"Look ok?" Claire paraded herself from the bathroom to show off for Maisie. The hair dryer in their hotel couldn't blow out a candle, so her hair had to air dry before anything real could be done with it. Air drying gave her frizzies… hopefully they'd suffer from a poor connection.

"You look lovely." Maisie turned in the chair from Claire's laptop. Was she watching more videos? Claire had propped it up on the desk, strategically between her notes and a clean legal pad for any issues that came up during the meeting. But no, Maisie was sharing some face time with Zia, who waved as Claire came into view. "Look at you, boss."

Claire smoothed her gray turtleneck down the front, checking the black belt again that held her skirt in place. Ok, the belt was more decoration then anything, but it had been too sleek and commanding not to get! Claire revealed in the ease that office clothes gave her. "I'm lucky I managed to find a skirt that covers my bandage-"

'Yea, yea, enough of the trivals," Zia waved that off, leaning in with an eager grin. "Show me the rock."

Claire rolled her eyes, but held her left hand up to the camera. "And it's not a rock, thankfully. I don't want people gawking over me like some trophy wife."

"Just the wife of a super-muscular dinosaur whisperer," Zia shrugged back from the screen. "No trophies in sight."

Maisie laughed then. "She has a point."

Claire tried to stop the hot flush in her cheeks. "And you think that's the only reason I married Owen? Because he's-"

"Hot?" Zia snorted. Claire glared at her pixelated image. "You are officially a bad influence."

"So I'll assume you got married because you like to yell at each other." Maisie decided, lulling her head in her hand.

"Why are you still in your pajamas?" Claire switched the subject, gesturing to Maisie's messed hair and wrinkled cotton. "We're going to lunch when this is over."

"You could be talking for hours." Maisie sighed. "And I'm going to lay on the bed anyway-"

"Hey, put pride into yourself in private, people will notice in public." Claire held her chin high, establishing her authority. "Besides, I'm sure you'll feel better once you get dressed."

Maisie shared an eye roll with Zia. "If you say so."

She got up, leaving Claire the chair, and dragged her bag into the bathroom. Her usual spring wasn't there, or her snarkiness. Did that mean she was annoyed with Claire? According to Karen, that meant you were doing something right as a parent.

I'll have to research it later. Claire added to her mental to-do list. Her reading list was already bookmarked with several parenting advice websites. Owen had brushed them off with sarcastic comments, but Claire had caught him skimming through one night.

"Laying down the law like always." Zia smiled knowingly at Claire as she sat. "How does it feel?"

"Surreal." Claire admitted. "How's the office looking?"

"Well, believe it or not, some of us don't live in an office building, Claire. There are these things called homes-"

Claire eyed the ceiling, breathing out her patience. "Zia."

"Alright, shutting down." Zia's face turned serious and straightened up. "I know it's been killing you, not being here. The desks were arranged to your liking and Franklin got our systems all updated before the army came and took him."

"What'd you mean they took Franklin?" Claire sidetracked, her peripheral catching Maisie coming out of the bathroom. Maisie pointed out her aqua-green jacket and jeans dramatically. Claire mouthed a thank you. Maisie eyed herself in the full-length mirror, and then dropped herself on the bed.

"The internet crashed last week, remember?" Zia recapped. "So, Franklin calls me all panicked, saying he's got orders to go upstate. Head a team of techno geeks or something."

Upstate? Claire's thoughts wondered to Owen. He couldn't give any details from the base, but wouldn't he have mentioned if Franklin was there? Then again, maybe he wasn't.

"…so he calls me for advise on what to do." Zia shook her head. "Guy outruns a volcano, stops a velociraptor from bleeding to death, and he's still as whiny as ever."

"Speaking of raptors," Claire glimpsed at Maisie on the bed. "Anything on Blue?"

"Not that he could find." Zia hesitated. Her eyes withdrew a little, probably back to the cramped and sweaty truck bed of the Arcadia. "It's like she just vanished."

Claire put a hand under her chin, eyes running over her notes yet again. The senator had highlighted Blue as a major talking point for their meeting. Claire put it aside, eyes back on Zia. "This conference starts in ten minutes. We will be speaking with three prominent funders of our organization, and we will be on our best behavior the entire time." She worked down the essentials with her fingers. "We will smile, nod, and stick to the list of talking points, which will be free of sarcasm and irony. Right?"

"Yes, ma'am." Zia saluted; as good a response as she was going to get. Claire abandoned the laptop long enough to dry her hair, styling it for that forward-thinking professional look. She was stuck with the frizzies, so she hoped they wouldn't be too noticeable.

Sometimes I wonder why I ever grew it out. Claire finally stepped back into the bedroom. She stopped, noting Maisie still on the bed. Eyes closed and cheeks still rosy; as if she'd just come in with Owen after working away on the cabin. Only the color didn't comfort Claire. She leaned over, touching the girl's shoulder. "Maisie?"

