Claire texted Zia back, put the phone down, and went back to working the egg stains off of the skillet. She found the elbow grease required extremely satisfying. And distracting from her leg. The stitches hadn't opened, but it was becomingly increasingly stiff. And Tylenol only went so far. However, Claire wasn't one for sedatives, preferring to be aware of her surroundings. Besides, she and Owen had agreed to forego a hospital, hardly needing the spotlight of doctors. There was enough attention on them; Claire's inbox and voicemail were crammed with inquiries... reporters, the DPG's sponsors, senators, and a few people in congress that she'd spent the last year trying to reach.
Owen had been getting calls too; until he had switched his cell off this morning. Once more, he was removing himself... in a way however, that was vastly different from last time. Aside from coming up to his cabin, Owen had been going along with almost everything that Claire had said or suggested since arriving. A press release with the media- over the phone of course- cleaning his insanity of a trailer, and she had mentioned a meeting happening in San Diego in two days; he suggested she go! Without a hint of sarcasm. There had been no sarcasm, no protests, no opposite way of thinking, and barely any borderline jokes. That wasn't the Owen Grady that she knew. It was unfitting and disturbing.
"His omelette's cold." Maisie mentioned. Claire stopped rinsing and looked back at the small table adjacent from the sink. Maisie sat across from Owen's plate, half involved in a book they had gotten her. A pre-teen adventure series. There had been a collection of them at a gas station on the way up here and Claire hadn't thought twice about grabbing them. Maisie would be done with them in no time... though she wasn't fully engaged at the moment. The table was by the largest window in the trailer, allowing Maisie to watch outside, where Owen continued to work on the cabin.
"He won't let us help him." The girl observed in clear disappointment. Her excitement at Owen's promise had been evident this morning, and Owen had been eager to show her. The scenario with the sinoceratops had shattered all that. Claire hobbled to the table, stretching her leg on Owen's side while eyeing the plate. Then eyeing out the window with Maisie. "Guys can be like that. When they're mad or frustrated about something, they'll work it out silently."
"He's that mad about the cabin?" Maisie supposed. Claire knew better; what little she was sure of about Owen. "We told you that he was in the Navy, right?"
Maisie nodded admiration coming back into her eyes.
"People have to do a lot fo fighting when they're in the armed forces." Claire sighed, looking back out the window. The sun was sinking, turning the shadows long- Owen's remained broad, even as he hunched over a worktable. "I think Owen came back because he was ready to stop fighting."
Maisie bit back a snort. "He trained velociraptors."
She had a point. Claire shrugged. "He's going to have to be a solider again, in this new world. We all are."
Maisie glanced down, thumb folding and unfolding the corner of her page. "Because... of me."
Claire reached forward for the girl's hand, only to grimace when she bumped her leg. Weren't the stitches supposed to be healing her!? "Hey, I-" Claire gestured out the window. "We don't want you to dwell on that. It..."
She studied the girl that she and Owen were trusting themselves with. It had only been a few days, but Claire found herself wanting so much for her. Wanting her to be strong rather then scarred by all they'd gone through. Not wanting her to feel limited by what Mills had told her. But what she'd done in the lab... Claire decided she didn't want Maisie to carry that the rest of her life, if possible.
She tried again, covering Maisie's hand so she'd look at her. "When we make decisions, we need to be brave and responsible enough to face what comes next. That's what I've been doing on my phone and what Owen's doing, making sure we're safe. You'll figure out the same; we'll help you."
Maisie's expression rose with Claire's encouragement, though her eyes still worked through whatever thoughts occupied her mind. Claire smiled. "Once Owen snaps out of it, he'll be running you ragged with jobs. And then, we'll have to talk about what to do about school for you..." She grabbed her phone as it dinged with another 'urgent' text. "So take it easy tonight and don't worry."
"But, Claire..."
Claire's eyebrows furrowed at the link provided in the message; Franklin had forwarded it with OPEN NOW! She clicked and was taken aback by the official government seal dominating the letterhead. What-
"Do you think... my grandpa was wrong?"
Claire looked up to find Maisie's eyes piercing her as she waited for an answer. Okay, wasn't expecting that.
Claire took a moment and looked Maisie over. The girl in her second life, a phenomenon of science! Yet, she didn't act any different from how Claire must've at age ten. Eager and inspired by the world around her. Cautious and thoughtful, and yet ready for action, to learn new things. And whatever questions she had about herself, she was expecting Claire to answer them. Could she? Claire had prided herself on her newfound moral code in recent years. Now however, much like after the fall of Jurassic World, she felt herself trying to piece it back into a new order.
"What your grandpa did was love you." Claire finally told Maisie's expectant face. "Focus on that. You can't go wrong with those kind of roots."
Maisie considered that, then looked back out at Owen. "I'll go tell him that his dinner's on."
She closed her book and headed out the door, leaving the cool air to draft in. Claire sat back, satisfied with her mothering moment. Did they always creep up on one like that? Not even her throbbing thigh was bringing her down from this. Claire lifted her phone, returning to the email Franklin had sent. Only to have her eyebrows furrow again.
