Disclaimer: I do not own the Jurassic Park/World franchise or any of it's characters; I only own the characters and plots of my own mind.

14. A New Day

Claire looked none too pleased when Gwyn stepped into the office. Her lips were pursed and her hands were clasped atop the desk, looking very much like she had been waiting for the paleontologist's arrival. Gwyn glanced at the clock, wondering if she was late. She wasn't. It would seem that the meeting was going to start out on sour footing. Gwyn sat herself down in one of the plush white chairs, smoothing her skirt down as she did so. The office, typically bright and airy on sunny days, was filled with headache inducing lighting meant to mimic daylight and it felt a little stuffy. Rain gently pattered against the wall of windows, the water dripping down in steady rivulets.

"Thank you for agreeing come in, Dr. Grant," Claire began in a professional tone. Gwyn nodded clasping her hands in her lap in a moderately demure action. "I would like to speak with you about what happened last night."

"Of course," Gwyn agreed, tiredly. The lingering paranoia and fear from her nightmare hung around her like a heavy blanket. It made her tired. Fidgety. Hyper-aware of her surroundings. That's just always how it had been, even when she was young. Her head felt heavy from her night of drinking and crying. Gwyn simply hoped her discomfort didn't show too much on her face.

"When you agreed to work here, you signed a contract that holds you to certain standards in regards to patron-employee relations. While your particular position here at Jurassic World does not interact with the public very much, you are still beholden to such clauses. People know who you are. They recognize your name. They will want to interact with you and ask questions. You are meant to be kind and receptive; and what happened last night was anything but. To pull a patron on stage without permission of myself and do what you did is… inexcusable," Claire lectured. Her face remained stoic the entire time, and the fact that her bangs hid her eyebrows only aided in making her face seem emotionless. "I would like to inquire why it is you violated your contract."

Gwyn remained quiet for a moment, her gaze shifting to the windows and the stormy sky outside. She blinked silently a couple times and pursed her lips, taking care to give thought to what she was about to say. Claire waited attentively on the other side of the glass desk.

"When I agreed to give that talk, I was promised I would get the chance to openly discuss the field that I have dedicated my whole life to. The field that I grew up in, the one that I thrive in, the one that I love. I was promised there would be a moderated question and answer session once I was done." Gwyn looked back to Claire, the muscles in her jaw flexing as she clenched her teeth; she leaned forward in her seat, expression becoming a little more pleading. "Where… the hell… was the moderator, Ms. Dearing?" Claire's mouth popped open to respond, but Gwyn reared back in her seat and flung out her hands, silently cutting the woman off. The paleontologist gave a disbelieving scoff. "Why didn't they stop that man from asking intrusive, inappropriate questions about my self worth and the worth of my life's work? Why did they let him reference the nineteen-ninety-three incident when I was told that I was not allowed to address said topic. What I did was a knee-jerk reaction to being verbally attacked; it's a family trait, so I'm told. I dredged up memories that still haunt and hurt me, just to make him feel as uncomfortable as he made me. It was cruel and selfish, and I understand that. Will I try and assure that doesn't happen again? Yes. But I would implore you to make sure that when someone is told something is going to be moderated, it is."

The office remained silent for a considerable period of time. Gwyn massaged the spot between her eyebrows, the faint headache of her hangover getting a little worse. Claire seemed a little taken aback by Gwyn's sudden speech. The two women remained quiet as their stalemate continued, neither of them wanting to break the silence first. Eventually Gwyn, whose brows crinkled together in near exhausted exasperation, gestured limply with one of her hands.

"Where was the moderator?" she reiterated. Her voice no longer held the ticked-off confidence it had moments before. It betrayed her exhaustion and discomfort. It croaked a little bit and made it seem as though tears of frustration might have been in her future. Claire inhaled and exhaled slowly, casting her eyes down to her desk.

"They were there, but they will be spoken to about their lack of conduct last night. I would… like to apologize for any discomfort you may have received in the wake of last night's talk," Claire informed, clearly picking her words carefully. Though Gwyn thought she detected true sympathy somewhere in those carefully plucked words.

Gwyn nodded, her eyes briefly falling shut. "Thank you."

"However," Claire continued, professionalism returning to her voice and body, "I'm afraid your breach of contract and conduct last night will have to be seen to. What you did will bring us bad press; there have already been a number of posts on a number of websites detailing last night's events––"

"You're worried about bad press?" Gwyn deadpanned, staring at Claire blankly. "I–I thought that in your line of work any press was good press. What I did will likely have people wanting another talk to come to, just so they can see whether or not I'll fly off the handle again."