She stirred and looked up at Claire. "Just resting my eyes."

"You are getting sick!" Claire realized, hand on her warm forehead. What do I do? I don't have any medicine! She's been acting tired lately, but seemed fine a minute ago-

"I'm fine." Maisie insisted, pushing herself up. Claire eyed the laptop, configuring the ninety seconds she had before the meeting. She could call the front desk and ask them for some children's Tylenol!

"Claire," Zia called out as Claire picked up their room phone. Claire waved at her. "Hold on."

"Claire, I said I'm fine." Maisie whined, dangling her legs over the edge of the bed. She grabbed Claire's hand in hers. "Don't miss your meeting. It's too important to you."

The desk wasn't answering. Claire hung up, watching Maisie. She was putting on a brave face, complete with an encouraging smile. She was a good kid; she'd tell Claire if she felt anything worse then a head cold. Besides, kids got colds all the time.

"Lay down," Claire smoothed Maisie's hair back. "Rest. I'll wrap this up and we'll get you… cold-fighting stuff."

"Tylenol?" Maisie suggested.

"You're in charge of making a list." Claire tasked her, noting to call Karen later for further instructions. She slid back into the chair, a little disgusted with herself. I need instruction on how to handle a cold? Get it together, girl!

Claire smoothed her shirt a final time as her screen indicated a call. Seconds later, she and Zia were connected to Senator Sherwood, Dr. Patrice Inger, and Councilman Webster. Claire had only met Dr. Inger over the phone, as a monthly contributor to the DPG. Councilman Webster on the other hand, was a frequent face at the DPG's promotional events. He embodied adult morals behind a baby-like face of blue eyes and brown hair. Regardless, the senator made introductions all around, giving Claire a moment to eye Maisie turning over on her bed.

"Will Mr. Grady be joining us?" Senator Sherwood inquired with everyone settled. "He'll be very interested in what we have to discuss."

Claire smiled politely. "My husband is caught up in some of the recent rescue efforts."

"Ah," the senator nodded. "I had hoped to finally meet him, so to speak. This involves him as much as you, Miss- Mrs. Grady." He gestured to Zia's corner frame. "Your colleagues as well."

Zia gave a flattered wave. "So I've been hearing. Care to clue us in?"

Claire narrowed her gaze on Zia.

"In truth, this idea was Dr. Inger's." Senator Sherwood stated. Dr. Inger took that was her cue, brushing imaginary wisps of her blonde hair back. "Mrs. Grady, I've contributed to the DPG since its birth and its stance is one that I greatly support. In light of my work with InGen..." Dr. Inger nodded herself on. "My faction's contributions have saved us face since the park closed. I wanted to bring some clarity to it however; I feel you're owed that."

Everyone's stares focused on her next words. She was a woman of thirty- younger then Claire had expected- with hair pulled back and a sophisticated face that tettered on worry and hope. She commanded attention like the rest of them, though appeared flustered now that the spotlight was actually on her. "I've worked for InGen's outsourcing for eleven years. My team ensured that there are no contaminated samples coming or going from the company. We understand more then most about InGen's influence- financial and otherwise- across the globe."

Claire nodded through her sentences, getting a feel for the direction she was heading. Her eyes met Zia's, who remained clueless. At least she was sitting up straight.

"…its future will affect as much." Dr. Inger concluded. "And I'm not the only one eager to preserve it; for the sake of jobs and science."

Claire admired her advocacy for her own employees. It had been one of the qualities that convinced her to accept their funding. And an endorsement from Senator Sherwood hadn't hurt. Claire encouraged the point. "How would you hope to do that, Dr. Inger? And how can the protection group help?"

"Specifically your work with the DPG." Councilman Webster revised.

"Claire," Senator Sherwood took the lead. "We're thinking about a merger of the two; your foundation with the InGen corporation."

"A merger." Zia spoke her and Claire's surprise. "Like, turn InGen into a non-profit?"

Councilman Webster's brow furrowed. "Not quite."

"Sure not." Zia sat back. "Perish the thought of not making a buck."

Claire snuck a glare at her as Senator Sherwood smoothed things over. "I'll repeat what was said at the summit. We cannot ignore the impact these creatures have had on history and bioengineering. InGen is a part of that, and for the company to have any future, we need people at the helm who can oversee it with a logical and moral compass."

His eyes were on Claire as she blinked. "Are you offering us jobs?"

"Any official titles are still in the making. But when this business in California is done, we want to have a plan in place that moves everything forward. InGen's research and the DPG's humanitarian efforts."

His mounting enthusiasm mirrored Claire's. Was this the chance she'd been hoping for? She had been trying to get the DPG on the frontlines for so long, finally using it to make peace with everything that had happened- and followed- her from the island. But with the anticipation also came concern.

