Owen caught Maisie's eye as they pulled up to the manmade gate that was established at the state line. She was holding her chin up bravely while her hands played with each other in anxiety.
"It'll be fine." Claire smiled encouragement back at her.
Funny, since Owen had been the one encouraging her over the last two days. California's borders that been turned into checkpoints, emails sent out requiring anyone who came through to show their IDs and other red tape. Owen hadn't read the email Claire had shoved in his face, and he still hadn't bothered to turn on his cell phone. He knew they might ask who Maisie was, but they weren't going to press for her identity. Any and all assumptions would be that she was their daughter and they'd roll on through, unhindered.
"What if they ask me something?" Maisie whispered, like that would keep her accent from slipping through.
"You answer them." Owen told her. "You got nothing to hide."
She eyed him, like really?
"Belief and confidence go hand in hand, Maze." Owen braked, prepping to roll down his window. "You'll fail at one without the other."
Now Claire gave him a look. "Something you picked up from the navy?"
"Hey, I listened to my CO every now and then." Owen shrugged.
Maisie absorbed his fortune cookie either way, settling back against her seat. "Okay, Owen."
Still no 'dad'? Owen thought at random as the soldier stepped up to his side. "IDs, please."
Owen and Claire handed them over, Claire's nails tapping on the console. Her way of lightening the mood? Owen eyed her hand, then her, and she stopped.
"Owen Grady." The solider read off the plastic, handing back Claire's license. Owen caught Claire's eyes as he passed the license to her. He nodded to the soldier. "Yep, that's me."
"Chief Petty Officer Owen Grady?" The solider expanded his question, looking Owen over. His gaze and the old title made Owen feel exposed. "Haven't been for a long time."
The soldier gave his license back. "Drive to the green tent and wait there for Sergeant Terry."
Owen's throat went dry, the rest of him getting annoyed. "There a problem?"
"You'll have to ask the sergeant." The soldier told him, motioned for them to move along. Owen puffed out his breath and steered the car away from Nevada and to the green tent that must have been serving as headquarters.
"Any ideas what that's about?" Claire jabbed her thumb over her shoulder. Owen shook his head. "None."
"Maybe that run-in with the other soldiers?" Maisie suggested, leaning in for a better look at the tent and the people walking in and out of it.
"We didn't give our names." Owen said, rubbing his side at the recent memory. He tried to think if the name Sergeant Terry was familiar.
"Give me your phone." Claire was already grabbing it out of the cup holder. She looked at him in exasperation. "When's the last time this thing was on?"
"How long have we been working on the cabin." Owen answered. Claire shook her head. "You would fit in perfectly with the earliest caveman-" She gaped at the phone, then at him. "You have 12 missed calls from DC."
"Yeah, probably an old girlfriend." Owen deadpanned, getting a nervous giggle out of Maisie. Claire grunted. "I'll call her back. See if she wants to switch places."
She was so cute when she bantered with him! Owen would've egged her on had he not spotted a trim, older-looking officer making his way for the car. Owen reassured Maisie with a grin before he got out. He left the door open for the benefit of their ears as the officer stopped before him. "Mr. Grady, I'm Sergeant Terry."
He offered a hand, to which Owen gave a stiff shake. The sergeant produced an envelope from his front pocket. "I've been posted here since the outbreak. We received orders from the Department of Defense, six days ago, to detain you when you came through and to give you this."
The annoyance shifted to dread. Owen took the envelope, opened it, and read the single typed paper that was inside. He heard Maisie shift in her seat, attesting to his own uneasiness.
"Owen?" Claire finally asked. Owen stared at her. "I'm assigned to help in containing the 'outbreak'. Due to my… previous field work." He read off the letter. It was asking him to analyze and indicate the locations of the dinosaurs; not that he could repeat the specific details to her. It was dated and signed by the secretary of defense.
"This isn't my call." Terry stated flatly. "But, we're in a moment of crisis here. And orders are orders. To ignore them would give me grounds to arrest you."
"What?" Claire cried.
"I've got a responsibility here, ma'am." Terry explained, measuring gazes with Owen. "Look, the longer we argue, the greater our chances of being dino meat. And enough people have been that already."
A little gasp escaped Maisie, but Sergeant Terry didn't seem to notice. "I'm sorry if you feel forced Mr. Grady."
Owen shared an indecisive look with Claire. Which Terry picked up on. "I can give you a few minutes. But then you need to report to our operations tent. You'll be briefed there."