Claire laughed and sat back in her seat in the least professional movement Gwyn had ever seen her take in such a professional setting. "I don't think that there will be any more talks, Dr. Grant."

Gwyn shrugged indifferently and then met the redhead's gaze. "Give people what they want. If they hated it, they hated it and I won't set foot on that stage again; and if I get a call from Masrani asking me to do another talk, I'll take the floor again." Claire pursed her lightly glossed lips and cleared her throat, sitting forward once more. Gwyn exhaled and tried to release all of the tension that had gathered in her shoulders. "Look, yesterday wasn't a good day for me, and it wasn't a good day for you. That, I think we can agree on. Mistakes were made and they are going to be rectified. You mentioned that my behavior would have to be 'seen to.' Might I inquire as to what my punishment will be?"

Claire nodded and seemed to relax a little, now that the conversation was back on track.

"After careful consideration, and in talking with my colleagues, it has been decided that you will be suspended of any specialized research for the upcoming two weeks. This means that you will not be allowed to return to Paddock Thirteen for work reasons. Otherwise, you may continue working as you normally would."

Gwyn nodded and sat up a little straighter again, feeling mildly awkward slouching back in her chair now that they were speaking in more cordial terms once more. She tucked hair behind her ears. "Is my nighttime observation of the tyrannosaurus-rex considered specialized research? Or may I still carry out the observation on Wednesday?" she inquired. Claire tapped on the screen of her tabled a couple times, likely referencing the terms for Gwyn's partial suspension.

"You may still carry out the observation," Claire informed, looking back up. "Your on-going work with Mr. Grady at Paddock Thirteen is considered special research because you are going above and beyond what it is we initially asked you to do. Your work here is greatly appreciated, Dr. Grant; and the fact you wish to go beyond what is asked of you is an example to be followed by every worker here. I lament the fact you must be punished for your indiscretions, but it truly is for the best. Let it be known, though, that should this happen again under any capacity, the punishment will be more severe."

Gwyn tried for a smile. It was small and tired.

"I'll be sure to reread the portion of my handbook on patron-employee interaction. I will do my best to ensure what happens last night does not happen again," Gwyn assured gently. Claire nodded in a pleased manner and refolded her hands atop the desk. She was the perfect picture of professionalism. The epitome. Claire clearly loved her job just as much as Gwyn loved hers, and that was to be admired.

"All guests deserve the same treatment, even if they are… not well versed in social convention," Claire stated clearly. She used a tone of voice that Gwyn was sure she used with potential investors. "Thank you, again, for taking time out of your day to come in, Dr. Grant." Then, suddenly and for the first time, Gwyn saw a little crack in her mask of professionalism. Claire's lips quirked to the side in a mild smirk. "You should go get some coffee, you look exhausted."

Feeling the airs-and-graces of the meeting slip away, Gwyn tentatively returned the smirk and rose to her feet. "Coffee sounds like a godsend right now. Have a good day, Ms. Dearing."

OOOO

Gwyn had seated herself in a corner of the Starbucks on Main Street, twisting around her coffee cup. It would seem Jurassic World had even got their own drink––a Lambeosaurus Laté. She had yet to sip it, but the barista had assured her it was a top seller and that patrons loved it. The paleontologist thought that was only because it had the word lambeosaurus in it. Out the window, Gwyn could see Main Street, which, despite the rainy weather, still played host to a sizable crowd. The park-goers were covered in flimsy plastic ponchos, which were the vivid blue of the park's logo; Gwyn briefly pondered how much they'd spent for a Jurassic World branded poncho they would likely throw out before they left for the airport. For first time since she had been at the park that she legitimately felt like a park patron. Gwyn had opted to wear a pretty yellow sundress and had let her hair down, having decided to forgo her work outfit for the day. With the umbrella and the coffee cup, paired with the casual look she was working, she felt purely like a tourist. Someone there for the thrill of seeing live dinosaurs for the first time. Someone who didn't know the dangers that hung over their head every second of the day.

