Eternal Flame

Here I am again! This is something that came to me the other night and it's just flowing out. It started off as a oneshot, but now it's a story! Takes place before Jurassic World. Owen is just starting his job on the island. The story will work up to the infamous first date! As always please review! Your words keep me motivated!

Walking along the long hallway of offices and meeting rooms, Claire listened as Zara filled her in on the agenda for her next meeting. She already knew the list of it, so she was glancing into the conference rooms as they strolled by each one only half listening. Most of the rooms were empty, but the fourth one they walked by she noticed three men sitting at the end of the table.

Pausing at the open door, Claire's attention was immediately drawn to one of the men. He was pushed back in his chair, rocking back and forth as far as the chair would tilt. Raising an eyebrow as she took in his outfit— surely he wasn't dressed for a professional interview. Though she could only see his blue t-shirt which looked like he rolled in grease before whatever meeting he was in now. Watching him tilt further back, Claire waited for the whole chair to flip backwards.

A heavier set man sat at the head of the table, Claire recognized him as Mr. Hoskins. She couldn't hear what he was talking about, but she knew he was from InGen. They were starting a new program with raptors. The meeting Zia was filling her in on was actually with him and the new behaviorists who would be working with the raptors.

Claire froze when the guy, now completely reclined in the chair was looking around the third man who's back was towards her. Their eyes met and Claire suddenly forgot how to breathe.

"Hey, I made it all the way back to your office apparently talking to myself." Zara tugged at Claire's arm.

Peeling her eyes from the mystery man, who she surely has never seen on the island before, to glance apologetically at her secretary. Claire's cheeks flushed red and stepped out of view. "Who's in there?" Claire tried her best to hide her embarrassment.

"Oh," Zara chuckled as she peeked into the conference room. "You spotted Owen Grady."

"Owen Grady." Claire repeated and fought the urge to glance back in the room.

"Really?" Zara asked, tilting her head as she watched the flush in Claire's cheeks darken. "Mr. Grady?"

"What?" Claire asked, trying to sound confused by Zara's reaction. She started walking towards her office. Zara trailing close behind her.

"What?" Zara mimicked as she followed Claire into her office. "You were obviously starring at him. Didn't think he'd be your type."

Sitting down at her desk and quickly turned on her computer to act busy, Claire glanced up at Zara. "I was trying to see who he was— who both those men were." She covered.

Zara rolled her eyes, but didn't press any further. "They are the new behaviorists for InGen."

Claire nodded. "That's what I figured." She drummed her fingers across the keyboard as she pulled up her calendar for her meeting the next day. "My meeting with Mr. Hoskins tomorrow will…" Claire trailed off when Zara started to nod.

"I was actually telling you about that before you got distracted."

Claire scrunched up her nose. "Sorry."

"I'll email you the itinerary." Zara offered as she turned to exit Claire's office.

"Thanks!" Claire called after her.

XXX

"Owen, are you listening to me?" Hoskins slapped his hand down on the table in front of Owen. His gaze focused on the now empty doorway. The image of fire-red hair, white silk blouse, tight navy blue pencil shirt and legs. Long beautiful legs. Were stuck in his brain. He focused harder on the doorway hoping for the woman to reappear. "Grady!" Hoskins snapped his fingers in front of his face.

"I heard you. Eggs are almost ready to hatch. Most time to be spend with hatchlings. Got it." He waved off Hoskins as his eyes stayed locked on the door. "Done now?" He wondered, hoping to have the chance to run into her in the hallway.

"Yeah that's all for now. We will take a tour of the lab where the eggs are incubating. Tomorrow is our meeting with Ms. Dearing. Please try to be on time."

"Yeah, sure." Owen spoke absentmindedly as he rose from his chair and rushed out the door. Completely forgetting that him and Barry were to follow Hoskins down to the lab. He barely heard his name being called as he rushed from the room.

Owen came to a sudden stop just outside the conference room and let out a heavy sigh when he saw the hall empty. He started to walk in the direction the red-head disappeared in, but huffed when he reached the end which opened up to a large lobby with a few secretaries perched at their desks in front of large offices. Whoever she was has to be behind one of the doors, because there was no other outlet.