He turned on his heel and walked away. Just like that! Owen couldn't believe this. Did he have a sign taped to his back that said Disrupt my life!? He looked back in at the girls, both staring in disbelief. And uncertainty. He had been prepared to wait this out, get some better footing as husband and father, then jump right back into building their life- literally. Why was that never an option? Did it ever occur to anyone that he didn't have to always save the day? Owen caught Maisie watching him. "You don't have a choice, do you?"
What're we teaching her about sticking with your responsibilities? Had been one of Claire's arguments when they were going back and forth on what to do. It was something they agreed on; whether or not they had a kid to think about. Owen had had a responsibility on Isla Nublar. To study Blue and the other raptors' development, to train that development. When exactly had that responsibility gotten away from him? Listening to Hoskins? Taking the job in the first place? Either way, he was here now. And he was expected to fix it, one way or the other. And there was also the threat of being arrested. Owen rolled a shoulder, stating aloud. "The sooner it's done, the sooner we're home, right?"
Claire's response was to exit the car and march around the front. "If you're staying, I'm staying."
"No you're not." Owen told her, making for the trunk to get his duffel out. Maisie scrambled out and followed them. "We could stay on base, away from-"
"How long would it take for anyone to start asking questions." Owen popped the trunk open. "We can say you're adopted, but we don't have any paperwork yet to prove it. Plus, Claire, you're doing that chat room."
"Video conference." Claire's hands adorned her hips. "And they're asking for both of us. We can just-"
"No." Owen drew himself up in front of Maisie and Claire, so that they both understood. "The less attention we draw, the better. That means me staying here and you two going on to Carson City."
Claire opened her mouth to protest, but Maisie beat her to it. She grabbed a corner of Owen's duffel, like she might tug-a-war for it. "They've already got plenty of people to help them."
"Apparently not enough." Owen sighed at her.
"You were finally going to tell me about the raptors." Maisie reminded him, verging on a whine. "About Blue."
"There's plenty of time for that." Owen reasoned, getting his duffel back. "You've got those videos to look over."
She considered that, still unhappy about the deviation. A lot had been asked of her in regards to change. Owen guessed that adding more didn't help their efforts to offer her stability. He was glad that the Iris lady wasn't here to witness it. His face still burned from the last glare she'd given him.
Maisie squared her gaze on Owen, determination and courage rising in her eyes. "I'll have a boatload of questions when you get back."
Owen grinned. "Bring it on."
Maisie grinned back, hugging him. Owen hugged her hard, glancing at Claire over her head. "I'm gonna leave the rifle with you. And," he pointed to his temple. "Reapply bandages to that tonight. Any nausea, dizziness, or tightness, go to the hospital. Maisie, it's your job to make her go."
"Promise." Maisie crossed her heart. "You guys need a minute?"
Claire blushed and Maisie rolled her eyes. She dodged back into the back seat as Owen pulled Claire close. She studied him in a deep gaze. The one her eyes took on when she was focused on making something count. She had started using it after the disaster at the park; he liked it. Owen enjoyed liking things about her.
"Well," she broke their spell, fingers lacing his. "You going to keep staring or say something witty, killing the mood completely?"
Owen chuckled as they kissed. Claire stopped him after a second, her grip tight on his arm "Don't you dare get eaten."
"As if." Owen mustered, a little surprised at her force. Maybe he needed to get drafted more often. "At least you won't have to blame yourself if I die."
"That's not-"
Owen kissed her again, knowing it wasn't funny. But funny was what he did best. He finally backed off, his resolve to stay weakening. "Love you."
Claire caught her breath, hand curling around the car keys he gave her; and her wedding ring. "Love you."
She hesitated again, then turned and got in the car. Owen came up alongside, shared a final wave with Maisie, and stared after them as they drove away. He clutched his bag tight with a sigh, wheeling towards the tent. Let's get this over with.
}{}{}{}{
Avery was excited to be taking the train, even if it looked like it'd be crowded. Glass and criss-crossed scaffolding towered over them in a dome that made up the main platform of the station. Teller booths, closed by now, ran along the curved walls, along with restrooms, souvenir shops, and waiting areas. Not that anyone was using those. There were two trains still to depart and families, couples, singles, they all waited anxiously for the staff to clear them to board. Still, Avery couldn't deny the giddiness she was experiencing. She'd played with trains a lot as a kid- thanks, Grandpa- and had always wanted to ride a real one. She was going on thirteen, and wouldn't be able to stick with her childhood much longer. Junior high was full of make-up, selfies in the hallway, and boys!