The meeting with Claire had been followed up by a phone call to Alan. It was in that call––after all of the pleasantries and assurances that she was okay and explaining why it was Owen had answered her phone––that her father had informed her of some surprising news. Shocking, really. Dr. Alan Grant was coming to Jurassic World for a visit. To visit her. It had apparently been something he had been contemplating for the past week; that had been the reason he'd tried to call her that morning, as he'd wanted her opinion on making the trip. However, it was the news of the vivid resurfacing of her nightmares that had driven him to make the trip a reality. Despite all of the reassurances Gwyn made, Alan insisted he wanted to come and make sure she was okay. His response had been as such:

"I know that you've got friends there to help you out, but you haven't got anyone there that's been through what you have been through. Right now, after the shit that your head just dredged up, you need someone who has. Who knows how to lend an ear. Island be damned."

It was touching that Alan was so adamant on making sure she was okay; but Gwyn also worried about what he would have to go through with being back. It would be his third time on a dinosaur infested island, with the previous two times having ended in disaster. Gwyn's entire life had been changed by one incident, she couldn't imagine all of the quiet, unseen damage caused by surviving two. Alan jumped at loud noises just like she did, but she knew that such sounds from overhead nearly sent him into a panic attack; all thanks to the time he had spent trapped in the aviary. He was a strong man. She loved him very much. And that was why Gwyn had so adamantly attempted to talk him out of the trip; and it was his love of her that drove him to insist he come.

"Hello, hello, hello!" chirped a cheerful voice.

Gwyn turned away from the window, expression still faintly crumpled, and came to realize that Lowery had appeared. He clutched a frappuccino of some description in one hand, whilst the other had risen to swipe through rain drenched hair. Aside from the blatant lack of an umbrella, it was clear that he had jogged to the Starbucks through the rain. His shoulders, which were covered by a heather grey t-shirt, were dark with wetness and his glasses were speckled with rain. The paleontologist smiled at the eight-bit t-rext emblazoned across the chest of his shirt. That smile was turned directly on him.

"Hey, Lowery. Forgot your umbrella?" she teased gently. Lowery chuckled and seated himself across from her. He set down his frozen beverage and removed his glasses and used the hem of his shirt to clean his glasses. The corner of his mouth rose in a quirky smirk which was only complimented by a singular arched eyebrow.

"Try my rain coat. Umbrellas are more of a hastle, no matter how badass you look twirling them around like a bond villain. Like, if you've got one and you go see a movie, where are you storing it while you're watching the film?" Lowery pointed out. He lifted both brows pointedly. It was a look that prompted one to think about what he'd said. With pursed lips, Gwyn did just that.

"You… have a point about the movie theater. Never thought about that…"

"It's a pain, trust me. I have been known for dragging an umbrella into a theater on more than one occasion. So, do as I say, not as I do. Anyway, how have you been? I heard you made quite the splash with your talk last night; people are talking about it across all the social media platforms."

A stunted chuckle sounded at the back of Gwyn's throat.

"I'll have to give myself a google search later today, then. I spent the morning being reprimanded by Claire for said talk."

Lowery, who had just taken a sip of his frappuccino, gaped at her comically. He sat back in his seat and shook his head in order to properly convey his genuine disbelief at what Gwyn had just said.

"No," he breathed.

With an amused chuckle, Gwyn nodded and brought her laté up to her lips. "Got suspended from certain duties for the upcoming week for my 'inexcusable actions that violated my contract,'" Gwyn recited, eyes rolling towards the ceiling as she attempted to recall what it was Claire had said.

The technician sat across from her shook his head and flopped back into his seat in a resigned manner. His expression was twisted into something peculiar. It almost suggested that he should have seen this whole thing coming whilst simultaneously being put-out that it happened. Lowery clucked his tongue and frowned.

"Seriously?" he muttered under his breath. He used the kind of tone a pissed-off teenager might use when their parents informed them they couldn't go out that weekend. Lowery met Gwyn's gaze and sat forward, forearms braced on the table, and began to explain. "Claire loves it when the park gets attention in the media. It draws in potential investors who will pay to represented at the park, and that money goes towards advancements of all different sorts. All that stuff commercializes the island––which is stupid if you ask me, but Claire lives for it, so therefore it is park gospel. What you did last night is gonna garner the island a whole lot of attention; 'Dr. Gwyn Grant, paleontologist, makes splash at Jurassic World.' That's what's gonna be plastered across media sites by noon. You're gonna draw people in!"

