Jurassic Island

Chapter 19 – Eye To Eye

"Cake!" Charlie cried out with glee, immediately darting towards a buffet table filled with delicious and decadent treats.

Zoe suppressed an eye roll as she watched her little brother delight in all the sweets. But she couldn't really blame him. They had both been through a lot over the last forty-eight hours. If anyone deserved some indulgence, it was them. She picked up the pace to catch up with Charlie, but slowed down when she noticed that Mr. Castle wasn't following. Zoe arched her neck over her shoulder and looked back at him.

"Mr. Castle?" she questioned.

He blinked, as if coming out of a daze. "Sorry, Zoe, I was just thinking of Kate."

"Kate… your wife?"

"Yes," he said, adjusting the shotgun in his hands. "I'm worried about her. She needs me. I can feel it in my gut." He knitted his eyebrows together as he stared off into space. "Look, you two should be safe in here for a while. You're both probably starving. Relax and get something to eat, and I'll be back as fast as I can."

Zoe stared up at him, hesitant. "Okay," she eventually inclined her head, not willing to argue with him that they—her and Charlie—needed him just as much as Mrs. Castle. Maybe even a little more. Castle's wife seemed pretty badass. From what little she'd seen, Zoe was certain Kate could take care of herself.

Castle nodded, and put a hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeezed. He looked up at Charlie and gave him a little wave, before shifting his hold on the shotgun and making for the exit.

"I'll be right back… I promise," he called back over his shoulder before disappearing through the doors.

Zoe let out a sigh. She didn't like it, but she trusted Rick Castle. Besides her mother, and some of her teachers at school, Mr. Castle had been one of the most honest adults she'd ever met. After one last fleeting glance towards the exit, Zoe turned around and walked over to join her brother at the dessert table. There was some green Jell-O. Her personal favorite. And the chocolate covered strawberries looked appealing. Her stomach growled. Maybe she'd have some of those.

XXX

Castle stepped out of the Visitor Center and stood on the top patio, narrowing his eyes as he looked down at the empty Jurassic Boulevard. He could still vividly recall their first day on the island, and how packed and full of activity it had been. He sighed, carding his fingers through his unruly hair, and gingerly walked down the concrete steps, still mindful of his right knee. The Advil he'd taken in the emergency bunker had finally started to kick in, but he thought it was best to err on the side of caution. Beckett would want him to take it easy and not put too much strain on his bad knee. This was one of the few times he was willing to actually listen to his wife's advice.

He gripped the shotgun tightly in his hands as he reached the bottom landing, eyes darting from side to side, not exactly sure where he should go. Besides the compys scampering about the abandoned restaurants and scavenging the leftovers, there wasn't really that much action. It should have been comforting. To Castle it was anything but. Stopping before a visitor guidepost, Castle scanned the tourist friendly park map. He remembered hearing Muldoon tell Beckett that the maintenance bunker was on the other side of the main compound. He studied the display, figuring out where the emergency bunker was located in relation to the Visitor Center. And with that calculated, he was able to estimate the approximate direction he should head to meet up with Beckett and Muldoon.

Castle doubled-timed it back to the Visitor Center, curving to the right. He smiled to himself when he saw the entrance of a service pathway that disappeared into a pack of dense foliage. "Bingo," he allowed himself a brief moment of triumph, before stepping to it, eager to reunite with his wife. His heart was still beating with frantic worry over the knowledge she'd encountered a velociraptor. She had said she was fine over the radio, but Castle wouldn't fully believe it until he saw her with his own eyes.

Fortunately the service pathway was well marked. He wouldn't get lost, that's for sure. Small ferns shaped like little swords stuck out from along the edge of the trail. The tree canopy provided some shade from the noon sun. Castle could have sworn he saw something in rustle the shrubs and brush off to his left, but when he peered into the greenery, he didn't see a thing. Shrugging it off as just the wind, and his overactive imagination, Castle continued on.