"Can I help you?" A dark haired woman smiled warmly at him. The tag on her desk read Zara Young.

"Uh…" Owen looked around once more at the closed doors. "Elevator?"

Stifling a laugh, Zara pointed back down the hall.

"Thanks." Owen grumbled and headed back towards where Barry and Hoskins were waiting for him.

XXX

Stepping into the conference room, Claire's shoulder's dropped when the one face she was looking for wasn't there. She glanced down at her watch he was late. "Ms. Dearing nice to see you again." Hoskins reached for Claire's hand and gave a tight shake. "This is Barry he's going to be assisting our behaviorist."

Claire shook Barry's hand before glancing down at her notes as if she was searching out his name. "Mr. Grady?"

Hoskins nodded. "He's running a little late. With the raptors ready to hatch he's been spending some time down in the lab. Probably lost track of time."

She heard Owen enter the room behind her and acted as if she didn't notice. "Yes, well let's hope he doesn't lose track of the raptors they way he does time." When Owen didn't join them she turned towards the door and caught the falter in his step. "Mr. Grady I presume."

"Uh… erm… yeah, sorry. You know this place is like a damn maze. Can't tell the difference between conference room A1 and B2."

"The A's are on the right side of the hall. B's are left." Claire pointed out matter of factly.

"Oh." Owen nodded acting way too interested in what she had to say. He took his seat beside Barry and folded his hands on the table, giving Claire his full attention.

Claire laid out a piece of paper in front of the three men and stood tall as she spoke. "Welcome to Nublar. If any of you have any questions my cell is at the top of the paper I just handed you. My office hours are also listed, but I may not always be here as I bounce from there to the control room."

Owen watched Claire as she spoke. Her confidence was the first thing he noticed. The way she carried herself, unamused that she was the only woman in the room. He quickly glanced down at her left hand, happy there was no sign of commitment. Gazing quickly at Barry who was taking notes on the paper Claire had handed him and then at Hoskins who was nodding along. He leaned back in his chair and began to wonder just how hard it would be to get a date with the big boss.

By the time the meeting was over, Claire gave a moment for any questions. Owen wished he paid enough attention to actually ask her something. Instead he listened as Barry rattled off some questions.

When Claire finally answered all Barry's questions the three men stood up and left. Owen staggered by the door, watching Claire gather her notes. She glanced up when she saw him still there. "There's no makeup time, Mr. Grady, just because you were late doesn't mean you get to stay and make up the time lost."

"Damn, was really hoping for the full hour on my paycheck."

Claire shook her head and shoved the last pieces of paper in her bag. "No, sorry, I'm marking you down for only attending fifty-five minutes. Maybe you should show up on time."

Owen shrugged, well, what if I have a few questions?"

Standing up straight, Claire swung her bag over her should and let out a frustrated huff. "Mr. Grady I gave plenty of time for questions. I have to be on a conference call in ten minutes, so you'll have to make an appointment."

"What if I walk you to your office? And my name is Owen."

"Still won't count."

"So what." Owen shrugged and motioned for Claire to lead the way.

She hesitated for a moment, but allowed him to walk with her. They headed towards her office in silence and she glanced over at him. "Didn't you have a question?"

"Oh, yeah," Owen reached up and scratched the back of his head. "How long have you been working here?"

Claire paused as she narrowed her eyes at him. "I didn't mean a personal question."

"Ok, when will the raptor paddock be finished?"

Shaking her head she glared at him. "Barry asked that."

"Just checking if you maybe had a different answer."

"Nope," Claire said as she reached for her door, dodging the look Zara was throwing at her. "Still a few months out, but the raptors will be spending time in the nursery until they are big enough."

"Good. That's good."

"Anything else?" Claire asked.

"That's all for now. I'll call you if I come up with something else."

Claire smiled warmly and motioned to the paper Owen had folded up and placed in his pocket. "You've got my number."

Owen grinned and winked as he patted his pocket. "I do."

