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.

PART 26

The PA gave a sigh of relief as her boss stepped off the plane. "You made it."

Claire tried to smile. The attempt was pitiful. "Zara."

"Welcome back, Claire," she said warmly. "I'd ask how your holid... vacation went, but I... " Her smile froze on her face as she clearly saw the OM's stone cold expression. She then looked behind the redhead. "Are you... alone?"

"Apart from William," said Claire icily. "And he's only here to pick up his things."

"He's what?"

"He's... tendered his resignation," Claire replied. She raised a hand before her PA could question further. Instead, the Brit asked something else.

"I thought you were bringing... ?"

"The situation changed," Claire said quickly.

"Claire... ?"

"Zara," the redhead intercepted. "Do yourself a favour... and don't ask about it." Claire could not deal with it anymore. She had been thinking about it during the entire flight - that, and fighting the urge to throw William off the plane... while in the air. Her mind - and heart - was exhausted.

"But Claire, you seemed so happy... "

Claire winced, looking down. No. Do not cry. She had to be strong. During the hours it took to get back to the island, Claire resolved to forget about it. Forget about Lex. Forget about her face, her smile, her laugh, her lips...

"Claire... " came Zara's voice. "Bloody hell - what happened?"

Why the heck was her PA so concerned? Then it dawned on Claire: her cheek was wet. She raised her hand to feel a single tear trickling down.

Shit.

Quickly wiping her face, Claire cleared her throat. "Nothing. Something in my eye." She purposely kept her face from the Brit. "What's the situation?"

Zara choked. "I might ask you the same... "

"Don't," Claire suddenly clipped. "It didn't work out, and that's all you need to know. Understood?"

Zara nodded as she blinked her eyes. "Y... yes, Claire."

"How are the new assets?" asked Claire. "Your call wasn't entirely reassuring."

"My call?" Zara's tone was characteristically confused. "Oh, you mean the I-Rexes. Well, they're fine, for the most part. But... "

Claire narrowed her eyes. "But... ?"

"Claire... " The PA's face softened considerably. "Why don't you go home? We can talk business later."

"Since when have you known me to 'talk business later'?" seethed Claire. Her anger - or was it self-hate? - was getting the better of her. "Now what do you mean, 'for the most part'?"

"W... well," stuttered Zara. "One of them's exhibiting some... unusual behaviour. But we can go into it later. Why don't you... ?"

"Right, let's go to their enclosure," Claire said sharply. "You can brief me on the way." Before the PA could react, Claire was on the move.

In the back of her mind, Claire knew she might have to apologise later for her bluntless. But for now, fuck that. She was in full-on OM mode. She had to be. That way, nothing could hurt her. Especially not her emotions.

After all, she had to get ahold of herself. Claire Dearing was Operations Manager to the biggest theme park in the world. It was time to get back to work. She had to forget her emotions; get back to what made her run Jurassic World so successfully. Cold, hard business.

No more flights of fancy. No more whimsy. No more giving into her heart...

After all, it was just one week.

It had to be.

THE END