Texting AND raptor talk in the same chapter. Hopefully it's not confusing. 8D
Raptor
Chapter 13: Aftermath
Sitting down had been a bad idea. Owen had suggested that Zach sit for a moment with Gray in his office. Let them both calm down for a moment while Owen attempted to track down Claire and then they'd go to medical. But one call to control told him she was in a meeting. That was good. That bought him time. But when he started towards his office, he heard a scream. Owen practically tore the door open. Zach was in a ball on the floor and Gray was in tears above him.
"He just fell!" Gray cried. "Again!"
Zach's eyes were shut and he clenched his teeth as a spasm of pain shot down his spine. He was starting to feel stiff, sitting there. He stood up, just for a moment to stretch, he thought. But his back had seized and he fell. The pain drove all the air straight from his lungs and he couldn't breathe for a moment. But then Gray started screaming and Zach focused on that. And then a shadow fell across him and Zach breathed in shallowly.
"Zach." Owen said his name softly. He mentally cursed himself. If the kid was more seriously injured and Owen made them wait... He shook his head. Zach had walked. Zach had said he was okay. Owen should have known, he shouldn't have listened to the kid. "Hey, don't move for a minute." He pulled up the hem of Zach's shirt and his eyes widened. Gray let out a gasp and Owen held up his hand. "Gray, just... give me a minute." Zach's whole back was red. There were a couple, small scratches, where blood had smeared. But for the most part, it looked like a bad bruise. "Zach, I need you to breathe deeply, okay?"
Zach's eyes were still shut and he nodded his head, the movement tiny. Then he gritted his teeth again as he breathed in as deeply as he could.
"Hold a second." Owen lifted his hand and hovered it over Zach's back. He closed his eyes and concentrated, with his heightened senses. He could feel the heat rising off the skin. He turned his head to the side and lowered his ear, listening. He could hear the beat of Zach's heart. It was steady, a tad fast, maybe. But he could hear the blood rushing through the kid's veins and arteries. "Breathe out." He said and again, listened. He could hear the lungs deflating. "Again." And inflating fine. "Does that hurt?"
Zach shook his head. "Breathing... doesn't hurt... exactly..." He breathed out.
"The muscles hurt?" Owen asked. "Like... does it feel like... it's behind your lungs? As you breathe in?"
Zach nodded his head. "Yeah. I just... tried to stand up... and collapsed."
Owen nodded and leaned back. He pulled his phone out of his pocket. He pressed a few buttons and put it to his ear.
"Ah, Mr. Grady."
Owen fought the urge to roll his eyes. Henry Wu wasn't an actual doctor, at least not a medical one. Owen hated the man. But he was the one person on the island that Owen trusted with his own medical issues. Wu had stitched Owen up countless times over the last couple years. "Hey, I have an adolescent male, fell about 15 feet, landed on his back." He explained. "He was able to move right after, but then collapsed."
"Trouble breathing?"
"No." Owen answered. "Heartbeat sounds fine and pretty sure there's no internal bleeding. No broken bones but looks like lots of bruising. I don't know if I should move him and take him to medical, or call medical and have them come get him."
The man scoffed over the phone. "Don't take him to medical. Bunch of idiots over there. You don't think anything is wrong?"
"No, I don't." Owen answered honestly. "But I'd feel better if I could get him x-rayed to make sure. And maybe get him some muscle relaxers and pain killers."
"I can do all that from my lab." Wu said. "Just be careful, go slow, and bring him to me."
Owen hung up the phone and slipped it back in his pocket. "Okay, we're going to see a doctor." Zach started to sit up and shook his head. But Owen knelt back down and stopped him. "No, we're going. Now." He hefted Zach up, pulled the kid's arm over his shoulder and holding his waist tight against him.
They arrived at the science lab shortly. Gray stuck close to Zach, worry for his brother clouding the fact that they were in the science lab. Wu met them at the door and ushered them inside. He had an x-ray machine and an ultrasound machine. Both were used for scanning growth inside the dinosaur eggs. But Wu had also used them on Owen a few times. Nearly an hour they spent in the lab. And Wu could find no immediate danger. "Just lots of bruising." He declared. "Muscle and bone. It's going to take a few weeks to completely heal. It's going to be sore and not very pretty. But you're lucky. Nothing's broken."
Owen smiled, actually smiled at the man. "Thanks." He said, holding his hand out.