A smile had crawled its way across Gwyn's face at Lowery's impassioned words. He loved the park and the creatures that lived in it; that had always been evident. He rallied against its commercialization in favor of it being what it had originally been intended to be. It was that care he had for his work place––and those who worked in it––that made her smile. Gwyn sipped her latté and swallowed the almost too-sweet liquid before addressing what it was Lowery had said.

"Yeah, but some of that attention is bound to be not-so-good. I did kinda terrorize a park patron; albeit, he was an asshole, but I did do what I did without permission," Gwyn surmised. Across the table, her friend snorted and gave a miniscule shrug of the shoulders.

"Got what he had coming, honestly," Lowery mumbled, bringing his straw to his lips. After he drew another sip from his drink, the technician nodded his head towards the window, beyond which park patrons were jogging to avoid the inclement weather. "Is your temporary suspension from specific duties the reason you were staring out the window like a moody protagonist from an equally moody teen drama?"

Gwyn pursed her lips and started to twist her cup around again. Her fingers pushed the cardboard sleeve down the length of the cup before urging it back up again.

"No, that was caused by, uh… something else."

"You don't have to tell me, I was just wondering. I'm not gonna push you to say anything––"

"Lowery," Gwyn stressed with a fond chuckle. He arched his brows in response. "Don't sweat it, it's fine; you're a concerned friend, you can ask." She didn't miss the slight upturn of his lips when she said the word 'friend.' In fact, that seemed to give him more pause than his hesitation about inquiring what was wrong. Gwyn offered a little shrug and turned her attention to the coffee cup in her hand, which she had started to toy with again. "It's just… my dad is coming to visit and I have… more than a few mixed emotions regarding that impending reunion."

When she received no response from Lowery, Gwyn hazarded a look across the table. The technician was gaping at her. His mouth was dropped open, his eyes were wide, and his eyebrows were lifted as high as they could possibly go. He wordlessly began to mouth things, like he was attempting to physically collect his words before getting around to voicing them. For a brief moment, Gwyn was mildly confused––and concerned––at his reaction. Then it struck her like the lightning that sometimes flashed in the clouds outside. Lowery had just been informed that the famed Dr. Alan Grant was coming to Jurassic World, and he was attempting not completely freak out over the news. Excitement was alive and vivid in his eyes, making them sparkle in the soft light. When wordlessly gesticulating and gawping didn't seem to help him emote, Lowery rose to his feet and walked a small circle around his chair; he was giggling under his breath and his fingers had disappeared into his damp hair.

"Dr. Alan Grant? Dr. Alan Grant is coming here!?" Lowery exclaimed, flinging himself back into his seat. He rocketed forward, bracing his hands on the table and leaning inwards like a dramatic protagonist in an action film. It was clear he was waiting for a confirmation, so Gwyn gave him a nod, the corner of her mouth quirking up just a little bit. At that, Lowery threw his hands up into the air and brought them down sharply, hugging them close to his body with both hands curled into fists. He tapped his feet excitedly on the floor and scrunched up his face as though it was an attempt to reign in his enthusiasm. "Oh wow! I mean, he's seriously one of my idols. That must be weird for you to hear 'cause he's, ya know, you're dad and all, but…"

Gwyn scrunched her mouth up and waved a dismissive hand. "I hear it all the time. It's about as common as 'I'm sorry for what happened to you when you were young.'"

"I-Is he coming to, like, give a talk or something? A… meet-and-greet of sorts?"

"No, he's just coming to check in on me. If anything, he'll seclude himself to my bungalow. But I'm sure he would have no qualms with meeting my co-workers and friends," Gwyn offered with a smile. Lowery let out a breathy chuckle and flopped back into his seat, a dazed grin on his face.

"Aren't you excited, though?" he inquired, holding a hand out in her direction. "From what you've told me, you're really close with your dad."

"It's just… the shit that we went through back when this was Jurassic Park, he's been through twice. Once here, once on Isla Sorna. It was hard enough for me to come back, and every day is still a battle not to hop the next boat back to the mainland. But for him… I just worry that it's going to do more harm than good." Gwyn sighed and shrugged, again sucked into the contemplation of her worries.

When he had called, Alan had done everything he could to assuage his daughter's fears, but he had been decidedly unsuccessful; and Gwyn had made sure he knew that. Just as he had done everything to calm her, she had done everything to convince him not to come. It was unfortunate, however, that both were equally as stubborn. While they hadn't argued, both father and daughter had made their points of view quite clear. Gwyn thought it would be a bad idea for Alan to visit. Alan made it perfectly clear that he had already bought his ticket and that nothing could stop him.

