A/N Thank you to all my reviewers! In the last chapter I said it's been two weeks since Leah arriving, I've changed it to a month. So this chapter is considerably longer than any of the others and there's a lot to it. Hope you enjoy!

It was a perfect seventy-three degrees when Owen and I disembarked from the ferry. It was a light crowd with us, more people go to Isla Nublar on a Friday rather than leave. I'm completely out of my element, but Owen isn't and I follow close behind his confident strides. We'd been silent for most of the morning, but of course, neither of us minded that. However, this wasn't an unweighted silence. That unspoken thing now hung heavily in the air.

Waking up I get the feeling of being watched again, only this time there's no hostility with it. Owen is propped on his side, a light smile as he watches me sleep.

"Am I that entertaining with my eyes closed?" I'd asked.

The corners of his lips curl up, "I like seeing you so calm, you were so scared last night I'm happy you felt safe enough to sleep so soundly." he snorts softly, "Even with a strange man in your bed."

I don't know what had impulsed me to do so, but I reached over laying a hand on his stubbled cheek, "The strange man being right beside me is the only reason I was able to sleep."

Approaching the line a shuttles and cars Owen warns me, "I should have mentioned this, but I will have to be gone a while this afternoon. Victors bachelor party is some jungle expedition to one of the waterfalls. My sister or mother may try and kidnap you if they finds out your on your own."

I shrug, "I don't mind."

"Owen!" A tall, thin women with dirty blonde hair in perfect curls despite the humidity rushed at Owen nearly knocking him down if he didn't look this was normal behavior and braced himself for the attack. Picking her up he gives her a spin before setting her back down. "You know Owen, you should come see you sister more often. You only like a ferry ride away."

"Same goes for you, you know." They tease more like this as who I assume is her fiance, Victor, approaches

"Owen, please introduce us to your lady friend.

Although we were both prepared for this, we both stubble over our words and I've no doubt I matched his suddenly red face. Owen manages better than I do, "Leah's my new partner with the raptors. We're uh, just friends. It's just I figured since I was allowed a plus one she should get off the island for a bit."

The Costa Rican, and very handsome, man smiled at us like he knew a secret we didn't, "So you are at that point of your relationship. No matter, you are in the city of love."

"I thought that was Paris," I raised an eyebrow at Victor.

"Paris has nothing on the natural beauty of Costa Rica," he winks. "I am Victor, the one about to marry this vision of beauty.

"It's nice to meet you, I'm sorry if I'm intruding."

Brittany shakes, "Oh course your not! I'm actually really glad you're here, I'm having a bit of a crisis. Owen, you go ahead and go with Victor and do you manly stuff, I've got Leah."

Owen shoots me an apologetic look, but I wave him off following his family to their car.

"So tell me," Brittany begins climbing in the driver's seat, "What's it's like working with my brother? Is he controlling over everything like he was growing up?"

I laugh sliding in the passenger's seat after tossing my bag in the backseat, "Well he's the Alpha, so it's kind of his job to be in control."

"Alpha? Isn't that more of a wolf thing?"

I nod, "Its a pack thing as we're learning. It's why I was offered a job at Jurassic World. I've worked with wolves my entire life, my father was a field researcher with a focus on the behavioural aspects of the pack dynamics. As Owen was the first male they saw and he was quick to take charge over them, he became the male Alpha." She stares at me. "He doesn't talk about his work much does he?"

She shakes his head, "He doesn't talk much after he left the Navy, we were confused as to why he took the job with the raptors in the first place, but hey, the military changes people. I hope this doesn't seem too forward, but I'm glad he brought you. He looks more relaxed than he has in years."

I don't know what to say to that, "If it helps any, he's been the best friends I've ever had and I've only known him a month." It must be a Grady attribute, I found myself able to talk to her just as easily as Owen. "He's really looked out for me, more than he should have to in fact. But he doesn't complain."

"What's the weirdest thing he's done since you've met him?"

I laugh, "What?"

"As his sister I'll be able to tell you how himself, or at least his old self, he has been knowing what strange things he's doing. So come on, weird. Because the Owen I grew up with was weird."

Thinking, I'm brought back to one specific memory, "I didn't accept the job right away, instead I was offered a chance to see what I would be getting into. Needless to say after meeting the girls and seeing your brother with them I knew it was the place for me. He took me out for dinner to celebrate and discuss ideas for the girls. I told him I needed him to treat me like a pack member."

