Author's Note: I'm sorry I disappeared! Life has been kind of up in the air with my internship and prepping for college and all that. But, you all don't care, because you're obsessed with Marianne and Owen, so my excuses are invalid anyway. But, just note one thing before you continue: I did change my penname, from Andromida Prime to Miss Expendable. And, also, I did publish a new story, for all you Expendables fans: "Stainless Steele". So, if you know the genre, please give it a look and a review if you feel up to it and let me know. I guess that's actually two things, but whatever. ;)

Venture on over to pinterest! I've got some lovely fan-art there from Vanessa Rowes! It's amazing stuff!

I'll be working on both these gems so don't panic. I dug myself another hole I think, but I'll be in and out of these periodically. Thanks tons for the attention and reviews, I love you guys!

Chapter Fourteen

The rain came in sheets.

Marianne's booted foot sloshed deep into a gathering puddle just outside the supply shed, her fingers white on the strap of her messenger bag—which was now thoroughly soaked with water. She let the bag fall to the muddy earth around her and reached up to flip the switch to the backup generator, which required pumping the prime twelve times to get the charge working. One would think in 2015 that it'd be easier than this, she told herself.

Her drenched curls hung loosely around her face, the insides of her boots and socks so entirely wet she might as well have been walking on water. It was gray outside with dark, depressive rainclouds, only briefly light and illuminated when jagged bolts of lightning struck out from behind the clouds. The thunder seemed like a continuous roar in Marianne's ear, the pouring rain and whipping wind just orchestrating it above her.

It had rained only once in the four week she'd been here, but that had been enough. Owen had said earlier this morning it would be a nasty storm today, as there was a hurricane one hundred miles out that was giving them difficulty. They'd battened down the hatches of the office and saw that the four girls were safe before setting to getting the generator's charged—just in case.

She glanced up, the swaying lightbulb above her reassuring her that there was still indeed power, and aggravating her that this incessant pumping wasn't necessary. Each lift became more difficult, until she was struggling and her shoulders were burning. The winds blew into the open door of the shed, chilling her already wet and cold skin. Rivulets of water dripped down her face and through the collar of her rainslicker, to her already sopped clothes.

The entire park was on standby. Some of the enclosures and attractions were already down—not one's too terribly concerning. The petting zoo had lost power, as had the Triceratops enclosures, but nothing too…carnivorous was jeopardized. The guests were either staying in the resort or in safety shelters under the watchful eyes of the courtesy staff and resort staff, while the rest of the employees were scrambling to back up the park with generator's and emergency precautions.

Another roar of wind caught her rainslicker, chilling her soaked legs and sending her curling against the pump, squinting her eyes closed. They were supposed to start Delta's new medication regiment today and begin observation, but she doubted Owen was even concerned with that today. This weather would have them scrambling all day. Thunder pounded the sky like a brass drum, and then lightning cracked wildly just outside the shed—right into a palm tree.

It sent the frying tree sailing to the ground, right towards the shed. Marianne screamed as the tree fell towards the entrance of the shed, and she grabbed her bag and dashed to the back of the building, abandoning the charge pump. The tree crashed into the roof of the shed, destroying the architecture and hit the ground with a thud. Branches and leaves and fell in every direction, inside the shed, rain now seeping through the opening in the ceiling and wetting the supply crates.

Her heart hammered and her legs wobbled. Swallowed thickly, she fell against the back of the shed and rested her sopping head against the wall. Marianne's heart hammered in her chest like a gun pumping off rounds, sending her insides quivering and her ribs aching as she panted for breathe. She was cold, tired, and starving. She thought her legs would give way when she saw a hand grab the doorframe and swing a body around the corner, frame filling the door to the shed.

Owen. He was sopping wet, with his rifle, no rainslicker and in jeans and muddy boots. His hair was dark with water and hanging in strings along his forehead, his mustache and facial stubble dripping. His stare locked on her and she then looked to the tree, where his gaze followed hers. His eyes widened and he stepped over a branch, her slinging her bag over her shoulder. He held out an arm for her, and she stepped into his embrace.