Across the table from Gwyn, Lowery had started to drum his fingertips against the tabletop. He seemed to be thinking something over, his excited demeanor fading into something more serious. He gestured to the paleontologist with a hand, which was held out flat in a presenting motion.

"I mean, this whole situation is kinda flipped isn't it? This happened when you told him you wanted to work here, right? He's made the decision to visit just like you made the decision to come work and live here. And you're doing pretty okay––I presume, at least. So… maybe he'll find some solace like you did. I'm sure that as long as you're with him, he'll be okay. The Grants seem like a hardy family," Lowery reassured, a hand stretched out to gently touch her wrist.

His kind words did manage to settle some of her anxiety. What had once been a roiling ocean of nerves was now more akin to a rocky stretch of surf. She murmured a quiet 'thank you' and gently clasped his fingers for a moment. Lowery returned the smile, which was small but genuine. Something about the technician had always been completely and totally genuine; perhaps it was something to do with how he always spoke his mind with abandon and passion.

"I mean, I don't know if you would help or hinder, but maybe you both could hike out to the original park center and…"

Whatever it was Lowery said next was completely lost to Gwyn's ears. Instead, she simply gaped at him with wide eyes and suddenly tense shoulders. The words that hung in her ears were 'original park center.' It brought to mind flashes of ornate doors and freshly painted walls, and stirred up remnants of excitement and terror. As it all rushed to the forefront of her mind, almost becoming too much, Gwyn held up a hand and sat back in her seat. The underlying tone of Lowery's voice suddenly came to a halt and she thought she made out a concerned 'what?'

"They didn't demolish the old visitor's center?" she managed to exhale. Lowery blinked at her, face blank, before his brows knitted together above the frame of his glasses. His head cocked to the side and he appeared to consider her peculiar expression.

"They… didn't tell you? No, no, of course they didn't… The, uh, entire place is… dilapidated and falling apart; it would've cost more money and trouble to tear it down than just leave it there for the jungle to take care of. It's located somewhere in the herbivore sector, just outside the gyrosphere valley. Not open to the public, obviously––and park personnel is encouraged to stay away, and I imagine for the most part they do––but it's there," Lowery explained.

Gwyn exhaled and arched her brows whilst she took in Lowery's words. A hand rose to rub at the back of her neck while she became doused in thoughts. That building had been a figure in her dreams that both haunted and intrigued. It was a place that had brought her such complete joy for a handful of hours; it had entranced her with how it housed what had seemed like the impossible. Simultaneously it was the place where she had very nearly died, and her worst memories were tied to its freshly painted walls. She had taken some comfort in the thought the building would have crumbled to bits or had been demolished to make way for the new park. With the knowledge that it still stood, however, a strange pull of curiosity had formed in the pit of her stomach. What did it look like now? Did it stand like the ruins of an ancient castle, with walls barely standing and its innards exposed to the ravenous jungle? Or was it the jungle that kept it preserved? It was a dangerous sense of curiosity, which began to build in the pit of her stomach.

"Would you, uh… mind marking an approximate location?" Gwyn asked, rifling through her purse. She withdrew a crumpled map of the island that had been shoved there when she had arrived a month earlier. Lowery murmured a 'yeah' and dug a pen out of his pocket. He scribbled an 'x' over a patch of trees and pushed the map back towards her. Gwyn stared at the 'x' and sank her teeth into her lower lip. Perhaps the past wasn't as dead as she thought it was.

OOOO

A handful of days passed and the weather seemed to straighten itself out. It had returned to sunny, cloudless skies of blue and retained its terrible combination of humidity and heat. With her 'specialized research' rights suspended for another week and a half, Gwyn had taken to actually exploring the park as a tourist might in her down time. She found that she had a negative predisposition for most things at Jurassic World, as she constantly associated them with the park's predecessor. Said disposition was something she was rightfully allowed to have; but it was best to give some aspects of the island the benefit of the doubt. Gwyn had started small and took a stroll through the botanical gardens, which allowed her to admire the two-hundred-million years worth of plant life available to see. On her second trip to the gardens, she Skyped Ellie and showed her all the available flora and fauna. The Gyrospheres had been next, followed by the Cretaceous Cruise; both of which seemed to serve Hammond's original purpose for the park, although the names made the experience feel a little campy.

