Chapter Text
There was nothing more irritating than bent, misaligned instruments and cameras without anything to show for it. Tyler sat on the top of his truck, glancing sideways at the grim look of the sky, the thick clouds rolling along like a herd of black cattle. One of his mounted cameras had been dislodged and was barely hanging on by a wire, half of the sensors had been knocked out of sync, and behind him, the RV had to be jacked to fix a tire that had started to rapidly lose air after a rough road experience. Javi’s truck was the only vehicle that seemed to survive any of the extreme winds, but only because he hadn’t been prepared for a swift turn and had driven off course from where the storm had been headed.
The tension in the air was more than just the dying storm - they’d all had a bit of a rough go of the past few days. After a few days of tracking cells that just wouldn’t commit, they’d tried to get some rooms at a motel near Coffeyville. However, earlier that day, someone had recognized him and Boone at a gas station and tweeted a picture. It didn’t take long for the motel to fill quickly, before they could even think to check-in. Once upon a time, he may have indulged in it a bit - signed some autographs, took some pictures, and offered up a bit of live fanfeed. But ever since they began chasing with a cause, they didn’t really have all that much time for fan service. And last night, they’d been too tired to bother and hadn’t wanted to let others in to potentially ruin the chase and subsequent research.
Instead, they found a lower lot at a Walmart and slept in their own damn vehicles. They hadn’t slept well - Dexter, Dani and Lily had crowded into the Lazy Daze while Javi and Boone crashed in Javi’s truck and Kate and Tyler in his own. A promising storm after a long night had seemed like the perfect turn of events. Until the weather decided to turn their windstorm into a windblown bunch of clouds.
“Got all this junker bullshit that needs replacing,” Lily grunted loudly, furiously trying to use her tablet to fix the sensors. “Not to mention Cairo being flung like a gotdamn flea halfway across the county.”
Tyler grabbed the wrench he’d brought up with him and started with tightening the mount for the camera. He worked as quickly as he could, wanting to get the Wranglers back out into the thick of it, wherever they could. It wasn’t just for fun anymore - every bit of data they collected, every tornado they tamed, would help Kate in her work towards her doctorate.
“Hey, I can go find Cairo.”
Kate’s voice cut through his thoughts as she wandered over. She had been standing in the road since they stopped, leaning over a radar and looking as restless as the night had been. As she wandered over to look up at them in the truck, he couldn’t help but notice her eagerness to help. She hated standing still - she told him once that she stood still for five years and she was done doing it. Losing the storm today probably stung. For someone with natural instinct like Kate, with so much driven focus, she was bound to be taking this like a personal failure.
“The tracker’s still active, right?”
“Fucking go for it,” Lily gave a nod and didn’t look up from the anemometer. “This is gonna be a hot mess of a minute.”
Tyler glanced back at the sky again. The vicious windstorm had dissipated, but there was still rain in the distance and still some shifting winds pushing the dark clouds quickly across the sky.
“If you wait a few, I could go with you,” Tyler offered, his voice even. He didn’t doubt her ability. Hell, Kate was probably the most capable person he knew. But something was nagging him slightly and he wasn’t entirely thrilled with her going out alone.
“It’s okay,” she reassured him quickly. “If we wait too long, Cairo will die and we won’t be able to track. We can’t lose that mini-PAR.”
Her logic was sound and he couldn’t argue it. He looked at the now-disassembled anemometer where Lily was cussing, Javi holding a tablet to help her recalibrate, and his own project of getting the camera mount bent back into shape. He couldn’t drop everything and even if he did, it wouldn’t make sense. They were a team of people for a reason. If Kate wasn’t worried about the fading storm, then he really shouldn’t be either.
Before he could say anything further, Javi interjected. He tossed his keys to Kate. “Take my truck. Y’all should be thanking me for being late to the party. I’ve got the only car that doesn’t look like a complete shitshow.”
Tyler rolled his eyes teasingly but there was a part of him too that wished Javi had just not said anything at all. He liked having Kate close, especially when chasing. Mostly just to soothe his own nerves. Ever since she disappeared that day at the El Reno theater, for Tyler to have to watch her from a distance helplessly - he was a tad bit protective. Though, he’d never let his tendency for it get in her way.
She tilted her head at him, as if trying to glean his thoughts. “I’ll be fast. Finish up here and by the time I get back, we can hit the road again.”
“Sure,” Tyler responded, his voice low and teasing. “Cause every other time Cairo gets lost, it's a quick endeavor.”
The last time they had to find Cairo after particularly bad winds, it had taken nearly two hours to find. They’d managed to target its general location, only for the tracker to die as they were closing in. It took all of them walking in a horizontal line across a cornfield to find the drone.
Lily smacked him playfully at the reminder. Kate’s smile broadened, mischief in her eyes. “Just focus on not breaking anything else while I’m gone, huh cowboy?”
He smiled at her and watched as she turned and walked away. He was unable to help his eyes trailing after her, even as she climbed up into Javi’s white truck. He didn’t miss the smile she threw their way before she revved the truck into gear and drove off down the road, music bumping. The truck disappeared down the road, kicking up mud and water.
Tyler watched for a moment longer before returning to his work. Lily proceeded to swear up a storm enough to make Javi’s ears turn red before she finally let out a cry of triumph.
“Got it,” she cried. She wiped a hand across her face and set her tablet down on the truck. “Holy shit, I need some tylenol.”
They each settled into their own rhythm as Lily moved on to check all the other sensors, Javi in tow rambling off numbers to her. Tyler finished up straightening out the camera mount before he carefully began to tighten the bolts that held it in place. He glanced every now and then at the horizon, where the rain was shifting towards the southwest. The low-hanging clouds seemed to keep moving at a strangely quick speed, despite the fizzle-out of the earlier tornado.
“Think the shear just dropped off?” Dani called, as they began to lower the RV back in place. She climbed up into the open door of the big vehicle, eyes on the mounted Doppler.
“Maybe,” Dexter replied, tucking the tools back into storage. “Could be low-level jet weakening.”
“Maybe it's regrouping,” Javi threw in.
“That’s exactly what we need right now,” Lily huffed, slamming the casing shut for one of the side panels on Tyler’s truck. Tyler smirked and let his mind wander back to Kate, who had to be nearly to Cairo by now. Knowing her, she’d be halfway into a field, strutting with determination, her doe eyes sharp and focused.
“You guys seein’ this?”
Boone’s exclamation caught Tyler’s attention. He followed Boone’s gaze. In the distance, beyond a steadily growing wall of rain, a thin funnel was connecting with the earth. It was in no way massive or largely destructive, but its snakelike movements were mesmerizing. All of them collectively paused, at a safe enough distance to be captivated by the sight.
