Archive of Our Own ^beta

When the dust settled, and the wind stopped roaring, and he couldn’t feel his fingers losing their grip on Lily’s, the only thing/person on his mind was her.

Kate Cooper.

The only person who had ever made him feel so incredibly seen.

Which by definition, was a bold statement to make after such a short time of having her in his orbit.

But he had never reckoned something to be so true.

The view in front of him so clear.

Except not now, because his gaze was blurred, the tears forming as he replayed the final moments before he’d seen Kate get engulfed by the most godawful creation of Mother Nature.

“…Kate-” He whispered, hoping that maybe it would make her appear beside him.

The theatre would have been levelled, if the tornado had gone on for a few minutes more.

It hit him, at the same time as the pain in his leg, a burning sensation all over his body, roaring in his chest.

Kate had done it.

Stupidly.

Selflessly.

She’d stopped the tornado, tamed it.

And in turn, Tyler had to face the possibility that it had taken her.

Taken her from him, before she’d even been his.

The first few steps he took were excruciating, but he didn’t care, all he wanted to do was try and ascertain if there was any sort of hope that Kate was okay.

Maybe she’d survived this…

“Tyler! Where are you going? You’re injured, you need to get checked out.” He ignored what he thought was probably Javi’s voice and continued to barely navigate the rubble and debris until he was out of the movie theatre.

Tyler found his truck, in the distance, overturned, and so fucking mangled and his breath caught in his throat, hating the pit of absolute dread that settled in his stomach.

She couldn’t have survived that…

“Ty, dude. What’re you doing?” Boone appeared next to him, not needing to walk too fast to keep up with his slow pace.

Javi was in his peripheral, but Tyler didn’t want to pay attention to anyone else, nothing else but his truck.

Searching desperately for signs of life, for signs of her.

Come on Sapulpa, please be okay.

“Need to get to Kate.” Tyler threw the words halfheartedly at his friend.

“Tyler, you don’t seriously think she could survive that, being in that monster.”

Boone was only being honest and realistic, but Tyler didn’t want to hear it.

The wind was still blowing, whistling in his ears, or maybe they were still ringing.

It was disorienting, the whole situation was.

“Why did she do that? Why the hell did she do that Javi?” It wasn’t any louder than a whisper, but the other man heard him.

“She’s Kate. That’s why.”

It was the bluntest, plainest answer, but it was true.

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White hot pain was surfacing across every inch of her body, and she couldn’t breathe.

But with every ragged heave of her chest, and every sharp stab in her ribs, it served as a reminder that she was alive.

Alive.

She barely managed to swipe her shaking hand across her forehead and wipe away the blood so it didn’t get in her eyes before she started to sort of return to her senses.

The dizziness was overwhelming, but by sheer luck and probably pure adrenaline she unclipped herself from the harness and hissed, biting her lip to stop herself from screaming at the impact of her body as it crumpled against the roof of the truck.

Taking a minute to catch her breath, she manoeuvred herself onto her front and began to claw at the soft, overturned dirt trying to pull herself out of the truck window.

Ignoring all of the pain, even though it was getting worse with every sharp inhale.

Then before she knew what was happening, hands were gently wrapped around her arms, and her shoulders and she was pulled out of the truck completely.

Sort of registering voices, telling her that she was safe, and that they had her. That she was going to be just fine. Even if they did all end up blurring together in her dissociative state.

Then she was propped up against the truck, and the ringing in her ears kind of subsided.

“You’re a force of nature Sapulpa, a goddamn force of nature.” His laugh was like a wind chime, soft and warm, and it soothed her.

There he was.

Pale faced, bruised and bleeding, but he was smiling from ear to ear.

Green eyes clouded with tears.

Looking right at her.

Maybe she was dead.

Cause he was looking at her with a different gaze than she’d ever seen before.

It didn’t feel quite real.

But then the pain was back as she inhaled deeply, and she knew that she was indeed alive.

Alive, and battered, with bruises and very possibly broken ribs, at least. If not other slightly major injuries. Yet, alive nonetheless.

She squeezed her eyes shut tightly and willed everything to stop hurting just for a second.

“Kate? Hey, are you doing okay?” Tyler had knelt down beside her, and his hand hadn’t left her thigh since they’d pulled her out of the truck.

“Mhmm.” Kate breathed out slowly, but it didn’t seem to help as much as it had been.

Tyler heard the chatter of everyone moving closer, and he looked up at Javi who had only just moved away from Kate, and he was glad for a moment alone.

“What the hell were you thinking Sapulpa?”

He couldn’t hide the way his voice caught, and he didn’t even try and stop the few tears that escaped.

Kate felt the warmth of Tyler’s hand against her cheek, brushing away the hair from her face, and she leaned into his touch.

“I had to try, I had to try and stop it. Even if…” she couldn’t finish her sentence.

And she didn’t need to.

Tyler knew exactly how it ended.

Even if she died.

And Tyler wasn’t certain that she wasn’t.

That they all weren’t. It seemed so surreal.

“Are you okay?” Kate croaked out, reaching out slowly to cup Tyler’s face in the same way he was doing with her.

Holding him, even though it was causing her an immense amount of pain, was worth it.

“I’m just fine darlin’ don’t worry about me. But you’re not, and that’s all I’m thinking about right now.” Tyler resumed his gentle hold of Kate’s thigh as he turned around to face everyone else.

Only getting more worried when Kate’s grip loosened on his cheek and fell away, missing the contact immediately.

“I know everyone’s beyond excited, but Kate’s really hurt, and I don’t think it’d be wise to move her anymore than we already have. Could someone go and get a medic?” The second he spoke the chatter stopped instantly.

“We’ll go,” Lily gestured to herself, Dani, Ben and Dexter, “but take this Kate looks like she’s frozen.”

Lily pulled her zip-up hoodie out of her rucksack and tossed it to him, and he watched the four of them walk at a fast pace back towards what was left of El Reno.

“Javi and I are going to go and see if anyone needs help, are you two going to be okay until the others find help?” Boone tried not to look at Kate’s greying face, because he was slightly terrified that she was seriously injured, far more than they could comprehend.

“You go, we’ll be fine.” Tyler waved them off, putting on a brave face until the two of them walked away.

But the second he turned to face Kate, he felt the pit in his stomach return.

Instead of trying to coax her forward to put the hoodie on properly, he draped over her front, and tried to tuck it in as best he could without hurting her.

“Sorry Sapulpa, but you need to stay awake for me.” Tyler gently brushed the pad of his thumb against her cheek.

“Just five minutes...” Kate slurred, her eyes rolling back for a moment, and that alone put the fear of god in him.

Tyler not so gently tapped Kate’s cheek this time, “Kate, I’m sorry but I can’t have you falling asleep, even for a second.”

It scared him, how fast she seemed to be deteriorating, and he hoped that there wasn’t anything seriously wrong.

If there was…he’d never forgive himself.

For letting her run off.

For driving his truck into a goddamn EF-5.

For nearly dying.

Kate shifted and she knew that things had gone from bad to worse when she barely felt anything.

Not even a little bit of discomfort.

“You’ll tell my mama I love her, will you do that for me Tyler?”

The way her voice caught, made his throat get tight.

“No talk like that darlin’ you’re going to be just fine, I promise you that.” Somehow he sunk deeper into the mud beside her, and all of his attention was hers.

Watching the colour drain from her cheeks, and the way her eyes closed.

He tilted her chin up, and tried not to break down completely.

“Come on Sapulpa, talk to me. No sleeping, you just have to stay awake a little bit longer.”

Kate shook her head, “I’m so tired Tyler.”

The sting of hot tears was the only thing she could feel, and she hated it.

It was as if she could feel herself slipping away, and for the first time in so long, she didn’t want to die.

“You’re not dying today Kate Cooper, that’s not an option. You can’t, you can’t leave me…” he whispered the last part, but she seemed to hear him.

Hearing him say her full name, it made her heart ache.

“It’s okay, you’ll be okay.” Trying to be reassuring, even though she didn’t believe a word she was saying.

Kate coughed violently, lurching forward and looking at the blood in her hand, and Tyler winced for her.

Helping her as gently as he could to lean back against the truck, whipping his head around and allowing the small flash of relief to pass through his chest when he saw Lily and everyone being followed by some medics.

“Help is almost here Sapulpa.” He turned to face her again, and when he saw her pale face, eyes closed, and the way her chest was barely rising, he knew that there was almost a chance that they were too late.

He wanted to reach out, bring her back to him, but before he could he was being pulled out of the way and the medics were taking over.

Tyler didn’t fight Ben or Dexter as they moved him a short distance away, he just stayed sat in the dirt, watching the way the medics were treating Kate.

“What if they’re too late.” He whispered to Lily who was crouched down beside him, holding his arm, trying to soothe him.

The ambulance pulling up didn’t even phase him, he didn’t want to focus on anything else aside from Kate.