"You alright?" He asked loudly, the rain on the tin rooftop loud and intruding. She nodded, him rubbing her coated shoulder, staring at the tree. He then took her hand and led her towards the charge, "How many did you get in?"

"Nine," she shouted, looping the strap of her bag over her shoulder. He nodded and released her hand, quickly throwing the charge three more times. They watched the fuses illuminate and he gave a firm nod, "Right on. We're set and ready to go out here," he jerked his thumb towards the weather outside, "But Claire's recruited the whole staff to maintenance the park, so we gotta go!"

She furrowed her brow, "Why?" He took her hand and they jetted out into the weather, the rain pelting their skin unmercifully. Thunder continuously rumbled overhead, and he quickly led her back towards the office, climbing the stairs heavily. He shouldered open the door, leading her inside, to where Barry and the others were all suiting up to go out. Owen ran his fingers through his hair, dispelling water droplets. "Owen. What's wrong? Why is Claire sending everyone into the park?"

She couldn't help it if her voice was nervous—she'd heard far too many of Alan's stories about that night, that horrifying night when the storm had ended everything John Hammond had worked for. It was a storm much like this one, and while she subconsciously knew this park was nothing like John Hammond's, she couldn't help but be concerned. Owen turned on to face her, brushing the drops of water off the barrel of his rifle, and shrugged a shoulder, giving her a upturn of the corner of his mouth in a smile.

"She just wants extra hands where they're needed," Silas interjected from the doorway leading into Barry's office. He zipped the rain-coat up to his chin and pulled the hood of his head. Marianne studied him as he checked the chamber on his handgun and slipped it into his waist-belt. "This happens every time there's a storm."

Her eyes widened. "The power goes off every time there's a storm?" She jutted a look to Owen, and she hoped she didn't look too surprised—or terrified. He nodded and rolled his eyes, suiting himself up in a raincoat and tossing a look to Briggs.

"Nah, Claire gets paranoid every time there's a bit 'o rain and some thunderclouds," Briggs said cheekily. This sent the group roaring into a bit of laughter and Marianne suddenly felt like an idiot. Owen disappeared into Barry's office, Marianne following him.

"Owen," she said strongly, demanding his attention. He stopped at a gray cabinet and pulled it open, revealing a supply of radio's, guns, and tranquilizers. Her brows lifted at this and he began pulling radio's and flipping them on. He handed on to her, as well as a headset. "Should I be worried about this?"

He shrugged a shoulder, "Depends. Can you do anything about it?"

Marianne situated the earpiece in her ear and gave him a confused, somewhat annoyed expression. He did the same, adjusted his earpiece, and handed her a few more radio's to give out to the guy's. "Of course I can't, but—"

"—then don't worry about it," he interjected quickly, kicking the door to the cabinet closed. He stalked out of the office and passed out his radio's, Marianne doing the same thing. They situated them in their pants and pockets, and she sighed, tying her loose curls up into a bun on top of her head. It instantly sagged with the weight of the rainwater gathered in her locks.

Finally when they were ready to go, they began filing out into the rain and heading towards their respective vehicles. Owen and Marianne were the last two in the office, and he motioned for her to go first. She obliged him.

The winds picked up as they hustled down the stairs, Marianne leading them towards a Four-door Jeep Wrangler painted silver and blue with the Jurassic World appropriated logos. Owen took the driver's seat and she climbed into the passenger's seat behind him, and he fired the car to life.

"I'm on frequency six," he jerked his head to dispel more water droplets, which flicked her skin and stained the upholstery of the car, as well as the glass. She nodded and moved her radio to the correct frequency, and he popped on the lights before taking off from the paddock. She checked the side-mirror as the disappearing paddock became tougher to see in the sheets of rain. He noticed the concern on her face. "They'll be ok, Annie."

"I'm just worried," she sighed, "They have no way to get out if something happens, and—"

He chuckled, "The last thing we need is them getting out, especially with people in the park," he winked at her, "Trust me on that one. They're gunna be just fine. They're animals."

"You don't sound concerned to me."

He wrinkled his nose, "Eh. They're tough girls. They'll be fine. Blue knows how to find shelter if no one else does. She's smart."