After a moment's pause, Wu shook his head. Then nodded for Owen to follow. They stepped out of earshot and Wu smiled. "I saw what happened." He said. "I watched the video."
Owen sighed and shook his head. That meant there was no way Claire hadn't seen it. He was so dead.
Wu continued softly. "Claire's nephews. You owe me."
Owen wrinkled his nose and frowned at him. "I'm still working through your last favor." He grumbled.
Wu smiled. "Yes, yes you are." He stepped away and returned a moment later with a few bottles. "Muscle relaxer and pain killers." He said. Gray stepped forward and took the bottles. He studied them as Wu continued. "Don't take too many of the pain killers. A little pain is good. Also some topical ointment. Rub it really lightly over the area. Also ice packs and drink lots of water."
Owen and the brothers climbed back into the jeep and headed to the hotel after that. It was well past lunch time by then and Zach needed to each something so he could take the pills. Owen went down to the kitchen and harassed the staff until he earned a few hastily made sandwiches. But they would do for now. They ate quickly and Gray made Zach swallow the pills. Then they headed up to their room. "Why did the dinosaur cross the road?" Owen asked suddenly as they rode the elevator up.
Gray looked up at him and shrugged. "Why?"
"The chicken hadn't evolved yet."
Zach rolled his eyes as the elevator stopped. The door opened and he walked out. He had to admit, he was feeling better. But he hated all the fussing. He didn't like to be the center of attention. Right then, he just wanted to crawl in a hole and die. Owen and Gray were following him and laughing. But there was something Zach wanted to know. He pulled out the keycard and opened the door. Then he turned slightly. "That was the science place, right?" He asked.
Owen paused for a moment. "Uh... yeah. The science lab."
"You took me to the science lab... where they... what?" Zach asked. "Create the dino eggs?"
Owen nodded his head and shrugged. "I trust Henry. He's patched me up a few times."
"Is he a friend?" Gray asked as he walked into the room. He dropped the bag of pills and junk on the table.
Owen pulled the door shut and shook his head. "Hell no. I hate the man."
"You just said you trusted him." Gray repeated.
Owen shrugged. "You can trust and hate someone at the same time."
"No you can't." Gray shook his head.
"Yeah, you can."
Zach rolled his eyes as he stepped towards his hotel bed. He just wanted to sleep for days. He sat down on the edge and let out a hiss as the movement pulled on his muscles. Pain was good. Fuck that. He always slept on his back. How the fuck was he going to sleep now? He tried to pull himself back a bit, but every movement hurt. The rest of the two weeks was going to be so fucking awesome, he thought sourly as he attempted to lay back. But just like with every other movement, pain shot up his spine and he let out a loud, pained groan.
Gray rushed over and climbed up on the large bed beside him. "You okay?"
Zach attempted to push him away but only brought on more pain. He draped his arm over his eyes and fought the urge to cry. Because everything hurt!
"Ease up, Gray." Owen said softly. He grabbed the bottle of topical ointment Wu had given them and stepped closer to the bed. "Can you roll over, on your stomach?"
Zach wanted to say no, he wanted to resist and tell them both to leave him alone, he was fine, blah, blah, blah. But he couldn't. So he flopped over, rather ungracefully and with lots of noise. He settled down on his stomach and reached for a pillow. But the movement stretched and hurt. Gray reached over and grabbed a pillow for him. "Thanks." Zach mumbled as he pulled the pillow under his chin and pressed his face into it.
Owen sat down on the edge of the bed and lifted his hand. And for the first time since he saw Zach's feet disappear over that rail, he hesitated. He should leave. He should have tried harder to find Claire. He should have dropped the brothers off at the hotel entrance and sped off. He shouldn't be sitting there, alone in the hotel room, sitting on the kid's bed. Owen swallowed as his hand shook for a second. But he wasn't about to do anything wrong. Just... applying medicine. That was it. There was absolutely nothing wrong or sexual about treating a wound. He'd done it several times before. He didn't hesitate any longer. He lifted Zach's shirt and dripped some of the ointment on his fingers. When his fingers grazed Zach's skin, the kid flinched. Owen stilled for a moment. Then he started again, keeping his touch light. His fingers barely grazed the bruised skin.
After a few minutes, Zach sighed deeply and closed his eyes. A few minutes longer, and he'd actually fallen asleep. Gray had been watching. "I think he's sleeping." He whispered.
