Ken pulled up in his SUV in the gravel drive and parked. He looked up at the cabin in front of him. The afternoon sunlight was sparkling through the surrounding trees and casting shadows over the ridge behind the house to the river below. Owen really had found a gorgeous piece of property. The house had come out real nice. Miranda and he had gifted the money for the property and much of the building materials as a belated wedding present and parting gift. They would have gladly paid for most of the construction as well but Owen had insisted on doing much of the work himself, something about it being a Grady family tradition dating back to his great grandfather.
Owen and Claire had been allowed to stay at the compound up until close to the end of Claire's pregnancy. Owen had stayed on part time and was continuing to do so, working with Blue who was in semi-retirement herself but serving as a sort of mentor for the two new raptors that his contacts had obtained. It was unspoken and unconfirmed, but he and Barry and Owen expected that Wu was still around. Since he was no longer allowed in the field, Owen could spend most of the week working with Blue and the weekends and evenings building the house. They had parked an Airstream trailer at the site during construction, so that there was a place for both he and Claire to stay when they weren't at the compound. Claire also didn't like him working alone without someone being around. She pitched in with what small tasks she could, and that Owen would allow her to do. He was his typical protective self for the duration of her pregnancy. Ken chuckled at the memory of overhearing an argument between the two of them as Owen had refused to do anything sexual with her until the OB-GYN had assured him it was ok.
Claire had started working again after the baby was a few months old. Miranda had gotten her the contact for a management position with one of the major hotel groups in Jackson Hole. The company was progressive and family and work life balance centered. Her role and associated responsibilities were shared equally among two other managers, giving her the flexibility to go back to a working environmental that she enjoyed while still being a Mom. She had gotten pregnant with their second child shortly thereafter.
Ken swung open the SUV's door at about the same moment he saw Claire emerge from the front door of the house, followed by her two young'uns, who tumbled out to play in the grass. She met him about halfway to the house. "Hey Ken," she greeted. "This is a surprise." She gave him a sweet kiss on his cheek. "Nice to see you."
"You too my dear."
"Hi Uncle Wheat!" the four year old greeted with a smile to match his Dad's. His mop of sandy blonde hair bounced with his movements as he chased after his older sister. Their daughter hadn't inherited Claire's shocking red but a gorgeous strawberry blonde. Her face was a pretty combination of her parents.
"You two did wind up with two lovely FT's," Ken remarked.
Claire looked at him a bit confused. "FT's?"
"Yeah, Fuck Trophies. Isn't that the point? Why? What do you call them?"
Claire laughed. "Usually we just call them kids but thank you for that, now I won't ever be able to look at my children again with a straight face!"
Ken smiled. "Owen home?"
"Yeah, he's in the kitchen making pancakes for the kids. Do you want to stay for supper?"
"I'm never one to turn down a Grady pancake. I am here at least partially on business though."
"I figured. What's up?"
"It will probably easier if I talk to you both at once."
"Ok." She turned to call to the children, "Kids, we need to go back in the house. Come on, I'll let you pick a video before dinner."
Claire got the kids settled in the living room while Ken met up with Owen in the kitchen. He was cooking a slew of pancakes on a griddle on the kitchen island, nursing a beer. "Hey, boss," Owen greeted. "Want a beer or something?"
"No, but I'll take a stack of the next batch if that's alright. Claire already offered."
"Sure thing. These are almost ready to come off. So what can we do for you?"
"Well, I've been working on your replacement for longer than is typical. I had this one in mind for a while but he was a longer term project. I wasn't quite expecting Claire to get pregnant as fast as she did."
Owen opened his mouth to speak but Claire cut him off. "And we aren't going to apologize for that."
"Nor should you," Ken agreed. "Just explaining the delay."
"So who's the newbie?" Owen asked.
"You actually both have met him."
Owen and Claire looked at each other.
"O'Neill, Phil," Ken added.
"Why does that name sound familiar?" Claire asked.
"Sergeant O'Neill," Owen supplied. "Pararescue, guy that was in charge when we went back to the island. 'Member?" Claire nodded, a little shocked. "You know I think we both kind of downloaded but I did find it a little strange that nobody seemed to mind that Claire and I just up and disappeared. I figured InGen got what they wanted and didn't care and Masarani Corp had enough to deal with, never mind a now MIA Operations Manager."