“Damn,” Javi muttered. “Wasn’t expecting anything to pop up again so soon.”
“Figures,” Lily snagged her tablet again. “We’re over here duct-taping everything together with grit and spit and nature decides to throw us a bonus round.”
The twister danced along the horizon, partly shrouded by rain. But the visibility was decent enough to make out the rotations and striations and the team watched in both awe and silent frustration at a missed opportunity.
“Bound to happen sometimes,” Dexter clicked his tongue. “Honestly, less often since Kate came aboard.”
Tyler didn’t speak up, but his heart suddenly skipped a beat in his chest. He climbed down off his truck and reached inside the door to grab his radio. He hovered his finger over the button. His eyes never left the tornado swirling in the distance. It looked almost lazy from where they were, but Tyler knew better.
“Hey, Sapulpa, you seein’ this?” he radioed. “Funnel touched down. Must’ve been a build-up we were chasin’. You copy?”
He waited a long moment, dragging his eyes to look towards his team. They were all looking at him expectantly, the silence deafening. He raised the radio to his mouth again.
“Sapulpa?” He did his best to keep his voice light, but his chest was slowly tightening. “Kate, you there?”
Movement caught his eye as Lily quickly hurried to his side, her tracker for Cairo pulled up on the tablet. “Tracker is still active,” she murmured. “Signal is weak though.”
Tyler felt a sharp tug in his chest. “Kate. Kate, I need you to answer me.”
The quiet was roaring in his ears now and he looked at Lily. The rest of the team came close, silent as mice, waiting to hear a response from Kate. Still, nothing came.
“Lily?” Tyler said, his voice tense.
“If we’re gonna track it, we need to do it now,” she nodded. “If it goes dead, we got nothing.”
Then, a sound. It was the faint sound of the radio, paired with a strange shuffle noise.
Tyler immediately hopped back on. “Is that you? Kate?”
He was met with two rapid clicks and shuffling.
It was all he needed. He slapped a hand on his truck. “Lily, with me, tell me where she’s at. Rest of you, hop to it.”
Tyler jumped into the driver’s side, Lily climbed up front while Boone hopped in the back. He held the radio like a lifeline as he started the truck with the other hand. “We’re on your trail now. Hold tight.”
Slamming the radio down, he kicked his truck into gear. Lily pointed straight ahead.
“Follow this road until the first left.”
Tyler was reckless in his driving and he knew that the RV wouldn’t keep up. But luckily, after the left turn, there was little left to do. He sped ahead, his foot to the floor as panic threatened to devour him. There was no further sound from the radio and his heart thumped rapidly against his ribcage. They hit a wall of rain and ahead, a barn loomed alongside a row of trees.
“Cairo’s tuning in from there,” Lily pointed at the distant shelter.
They all snapped their heads to look towards the twister, but it was already slowly breaking apart. All that was left was the rain, but even that was turning into nothing more than a dull sprinkle.
As soon as they were in front of the barn, Tyler slammed on the brakes. He followed Lily’s lead, trying not to jump to conclusions. But behind him, Boone beat him to the barn and whipped open the precarious looking door.
“Oh shit!”
Tyler heard his exclamation and pushed himself to run harder until he reached the barn itself. Every second it took for him to reach Boone, reach whatever he saw, was another instant that his mind filled in the blanks. Helping out in towns devastated by tornadoes they’d just chased meant there was always an instance where sometimes you saw a dead body. His brain wouldn’t stop conjuring up all the different ways a tornado could leave a person and he felt like he was running through quicksand.
He managed to push forward and into the barn with Boone, his heart in his throat.
Suddenly, as they moved past a pile of barn debris, there she was. Pale and thin on the floor of the barn, he nearly thought she was dead and it was a feeling of sudden, intense numbness. But she suddenly coughed and let out a pained yelp and every instinct Tyler had kicked in.
“Kate!” He cried her name like a prayer.
He fell to his knees next to her as Boone worked on surveying the damage. She was pinned beneath a beam and some of the barn’s roof. Lying on her side, one arm pinned beneath her ribs and her head at an awkward angle to peer at him through the dust, he worried about things that could be broken. Part of him wondered if they should touch anything at all - but as she looked up at him with recognition and then tried to close her eyes again, he could think of nothing else except getting her out of there.
“Hey, hey,” He reached out and pushed her hair back, in an effort to do anything other than shake. Her skin was clammy and cold despite the heat of the day and he tried to pretend it didn’t send a bolt of fear through him. “Hang in there, alright?”
Javi’s voice cut in - the other vehicle arrived.
“Is she okay?”
Despite the fright in Javi’s voice, Tyler wanted to whirl around and snap at him. Does she look okay? But Kate seemed relieved that they were all there and he didn’t miss the triumphant look in her unfocused eyes.
“I got Cairo.”
Her voice was hoarse.
Tyler’s heart squeezed with equal amounts frustration and pride. Of course she would be worried about the damn drone. He couldn’t help the instinctual smile that tried to seize his lips, but Javi’s frustrated response voiced the other half of Tyler’s thoughts.
“What the hell. For god’s sake, Kate.”
Tyler’s jaw clenched. The urgency of the moment demanded they push any feelings about the situation aside. “Boone, get movin’ that extra junk on top. Javi, stand there bein’ mad or give us some help.”
His voice came out sharper than he intended, but he didn’t care. The ongoing sight of Kate trapped beneath the debris was pushing him past the point of patience. Javi and Boone didn't argue though and worked quickly to lighten the load on top of her and as some of the weight shifted, Kate let out a rattling cough that sent a jolt of panic straight to Tyler’s chest. He crouched by her, as low as he could get without laying down alongside her and slid his hands under her head. Her eyes fluttered open at him, clouded with pain and it tore his heart right open, leaving him bleeding out. It seemed like the sudden release of some weight was causing tight, shallow breaths as her once pinned lungs now had room to expand. She had breathed too deep, too quickly and they were spasming.
“Easy,” His voice was no more than a whisper. She was still trying desperately to take in a deep breath and to coax her into smaller breaths, he stroked her neck gently with his thumbs. Every intake seemed to be hell for her, but at least she was breathing. “Breathe. Not too much.”
Behind him, Boone cursed as they lifted more debris. Tyler focused on her keeping her at a steady pace of breath, his thumbs working to soothe her as he forced the fear from rising in his throat. What will we find when we lift that beam? Is she crushed? What about her spine? Her ribs? What if she punctured a lung?
He turned to see the two of them had managed to get most of the roof stuff off the beam and were struggling to find a way to lift the beam itself. It was heavy and burdensome and though it killed him, he left her side briefly to help them maneuver it. He shifted aside some of the other tiles and then they grasped the beam together. His fingers dug into the wood, knuckles turning white as they lifted in unison.