“She’s a hell of a storm Ty, it’ll take a lot more than a stupid tornado to tear her down. She got through this once, she can do it again. She’ll be okay.” Lily had to stop herself from saying ‘I promise’ because she couldn’t promise anything.

Everything happened so quickly, and he barely registered that one of the medics was in front of him until Lily squeezed his arm.

“We can have one person travelling with her, are you coming son?” The woman had a kind face, and Tyler was glad, she reminded him of his mom.

He nodded, and he was glad that everyone helped him up.

“I’ll call you guys when…when I know more. When I know which hospital we’re going to. Stay safe okay? I love you guys.” Tyler got in the back of the ambulance and sat down on the bench beside the gurney.

Reaching out to take Kate’s hand in his, gently rubbing his thumb against her dirt and blood covered skin.

“You’re going to be just fine darlin’ I promise.” Briefly, he brought Kate’s hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles.

He hoped that that was a promise he could keep. And that it wouldn’t be the last.

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Four hours had never dragged on so long, and by the time the doctor who was looking after Kate came by Tyler was absolutely exhausted.

His injuries were minor, mostly superficial. The brace on his leg was mostly just for show, and stability.

In comparison to Kate, he had gotten off lightly.

A concussion, three broken ribs, more damage to the scar tissue in her leg. Some internal bleeding that they were fixing with surgery whilst he sat on the uncomfortable plastic chair outside Kate’s temporary room.

Waiting. Waiting for any sort of update to give him some relief.

Tyler had called Kate’s mom, and then everyone else once she’d gone into surgery, and he’d taken the chance to spend the last four hours on his own.

He needed to think, and just let himself be with his thoughts, and reflect on everything that had happened.

What had almost been lost.

“Mr Owens, do you want to follow me? Miss Cooper is out of surgery, but we had to move her to a different ward. I can update you on the way, but I’m happy to say that Kate is stable and the surgery went well.”

Tyler clutched the dirty, blood stained hoodie in his left hand, and pushed himself up, not really feeling like talking.

The relief he wanted to feel was still just out of reach, and he knew that he wouldn’t get it until he saw her. Until he could physically touch her, and see her. See her breathing.

So, he held onto the words stable and the surgery went well like they were his lifeline.

When they arrived at her room, Tyler felt a little more in the loop, and less stressed, but he also knew that Kate still had to be informed of the extent of her injuries and she would probably have a more unpredictable reaction.

He’d never seen her like this, he had no idea how she would react.

It hit him then that he didn’t really know that much about her, but hell, he wanted to.

He wanted to know her deepest secrets and what made her laugh, and what made her smile. He wanted to know every last detail and then some.

“I’ll leave you to it, but the call button by her bed will alert the nurses, and someone will be round every half hour until she comes round just to check her vitals.” The doctor walked away and Tyler finally moved towards the door, pushing down the handle and taking a deep breath before he went inside.

“Oh Sapulpa…” Tyler’s voice cracked and he barely had enough awareness of his surroundings to shut the door before his legs almost gave way under him.

She looked so beaten and bruised, like a completely different person.

It played with his heart in a way he’d never experienced before.

Without really thinking about it too much he made his way to the seat by her bed and sunk down, it was slightly more comfortable than the plastic chair he’d resided in since arriving at the hospital but not by much.

He sent out a group message to everyone so they knew where Kate’s hospital room was, and he did the same for Kate’s mom before he shoved his phone back into his jeans.

Tyler scooped up Kate’s hand in his, being careful not to move her IV, and he watched the way her chest rose and fell steadily.

“You know I’m meant to be the tornado wrangler around here, and doing all the stupid stuff,” his lame attempt at making light of the situation didn’t quite work, and he felt his façade fall just as quickly as he’d managed to put it up, “Jesus Kate, I swear to god there was a moment there when I thought I’d lost you. I almost lost you before I even got the chance to get to know you properly, and realising that broke something inside of me.”

He shifted a little uncomfortably in the seat and stretched out his leg, wishing that he’d asked Lily or Dani to bring him some spare clothes so he could freshen up.

“You’re doing okay, you had a little bit of internal bleeding but they sorted that out, and you did break a few ribs. Your leg is okay, but they said that you’ll probably need a good amount of physio. You have a nasty cut on your head and an equally nasty concussion to go with it, but you’re going to be fine. And that’s all that matters,” Tyler scooted the chair forwards a few inches and settled his elbows on the bed, “your moms on her way, and everyone else is okay. Lily, Dani, and Boone are heading over, but Javi, Ben and Dexter have stayed in El Reno to help. You saved a hell of a lot of people today Sapulpa. I’m so damn impressed, but I’m also so exhausted, I know that this isn’t the last time I’ll be worrying about you, if you let me stick around that is, but damn it Kate, just for a while maybe we could do the normal boring things? Get to know each other without a tornado interrupting us.”

Tyler tried to keep his eyes open but he couldn’t, and he knew he’d be worse off if he tried to stay awake.

And he’d definitely be no use to Kate if he was falling asleep.

So he gently laid her hand back down and he dropped his head into the crook of his elbow, glancing at the heart monitor, and then back at Kate.

Hoping that she’d be closer to waking up when he did.

—

The bright white lights hurt her eyes for a second whilst she adjusted to being awake, but the second she saw Tyler by her bedside, nothing else mattered.

Bits and pieces of a conversation she hadn’t been part of were floating around her head, and all she could hear was Tyler’s quiet voice.

He was fast asleep, and even though he seemed peaceful, Kate hated the way he didn’t look at all relaxed.

Craning her neck she tried to see if had any serious injuries but from her restricted position she couldn’t.

She was glad that was the case, and that he was okay.

Maybe she wasn’t, but that didn’t matter to her right now.

Gently, not wanting to wake him, but needing to touch him at least once to make sure he was actually real, Kate slowly carded her fingers through his hair.

Brushing her thumb against his cheek, wishing she could see those green eyes.

“You didn’t have to stay, I wish you’d gone to a motel and gotten some proper rest.” Kate whispered, moving her hand from his face and resting it on his forearm.

“You thought I’d just leave you? Are you serious Sapulpa?” Tyler’s eyes were on her, and even though he didn’t look like he meant it, he was wearing that stupid lopsided grin that she was growing to love.

“To get some actual rest? Yes. That cannot be comfy Tyler.” Gesturing to the position he was in, Lord knows she wasn’t comfortable, and she was actually in the bed properly.

“There was no way I was leaving you here alone, maybe I’m an asshole, but I’m not that much of one.”

Kate watched Tyler sit up properly and she winced when he did.

So he was hurt.

“But you’re hurt.” She strained, trying to move closer and inspect the damage.

But Tyler lurched forward, “you shouldn’t move, I know you’re probably drugged up on pain meds but you just had surgery, and you’ve got three broken ribs along with a nasty concussion. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

“As for me, I got off easy. I just have to wear this brace for a week tops. Compared to you, I’m fine.”

Kate huffed, but she leant back against the cushions and listened to Tyler.

“Did you call-”

“Your mom, yeah. She’s on her way, and so are Lily, Dani and Boone. I couldn’t keep them away. But I figured if you woke up you wouldn’t want too much attention, so I told Javi and he said he’d come by tomorrow at some point. He’s okay, still helping with Ben and Dexter back in El Reno.” Tyler almost reached for her hand, but she saw him pull back, so she took matters into her own hands, and wrapped her fingers around his.

And that was the first time since she’d woken up that she saw a genuine smile on his lips.

“I’m sorry, for being so reckless. For wrecking your truck too.”

Tyler raised his eyebrows, “it’s a truck, I can get another one. I can’t get another you, so if you being okay is all I have at the end of the day, I can deal with a mangled truck that’s probably beyond repair.”

He shrugged, because the truck had been the furthest thing from his mind.

“I get why you did it, at least I think I do. But when I tell you, I have never been more scared in my damn life. You are not allowed to pull another stunt like that again, do you hear me Cooper?”

Kate let the whole situation sink in, and even as she nodded in response to Tyler, she struggled to hold back tears.

“I’m sorry.” She cried, and she wiped furiously at her cheeks.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, okay? I don’t care about anything, just that you’re doing okay, I’m glad you’re still here. It’s okay if you’re not feeling up to it, but can I give you a hug?” Tyler asked, knowing that Kate might not be up for any major physical touch right now.

Kate almost said no, thinking about if it would hurt, but when she realised she needed a hug probably just as much, if not more than Tyler did, she knew she could deal with the pain.

“You don’t have to ask.” Kate whispered, and she watched as he put the bed rail down, sitting on the edge of the bed.

He seemed a little hesitant, so Kate reached out and squeezed his hands, “it’s okay, just be gentle, I’ll be fine. I just really want a hug.”

Tyler helped her lean forward, and he did most of the work, so it helped, but even though her ribs ached, as soon as she buried her face in his shoulder and felt him gently wrap his arms around her everything stopped for a moment.

The sound of the door opening interrupted them, and Kate expected to see a nurse, not her mom.