"Yeah so I never told you it was kind of an inside job. O'Neill is Seal's younger brother. Their father is a high ranking Colonel. We sometimes scratch his back and he sometimes scratches ours."
"So anyway, Phil joining has been in the works for a few years now and we just got him to the compound three days ago and we've got a problem."
"What's the problem?" Owen asked.
"Zia."
"Zia?" Claire and Owen asked nearly simultaneously. "How?" Claire continued.
Owen passed a stack of pancakes to Ken as Claire handed him the syrup.
"Well, I had been keeping her in mind for a while as a good match for someone as you know." Ken poured syrup over his cakes and took a hearty bite. "Umm," he licked his lips and swallowed. "Good as always. So anyway when I found out that O'Neill would be showing up without a gal I thought they would likely be compatible."
"Ken, what did you do?" Claire all but glared at him.
"Now relax. Just because I'm almost positive it's going to work I couldn't exactly throw them together like I did the two of you. You two were basically already together. You just needed a little push. Phil and Zia have never even met. I'm not a monster."
"Well..," Claire continued.
"You always had an out if you really wanted it," Ken corrected. "Did you?"
Claire stopped. "Ok, so what was the plan and what happened?"
"So I had planned to get O'Neill settled and then Miranda and I were going to work our collective magic to get the two of them together and then work on easing Zia in to our circle."
"Ok, but?" Claire asked, waiting for the problem.
"Well, I haven't had siblings before and Seal wanted to give his kid brother a little hazing. Miranda still wanted her 'looksee' so Seal, Collins and Jacobs pinned him down to the desk in the library and left him there for Miranda.
"Whose DNA isn't on that desk?" Owen asked, have joking and half serious.
Ken merely lifted the corner of his mouth in a smirk and continued. "So, I trust my wife but I'm certainly not going to leave her alone in a room in that situation. But since there was no girl involved I conceded to let her have a little more fun than usual. So I'm hunkered down in one of the easy chairs, trying to pay attention to some paperwork while my wife is giving a now mostly naked and bound man a massage with a hand job happy ending on my desk, when Zia walks in from the side door."
Claire put a hand over her mouth to stifle her gasp.
"Shhitt. I'm not sure if I'm glad or sad that I missed out on that," Owen added.
"So I look up to her shocked expression, which just so you know I also watched her pupils dilate with desire the second they dropped onto Phil's bare chest, as much as I'm sure she'd deny it, and she turns to make a beeline out the door. I holler for Seal, Collins and Jacobs who are out in opposite hall and they go tearing after her. She nearly made it back to her car and off the grounds. Seal got to her right at her car door. Do you know it took four guys to get her subdued and under control and one of them wound up with a cracked rib?"
"Who got the cracked rib?" Owen asked.
"Tumult."
"Of course," Owen huffed out a half breath and shook his head slightly.
"He's got the name for a reason," Ken said with another smirk.
"You do know she went through the Marines before vet school, right?" Claire asked.
"Yes, of course I do. You know I know my people. One of the reasons I was so on board with her from the beginning. So anyway, I've had her chained up in one of the guest rooms since. She's not coming around, not even for Miranda."
"And you were hoping we might be able to help," Owen finished.
"I'm running out of time. You know Barry's on vacation with his wife and kids. They'll be back in four days. The other paddock staff members are handling the raptors and are under the impression that Zia is ill. I really don't want to have to figure out what to do with Barry and his family if I can't get her to come around."
"So do you want both of us to talk to her?" Owen asked.
"Why don't you go first," Claire suggested. "Then I can mop up whatever you don't quite get across."
"Maybe I'll just take care of it," Owen countered.
"Not likely," Claire added.
Ken shook his head in agreement with Claire. "But I do think Owen going first is the right move." Ken put the last bite of pancake in his mouth.
"Are you ok to feed and take care of kids?" Owen asked turning to Claire.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Go help Zia. I'll go in the morning and then you can watch the kids."