"I can't believe there's still this many people here!" Mom huffed, handing a suitcase off to Morris, Avery's brother. "The state's supposedto be evacuated!"
"It's a state of forty million people, Mom." Morris glanced up. "And we're still here, so…"
"Because we needed to be sure that Dad was taken care of." Mom reiterated, a catch in her throat. Grandpa had been put on dialysis last year, and his doctors had advised against him being moved. A lot of the doctors and hospital staff were staying in the state, even with most people gone. They would be on stand by to help the soldiers… if they needed it.
"We're all set to leave now, so let's go." Dad came up on their group, tickets and briefcase in hand. They would've taken a plane to Dad's parents, but they'd waited too long. Everything was booked or grounded, and their car battery had failed- again. Avery was denying the ominous feel it gave her stomach, focusing on the train ride ahead.
"And we're moving." Morris announced, shuffling after Mom with the luggage. Avery pulled on her own suitcase, the wheels jerking over the cement platform. She held up her phone, snapping her smile alongside their transportation. They waited their turn to board, people scrambling to have their tickets checked and get on. Avery felt their tension easily. It was an eerie feeling that had overcome the state. Watching the military go by in their bulky green trucks, seeing no planes overhead. Shops and businesses were shut down, or raided of supplies. Avery's town was prone to robbery and property damage, but even their streets had gone quiet as people had left. She still texted with her friends, but the knowing that they weren't just down the street… not knowing when they'd be coming back.
They will. Avery clicked another photo, checking it over for blurry edges. We'll be back, everything will be open, and I'll start middle school… this angle would look better in sequoia.
Avery made the note to Photoshop the image later.
"Avery," Dad gestured back to her. "Ticket."
Distant screams jerked everyone's heads to the gaping doors of the station. Several people were bursting through them and Avery had one second to register the massive shape distorted through the glass before it smashed in after them. Mom screamed as Avery stumbled back, tripping both her and Morris. The dinosaur surveyed the scrambling crowd and let out a deafening roar that vibrated on all the walls. Avery covered her ears, but she couldn't close her eyes. Her gaze was fixed on the dark scales, the large clawed feet, and… it had horns! Like one of the monsters raging out of Dante's Inferno!
"Avery!" Mom shrieked, her nails ripping Avery up by her arm. Luggage deserted, Mom held her close while Morris and Dad pushed them closer to the train. Avery continued watching as the carnivore zeroed in on a fleeing man. Mouth opened, it charged and caught him, crushing its meal into one of the pillars. Avery watched the man go limp, heard the crunch of the dinosaur's teeth through his muscle and bone. W-We're next… I'M NEXT!
"Let us in!" Morris screamed out at the helpless bottleneck everyone had created at the train doors. Dad was whipping his head around for a way in while Avery listened to Mom's hyperventilating. The dinosaur looked up from his bite, roared again with clothes and skin hanging out of its mouth.
"The restrooms." Dad had a hand on Morris' shoulder, another on Mom's keeping them in a protected circle. Avery managed to look toward them; on the other side of the platform! Mom tried to speak. "We… can't make that!"
"Run, NOW!" Dad ordered, getting Mom and Avery to follow him. Avery's legs obeyed, the shakes and jolts of the dinosaur's steps drowned her own. More screams, more crunches, all pushing her faster. She nearly tripped again as they reached the doorway, only to have Dad catch her and cram her in with everyone else. Avery righted to see Morris gaping out the doorless threshold.
Don't look, don't look! Avery told herself; but she did. Her parents copied her, unable to look away as the dinosaur rammed the train they'd been about to board. It broke the windows, letting loose the screams of the people inside. The dinosaur backed up, lowered its head, and rammed the train car, rocking it. The sounds of terror intensified as it hit again. On its fourth try, the carnivore succeeded in tipping the car over. How much did that weigh? Avery couldn't remember; her chin quivered with the shock of seeing it reduced to a paperweight. Mom pulled her back with the rest of them. Avery slid down the wall with her, the shaking and shock moving over her whole body. Mom covered her mouth so no sound came out.
Normal. Avery recalled the word, listening to the echoes of the dino's feet; as though mocking her hopes. Nothing was normal anymore.