Eventually, he emerged out of the foliage and into a clearing. A large complex, with turrets and electric fences stood before him. There was a buzz in the air, and he stared up at the wired fence. Beckett had turned the power back on, so a current of electricity was once again flowing through the silver wires surrounding the pen. There was a flash of sparks, and the crackle of electric energy, from the middle of the fence. He narrowed his eyes, seeing the jagged ends of wires that had been torn apart to create a whole big enough for an animal to squeeze through. He stood there, mouth gaping, as he stared up at the hole in the fence, letting the implications settle in his mind.

"Castle! Castle!"

Spinning in place, he nearly shouted out in joy at the sight of Beckett rushing out of the jungle on the far side of the clearing. She screamed his name again, the relief heavy in her voice as she bounded towards him with a quick stride, thanks to her long legs. Everything else fell away, and it was just them. Heedless of the potential dangers lurking nearby, focusing entirely on his beloved wife, Castle dropped the shotgun and raced for her.

"Rick," Beckett let out a strangled sob of joy, springing up and into his open arms.

Unprepared for being pounced on, Castle stumbled back, his bad knee protesting under the strain. Thankfully his own forward momentum balanced out their colliding embrace, and he was able to remain standing as his wife wrapped her arms around him. She sobbed his name again, before ramming her mouth against his. He hummed in approval, letting his hands drop to her waist, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

Beckett broke away with a gasp, her chest heaving. "He's dead. Muldoon. I… I saw…," she gulped down a lungful of air, grabbing a hold of his biceps and clenching her eyes shut as she tried to center herself. "I saw what was left of him. The… the raptors got to him."

"Shit."

She opened her eyes and looked at him, wild and frantic. "Castle, where are the kids!?"

"They're at the Visitor Center," he said, running a trembling hand down the side of her face, just needing to touch her. "They were pretty hungry, so I left them in the cafeteria."

Beckett nodded, and canted into him, almost listlessly. He hugged her again, planting a kiss on the top of her head. They stayed like that for a couple more seconds. Beckett brushed her hair back and stepped around him, bending down to pick the shotgun up off the ground.

"It's just the two raptors, right?" Castle asked as he followed behind her. "You're sure the third one's contained?"

Kate bobbed her head as she checked over the shotgun with her assessing eyes. "Yes," she affirmed, before adding, almost worriedly. "Unless they've figured out how to open doors."

XXX

Zoe led the way through a door at the back of the cafeteria and entered the kitchen. She reached over and switched on the lights, smiling as several fluorescent light panels above their heads flickered on. Zoe couldn't help but smile at the simple fact that the power was back on. They may not entirely be out of the woods yet, but at least they had that. Several stainless steel tables stood in a row along the center of the room. Two the left she saw a big stove with lots of burners, and beyond that, she spied what looked like a series of large walk-in refrigerators. Charlie followed behind her, scratching at his shoulder and glancing around at everything.

"You think they got cookies and cream?" he asked.

"I don't know," Zoe replied, opening the closest refrigerator in her search for ice cream. A pale mist billowed out in the humid air as she opened the large metal door and peeked inside.

"If not, chocolate mint will do," Charlie graciously offered.

Zoe rolled her eyes as he continued listing off practically ever ice cream flavor known to man, saying each would be acceptable, though, of course, cookie and cream was preferable. She glanced around the inside of the large refrigerator. She found all kinds of stuff, cartons of milk, piles of vegetables, and a stack of T-bone steaks, fish—but no ice cream. Closing the door with a hiss, she glanced back at Charlie.

"You sure you wanted ice cream?"

"I told you, didn't I?" Charlie huffed, giving her an exasperated expression while sticking his lower lip out in an exaggerated pout.

She smirked, and bumped him playfully in the shoulder as she moved past him to the next refrigerator. He grumbled and rubbed his shoulder, but followed behind her nonetheless, eager for his ice cream. This one was much larger than the first. The stainless steel door was huge, with a wide horizontal handle. Though, before she could tug the door open, she had to yank a little pin out of the handle to unlock it. Gritting her teeth, curling her fingers around the handle, and then pulled the open. The cool air hissed out as it made contact with the kitchen. Zoe shivered as the chill leaked out around her.