Marianne frowned at him. She didn't appreciate his lack of concern for his animals. Marianne had been with them four weeks and already felt as if she'd been with them since birth—she loved them as if they were housedogs, though she hadn't spent much time training with them yet as she assisted Owen and continued to learn the ropes and paperwork. It hadn't mattered, for she was just as mesmerized and in love with them as she had been with Alan's work, so much so she'd wondered if she'd been in the wrong career all her life. She supposed it came with having a best friend and mentor as a palaeontologist.

They came into the resort quickly, abandoning their cars around the other vehicles outside the Center. Hustling towards the doors, they came into the Samsung building soaking and dripping water, drawing the attention of whatever guests had been caught inside during the storm. All the attractions were stopped as well as the exhibits, and it was steaming inside with heat. Marianne followed Owen through the throng of people, where she spotted Claire on the airy steps, handing out laminated assignments to wet, depressed looking employees. She was wearing gray pants and a white button up, her hair pulled into a clip.

"Uncle Owen, Marianne!" The sound of a little girl's voice bombarded the hushed whispers and chatter of the people in the building, sending Marianne and Owen both stopping and turning around. They spotted Sophie in the parting crowds, a young lady following behind her, desperately trying to keep up. Sophie stopped at them and threw her arms around Owen's midsection, snuggling him close, not caring if he was wet. "I'm glad you're here," she said into his shirt, "I was getting kinda scared."

Marianne shared a soft smile with Owen, who reached down and picked up the little girl. He grinned at her and Marianne's stomach flopped over. Though her attraction to him had simmered these four weeks, it hadn't entirely disappeared. His lack of interest in her as a woman discouraged her further, though, pressing the emotions down inside of her. "You? Scared? I can't believe it," Owen shook his head, Sophie squinting up her face as water droplets beaded on her skin, "No niece of mine is scared by a little storm."

Sophie looked at Marianne and smiled at her. Her hair was pulled into a long braid down her back, and she was in jeans and a pretty, blue and yellow tank-top what gathered at the chest and flowed down around her abdomen. Marianne touched the girls arm, "It's okay to be a little scared," Marianne winked at her, "But if that scared-ness is more of concern for your Uncle, then it's ok. Someone has to worry about him."

At this Owen gave her a flat look, she gave him a smirk in return. He kissed the girl's cheek and set her down and then jerked a thumb towards Claire's direction. "We gotta get to work, little bug, but I'll find you later. Maybe we can go mudding later with the supply truck or somethin'?"

She frowned, "Can't I come with you today?"

He shot a look to Marianne. She wondered why she was included in this conversation, as this wasn't her niece, nor was Owen anything to her other than a friend. She raised her brow and gave him an indifferent stare, and shrugged her shoulders, which were aching from her wet bag and pumping the charge at the paddock, "I wouldn't see why not. She can stay in the truck."

"Claire will have a cow," Owen retorted, then looked back to Sophie. He then glanced over his shoulder at Claire, who caught his stare and waved him come. He nodded and put up a finger to signal one more moment.

"Yeah, because she's never had a cow before, right?" Marianne challenged him sarcastically. He chuckled and nodded in agreement, then sighed. Owen rubbed his chin and Sophie gave him the puppy-dog eyes. He groaned and let his head fall back.

Marianne chuckled, "Oh…ouch. She pulled the puppy dog card." He shot her a look.

"She does that."

Sophie giggled, "Pleeease? I'll be good! I'll stay in the truck, Uncle Owen. Please?" The begging in her voice was staged and extremely sappy, but Marianne just giggled at her. Owen gave Sophie an unimpressed look and rolled his eyes, extending a hand for her to take. The little girl slipped her hand into his and then offered hers to Marianne.

Owen and her both froze, then shared a look. Marianne's throat parched. Both of them holding hands with Sophie would look suspicious, like they were a family, or at least together. But, Sophie looked up at her and stared into her eyes, them pleading with her to comply. Marianne hesitated and raised her hand, and Sophie slipped her into Marianne's without further wait.

