DISCLAIMERS

1. I DO NOT OWN JURASSIC PARK/WORLD. This is just for fun.

2. This is a femslash story. If you don't like that sort of thing, you won't like this.

3. If there are any Transformers comic fans reading this... see if you can spot the Furmanism.

PART 14

The rain. The thunder. The glass. The roars...

Lex shot up in bed, a short but violent scream errupting from her. Her breathing became quick as sweat poured from her forehead.

Claire sat up next to her, holding her softly yet urgenty. "Lex... Lex, what's wrong?"

Lex was unable to answer. Her mind was racing, the images still vivid. The jeep... the fence... oh God, the teeth...

"Lex, please!" the redhead cried, trying to turn the blonde's head to face her. But Lex suddenly swatted her away, as her body began shaking terribly. "Darling, please... just stay calm - it's alright. It was just a... "

"I... I... " Lex began stammering. " I... " This was the worst one for a long time. The images - the memory - were so clear. "Oh God... oh God oh God oh God... " Lex was almost hyperventilating.

"My darling, please... " Claire moved closer to the blonde, who clenched her eyes shut and ducked her head, trying to purge away the pictures in her mind. "Just take slow breaths. Listen to my voice... you're alright."

Ever so slowly, Lex's mind began to clear... partially. She was still in a right state, tears pouring down her cheeks, but she knew what she wanted. What she needed. "P... p... pills... p... pills... "

Claire seemed to understand. "Where, Lex? Where are they?"

"B... b... bedside d... dra... " Her voice caught, unable to continue. Lex just sat there, still looking down, still struggling to get herself under control - and failing miserably. She was only vaguely aware of Claire leaving the bed, moving around and opening her bedside drawer. Eventually the redhead found a blister of small capsules and popped a couple free. Lex frantically grabbed them and, hands still shaking, shoved them into her mouth. She then hastily took her water Claire had held out for her and chugged the contents down in one. As Claire took the glass off her, Lex tried to calm her breathing. The pills would not take long. Just a couple of minutes... remember the exercises... stop the storm before it gets out of control...

The storm... !

Claire held one of the blonde's hands in both of hers and gripped tight, bringing it to her lips and kissing the whitened knuckles. "Just take your time, it's OK. It'll be alright."

"He left us!" Lex suddenly yelped, darting her head up and looking at Claire, eyes wide. "He LEFT us!"

Reaching out with one hand, Claire tenderly stroked Lex's hair, before moving to wipe her cheeks dry - pointless, as tears continued streaming. "Who, honey? Who left you?"

Lex took a big gulp of air, as her mind began to clear, the antidepressants taking effect. It was then that the situation hit her. "Oh God... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... "

"There's nothing be sorry about, Lex," Claire whispered. "Just take as long as you need. I'll be right here."

Unable to say anymore, Lex just lowered her head again, sobbing lightly. After a few minutes, Claire moved back into bed and simply held the blonde tight, clearly giving Lex time and silent understanding. Eventually Lex exhausted herself, and cried herself to sleep in Claire's arms...

When Lex opened her eyes again, it was morning. She groaned as she felt a headache already, sitting up slowly as the sun shone through the curtains. But... there was something different. Something... someone missing. Lex turned to see she was alone in bed. She was momentarily confused - then it all came back to her.

"Oh no."

She had had a nightmare. They were a recurring thing for the past 22 years, and the worst part was, they had no pattern. Lex could never predict when she might have one. Sometimes a year would pass with nothing... sometimes she would have one everynight for a week. Not only that, but they varied: sometimes she was being chased by the ostrich-like ones; or it was Tim being electrocuted; or even those two in the kitchen. But on the worst nights - such as that just gone - it was the big one. The Rex, and the jeep...

Lex groaned again. She felt pathetic. Not just because she fell victim to her own memories again, but because Claire witnessed it. It was the one thing Lex wanted to avoid: though they never discussed why Lex felt so anxious about amusement parks - and indeed, Lex was still berating herself for avoiding Claire's job - and so the redhead would be unlikely to link it to her nightmare, it was still a calamity she saw Lex like that. Lex wanted their limited time together to be perfect. She did not want Claire to see her in such a stupid, vulnerable state. But it was too late now.

Claire was gone. It was exactly as Lex feared: clearly, the beautiful woman saw Lex completely fall apart and was repulsed. Their wonderful time together was over; Claire had upped and left.

So... that was it. Coupling over - finished. Claire had finally seen sense and dropped her. Lex was on the verge of tears again, and not because of her nightmare...

"Hey, pretty lady."

Lex darted her head at the soft voice, to see Claire standing in the doorway. Lex was flabbergasted. "Claire... " she breathed reverently.

The redhead moved fully into the room and went to the bed, crawling onto it and resting on her knees infront of the blonde. "How are you feeling? Are you OK?" Lex simply stared at her. "Honey? Please... talk to me."

"You're... you're still... " Lex reached out and brushed her fingers against Claire's hand.

"I just needed the bathroom," blushed Claire. "I don't under.. " Her eyes then blinked. "Wait... you thought I... ? Oh, darling." She softly stroked Lex's cheek. "Don't be silly. I couldn't just leave you... "

In the back of her mind, Lex wondered if there was some extra meaning behind that. But right now, she did not want to think about it. Right now, she wanted - needed - comfort, from the woman she was falling for more and more. "Kiss me... "

Claire did, gently lowering Lex to the mattress...

TO BE CONTINUED