Chapter 2 in which the plot thickens (and some more adorable Claire+Owen moments happen) begins now~
The first thing she noticed when she woke up was the warmth... and the snoring.
Of course he snores, typical man. She sighed internally, trying to move slightly without waking him. Of all the men to fall for, she just had to find one of those rough around the edges, scruffy types. But he did have his redeeming factors; like how utterly devoted he was to her already.
She would never tell him this, but he was right. They did work oddly well together. Just the thought of the heated words they were sure to have in the future seemed almost exciting for her now. Before the events of the last day, any interaction with him was on a strickly as work necessitated basis. He knew exactly how to push her buttons, but knowing that there was love and respect between them, those future fights, and the events afterward would be a new experience.
Extracting herself from his arms was a bit difficult; she would have given up and continued to enjoy their slice of temporary heaven if she was not so thirsty. It was hard to remember the last time she ate or drank anything. Getting up, she pulled her towel closed and walked to the bathroom.
Her still sore feet were red with blisters, even after Owen's attempt to massage the pain away earlier. Her hair was a tangle as well, but there wasn't much she could do about that. Finding a toothbrush in the basket of toiletries provided by the hotel, she took care of some personal hygiene issues that had been deemed unimportant until now.
In a matter of five minutes, she felt like a human being again: thirst quenched, teeth brushed, hair in as much order as she could, and face washed.
Looking straight ahead into the mirror, she checked over her skin and found very few injuries. A light shade of crimson blushed her cheeks as she noticed a few marks that were not a result of the whole running for her life activities. It seemed that Owen had left her a few reminders of their fun on her neck and shoulders.
Such an idiot. Ugh, Karen was right. She shook her head. Somehow, she knew I was going to find myself someone completely different than my ideal guy… a bad boy with a motorcycle.
Turning from the mirror, she stuck her head out of the bathroom. Looking once more at the sleeping man, she shrugged. Owen may appear to be a bad boy with his broad shoulders and crass – and not particularly funny - jokes, but in reality, he was anything but a bad person.
Walking back into the main room, she found the phone on the small table near the window. Picking it up, she took a deep breath and dialed.
"Hello, Karen? It's me."
"I was so worried about you!" Her sister hugged her tightly as Claire opened the hotel room door around twenty minutes later. Ushering the older woman into the room and putting her index finger up to her lips, Claire shushed her sister. "You just disappeared yesterday from the center. I didn't know where you were. No one knew where you went."
"We needed to get away." Claire shrugged taking one of the parcels from Karen's hands and moving towards the bathroom. "Thanks for getting us some clothes."
"We? There is a 'we' now?" Her sister took a few steps further into the room and smiled. It wasn't everyday she saw her little sister with a man… sleeping soundly on a bed with rumpled sheets. "So this is the Owen that I keep hearing about."
Claire tossed the short, sleeveless sundress on over her head and moved to grab her sister's arm. The two woman faced off in the bathroom, both looking serious.
"So?" The nosey big sister look was on Karen's face. Knowing that Claire was uninjured from the ordeal allowed the playful banter only shared by sisters and best friends to begin.
"So?" Claire tried to play it cool, trying to dodge the question that obviously didn't need to be answered.
"Well, fine then. Don't tell your big sister anything. I guess I'll just have to ask the man who has finally caught your attention. And that can put up with you. I'd really like details please."
"Seriously, can you stop with the big sister thing right now?" Claire turned her back to her sister and opened the shopping bag to finish dressing.
"You know I love you. I just want to protect you. Make sure you're happy." A sisterly hug left Claire shaking her head. Karen was always the clingy one in the family.
"I think I'll be fine with this one." Claire smiled, pushing away from the embrace. Now fully dressed and feeling much like a lighter version of her old self, Claire felt ready to leave their little sanctuary and face the world.
Before the two sisters could continue catching up, a noise from the other room caught their attention. A series of frantic shouts stopped their conversation.