Owen pulled his hands away, almost reluctantly, and stood up. He moved slowly, trying not to jostle the sleeping Zach. He went to the restroom to wash his hands.
Gray followed and frowned as he watched Owen staring at his hands. "What's wrong?" He asked softly.
"Wu didn't say to wear gloves." Owen smiled as he wiggled his fingers. "Must have a numbing agent in it."
"That's good." Gray said.
"For him, maybe." Owen wiggled his fingers again and shrugged. It was just a vague, numb feeling. It wasn't really alarming or anything. Just maybe mildly annoying. "Alright, kiddo, I uh... probably should go..."
"Do you have to?" Gray asked softly.
He didn't. He didn't have anything to do. He was supposed to be hanging with them anyways. It really shouldn't matter if it was in their hotel room. He wasn't doing anything wrong. Just hanging out. That was it. They ordered room service and started a movie. They kept the volume way low and Gray was actually quiet for the most part. When the food was half gone and the movie nearly over, Zach stirred. Gray hit the pause button and they both watched.
Zach rolled to the side and sat up slowly. He breathed out loudly and Gray jumped up. What resulted was an argument between the brothers. Gray just wanted to help and Zach just wanted a moment alone. Zach grabbed some clothes, went into the bathroom, and slammed the door shut. Gray bounced outside the door, listening as Zach made many noises every time he moved. And then Gray opened the door and went right in. Owen leaned back, smiling slightly as he heard the start of an argument between the siblings when the hotel room door burst right open.
She stood in the doorway, fuming. She was livid. She had indeed found out and tracked them down. "You let my nephew fall into the raptor cage?!" She screamed.
Owen cringed a bit at her tone and volume. Yeah, he was totally dead. He jumped up quickly. "No, no." Owen held up his hands and shook his head. "The new guy Hoskins hired knocked him into the cage. Big difference." He said solidly.
Claire rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "You nearly got him killed!" She spat.
"He wasn't in any danger." Owen lied, shaking his head. "I got him out fine."
"Fine!" She snapped. "Fine?" She threw up his hands.
"Yeah, fine." Owen said, his voice rising a bit. "He'll probably be sore and bruised from the fall but my girls didn't even get close."
Her eyes narrowed. "I watched the whole thing."
"Oh..." Owen glanced away for a moment. Yeah, of course she did. He sighed and shrugged. "Well... they didn't get close enough." He mumbled as he ran a hand through his hair.
She glared at him. "I was counting on you, Mr. Grady. I asked you to do one thing! Make sure they had fun."
"I did!" He countered, turning back to her. "They did have fun. Ask them. This was just... a weird fluke. It won't happen again."
"Yes, you're right. It won't." She snapped. "I'll find something else for them to do. Or someone else to show them around."
"Just wait a minute." He said, stepping closer to her. "You know what his first thought was... well his first thought was if his brother was okay. But second thought was what not to do next time he came to the paddock. He wanted to go right back and prove that he didn't mean to upset them."
Her eyes widened. "Upset them?" She practically snorted as she shook her head. "They're just animals!" She said coldly.
Owen resisted the urge to argue with her over that. "They are very smart animals." He insisted instead. "With territorial issues."
Claire shook her head again. "And that stunt in the T-Rex enclosure?"
Owen just knew that was going to bite him in the ass. "That was nothing!" He waved it off and shook his head.
"In front of my nephews!" She snapped.
He rolled his head and shook his head. "I was like two feet from the door and she was like a mile away! It was perfectly safe!"
"Like taking my nephews to the raptor paddock was?"
"Again..." Owen said, trying to keep his voice even. "It was that new guy's fault! The guy Hoskins hired without my knowledge or approval! Did you see him run across the bridge with that catch pole? Without eyes on my girls? He's too green to work with bunnies!"
She blinked at him a moment, confusion on her face. "Bunnies?"
"Yeah, bunnies." He said, crossing his arms and leaning back a bit. "Like... he couldn't even control bunnies, you know?"
She shook her head and rubbed at her forehead. "None of this is going the way I expected."
"Claire." Owen said her name levelly. "Really, it looked way worse than it was. Even Dr. Wu said..."
"Dr. Wu?" She frowned. "What does Henry have to do with any of this?"
Owen blinked for a moment. "Uh..." He tilted his head to the side. "We uh... ran... into him?" He said lamely.
