Okay so yeah, it's been a minute since I've last posted anything on this story. A long, long minute. That's because I completely lost interest in working on this story. No matter what I did from binge watching the entire Jurassic Park / World movies to watching other movies with actors/actresses I've mentally cast as OCs for the story, I couldn't trigger the desire to work on this. Over the recent couple of months I've sort of gotten to where I want to work on this. While this chapter is rather slow, it's a start to getting back into this...

PREPARATIONS

19 - Taking the Fall

"How could you be so reckless and irresponsible?" Dark eyes glowing red with rage seared into the blue-green eyed smirk being received from the other side of the office desk. "I expected better of you! After everything you have witnessed! Knowing how dangerous that particular animal is? Expressing more than once your concern of further unnecessary deaths? And then this!"

Pet scoffed, rolled her eyes and shook her head all at the same time. "My only regret is that the tranqs kicked in before Rexy could eat Hog-skins and his men." She cocked a brow and tilted her head, eyes slimming down on the irate billionaire. "Probably a good thing, actually. Poor thing would've died from severe indigestion. To go through everything she has and live, only to die from a bad meal." Watching his already angered face turn a brighter shade of red furthered her smile. "Besides," the hybrid purred, "he tried to sabotage my team by trapping us at the east dock. He just thought we couldn't go anywhere. Not with an obvious washed up boat right fucking THERE, blocking the gate's access point!" Her nostrils flared before she recomposed herself. "The way I see it, he deserved it. You wanted us to work together. Obviously, he wanted to do things solo. He has no idea how to handle the threats," Pet pointed in the direction of the island, "those animals pose!" She clenched her jaw, unsure how much longer she could remain somewhat calm. "I don't know how many times it needs to be stressed."

Simon inhaled a deep breath, held it for a moment, then slowly released it. "The next trip to the island, you're staying here where you can not cause trouble or endanger anyone else's life!"

"You wanna bet?"

Hands being slammed down onto the office desk rang out, even down the hallway. "Damn it, Veronica!"

Despite being in trouble, Pet was fine with it. She pushed to take the fall for Terrence's hilarious flare stunt. He opposed it but her 'accidentally' tranquilizing him before Hoskins and his team could confront them kept him from telling the truth. He didn't need to get in trouble for attempting to do the billionaire, and the world, a favor. Somewhere below decks, he was still unconscious. Or maybe starting to wake up, she didn't know. Should he try to come forward with the truth, though, she'd just shoot him again. And again. And maybe again until he got the point. Or his heart stopped working from overdosing on tranquilizers...if that was possible. Was it possible? Oh well whatever.

"And then what?" Pet inquired. "I can't do anything useful being stuck here on your floating palace. I thought you needed me to help lead a corral team from one part of the island while the Bacon Brigade took care of the other side?"

"I've worked out a secondary course of action." Simon's voice sounded much calmer, though his tempered expression betrayed him. "To prevent anyone from having the urge to sabotage the other, I'm splitting up my team and yours. Robert will be working with one half of the InGen security team while Mr. Hoskins is accompanied by members of yours."

The hybrid was jaw dropped. "Seriously? You think that's going to work? And you're worried about me sabotaging things?" Pet didn't know whether to laugh or facepalm. "All the while I'm expected to just sit here and twiddle my thumbs."

It was Simon's turn to grin at the hybrid's ego getting knocked down a few pegs. "Look at it this way, it'll give you plenty of peace and quiet to work on your animal species presentation for the newcomer orientation in two days."

Plotting and scheming scrolled through the woman's eyes. "I'm thinking dengue fever in the next day or two."

The suited man huffed a laugh. He strode around the desk as he buttoned his suit coat closed. Dark eyes captured yellowing ones. "I've cured you of an illness before. I can do it again." A pat on the left shoulder was given and he left the office.

Pet screeched to herself. She called down the hallway, "There is no cure for dengue fever!"

"Not yet," answered back.

Splitting headache. Dry mouth. It hurt to move. Terrence cracked a heavy eyelid open. He groaned and ran a hand over his face. Lounged out next to him on the bed was Derek eating a bag of spicy Cheetos and doing one of his usual crossword puzzles.

Derek didn't have to visually acknowledge the older man to see he was awake and rather irritable at that. "Welcome back to the land of the living, Sunshine."

"Fuck you," was hoarsely grumbled. With more work than expected, Terrence sat up on the side of the bed. His whole body felt as though it weighed twenty pounds more than normal. "Did Pet…"

"Yep." Derek crunched on another handful of Cheetos. "With a stronger than suggested tranquilizer dose, too. It's why Dad made me sit here and keep an eye on you...to make you didn't stop breathing in your sleep. Dr. Carlyle was babysitting you, too, but stepped away so she could get something to eat."

Terrence rubbed his eyes again before cradling his face in the palms of his calloused hands. "Where's Pet?"

Derek chuckled. "Getting an ass reaming from Daddy Big Bucks over the flare issue."

"Why would she be in trouble for that?"

"Because…" more Cheetos were shoved into his already full mouth. Derek explained what happened, but like hell there was any understanding what was being said.

Terrence repeated what he thought he heard slowly in his head. "She took responsibility for what I did?"

"'Ats what I sed." Crumbs fell from the corner of his mouth.

For crying out loud. Terrence shook his head to himself and stood up. "I need to straighten things out with-" His equilibrium protested the sudden action and back to the bed he fell.

Derek wickedly grinned.