"Zoe…," Charlie murmured, tugging on her sleeve. "Did you hear—?

"Wait a minute?" she said, waving off his hand, annoyed. "I'm looking for your ice cream." She narrowed her eyes and looked into the huge walk-in freezer. Hooks hung from the ceiling, dangling on clinking chains. One held what looked like a skinned pig. She wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Zoe!" Charlie hissed, this time he tugged on her arm. "Something's… out-outside the door."

Pulling back from the freezer, Zoe tilted her head to look toward the door they came through. The racket of chairs being tossed and tables crashing to the floor mixed with the clash of plates and clang of silverware. Shaking her head, she shut the freezer door and hurried walked over to the kitchen door. Zoe hesitated a moment to acknowledge a growing pit of worry in her stomach. Heaving in a calming breath, she gripped the handle and gently tugged the door open just enough so that she could peer through the gap.

Zoe let out a quiet gasp when she saw it.

It stood in the middle of the cafeteria, head bent over the pile of broken plates on the carpeted floor. Her heart thumped under her chest as she stared at the velociraptor. It was about six feet tall, and powerfully built, although its strong legs and tail were hidden by the tables. Zoe could see only the muscular upper torso, and the two forearms held tightly along side the body, razor sharp claws dangling. She could see a speckled pattern of dark spots along the back, following the curve of the spine, barely noticeable against the rest of the creature's dark brown hide.

The velociraptor was alert as it slowly crept forward around the tables, its head jerking back and forth in an abrupt, bird-like motion as it looked from side to side. The head also bobbed up and down as it walked, and the long straight tail dipped, which only further added to the impression of a bird.

She gulped.
A gigantic, silent bird of prey. A raptor.

The cafeteria was dark, saved for the beams of sunlight coming through the windows, but apparently the raptor could see well enough to move around. She stared at it, stalking between the tables. From time to time, it would stop and bend over, dipping its head below the tables. Zoe heard a rapid sniffing sound. Then the head would snap up, alert, jerking back and forth like a bird's, searching. She watched, holding her breath, until she was certain what she was seeing. It was following their scent. She didn't know it could do that. She'd only half paid attention to most of Charlie's babbling about dinosaurs, but Zoe thought she remembered him saying that most paleontologist believed dinosaurs had a poor sense of smell.

Well, this one seems to be doing just fine, she groaned inwardly, watching the raptor make steady progress through the cafeteria, coming in their direction.

Not wasting any more time, Zoe ducked back inside the kitchen and, as quietly as possible, closed the door. The latch clicked, sealing them in, but there was no lock. It should hold, though, she thought. Dinosaurs can't open doors. Next she reached up and switched off the lights plunging the room into semidarkness. Spinning around, she grabbed Charlie's hand and tugged him back with her, moving down the aisles between the stainless steel tables. She nudged him down to the tiled floor, and together they hid at the end of one of the work benches, behind a counter. She hugged him close, feeling his heart beat rapidly beneath his little chest.

Swallowing back her fear, Zoe craned her neck up and risked a glance around the edge of the counter as she heard a low terrifying purring get louder.

A velociraptor's head popped into view, visible through the round window in the middle of the door, light haloing its fearsome features. It snorted, and the hot breath fogged the glass, as the raptor twisted its head around to peer inside with its terrifying yellow eyes. Charlie squeezed her arm.

"Zoe," he whispered. "I'm scared."

The raptor thumped its head against the door. It didn't budge.

She turned back to look at her little brother, feeling his trembling. Zoe needed to calm him, and fast. His shivering was making too much noise. So she did what her mom did, she dropped a kiss on the top of his head, murmuring out quiet reassurances. It didn't matter if she believed them or not, she just had to say them.

The pounding stopped, and Zoe released a breath, flicking her gaze back towards the door. She could no longer see the raptor's head, but that didn't mean it was gone. Suddenly there was a strangle rattling noise, and her eyes flirted down to the door handle. A gasp escaped her mouth as she watched in speechless disbelief as the door handle began to turn. Outside the raptor snarled, snapping its jaws. Bumping its head against the door, it now swung open, banging loudly against the wall.

