UNDER MY SKIN

fourteen. home

Sam shifted on her feet, her arms wrapped around herself as she leaned her head against Kate's shoulder. Tyler stood to her left, the other Tornado Wranglers standing with them, with the exception of Dani, who had kept Buck back at the other motel.

Kate let her head rest against her sisters, her arm tight around herself. She closed her eyes for a moment, leaning into Sam. It was a nice comfort to have her sister there next to her.

Tyler watched the two, though mostly Sam. She hadn't said much since they had climbed out of the pool and she had clung to Kate almost instantly. And the more he looked, the more he could see the similarities, and he kicked himself for not figuring it out sooner.

Neither of the Carter girls moved, not even when the StormPAR cars pulled up. Both were just relieved that they were okay, especially after the last time they had gotten caught in a tornado.

But when Javi jumped out, rushing through the rubble, shouting for them, they both opened their eyes. “Kate! Sam!”

Kate turned, meeting him halfway in a hug, and Sam followed behind her. Then a surprised gasp left her lips when he pulled her into a hug, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

And the second he pulled back, he was rambling, “when I saw the size of it and where it was headed, all I could think was–”

“Javi,” Kate stopped him, her hand on his arm. “We're okay.”

“Yeah, Jav, we're alright,” Sam nodded, her eyes drifting over towards Tyler and the others as Ben asked a few questions, though it seemed more out of concern than anything.

“You were with Owens the whole?” Javi asked, his eyebrows pinched in disbelief and Sam shifted on her feet, her arms crossed over chest.

“Don't start,” she shook her head. “Not now.”

His lips parted, like he was ready to argue, but before he could, Scott cut in, “Javi, apparently this place was family-owned. So I'm gonna start working up some numbers. Riggs is gonna want those first thing.”

“Numbers?” Sam mumbled, her eyebrows pinched in confusion.

Javi just nodded, more concerned with the two blondes they stood before him, “okay, man. I – I’ll catch up with you.”

Scott scanned the blondes quickly before he turned, “yeah.”

“Javi, what is Riggs getting out of all your data collection?” Kate asked, her arms crossed over his chest.

“What – what's it matter?” He asked almost nervously.

“Is profiting off of people's tragedy part of your business plan? Why are you doing this?”

Sam's face fell, realization washing over her, “y– you're not?” She asked, looking up at him. The Javi she knew would never, then again, she wasn't sure she ever actually knew him to begin with.

“Wait, hold on, “ Javi shook his head defensively. “Riggs has offered these people a way to move on with their lives.”

“He's swooping in and taking advantage of people who just lost everything!” Kate argued, she couldn't believe he'd be a part of such a thing. “Y – You have no idea what that's like.”

Javi took a step back, his eyes narrowed, “I don't know what that's like? How about losing three of my best friends while you were trying to land a big fat grant for your science fair project?”

Kate took a step back, tears brimming in her eyes and the second one fell Sam stepped forward and threw her fist into Javi's face, getting a collective oohh from Tornado Wranglers as the boy stumbled to the side before righting himself.

“Don't you dare put that on her, you selfish son of a bitch.” Sam told him, her eyes narrowed, anger rolling off of her in waves. “You wanted that money just as much as she did, don't pretend for a second that you didn't.”

“Now it's my fault?” He raised an eyebrow at her, rubbing his jaw. His tone was bitter, his eyes narrowed as he pulled his shoulders back, making himself taller as he glared down at her.

Tyler clenched his jaw, willing himself to stay in place because he knew she could handle herself.

“Don't go puttin' words in my mouth.” She poked his chest. “You stay the hell away my sister, got it?”

“You're just pissed I never actually wanted you.”

Tyler's hands clenched into fists and he took a step, only to have Boone hold him back, “she's got this, brother.”

Sam chuckled, shaking her head, “no, Javi. I'm not. I'm pissed because you're working for an asshole, who’s causing more damage than good. And when you got called out for it, you turned on the one person that might actually care about you.” She watched as her words landed and his face fell but she kept going. “You're a selfish, lying piece of shit and I hope you know it.”

“Sam!” Kate called out from the truck and the older girl turned, before making her way towards her sister. She climbed into the passenger seat of the truck and as they pulled away, Sam offered Tyler a sad smile and little wave, getting a small nod of understanding in return.

“It wasn't your fault.” Sam said, filling the silence.

“I know,” Kate nodded, her hands tight on the steering wheel. “How's your hand?”

Sam chuckled, looking down at her knuckles that had turned pink, “it’s alright. Definitely not the first guy I've hit.”

Kate laughed, “I believe it.”

“Katie?”

“Hmm?”

“Can we go home?”

>>>>> • <<<<<

Sam glanced over at Kate, who had dozed off in the passenger seat. She smiled a little and made sure the heat was turned up so her sister didn't get cold.

They had been driving for most of the night, they had switched at a gas station when they stopped for food. And not even twenty minutes later did Kate fall asleep, leaving Sam to listen to the quiet hum of the radio as it rolled through the greatest country hits of the 90s.