And she tried to keep the whole new wave of emotions at bay, already missing Tyler when he pulled away.

“Hi mama.” Kate offered up the most genuine smile she could muster.

“Hey Katie girl, how are you feeling?”

Tyler watched as Mrs Cooper took his spot in the chair and he quietly slipped out of the room.

And the second he was in the hallway he slumped down on the chair in the hallway.

Feeling deflated and completely exhausted.

“Hey Ty,” Lily’s voice pulled him out of his slump and he smiled at her, she was holding duffel and a paper bag, “we brought you some clothes and some food. How’s Kate doing? How are you?”

Dani sat down opposite him, and Boone took the seat next to her, so Lily sat down beside him.

“Just a little battered and bruised but I’ll be fine. Kate’s alright, they had to take her into surgery to stop the internal bleeding and relieve some of the pressure on her lungs but it all went well. Not sure how long she’ll be here but I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. She’s awake and talking, and her mom’s with her.”

Tyler felt his lip tremble and he was determined not to cry, but he couldn’t stop himself.

Because he was all too aware that the conversation he’d just had, could have been so different.

Kate could have died.

By all accounts, she should have.

“Ty, hey. It’s okay, she’s fine.” Lily went to reach out but Tyler stood up.

“I just need some air, if that’s okay. I’ll be back in a little bit.” He faked a smile, and for a second he looked at Kate through the window, relief washing over him seeing her smile.

He had a feeling that it would take a little while before he got comfortable with the idea that just because he couldn’t see Kate, it didn’t mean she wasn’t okay.

But if she let him stick around, he hoped that wouldn’t be too hard to get over.

Kate watched as Tyler walked past the window, and she hoped that he would stay. And that he didn’t feel like it wasn’t his place to be there for her now her mom was here.

“You should come back home Kate.” Her moms words pulled her thoughts away from Tyler.

And the way her whole body filled with dread and anxiety, made her heart race, and it made the heart monitor spike too.

“I can’t, I’m sorry mama. I love you, but I can’t heal and get better there. Not again.”

There were too many awful memories weaved into her childhood home, in her childhood bedroom. Nightmares and sleepless nights. The awful weight of what she’d lost still hanging over that house.

“What’re you going to do then? Cause you’re a little bit worse for wear Kate, and even if you stay in the hospital for as long as you need you’ll still have a lot more healing to do after that.” Cathy’s gaze was steely, and Kate hated how childlike it made her feel.

“Can we talk about this later, I’m not feeling too good. I just want to get some sleep.”

It wasn’t a lie, she did feel terrible, but she also didn’t feel like talking anymore on a topic she had nothing else to say to.

“Okay, you get some sleep. I love you sweetheart.” Cathy gently squeezed her daughters hand before she got up and left the room. Her own sordid memories creeping up on her from the last time they’d been in this exact situation.

Except she didn’t walk into an empty hallway, and she was slightly grateful for that.

“Hey Mrs Cooper, did you want to sit down? I can go grab you a coffee or something from the cafeteria?” Boone asked with a gentle smile.

“No thanks honey, I don’t suppose you know where Tyler might be?” She knew that Kate wouldn’t give in to her, but maybe Tyler would be willing to help Kate get back on her feet.

They seemed incredibly smitten with each other.

And Cathy had to admit how warm it felt to see her daughter happy again.

“He wanted to get some air, and in true Tyler fashion I doubt he’d have just gone to the parking lot or something. I’d check the roof. We’re all good to stay so we can keep an eye on Kate for you.” Dani reassured her.

“Thank you.” Cathy glanced at Kate as she walked past the window, and then headed in the direction she hoped would lead her to the roof.

—

Tyler had barely finished letting his emotions get the better of him when he heard someone clear their throat behind him.

He turned around, and expected maybe Lily or Boone, but not Mrs Cooper.

“Hey Tyler, sorry for interrupting you. Are you doing okay?” She looked down at the knee brace he was sporting, and how he was still wearing the same torn, muddy clothes.

“I’m fine, thank you Mrs Cooper, just a few bumps and bruises. Is Kate alright?” He wiped at his eyes again and tried to force a smile.

Even though he wanted nothing more than to be by Kate’s side right now.

“Please, call me Cathy. Kate’s fine, I left so I could let her sleep, but I also wanted to talk to you.”

Tyler leant against the wall and took a bit of pressure off of his injured leg, not sure exactly why Cathy wanted to talk to him. Unless she was going to berate him for letting Kate be so reckless.

“I don’t know what Kate’s told you about her past, and I don’t want to share much because it’s her story to tell if and when she feels like it, but when she gets discharged from the hospital she doesn’t want to come home. I know why, there are too many painful memories back there. But I can’t stay up here and I know she’ll need taking care of, even if she tries to deny it. So, I was wondering if you would? It’s okay if it’s too big of an ask, or it’ll interfere with your plans.”

Tyler let his expression soften, “I’ll take good care of her Cathy, you have my word. Any plans I had, I don’t care about now, and since my truck is totalled I was planning on sticking around here anyway. To help as well. So if Kate’ll have me, then I’ll keep an eye on her. Make sure she rests and heals. You’ve got a hell of a force of nature for a daughter Mrs Cooper.”

Cathy laughed, and Tyler did too.

“You’ve got that right son. She’s always been that way, and I’m glad she’s getting her spark back, she used to be so much brighter. You should’ve seen her five years ago. When she came home, I could tell that things were still so heavy for her, but then you came along and she seemed like the Kate I knew again. She’s lucky to have you.” Cathy knew that Kate would never forget her past and Jeb, Addy or Praveen, they were a part of her history and her heart, but she hoped that Kate could begin to move forward now.

If Tyler was the one to help her do that, then she would be happy knowing her daughter was in safe hands. With someone who clearly cared for her so much.

The first signs of rain began, and Tyler looked up at the darkened skies.

“We should head inside before we get caught in the rain. And for the record, I’m lucky to have her. She’s a hell of a storm, but she also manages to keep me calm and centred. I’ve never had that with anyone. So I’m definitely the lucky one.” Tyler smiled, just thinking about all the memories they’d made in the middle of the storm chasing and the rest of it.

They walked back into the hospital and when they got back to the hallway outside of Kate’s room, everyone was chatting quietly, whilst Boone was sleeping.

“I think I’m going to head to a motel and get some sleep, the drive has taken it out of me,” Cathy smiled at everyone, “it was nice to meet you all.”

Dani stood up and nudged Boone to wake him up.

“Why don’t you come back with us Mrs Cooper? We managed to get a motel twenty minutes away, and since I know Tyler too well, I figured he’d probably stay here with Kate so we have a spare room going.”

Cathy looked at the three young people with a lot of admiration, and briefly at Tyler.

If Kate was going to be surrounded by these people, then she knew her daughter would be in safe hands.

“Well, thank you. I really appreciate that, I was slightly dreading trying to find somewhere to stay with most places probably housing the people who lost their homes in that god awful tornado.”

“Of course, we were going to head back now, if you wanted to ride with us you’re more than welcome to.”

Lily stood up, leaving the duffel and the bag of food on her empty seat for Tyler.

“You’re too kind, if you wouldn’t mind an old lady chatting away on the drive back then I’d appreciate it.”

“Excuse me ma’am but I don’t think you look a day over 25.” Boone winked and the laughter that came after was enough to lift Tyler’s spirits just a little.

After some slightly bone crushing hugs, Tyler took his things and walked into Kate’s room just as the nurse was finishing up with her checks.

“How is she?” Tyler asked, noticing that Kate was still sleeping.

“All good, everything’s looking as it should and her vitals are stable. Your girlfriend is very lucky to not have been worse off. I’m going to recommend that we change the checks to four hourly instead of hourly, so ya’ll can get some rest. Did you want a blanket or a pillow?” The nurse smiled sweetly as she finished writing on Kate’s chart.

Tyler had to pretend he hadn’t noticed that she’d called Kate his girlfriend.

“A pillow and blanket would be great, thank you. I also wanted to ask if it was okay if I used the shower?”

Even if he only rinsed off the dirt and blood and the stress of the day, he’d feel ten times better.

“Of course, you needn’t have asked. I’ll be back with that blanket and a pillow in a few minutes.”

The nurse left, and Tyler took a second to look at Kate, watching her chest rise and fall steadily.

He reached out to gently tuck her hair behind her ear, “just going to take a shower, I won’t be long.”

Maybe the kiss on her forehead was too far, but he felt more at ease once he was certain she was really there, in front of him.

—

At some point between showering and changing clothes, Kate woke up, so when he exited the bathroom he was greeted with her tired brown eyes looking right at him.

“Sorry did I wake you?” Tyler finished drying his hair before he left the towel hanging on the bathroom door.

Kate shook her head, “no you didn’t, the pain did but it’s not too bad. Where’s my mom?”

A tight lipped smile was all she could manage when Tyler sat down in the seat by her bed.