Claire was glaring again. "You took my nephew to the science lab?"
"Aunt Claire..."
She turned as Zach came out of the restroom. Her face and voice softened immediately. "Oh! You've gotten so big!" She held her hand out and lowered it a bit, to about Gray's height. "Last time I saw you, you were like... this tall. What was that... 3 years ago?"
Zach breathed out and shook his head slowly. "Like 8."
Owen watched Zach for a moment. The kid looked better. He was changed and cleaned up. Owen smiled as he stepped back. He shoved his hands in his pockets and just waited. He didn't want to make anything worse.
"Oh. Yes." Claire said with a nod, Owen completely forgotten. She stepped towards Zach. "You really should be resting. You've been through enough today." Her voice was full of pity.
Zach leaned against the wall beside the bathroom door. He flinched a bit and tried not to show it. "I can hear you yelling at him out here. Gray can, too."
Claire's eyes widened and she cleared her throat. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"Nothing happened." Zach interrupted, an edge to his voice. "I'm fine. We had a great time with Owen."
"Gray." Claire called loudly. "You can come out. No more yelling, I promise."
The bathroom door opened again and Gray stepped out meekly. His eyes were on the floor and he slowly looked up at her.
"I'm sorry." Claire said. "I didn't mean to yell. I just..." She breathed out and paused for a moment. "I saw what happened and I got so worried."
"Can we still go with Owen tomorrow?" Gray asked softly.
Claire stood up straighter and shook her head. "I think Mr. Grady has plans tomorrow."
"Yeah." Zach said. "With us." He insisted. "He made plans with us."
"Zach..." She started.
"He didn't do anything wrong!" Zach insisted a bit louder that time. "Did you even listen to his explanation? You said you watched it! That guy ran into us! I barely had a second to push Gray out of the way! He pushed me over!"
"Well... we'll talk about this tomorrow." She said. "Owen is leaving."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Owen shoved his hands in his pockets as he leaned against the wall of the elevator. He looked up at the display, watching as the floor numbers changed slowly. Really slowly. He felt like they were moving in slow motion. He felt like he was moving in slow motion. He actually felt... sad and disappointed when Claire said he couldn't hang out with her nephews tomorrow. Hang out? He sighed and leaned his head back, thudding it lightly against the wall. Like he was some teenager, going to hang out with friends after school. What the hell was wrong with him?
He let out a sigh again as the elevator doors opened. He was itching to run. But with Hoskins around, poking his fat nose into Owen's shit... Owen let out a sigh. He wasn't getting any time alone with his girls as long as that man was on the island. He kept his hands firmly in his pockets as he walked to the stolen jeep. He headed back to the raptor paddock. Barry had closed it down for the afternoon right after Owen left. He sent everyone home and Owen was glad of it. After what had happened, everyone needed a break.
Owen let out a sigh as he leaned against the fence. Blue poked her head out of a bush. She let out a soft whistle. Owen let out another sigh and waved her over.
She slipped out and stepped closer, almost hesitantly. [Trouble?]
Owen shook his head and breathed out. "No, you're not in trouble."
She tilted her head and stepped closer to the fence. [Alpha trouble?]
Owen snorted and shrugged. "A little, I think, with Firelady. But it's fine." He could smooth it over, he hoped.
[Trip?] Blue asked.
Owen turned to look at her. "Trip?" He repeated. "Oh... trip." He smiled and shook his head. "He was pushed in, he didn't trip."
Blue snorted and dipped her head. [Echo say Trip.]
Owen rolled his eyes. "Of course Echo named him Trip." He smiled and thought about Zach for a moment. "Trip's fine. He'll be fine. He was more worried about his brother than himself."
[Squirrel?]
Owen looked at her sideways. "Echo again?"
[Charlie.]
Owen let out a laugh. Calling Gray Squirrel seemed to fit. He imagined the kid would like it. "Squirrel's fine. Everything's fine." Blue threw up her head and let out a sharp whistle. Owen frowned as the other three raptors came running out. Owen sighed and shook his head. "Were you guys hiding?"
Delta bobbed her head. [Blue said.]
Owen looked at Blue. "I can't believe you told them to hide from me!"
[No eat people!] Delta said.
Owen opened his mouth for a moment. Then he closed it and nodded. "Yes, Delta. No eating people. You... did very good not eating Trip."
Delta bobbed her head again and wiggled her body a bit. She was very pleased with herself and Alpha's praise.