"You've mentioned moving forward, senator," Claire addressed him as well as Dr. Inger and the councilman. "But in what direction? One that continues to manufacture the dinosaur DNA? Expands on the idea, if not types of hybrids?"

Dr. Inger 's slight laugh interjected. "Mrs. Grady, you witnessed the auction! We're not the only country that possesses dinosaurs anymore. Indonesia, Russia, Kenya…"

Zia looked more worried with each one she named. Dr. Inger continued to stare at Claire. "How long before any one of them creates their own blueprint? Regardless of their intentions, the potential damage has reached a global scale. We need this in our back pocket, like it or not."

Claire knew what she was saying. They were all fooling themselves if they thought this was going to end in California. You can't put it back in the box, Eli Mills had said.

"We've spoken to several members of InGen's board already," Councilman Webster was explaining, hands folded before him. "Their investors too. They all agree with Dr. Inger."

"And you trust their motives?" Zia posted, matching his posture. "They're losing money on this thing with each hour that goes by. And InGen will have its second round of lawsuits before their stockholders can climb up from their plummet."

What? Claire blinked. It's almost like she read through my notes.

"We trust Claire's motivations." Senator Sherwood stated. "The rise of the DPG has not gone unnoticed, Miss Rodríguez. We couple that initiative- and yes, public image- with InGen's resources, we help our country put its best foot forward to face this crisis and its aftermath." His face changed. "You, your employees and your husband would all be brought on board."

"Why Owen?" Claire narrowed her focus, scribbling Owen's name on her pad with a question mark beside it. Senator Sherwood's next pause was lengthy. "Project I.B.R.I.S."

Zia cocked her head, befuddled. "What's that?"

Claire overcame her own surprise with the mention of the name. "I.B.R.I.S… Integrated Behavorial Raptor Intelligence Study. It was a program run through InGen's security division."

"Correct." Dr. Inger jumped in before the senator. "A program well documented in measuring the intel of velociraptors. Mr. Grady, among others, were hired to discover the extent of their intelligence and ways it could be manipulated." She held up a hand to any objections. "Now many may consider the incident at Jurassic World a failure, but the bottom line is they were responding. And if they did once, they can again."

Claire drifted her stare to the senator; he was agreeing with this. She'd only been on the sidelines of I.B.R.I.S. and Owen had never gone into detail. Maybe he had never fully believed in its objective. He certainly wouldn't now.

"And you think the end result wouldn't be the same?" Claire asked. "If not worse."

"Dr. Wu oversaw the DNA compilation of the raptors." Zia mentioned, pushing her glasses up. "And we don't have his 'expertise' this time around."

"Everything InGen ever undertook is achieved at their headquarters in Palo Alto." Senator Sherwood nodded to Dr. Inger's image. "And Dr. Inger assures me it will be enough to recreate-"

"This isn't a question of recreating, senator." Claire stopped him, her pen tracing Owen's name; it soothed her. "We're questioning what we can do to control things after the outbreak has been dealt with. We would not be establishing control if we were to reinstate I.B.R.I.S."

"What she said." Zia voted, fist bumping the air. Senator Sherwood was already shaking his head. "We're not so sure."

Claire drew a tight breath. Motivations never changed, even when you thought present circumstances would be enough to wake people up. Claire looked over at where Maisie lay; her words held ten times more impact just thinking about what world she wanted Maisie to grow up in. One without the wonder of dinosaurs or one without the fear of them?

"Questions like that make you ideal for heading this company, Claire." Senator Sherwood was wheeling and dealing now. "A company running programs like I.B.R.I.S. at your discretaion. You can ensure that it doesn't go too far… Claire?"

Claire heard him, but her eyes were still on Maisie.

"My apologies," Claire picked up her phone and out it to her ear. "It's my husband."

She moved away before anyone could object. Claire reached the bed, voice lowered. "Maisie?"

She didn't get an answer, just a visual of a flushed and shivering girl! Claire touched Maisie's forehead; it was burning! Claire leaned in. "Maisie? Maze!?"

Maisie's head turned slightly, but her eyes weren't focused as they opened. Claire's heart slammed into panic mode. She clutched the phone and approached the conference again. "I-I'm sorry. We'll have to reschedule!"

The senator's eyebrows popped up. "Claire…"

Claire canceled his link, along with Inger and Webster's. It was just her and Zia when she dropped the phone and tried to breath. "Something's wrong with Maisie."

Zia took the longest second to process that. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know." Claire was horrified to admit. She started for the bed, then backed up. She brushed her hands through her hair. "She's shivering… but she's hot."

"Call 911." Zia said.

"No, you come and check her." Claire insisted. She couldn't take Maisie to a hospital!

"I'm three hours away!"

Claire was frozen. Her brain was firing the right responses, but her body wasn't reacting.

"CLAIRE!" Zia commanded, smacking her desktop. "Call 911! I'll be there as soon as-"

Claire didn't hear her as she snatched her phone up and dialed.