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Twenty Five

Chapter Twenty Five

Storm pulled into a rundown motel just as the sun was beginning to rise as the rain finally cleared. She got out, letting Cash and Nell out to stretch their legs on the grassy area that surrounded the motel. Storm made her way into the reception, quickly getting a room and then going to it. She quickly fed the dogs before the crawled onto the bed with her.

***

Storm woke a few hours later to the sun streaming into the room, she threw the blankets back and walked into the bathroom, deciding to have a shower and get ready before taking the dogs for a walk and getting something to eat while she thinks over her next move.

***

Kozik sat at the bar in the SAMTAC clubhouse with a fresh coffee in front of him, as he stared at his phone waiting, willing for it to ring as he tried to figure out what to do. He felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder, quickly turning around and seeing Happy sit down next to him. "What's wrong?" Happy asked, his voice deeper than usual. Kozik just shook his head, not wanting to divulge what he didn't really know.

***

Tig walked into the bar, feeling his hangover more than he wanted to admit but remembered everything from last night. He walked over to Chibs who was sat at the bar with a coffee in his hand. "Did you see her?" Tig asked quietly, his voice thicker than usual. "I went by the house and the hospital but she wasn't there." Chibs told him, which only resulted in Tig storming outside to his bike with Chibs following behind.

Tig and Chibs pulled into the driveway, Chibs noting that her truck was still parked in the same place. Tig pulled out his keys as they walked to the door, he quickly unlocked the door and made their way into the house. Tig raced through the house, checking all the rooms. "She's gone, all her stuff is gone." Tig yelled as he got to her now empty room. "Tig, there's a note." Chibs yelled from the kitchen, hearing Tig's footsteps get louder as he made his way to the kitchen. Tig picked up the keys that were sitting on top of the folded note before picking up the note and reading it – "Dad, I'm sorry it had to be this way but I'm not some hooker you can hit when you don't get your way. Please don't try to find me as I can't be who you want me to be, I need time. Spending time inside in solitary allows you to think things through endlessly and this is why I have to do this. I'm not the same person I was all those years ago and I can't help but feel like I'm standing on the outside looking in. Please take care of yourself. I love you." Tig finished reading the note and re-folded it, slipping it into the inner pocket of his kutte along with the keys. "We should head back as we have church." Tig told Chibs dejectedly as he walked out of the house, to his bike.

***

Kozik sat, his stress levels through the roof as it had been over twenty four hours since he'd seen from Storm and she still hadn't called. "More coffee?" A crow eater asked but he shook his head just as his phone began to ring, a number he didn't recognise showing up. He quickly answered as he made his way outside. Storm told him that she was staying close and was going to settle in Bellingham, Washington and that she already had a job at the local hospital St Joseph's. Kozik is relieved as she tells him once she gets a house, she'll give him the address before ending the call. Kozik slid his phone into his pocket, breathing a sigh of relief that she was safe and wouldn't be to far away if she needed him...