"You all did good. You listened." He said. "But it was an accident, okay? Someone new who doesn't know the rules pushed Trip, okay? Trip knows the rules. He didn't mean to break them." Owen said strongly and all of them bobbed their heads in a nodding manner. "He wants to come back."
Blue growled softly in the back of her throat. "This side of the fence." Owen said quickly. She let out a snort and shook her head. Owen rolled his head. "He wants to... apologize. He really didn't mean to break the rules."
[Can he play?] Charlie asked, tiling her head.
"Play?" Owen pursed his lips and glanced at Blue. She narrowed her eyes at her sister but didn't make any remarks. "We'll see."
Echo started bouncing. [Watch Nemo?]
Owen shrugged. "They might wanna watch Nemo with you. I'll ask them." Echo started wiggling all over and bumped her head into Charlie. That was the way to win Echo over. Watch Nemo. Owen breathed out and smiled.
Charlie suddenly lifted her nose, inhaling deeply. Owen jumped up and turned. He flared his nostrils.
[Sir Dickwad!] Delta growled.
Owned growled lowly in the back of his throat, the sound tumbling from his throat before he even realized it. All four raptors behind him joined in.
Vic Hoskins rounded the corner and smiled vilely as he saw Owen. "Mr. Grady!" He strutted over, looking way too happy to be there. "Excellent work here, today. I caught the whole thing on camera." He stepped closer and lifted his hand, like he wanted a handshake or was going to pat Owen on the shoulder or something. Owen stepped back quickly and an actual growl escaped his lips before he could stop himself. Hoskins flinched and jumped back at the sound. Then quickly recovered and tried to brush it off, like he hadn't done it. Owen felt a prick of satisfaction down his spine.
"Good uh... good job." Hoskins stumbled over the words.
"Nothing good about it." Owen snapped. "Your guy nearly got someone killed." He spat out.
"I saw you." Hoskins smiled. "You controlled them. They listened to you."
Owen let out a sharp laugh and shook his head. "Maybe once I got in there, between them and the kid. But if I'd been a second later, they woulda ripped into him."
Blue let out a loud growl and snapped her jaws loudly to punctuate his statement. Hoskins eyes snapped to the raptor quickly.
"I don't care what it looked like on the cameras." Owen continued, shaking his head. "It took a lot of convincing and a lot of restraint to keep them back. The kid was petrified. If he'd run, even I wouldn't have been able to stop them. His death would be on your hands, asshole."
[Dickwad!] Delta snapped.
"Yes, that's right." Owen said, nodding his head. "Thank you, Delta. You're also a dickwad."
Hoskins' eyes darted to the raptors behind Owen again for a moment. Then back at Owen. "You all need to remember who is really in charge around here." The man said.
Owen's eyes narrowed. "You should heed your own words. They listen to me." All four raptors stepped closer to the fence. "Delta's been itching to sink her teeth into you since she first set her eyes on you."
Delta stepped right up to the fence. Her lower jaw fell open and her tongue lolled out. Her ran her tongue along her teeth, attempting to mimic a human licking their lips. For a second, Hoskins' eyes widened and fear flashed across his face. Then it was gone and he let out a shaky laugh and turned.
They watched the man walk away. Owen let out a loud snort and shook his head. "Fucking hate that man!"
[Phone!] Echo said sharply.
Owen rolled his eyes as he turned back around to them. "Echo! I already told you! It wasn't a..."
[No!] She interrupted. [Squishy phone!]
"My phone?" Owen fished his phone out of his pocket. New text message flashed across the screen. He hadn't even heard it beep. "Thanks."
Echo pressed closer to the fence. [Who?]
Owen glanced at the unknown number. He shrugged. "Don't know." He hit the message and frowned.
Is this the crazy guy who talks to dinosaurs? The text read.
"The fuck..." Owen typed a quick response back. Who the fuck wants to know?
The guy who almost got eaten by his raptors.
Owen's eyes widened. "Shit..." Zach? He typed back. Why the fuck did Zach get his number? How the fuck did Zach get his number?
Yes. He answered quickly.
Shit I'm sorry. Damnit, quit cussing at the kid! Owen thought to himself.
[Who?] Echo asked.
"Trip." Owen answered, not looking up from his phone.
Didn't mean to bother you.