"Are you telling me you gave him permission to be your alpha?"

"Yep."

"Well, what did he have you do?"

"He ordered me to dance. And not just normal, but he led me in a tango just to see how I would follow a lead."

"Mom is going to love that still remembers."

"Yeah, he told me that he took lessons with her because your dad wouldn't. So you said you had a crisis you needed my help with?"

"Yes. Now, I totally understand that we literally just met, but one of my bridesmaids, Victors sister actually, came down with an awful flu. Needless to say she had to drop out of the wedding. And when Owen said he was bringing you it was like an answered prayer. You even look to be exactly her size. What do you say? It would make it so you wouldn't have to leave his side the entire wedding."

"Um...sure I guess I could do that."

"You have no idea what this means to me. Thank you!"

"Sure. No problem."

We drive the rest of the way to the "hotel" (I try not to stare too long at the jungle version of Lothlorien as Brittany seems to now be on a mission) having what I would attribute to being girl talk, something that I've never really done. But Brittany was just as nice as her brother and made it easy.

"Here," she hung a bagged dress behind a screen, "Try this on."

Slipping out of my denim shorts and flowy tank top, I carefully step into the knee length cerulean dress. I was immensely grateful for the inch wide straps as I was not gifted with girls large enough to effectively keep up a strapless. It dipped in the front, but was snug enough so that if I leaned down I wasn't giving the world a show, but definitely was lower cut than anything I'd ever worn before. Around the hem of the dress were embroidered flowers of a slightly darker shade. It was definitely the most beautiful thing I've ever put on my body.

"Oh, Leah, it's perfect," she circles around me clapping excitedly, "Thank you so much for doing this. Of course, you must know that tonight is my bachelorette party, you'll get to meet the other girls.

"So do you know where the guys are going today? Owen mentioned something about an expedition through the jungle or something along those lines." I step back behind the curtain and change back.

"There going to the some of the caverns, you know the ones that are only accessible by waterfall diving through a small opening that looks like you're heading to your doom, but in reality is one of the most beautiful places ever."

"Wait, those caverns can get very tight and cramped."

"Ya, not a good place for someone whose claustrophobic." She seems oblivious to the fact that her brother is one of those people.

"You don't know, do you?"

"Know what?"

"We need to find Owen. Now."

QQQQQQQ

My panic becomes dizzying when I couldn't see Owen with the group on shore. Victor rises and greets us, looking as if he had just been about to jump in the water, "Ladies, I don't think you understand what a bachelor party means. As pretty as you are you must go and leave the men to do men things."

Ignoring him I demand, "Where's Owen?"

Seeing my worry Victor turns off his light hearted teasing and gestures toward the water, "The cavern tunnel is only big enough for two. He's down with Alejandro."

"We need to get him out. Small places give him panic attacks."

Another man joins in our conversation, "He did seem unsure about the adventure."

"What do you mean, Gabriel?" Brittany asks.

"It was nervous, shaking a little."

"That's how it started last time. Shaking, he was dizzy, and then he had a hard time breathing. If that started before he got in the water...we have to get him out."

Victor nods, he and Gabriel dive in.

Brittany clings to my hand as we are forced with the unnerving task of waiting. "Owen's never had problems like this when we were kids. How did you know about it?"

Without taking my eyes off the water I explain, "He was showing me around the park. It happened in the Gyrospheres. He didn't say anything to me about his fear not wanting to ruin our day, but not long after we started I looked over to see him pale, shaking, and having a hell of a time trying to breath."

We're interrupted by a disturbance in the water as Victor, Gabriel, and Alejandro pull an unconscious Owen to the surface. He remains unmoving as the men lower him on the shore.

Owen?" Lowering my ear to his mouth I confirm my fear that he's no longer breathing and instantly begin CPR. Covering my mouth to his I breath for him, Victor already in position to begin chest compressions.

"Come on, Owen. Come back to us." When Victor finishes the round I breathe for him again. We repeat this until finally Owen convulses and violently throws up water, gasping for air.

I hear Victor pushing everyone except Brittany and I back to give him some space as I pull Owen onto my lap. The panic attack hasn't ended, his eyes still hazy and darting every which way, his breathing still coming in sharp gasps.

