Seven

Owen and Claire walked along the beach holding hands and watching the waves. Owen smiled to himself and looked down.

"What is it?" Claire asked with curiosity.

"Oh, I was just thinking about jogging with you," answered Owen.

"You're lucky I'm able to walk right now, I can't even imagine jogging." Claire squeezed his hand and pushed hair behind her ear.

Owen told her, "I went jogging six days in a row at the same time in the morning to 'catch' you that first time."

"Stalker," teased Claire.

"Necessary measures," Owen responded playfully.

Claire smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder. After a short silence, she nervously said, "I was avoiding you after we got off the ferry."

Owen brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, "I know. I'm an expert in animal behavior."

Claire rolled her eyes, "Do you KNOW why I was crying after I left Masrani's building in New York?"

Owen stopped walking and faced her. With a serious tone, he said, "No, I don't know that, but not for lack of asking."

"It has a lot to do with why I was avoiding you," replied Claire.

"Just after we got off the ferry or all the other times, too?" Owen looked intently at her. Claire was embarrassed and broke eye contact. He felt guilty himself. Owen touched her shoulders and said sympathetically, "Sorry. Please tell me about New York."

She looked up at him sadly, took a deep breath and cleared her throat. Looking out to the horizon, Claire began, "I'm assuming Mr. Masrani told you during your interview why he personally met with all applicants for leadership positions at Jurassic World?"

Owen nodded, "To assess their commitment to remaining on Isla Nublar long-term. He didn't want people who were," raising one eyebrow, "fickle." Owen smiled and put an arm around her.

Claire smiled and then returned to her serious yet nervous demeanor, "Did he ask you any personal questions?"

"He wanted to know why I was getting out of the Navy," Owen replied, "I told him about my educational interests. Then, he asked if my decision was influenced by family or a partner."

"What did you say?"

"I told him that there wasn't anyone tying me to the mainland."

"Cryptic."

"Look, it wasn't his business to know the details, but I understood the investments he made in the people he hired. It IS a little like the military. Replacing someone on Jurassic World is akin to replacing someone in Afghanistan or another remote location. I think it's why many of the staff were veterans – it's easier for us to accept the isolation from the rest of the world."

Claire took a moment then asked, "Do you think that isolation extended to the job?"

"I don't follow."

"I mean, do you think that Mr. Masrani expected that the type of person who would work on the island, someone with few if any attachments and willing to be geographically separated…" Her voice trailed off, and she looked back to the horizon.

Owen took her chin and looked into her eyes, "Would also remain unattached on the island?"

"Yes," answered Claire.

"I imagine that was part of his plan," said Owen, "It's good business."

Claire took a seat in the sand and motioned him to sit next to her. Owen sat and put an arm around her.

She leaned against him and took a deep breath, "Masrani knew more about me because I already worked for him. He didn't have to ask personal questions. He knew about my application for the job in DC, but he said that I was a better fit for Jurassic World. Masrani explained why there was an opening for a marketing director. He initially allowed the Jurassic World marketing department to be based out of New York and travel to the park several times per year. After a while, he didn't think that was sufficient. When he announced his intention to permanently move the marketing department to Isla Nublar, the director asked for a transfer and most of the other staff either followed suit or resigned." Claire paused to take another deep breath, "I didn't flinch and told him that I was up to the challenge of working with a green team. Mr. Masrani laughed. He said he didn't doubt my ability to handle that or the isolation of working full-time on the island. He told me that he rewarded people who fully committed to the park, so most Jurassic World promotions came from within. I said that the job would be my top priority and I would welcome opportunities to expand beyond marketing."

Claire bit her lip and looked at Owen with lowered eyebrows. He motioned her to finish.

"He expected that answer," she continued, "and I accepted the position without hesitation to advance my career." Claire looked to the horizon and swallowed, "Masrani looked so pleased with himself and said, 'Wonderful.'" Claire sighed, "He had me pegged. I didn't care about anyone but myself. I had no attachments, no one remotely causing me to question an indefinite relocation to another country. Not even my sister. That was a difficult realization for me. Instead of going back to my office after the interview, I needed to take a break...get some fresh air. I was panicking. I held it together until I got outside the building, but then I broke down." Claire stopped and began to tear up.

Owen rubbed her shoulders and tried to lighten the mood by saying, "If that was you having a 'breakdown,' you're pretty tough. I just saw a little waterworks as you walked across the plaza. You weren't heaving with sobs or curled in the fetal position on the sidewalk."

Claire laughed appreciatively, "It was a big deal for me to cry at all…at that point in time. I didn't even cry at my mother's funeral. Incidentally, that was the last time I saw Zach and Gray before they came to the park." She teared up again and opined, "See, wasn't I perfect to groom for Senior Assets Manager?" Claire dug her feet into the sand, and Owen waited for her to speak again. She continued, "When I walked out the doors of the building, I felt like reality was...crushing me. It wasn't regret about taking the job. It was disgust with who I was. A cold, empty person." Claire took a deep breath, "I pulled it together, got back 'on track,' and boarded that ferry determined to prove that I didn't need anyone." She looked at him smiling, "Then, I literally stumbled upon you. I felt...lighter, unburdened talking to you. It helped that you were the definition of dashing. I was sneaky about it, but I didn't miss my chance to grab you." Claire blushed and said, "Touching you felt electric. It always does."

Owen looked away from her and answered in a serious tone, "It's scary," then smirked, "Worse than running from dinosaurs."

Claire rolled her eyes and laughed, "The irony is not lost on me." She gave him a gentle kiss before they stood to continue walking down the beach, holding hands.

Owen appeared nervous and took a deep breath before saying, "I avoided you after the ferry – right away! I didn't even wait with you for your luggage. Dick move."

"That was a relief!" laughed Claire, "My heart was racing, and you gave my brain a chance to regain control. I told myself that it was just my own wishful thinking. You weren't interested, and I needed to stay focused on my career." She paused to look away from him then added, "I did think about chasing after you though."

Owen startled and appeared uncomfortable. She looked up at him with concern and gently squeezed his hand. He nervously told her, "When we parted ways on the dock, I was trying to play it cool, but I was sprinting from you on the inside." He paused and broke eye contact with her, "That was different for me."

"Leaving BEFORE the one-night stand?" scoffed Claire.

"Ouch," replied Owen, "I was going to say 'hook-up.'"

They stopped walking. Owen faced her and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. Claire felt goose bumps and started breathing more heavily. He looked at her intently, "I didn't want to just hook up with you. Never." Owen paused and asked, somewhat fearfully, "Did you think that?" Claire looked away from him and remained silent. Owen raised his eyebrows and said, "I see. Huh." He took a deep breath and cleared his throat, "Do you still think that?" Claire looked at him hesitantly and shook her head. Relieved, Owen sighed, "Claire, I've been to dark places. I didn't see the point in trying to have meaningful relationships with other people. People let you down. People cause you pain. I felt blackened. When Hoskins told me about this job, I was excited by the opportunity to do something unique and dangerous. Something very few people would ever consider. I could be left alone." Owen suddenly broke their eye contact, released her hand, and backed away from her.

"This isn't easy for me," he stammered, "We didn't have deep conversations with each other back in the day."

As if broken from a reverie, Claire responded with frustration, "I know." She looked out to the horizon and then back at him to add, "Sex is easier."

A/N: I went through several iterations of this chapter with varying levels of disclosure. Please leave me some feedback on how you think it played out.