Turning quickly to face her door before Owen could catch the flush on her cheeks, she waved over her shoulder and entered her office.

Owen hurried back down the hall and met Barry by the elevator. "Thought you abandoned me for lunch." Barry chuckled as he pushed the call button for the elevator.

Glancing over his shoulder back down the hall, Owen shook his head. "Damn she's hot."

"Claire?" Barry asked as he nodded. "If you like the fiery temper, business type woman."

"Why would you say that?" Owen wondered as they entered the elevator. "She seemed fine during the meeting."

"Oh, I agree." Barry said quickly. "I've just heard rumors."

"How have you heard rumors already we haven't been here a week."

Barry shook his head. "Maybe you should try coming out a few nights. Get to know some of the other workers around here."

As the elevator stopped at the next floor, picking up a few people, Owen shrugged off Barry's comment. He wasn't much of the social type. Preferring his own space. He had even turned down the employee housing, requesting land away from everyone else. There he built his own oasis, happy to live in his own world. "She's still hot though."

"And out of your league. I'm sure she goes for the suites." Barry paused as he looked at Owen's shorts and t-shirt. "Not so much the rags."

"Hey," Owen shrugged. "Opposites attract."

"New guys?" A guy asked butting into their conversation.

Owen and Barry looked over at the guy, a few years younger than them and wearing a uniform that placed him as a worker in the park. Owen noticed his name tag which read Adam.

"I just haven't seen you around." Adam added when neither Owen or Barry answered him.

"Yeah started a few days ago with InGen." Barry answered him.

"Oh," Adam perked up. "The raptors! I heard about that. Sounds awesome. I run the Gentle Giants area and love working with the dinos."

"Yeah, well, at least they won't eat you." Owen mumbled, a little annoyed that Adam butted in their conversation. He wanted to hear more of what Barry had to say about Claire.

"You guys coming from the top floor?"

Barry nodded.

"Meeting?"

Barry nodded again.

"Oh, so you were talking about Ms. Dearing?"

Owen snorted. He wasn't going to get any good information from a kid who worked at one of the attractions.

Adam went on unfazed by Owen's response. "She's a tough one alright. We call her Fire and Ice. Rumor has it she slept her way to the top. I mean she's the only Female who holds the highest rank on this island. My thought on that?" Adam continued without waiting for Barry or Owen to answer. "I think she's just one badass woman. She's been here from the beginning, you know. Me? I've been here a year and find her tenacity enlightening. She knows what needs to be done and if you follow her directions she won't have any problem with you. I've seen her completely flip on a guy much older than her once. Guy had it coming though. Rude man he was…" Adam trailed off as he caught his breath just as the elevator doors opened to the main floor.

"Uh, thanks for that." Owen patted Adam on the shoulder and hurried away from him.

"Wow that kid can talk." Barry pointed out as they hurried towards the exit, hoping they lost Adam in the growing crowd as they made their way through the innovation center.

"Yeah, seems he's got heart eyes for your woman." Barry chuckled.

Owen threw his head back as he laughed. "And you said I was out of her league?"

They walked in silence for a moment before stopping at a taco cart for lunch. "Fire and Ice." Owen wondered out loud. He noticed the cashier quickly glancing towards the innovations center and knew what Adam told them was true. He leaned against the counter and smiled at the young girl. "Ms. Dearing have lunch here often?"

"Yeah," Tabitha, from her name tag, answered. "She usually sends her assistant down for her salad, but once in a while she gets it herself."

"Owen." Barry warned.

Ignoring him, Owen pressed on. "She get one today?"

"Not yet. She eats around one."

Owen glanced at his watch and noticed it was only twelve-thirty. "You can go ahead and get the salad ready. I'll bring it to her today."

"Oh," Tabitha hesitated. "I'm not sure. The last new guy that tried that was fired. I'd hate to see you go so soon." She threw him her best smile. If Owen didn't have his eyes on Claire, Tabitha would have been exactly his type.

"Trust me. I technically don't work for her, so we're all good here."

"You guys the ones from InGen?"

Owen nodded. "So, she's not my boss. Ms. Dearing's usual please."