Leaving the hospital to get a decent lunch had become somewhat of an impossibility owing to the growing presence of the worldwide news stations amassing just outside the doors. Alan was therefore confined to dine in the cafeteria, forced to feed on egg salad and bland spaghetti. It was all the more lonesome without Ellie around, she only ever left the room to see the doctors, while Alan couldn't stand being cooped up in there a minute longer.

"Ah Dr. Grant. Ellie said you were here." Hammond helped himself unbidden to the chair opposite to Alan, taking a minute to settle his walking stick beside him. "Your papers are ready – Ellie and yours." He stated, looking pleased with himself and expectant of praise. Alan let out a breath that almost resembled a laugh. Finally. He stood up, suddenly disinterested in his cold spaghetti.

"Oh, Grant." Hammond stopped him, taking another minute to stand up himself. "I – I do hope we can part on a light note. You'll be pleased to know that the check on your dig just cleared." This time Alan did laugh.

"That's the first thing you've invested in that could yield some promising results … am I right?" Alan said.

Hammond just smiled and held out his hand; his soapy, clean hand that was just a fraction of the body that had been unfairly spared. Nevertheless, Alan shook it with a grain of salt.

"You're wrong." Hammond said, and for the first time, Alan could hear what sounded like guilt in the old man's tone. Alan just nodded, not fully understanding Hammond's meaning. Not wanting to suffer another minute more in the presence of the old billionaire, Alan left.

"Grandpa. Lex and Dr. Malcolm won't stop talking about math." Tim's voice whined from the cafeteria just as Alan exited.

"To each our own Tim." He heard Hammond reply. Alan kept walking, admittedly with much difficulty.

The news had seemed to put Ellie in better spirits. She was no longer sitting beneath the window as he had found her a little while ago, but hastily packing up her belongings. As soon as she saw Alan, she smiled and pulled him into a fierce hug. It felt awkward, and a little forced, but Alan had felt better in that moment than he had in the 5 days they had been stuck here.

"Finally." She said into his ear before turning back to her packing. "I was going crazy sitting around here."

I know. Alan wanted to say. He wanted to know more, and then maybe he could understand.

"Ellie … I know you're having some … trouble. It's understandable, you've gone through a lot right? We both have. I just want to know … what I can do to help."

Ellie looked at him icily, and Alan fidgeted under her gaze. "I just … want to help." He said, raising his hands defensively.

Alan looked at his own belongings – there wasn't much to pack. The bag he had packed for the 'weekend excursion' had been left on the island and he really only had one pair of clothes with him, which he didn't plan on keeping around after he was back in Montana.

"Skeleton's probably in the final excavation stages by now." He thought aloud to himself about the dig they had left behind. Ellie was silent, and continued to pack her bags. Mistake. He thought angrily to himself.

"You going to see the kids before we go?" She asked suddenly.

"Er … no that's alright." Alan replied, "They seem to be really taken with Malcolm anyways." Would they even remember him when they had grown up and put this behind them? Alan figured he would avoid any unnecessary upsets for the time being, a choice he would later come to regret.

"Uh-huh. Back to your old self huh." She said, a hint of spirit in her voice.

"Yep." He replied, "Your favourite child-hating, dirt-loving Dr. Grant." She tossed her bag at Alan playfully.

"Dirt loving?" She raised her eyebrows at him.

"Among other things."

She hit him with her bag again, her lips curled into a small smile, before pulling his head into her arms in a hug.

Within the hour, Alan and Ellie, bags in hand, left the hospital. They were greeted by a flurry of photographers and people with microphones, frantically inquiring after them in more than one language. Alan was amazed he was able to find his way to the airport shuttle amidst the blinding flashes of cameras. They were trying to capture the emergence of the first two survivors into the real world once more.

Once in the van, Ellie rested her head on his shoulder and took his hand in hers.

He was still Alan, she was still Ellie, and they were still alive.