I'm still here! School has started for my kids, so it's a little hectic trying to fall back into the routine. Thank you for being patient! I've added a little more to the Owen, Claire, and Hoskins scene because I see Owen as a very protective husband and father. ENJOY! READ & REVIEW!

"The mother hen has arrived," Hoskins smirked. I walked towards them studying Owen's tense posture. Hoskins' eyes fell on me as I approached them. "Someone decided to get down and dirty." His eyes raked my body and I shivered. Before I could respond Owen's arm shot out towards Hoskins and punched him in the jaw.
I stared at Owen's back as he took a step to his right, placing himself between Hoskins and I. "Get the hell out of here and stay away from my animals. Speak to my wife again I'll break your damn jaw."
I moved around Owen to stand at his side. "Hoskins, you wanted this to happen. You son-of-a-bitch!"
Thought I spoke to him he turned to Owen for his answer. I wanted to laugh at him. He was intimidated by him. Listening to his threat to not speak to me, he gripped his jaw and only spoke to Owen.
"Oh, Jeez, how many more people have to die for this mission to start making sense to you?"
Barry came up to stand behind me. "It's not a mission," he interjected. "It's a field test."
Before Owen could react I slipped out from behind him. "I will not authorize this!" I yelled, taking a step towards him.
"I don't need you to!" Hoskins met my step.
"Back off!" Owen growled shoving Hoskins away from me.
"This is an INGEN situation now," Hoskins informed us. I shook my head and narrowed my eyes. He was using Mr. Masrani's death as an opportunity to take over. "Ok, there is going to be cruise ships showing up here at first light. Everybody is going to get off this island. You're going to hear news stories tomorrow and hear how you all saved lives.. No, no better yet how your animals saved lives!"
Owen slowly turned to look at me, then he raised his eyes to where the kids were sitting in the car.
"It's too dangerous." I whispered.
"They've never been out of containment. It's crazy." Barry agreed with me.
Hoskins opened his mouth to say something to me, but glanced at Owen quickly.
"I dare you." Owen threatened him.
He turned his back on us. "Let's move it out!" He yelled to his men.
He turned back to look at Owen. "This is happening! With or without you."
"You're mean!" Maisie's voice rang out.
Owen and I spun to see her stomping her feet, hands in fists as she stormed towards us. Her eyes locked on Hoskins.
"Maisie, stop!" Zach was out of the car behind her trying to hold her back.
"I'm saving your ass, kid." Hoskins answered.
"The raptors are my dads! You can't just use them." She was screaming. Owen caught her when she reached us.
"You have no idea what your talking about, little girl. I'd watch what your saying—" Hoskins was cut off when Owen pushed Maisie in my direction and took a step towards him, his hand ready for another punch.
"Seriously? You want a broken jaw?" Owen threatened.
"Do it!" Maisie pressed.
"Hey," I whispered, shaking her shoulders. "Calm down and get back in the car."
"He's being mean to you and dad!" She complained.
"Dad can handle it. Get back in the car." I gave her back a light push towards the car and Zach took her hand.
I turned back to see Owen toe to toe with Hoskins. "You so much as look at my kid again and I'll feed you to the raptors myself."
"Owen," I wrapped my hands around his right arm and tugged as hard as I could. He didn't break his concentration on Hoskins. I tried again, "Owen, there's more important things going on than this asshole."
Owen's eyes slowly dropped to my face and the fire in his eyes faded. "Come on," I tugged at his arm again.
This time we let me pull him away.
Hoskins immediately went to speak to some of his troops.
"Are you doing this?" I asked, letting my hands slide down his arm and laced my fingers with his.
"I have to," he whispered.
I nodded. "Then do it," I took an unsteady breath, "I stand behind your decision. No matter what it is."
He leaned in and kissed me.
"Claire," he sighed against my lips.
"Hmm?"
"You're daughter has one hell of a temper."
I smiled, leaning in to kiss him quickly. "Wonder who she takes after."
"You." He smiled and kissed my cheek.
I shook my head, but didn't say anything more. I knew he was stalling as he tried to sort out a plan in his head.
He studied my face before sighing. "Go stay with the kids until I come get you. I need a few minutes to figure things out."
I didn't want to leave his side. I needed to hear what he was planning on doing, but the kids needed me more. We both knew that.
I nodded and turned to walk back towards the car.
"I hate that man." Maisie grumbled once I was back at the car.
"We all do, but right now dad has to work with him." I replied.
"What is he doing?" Zach asked, watching Owen walk over to the tent with a group of men.
I watched him lean over a large map of the island sorting out some plan that would place him in the center of the threat. My heart pounded in my chest as the men around him listened to whatever he was telling them. "Hopefully saving everyone," was the best possible answer I could come up with.
"This will work." Hoskins voiced made me jump.
I narrowed my eyes at him. He raised his hands to surrender when he saw me glance over at Owen.
"I'm just trying to help you see that this needs to be done."
"Go away." Maisie groaned. "I'll call my dad!"
I pushed her shoulders in the car and shut the door before turning back to face Hoskins. "You don't know if this will work. This animals are not as predictable as you think they are."
"Did you not see the control Owen had over them earlier? He is the key to lead this hunt to victory."
I shook my head and kept my eyes on Owen. "They're not ready," I repeated, "I can't agree with you when the only proof you have to go on is a freak accident that happened earlier today. Yes, he may have been able to stall the raptors long enough to get the kid out of the paddock, but did you see the way they attacked as soon as Owen had his back to them? If the gate didn't stop them he would not be with us right now." I swallowed back the tears.
"He will do this." Hoskins' voice was low. It sounded more like a threat than encouragement.
"Claire!" Owen yelled as he walked quickly over to me.
I smiled to let him know there was nothing wrong.
Hoskins walked away before Owen reached us.
"What was that?" He asked.
"Nothing," I answered with a heavy sigh. "he really thinks this will work."
I glanced over Owen's shoulder as the men he was talking to had moved from the tent to vehicles scattered around the area.
He followed my gaze and took my hand in his. "There's a truck that will keep you and the kids safer than the car. I want you to stay here until I come back for you…" he trailed off when he saw the tears in my eyes.
"Hey," he whispered, trailing his thumbs across my cheeks to catch my tears. "I will come back for you."
"I love you," I choked out.
He kissed me lightly and rested his forehead against mine. "I love you, too." His voice was low and soft. His breath warm on my face.
"Where are you going?" Maisie asked, shoving between Owen and I.
We separated just enough to let her slide between us. Keeping my left hand in his, he knelt down to Maisie's level. "I'll be right back. Stay here with mom and your cousins."
Maisie went to protest, but he dropped my hand and turned to walk towards the raptors.
Zach and Gray were at my side and I couldn't help but smile when Zach instinctively took Maisie's hand.
"Those the raptors?" Gray asked.
"That's them," Maisie answered proudly.
"Mrs. Grady?"
I turned towards the approaching voice. "Yes?" I asked the uniformed man.
"I'm Doug, I'll be running the field test with your husband." He held his hand out and I took it.
"Claire," I informed him.
"Can we go see the raptors?" Gray asked me.
"Listen to Owen."
The three kids nodded and ran towards the fenced in area that held the raptors.
"Your husband wanted me to show you the truck."
"Thank you," I smiled and let him lead me towards a large ACU truck.