With my free hand I keep his head still, turning it toward me, "Owen, look at me. You're safe. It's all over now, you're out of there. Look at me." With a little gentle coaxing I finally get him make eye contact, he slowly comes back to the here and now. I wait silently as his breath evens out. "That's it, just breathe."

He reaches up, touching my face, shakily he rises to cling his arms around my neck. I curl my leg legs up to give his traumatized body something it prop itself up. Burying his face in my shoulder we just sit. Its then that I remember after a moment that we are not alone and his own sister is watching us. Her own adrenaline now evening out as she sees that her brother is alright. She mouths thank you, but all I can do is nod.

I give him a few minutes before pulling back enough to look at him, "Hey, are you ok?" He nods, but I think it's more for my sake than truth. He's refusing to look anywhere else but me, clearly embarrassed to have so many witnesses to this event so instead of trying make him feel better while we are surrounded I keep it systematic. "Do you think you can stand?" He nods and does so pretty much on his own. I eye Victor who moves to help, but stops seeing my expression and instead keeps a step back but is ready to lend a hand if needed.

He does allow me to provide a little support, tucking myself under his arm so if he needs to he can lean on me. For the first time he notices Brittany and she gives him no choice but to let her hug him and kiss his cheek. Thankfully, she doesn't ask anything, but I know she will when it's just his family around, but for now, she falls back to Victor who holds her tight at the terror she's just witnessed.

We take Owen back to the lodge, leaving the rest of the groomsmen behind at Brittany request. Assuring them that her brother wasn't one to be coddled.

Owens changing in the bathroom when Brittany brings their parents in our room. After hearing their daughter explain the events their mother, Amy, rightfully begins to cry and I unexpectedly find myself in a tight hug.

"Praise God you knew what would happen." Owen exits the bathroom and instantly makes eye contact with me while I'm still being mom hugged. But once she sees him she starts crying all over again and goes to her son.

"Mom, I'm alright."

"But you almost weren't. Why did you go down if you knew it was going to be a problem?"

Owen extracts himself and strides over to me, lightly touching my hand before sitting down sideways on the bed. I understand his spoken request and sit with him, crossing my legs under me. "I didn't know what we were going to be doing until I was in the water half way through it. They were mostly speaking in Spanish."

Bill lays a hand on his shoulder, "Son, you never had this problem as a kid. What happened?"

Owen fidgets with the tanktop not looking up his mind somewhere far off. A story plays behind his glazed over eyes. Tilting his chin up I ask quietly, "It was while you were in the Navy, wasn't it?"

Hesitantly he nods. I drop my hand, but he catches it and softly rubs my palm with this thumb. I'd worry about it later that if we're trying to convince his family that we aren't a couple, which we weren't, then this right now wasn't helping. But of course I wasn't about to stop him when the touch is obviously keeping him together.

"On my last assignment," he takes a breath, "I was given the task to retrieve a hostage. They were being kept in a room no bigger than a closet. It was a trap and I was locked in with them before I could even aim. Only, the hostage has been shot and was dying. I was in there for three days. Do you know what happens to a dead body after three days?" Owen lowers his head, the memories trying to take hold, but he is able to be in control. "You're thinking why didn't I saying anything? Because those were the darkest months of my life that followed. If it hadn't been by some pure miracle that Masrani found and hired me on a whim I guarantee I would not be here right now. So when you ask me why I stay there despite all the dangers, those raptors saved my life and I will not give up on them."

His speech has left everyone in silence and Owen emotionally drained.

Luckily his dad sees this too, "I think what Owen needs now is rest. He's in more than capable hands with Leah here." He gives his son a dad kiss on the top of the head before turning to me and shockingly does the same. "You let us know if either of you need anything, you hear?" I nod, speechless by his actions. "And thank you. If you hadn't know what being in those caverns would do to him, well, I don't want to think."

The moment the leave a switch goes off in Owen and he released a relieved sigh letting head fall against my shoulder.

"Thank you," he whispers, straightening up he runs the back of his fingers down my cheek. "For understanding what was going to happen and coming for me. If you hadn't…"

Shaking my head the hot tears that I'd somehow kept at back broke out, "Don't. I can't…when they pulled you out and you weren't breathing...Owen I almost lost you today. And that, was more terrifying than anything I've experienced on the island."

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