"It's inside," Zoe muttered, eyes locked on the raptor as it stood in the doorways.

The raptor drew itself up to its full height, rearing its head back as it let out a series of honks. The air seemed to vibrate with the call. Within moments, another raptor appeared, brushing past the first as it moved into the kitchen, snarling and snorting. The first raptor snapped at the second, and the newcomer lowered its head, letting out a hiss, tongue curling. It slowly pulled back, clearly intimidated by the first one, which was larger.

Retreating back behind the metal counter, Zoe closed her eyes, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart as the two raptors hooted and hissed at one another, as if they were having some sort of conversation. The large one let out a rolling growl, snarling and hissing. It let a honking, and the two raptors moved forward, splitting up, each taking a different aisle, heads slowly tilting to survey the tabletops and surrounding kitchen. The raptors were quickly approaching their hiding spot.

Zoe tapped Charlie's shoulder. "Follow me," she whispered.

Stilling her breath, she slowly moved, crawling on all fours down the third aisle, with her little brother following behind her, around the other side of the counter from the raptors, moving in the opposite direction. Zoe's heart thumped loudly in her ears, and she glanced to the left, spying the clawed feet of the raptor walking on the other side. One toe had a large six-inch dagger like claw. The raptor stopped, clicking the claw against the tile, before continuing on. Holding her breath, Zoe rushed forward, pivoting around the edge of the other counter.

The large raptor honked, and the other turned, its tail smacking into a collection of pots and pans, knocking them off the counter and clattering loudly onto the tiled floor. Zoe looked back, gasping when she saw Charlie stumbling around the fallen cooking pans. He grunted, and she gestured for him to hurry, biting her lower lip in worry as Charlie kicked his feet and scrambled to join her. He made it around the edge of the table just in time.

Curious as to the source of the racket, the raptor had bent down to look. It's fearsome head stuck out from underneath the table, shoving aside containers of dishcloths. Dipping its head down, the raptor nudged a fallen pot with its snout, sniffing it. Up close, the raptors were a much more frightening animal than the tyrannosaur. The T-Rex was huge and powerful, but the velociraptor was man-size, and it was clearly quick and intelligent; Zoe feared the searching eyes almost as much as the sharp teeth and dagger-like claws. The raptor snapped, irritated, narrowing its eyes as it glared down at the pots and pans, before withdrawing and standing back up.

Zoe let out a breath of relief at not getting found. But she knew that was likely to change. Glancing at Charlie, she signaled for him to follow her. He shook his head, eyes wide with fright, leaning back against the end of the counter, little chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.

We have to keep moving, she mouthed, but he shook his head again, reaching up to brush his unruly hair back. As he moved, his elbow bumped against the kitchen utensils hanging off the hooks along the side of the counter. A metal ladle slipped off the hook and clattered to the floor before Zoe could stop it. The metallic clang resounded through the silent room. Both raptors hissed and snarled with interest, shifting direction. One let out a high-pitched honk and jumped up on the center table, knocking even more pans and cooking utensils to the ground.

Zoe tapped Charlie's shoulder and jerked her head towards the cabinets lining the opposite wall. And then, without looking back, she immediately took off in a quick crawl, assuming her little brother was right behind her. She made good time. Pirouetting around, intent on ushering Charlie inside on of the cabinets, Zoe was startled to discover he had barely moved. He had made it around from the head of the table, but he had stopped at the corner, pressing up against the flat surface of the counter. She waved her hand to get his attention, frantically gesturing for him to come over, but he shook his head, his entire body shaking with the fear that had frozen him in place.

Putting a hand over her chest, feeling it clench with fear and worry, Zoe racked her brain for a solution. Her dad used to always tell her that: "Think of the solution, Zoe, not the problem." So she did just that, furrowing her brow as she tried to formulate a plan to protect her little brother. Her eyes flirted over to the metal cabinets, and she found herself staring at her reflection.