As the pressure left her body, Kate let out a pained cry that Tyler knew would haunt his nightmares for the rest of his life. The beam let out a low thud as they rolled it safely to the side and Tyler wasted no time at all in returning to Kate, who was now free. His eyes rapidly took her in and was relieved to see no blood. But that didn’t mean a damn thing and his hand brushed against her skin. She was freezing cold still and he swallowed hard. Her whole body was trembling now and she wasn’t moving off her stomach. Once he made sure that none of her body was in any awkward position, he gently placed some pressure on her hip, curling his fingers there.
She seemed to get the message and though he longed to sweep her up into his arms, he knew he needed to take it slow and at her pace. Slowly, Kate rolled over onto her back, her expression fully within view now and she was watching him with a pinched face. The right side of her head and temple was badly bruised, where he had assumed she made contact with the floor.
“Good girl,” he praised her softly, relief and worry twisting so tightly in his chest he didn’t know where one feeling ended and the other began. She reached out slowly and latched onto his shirt with a strength that surprised him.
“Strange time . . .” she whispered. “For sweet talk.”
Tyler had to remind himself to draw a breath. The fact that she could still crack a joke in this situation both befuddled him and drove him nearly to the point of madness. A laugh bubbled up, a cross between insanity and amusement. A smile threatened to take over and he leaned down awkwardly to press his forehead to her, careful of her bruising.
“I’ll show you some proper sweet talk after we get you all fixed up.”
“T, we gotta get her up and out,” Boone interrupted, his voice sounding far away to Tyler’s ears. He’d nearly forgotten they both were there. “This place is barely hangin’ on.”
Tyler leaned back on his heels, his mind racing with what he knew they needed to do. He didn’t know what hurt. He couldn’t see what waited beneath her skin. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. What if she had some sort of injury he was about to make worse? But they couldn’t stay inside this deathtrap. Boone was talking somewhere near the entrance with Dani and Javi was lingering watchfully.
“This is gonna hurt,” he admitted, voice soft to avoid cracking. He still wanted to give her room to say no. He’d stand over her himself if she truly couldn’t move. “Can I help you?”
She nodded in a strained sort of way and she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. Concussion, he thought absently. He hovered for a moment, hesitating on where he could even help her without hurting her. “Where - where can I -”
“Just - just not my ribs or back.” Kate’s voice was tense and her words pushed through gritted teeth.
It was all he needed. His mind planned out a way to help her. He slid one arm under her shoulders and she reached up with one scraped, trembling hand to wrap it around the back of his neck. He felt the strain in her body as he pulled her upright, slow and steady. Her weight was nothing compared to the crushing fear that seemed to make even the blood in his veins feel like lead.
He did his best to hide the shaking in his hands as he helped her sit up. Her sharp intake of breath at the movement sent a bolt of guilt straight through him. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to focus. She patted his chest, and he tightened his grip, steadying her as she swayed against him.
“Just lean here,” he instructed, his voice steady despite the chaos in his head. “I’ve got you, whenever you’re ready.”
She was shaking. She was shaking and he was panicking. It was just shock, right? Did he miss her bleeding somewhere? She may be struggling to take full breaths, but she wasn’t coughing up blood. No , he knew she was shaking. But this new tremor wasn’t her. He was the one trembling now and he willed himself to keep calm.
He started to raise them both to their feet. The first attempt was a disaster. He could feel her trying so hard to stay upright despite the trembling that wracked her body. She tried again valiantly, but the effort was proving to be too much for her. Tyler couldn’t stand it and he made the decision for her with a grunt of frustration. He slid his arm under her legs, holding her as close as possible to minimize how much she was moving. It was clear to him that she wasn’t going to be able to stand up - but it was also clear to him now that there was very little he could do without any pain.
He heard her sharp intake of breath as her back curved in his arms. She stiffened in his arms and squeezed her eyes shut, her skin a sickly sheet of white. He froze in place.
“I’m sorry,” he said tersely. Frustration and guilt swirled in his chest and he caught his eye with Javi. The other man looked like he wanted to help, but didn’t know how. They just needed to get out. But Tyler could hardly stand to hurt her, not when he was supposed to be protecting her. His eyes darted to hers, shrouded with agony, and searched for reassurance he wasn’t sure he deserved. “I’m sorry.”
Kate shook her head weakly, voice raspy. “No, no. Just get me - just get me out of here.”
He heard the plea in her tone and a stubbornness settled into him. Get her out. Get her safe. He adjusted his grip on her carefully and navigated the debris as slowly as he could to avoid jostling her. Every step was as deliberate as every breath she drew and the weight of her pain sat heavy on his chest.
Boone had returned to them and followed closely behind with Javi. When Kate’s voice suddenly exploded from her, her body tensing painfully, he nearly jumped clear out of his own body.
“Wait!”
She seemed to instantly regret her movement and threw her arm over her eyes. “Wait. Cairo - Cairo is wedged in the stalls. Don’t - don’t forget him.”
Tyler’s grip on her tightened instinctively, his fingers curling under her knees. “Boone’s got him, don’t worry,” he assured her, glancing back.
He felt her relax slightly, her face pressing into his chest as they stepped into the light outside. The sky was clearer now, a deceptive calm after the storm’s chaos. Tyler adjusted his stride to be as smooth as possible, but every stumble, every shift of her against him, made his chest tighten. Her body was trembling—not just from shock, but from the pain she was trying to suppress. He could feel it in the way her breathing hitched, in the way she pressed her face harder into his shirt as if trying to escape.
“The ambulance is en route,” Dani’s voice pulled him back to the present. “They’d already been on call for another minor injury, so they may have limited space.”
Tyler settled onto the stoop of the RV, carefully lowering himself without shifting Kate too much. She stayed curled against him, her head leaning heavily on his chest. He adjusted her with one arm, propping a knee up to keep her steady against him, and held her closer than he ever had before. His other hand hovered over her, brushing dirt from her damp hair and feeling useless in the face of her injuries.
Dexter handed him a water bottle and Tyler tipped it to Kate’s lips. She sipped slowly, and he couldn’t help but feel a small surge of relief at even this simple act of cooperation from her. It was a sign she was still present, even if there was something deeper going on inside. He tried not to imagine her lungs filling up with blood or a rib piercing a vital organ somewhere.
Tyler spoke softly, more to keep himself from spiraling inside his own thoughts. “Let’s not make a habit of this kind of thing, huh?”
Her response was a faint hum, and her lips quirked with the ghost of a smile. “I can’t make promises.”