One particularly hot morning, Gwyn had sought refuge in the lobby of the Hammond Creation Lab. She sat on one of the benches pressed flush to the wall, a cup of coffee at her feet and a map across her knees. There were little hand-drawn symbols on the paper, marking places not readily available to the public. Ever since Lowery had mentioned that the Jurassic Park visitor center still stood, Gwyn had become curious as to what a map of the old park would look like over one of the new. There was an 'x' where Lowery had said the old park center was located. Another 'x' where she estimated the old t-rex paddock to be. A third 'x' for the old raptor paddock. A fourth for where they'd seen the sick triceratops. Gwyn had absent-mindedly started to lightly sketch the trail that they must have taken all those years ago––one that more-or-less followed portions of the monorail system. A gentle brush of her hand brought the tips of her fingers over the 'x' for the visitor's center, her mind again trying to hash out what it might look like now.

"Miss Grant," quipped an unfortunately familiar voice. Immediately, Gwyn's lips twisted into a partial grimace. When she lifted her head and was greeted with the form of Dr. Wu, the grimace became fully fledged. It appeared he was just heading into work for the morning, as he had a laptop bag over one shoulder and a cup of coffee in the other.

"Dr. Grant, Mr. Wu," she shot back, purposefully giving him the same treatment he offered her. A fake smile appeared on his face and he hummed condescendingly. He looked off at nothing in particular, as though recalling a fond memory.

"So quick to succumb to an attitude, just like when you were a little girl."

Gwyn cocked an eyebrow and made quick work of folding up her map. She shoved it into her back pocket and procured her coffee, which she took a long sip from. The beverage would have needed a little whiskey added to it if she wanted to properly deal with her childhood enemy. "What can I do for you, Dr. Wu?" This time her voice was the epitome of professionalism, her face almost mockingly sweet. She slung one leg over the other and leaned back against the wall.

The entertainment that Wu seemed to have gained from their opening quips disappeared with the clearing of his throat. Gwyn watched his face become more solemn and displeased, his lips twisting like he had eaten something unpleasant. Their gazes met again and she arched her brows promptingly; Wu sighed through his nose and seemed to shrug on his professional attitude to deal with the situation at hand.

"Jurassic World is going to have a newcomer to its dinosaur population. One that has yet to make its debut appearance. Mr. Masrani has requested you be involved with the project, so you might… observe its behaviors and predict its growth rate and other such things that I believe my staff could do just as well," Wu informed. His polite tone was more scathing than any harsh-worded insult he could throw her way.

Gwyn clucked her tongue and shook her head in utter disbelief. When Jurassic World had been Jurassic Park there had only been a handful of dinosaurs available to view. Jurassic World had upped the number substantially, and it was painfully clear they had no intention of stopping. More dinosaurs meant more possibility for disaster, and it boggled Gwyn's mind that they didn't seem to understand that. "What dinosaur are you resurrecting now? A… spinosaurus? Allosaurus? Mapusaurus? Please don't let it be a mapusaurus…"

The way that Wu's mouth ticked to the side caused a surge of annoyance to flood Gwyn's body. That tick had turned into a full-blown smirk and there was something imperious to that look. With his chin raised a little higher, Wu finally deigned her with an answer.

"That information is classified. Only those working on the project are privy to such information."

Gwyn set her coffee aside and leaned forward, forearms braced on her crossed knees. Her gaze became hard, her brows furrowed, and her lips pursed. Masrani must have requested her involvement on the project for a reason––and not just the ones that Wu had stated. When Gwyn had agreed to work at the park, Masrani had said that she knew what the true point of the park was; Jurassic World was meant to remind everyone how small they truly were. There were people who worked at the park that refused to think that way; and unfortunately, some of those people worked in the labs tirelessly. Gwyn believed she was looking at one such person at that very moment. Alan had once said––ranted, really––that the scientists from Jurassic Park believed themselves to be god, and that giving them the power to give dinosaurs life again was a mistake. Gwyn knew that it was foolish to think that she, alone, could prevent disaster. But if she could get information on whatever was cooking in that lab, if she could get a foothold or advantage of any sort, she might have a better chance at predicting disaster. A prediction that could lead to the protection of park patrons and staff alike.

A fake smile was forced onto Gwyn's face, and she cocked her head to the side. "When do I start?"