The lead raptor let out a snarling growl, and dipped down to sniff the fallen ladle. Its pink tongue flicked out and it liked the curved spoon. Zoe watched and strained her ears to listen. Charlie closed his eyes, and pressed himself up tightly against the counter. It was only a matter of time until he was discovered. Taking a risk, Zoe grabbed on of the spoons hanging from the hooks beside her and banged it against the tile floor.

The searching raptor's head swooped up, yellow eyes spotting Zoe in seconds. The big raptor saw her too, and it reared back, stretching it's clawed hands, letting out a screeching roar, bearing its razor sharp teeth. Within moments, the fearsome predator was charging towards her. Zoe immediately dropped the spoon, and made for the steel cabinet. She scrambled inside, and glanced across at her reflection along the other steel cabinets. Tears poured down her face as the stress and emotions of everything finally began to overwhelm her. She reached up to tug the cover down, but it didn't move. Grunting she tried again, yanking at it, but it was stuck. It wouldn't budge.

But it didn't matter.

Zoe flicked her eyes back to her reflection, seeing that her pitiful struggle was only intensifying the raptor's determination. It snarled and snapped as it sped across the room. And with one final roar, the raptor pounced, but instead of ensnaring her in its jaws, the beast's head rammed hard against the shiny metal cabinets along the wall. It chased the wrong image. It made a startled sound, something like a strangled growl, and collapsed, stunned. It sagged to the floor, semiconscious.

While it was still dazed, Zoe quickly scrambled out of the cabinet, and scampered back to Charlie. Her little brother let out a gasp of surprise when she grabbed his shoulder. "I have an idea," she whispered, nodding her head in the direction of the large walk-in refrigerators. She hadn't closed the door of the last one, and it stood enticingly ajar.

Charlie's eyes grew wide as he took in her suggestion. "That's crazy," he hissed in a low voice.

"It's our only chance," Zoe said, grasping his arm and yanking him up. "Come on. Run!"

Despite his doubts, Charlie did as she said. She put one hand on his shoulder and encouraged him on as she glanced over her shoulder. The smaller raptor had been staring down at the one on the floor, investigating the smashed up metal cabinets, but it saw them the moment they made their move. It growled, raising one leg up onto the table, and launching after them like a bat out of hell.

Charlie reached the freezer first; he yanked at the door, swinging it fully open. Unable to halt her momentum, Zoe slammed into him, and the two skidded into the freezer, their feet slipping on the cold and slick floor. Before Zoe could regain any control, they were tumbling down.

The raptor bellowed a rolling roar, and launched in after them, but it wasn't expecting the slick floor. Startled and enraged, the raptors roared as it slid across the floor, slamming hard against the pig carcass dangling from the hook. Sprawled on the floor, Zoe rolled out of the way, tugging Charlie with her. Grabbing a fist full of his t-shirt, Zoe dragged her brother up to his feet, and shoved him out of the freezer. Her feet skid against the slick surface as she pushed herself up, but she managed to retain her balance and follow her brother.

Immediately, Zoe turned around, tugging at the freezer's stainless steel door, attempting to slam it shut. Yet the raptor had already regained its balance. It arched its neck, seeing her. Flashing her a wicked grin of razor sharp teeth, it snarled and snapped its jaws, jumping forward and violently ramming the bulk of its powerful body against the interior of the door. Zoe grunted, and slipped back as a result of the force. She screamed, flinging all her weight against the door before the raptor could ram itself against it again. This time the door slammed shut and she heard a satisfying click.

"Charlie! Charlie!" she screamed. She could hear the raptor pounding against the door, felt it thumping the steel. The door shook with each powerful impact. She stepped back, alarmed. She knew there was a flat steel knob inside, and if the raptor recognized it, it could open the door like it had with the kitchen door. They had to lock it. "Charlie!"

"What!?" he appeared by her side, practically vibrating with adrenaline.

Zoe leaned against the horizontal door handle, holding it shut. "There's a pin! A little pin! Get the pin!"

Inside the freezer the velociraptor roared like a lion, the sound muffled by the thick steel. It crashed its whole body against the door. The pin was dangling beneath the door handle, swinging on a little metal chain.

"I see it!" Charlie shouted frantically.

