As tensions peak after the brothers’ fight, Sullivan becomes ill from drinking and demands that “Tracy,” meaning Katie, take care of her. Katie escorts Sullivan to her cabin, helps her clean up and settle into bed, and the two share a vulnerable exchange: Katie lists her recent hardships, Sullivan dubs them best friends in her drunken haze, and they shake on it.

Katie returns to find Hutch gone and Cole being tended by The Gals for his injuries. Cole says Hutch left without saying where. Hoping Hutch might seek her out, Katie orders Cole to find another place to sleep and clears his belongings from her cottage, but Hutch neither calls nor appears. After unanswered messages and a fruitless trip to the marina, Beanie advises Katie to stop calling and get some rest.

The next morning, everyone is unavailable: Cole and Sullivan are missing, Rue and The Gals have gone antiquing, and Beanie is at work. Alone at the Starlite, Katie swims by herself and reflects that Hutch has every reason to be upset by the deception, even as she recognizes she is in love with him.

Arriving at the air station the following day, Katie discovers Hurricane Rafael has intensified to Category Four and shifted track, compressing the timeline and putting Miami in the crosshairs. The crews are in full preparation mode, and Hutch is too busy to notice her. Another shift aims the storm toward Key Largo, prompting evacuation of the Keys and relocation of helicopters to protect equipment for post-storm rescues.

Katie calls Rue and learns Rue and The Gals are already evacuating by car; Rue urges Katie to change her travel plans, take Rue’s car, and head inland. As Katie ends the call, she spots Hutch in his flight suit heading to a waiting helicopter. Their brief exchange is logistical: Hutch urges her to evacuate immediately, explains that Lieutenant Alonso will drive their pets north, and stresses the urgency.

Katie blurts an apology for how things unfolded, and Hutch says he is sorry, too, but he must go. As he turns to leave, Katie runs after him on the tarmac and asks for a goodbye kiss. With the crew waiting and rotors spinning, Hutch pulls her close and kisses her hard and brief, a charged moment that confirms their connection. He then steps back and tells her to get out of there, leaving Katie with closure of a sort and the command to evacuate.