“She went back to the motel with Lily, Dani and Boone. They gave her my room since there was no way I was leaving you here alone.” Tyler winced as he stretched his leg out, but it was the lesser of two evils and all he could feel was the guilt weighing him down. That he’d got off so lightly, and Kate was so badly injured.

“You don't have to stay.” Kate murmured, not really understanding why on earth Tyler would choose a less than comfortable hospital chair by her bedside over an actual bed.

“Well for one, I promised your mom I’d look after you, and for two, it’s completely my decision so there’s nothing you can do. Unfortunately Sapulpa, you’re stuck with me.”

Kate closed her eyes and rubbed at the particularly sore spot on her chest which worried Tyler immediately.

“I’ll buzz for the nurse.” He was already reaching for the call button but when he felt Kate’s warm hand on his wrist he stopped.

“No you won’t, I’m fine. Just relax.”

She was terse, but she was putting up a wall between herself and him.

He would leave soon, and she’d be all alone, so getting attached wasn’t an option. She’d already lost one person who she loved, she wasn’t sure she could survive losing another.

But when she opened her eyes again, and she saw just how pale Tyler had become, it stirred up so many emotions inside of her.

“Help me move over, you’re not sleeping on that goddamn chair.” Kate was slightly stern with her words, but she needed Tyler to listen to her.

“Absolutely not.” Tyler tried to stand his ground, because there was no way he was going to end up hurting Kate even more, but when she started to move herself he stood up and admitted defeat.

“You’re a terrible patient, do you know that?” Tyler quipped.

“Yeah yeah, I know.” She conceded, but she never had been good at being ill. Or injured. Or invalided in any way.

Tyler moved her slightly to the left of the bed with one swift, gentle motion.

And when she pulled back the blanket, he slowly manoeuvred himself onto the bed, being careful of her and of his own leg.

“Oh you’re just rubbing it in now.” Kate mumbled, completely drowning in the scent of Tyler’s shower gel that was lingering.

“What?” He laughed softly, shifting so he could lay on his side and look at her.

“Mr ‘I can shower and you can’t’, god you smell amazing. I’d give anything for even a bed bath and usually I’d think that would be the most embarrassing thing. It was to be honest.” Kate sighed, because she’d let herself think of then and it just made her feel even worse.

“Once you’re a little more healed, you’ll be able to shower. And I’ll make sure that the room you get has a bath. Which reminds me, I was talking to your mom earlier and she asked me if I’d look after you once you’ve been discharged because she knows that you don’t want to go back home. So I was thinking about staying in a motel until you can get back on your feet properly. If you’re okay with that arrangement obviously.”

As much as Kate wanted to protest and put on a big show of stubbornness to protect her independence and dignity, she didn’t have the energy to argue, nor did she even want to consider the alternative to staying in a motel.

“S’fine with me I suppose, I don’t really have any other option. But if you baby me for even a second Owens, one single second, I’ll find a different motel and figure it out on my own. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the support, but I can’t go back to then. I can’t be waited on, and I certainly can’t have people walking on eggshells around me. Least of all you.”

Kate wished she could get a little more comfortable but she knew that with her leg and the broken ribs that laying on her back was her best friend right now.

“You have my word Sapulpa. No babying of any kind will commence. But you have to accept help, when you need it. No being a martyr. You went through an EF-5 tornado and it nearly killed you. So I think you can handle a few days of being taken care of. But I promise I won’t be unbearable.”

Tyler watched Kate shift uncomfortably and he wished there was something he could do.

“Pinky promise?” Kate whispered, looking up at him as she held out her pinky finger.

He looked from Kate, to her outstretched pinky, and he smiled softly. Looping his finger with her own.

“Pinky promise. And I take these very seriously by the way.”

That earned a laugh, and Tyler felt a little triumphant, but when Kate’s face scrunched up in pain he regretted it.

“Sorry, I’ll try not make you laugh so much.”

Kate nodded, but she was still sporting a small smile.

“You should get some sleep.” She mumbled, yawning herself.

Tyler made sure that he wasn’t too close to Kate whilst he shifted his arms and got comfortable, but when her hand laid on his chest he froze.

“Sorry; I just had to make sure you were real. Today’s been a day. Do you mind if you hold my hand whilst I sleep, just in case I have a nightmare. It might help.” Kate’s mind was already in a state of panic and delirium and she knew all too well of the nightmares that were going to come.

Tyler gently laid his hand over hers and he interlaced their fingers.

“Anything you want, if it’ll help, I’d be more than happy to hold your hand. Now close your eyes and try and sleep, I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere.”

His reassuring tone was what helped Kate switch off her racing mind for just long enough so that she could fall asleep, and the last thing she remembered was Tyler’s hand gently squeezing hers, reminding her that she was safe and alive and that she’d survived.

⋆｡༄˚ ࿔ ｡꩜⊹⋆｡

Spending a whole week in the hospital hadn’t exactly had Kate in the best spirits, but Tyler being there to keep her company had helped. A lot.

But the morning of her getting discharged was the first time she’d felt like herself again, a nurse had helped her shower after she’d been cleared to do so by the doctor, and Tyler had been patient with her as he helped her get dressed.

Which meant just before noon, she was all cleared, and her discharge papers had been signed, she was free to get the hell out of there.

Kate was sat on the edge of the hospital bed waiting for Tyler to get back, but when he pushed the door open she didn’t expect to see him pushing a wheelchair, and she stiffened.

For a split second Tyler was replaced with her mom, and she was sucked back into the swirling mess of thoughts that encompassed that time in her life, arguably the worst day to ever exist.

“I can walk, because there’s no way I’m getting in that.” Kate’s tone was sharp, her walls had shot up, and she tried to ignore the flash of hurt that appeared on Tyler’s face.

“Get in the wheelchair Kate.”

She shook her head, “no, I am not getting in that thing. I’m fine.”

“If you don’t sit your butt in this damn wheelchair then I’ll convince the doctor to keep you for an extra day or two.”

Kate huffed, but she still didn’t listen and she tried to get up on her own. How had she just felt like she’d got her independence back, for it to be ripped away so easily.

“Kathryn Jo Cooper.”

She froze, fingers gripping the edge of the hospital bed, and Tyler watched the colour drain from her cheeks.

“Where on earth did you figure that out?” Kate spoke slowly, because she hadn’t heard her full name in over five years.

“Your mama told me that you might give me some stick. So, she gave me a little bargaining chip. Don’t make me say it again Sapulpa.”

Kate rolled her eyes at that, imagining her mom and Tyler colluding together and swapping silly stories whilst she was stuck in the hospital.

They seemed to be getting on really well.

“Can’t you just give me a piggy back ride?”

Tyler looked at her like she had suddenly grown three heads.

“With your injured leg and healing stitches and three broken ribs. I didn’t think I’d ever hear such a stupid suggestion come out of your mouth Kate Cooper. Please just get in the wheelchair, it’s only to get you to the parking lot. We don’t have to bring it with us.” Tyler left the wheelchair by the door and went to sit next to Kate, reaching out to take her hand.

“It feels like last time and I don’t like it.” Kate whispered, she’d opened up to Tyler a little bit in the late nights over the last week, when she couldn’t sleep, and had somehow managed to disturb Tyler every time with her incessant shifting around.

They’d barely scratched the surface though and Kate had been careful to not rip open the heavier wounds whilst she was in the hospital. Not knowing how she’d react.

She didn’t want Tyler to see that side of her.

The messed up side of her who saw her ex fiancés face when she slept, who relived that godawful day in every nightmare as she watched her friends get swept away into the belly of the beast.

A beast they hadn’t predicted.

That she hadn’t predicted.

On a random day, that was never supposed to end how it did.

A day that should have never happened.

It was all her fault and there was nothing anyone could do to convince her otherwise.

“But it’s not like last time, and I know you know that. However long it takes for you to feel okay with getting in the wheelchair, is okay. We’ll go at your pace. But this is the only way you’re getting out of the hospital. So, you’re going to have to get in it eventually.” Understanding with a side of tough love was probably exactly what Kate needed so Tyler did just that and hoped that at some point Kate would feel comfortable enough to let him push her in the wheelchair out of the hospital.

He wasn’t a stranger to the turmoil and pure hell that Kate had been through, from news articles and anecdotes from Cathy Cooper, he had been able to fit some of the pieces together. But he knew that the most important pieces were with Kate, and he would wait for as long as she needed, until she was ready to open up to him, to help him piece everything together.

Ten minutes later, after holding Tyler’s hand and slowing her racing heart, Kate stood up with Tyler’s help and let him bring the wheelchair over.

“That’s it Sapulpa, you’re okay.” Tyler leant down and kissed her temple before he started to push the wheelchair out of the hospital room.

And Kate had to admit, that it wasn’t the same as last time. It was a little less heavy, and she didn’t feel so alone.