He moved closer, ducking underneath her arms to reach for it. With him so close to her, Zoe could see and feel how frightened he was. Charlie breathed in little panicky gasps as he reached for the pin. The velociraptor slammed against the door and Zoe lost her footing, slipping back. And it opened. The door opened! But the raptor hadn't expected that, and had already reared back for another try. Not wasting the opportunity, Zoe quickly found her footing and slammed the door shut again.

Charlie scrambled back, reached up and grabbed the pink. "Got it!" he cried, clutching the pin in his hand, and he pushed it through the hole, locking it into place.

The velociraptor roared. Zoe and Charlie stepped back from the door as the dinosaur slammed into it again and again. With each impact, the heavy steel wall hinges creaked, but they held. Zoe didn't think it could possibly open the door. The raptor was locked in.

Zoe released a long sigh, and took Charlie's hand. "Let's go."

They ran out of the kitchen, not seeing the other raptor stagger back up to its feet. It shook its head, and spotted them. A purr, almost like a chuckle, escaped its throat as it pulled its lips back in a snarling grin.

XXX

"This way," Castle said, glancing back at Kate and gesturing for her to follow.

Nodding, Kate adjusted the shotgun in her arms and walked behind him as he led the way through the Visitor Center lobby. She couldn't help but smile at the sight of him. Despite being battered and bruised from the trailer attack by Rex the Stalker, he looked pretty damn good. His chin and jaw was littered with two days worth of stubble, which only added to his rugged sex appeal. And aside from aggravating his bad knee, he'd come through it all relatively unharmed. She sighed, reaching up to card her fingers through her hair.

Kate couldn't wait until they got the hell off this island. They both needed a shower… preferably together. And a bed, where certain life affirming activities could be had. What could she say; life-threatening situations seemed to make her horny. And hot for Castle. No one could satisfy her the way her husband could. Even that first time. He'd surprised her with his ability to read her wants and desires. After that night, she'd had no lingering doubts she had found her one and done, the love of her life.

He glanced back at her, and winked, grinning smugly. She narrowed her eyes, and pursed her lips. The smug jackass knew exactly what she was thinking. Though, Kate simply shrugged it off, not caring. After all, he was her smug jackass, and she had ways of making him pay.

Later, she promised herself.

They marched underneath the magnificent skeletons of the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Apatosaurus locked in mortal combat. She craned her neck, squinting as she stared up at the display. She used to enjoy marveling at the fossils of these long extinct animals. But now… boy, how things have changed!

"Where's Hammond?" she asked, scanning the lobby with highly trained eyes.

"He decided to stay in the bunker," Castle informed her with a disapproving scowl.

"Bastard," she grumbled under her breath.

Castle nodded in agreement, and gestured ahead of them. Kate spotted the double doors that led into the cafeteria. She trotted ahead of Castle, holding out a hand to stall him. Shifting the shotgun into a ready position, Kate dove first into the room, her husband not far behind.

"Holy shit!" Castle gasped when he stepped out around her, gazing at the destruction before them. Tables and chairs had been tossed around, and broken plates and silverware were littered across the floor.

"Whoa!" she let out a startled breath. "What happened in here?"

A scream came from the direction of the kitchens, and Kate jerked towards the sound. A door swung open, banging loudly against the wall, and she saw the two kids hurriedly tumble out. Castle shouted their names, and he immediately took off, meeting them halfway. The teenage girl flung herself into his arms, crying into the crook of his shoulder, while the boy buried his face into Castle's side. He held the two kids close and glanced at Kate with a worried expression.

"What is it?" he asked the teen. "What happened?"

"It… it's in there!" Zoe stammered out.

Before Castle could ask, they were answered by a high-pitched screeching roar that was all too familiar to Kate. They heard the sounds of pots and pans crashing as the raptor thrashed about inside the kitchen. Kate swallowed anxiously and exchanged a look with Castle, who was still juggling the two kids in his arms. They communicated with just their eyes, a skill they'd developed early on in their unorthodox partnership. She raised her eyebrows, ever so slightly, and he gave a nod of agreement.

"Control room."