3:00am

Owen pushed the trunk of the tree off him and hurried through the leftover of the display towards Claire, the sound of her cry still echoing in his head. He realized immediately that the Indoraptor must have gotten to her somehow, his stomach turning in knots at the thought, a headache threatening to take over at the thought that she was hurt. She couldn't be hurt…he won't allow it. They have come so far…they had managed to get off an exploding island to stay alive and not get mauled to death on their soil.

Mills. The thought of the man crossed his mind at that split second and Owen swore to God that if anything happens to Claire…if he loses her, he will kill him with his bare hands if the dinosaurs haven't managed to beat him to it.

'Claire' he calls out.

'Owen' she cries.

He reached her and could see a cut on her thigh just above her knee, and it looks bad but he tries not to look at it and concentrate on her face. She is shaking and looks terrified and in pain, and Owen just wish he can just reach out and take all that pain away from her. He takes out the handkerchief and place it on her cut.

'Don't look at it. Look at me, hey look at me' he begs her, afraid that if she sees how bad the wound is, she will pass out and that is the last thing that they need right now.

'You have to go find her' she tells him.

The thought of leaving her alone was insane. No…no way. That was not an option. He couldn't leave her alone. He just can't. 'I can't leave you alone' he tells her, feeling his heart shattering, knowing that she was not going to back down from it, knowing that they couldn't leave Maisie on her own. She was just a little kid. A scare to shit little kid no less. She was only around eight years old and has endured so much already, the last thing she needed was a dinosaur chasing her threatening to kill her. The thoughts were running through his mind were infinite, when Claire grabbed his face and crushed her lips hard against his. His eyes closed relishing the feeling of her soft lips against his after all the months away from each other, when she suddenly started pulling away, too soon for Owen's taste and need. He needed the kiss to be longer, deeper. He needed to stay in that kiss so he didn't have to go and leave her alone. He didn't want to do that…but he needed to go look for Maisie.

'Go…I'll be fine' she tells him.

He did as she asked, his eyes taking her in one last time before he had to leave, his heart pounding hard in his chest, and as he climbed upstairs blindly, having no idea where he was going or if he was going in the right direction or not, nor did he know if he was walking towards the dinosaur instead of away from him, when Maisie's room caught his attention. She was curled up in bed, visibly shaking, and Owen was about to step into her room, when Claire's screams rattled the mansion, and then the sound of her cries followed…cries of pain and horror…and Owen turned to run back down towards her, but he couldn't seem to reach her. It was like the corridors had gotten longer, narrower…darker…dark…pitch black dark…when suddenly the colour started changing…changing to dark red…red…blood…blood everywhere he looks. He tried to call her, scream, reach out…anything…but nothing seemed to work. He couldn't reach her no matter how fast he ran, no matter how loud he tried to call out. He never heard her voice calling him back. There was silence. Too silent for his taste…and then it was like he fell into this hole and he was back into the room where he left her.

'Claire?...Claire…where are you?' he asked, walking cautiously, pointing his rifle to anything that could jump out at him, when his eyes caught sight of her…or what was left of her.

'Nnnnoooooo' Owen screamed as he sat down in a flash, his heart threatening to fly out of his mouth or tear his chest open. He was wet…soaking wet, sweat streaming down his face, his chest aching painfully, his breath coming out in pants, as his eyes tried to settle in the darkness of the room.

There was only the moonlight shimmering down on the lake as the wind howled around the area, scratching the coldness off the mountains straight into the cabin even though all windows and doors were closed. It was almost as if he had just walked out of the shower and didn't dry himself. It had been another nightmare…always the same one, but somehow tonight it felt harsher…more painful…more real. It has been seven months since all hell broke loose again at the Lockwood Estate this time though, but to Owen it felt as if it had just happened a couple of minutes ago, but with a different turnout.

He kept staring straight ahead almost as if he was scared to look at his right. She was supposed to be sleeping next to him…safe and alive…but after the nightmare he had…he just couldn't face if that was still true or not.

He decided to get out of bed, still not looking her way, finding himself standing in the living room, staring out of the window. He leaned against the wooden frame of it, letting his eyes wonder on the lake ahead of him. He really wanted to get out of the house, and let the fresh air wash over him, wash the nightmare away, wash the remnants of it away, but after that nightmare, with the dinosaurs looming at the back of his head, he didn't feel safe enough to go out there…so out in the open. It is like inviting them in…like waving a red flag in front of a bull. He needed safety and security…safety and security that his cabin provided. The cabin he built for him and Claire.

Claire.

What this woman had done to him! Since the first day that he saw her, she had captivated him in indescribable ways. That red hair of hers, the sprinkle of freckles on her nose and cheeks…those bright green eyes of hers…that skin so soft and silky…her air…she had been pulling him since that first day…and then the image of her lifeless face so white and cold with sprinkles of blood spots and his eyes flashed open again. His hands fell on the window sill, trying to keep standing, feeling like his knees were about to give away. It was like his body was threatening to explode, with all of the emotions that he was feeling, and that was just on one incident that in reality, it didn't turn out to be that bad. Deep down, Owen knew that Claire had walked out of that scene alive. She was alive and in his bed. He could go back in and touch her…feel her…let her breath wash over him, anytime he wanted. If he had to let himself think about that moment in the gyrosphere…right now, he would get a heart attack for sure.

Seeing her locked in there, the gyrosphere filling with water, ready to drown and drain the life out of her…seeing the way his eyes begged him to save her, his hand touching the glass of the ball as the gyrosphere continued to sink…No. Not now. He cannot let his mind go there. It was too much to handle.

'Owen' she whispered. He closed his eyes at the sound of her voice, not sure if he was ready to look at her face again. He felt her hands slide up his bare back, resting on his shoulders, feeling the silky material of her gown tease his body, her lips pressing in his shoulder.