Didn't. Asshole dickhead did. Damnit. My sorta boss. Owen stared at the number. He bit his lip as his finger hovered over the call button. He had a weird need to hear the kid's voice. To apologize, he reasoned with himself. Of course it was just to apologize. And to ask if Zach was okay. There was no other reason. And then Owen hit the button before he could stop himself. He put the phone to his ear and listened as it rang.
It seemed to ring for a really long time, considering the fact that Zach had been responding to his texts rather fast. Owen bit his lip and turned around. Just when he was about to hang up, because this was ridiculous, he heard the line click. Owen held his breath.
"Uh... hi." Zach said in a hushed tone. "Sorry. Aunt Claire's still here. Had to sneak out in the hall."
Owen smiled and leaned his head back. "How'd you get my number?"
"I uh... looked in aunt Claire's phone when she was in the rest room." Zach sounded hesitant. "She had it listed as Mr. Grady. Figured it was you."
Owen rolled his eyes. "Seriously? Hate when people call me Mr. Grady."
"Are you... mad?"
"Well... no. Not mad." Owen said. "She did it to spite me, I'm sure. I have to tell her all the time to just call me Owen. Though how the hell am I supposed to find out what she told her phone to call me? Not exactly clever of her..."
"No, not her." Zach interrupted. "I mean... mad that I got your number and texted you..."
"Oh... not really. I guess. I don't know..." He really didn't. He felt like he should say it was inappropriate. Because it probably was. He was accidently maybe flirting with the kid. And the kid was clearly maybe flirting with him, too.
"I was just gonna text you about tomorrow." Zach said after a moment.
"Tomorrow?" Owen repeated.
"Gray asked me... he uh... really wants to uh... hang out more." Zach stumbled a bit over the words. "You promised to take him on the gyro thingy."
Owen smiled. "Gray, huh?" He breathed out. "Well... maybe I can call Claire tomorrow after she's cooled off a bit."
"Or..." Zach said slowly. "You could pick us up early before she finds someone else to pawn us off on. I mean... if you want to..." He added.
Owen let out a sigh. He stepped back and leaned against the fence. Echo was suddenly pressed up against it beside him. He glanced at her sideways and smiled. "It would piss her off." He mused.
"Probably get yelled at again." Zach said.
Owen laughed and Echo let out a loud whistle. Right in his ear. "Damnit, Echo! Not in my fucking ear!" He pushed off the fence and stepped away, shaking his head. He put the phone back to his ear. "We'd have to come here first. So I can make sure my girls get fed and run them around a bit. Might take a couple hours. Probably better to go with whoever Claire gets for you. I can come find you after."
"No!" Zach said quickly. "Gray would probably like... watching... the raptors."
Owen smiled and turned back to look at Echo. The others had dispersed.
[Trip Nemo?] Echo asked.
Owen shook his head. "Shhh, Echo."
[Ask Trip!] She said.
"Tomorrow."
[Now!]
"Shut up, Echo!" Owen put the phone to his ear again. They were really going to think him crazy. At least those that worked with and for him were used to it.
[Nemo!] She snapped loudly.
"I hate you, Echo." He breathed out.
"So..." Zach said softly. "Is that a..."
"Zach?" Claire's muffled voice came over the line. "Honey, you should be resting."
"I'm fine." Zach's voice was muffled slightly, as if he pulled the phone from his ear.
"You've had a traumatic day." Claire said.
"Really, I feel fine."
"You're not talking to your mother, are you?" Claire asked. "Please tell me you didn't tell her!"
"I didn't..."
"Oh good!" She said, sounding relieved. "Let me talk to her."
"It's not mom." Zach said. "It's... uh... my girlfriend... from home..." He mumbled.
"Oh... well... okay. Few more minutes and then to bed, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, sure." Zach said quickly. "Whatever. Just go!"
"Hurry up."
Zach sighed and his voice was clearer. "Sorry." He said into the phone.
Owen listened to the muffled conversation silently. He smiled slightly. "Girlfriend?"
"Yeah." Zach mumbled.
"Okay." Owen said. "Be ready and down in the lobby at 6."
"AM?"
"Yep. My schedule. Or you can stay there and..."
"Fine." Zach snapped. "We'll be ready by 6. I gotta go before she comes back out."
"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow."
Echo let out a loud chirp.
"We'll see you tomorrow." He corrected. He hung up the phone and glared at the raptor practically plastered to the fence. "Shut up!"