He clenched his jaw. The words felt like a challenge—not to him, but to the universe itself. The fear simmering beneath his skin boiled over for a moment, and his voice came out sharper than he intended. “Kate.”
She frowned, her gaze flickering to his face. He immediately regretted letting his emotions show. But how could he not? She could’ve been gone, gone without even a chance to say anything, to - to - He couldn’t even finish his own thoughts. His stomach twisted and churned painfully.
“Hey,” she chided gently, the way she always did when she caught him overthinking. “You know how this works. It wasn’t like I was looking to do this today.”
Tyler dropped his gaze, staring at the dirt-streaked scuffs on her boots instead of her face. “I know,” he muttered. “That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
When he finally looked back at her, her expression softened. He could see the pain in her eyes, not just physical but a kind that stretched straight into his heart and squeezed. She reached up, her fingers threading through his hair in that way she knew would calm him. And damn if it didn’t work, at least for a moment. He leaned into her touch, letting himself breathe for the first time since pulling her from the wreckage.
“Hey,” she whispered, her voice low enough that only he could hear. “At least when I can’t move in the shower, I have you to give me a sponge bath.”
The laugh that bubbled up was involuntary, a knee-jerk reaction to the fact that she still managed a bit of humor in this mess. He knew she was fishing for some levity and he was more than happy to distract himself and give it to her. “You know you don’t have to do all this to get me going, right?”
“Oh, I’m well aware,” she teased back.
Her laugh cut short with a sharp intake of breath, and Tyler’s concern spiked again. She groaned. “Ugh, don’t make me laugh.”
He contained a slight chuckle at her and pressed a hand over hers as she clutched her ribs, his thumb brushing soothing circles against her skin. “Stop tryin’ to be funny then, baby,” he murmured, his voice a mix of reprimand and affection.
She sighed, leaning into him again, but Tyler wasn’t having it. Her head slumped against his chest, and he could feel the exhaustion radiating off her. “Not so fast now, Sapulpa,” he warned, sitting her upright. “You don’t get off that easily. I’ve experienced enough concussions to know that I can’t let you go to sleep. At least until we get you looked at.”
“I’m not,” she grumbled, her words slurring. She tried to rest her cheek back against his shoulder. “I’m just resting my eyes.”
“Uh-uh,” Tyler traced a finger down the bridge of her nose, forcing her to focus. “Keep them pretty eyes open.”
“Yessir,” she mumbled. “Are they open?”
Her eyelids fluttered with effort and he felt a squeeze of painful fondness in his chest.
“Nope,” he replied affectionately.
“Oh.”
To her credit, she was at least responding to him. But she still was trying to fall asleep and he shuffled a little to keep her up.
“Kate,” he said firmly, cupping her cheeks in his hand. “Don’t make me be firm with you.”
Her lashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes a fraction. The corners of his mouth twitched as relief mingled with his fear. He couldn’t lose her—not like this, not ever.
The sound of gravel crunching announced Javi’s approach, and Tyler felt a small wave of reassurance at the sight of the rest of the team gathering around.Kate’s voice was barely a whisper. “I feel like I’m at my own wake.”
“Not funny,” Tyler said, his mind unbidden producing the image of a funeral. He squeezed her hand tightly, warring with his own thoughts.
Shuffling feet caught her attention and she opened her eyes as much as she could. Javi was edging close, the rest of the team hovering just behind him. She sniffed, grabbing Tyler’s hand from her face. “I feel like I’m at my own wake,” she slurred.
“Not funny,” Tyler squeezed her hand, his voice scolding. The words prompted a picture in his mind, unbidden, and he swallowed hard.
“Ayy, she just likes to keep everyone on their toes,” Javi joked, crossing his arms over his chest. His freckled face was tinged with both concern and fondness. Tyler was suddenly grateful for his presence - someone else who knew Kate well. Who would maybe understand. “Though we’d appreciate a heads-up.”
“I’ll -” Kate blinked slowly, tilting her head ever so slightly towards Javi. “I’ll make sure . . . to put it in the calendar . . . next time.”
“No next time, OG,” Lily shook her head. “We’re doing partners from here on out.”
“Holdin’ hands, roll call,” Boone shuffled behind them and grinned. “Hell, we’re goin’ right back to kindy-garten.”
As the sirens grew louder in the distance, Tyler held her just a little closer, every fiber of his being screaming to protect her from anything that could hurt her. But as he looked down at her, squinting into the light of the day, face black and blue, her hand under his on her ribs, he knew that would mean keeping her from her own damn self.
Dexter raised his hat into the air where he stood on the road. “Paramedics are here.”
It was less than a few seconds before the boxy vehicle was rolled up next to the RV. Tyler’s breath felt shallow as he watched the medics step out, his stomach twisting in knots. He gritted his teeth, a relentless loop of worst-case scenarios pounding in his mind.
She could be fine, or she could be worse off than any of them thought. Head injuries, internal bleeding—it was all racing through his brain faster than he could catch a single rational thought. Every injury he’d ever seen in his wrangling days, every split-second decision he’d ever made chasing storms—it all paled in comparison to the helplessness gnawing at him now. He’d seen all of it - experienced some of it and he’d take any of it a thousand times over if it meant he could keep her from harm.
“Right here,” Javi pointed her out and the medics came close.
The older medic, a woman with gray streaks pulled into a bun, crouched down before them. Her brisk, no-nonsense demeanor should’ve been reassuring, but Tyler felt like her very presence was peeling away the last slivers of his control. She at least seemed to be comforting to Kate.
“My name is Kelly, hun, and this is Eric,” she gestured towards the younger dark-haired man next to her. “Can you tell me what happened?”
Kate seemed unable to respond, her eyes taking them in as Kelly gently pressed a stethoscope to Kate’s chest. Tyler opted for letting her rest her strained mind and leaned forward to speak.
“She was pinned by that barn over there,” he forced himself to say, jerking his head toward the battered structure. His voice sounded hollow, foreign. “A support beam and some of the roof. It’s her back and ribs. Maybe her head too. She’s been a bit in and out.”
“Got it,” she replied, tucking the stethoscope back away. “Let’s check you out sweetheart.”
Kelly nodded, her practiced movements a stark contrast to Tyler’s racing thoughts. He couldn’t stop staring at the penlight she used, the way Kate’s eyes blinked sluggishly against it. Not fast enough , he thought grimly. Every slow reaction felt like a damning piece of evidence against her strength, against his ability to protect her.
“Some pupil reaction, but sluggish. Probable concussion,” Kelly said clinically. “Shallow breathing, I suspect due to pain rather than lung injury. No wheezing, intake clear. Bruise on the forehead doesn’t show any signs of any sort of deeper trauma or skull fracturing. Have you coughed up any blood, Kate?”