Claire moved swiftly past her sister and into the main room.
Where Owen had been peacefully sleeping just minutes before, now laid a visually distressed man, thrashing in his sleep.
"No… Charlie… Back! Del….ah!" His facial features were scrunched and sweat was forming from his brow. Moving towards the bed, Claire looked on Owen with sympathetic eyes. He had kept the nightmares at bay for her, and now, he was stuck in a hellish world of his own.
"Owen, wake up." She knelt on the bed, and reached out to touch him.
"Blue! No! Stop Bl…." He sat up instantly after she lightly tried to shake him awake. His breathing was ragged and eyes wide, as if disbelieving everything around him.
"Owen?" Claire reached out to touch his cheek. "It's ok. It wasn't real. We're safe."
"Claire?" His hand covered hers on his cheek and he closed his eyes for a moment. "Oh man… that was messed up."
"It's ok." She pulled him in for a quick kiss to try to make him feel better, much like he did with her in the tub. At this point, she didn't care if her sister was watching or not.
His arm hooked around her waist and pulled her closer. In the darkness of his mind, the events of yesterday warped into a blood soaked nightmare worse than reality. In his dream, Blue really had turned on him. His inability to shoot her had cost him dearly.
He should have known that terror dreams were a possibility after such an experience. It had taken him years to get over previous events that led to his resignation with the Navy.
"It wasn't real. I promise Owen. I'm here. We're safe. No more running."
"It wasn't real…" He repeated finally calming. Looking up from his place on the bed, he noticed that Claire was fully dressed and another woman was watching them near the hallway. "Um..."
He tried to make sure that the sheet covered his lower half once he realized they were not alone- he couldn't do much to hide the nail marks covering his chest.
"Owen, this is my sister Karen, Gray and Zach's mother." Claire sat down on the bed next to Owen as she introduced her sister.
"It's nice to finally meet you. I don't know how I can ever thank you for helping my boys and Claire." The other woman waved slightly, not knowing if she should shake the man's hand or hug him in his state of undress.
"They're good kids. How are they holding up?" He asked trying to move past the fact that he was naked under the thin sheet.
"Gray's had a few nightmares. Zach won't talk about it much. But they're surviving." Karen smiled as she watched her younger sister tenderly take the man on the bed's hand. She turned and walked back towards the door to pick up the other bag she had brought.
"We didn't know your size, so we got the best we could." Handing over the bag, Owen nodded in thanks.
"We appreciate the help. We um… didn't really plan on how we would get a change of clothes." He replied with a half embarrassed, half proud smirk.
"I can see that." The older woman winked seeing the tattered clothes strewn around the room.
Claire stood up, not wanting either of them to see the crimson painted on her cheeks at that comment. The very private and controlled person inside was mortified that her sister was there and could clearly see what had transpired between the two. Instead, she moved to turn on the television.
The images from the park, from the closed circuit cameras, played before them on every channel. Broadcasters announced snip its of news and conjuncture as the world watched dinosaurs snatch people up and general panic that ensued.
As she flipped channels, she stopped after recognizing her own image. It was from the cameras near the experience center - the final show down with Claire, the boys, Owen and the raptors. On the bottom of the screen ran the text 'Heroes of the Day still MIA.'
Owen glanced at Claire, to see if her expression mirrored his own. Just as Hoskins had said, he and his animals came out looking like heroes.
"Someone must have hacked into the security systems." Claire sighed not particularly wishing to relive the horrors of the last few hours on the island. "So I bet everything is out by now."
"The media has been looking for you two. They haven't identified the boys yet. They obviously know your name Claire. Owen's name hasn't been published, but your face is everywhere." Karen replied looking from the man on the bed, to the image of the man on the TV. She and her husband had watched the images while the boys were sleeping. It was hard to believe how the small group had survived the massive creature's attack, not to mention actually interacting with the smaller ones.
"Charlie… Echo and Delta…" Owen's eyes had not left the TV as he took a moment silently thanking his girls for saving them. "Blue."