⋆｡༄˚ ࿔ ｡꩜⊹⋆｡

The excitement of everyone when they got to the motel was infectious and Kate couldn’t help but feel happy about being surrounded by so much joy.

Weirdly, she felt more at home with Tyler and his friends now than at any other point since she’d flown in from New York.

“Good to have you back Katie!” Lily gave her a soft hug and Kate matched her smile.

“Thanks Lily, I missed you guys.”

A flash of pain spread across her chest but she ignored it. Knowing that it was more than normal now, and would be her normal for a few more weeks at least.

“I hope Tyler wasn’t too insufferable, welcome back Cooper.” Boone kissed her cheek and Kate felt the warmth spread across her cheeks.

“He’s been great, a real gentleman. Who knew.” Kate laughed, smirking playfully at Tyler as he walked back down the stairs, and he reciprocated her expression with a lopsided grin.

Dani was the gentlest as she pulled her in for a hug, “it’s good to have you here Kate, honestly we’ve all missed you.”

“It’s good to be back, really. Thanks for keeping my mom company while she was here, she really enjoyed spending time with ya’ll.”

“It was our pleasure, she’s a wonderful lady. She did have a few embarrassing stories to share but mostly she held back. It did help us learn a little more about you though! You really are the OG tornado wrangler Kate Cooper.”

Kate blushed, knowing exactly which story her mom had told everyone. But she was glad that her mom had been in good hands with everyone.

Dexter and Ben waved and smiled at her, and Kate was glad because she was all touched out.

Well, almost, but when Tyler looped his arm around her waist to steady her she was grateful for the support, but also the physical contact that had brought her so much comfort over the last week.

“Do you want to go lay down? Or do you feel like hanging out here with everyone?”

“Maybe I could change into something a little less tight fitting, and then I’d love to spend time with everyone. If that’s okay?” Kate hoped her mom had left her her things here like she’d asked her to.

“Yeah of course, come on. Your room is the one just over there, I figured stairs would be a little too much. And this was the last room that had a bathtub too.”

“Where are you staying?” Kate questioned, letting Tyler take all her weight as they walked across the parking lot and to her room.

“Just upstairs, Boone’s going to be delighted to have me back as a roommate.” Tyler chuckled, pushing the door open, and not failing to notice how Kate’s face had dropped.

Kate stared at the twin beds and her duffel on the furthest bed from the door.

Clocking the small pile of clothes on the pillow as she scanned the room.

It was just going to be her, alone, with her thoughts and her nightmares and her endless supply of physical and mental pain.

And even though Tyler was right there she missed him already.

“Everything okay?”

She shrugged off Tyler’s arm, and moved slowly toward the bed, wincing as she sat down, grateful that it was decently more comfortable than the hospital bed.

“I might take a nap actually.” Her voice caught in her throat, and she tried desperately to swallow the lump that formed.

Blinking back the tears before Tyler focused on her properly.

“Yeah okay, that’s fine. Do you want some help changing? I left you some of my sweatpants and a flannel just in case some of your clothes were too tight.”

Tyler stepped forward but he stopped when Kate stiffened, something was clearly wrong, and he wondered if he’d said something to upset her, or trigger some unwanted thoughts.

“No thanks, apologise to everyone for me. Wake me up in a couple hours if I’m not already awake so I don’t miss the time to take my meds.”

“Kate-”

She shook her head, “it’s fine. I’m fine. I’ll see you later.”

She avoided looking at Tyler, sitting on the edge of the bed until he turned around and walked out of the motel room, closing the door softly behind him.

The second she was alone, she pulled herself up and started to get undressed, it was a slow painful process but she managed to do it, and she was just about to reach for Tyler’s clothes when she caught sight of the new ugly pink scar on her leg. Lengthening the old one, she had quite literally reopened an old wound, and it hurt like hell.

Physically and mentally.

Her fingers brushed against the puckered skin, but she quickly pulled her hand back.

Tyler’s flannel was huge on her, and she almost put his sweatpants on too but she decided not to just in case she overheated.

So she grabbed a pair of her own pyjama shorts, which were entirely invisible since the flannel drowned her.

Climbing into the bed closest to the door, she tried to prop herself up with pillows but eventually she gave up and found the least painful position, her eyes on the door hoping that maybe Tyler would come back and stay with her.

But the laughter filtered through the open window and Kate only felt worse, because she knew he’d missed his friends and she didn’t want to take him away from that. She’d been the one to express her disdain for being waited on hand and foot. So she wasn’t about to change her mind now.

Tyler wasn’t her carer, and she wasn’t his concern. She was a liability and she wondered if he’d be glad when she was back on her feet and able to go back to New York.

The sleeping pills she’d been given stared at her with a vengeance and she almost caved but she closed her eyes, knowing that even if they did stem the nightmares she always woke up feeling worse.

It felt weird, without Tyler laid beside her, and she bunched up the covers and tried to pretend that the bed didn’t feel huge without him, and at some point, somehow, she managed to fall asleep.

—

Not even two hours later, she woke up, screaming and shaking. Drenched in sweat.

The pain not so apparent until her stomach flipped and she tumbled out of bed, struggling to make it to the bathroom before she threw up.

The nausea went away just as quickly as it had started but now she was stuck on the bathroom floor, barely breathing, becoming more and more aware of the pain that encompassed her whole body.

Her phone was still on the night stand, so she was stuck there, and she felt so helpless and so alone, the tears falling before she could stop them.

“I’m just going to check on Kate.” Tyler pushed himself out of the deck chair and walked away from everyone.

He knocked, not expecting an answer since he figured she was probably still asleep, but he waited for a minute or so just in case before he went inside.

Expecting to see Kate asleep, and not a vacant bed. It was all upturned and had clearly been slept in, but she wasn’t anywhere to be found.

“Kate? Are you in the bathroom?”

It was eerily quiet, but as he walked closer to the bathroom he heard her sniffling and he made it to the doorway and froze.

There she was.

Slumped against the bathtub, his flannel clinging to her, damp with sweat, cheeks flushed and tear stained.

“Jesus Kate, are you okay?” He moved closer and knelt down in front of her, his hand hovering close to her face when she flinched.

“It’s just me, it’s me. I’m here now, I’ve got you.”

Kate couldn’t even focus on his soft voice, because the second she’d seen him in the doorway her panic had just built and alongside the pain, she was finding it hard to breathe for more than one reason.

“Everything hurts.” She mumbled, shivering, regretting every slight movement as it sent shockwaves of pain throughout her body.

Tyler had to bite the inside of his cheek, hearing just how broken Kate sounded. It stung.

“I’ll run you a bath, and then we’ll figure everything out. S’alright Sapulpa, I’m not going anywhere.” He tried to reassure Kate when he felt her steadfast grip on his wrist.

“Just, just stay here for a second. Please…”

The dam broke then, and she couldn’t stop herself from crying.

Tyler had never heard such gut wrenching sobs, and he had never felt so helpless. He wanted to pull Kate into his arms and hold her tight, but right now that wasn’t an option, and he didn’t know what to do. What he could do to make it better.

Slowly, he sat down properly on the bathroom floor, manoeuvring Kate’s legs so they were on top of his, and then he let her fall against his chest.

“I’ve got you, I’ve got you Kate.” Whispering those words over and over, feeling the warmth radiating from her body as she leaned into his embrace.

Kate was glad that Tyler was just there, she had never been good at accepting help from other people in the panicked states she experienced after a nightmare.

Too much noise and too much physical touch, it overwhelmed her more.

So when Tyler had let her fall into his embrace, and had said barely anything, except the words she needed to hear, she had been able to calm herself down quicker than she ever had before.

Hearing Tyler’s heart beat as she rested her head on his chest helped her regulate her own, and finally she felt like she could breathe properly.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered, feeling Tyler’s arms move to loosen their grip, she wondered if he was going to leave her alone.

She didn’t anticipate that his hand would cup her cheek, titling her chin up so she could look at him.

“You have nothing to be sorry for Kate. I’m sorry I left you, I’m sorry if I did something to upset you earlier. I thought that giving you space was the best thing, but I regret that now. How are you feeling, how’s the pain?”

The guilt flooded her chest immediately and she closed her eyes.

“You didn’t do anything, I was just being ridiculous, I let my thoughts get the better of me and I pushed you away. I didn’t really want you to go…but I don’t want to be this clingy, overly dependent burden you have to worry about all the time. It isn’t your responsibility, I’m not your responsibility.”

Tyler sighed softly, “I have never seen you like that Kate. Not for one second. You’re not clingy or dependent or a burden. I worry about you because I care. And for the record, you’re pretty damn hard not to care about. You’re not my responsibility, I don’t know if you know me Sapulpa but I’m not one to be told what to do or forced into doing anything. I’m here right now with you because I genuinely want to be, nothing about now or this last week has been a chore. Okay?” His fingers brushed across her temple, tucking the loose strands of hair back behind her ear.

Kate watched the way Tyler looked at her, and she couldn’t stop staring at him, trying to remember the last time she’d felt like this.