She settled her tired eyes on the road, one she knew like the back of her hand, as the sun rose, setting the sky in beautiful shades of pale orange.

“Katie,” she reached over and gently shook her shoulder. “Come on, Katie. We're here.”

Kate groaned a little, shifting in her seat. She sat up, letting out a yawn as Sam pulled into the driveway. Kate's eyes were trained on the barn, it had been where she had spent most of her time before that tragic day.

“You okay?” Sam asked, noticing where her gaze lingered.

“Yeah,” Kate nodded, forcing a smile. “Let's get inside.” With that the two slid out of the truck and made their way towards the house, the older of the two pulling her keys from her pocket.

The house was dark, but Sam smiled as she made her way down the hall, Kate following her towards the kitchen.

The youngest grabbed the pitcher of water from the fridge while Sam flipped over two glasses that had been set on a towel to dry. After Kate had filled them, Sam settled at the small table and Kate leaned against the counter.

“Looks the same,” Kate mused, her voice low.

Sam chuckled, “well, we don't like change.”

Kate smiled, a small hum leaving her before a creak of the floorboard in the hall made them both jump a little, “mama?” Kate called out into the darkness. “Mama, it's me.”

Sam laughed a little when she heard the light thump of Cathy putting her bat down before the kitchen light was flipped on. Cathy looked at Kate, disbelief in her eyes, then she looked over at Sam – both girls looked rough.

They both had dirt on their faces, their clothes were disheveled and even looked a little damp, which admittedly they still were.

“What – what happened?” She asked, her worry skyrocketing as she wrapped her arms around Kate, who broke into a sob.

“It's been a long night, mama.” Sam told her, a sad smile crossing her lips. “But I call dibs on the first shower,” she pushed herself up, getting a teary chuckle from Kate as she and Cathy pulled back.

“Now, what a damn minute, get back in here.” Cathy waved Sam towards them, keeping one arm around Kate and the older blonde smiled before making her way towards them. Cathy squeezed the two girls, both doing the same – something they hadn't done in years. “My girls.”

“Mama,” Kate mumbled, “we stink.”

All three laughed, pulling back with wide smiles, “you really do.” Cathy hummed. “Go shower.” She waved Sam off, who chuckled as she made her way towards her room – her having the only downstairs room.

>>>>> • <<<<<

After her shower, Sam settled into bed, her covers pulled up over her as she laid on her side. She smiled at the text she had gotten from Greg, letting her know that he was okay. Then she had called Tyler, hoping he was still awake but it just rang and rang. She knew it was a long shot, the last she had heard from him was a couple hours before they pulled into the driveway.

She let out a small sigh when it sent her to voicemail, “hey, Ty, you're probably sleepin’. But, uh, just wanted to let you know that we're okay. I know how you worry.” She chuckled a little, thinking back on their conversation before the rodeo. “Anyways, um, I'm goin’ to bed. I'll call you tomorrow, or you call me. Night, cowboy.”

She hit the end button and laid her phone on her nightstand, and just as she shifted to get comfortable, there was a knock on her door.

“Come in, mama.”

Cathy smiled as she stepped into the room, and Sam reached over to turn on her cow lamp, “just wanted to check in. See how you're doing.”

“I'm okay, really.” She nodded as she sat up.

Cathy nodded, “how'd things go with Javi?”

Sam took a breath and absently pulled her stuffed longhorn into her arms, “not great.”

“Y'all get a chance to talk?”

“Yeah, we talked. I didn't like what he had to say, but we talked.”

“Well, what'd he say?” Cathy asked, sitting on the foot of the bed.

“Did you know… Back then, did you know that he liked Kate?” Cathy's eyebrows nearly jumped up her forehead. “Did you know?”

“No, honey, I didn't. I thought he liked you. You two were always causing some kind of trouble together. Like two little peas in a pod.”

“And the funny part is, it hurt when he told me, of course it did, but I'm okay. Especially now.”

Cathy smiled, that knowing smile of her, “that wouldn't have anything to do with a certain cowboy would it?”

Sam's cheeks flushed, “mama!”

“What?” She chuckled. “You and Tyler have been calling each other damn near everyday since you got out of the hospital. And when you said you were gonna be gone for a week, I assumed it was to see him.”

Her cheeks flushed harder as she toyed with the longhorn, which just happened to have been a gift from the cowboy. He had gotten it for her the last time he had visited, it was from Build-A-Bear and had a little red bandana around its neck.

“We're just fri-”

“Don't lie to me.” Cathy cut her off, and Sam just nodded but she didn't say anything else. “Well, I should let you get to bed.” She patted her leg as she pushed herself up. “You found a good one, don't let him go.”

“I won't.” Sam hummed, then Cathy left the room, pulling the door closed behind her. The blonde smiled at the longhorn in her hands before pulling it into her chest, then she reached over and cut the light off before she laid down, keeping the toy close.

But it was nowhere near as good as having Tyler sleeping next to her.