"They saved us." Claire felt saddened knowing how important his raptors were to him. "They really are heroes." Sliding up closer to him, Claire pulled him into an embrace.
"Why don't you finish getting dressed and then we can work on getting you both fed." Karen spoke up, not really knowing if she should interrupt the pair. However, at the mention of food, Owen's stomach let out a large growl.
The three adults couldn't help but laugh.
"Typical man." Claire pulled back.
"Yeah well. So, um… I need to get dressed, but I don't think you'd appreciate me flashing your sister. So could you ladies maybe…" He motioned for them at least turn around.
"Oh, I might enjoy the show." Karen smiled enjoying the flustered look on her sister. She winked at Owen before Claire all but pushed her towards the bathroom.
"I like him." She added as Claire crossed her arms over her chest, giving an unamused look.
Karen, Owen and Claire carefully left the hotel lobby. An over-sized sun hat and glasses tried to hide Claire's identity, while Owen, much amused sported a trucker hat with his colorful tropic shirt and black board shorts.
The elastic band was a bit large on him, but it worked for now. He had pretty much started laughing the second he took it out of the bag. Claire not so much.
The rental car was waiting for them, and Karen drove them down the road towards the hotel where the Mitchell family had been staying.
"There's a diner down the road according to the main desk people." Karen explained as they parked in the hotel's parking area. "I'll be right back with the boys."
Owen and Claire sat in the car, waiting the others and listening to the radio. Apparently authorities were requesting all survivors remain in country until statements were collected and officials from the US could arrive. Former InGen and Jurassic World employees were also being asked to head to the command center at the hanger.
"After lunch, we should just get it over with." Claire broke the silence.
"Still hoping to just disappear. Let them think we didn't come back." Owen rubbed his cleanly shaven cheeks before scratching at the short hairs of his mustache.
"I know. But better to get it over with, right?" She tried to also convince herself without much luck. "Besides, we can't wear silly hats and sunglasses forever."
"I don't think your hat is silly."
"I was talking about yours."
A warm laugh rang out from his lips, causing Claire's amusement to grow.
"What's so funny?" Came Karen's voice from outside the car.
"Owen!" Gray's voice sounded as he finally saw those waiting in the car. The younger brother ran up to the car's back door where Owen sat.
"Hey there kiddo." Owen smiled and opened the door. Once he was standing, the boy hugged him tightly. A look of bewilderment briefly crossed his face, but gently patted the boy's back. "Zach." He nodded to the older teenager.
"Shall we get some food?" Claire asked as she walked over to the group and hugged both of her nephews.
"Yeah. Let's head out." The boys' father replied moving to take the driver's seat. Karen walked to the passenger side and the four others looked at the back seat of the four-door sedan.
"Claire, you want to sit on my lap?" Owen smirked and received a swat.
"Gray can sit on mine." She corrected his plan and the group piled into the back seat.
"Where's the fun in that?" Owen's voice sounded disappointed.
"Just get in." She commanded and he obeyed.
Their time at the diner was an enjoyable one for Owen and the boys. Around the former dino trainer, Gray found someone who not only shared his still consuming interest in dinosaurs, but also a safe presence who knew exactly what they had been through on the island. He felt safe with Owen. Zach also seemed to open up more to the adults that were not his parents. The shared experience bonded the four together in ways years of friendships could not.
After the group had finished, Owen and Claire knew that they needed to make contact with the command center. Making a quick stop off at a local clothing store, the pair were able to find more suitable attire to face the onslaught. Deciding to keep the boys away from the spotlight, the former workers of the failed park left the Mitchell family and walked towards the hanger.
Dressed in the first generic suit coat and knee length skirt set she had worn in years, Claire felt confident enough to face the mess before them. The only changes to her usually pristine professional self came with the pop of color in her simple blue ballet flats and top. Her hair remained free to curl instead of framing her face, straight as an arrow. The man on her right wore a simple pair of grayish cargo pants and a blue button-up shirt, much similar to his standard attire. Strangely, it suited him. The only thing that was missing was his vest and knife attached to the back of his belt. Hopefully, they would not need anything of the sort today.