Seen, understood, loved…

“Okay.” She nodded, laying her head back on his chest because as the adrenaline began to wear off, the pain got worse and she couldn’t ignore it.

“Right, now we’ve got that out of the way, I’m going to carry you back to the bed. No arguments. You’re going to take your meds, and I’m going to run you a bath. Alright?”

Kate nodded, and for a moment everything was still when she felt Tyler’s lips pressed against her forehead.

—

Drowning in Tyler’s clothes once again, she was watching him move around the motel room, putting his things in the drawers, hanging up her clothes in the closet.

Yawning and trying to pretend he wasn’t completely exhausted.

Kate hadn’t wanted him to feel obliged to stay, but he hadn’t so much as let her argue for a single second.

“They’re just clothes you can leave them on the floor for all I care, you’re tired Tyler. Please get some sleep.”

Tyler finished putting the last shirt on the hanger and then he closed the closet door and turned to face Kate.

“All done, and there’s no way I’d leave your things on the floor. Your mom would have my guts for garters. And as for sleep, you should be the one getting rest in.”

He went to sit on the edge of the bed closer to the door, and he swapped out his flannel for a loose fitting t-shirt.

Kate’s eyes didn’t leave him, and she was hesitant to ask the question that had been floating around her head since Tyler had told her he was staying in her room.

“Can you sleep with me…? Oh shit, erm, not like that, but I, I just sleep better with you next to me. And…god screw it. Forget it.” There she went, the words coming out all wrong.

She covered her face with her hands and was slightly glad that it was dim enough in the room that her rosy red cheeks wouldn’t be visible.

It was silent and Kate was worried that she had well and truly fucked things up, but when the bed dipped beside her she held her breath.

“Open your eyes Sapulpa, I know what you meant. If it helps you sleep, then I don’t mind. And if I’m honest, even though the hospital bed wasn’t the comfiest, sleeping next to you this last week gave me the best nights of sleep I’ve had in a while. So, you’re not the only one benefiting from this. I promise.”

Gradually Kate moved her hands away from her face and she stared up at the ceiling for a minute or two before she even dared to turn her head to the left and give Tyler her attention.

He was already staring at her and she smiled coyly.

“There you go, it’s not that bad is it? Sharing a bed with me?” Tyler teased, easing himself onto his side and instinctively reaching out for Kate’s hand.

Kate wrapped her fingers around his and slowly moved onto her side, finding it a little easier now she was healing.

Her ribs and her leg were still bothering her the most but the medication helped a lot.

“G’night Tyler, thanks for putting up with my stubborn ass today. And for helping me through that earlier. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She watched Tyler smile tiredly at her, barely able to keep his eyes open.

“You’re welcome, but you don’t have to thank me. I’m very glad that you’re letting me be here for you. Sleep well Sapulpa. Wake me if you need me.”

Tyler was asleep in ten minutes if that, and Kate tried to follow suit but she was still letting her second dose of pain meds work their way through her system so she tried to do various things to occupy her mind in the hopes that it would send her to sleep.

She stared at the ceiling, and then watched as shadows walked past the window every so often accompanied by low chatter, but eventually she let her eyes fall back on Tyler.

Taking in every feature of his sleeping face, barely able to stop herself from reaching out to trace her fingers across the distinct lines, to connect his spattering of light freckles, to ease the tension of the crease on his forehead as he slept.

He was everything she’d needed, a breath of fresh air and a sense of adventure, peace and warmth all rolled into one.

The only one who’d been able to calm the storm raging inside of her for the first time in so long.

But in the same breath, he’d managed to reignite the love for chasing that she thought had been taken away with the tornado all those years ago.

Tyler Owens was wilder than the wind, and he had made an impact on her life, for sure. Leaving her wondering just how on earth she was meant to leave him behind.

But whilst she still had a couple more weeks in Oklahoma, she wanted to think about being present and not about New York or that life that wasn’t really hers.

Just enjoying the time with everyone.

Healing and finding peace with being back home again.

Getting to know Tyler as much as she’d let him.

Spending her nights like this.

With Tyler asleep beside her, her anchor through the raging darkness.

So, she dared to move a little bit closer, and when Tyler’s hand slipped out of hers and fell on her waist she didn’t mind so much, and sleep came quickly, easier than it had done before.

⋆｡༄˚ ࿔

It was barely midnight when Tyler briefly woke up to a few loud noises outside, only waking up more when he realised Kate had nestled herself against his side.

She stirred and he stayed as still as he could, not wanting to hurt her.

“Tyler?”

She mumbled, and he gently wrapped his arms around her kissing her forehead, “I’m here, it’s okay go back to sleep.”

It took a while for her breathing to even out, but eventually Tyler was certain that she was asleep again.

He couldn’t help himself, he was completely entranced by her.

Kathryn Jo Cooper had blown into his path like an unpredictable tornado, all fire and thunder, standing her ground with her walls up impossibly high.

She’d made an impression alright.

Never had Tyler ever thought about being safer, or less reckless, than when Kate was in his truck for the first time.

Because he had to keep her safe.

Gently, he reached out and brushed his thumb against her cheek, wondering just how the hell this woman was still standing.

Not only had she survived two EF-5 tornadoes, but she had endured enough loss and trauma to last anyone a lifetime.

And god knows she didn’t deserve any of it.

She’d been icy in the beginning, and Tyler knew why, he’d have been the exact same.

But he was proud of how far Kate had come in such a short amount of time, and maybe he didn’t know her that well at all, but he wanted to get to know her.

Kate was the calm eye of the storm for him and from the day that he’d met her, he’d been completely and utterly fixated on her and her story and who she was.

Kate Cooper was stronger than a storm, any storm he’d ever come face to face with, and he was just grateful that he had a place in her life, even if it only for a short time.

Maybe his feelings didn’t matter so much, he couldn’t let himself focus on them when he knew that in two weeks Kate would leave, but he didn’t want to let Kate go just yet.

So, he wanted to relish the time he did have, and just be her friend, make her laugh and make her feel good. Show her that she deserved to be happy.

“You have my word Sapulpa, the next two weeks are going to be something for you to remember. And Lord knows you’re goin’ to be so hard to forget…”

When she stirred again, Tyler shifted too, trying to get comfortable, glancing at Kate and getting a glimpse of her brown eyes.

“Did I wake you.” Her sleepy voice was raspy and he simply shook his head.

“No darlin’,” he whispered, “don’t you worry. It’s okay, go back to sleep. I’m still here.”

Kate grasped a fistful of the fabric of his shirt, and he watched her curl up, settling her head on his chest.

He pulled the covers over her a little more and closed his eyes too, Kate’s warm body against his being all he needed to fall asleep.

⋆｡༄˚ ࿔⋆｡

Over the course of the next two weeks, Kate got better and back to her old self more or less.

The nights spent laughing and talking with everyone else were memories she would take with her, and the nights when Tyler stayed in her motel room, sometimes in the other bed just so she knew he was there, and sometimes in her bed when she needed to know he was okay; they would never leave her.

He had become a recurring theme in her nightmares now. And Kate hated it. She hated the way she felt guilty for moving on from the past, and she hated seeing Tyler in every possible dangerous situation, with her watching as each time he never made it out alive.

The worst part, weren’t the nightmares filled with him meeting death in so many different ways, and arguably anyone else would think she was ridiculous for thinking this was worse, but Kate was certain that she was falling slightly in love with Tyler Owens.

And that terrified her.

She didn’t need to get attached to anyone else, let alone him.

And Tyler didn’t need to be saddled with her and all of her baggage. Not that he would ever see her like that. She couldn’t let that happen.

So calls had been made, and Kate was all set to fly back to New York. She’d known for the last few days, but now that morning had arrived and she didn’t want to go.

New York wasn’t her home.

It never had been, it had been nothing more than an escape.

“Katie!” Lily popped her head around the open motel room door and Kate looked up from the last bag that she had to pack.

“Hey Lily, everything okay?”

She shifted a little taking some of the pressure off of her ribs.

“Tyler wanted to know if a) you’re nearly done and b) how late would it make you if he took you for a drive before dropping you at the airport?”

Kate swallowed, already wishing that the final destination for today wasn’t the airport. That she could spend another night in this motel, laughing until her sides hurt, poking fun at Tyler, hearing him tell stories and everyone prying stories out of her.

Weighing it up with a glance at her watch, she made her decision.

“I’m all packed and tell our tornado wrangler that I can make time for a little drive.” She mustered up a smile and watched as Lily ran off.

Being surrounded by people who shared her love of chasing again, it had reopened a few old wounds but mostly, it had helped her begin to heal.

Kate stood up, frowning at the neat, barren room, and she shouldered the duffel bag.

Walking only as far as the threshold of the door before the sun was suddenly gone, and she looked up to see Tyler’s smiling face.

“Hand it over.”

Kate rolled her eyes, “I’m more than capable Owens. It’s not even that heavy.”