Afterword: And there we have it––the Indominus Rex is about to make its debut. We inch ever closer to impending disaster. I hope that you all enjoyed the chapter (which kicked my ass just a little bit).

Review Replies!

Kat7CA: Thank you! I had a lot of fun with the last chapter, writing Owen and Gwyn getting ever closer. I'm glad that the previous chapter made you smile––hearing that made me smile! I hope you enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks again!

katy1986: There may or may not be a few more instances of 'just kiss already' before the moment finally arrives (a moment that I already have planned). I love to write almost kisses. They're just too much fun! Owen will eventually talk to Ellie; and she will be just as fierce as Alan, as Gwyn is like a daughter to her. And, oh, what will happen when Alan comes to visit… Finally gets to meet Owen in person, so that should go well. I hope that you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks again!

WaywardandWanderlust: I remember coming up with the Owen/Alan convo and then not knowing where to put it; but I wanted it to happen so bad that I figured that it might be a nice light-hearted interlude after the nightmare. I agree that Alan would have been a protective father even if they hadn't ended up on Isla Nublar initially. It just would have taken longer for him to fall comfortably in the role of father, as the events at Jurassic Park were the catalyst for him to really be so fiercely protective. I'm really glad you're enjoying the story so far! Thanks again!

Evaline101: Thank you! You'll see an update for the prequel soon, and hopefully another one for this story soon as well.

GryffindorRat: I love slow-burn romances. It's fun to build the atmosphere, especially when that atmosphere wants them to get together, too (Lowery may or may not ship it, I'm just saying). I really like moments that aren't quite moments; one where it leaves characters and readers alike going 'what could have happened if something had happened?' I intend for Alan and Owen to have a real nice couple of conversations face-to-face while Alan's visiting. They're dynamic is just going to be soooo funny. I hope that you enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks again!

ElleGirl19: Thank you! I'm enjoying building their relationship as I write, and I can't wait till it all escalates into true romance. I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

heroherondaletotherescue: Ohhhhh, the flirtation has only just begun! Owen's gonna be cranking up that flirtation dial like it's no one's business now that he's tested the waters. And Gwyn will only be happy to fire back. I love writing Alan so much that the phone call was partially in there just because I missed writing him; also, Owen and Alan getting into awkward conversations is just… so much fun. All around so much fun. I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!

0netflixme0: Gwyn is slowly getting up there to telling off Claire out-right. She's sticking to the Grant wryness at the moment, but when things escalate and hit the events of the movie… boy, will she go off the handle. I hope you enjoyed the newest chapter; thanks again!
RHatch89: Thank you! I hope you enjoyed the newest update as well!

19irene96: Thank you! I had a lot of fun writing last chapter and I'm glad you enjoyed reading it. Hope you enjoyed the new chapter!

NicoleR85: I knew that Owen wouldn't just up and leave the next morning; even if it meant he was going to be late to work. And writing the conversation between Gwyn and Claire was a lot of fun. Writing Gwyn exhausted, tired, and just plain done was something new for me and really interesting to do. I hope you enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks again!

SnowGirl95: And the realization that there might be more than friendship will only keep being realized from here on out! Oh, what fun it will be! I hope that you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks again!

PhAnToM 1212: You're very welcome; I hope you enjoyed the newest chapter!

Sophia Kaiba: Honestly, flirty slightly-hungover breakfasts are probably the best. Especially for Owen and Gwyn. There will be many to come for them. I really had so much fun with last chapter. I hope that you enjoyed the newest chapter just as much; thanks again!

RJNorth: I'm glad that you were vying for them to kiss––if the moment had been right for them they totally would have. But that doesn't mean there might not be a repeat of the breakfast situation later on… The flirting is about to come on hardcore, which I'm so excited for. I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!

The girl with no life: I'm glad that you enjoyed the last chapter so much! The nightmare was quite the catalyst for the two of them, and now they're treading into more flirty territory. I really like to focus on the natural flow of a relationship, so they're slowly working their way towards something more than just being friends. I'm happy it reads well! And there will be many more Owen and Alan moments when good ol' Dr. Grant comes for a visit! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks again!

mchurch1992: Thank you! I'm glad that you're sticking around to read more; and I really hope you enjoyed this new chapter. Thank you again!

LoveFiction2017: Thank you! I hope you stick around to read more!

Guest 1: A new chapter! Huzzah! I hope you enjoyed it!