Their confident strides had people making way for them until several in the media connected the dots that they were not just your average passersby trying to get into the command center. Suddenly, the attention of the media blitz focused on them. Taking Claire's hand, Owen pressed through the hoards, not saying a word. Microphones pushed into their faces found no responses to questions thrown at them one after the other.
"Ms. Dearing, how can you explain the events concerning the park's containment issues?"
"Isn't it true you denied closing the park?"
"Who was responsible for letting the new dinosaur out of the paddock?"
"Why would you create a monster?"
The words blurred together, but the intensity of the voices assaulted her ears.
"Sir! Can you comment on the use of the raptors?"
"How were you able to control them?"
Claire looked over at the man still holding her hand when she noticed the pressure increasing as the topic of his raptors arose repeatedly. The look of anger flashed in his eyes, but to his credit, he buried it and kept walking.
The media continued to shout at them even from the opposite side of the fence once they entered the secured area.
"If you would come this way, please." A man in a black suit and dark sunglasses requested, ushering the pair away from the fence and into a large tented area. Inside, the tent looked anything but a makeshift command center. The wide walls and sturdy looking partitions took on an office like feel with a mob of people working on computers, some analyzing video feeds from the park, and others delivering documents.
"We'd like to have you each give a statement on the events leading up to the evacuation of the park. We've already taken statements from a few of your colleagues. A unique man, I believe his name was Mr. Cruthers… Lowery was it? Then another technician in the control center and one of your fellow raptor trainers, Mr. Grady."
"It's Owen. And you are?" The former serviceman looked suspiciously at the official with blonde hair and dark shades covering his eyes.
"Owen. Well, I represent the United States government and different pieces of the military industrial complex. You may call me Agent Matthews. We're here to assess what transpired and salvage any of the government assets invested in InGen and Mr. Masrani."
"Just great. The government." Owen muttered under his breath.
"Mr. Grady. Owen, we are well aware of your past in the military. And your… dislike of inquiries."
"Do you?" Owen dropped Claire's hand and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Excuse me. What right do you have to talk to us like this?" Claire did not really know much about Owen's past, but that was not the topic of conversation at the moment. The government representative certainly gave off an attitude that was uncalled for.
"Ms. Dearing. We appreciate both of you coming in of your own accord. We aren't here to blame or even discuss responsibilities. We simply want to collect as much information as possible and see where the facts take us."
"Sounds like you're on a witch hunt to me," Owen mumbled again before Claire touched his arm silencing him.
"Are we going to have to get an attorney or can we provide our statements and leave?"
"Attorneys are not needed. I assure you. If you would step this way Ms. Dearing. I will take yours and Owen, you will be in that office with my assistant." The blonde man adjusted his tie and gestured to the open desks in opposite sides of the center.
"This smells off," Owen said looking at Claire and taking her aside before she went off with the other man.
"We don't have much choice Owen. And besides, the sooner we get this done, the sooner we can forget all about this."
"These guys aren't going to let us off. Believe me, I know these guys' type. They want more than just our stories." His movements told of a desire to run. Claire watched as he tried to stop himself from pacing. The shifting back and forth and concerned stares at the representatives in black told of his distrust.
"Just answer their questions." She rubbed his arms trying to be supportive. At the same time her curiosity grew wanting to know why his gut reaction told him to suspect something. If she had learned anything in the past twenty-four hours, it was to trust him and follow his lead in certain things. Turning around, Claire walked away from Owen and took a seat at the desk where the man was waiting.
"Fine. You want to talk? Let's talk." Owen sighed as he turned as well and walked over to a separate desk.