Owen grabbed a warm pancake for the ride, swigged down the rest of his beer, kissed Claire with a quick peck and followed Ken towards the door. He stopped in the living area. "Hey guys, I'm going out for a bit with Uncle Wheat, be good for your Mom and I'll see you later, ok." He gave each of his kids a kiss on their heads and headed out the door.
The compound was about a forty five minute drive from the Grady house. Ken led Owen upstairs in the main house a little less than hour later. "The only person she's even being civil to is O'Neill," Ken informed. "He's been with her almost the whole time."
"So, they're hitting it off?" Owen asked.
"Yup, that at least has been going to plan."
Jones and Peters were longing in chairs in the hall outside a closed door, obviously on some semblance of guard duty. Peters was flipping through his phone and Jones was casually watching a video monitor on the table between them. If Zia was chained it was probably boring guard duty, but someone had to make sure she didn't try anything. They both looked up at Owen's approach. "Hey Man," Jones greeted.
"Vance, you've got to talk some sense into her. We're going stir crazy watching her," Peters complained.
"Hey, I'm currently the one staring at the camera," Jones argued. "But seriously this is like watching cement sit."
Owen glanced at the viewer. There were two people seated at a table.
"See what you can do," Ken encouraged. "Come find me when you're done. I'll be downstairs."
Owen went through the door from the hall.
Zia looked up from the table along with the man that Owen figured was O'Neill. It had of course been a few years and he had only met the man briefly. They were playing a game of scrabble. Zia's wrists were locked in cuffs connected with a short chain through a bolt in the center of the table. At least the cuffs appeared to be padded.
"Hey," Owen greeted.
"Grady," O'Neill stood to shake his hand. "Been awhile."
"Yes it has," Owen agreed, returning the handshake. "Welcome aboard."
"Hey beefcake," Zia greeted. She then let out a huff. "So I assume you're not here to get me out of this?" She lifted her bound hands.
"I'm here to help you get yourself out," he replied. Owen glanced at her arms below the edge of her t-shirt that were peppered with bruises and then caught a glimpse of her far cheek, also bruised. "Please tell me someone didn't hit you," he asked with concern.
"This?" she asked turning her face. "No, that's from slamming my face into the ground while I was trying to get away. I was real successful as you can see," she shifted her hands up again to emphasize.
"Heard you put up a hell of a fight, though."
"Yeah I did," she agreed proudly.
"Seal sure said she did," Phil confirmed. "You know that's high praise from him."
"So you've known all about this?" she asked Owen, already knowing the answer.
Owen nodded.
"Claire?"
He nodded again.
"I'm not sure if I'm more pissed at Wheatley or the two of you," she expressed.
"I'll let you two talk," Phil said, as he pressed a kiss to the top of Zia's head and turned to leave. "Don't peek at my tiles," he added.
"I might. You've beaten me at two games already. I need all the help I can get."
Phil flashed her smile and left.
"So you and O'Neill, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess. I don't know. It's been a weird couple of days. Understatement of the year. He's surprisingly smart. You know for a military guy."
"I'll try to not take offense to that. You know Claire used to underestimate me too. Occasionally she still does."
"So can you fill me in more about what the hell is going on around here? I mean I always knew something wasn't quite right, but I spend most of my time with the raptors, which I love. So I guess I just chose to ignore everything else."
"So I know you love what you do around here."
"I do, and it's not like there are very many job openings for paleo vets," she scoffed.
"That doesn't need to change. Look, Ken's had you in mind from the start. He's was just waiting for the right situation. He thinks Phil might be it."
"What do you mean by situation?"
"I guess you'd call it matchmaking. It's just by no means traditional."
Zia scoffed again.
"Are you opposed to having a man in your life?" Owen asked.
Zia let out a sigh. "If I'm being honest, no. I just started to think it was never going to happen. I've never been much for dating. I kind of just threw myself into being a vet. Phil seems like he likes me. I kind of don't get it. I mean I've already seen the guy with his shirt off. Well and then some. Kind of how I got myself into this whole thing," she added, lifting her bound hands up again.