'Nightmare?' she asked and Owen nodded 'You wanna talk about it?' she asked and he shook his head. He was still staring ahead, still stiff from having her hands on him. It was like his body was spooked and Claire caught that…that and even the fact that he had yet to turn around and look at her 'Can you look at me…please?' asked him.

'Not sure I can' he finally replied after a couple of minutes.

'Why?' she asked feeling somewhat hurt.

'I'm scared Claire' he whispered 'I'm scared of what I will see' he admitted sadly. The nightmares unfortunately happened still quite often but it was still not very often that Owen get so caught up in it, that his is this shaken to the core. He looked so weak and fragile right now, and that is not what he usually offered. Usually he brought a sense of safety and security, but right now, it seemed like that was what he needed himself.

'Was it about me?' she asked cautiously and Owen nodded closing his eyes again. She shivered but didn't flinch away, but now she understood why he didn't want to tell her what the nightmare was about. He was trying to protect her…just like he always did 'Come with me' she whispered as she kissed his shoulder and laced her fingers with his.

Owen followed her lead, his eyes on the silky ivory robe, never looking up but he knew where she was taking him.

'Sit' she almost ordered and Owen obliged, sitting at the edge of the bed. He felt the mattress dip and then she was on her knees behind him, and her fingers started massaging his shoulders and up to his neck. He could feel himself beginning to relax and Claire could feel the tension in his muscles melting away, so her hands started moving down his back, up to his neck, down to the front, sliding down his chest and her lips started nuzzling his neck.

'Claire' he groaned, feeling his body beginning to react. She felt so good…so damn good 'Make love to me Owen' she whispered in his ears.

He shifted, bending one knee as he turned around and claimed her mouth instantly, immediately battling her tongue hungrily as his hand cupped her cheek, pushing her on her back, he crawled on top of her, covering her body with his as he deepened the kiss. It was urgent and passionate and Owen needed her so much. He needed to feel her alive under him, around him. He felt her hands rest on his sides, as he undid her robe, exposing her naked body. She pushed his pants down with her toes, letting his manhood spring free and Owen immediately went to the point. There was no time to play, just score. He needed to be inside of her. He needed to feel her all around him. Lacing his fingers with hers, pushing her arms above her head, looking straight into her eyes for the first time that night, Owen claimed her, swallowing her whimpers as he kissed her passionately. He pounded hard and fast into her, and then he was bursting inside of her and Claire came hard around him, her releasing tearing through her body.

They laid in silence on their sides, Owen hugging her from the behind, letting her scent fill his senses. It felt so good to hold her, to be with her like this. Sex wasn't always the answer but sometimes it was exactly what they needed.

'Thank you' he whispered pulling her closer to him, kissing her shoulder.

'You're welcome' she replied, and then there was silence again.

'Claire…turn around' he told her, so Claire shifted so she could see him now. He smiled at her as he leaned in and kissed her forehead, one hand cupping her cheek. His eyes were shining now as he looked into her crystalized emeralds, his fingers tracing the side of her face 'Jesus Claire…You're so beautiful' he whispered in awe and Claire smiled at him, blushing a little at his compliment.

'But you're not biased' she joked.

'I am' he admitted 'But you are the most beautiful woman on earth' he told her and Claire couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her 'I need to tell you something' he started telling her 'I have been wanting to say this for quite some time now, but I never had the courage to say it out loud' he went on and Claire could feel her heart speeding up now as she waited for what she thought he was going to say 'But after tonight…after the nightmare I just had, and after everything that we have been through and all the near deaths we had, I should have realized that I feared so much for your life, that I do anything for you even go back to that bloody island and that these nightmares shake me up so much because…because I love you Claire' he finally said, making sure to look her straight in her eyes. She gasped as the words hit her ears and tears started filling her eyes 'I always have…since that very first day I saw you. You have captivated me in so many ways…you have filled my senses and nothing make sense without you anymore…and Jesus this is so corny (he chuckled) but you deserve to know that I am in this for the haul, that I am never leaving your side if you so desire me to stay here. I love you and I need you Claire and I can't believe how difficult it was to say it first but how easy it is now to keep saying it, and I am sorry if I can't stop talking (and Claire laughed through the tears that were streaming down her face as she cupped his cheek) but it feels so good to finally be able to say it out loud' he told her.

Claire couldn't help but laugh, never in a million years has she ever thought it was possible to have those words and so much more coming out of Owen Grady's mouth, but damn it feels so good to finally hearing say them out loud. She has known deep down that he loved her, but the old insecurities always knocked on that door, keeping the little doubts alive. She was suddenly seeing him from a different light…it was almost as if something had flipped in him, and as her mind raced through one thought after the other in seconds, she realized that she hasn't said anything back to him.

'Oh God…never in a million years did I ever think I would hear Owen Grady utter such beautiful words to me. Who knew you had it in you to be so corny' she teased him as she snuggled closer, her hand stroking the side of his face, enjoying the feel of his stubble against her palm 'But I like corny…those were really beautiful words Owen' she admitted pecking him on his lips 'And even though it scares the shit out of me…I love you Owen…I love you too…so much…and I am not just saying that because you just confessed your love for me…but because just like you, I've had feelings for you for a very long time now…I was just scared to put them into words' she admitted.

Owen caressed her cheek and kissed her lips 'I can't believe we just said the L word' he laughed.

'I know…funny isn't it?' she asked happily.

'Hilarious' he replied and they laughed hard before Owen pulled her into him again and kissed her lips 'I love you Claire Dearing' Owen told her.

'And I love you Owen Grady…I do' Claire told him and with that they fell asleep happily in each other's arms, all thoughts of nightmares finally long gone.