Claire felt exhausted. The man in the suit grilled her for details, timelines, even had her admitting to leaving her post and feeling slightly guilty for it. She knew that no one would blame her for going after her nephews, but still, she had left Lowery and Vivian at the helm without much authorization to do anything substantial.
The questioning went on for what felt like hours, and in reality, it certainly could have. Looking at her bare wrist, she wondered where and when her watch had fallen off. Not that it mattered much, she wasn't exactly sure when they had arrived.
The heat and humidity, not to mention the poor air circulation in the command center did nothing to help her mood from souring. Every once and a while she could hear some heated debate in another part of the tent. Chances were that Owen took center stage in those loud conversations. Letting out another sigh, she waited for the next question to come from the man in front of her. The agent was writing down comments and trying to intimidate her. It was almost cute, the way he was trying to get her with her own-mastered tactics.
"Agent Matthews, was it?" She started out in her sweet, but semi-fake voice. "I've been answering many of your questions and I was wondering if you could answer a few of mine?"
"Well, it depends Ms. Dearing." The man looked up from his paperwork and smiled. "What questions do you have?"
Claire straightened up in her chair, knowing that she needed to channel her old self to get anywhere with his man.
"To my knowledge, the US government has not provided any funding or 'assets' for Jurassic World." She cleared her throat. "In fact, I've seen the books. I know all our shareholders and funding sources came from private sources."
"You're partially correct. Jurassic World may not have received direct funding, however, its predecessor Jurassic Park, received multiple rounds of government funding for clean-up and other purposes. Need I remind you of a rouge T-rex on US soil? When the late Mr. Masrani took over John Hammond's legacy, he also inherited the US Government's emergency clause. Which was enacted yesterday the moment InGen's military forces touched that island."
"So what? You own it now?"
"Close again Ms. Dearing." The man took off his sunglasses and his crystal blue eyes did a quick once over on Clarie. The gesture made her scowl at the man before her. "We are simply here to salvage anything worthwhile- innovation and military-wise that we can. The island's ownership and financial ruin are things that do not concern my superiors."
"Let me guess, you have the pipe-dream of weaponized dinosaurs much like that bastard Hoskins?" She seethed now understanding the heated voices from Owen. He would certainly not take too nicely to finding out this information.
"While Hoskins' hopes are still some ways off, the military never turns down an option to reduce human causalities."
"What do you call those who died on that island then? Aren't those enough bodies to show you that your dreams won't work?" The anger in her grew and she swiftly stood up, daring the man before her to answer. She had faced the horrors of dinosaurs that went rouge. The blood that was partially on her hands should have been enough to dissuade anyone of the volatile nature and high costs of even the smallest success they could expect.
"I do recall asking you a similar question. You were in the command center when the Indominus first escaped. And I do recall testimony that your partner over there strongly suggested killing it from the very beginning." He gestured to where Owen's voice carried.
"Yeah, well, I've seen how wrong we were. That is a hell of a lot more than you and your superiors seem to understand." Claire crossed her arms over her chest, taking a power stance to show her seriousness on the matter.
"I think we have everything we need from you Ms. Dearing. We certainly would not want to seem like we were holding you against your will." The man closed his folder and stood up as well. "You are free to leave the country and head back to your residence in the United States, same with your nephews." Clarie's eyes narrowed at the mention of her family. "We don't need anything from them. You will be contacted by InGen about the terms of your severance pay if you won't play a role in the containment. While I can't make any claims about your employment status, I would venture a guess, that I will have the pleasure of talking with you again… soon."
Claire was told to wait outside the main command center once she was finished with Agent Matthews. She wasn't sitting long when a familiar face appeared. The dark skinned man approached her with a worried look on his face. Barry had been with Owen throughout the raptor's training on the island and it was safe to say he had also spent time being grilled just like she and Owen.
"Claire." He stopped and took a seat next to her on a bucket.
"Barry, right?" She felt a bit embarrassed not completely sure on his name.
"Owen still inside then?" The nod of his head confirmed his name. A slight inclination of his head towards the tent behind them asked if that was the location of their mutual friend.