"He probably has a thing for cute Brainiac's," Owen prompted. "Smart guys like smart women. Especially guys that are smart enough to not be intimidated by them. As far as I know you've been in similar situations. There hasn't really been anyone on his radar either. Neither of you are getting any younger. Sometimes you just have to decide that you'd rather not be alone anymore."
"So what, we're just supposed to settle?"
"It's not settling. People aren't perfect. Situations aren't perfect. Relationships are two compatible people deciding that they want to be together. Things evolve. Sometimes things happen for a reason. It looks like you have something to offer each other."
"So what happens if I agree to all this?"
"Not as much as you might think. I'm sure you'll both be getting one of these." Owen gestured to his bracelet.
"What is that?" Zia asked.
"Satellite tracker."
"Ok, so he basically wants to microchip me. What else?"
"You can't tell anyone about what else you know, which especially includes Barry by the way. He and his family are happy and have been left out of this."
"Understood," Zia agreed.
"Then there's a decent amount of security rules and protocols that need to be followed along with some expectations of being in the inner circle. Restraints and monitoring on some of your outside communications. Finances are basically taken care of. They will probably expect you to move into our old room in the carriage house together once you're ready. For you that's about it. The only reason you've been under lock and key the past few days is that you haven't acquiesced. Ken needs to know that he can trust you."
"And what if it doesn't work out with this O'Neill guy and I?"
"Well then it doesn't. But I've heard he's barely left your side and it's been what three days? Don't you think that's worth giving a chance?"
Zia let out a big sigh. "Ok."
"Ok?"
"Yeah, I'm starting to go stir crazy anyway. If that's what it takes to get me out of these cuffs," she said cheekily with a smile.
"Great! I'll let Ken know."
"Can you make sure Phil comes back soon too?" she asked. "I'm calmer when he's around."
"No problem." Owen smiled. "Out of curiosity, do you know how much Phil already knew about operations around here?"
"He said he was aware that he was going to be asked to join when his military service ended. I guess his Dad was all for him and his brother not being lifers like he is, but still being able to use their skills, you know?"
Owen nodded.
"Apparently Wheatley and O'Neill Senior go way back. He didn't know everything though. Said he certainly was expecting whatever the fuck the thing with the boss's wife was the other day."
Owen laughed. "Yeah, I never said Wheatley and the missus were sane. It's kind of their thing."
"Am I going to be subjected to something like that?" she asked, with honest concern.
"First, that was further than things usually go because at the time you weren't really in the picture and Seal wanted his younger brother to get messed with. It's generally a bit more hands off and usually a one-time thing. Believe it or not but Ken and Miranda are otherwise exclusive. I'm not saying Ken's not going to make you uncomfortable but he generally doesn't put anyone in a situation that they won't accept, even though that acceptance may not be immediate."
An hour and a half later, Owen pulled off his clothes and slid into bed with his wife. She murmured something unintelligible and pressed back against him. He placed a soft kiss on her cheek. Coming awake she turned her head slightly in his embrace, trying to catch his face in the low light of the bedroom. "Hey," she greeted and then asked, "How's Zia?"
"All taken care of," Owen responded and kissed her cheek again. "Can I color you impressed?" he asked remember her lack of faith in his people skills from earlier.
"Ummm," she murmured, grinding back against him seductively. "I'd rather that you color me white."
Owen chuckled, "Oh? Really?"
"Uh hum. So she and the O'Neill are hitting it off?" she asked.
"Yup. Of course the fact that he's had her undivided attention for three days is probably helping. Hell, I got you and that was without have to tie you up for three days straight."
"Is that an offer?" Claire asked, grinding back again into her husband's crotch that was firming up by the moment.
"Nah," he counted. "We got kids. I can give you an hour though."
"I'll take it," she laughed.
Owen rolled himself over her, pinned her arms over her head and kissed her deeply.
Claire broke the kiss. "So she's really ok?" she asked.
"She's ok," he answered.
"Nice job," Claire credited. "I'll probably go see her tomorrow regardless."
"I think she'd like that," Owen confirmed, kissing her again.
"Love you," Claire started, which turned into a moan as Owen shifted his hips in a particularly delicious manner.
"Love you too," he answered.