Storm (Criminal Minds OC)

Chapter 3

They second the boys climbed into the SUV and closed their doors the agent who had cuffed Storm pulled out his phone and made a call. The call was still going when they came to a full stop near the exit. The local police are doing the best they can to keep traffic moving but there's a mass exodus of people trying to avoid the storm. The highway was at a standstill. Meaning they were at a stop, still in town. The hurricane would not directly come through, but enough of it's backlash was going to kick up these nearby cities. Earlier, Storm had brought her one sad little plant inside in preparation. Not that she's sure it's even still alive anyway.  She sucks at plants. 

"Okay, Emily.  Yeah.  Goodbye." The passenger hung up before turning his attention back to his partner. "I gave Emily an update. She said they're doing the best they can, but it's gonna be hours before they can clear the highway."

The driver sighed. Leaning back, running a hand down his face.

I know how you feel buddy.

It has been an awkward and quiet ride so far, still on the outskirts of Winding Edge, nearly to the highway.

"Storm!"

Storm turns her head to the left. Turning her attention through the half open window to Bobby. Who's waving at her excitedly as he holds one of his 'custom' bouquets in his other hand. Bobby was a sweet old man. His posture always remains slightly bent over and you can tell his hands are spent from years of making floral arrangements. He's not the greatest florest but he's the cheapest and the closest, being the only one in Winding Edge. Not surprisingly, they're is only one of anything in Winding Edge. Bobby never made enough off his craft to afford a store front but he makes due selling out of his cart on the side of the road right near the off ramp.

"Hey Bobby."

"Whatch ya doing back there?"

"Oh, you know, getting questioned about a murder, the usual Thursday afternoon." She shrugs.

"Ah, that's crazy!" He turned his attention to the men who are escorting her. "Hey, you're those FBI guys, right?"

"That's right." They replied.

"I hope you catch the bastard that's doing this. Those sweet girls did nothing to nobody."

They both nod along but the one in the passenger seat leans forward, looking past his partner to holler at Bobby with a little more authority but a softness for the hunched over old man in his voice. "Hey, it's gonna get pretty dangerous out here pretty soon."

"Ah, don't worry about me." He responds. "Besides, this things not gonna hit us for another few hours. And I live right down there."

He points a finger down the street that he does indeed live on. Storm can practically see his house from here.

"See ya, Storm!"

"See ya, Bobby!" She calls out as he moves his cart farther down the row of cars.

"What did he call you?" She looks up in the mirror to see brown eyes starring back at her in its reflection.

"Storm." Her body slightly tenses. "It's my name. I hate Kate. I've been Storm since I was a child."

It was true. Even though she's not quite sure where exactly the nickname came from. Just that it must have been started by one of her friends or family members when she was young. It's her name. It fits her better than Kate ever did. And everyone refers to her as such.

"I'm Luke." He said suddenly. Softening briefly like he had noticed something in her body language. "SSA Luke Alvez." He cleared his throat stiffening back up.