Guest 2: I hope you enjoyed the newest chapter just as much as the last one; thanks again!

swanqueen4: I really love building up relationships as smoothly and naturally as possible. I feel like––for Jurassic World especially––building up a strong relationship is really imperative. Because if it doesn't have a good, strong foundation, then it isn't going to last through the hardships and trauma that await them in the future. I'm glad you've enjoyed the story so far; thanks again!

Theresa5155: First of all, you're review made my day––both when I first recieved it and now, as I reread it. I'm glad you enjoy the dynamic of Gwyn and Owen's relationship. They're both so strong willed and assured with who they are and what they stand for, that I think the give-and-take nature of their relationship is really important. That, while Gwyn admires Owen's work, Owen is aware that it's hard for her to do that, and takes that into account. That Gwyn knows it's probably hard for Owen to hear her talk about the raptors in certain ways, and tries to back off on being so harsh so often. I grin to read that you think they're perfect for each other (cause I think so too). I'm happy that you love the connection Gwyn has to the original park and to Alan, because I think that's so important to her as a character. And have no fear, there will be no love triangle whatsoever. One of the reasons I don't really focus on Claire is because she just doesn't… strike me as a character that plays a terribly imperative part in this story. Or a woman that would really involve herself with the kind of work Gwyn and Owen do at the park. So, never fear, she won't be creating any problems (aside from the ones she causes canonically). Thank you so much for your thoughtful review, and for all the time you've spent reading my story. I appreciate it very much; I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

singingKatelyn: I am very, very happy that you are enjoying the story so much! I can't wait for you to read what I've got planned, and I hope you stick around to see what's next for Gwyn and Owen. Thanks again!

kitsunelover300: We have a smattering of views on Gwyn's little lecture from other characters, but I may include some media comments in chapters to come. I'm beyond flattered that you wish she was a real character in the franchise, that makes me so happy! I really worked hard on making her a realistic character that would fit into the JP/JW universe. And I realized earlier this chapter that it really only has been a month since she's been at the park, so I might have to flash forward a couple months at one point, just to keep things moving. But we'll still get plenty of Owyn relationship progression. And I've heard a lot of people say they suspect the indominus had human DNA, which I think is honestly possible, because the labs at JW would do anything to get their dinosaurs. And I really like the idea of her possibly receiving the resonating chamber! I had totally forgot that was a thing, so I'll consider throwing it in. I hope you enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks again!

Guest 3: Here is more! Hope you enjoyed!

lizziecats: I'm very, very happy that you've been enjoying this story so much. I remember when I thought about writing this story, immediately knowing that I wanted Gwyn to be related to Alan and that she had ties to Jurassic Park. I wanted a way of tying the two films together, making the whole history of Isla Nublar more present at Jurassic World than it was in the film. I'm glad you enjoy the slow-burn of Gwyn and Owen's relationship, because I love writing its gradual progression. Echo is definitely an 'in' of sorts for Gwyn. Echo seems to have a positive image of Gwyn, which is something that is really, really important. We'll see more of Gwyn with the raptors soon, once her suspension is up. Your appreciation is felt and it is, well, greatly appreciated! :) And I just want to let you know that I appreciate the time that you have taken to read my work and the time that you took to leave such a thoughtful, lovely review. Thank you so, so much!
god of all: Here's a new chapter! I hope you enjoyed the update!

Angelic demon chick: I won't be dropping this story any time soon. I have so many ideas written up that I couldn't possibly have a good reason to leave this story behind. I really adore Gwyn (and Owen (and Alan)) too much. And we'll be getting some wonderful moments between Alan and Owen when the respectable Dr. Grant comes for a visit. And, boy, will he have things to say about Owen and his little Dirt Fairy! I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!

CrystalVixen93: I'm glad that you have been enjoying the story so far, and hope you stick around to read more! Thanks again!

Guest 4: We'll get more of Owen's point of view in future chapters, because it's interesting to see things through his eyes, especially as everything starts progressing. We'll also see more of the Girls soon, once Gwyn's suspension is up. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks again!

And thank you to those who have read and added this story to their follows/favorites; it means a lot!

And that's it for now! Things are starting to get rolling––rolling towards romance, rolling towards Alan's visit, and rolling towards the impending disaster that is caused by the resident monster. It's all gonna be some good fun. I hope you all enjoyed the newest chapter! Thanks again!

~Mary