Kate gave a soft shake of her head. Tyler prayed she wasn’t lying.
His heart sank further as the younger medic, Eric, began attaching equipment, spouting out oxygen levels and heart rates. Tyler didn’t care about numbers or medical jargon—he wanted assurance, something concrete to cling to. He needed them to tell him she was okay, but he couldn’t make out anything in their professional expressions.
“Let's get a look at the damage so we can decide how best to move forward,” Kelly determined after hearing Kate’s numbers.
Eric asked Kate to lift her arm, and Tyler leaned in instinctively, his hand steadying her elbow when the simple motion seemed almost impossible for her. She hissed in pain, and the sound cut through him like barbed wire. He bit the inside of his cheek, his stomach twisting as he helped guide her arm back down.
Eric looked towards him. Tyler wondered if they could sense the animalistic fear gnawing away at his rib cage. “Would it be okay if he helped us get a look at those bruises?”
Tyler’s throat tightened as Kate gave a small nod. Gently, almost reverently, he took hold of her rain and sweat damp shirt, his rough hands uncharacteristically hesitant. Encouraging her to lean forward into him, he felt her whole body tremble against his. He caressed her cheek with his free hand, desperate to give her even a small measure of comfort.
Then he saw it.
The bruising stretched across her ribs and down her side like storm clouds painted on her skin. He inhaled sharply, feeling the air catch in his throat like shards of glass. He’d seen similar bruises on his own skin - myriads of hoofprints and fall impacts. But nothing came close to the way the angry bruises that lined every rib, highlighting the bones just under her stretched skin.
“Hellfire.”
Boone’s muttered curse barely registered over the roar of blood in his ears. He could only stare, his jaw working as he tried—and failed—to keep his expression in check.
“Kate,” he whispered, his voice breaking under the weight of everything he was holding back. It was all too much: the sight of her battered body, the fear choking him, the guilt. He wanted to say more, to reassure her, but he couldn’t get his dry mouth to move.
“I’m okay,” she insisted softly, her hand tugging at his, drawing his gaze back to her. But her words didn’t reach him. You’re not, he wanted to shout. You’re not okay, and you could have died.
“You’re not,” he voiced, his words hoarse and barely audible. Her pain-filled eyes made it hard to hold the contact and he did his best to remain as stoic as possible. He couldn’t lose it now—not in front of her, not when she needed him most.
Kelly’s words came steady and calm. “Let’s not panic.”
Tyler focused on them, clinging to the tone as much as the meaning. Every second was a test of his self-control, a battle to keep his face calm and steady when his insides were anything but.
“Kate, we’re gonna palpate the area and make sure we can move you without pushing any broken bones or fractures. You’re gonna have to stay as still as you can.”
He didn’t move from his spot and didn’t dare to let go of her hand. Kate gave a small nod, her lips tight, and Tyler swallowed against the knot in his throat as Kelly reached down, starting to press gently along her ribs. The moment Kelly’s fingers touched her, Kate tensed and groaned, the sound cutting through him like a blade. Tyler’s fingers twinged, and she squeezed his hand hard enough that he could feel her strength, even now. He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles, doing his best to steady her—and himself.
As Kelly worked her way down, Kate bit her lip, pressing her forehead into his shoulder. Tyler adjusted his grip, sliding his free hand to the back of her neck. She was trying so damn hard not to make a sound, but every shallow breath she took told him just how much pain she was holding back.
“Almost done,” Kelly said, her voice steady and soft.
Tyler’s jaw tightened as he kept his focus on Kate’s face. When Kelly reached a spot near the bottom of her ribs, Kate jerked slightly, a strangled gasp escaping her lips. His heart dropped at the sound, but she didn’t pull away completely. But her face was pale and sickly looking suddenly, as if she was considering throwing up. He hoped fervently it wouldn’t happen - he couldn’t imagine the pain that heaving would inflict on her.
“Ah.” Kelly’s brow furrowed. “There’s some potential for a fracture there, but it didn’t feel like anything is shifting or giving way. Seems more tender than the rest.”
Tyler didn’t like the way she said it, but before he could ask, Eric’s calm voice followed. “We need to check your back too.”
Tyler nodded, even though the words weren’t directed at him, and carefully tugged Kate’s shirt down over her ribs. His hands were steady, but when he lifted the back of her shirt to expose her spine, he caught a glimpse of more bad bruising, complete with a clear mark where the beam had initially struck her down. He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to her shoulder. He didn’t want her to see his face. He wasn’t sure he could control his face at the sight of the purple marks that seemed punched into each individual vertebrae.
“Alright, Kate, we’re looking at the initial blow here,” Eric explained. “You’ve got a fairly large contusion here, with some extra bruising down your spine. We’re gonna do the same thing and check for any spinal instability. Let Kelly know if you feel any sharp pain, tingling, or numbness.”
Kate gave another small nod, and Tyler couldn’t help but marvel at her. She braced herself, and though her breathing hitched a few times as Kelly worked, she didn’t stop them.
“Everything seems to be intact,” Kelly finally said, her tone lighter now. “You’re able to move everything without any sign of neurological issues. As far as our examines go, you’re a very lucky penny.”
“Lucky,” Tyler echoed, his voice flat. He glanced down at Kate’s back as Kelly carefully pulled her shirt back into place. It didn’t look lucky to him.
“Our biggest concern would be the one rib and the concussion,” Eric added. “We’re gonna get you to the hospital ASAP to get some imaging and keep an eye on your vitals for a little bit to make sure nothing else is hiding.”
Tyler’s arms tightened around Kate as she nodded. When the paramedics stepped away to grab the stretcher, he adjusted her against him, shifting her just slightly to rest more comfortably on his thigh. The Wranglers hovered nearby but made a point of looking away, giving them a moment.
“Y’okay?” Tyler asked, brushing her damp hair back from her face. His voice was low, even, but every word felt like a lifeline he was throwing out, drowning in the depths of his own swirling thoughts. She was silent a heartbeat too long and it seemed like all fight had dropped right out of her. “Kate?”
Kate closed her eyes. “I’m fine . . . you heard them,” she said, but her pained voice betrayed her. “Not as bad as it looks.”
His jaw worked, the muscle jumping as he let out a long breath. “It looks pretty bad. I’ve been stepped on by literal bulls and walked away lookin’ better.”
“I didn’t know . . . it was a contest.”
Tyler let out a laugh, strained and hollow, but at least it was something. He opened his mouth to say more, but the medics returned with the stretcher, rolling it across the dirt toward them.
As they lowered it, Tyler’s hands instinctively tightened on Kate. He knew they needed to move her, but his grip felt like the only thing keeping him steady. She was fading from consciousness fast, her head lolling slightly as exhaustion finally took over.
