sense.” Kate argued. 
     “Oh my god. She can sleep with us.” Dani interrupted. “A king is huge and Lil and I snuggle.”
     “I like that better than her being outside.” Tyler folded his arms. 
     Kate was miffed by Tyler’s outright refusal to let her sleep outside, but her heart obstinately fluttered at the hint of protectiveness. 
     Lily looked at everyone for confirmation. 
     No one objected. 
     “Okay,” Lily said. “I’ll go check in. Dani, do you know where your meds are?”
     Dani lifted her head off the steering wheel. “I have some in the RV.”
     “I know where they are.” Tyler said. 

     Dani and Lily went up to the girl’s room immediately with hopes of fending off Dani’s migraine. Ben retired to the other room to get some preliminary work done on his article, leaving Boone, Dexter, Tyler and Kate to get started on the seed bombs. 
     They set up a little station with the food service table and camp chairs next to the RV. Using the metal lining of an instant pot, they made a mixture of 1 part sand, 1 part compost, and 3 parts dirt and just enough water to make it sticky. Kate sprinkled in the seeds like they were chocolate chips.  
She enjoyed the texture of cool mud on her hands. Rolling the dough into balls felt a lot like making cookies. Her mom made delicious home-made cookies, fudgey ones that Kate hadn’t had in years.
     Soon the plastic table was dotted in dirt clumps the size of large marbles. After an hour, Tyler and Dexter left to grab dinner for everyone. 
Boone entertained Kate with stories of how they’d all met. Tyler and Boone through the rodeo. Dexter had been Tyler’s little sister’s science teacher. Dani was Dexter’s niece or cousin once removed or something, Boone couldn’t remember. Lily had left a nursing job during covid to pursue her dreams of becoming a pilot. She settled on drone flying after she discovered a fear of heights. The crew had run into her last season while she was practicing. Dani asked her out on the spot.
     Dexter and Tyler returned with a giant box of street tacos for everyone. Lily came down to the parking lot to grab food for her and Dani. Dexter grabbed his stuff from the RV to take a shower in Ben and Tyler’s room. 
     Boone, Tyler and Kate set a timer to see who could make the most seed bombs in ten minutes. Kate won. Probably because Boone ran interference and knocked Tyler’s chair backwards. Kate felt the tension in her neck relax. When was the last time she spent the day with friends?
     Why had she stopped?
     Before Tyler had righted himself in his chair, a swell of nausea had flooded Kate. 
     Had she just replaced the friends she’d killed? She’d come back to Oklahoma and found a new crew to laugh with. She was pretending it didn’t happen.
     Dexter came back dressed in pajamas. Boone excused himself to get ready for bed. Both of them disappeared into the RV. 
     Kate barely stammered a good night. 
     Where was her retribution? Where were the consequences of her recklessness? She’d gotten off scotch free while they died so young. At 28, Kate was now older than Jeb had been when he died. 
     The last ten hours had been lovely. A soft daydream. A reprieve from the New York exile she craved. But that’s all it was. A lie. 
     Kate looked across the table at Tyler. Wasn’t he pretending too? He heard what Javi said. And she’d made that awful phone call. 
     He hadn’t mentioned it once. 
     He hadn’t argued that she wasn’t a storm chaser. He’d barely noticed when she said she didn’t work on tornado research. He hadn’t said a damn thing about the time he had to haul her useless ass out of an empty swimming pool.
     Was he hoping if he didn’t acknowledge her psychosis, it would just go away? Maybe he didn’t give a shit. 
     She’d told him about her first tornado. She chose to stay with him instead of spending precious time with her mother. For the first time in years, she felt like someone understood her. Now she felt like an idiot. 
     Am I that desperate for attention? 
     The EF5 was a huge part of who Kate was. Pretending it hadn’t happened was like trying to ignore a burning meteor pit in the center of New York City. 
     Kate glared at Tyler. His little seed bombs were all smooshed and tossed half-hardy onto the table. His hands were impressively clean. Kate’s were covered in dirt; spatters of mud had dried and started to itch. 
     Neither of them had talked since Boone turned in. 
     When they finally scraped the bottom pot, Kate gathered all the trash and walked alone to the dumpster. When she’d returned, Tyler had moved the table next to the RV and collapsed all the camp chairs. 
     “I think there’s a spigot by the front of the building if we want to rinse off our hands,” he said quietly. 
     Kate just nodded, her jaw clenched. She intentionally kept one step in front of him as they walked away from the RV. 
     Washing her hands did feel good. 
     Tyler turned off the water. 
     They should go into the lobby. Up to their rooms. Go to sleep. 
     Kate couldn’t move. 
     “Why don’t you ask?” She looked up at Tyler, already regretting opening her mouth. 
     “Bout what?” He studied her in the dim light. 
     He didn’t even know. 
     “About what happened to me.” Kate said flatly. “I know you know what happened. And you haven’t brought it up once. Not even to say sorry.”
     Tyler looked confused. “I’m sorry?”
     Kate ignored him. “Everyone is curious about that day. My mom. My family.  I get recognized by people I’ve never met because of articles written about the worst day of my life.” She was talking louder now. “Random people at the grocery store are desperate to know what happened, how I survived, what went wrong. And you’re not a random person. You’re… I don’t know what you are.” 
     Kate shifted gears. “Did you know I have no memory of moving to New York? Did I drive there? Did I fly? No idea. That seems like something a normal person would recall. 
     “I had a fucking psychotic episode in a swimming pool. And I called you, in the middle of the night, sobbing. And you won’t talk about it. But you keep hanging around and I can’t figure out why. Do you think I’m an easy lay? Because let me tell you, if you asked, either of those girls at the store would have gladly fucked you.”
     “Those girls were half my age.” Tyler objected.
     “That’s what you take issue with?”
     He took a step closer to her. “Kate, nothing interesting happened to you.” Tyler said softly. 
     “Excuse me?” Kate spluttered. 
     “Nothing entertaining or compelling happened.” He continued. “Something horrible happened. Something tragic and awful. I haven’t asked because it’s none of my business.”
     That left Kate a little stumped. “Yeah, but…” Angry tears formed in the corner of her eyes. Very quietly she muttered, “Iwantittobeyourbusiness.” 
     “What?” 
     “I want it. To be. Your business.”
     “Kate, you don’t–”
“     I want to tell you.” She interrupted. “I want to tell you about that day. I want to tell you everything about me. Which is insane. I'm a private person. My roommates don’t know my last name. But for some reason, I am very bothered that you aren’t interested in my shit.” 
     Tyler chuckled. “Kate. I am wildly interested in you.”
     Kate frowned. “Oh.” 
     “Oh.” He parroted back. 
     She hung her head. “It’s just– I barely know you, but it doesn’t feel that way. Like it feels like I’ve known you for ages, except you're missing key information and sometimes I think I’m misrepresenting myself and that you think I’m something I’m not. And I really really need you to understand me accurately.”
     “Why?”
     Kate sucked in a deep breath. “I think I might suck and you seem like a really good person so I figured if I showed you all of myself you could tell me if I was a good person or not.” 
     He pulled Kate into a hug. “You’re a good person Kate.”
     “You don’t even know me.” She sniffled. 
     Tyler patted her very snarled bun. “We’ll work on it."