One foot in front of the other. Very slowly. One hand on the wall kept Terrence from falling over. He felt drunk as hell and groggy. Oh that little pain in the ass was going to pay for this! One foot in front of the other. Very slowly.

"Mr. Mitchell!"

Terrence knew that sweet Brooklyn accented voice and attempted to look behind him. Bounding up to him was Dr. Carlyle looking in a panic. He questioned before she could say anything else. "You wouldn't happen to know where Mr. Masrani is, would you? Or Veronica, for that matter?"

Carlyle was wide eyed. "You need to be in bed, sleeping that stuff off! You took quite the dose!"

Terrence loudly sighed. "So I was informed." One foot in front of the other. Very slowly.

"Did you not hear me? Get back in bed!"

Terrence ignored the doctor's persistent nagging. "This isn't the first time I've been tranquilized, Bev. I'll be fine. I just need to get a misunderstanding worked out."

Carlyle took the man's other hand to help steady him in his walk. "He's on the top deck, waiting for the second InGen Security team's arrival. He wants to brief them and get some things worked out before everyone is deployed to the island."

As if managing to walk down the corridor wasn't difficult enough, walking up the stairs looked to be impossible. With Carlyle's assistance, which was more her damn near dragging him up the stairs, he made it to the top.

Just as he was told, Simon was found standing on the patio deck and looking out towards the mainland. His dark eyes pinged from side to side in searching for the approaching helicopter. Standing beside him was Hoskins. Figures.

Terrence wasn't about to let the prude of a man see him like this and did his best to compose as normal of a posture as possible. If only everything would stop spinning around his head. "Mr. Masrani?"

Upon hearing his name, the billionaire turned to see the slightly out of it man. "Mr. Mitchell! It's good to see you up and about. Feeling well, I hope?"

Terrence waved a hand in the air, his eyes squinched closed. "Yeah, yeah, peachy." The same hand that was waved in the air was used to wipe his face. "I need to speak with you in private."

A second look back out over the water was given. "I'm expecting the second security team's arrival."

"Yes, sir," Terrence nodded, feeling a light sweat break out on his forehead. "It'll only take a couple of minutes."

"Very well."

Dr. Carlyle reluctantly released her supportive grip on the still groggy man and watched as he did his best to walk a straight line. Both he and Simon strode into the enclosed portion of the deck.

Once the sliding glass door was closed, Terrence began his confession. "It wasn't Pet who threw the flare at Hoskins' team. It was me, sir."

Simon's brow furrowed and he blinked. "Excuse me?"

Terrence pursed his already thin lips. "I did it to get back at him for leaving us trapped at the east dock, earlier. That, and well, I thought it would be funny to scare the shit out of him. Pet had nothing to do with my decision. I mean, she gave me the idea but it was something she did years ago when I first went to Isla Nublar. She shoved a lit flare into one of the mercenary's tactical vests. A kind of kill or be killed survival tactic. Apparently the Rex is drawn to targets with a flare."

Confusion became annoyance. "I see."

Terrence continued. "Whatever trouble she's in, I'll take the blame and whatever proper punishment comes with it."

This just added onto the already heaping pile of stress on Simon's shoulders. "I've already planned for you to accompany the others, assigned to their respective teams, on the island for corralling. With the Tyrannosaur out of the way comes the next pressing threat."

"Which Pet is better capable of handling," Terrence urged. "If you're referring to the Dilophosaurus, that is."

The billionaire stared out of the sliding glass window, back in the direction he knew the helicopter would be arriving from. "Robert has already discussed a strategy with me for trapping the Dilophosaurus. It'll no doubt be a bit uncomfortable, but…safe from exposure to the animal's paralytic toxin." Simon could see confusion on Terrence's face through his peripheral vision. "Full body suits and protective face shields, Mr. Mitchell. Something akin to police riot gear. Robert expects the process to take a few days, between making sure all the animals are secured and any unhatched eggs collected. In the meantime," the suited man continued, "Ms. Hammond can both stay out of trouble as well as rest. As Dr. Carlyle pointed out, she is doing her ankle no good, and only prolonging its healing, by being on it as much as she has as of late. I want her well when it comes time to brief the new arrivals. While she is knowledgeable of the island and the species residing on it, she is not the only person capable of dealing with the animals."

Terrence's jaw firmed. "She's also not the only person capable of giving a presentation, either. Especially with the source material right in front of them to read from."

The two men locked gazes, Simon understanding what the other man was suggesting. "Ms. Hammond also has a way of getting her point across in a very direct way, whether she intends it or not. A way I need for the newcomers to understand the importance of what they're to be doing… to understand the very real dangers these animals pose. Sure, anyone can read from source material but to make the point and it stick… that's something only a few can do. Which is why it is important she be the one to give the briefing."

Terrence arched a humored brow. "You do know that Pet is horrible at public speaking, right? The more the people the harder it is for her to concentrate. She'll end up sounding like she's having mouth seizures."

"Perhaps but with the right push comes a breaking point. With that breaking point will come the blunt honesty I need to stress the importance of the briefing."

Coming into view was Pet. She stormed across the deck towards Dr. Carlyle, still standing where she was left. Thankfully Hoskins was gone, otherwise Terrence knew it was going to be another fight between them. Especially since the head of InGen security was under the impression it was the hybrid who threw the flare at him and his team.

The petite doctor was seen giving a timid point towards the covered portion of the deck. Pet looked over at the sliding glass door, her eyes shifting from blue-green to yellow-green.

Terrence frowned. "I'm so dead."