They started explaining the process, but all Tyler could focus on was the way her body sagged into their hold as they lifted her. His hand never left hers, not for a second.
When she was settled on the stretcher, they began to move, and Eric glanced back. “I’m sorry sir, but we did pick up another call before we came here. We don’t have extra room in the vehicle.”
Tyler froze. The words slammed into him like a blow, and his jaw clenched so tight he thought he might crack a tooth. He couldn’t argue, not now—not with Kate looking up at him, her hazy eyes flicking to his hand on the stretcher railing. But everything in him was desperate to stay at her side - how could he possibly be expected to leave her?
“It’s okay,” she murmured, her voice so soft it nearly broke him. “You’ll meet me there.”
Tyler let out an uneven sigh, his knuckles white as he forced himself to let go of the railing. Her voice was like a balm and something else took over when he replied, “Okay.”
He followed them as they moved her toward the ambulance, his hand slipping back into hers. He briefly remembered what they’d said earlier to him when he’d been stuck in his mind. “You’re goin’ to Liberty. I’ll be right behind you, okay?”
Kate smiled, her eyes half-closed. “Always chasin’ me.”
Tyler leaned forward, his feet still moving, and pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Always.”
And then she was gone, the ambulance doors closing in his face. For a moment, all he could do was stand there, staring, before turning to find the team behind him, shadows against the sky.
He stared at them for a long moment, words failing him. The sound of the ambulance starting up and the lights flashing snapped him immediately into gear. His gaze hardened and he strode quickly towards his truck. None of them spoke but they all broke into movement, heading swiftly to their vehicles. Tyler was surprised when Lily climbed up next to him instead of Boone, but he didn’t have the time or patience to ask
The ambulance would not be leaving his sight.
Lily buckled in, her usually calm face drawn with concern. Tyler didn’t give her time to settle before he gunned it, the truck lurching forward in a spray of gravel.
Behind him, he caught glimpses of Javi’s truck and the RV falling in line, the convoy forming without a word. Boone was probably with Javi, Dex and Dani in the RV, everyone doing what they could to stay close. Tyler barely registered it.
His focus stayed glued to the ambulance lights cutting through the dark. Speed limit signs blurred past, and his hands gripped the wheel so tight his knuckles ached.
“Tyler.” Lily’s voice cut through the tense silence, soft but firm.
He didn’t look at her. Couldn’t . “I’m fine,” he ground out, his voice strained.
“You’re not,” she said simply, grabbing the dash as he rounded a turn sharply. She didn’t push or press for more, just let the quiet observation hang there between them like a tether.
Tyler swallowed hard, his eyes stinging as the taillights ahead flickered through the haze of adrenaline clouding his mind. He knew Lily was trying to help, trying to be a steady presence, but if he let himself think about it—about any of it—he wasn’t sure he’d hold together.
Instead, he tightened his jaw and pressed the accelerator. The truck surged forward, keeping pace with the ambulance, the speedometer climbing higher.
The hospital came into view faster than Tyler expected, the ambulance swinging into the emergency bay as he followed close behind. He pulled up too close, his front tires nearly brushing the curb.
Before he could throw it into park, a security guard stepped out, motioning him away. “You can’t park here, sir. Ambulance bay only.”
He had half a notion to deploy the augurs, much like he did back at the airport when he was determined to chase her. But one look at the guard and Lily in the passenger seat, he knew it would only bring more grief. Tyler slammed the gear into reverse, the motion sharp and frustrated. Lily’s hand touched his arm briefly—a silent, grounding presence—before she gestured toward the parking lot.
“Go. I’ll go inside,” she said, already unbuckling. “Find out what’s happening.”
Tyler didn’t argue. She jumped out and he waited until she was safely headed inside before pressing on the accelerator. He maneuvered the truck into the nearest open spot, killed the engine, and jumped out. As soon as his muddy boots hit the pavement, he was running the distance to the ER doors. By the time he got inside, Lily was waiting, motioning him toward the desk.
“They took her back already,” she explained as Tyler approached. “We can’t go back until they’re done running some tests.”
His stomach twisted, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. “How long?”
The nurse behind the desk gave him a practiced, calm smile. “It could take a little while, sir. Please have a seat, and we’ll call you as soon as we have an update.”
He nodded stiffly, retreating to the waiting area where Lily had already claimed two chairs. The rest of the team trickled in soon after, spreading out in the small space. Lily updated them as they arrived and they all broke into soft chatter, casting worried glances towards the closed doors of the ER.
But Tyler couldn’t sit still. He paced the room, his boots heavy on the tile floor. Every time he passed the clock, the hands seemed to taunt him, moving slower than they had any right to.
His mind churned with every worst-case scenario. What if they’d missed something? What if her injuries were worse than they thought? What if—
“Tyler.”
Javi’s voice broke through the noise, pulling him back just enough. Tyler stopped pacing but didn’t turn around. His chest heaved with the effort of keeping it together, his nails biting into his palms.
Lily’s quiet voice followed. “She’s tough. She’s going to be okay.”
“I believe the paramedics were pretty optimistic,” Dexter tossed in.
“It probably looks worse than it is,” Dani murmured.
He wanted to believe them. He really did. But as the minutes dragged on, and the sterile waiting room closed in around him, all he could do was stare at the doors that led to the treatment area and wait for someone to come through with an answer.
Tyler didn’t respond to Lily’s words, nor did he look at the rest of them scattered across the waiting room chairs. His eyes stayed glued to the double doors.
“Tyler,” Javi spoke up again, his tone calm but weighted. “You know she’s tough, right?”
Tyler turned his head slightly, just enough to acknowledge him without saying anything.
“I remember a time in Kansas,” Javi continued, leaning back in his chair with a practiced nonchalance that didn’t fool anyone. “Back before we met you. We didn’t have what we needed yet to chase, but we did get to help a local place. The whole damn building collapsed with her and some locals inside. But not a scratch on her. She’s always been tough, man. Stronger than most of us. Maybe a tad bit of insane luck on her side too.”
Tyler’s jaw worked, and he swallowed hard. He appreciated the stories, the reminders of Kate’s resilience, but it didn’t stop the anxiety that gnawed at him. This was different. The bruises spoke to a Kate that wasn’t so lucky today.
“The paramedics took good care of her, Ty,” Lily added softly. “And we’re here now. That counts.”
He dragged a hand down his face, exhaling sharply. “I know.” His voice came out low and raw. “I know.”
Before anyone could say more, the double doors swung open, and a nurse stepped out, clipboard in hand. Tyler’s head snapped up, his pulse hammering in his ears.
“Family of Kate Carter?” she asked, scanning the room.