She tried to shoulder past him but he wrapped one arm firmly around her waist, and seamlessly lifted the duffel from her shoulder.

“I’m not saying you’re not, I’m just being a gentleman.” He grinned over his shoulder as he walked to his truck.

Which Kate had genuinely thought was done for, she had no idea how they’d managed to salvage it.

She pulled the door shut and locked it, wrapping her arms around her as she walked over to everyone.

The feeling of Tyler’s fingers lingering on her waist.

Despite not actually needing to, Kate was still sporting one of Tyler’s flannels, and she hoped he wouldn’t ask for it back before she left. If she couldn’t take Tyler with her back to New York, having something of his, that smelled like him,  would have to do.

Maybe it would be enough to calm her down after a nightmare, but she had a feeling she would struggle to sleep for a while when she got back to her small one bed apartment filled with ghosts.

“Group hug!” Dani called out, and Kate was immediately pulled into the middle of a big, gentle hug.

“We’re going to miss you Kate.” Boone smiled, and Kate let out a shaky breath, trying her hardest to keep smiling even though she was struggling to keep her emotions at bay.

“I’m going to miss you guys too, but I’m definitely not going to disappear for five years again. I’ll be back at some point I promise. And I’ll stay in touch, of course. Gotta keep tabs on my favourite group of tornado wranglers.”

It felt like she was losing everything again, except this time she was walking away, not running, but still.

Leaving everything behind again felt like she was losing everything.

Tyler was waiting by the passenger side for her, holding the door open, and she gave him a knowing smile.

“What ever will I do without you to hold open doors and carry my bags for me eh?”

His smile faltered for a split second but he was glad that Kate was too busy with getting in the truck to notice.

“You’ll miss me terribly, and feel lost without me, obviously.” Tyler shut the door and walked around to the drivers side, glancing at all of Kate’s belongings in the back of the truck.

This was going to be his last ditch attempt at convincing her to stay.

He didn’t want to drop her off at the airport and watch her walk away, taking his heart with him too.

Even though he had no right to ask her to stay, he wasn’t sure he was strong enough to let her go.

“So, where are you taking me?” Kate had barely buckled her seatbelt, turning to look at Tyler as he got in the truck.

Tyler didn’t say anything for a minute, and Kate wondered if he’d changed his mind, or that he was mad at her for actually leaving, but then he turned to her with a smile, and even though it didn’t quite reach his eyes she tried to feel content with it.

“You’ll see, it’s nothing special but I just wanted to give you a good send off. It’s not going to be the same without you Sapulpa.”

There it was.

The wavering of his voice.

He turned the key in the ignition and waved at everyone as they drove out of the motel parking lot.

Kate was reduced to silence, not quite knowing what to say that could make things hurt a little less.

But she trusted Tyler, so she didn’t question him, and she kept her eyes firmly glued out of the window.

The first stop, Kate recognised immediately.

El Reno.

Almost a month later and it was like a different place entirely.

“They’re doing good, rebuilding, still living. Thanks to you Kate. You saved them. I figured it might give you some peace of mind knowing that everyone is doing okay. We do have one more stop after this, but then we should probably head to the airport so you don’t miss your flight.”

Kate reached out to take Tyler’s hand as they kept driving through El Reno. Squeezing it a little tighter when she saw the spot where the truck had landed, she should have never survived that.

“Thanks Tyler,” she hoped Tyler knew that she wasn’t just saying thank you for this, but she wasn’t sure she could say much more without getting too emotional, “for everything.”

“You’re welcome Kate.”

Tyler brought her hand up to his mouth and he kissed her knuckles.

How the hell was she supposed to leave? To leave him?

The second stop brought back a flash of uncomfortable memories but she was glad to see that just like El Reno, people were rebuilding.

This time though, Tyler stopped the truck and Kate frowned looking over at him.

“I know we’re on a time crunch, but there’s someone here who wanted to say thank you.” Tyler got out of the truck and made his way around to the Kate’s side.

Opening her door before she could, knowing that as much as it was probably irritating her, he wouldn’t stop doing it.

They walked towards the diner which looked almost brand new, and Tyler waved at the two people who Kate had helped save after the tornado had ripped through the rodeo.

They’d reached out to him whilst Kate was still recovering, so Tyler had bided his time and set up the meeting for her last day.

Kate walked next to Tyler and spotted who he’d been waving at, recognising the mother and daughter who had been huddled in the pool with her and Tyler.

“Tyler,” she whispered, blinking back tears, “I don’t know what to say…”

“Don’t say anythin’ the mom, Evelyn reached out to me and asked if there was any way she could thank you for saving her and her daughter. So I figured it out.”

Kate didn’t have any words but she felt so many emotions, wishing she could have saved more people, but glad that she’d been able to save these two.

The little girl ran over to them and Kate smiled brightly.

“Hi! I’m Charlotte, but you can call me Charlie!” She held out her hand and Kate bent down a little to get to her height, shaking her hand.

“Well hi Charlie, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Kate, but you can call me Katie.”

Kate stood up as Evelyn approached them, and she expected a handshake, not to be pulled in for a hug.

“Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. I don’t think I can ever repay you, if you hadn’t been there I don’t want to think about what might have happened. Because of you and your quick thinking me and my daughter are alive. You’re an angel.”

The embrace lasted for as long as Kate could handle, “I’m glad I was there. I’m glad I could help you two.”

“Katie?” Charlie was by her side and Kate pulled back from the hug and directed her attention towards the young girl, catching sight of Tyler stood a few feet away.

“Is that your boyfriend? He’s handsome.”

Kate had to stop herself from stumbling over her words, hoping that Tyler hadn’t heard what Charlie had asked.

“Nope, he’s just my friend. But he is certainly very handsome. Now I don’t really have much time because I have to go to the airport but do you think we have enough time for a milkshake? If that’s alright with your mama of course.”

Seeing Charlie’s huge smile was worth it.

“Please mama, can I go and get a milkshake?”

Evelyn looked between her daughter and Kate, pretending to think about it.

“Go on then sweetie. Have fun.”

Evelyn tried to hand her some money, and Kate shook her head, “my treat, please. Come on Charlie, we have to have a very serious conversation about your favourite milkshake flavour.”

Charlie took her hand, and Kate waved over at Tyler as she walked towards the diner.

There was something that made the warmth spread across his chest as he watched Kate and Charlie walk across the parking lot.

He could still hear their excited chatter as he went to stand next to Evelyn.

“You’ve got a good one there Mr Owens.”

Tyler wished he could agree, but Kate wasn’t his.

“We’re just friends, but she’s one of a kind that’s for sure. I’m lucky to have her in my life ma’am.”

“Don’t wait too long son, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, and if you keep on waiting for the right moment you might find that you wait forever and then it’s too late.”

He nodded, agreeing with her silently.

Wishing that he had the courage to ask Kate to stay, but he could feel his opportunity slipping through his fingers as their time together drew closer to ending.

⋆｡༄˚ ࿔

The drive to the airport was silent.

Kate was struggling with the heavy weight that had settled in her chest.

Tyler was struggling with the pain of having to say goodbye.

She expected Tyler to leave her the second they parked up, but he didn’t.

He helped her with her bags, and he followed her through the check in process, and he was waiting for her by her gate.

“Aren’t you wantin’ to get back?” Kate finally spoke, not wanting to look at him, her arms crossed over her chest.

“I don’t want to leave you.”

There it was, the punch to the gut that Kate had been so desperate to avoid.

“You have to.” She whispered, reaching for his hand, still staring straight ahead, breathing in sharply when Tyler’s fingers interlaced with her own.

“Why? I’ll come with you, I can find something to do in New York, and I’ll figure things out-”

She turned around now, facing him, taking his face in her hands so he’d look at her, the ache in her chest growing.

“You belong here, chasing with everyone. With the people that you love. I have to go back to New York Tyler, I wish I didn’t…”

Tyler blinked back the tears, “so don’t, stay here, stay with me. You think I don’t need you too? You think I don’t…”

He turned away from her, but when Kate moved closer he forced himself to look back at her, all rosy cheeked, stood on her tiptoes, big brown eyes all glassy, shining with unshed tears.

“You think I don’t love you Kathryn Jo Cooper? Because you’re pretty much always right about everything, but this one time, you’re wrong if that’s what you think.”

Kate swallowed, feeling like a weight had lifted, because how she felt about Tyler, wasn’t some one sided figment of her imagination…he felt the same.

He had made her feel safe and loved and wanted, for the first time in years.

“This isn’t going to be easy, I’m not going to make this easy. I can’t promise that you won’t end up getting fed up with me, I’m still healing…so if that’s not something you want to put yourself through then tell me now, and I’ll get on that plane.”

Tyler moved his hands around her waist, pulling her flush against him, and he looked her in the eye.