"If they haven't arrested him yet and dragged him off somewhere." The hundredth sigh of that day escaped her lips. A slight headache that had started during the questioning now grew to a constant throb as she thought of the trouble Owen could get into.
"Owen might have a hot head, but when it counts, he will cool his temper. I hope." The other man's attempt to reassure her did little, but the supporting hand on hers did help some.
"So, they give you your walking papers yet?" Looking over at Barry she wondered exactly what they told him about the military's involvement.
"Unfortunately I don't think they will let me leave just yet. Something about future debriefings." The man shrugged and looked out on the large hanger that still held a substantial amount of survivors.
"So they are keeping you here?"
"I stayed last night to help with the survivors. I guess they figured out where I worked earlier this morning. I've been in and out of meetings all morning with people like that. My home has been on that island for almost a decade. I sold my previous home when I took this job. So, I'm not sure how many options I have at the moment. I feel as if I have to stay and see this to the end." He stopped and looked at his hands. The things he survived could not be washed away. "Besides, I know they are going to be heading back to the Isla. It is only a matter of time before someone else wants to take up Hoskins' insane notion."
"I hate to tell you this, but that Agent Matthews pretty much confirmed that was the government's plan." Claire ran her fingers through her hair.
"More death," he sighed more to himself than to the woman next to him.
"What was that?"
"Huh? Oh, I just thought that all they will get are more deaths."
"I tried telling them that. And I am sure Owen is also telling them that in a more… colorful fashion." Barry smiled and laughed a little at her words.
"He certainly is the only man I know who can instigate a bar fight one minute and then sweet talk a raptor out of eating him the next." A moment of silence arose between the two as they both thought about the very complicated man they both knew.
"Just what have I gotten myself into?" Looking down at her feet, Claire knew that question wasn't just concerning Owen, but all of this. What was she thinking taking up the position as the general manager of such a business? The money certainly was good, but had she ever really thought about the risks involved?
"I've never met another man so loyal before." Barry's voice was confident and warm. "He's had a thing for you for a while. The guys around the paddock enjoyed razzing him about the details of your date. The poor guy took it hard for a while."
Claire gave Barry a smile, silently thanking him for that tidbit of knowledge. Her Owen really was pathetically devoted, and it only made her want to run away from all of this with him.
"Get your hands off of me!" His voice brought them both to their feet. From the tent's entrance, Owen Grady earned an escort, none-too-lightly, out by two agents. "You got to be kidding me if you think for one minute I'll let you get your grubby hands on my raptor…"
"Mr. Grady, you need some time to cool off. We've been over the consequences of running your mouth off to the media several times, so at this point I ask that you kindly leave. We'll be in touch when your services are required."
"Like hell I'll be your errand boy!"
"Ah, Ms. Dearling. Mr. Barry." Agent Matthew exited behind Owen and his entourage. "I think we are done for the moment. Please do take your friend home. I'd hate to have to lock him up in a Costa Rican jail cell till he cools off."
"You'd love to do that, wouldn't you? Give you a great power trip, wouldn't it?" Owen shook off the two pairs of hands of his escort and turned to face the smug agent.
"Owen, no." Claire ran up to step in between Owen and the armed men. "This is not the time or the place."
His intense eyes held a barely contained rage. His nostrils were flaring and he looked like he was about to blow. Claire had seen this look once before on him, but this time the intensity frightened her.
"Let's go." She tried to calm down him down, by placing her hand to his chest. The rapid beating of his heart pounded beneath the slender fingers. "There's no point in wasting our breath with these people."
"Just remember what I said when it is you running for your life Matthews." And with that Owen Grady turned and started walking away.
Oh no, going back?
That doesn't sound like a good idea... stay tuned to find out how the government gets our power couple back to Isla Nublar and if they are able to survive once again!
Many thanks to those who are following, favorited and most of all who reviewed. Much appreciated.