Tyler didn’t hesitate, striding toward her before anyone else could even move. “I’m her—” He stopped himself, his throat catching. “I’m with her. How is she?”
The nurse gave him a reassuring smile. “She’s stable. The scans didn’t show any fractures or internal bleeding. She does have a concussion and her blood pressure is a little high, so we’re keeping her overnight for observation, but all things considered, she’s doing well.”
Tyler’s shoulders sagged as the words sank in. He felt the breath rush out of him, the tight coil in his chest finally starting to loosen. “She’s—” His voice broke, and he cleared his throat quickly. “She’s okay?”
“She’s okay,” the nurse confirmed. “You can see her soon. We’re just getting her settled and giving her a chance to rest. I’ll be back out to bring you in.”
The nurse’s words echoed in Tyler’s head as he stepped away from her and the group. They all were looking at him, but he couldn’t shake the need to get away. She’s okay. She’s okay. Relief should’ve flooded him, but instead, it got tangled up with something that began to eat away at his insides like acid.
“Tyler?” Boone called after him, but Tyler didn’t stop.
He pushed into the nearest bathroom, the door swinging shut behind him. The sudden quiet felt stifling. The hum of fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, and his reflection stared back at him from the mirror above the sink. He looked terrible, his hair wind blown and pushed out of place by his own worried hands. His expression was haggard and his eyes were giving everything away.
He gripped the edges of the porcelain, leaning forward as his breath came in shallow pulls. His reflection stared back—eyes shadowed, jaw tight, shoulders hunched like he was still bracing for a blow that had already passed.
Kate was okay. She was fine. But for how long?
The thought clawed at him, sinking deep. Tyler had always lived with the understanding that his life was fragile. Tornadoes didn’t care who you were, and he’d accepted that truth even earlier than that. You didn’t ride a thousand pound animal and not understand that any day could be your last. He’d witnessed last rides, ashes flying into the dusty air. It could’ve been him at any point, young and full of bravado. The risks he took? They were his. If the bull or the storm won one day, well, he’d made his peace with that.
But this wasn’t about him.
It was about Kate.
She wasn’t supposed to be fragile. She was supposed to be unstoppable—stubborn and brilliant and strong enough to weather anything. She was here with him because of her resilience and strength. She was fierce enough to lose what she had and somehow come back even stronger. Late at night, when the storms had died down, and they were lying tangled in some motel bed, Tyler had started letting himself imagine all the things he’d never even considered before.
A life with her.
A future.
A house with a wraparound porch and a big Oklahoma sky stretching over their heads. He could see it so clearly and he saw it so often. But that vision felt so fragile now, like it could shatter with one bad hit. One wrong storm.
One moment like this.
His grip on the sink tightened, his knuckles turning white. He hadn’t been there when she’d gotten hurt. Hadn’t been able to stop it. And even though she was fine, what if she hadn’t been? What if this was how it ended? What if all those dreams, all those quiet moments, got ripped away before they’d even had a chance to happen?
His chest tightened, and before he could stop it, a single tear slipped down his cheek. He inhaled sharply, biting down hard on the inside of his cheek as if that could keep the rest at bay. It didn’t. Another tear fell, then another. He bowed his head, hands trembling as he let the storm inside him rage in silence.
It was quick, barely a minute, but it left his throat raw and his eyes burning. Tyler blinked hard, swiping at his face with a hand. He glanced at the mirror, taking in the redness around his eyes, the lingering shine on his cheeks.
“Come on,” he muttered, his voice barely audible. He slid his hand down his face harshly. “Come on.”
Kate needed him, and he wasn’t about to let her down.
He splashed cold water on his face, letting it shock his system back to focus. By the time he stepped out of the bathroom, his expression was as calm as it could be. The team glanced up as he returned, concern etched into every face.
“Everything okay?” Javi asked cautiously.
Tyler nodded, forcing a small, tight smile. “Yeah.” His voice was rough, but it held. He tried to pretend that they wouldn’t be able to see the red-rims of his eyes and the defeated sag of his shoulders. “She’s okay. That’s what matters.”
And it was. It was everything. But deep down, Tyler knew that it wouldn’t be quick to leave him. He had to keep himself in check, at least for now. So he let out a quick, chest-clearing huff of air and waited for the nurse to come back.
The waiting room was quiet again when the nurse came back out. The team had been avoiding him, he could tell. They seemed unsure of themselves, like they didn’t know how to approach him. He opted to ignore them altogether and hoped they would understand.
Tyler stood up as soon as he saw the nurse, nerves tightening in his chest despite the earlier reassurances. She gave him a small smile, hands clasped in front of her clipboard.
“Mr. Owens?” she asked, her tone calm but kind.
“Yeah,” Tyler replied, stepping closer, his voice still gravelly. “That’s me.”
“You’re welcome to come in and visit her,” the nurse explained. “But unfortunately, the hospital has a one-visitor policy after hours, so the rest of your group won’t be able to join.”
Tyler glanced over his shoulder at the team. Javi was already standing, looking ready to protest, but he caught Tyler’s eye and nodded instead. There was no argument to be had—it was the right call.
“Understood,” Tyler said quietly, before looking back at the nurse. “I’ll go grab her some clothes and stuff first. Won’t take me long.”
She nodded. “Take your time. I’ll let the staff know you’re coming back.”
As the nurse stepped away, Tyler turned to the team. Javi’s lips were pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t say anything. Boone clapped a hand on Tyler’s shoulder.
“We’ll find a place to crash for the night,” Dex said. “Text you the address when we’ve got it. No rush.”
“Yeah,” Dani added, her voice soft but steady. “You just focus on her. She’s in good hands.”
Lily moved forward, hugging Tyler tightly. “Tell her we’re sorry we can’t stay,” she murmured. “And that we’ll see her soon.”
Dex and Boone each gave him a quick, firm hug, and Dani followed with a lingering pat on his back. Javi offered him a brief nod, which he returned. Tyler gave them all a brief smile, appreciating the support even if words failed him in the moment.
“Thanks, y’all,” he said finally. “I’ll tell her. And uh - I’m - I’m sorry that -”
Dani shook her head. “No, Tyler. No worries. We get it. We’ll be there for you when you’re both out.”
With that, Tyler had to hide his face again and headed out to his truck. The lot was mostly empty now, the quiet making the world feel even heavier than it already did. He grabbed Kate’s overnight bag from the backseat, tossing in a pair of her sweatpants, a clean T-shirt, one of his warmer flannels and some toiletries. The scent of her lingered faintly on the fabric, grounding him for a moment before he zipped it up and headed back towards the ER bay. When he returned to the hospital, the team was waiting near the exit.