He said nothing, leading them towards the stairs, where Claire was waiting with two folders marked with their names. At the sight of them her face soured and her eyes flashed, and Marianne could see the red threatening to blossom on her face. She glanced at Marianne and then handed them their folders. Clasping her hands behind her back, she opened her mouth to speak, when two voices assaulted her moment from the top of the stairs.

"Aunt Claire!" Came the first voice. Marianne and Owen and Sophie looked to see the young boy hurry down the steps, hand on the railing, frantically moving past the employees looking over their assignments on the staircase. He stopped a few steps above Claire, panting, another boy coming up behind thim—this one much older, in his teens. Both were soaking wet and shivering, but the younger boy was all smiles.

"Aunt Claire," the older boy said, "The TV's out in the room." He sighed and wrung out the hem of his sweatshirt, "Gray wanted to come out and see you and everything." He wounded unenthusiastic and depressed, and Marianne smiled at him when he glanced at her.

Claire, obviously annoyed, sighed. "That's fine. I'll find something for you both to do." She then glanced back at Owen and Marianne, "I've assigned you to help a transport team in the valley. I was supposed to go out and supervise today with the vet team, but as you can see—"

"—we wouldn't want you to ruin your nice outfit," Owen jested her, flipping open the folder. He scanned her over once and then she turned to the boys, which were obviously her nephews. Owen's hand dropped from Sophie's, Marianne still holding onto her other hand securely. Claire huffed. The boy intercepted her statement again.

"You mean we're not going on the run with you?" his voice sounded disappointed. Claire shook her head and sighed, looking annoyed and frustrated. The boy's shoulders dropped and the older one's face contorted into one of rage, disappointment, and disgust.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you out in the storm," Claire shook her head, "You'll have to stay inside today. When there's another transport, I'll let you come with me." She shooed them away, "Why don't you two find something to eat in the cafeteria and It'll catch up with you once I'm done here, alright?"

They rolled their eyes, trudging down the rest of the steps and saying nothing. Owen and Marianne watched them go, shared a brief look, and then turned back to Claire. Sophie said nothing, just watched the two boys go. Her gaze was locked on the younger boy, and Marianne had to suppress a smile. "You're nephews?" Owen said, his tone dripping with face surprise, "Really, Claire. You should've told me."

"And why would I do that?" She spouted off, "The transport is waiting in the valley for another team to assist with documentation," she looked to Marianne, "and another set of hands," her eyes shifted over to Owen. "The regular lab techs that go out are busy with backing up the system and getting generator's online for the incubation chambers, so they can't." She then glanced down at Sophie, then back to Owen, "I thought it would be a good assignment for you."

"Yeah," Owen said sarcastically, "Good and wet."

"Don't be such a baby," Claire turned from them, "I want a copy of your reports on my desk by tomorrow morning. There's a truck that will take you out to the Valley, we don't want any of the newer vehicles out in the weather, especially with the animals so restless." She began heading up the stairs, pulling her cell phone from her pocket, "I'm sure you understand," her eyes locked to Marianne.

Marianne nodded and gave a grim smile. She waved and turned, hand still in Sophie's, and stalked towards the entrance, Owen following behind. Of all the assignment's Claire could've given them, she gave them the wettest, muckiest, suckiest job of them all. "God, I'm really beginning to hate that woman."

"I think the feeling's mutual," Owen's nose was still stuck in the file. They stopped at the door, watching the wind whip foliage across the courtyard and steps, rain pelting the cobblestones and sides of the buildings. The thunder got louder, lightning flashed, and Marianne's shoulders shrugged. Owen sighed and extended a hand to Sophie. "Ready for this?"

"If I have to be," Marianne grumbled.

He chuckled, "Could be worse, you know," He shouldered open the door. The rain assaulted them and he bolted for the truck parked across the courtyard, under a thick palm tree, pointed towards the maintenance road. Marianne followed behind him and Sophie, rain rewetting her body and causing a chill to streak through her body. Sophie was soaked and already in the truck before Marianne replied. Lightning cascaded across the sky, the thunder roared, and Marianne pulled open the squeaky door of the rusty, '90's Ford F-150. Owen slipped into the driver's seat and she plopped into the passenger's seat.

He tried the keys. They didn't budge. He looked at her.

"Couldn't be worse, huh?"