“I want this, I want you Kate, and I promise you that we can take this as slowly as you need. There’s no rush, no pressure, absolutely nothing. Just me, and you and maybe a couple of tornadoes thrown in there. You, are the best thing to happen to me, I’ve never met anyone like you before, and I never will again. You’re one of a kind, and a hell of a storm. And a wise person once said to me, if you feel it, chase it…”

Kate’s hands found their way to the back of his neck, “so, are you gonna chase it?”

Tyler leaned in, searching her gaze for permission, “for as long as you’ll let me.”

That was it, and Kate pulled him in, not able to resist the urge to kiss him any longer.

They may have been in the middle of the airport, but that didn’t matter to either of them.

Her entire body was covered in goosebumps as Tyler’s grasp tightened around her waist, and she deepened the kiss.

In a world of their own, they almost missed the announcement that sounded throughout the airport, but Tyler caught the last part of it.

‘…flights are delayed due to unforeseen weather conditions, we will keep everyone updated.’

Kate pulled back from the kiss, gently caressing Tyler’s cheek, a little breathless and completely in awe of the fact that that had just happened.

“I think that might be our cue.” Tyler grinned, unable to to form any other expression.

The buzz he was feeling wasn’t just because of the impending storm, but rather the fact that he was still holding Kate in his arms.

He’d just kissed her.

She’d kissed him back.

“So, what do you say? Wanna go chase a tornado?” Kate grinned, still pressed against his chest, trying to figure out if this was really real.

But when Tyler leaned in to kiss her again, she knew.

It really was.

“I’ll get your bags, you go wait in the truck.” Tyler fished his keys out of his pocket and Kate took them, finally pulling away from him.

“Can I drive!” Her excitement was like a big bear hug, and Tyler knew that he had no choice but to say yes.

“If you want, I won’t be long.”

Kate started walking away, but every few seconds she’d look over her shoulder, to find Tyler still looking at her, and the weight on her chest had changed from overwhelming sadness, to a deep yearning.

Yearning for the tornado wrangler a few paces behind her.

Her tornado wrangler.

New York could wait, it would still be there, but she wasn’t sure she’d ever go back now.

Her home was here, not just Oklahoma, but a certain person too.

She felt it, that was for sure, but there was no need to chase anything, because she knew that Tyler would always be there, right by her side.

⋆｡༄˚ ࿔

Everyone was absolutely thrilled when Tyler broke the news that Kate was staying, but Kate had asked that for now their relationship was just kept between them, so Tyler had respected her wishes.

And if he was honest, he wanted to keep her all to himself for as long as he could.

One thing that he was completely sure of, was that he was never letting Kate drive again.

She was like a bull rider at a rodeo, and she was even more reckless than he was, but Tyler had loved seeing the pure joy on her face.

They’d caught a small tornado, and then after a quick phone call they were driving to Kate’s moms.

“I’m just gonna rest my eyes.” Had been Kate’s last words before she’d fallen asleep.

Her hand resting on his leg.

And every so often he let himself steal glances at her, seeing her look more peaceful than she had in weeks.

The one thing playing on his mind the whole drive there, was their kiss.

When they finally arrived, Tyler didn’t want to wake Kate up, but he quietly got out of the truck and walked over to the passenger side.

Opening the door and watching as she stirred, “hey there sleepyhead, need a hand, or are you good to walk inside?”

“I think I’ll be okay.” Kate fumbled with her seatbelt and let Tyler help her out of the truck, taking a moment to sink into his warm embrace.

“You go in. I’ve got your stuff.” His lips pressed against the top of her head and he watched her walk towards the house.

Kate knew that at such a late hour that her mom would either be asleep or close to, so she let herself in leaving the porch light on for Tyler and she tiptoed through the silent house up to her moms room.

Knocking on her bedroom door.

“Come in.”

She poked her head around the door and smiled seeing her mom all tucked up in bed.

“Hey mama, thanks for letting us stay at such short notice.” She stifled a yawn, and knew that the second her head hit the pillow she’d be fast asleep.

“You can always come home Katie, always. And Tyler is always welcome here too. Where is he?” Cathy noticed that her daughter was very obviously wearing Tyler’s shirt, but she didn’t say anything.

Seeing the tired but bright smile on her daughters face was enough for her.

“Bringing my stuff in, he still won’t let me do any heavy lifting.” Kate smiled hearing Tyler’s slow footsteps coming up the stairs.

“As he should, you’re still healing Kathryn. I made up the spare room, and put fresh sheets on your bed. I probably won’t be home until lunch tomorrow I have some errands to run, but there’s groceries in for you both. Hi Tyler.”

Kate felt the weight of his head on her shoulder, and then his hands wrapped around her waist and she leaned back into his chest.

“Hi Mrs Cooper. Thanks for letting us stay.”

“Cathy is fine Tyler, and you’re welcome. Thanks for taking care of Kate these last three weeks, I hope she wasn’t too much trouble.”

Kate rolled her eyes, nudging Tyler’s side when he laughed.

“He didn’t have to look after me.” She interjected a little overtired, snapping without meaning to.

“Woah there grumpy, I think you should get some sleep, I’ll let you two go and get settled. See you in the morning.”

Kate moved out of the doorway, out of Tyler’s arms and walked into the bathroom, grabbing a towel out of the cupboard on the way, shutting the door behind her.

“Night Cathy, see you in the morning.” Tyler pulled her door to, and then he grabbed Kate’s duffel and went to leave it on her bed, heading into the spare room, sitting on the bed, waiting until Kate was finished.

He got a little worried when Kate took longer than ten minutes, so he got up and walked out into the hall, knocking quietly on the bathroom door.

“You all good in there Kate?”

There was just silence, for a moment, but then the lock turned and the door opened, and Tyler didn’t expect to see Kate with puffy eyes and tears still on her cheeks.

She tried to move past him and go into her room, but she felt him tug on her hand and stop her, spinning her around so she was facing him.

“Hey hey, what is it? Are you in pain?”

Kate shook her head, not trusting herself to speak, and instead she walked into his arms.

All Tyler did, was hold her, swaying ever so slightly feeling the way her heart was racing against his chest.

“It’s okay, if this isn’t what you want, if dealing with me isn’t what you want.” Kate choked out, her mind swamped with thoughts of how much of a burden she would be to Tyler.

It wasn’t fair on him, to have to deal with her and all of her baggage.

Tyler realised then that her moms words had sunk deeper than she’d obviously intended them to, and he only held her tighter.

“Your past doesn’t define you Kate, and it certainly isn’t the only part of you. It’s just one piece, and there is so much more of you that I have yet to get to know. And I want to. Believe me, I want to know everything. The good, the bad and the ugly. Every scar and every story. I could never think that I’m just ‘dealing’ with you, I need you. In my life, in my arms. Cause right here, with you in my arms, is where I belong Sapulpa. And trust me, there is no where else I’d rather be.”

Kate pulled out of the hug for a second looking up at Tyler, trying to figure out if he really meant what he said.

When she saw the tears threatening to fall, and the sincerity of his gaze, she knew that he’d meant every word, “thank you, for everything. I know that it hasn’t been easy, but I wouldn’t have had these last few weeks any other way.”

Tyler gently cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb against her tear stained skin, pulling her in for a gentle kiss.

“Can I sleep with you tonight?” She whispered, letting her head fall against his chest again.

“Always darlin’, always.”

Tyler gently lifted her up and turned around, walking into the guest bedroom.

In a sleepy haze, Kate managed to get ready for bed. With a little help from Tyler. And she was glad when she finally got under the covers, gravitating towards Tyler as soon as he got in bedside her.

“I’m glad you’re staying.” Tyler spoke softly, gently tracing his fingers up and down Kate’s back.

“Me too, I don’t think I’d have lasted a day in New York. I kept thinking about how I’d have been leaving you behind and I really didn’t want to but I thought it was for the best.” Kate cuddled in closer and sighed, Tyler was her home.

“If your moms okay with it, why don’t we stay here for a few days, soak in some quality time together before we head back to join everyone else. That’s if you want to come back with me.” Tyler stopped himself, not wanting to assume that Kate would even want to follow him around whilst he chased tornadoes with his friends.

“With you is where I want to be, wherever you go, I go. And I think some us time sounds nice, but then maybe we could have everyone over here? There’s still so much of my research to figure out, and if I want to be a useful part of the team then I want everyone to be in the loop, and vice versa.”

Tyler smiled, because he would love nothing more.

“I think, Kate Cooper, that that sounds pretty perfect. But for now, we’re going to get some rest and enjoy the peace and quiet.”

Kate interlaced her fingers with Tyler’s and he laid their intertwined hands on his chest, holding her close.

“G’night Sapulpa.”

He felt Kate smile against his chest.

“Night Ty, thanks for sticking around.”

And from the way Tyler’s arms tightened around her when she said that, just solidified it for her, that she wouldn’t ever have to worry about not having Tyler right by her side.

“Always darlin’, I’ll never not be right here.”

He promised, and he hoped that Kate heard the strength of his promise in every word.

Because he was never going to let her go.