“Take care of her,” Javi said, giving him a nod.
“I will,” Tyler promised.
They left with a wave, and he watched them go before heading back inside. The nurse from earlier was waiting to lead him to Kate’s room. As they walked through the quiet halls, Tyler was trying to put back up his confident mask, shoving the weight of everything he’d been feeling into some distant corner of his mind. Kate didn’t need to see him like that.
“She’s resting now,” the nurse said as they reached the door. “And she’s got an IV with pain medication, so she may be a little extra tired. Let us know if you need anything.”
Tyler thanked her, pushing the door open gently. The room was dim, the glow of a monitor casting soft light across Kate’s sleeping face. She was propped slightly upright, her head turned to the side. She had an IV in her right hand, a sight that made his knees feel a little weak.
For a moment, Tyler just stood there, taking her in. Her face was pale, and the bruising along her side and back was obviously hidden beneath the hospital gown, but she looked peaceful. The steady rise and fall of her chest was the only thing keeping his emotions from rushing back in.
Setting the bag down on the small chair in the corner, Tyler moved quietly to her bedside. He pulled the visitor’s chair closer and eased himself into it. He was bone-tired but couldn’t bring himself to close his eyes. Instead, he sat there, elbows on his knees, just watching her sleep.
For the first time all night, the storm inside him started to settle. Now that he was finally by her side, he felt like he could breathe, just barely. She was alive. She’d be okay. The doctors had said as much. But the sight of her in the bed—it had rattled him more than any storm ever could.
He’d been watching her, studying every detail like it might disappear: the soft rise and fall of her chest, the way her hair framed her face, even how her hand rested limply on the blanket. It wasn’t like him to sit still, but he hadn’t moved much since they let him in. He couldn’t. Not yet.
When she stirred, his breath hitched. Her eyes fluttered open, and he leaned forward instinctively, trying to gauge how aware she was. Relief trickled in as her gaze settled on him.
“Hey, Kate,” he said, tossing his hat aside and giving her a smile that he hoped looked more confident than he felt.
“Hey cowboy,” she murmured, her voice groggy but so unmistakably hers. His chest loosened a little more at that. She was still herself, even through the haze of meds. “Where ya been?”
Her hand moved toward him, and he didn’t hesitate. He reached out, taking it in his, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. God, her skin was warm. He pressed a kiss to her hand, then her palm when she opened it to him. That simple touch grounded him, the ache in his chest easing just a fraction more.
“I was on your tail the whole way,” he told her softly. “Until I had to park. It was a bit of a nightmare. By the time we got inside, they made me cool my heels.”
She touched his face then, her fingers smoothing over the stubble on his jaw, and he leaned into it without thinking. It was ridiculous how much comfort he drew from such a small gesture. Her voice, tinged with dry humor, broke through his swirling thoughts.
“They made you wait? The Tyler Owens, Tornado Wrangler, storm-chaser extraordinaire?”
He chuckled, a low sound that felt oddly natural in this too-quiet room. “Well, after the incident at the Tulsa airport, I figured I should behave before I end up on a list.” The joke came out easy, almost automatic, but he meant it. He’d needed to be here, and nothing was going to stop him. Even if that meant following every rule to the letter.
“How do you feel?” he asked, his tone softening as he cradled her hand between his.
“Like a tornado threw a barn on me,” she replied, deadpan. “But I’m here, so that’s a win.”
“A big win,” he murmured. His lips brushed her temple, and he lingered a moment, his eyes tracing the faint lines of her face. “The team was here, but when they told us you were good and being observed, they decided to get a hotel room downtown. We’ll see them tomorrow, as long as everythin’ goes well.”
“How are they?” she hummed, her eyes closing briefly.
“Just worried about you,” Tyler said honestly. “Javi was gonna stay too, but they said you could only have one visitor. But I brought you some clothes.”
He gestured toward the bag on the floor, trying to keep the conversation light. She didn’t need to know how silent they all had been or how he maybe had scared them with his behavior. He was here now, and that was enough.
Kate’s brow lifted at the mention of the clothes. “It better not be one of the tornadeo shirts.”
“You wound me,” he said with a grin, his voice lighter now. “But I did bring that flannel of mine that keeps endin’ up in your things.”
Her reply came so casually, so quickly, it caught him off guard. “I thought you only liked to take that off me.”
His brows shot up, and then he smirked, unable to hold back the laugh bubbling up. The last thing on his mind was intimacy and yet, she knew how to get him to chuckle. Of course . “That’s my girl.”
For a moment, it felt like everything was normal again, like they weren’t sitting in a hospital room with too-bright lights and antiseptic air. But then he noticed how her gaze lingered, how her face was a little more intent as she studied him.
“You . . . okay?” she asked, her concern breaking through her exhaustion.
He hated that she saw right through him, even now. But he didn’t want her worrying about him. Not here, not after all she’d been through. He gave her his most reassuring nod, his voice low and steady. “Just fine now, baby. Why don’t you get some more sleep? You’re hardly awake now.”
Her hand moved sluggishly toward him, poking his chest. “Liar,” she said, her voice soft but insistent.
His chest tightened, but he forced a grin. He was a fool to think he’d be able to trick her. “Did I mention you’re beautiful in that hospital gown?” He caught her hand gently, lowering it back to the bed as he brushed her bangs aside.
“That’s cause . . . My ass is out,” she murmured, her attempt at playfulness making him laugh again despite himself.
“I wasn’t gonna point that out,” he teased, his voice dipping to match hers. “But . . .”
She patted the bed next to her then, her movements slow and deliberate. He wasn’t sure if she even realized what she was asking, but he leaned closer, his voice soft. “You tryin’ to tell me somethin’, Sapulpa?”
“Get up here,” she managed to say, her words a little clearer now.
He hesitated, the rational part of him arguing against it. She needed rest; he’d make do with the chair. But the way she tugged at his shirt, the determination in her sleepy eyes, dissolved his resistance. He’d never been very good at resisting her wishes.
“You sure you’re in a condition to be makin’ demands?” he asked, his voice quieter now, his heart full as he looked at her.
“Take . . . a hint,” she said, her grip weak but persistent. “I want you here.”
He let out a breath, the last of his resolve fading. “You win,” he whispered as he slid carefully into the bed beside her, his movements slow to avoid jostling her.
She turned slightly, settling against him, and he slipped his arm beneath her head, his fingers threading into her hair. He kissed her forehead, then rested his own against hers. “Go to sleep,” he murmured. “I’m here.”
She fell asleep pretty quickly, as if waiting for his permission. Tyler felt as thought he sat awake for hours, but his own exhaustion was tugging at him and with her face being the last thing he saw, he slipped away into a deep, worrisome sleep.