Raptor
Chapter 15: Again

Owen wasn't as happy as Zach was with the situation, not by a long shot. He slipped inside the office and sat down at his desk. He logged into their system and shut off the cameras. He had them replay the last few hours. Then he met Blue at the back gate. He slipped inside and let out a sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose. His mind was racing, replaying every moment over the last couple days. Every look, every feeling, every casual touch. Because had Zach touched him, on purpose. And Owen wanted him to do it more. Oh god, he wanted him to do it more. The feeling was strong. More than a feeling, it was a need.

Blue stood back for a few moments, just watching. She wasn't sure what was going on with Alpha. But she knew something was. She tilted her head to the side. Then she stepped closer tentatively and bumped her nose against his arm.

Owen leaned into her touch for a moment and tried to chase Zach from his mind. It was proving hard to do. The kid was just constantly there and had been since the moment he stepped on the island. "I need a distraction." He said softly.

[Trip?] She asked.

Owen breathed out for a moment. Blue had always been more observant than her sisters. "Sorta." He sighed and looked up at her. He wasn't about to attempt to explain it to her. Because he couldn't explain it for himself. "Just easy on the claws."

She tilted her head and then narrowed her eyes.

Owen smiled and lunged at her.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

An hour later, the movie was over and Echo was pressed to the fence. Almost the second it had ended, she'd gotten up. She let out a squeak, her eyes on Gray. Gray got up from his chair and stepped right up to the fence. He touched the bars and tilted his head. "What?" He asked. She looked down at the ground and made another odd noise.

Zach stood up slowly. His back was starting to get stiff again. He needed to move around a bit. He walked up beside Gray slowly and pointed at the remote on the ground. "I think she wants that." He said.

Gray looked down at it. "Oh. But Owen said one more movie and that's it."

Echo let out a low whine. Zach rolled his eyes and bent down to pick up the remote, moving slowly as he did so. He sucked in a breath as he straightened back up. He reached out, trying not to flinch as he held it through the bars.

Echo moved slow, like she understood his hesitation, and took it gently between her teeth. She pulled it back through the bars and then she turned. She set it down on the ground and started tapping on it gently with her claw. And then Finding Nemo was on the screen again. And she hit play.

"Seriously?" Zach smiled and shook his head. "You want to watch the same movie again?"

Delta snorted and stood up. She let out a growl and shook her head and then darted off. She disappeared into the line of bushes. Charlie watched her for a moment, then glanced at Echo and then back at Zach and Gray. It looked to Zach like Charlie was conflicted, between staying with them and watching the movie again or following after Delta.

Zach glanced where Delta had disappeared. "You think she went to snitch?" He asked.

"Owen did say no more Nemo." Gray pointed out.

Zach rolled his eyes. "He's not here right now. Makes me the oldest, so I'm in charge. She can watch it." Echo turned to look at Zach and bobbed her head. Zach didn't know what that meant. But he smiled at her and nodded. And she turned back to the movie, wiggling a bit.

Gray sat down in his chair. "Where you think he went?"

Zach shrugged and moved to pull his chair up beside Gray. "How am I supposed to know?" He asked, his voice a little harsher than he meant. He knew why Owen had left, but not where to. Although, he really just wished the man would come back.

They got nearly halfway through the movie that second time before Owen's voice broke through the trees. "Echo!" He snapped, his voice carrying loudly. The raptor ducked down and pressed herself to the ground as Owen stepped out of the bushes.

Zach's eyes widened slightly as he took in Owen. The man's shirt was torn, ripped open down the side. The man's muscles peaked through the rip as he stretched his arms out above his head. Then he twisted at his waist and rolled his neck. And Zach couldn't take his eyes off the man. He bit his bottom lip.

Blue and Delta walked out behind Owen. Delta let out a shriek and head butted Blue. She knocked her slightly older sister to the ground easily and moved to stand over her. Owen shook his head. "Delta! Not fair!" He snapped. "She's tired." Blue let out a snort and kicked Delta away.

Owen laughed and turned back around. He grew serious again as he stepped closer to them. "Echo, I told you." He lifted his hand and wagged his finger at her. "No more Nemo today." She moved, sliding behind the TV. Owen rolled his eyes. "I can see you!" He snapped. "You're a horrible hider." She jumped up and looked at Zach and made a series of warbles and chirps. "I don't care if Trip said you could. He's not in charge or you." She turned to Owen and chirped again. "No he's not! Now get over here. NOW!" She drug herself forward and Owen crossed his arms, staring at him in a disapproving manner. "Blue tore my shirt. I need one and I know you have clothes of mine hidden here somewhere. Find me a shirt and you aren't in trouble anymore."

Echo bobbed her head and darted off. Owen turned towards the brothers. He waved dumbly, a wide smile on his face. And then Echo was back, a shirt between her teeth. She dropped it in Owen's hand and he shook his head. "Seriously, Echo. You are ridiculous." Owen unbutton his ripped shirt quickly and put on the new one. Zach bit his lip again as he watched. Then Owen turned to look at them again. "Okay. Who's hungry?"

It was too early for dinner and too late for lunch. But it had been a few hours since they ate at the cave. So they headed to the nearest food vendor for something small and quick. They sat at a table nearby. Owen sat across from Zach and the teen was sure he knew why. But Zach still stared at him and smiled at him and hung on his every word as he talked about the raptors. At one point, Zach stretched his leg out, pretending to stretch, and brushed against Owen's. He quickly apologized and Owen cleared his throat and continued. When they finished eating, they wandered around for a bit. Gray was still bouncing around, all excited about everything they saw.

Zach grabbed him at one point and pulled him back. "Dude. Chill."

Owen had laughed. They ended up back at the raptor paddock not too long after. Barry was standing at the fence, seemingly talking with one of the raptors, Delta. "Hey Barry." Owen said with a wave as they walked up.

Barry turned to them and a mixture of relief and regret washed over his face. "Owen, I tried to call you." He breathed out.

Owen shrugged as they stepped closer. "I turned my phone off. Trying to avoid Claire."

Barry smiled and inclined his head. "Then stay out of your office."

Owen's eyes widened. "Shit... what the fuck's she going in there?"

Barry looked past him, at Zach and Gray standing a few feet behind.

"Oh yeah. I sorta kidnapped her nephews..." He'd been expecting it, of course. He knew she'd hunt them down eventually. But still! Owen sighed and glanced back at the brothers. "I'd say we run away, but it's her park. She'd just find us again."

"So... busted?" Zach said with a smile. "Who do you think is in more trouble?"

Owen shrugged again. "Blame it on Echo."

Gray let out a giggle. "I don't think that'll work."

Owen shook his head. "Probably not."

Barry smiled at him. "Well now that you're back, I'm off." He said. "I have plans."

Owen turned back to Barry and nodded. "Yeah, sure. Thanks. I'll catch you later."

"Call me." Barry said with a wink. "Let me know how this goes."

They watched the man leave and then Owen turned back to the brothers. But Gray was pointing at something behind him. And Claire was suddenly walking towards them. "I saw you pull in." She said, getting closer. "I thought it best to come greet you before you disappear again with my nephews."

Owen held up his hands and backed away a step. "It was all them." He said.

"Hey!" Zach and Gray snapped together.

Owen continued. "They called me up last night, all whiney about how I promised to take them on the gyro thingie."

Zach gawked at him. "Did not!" He sort of had, but not exactly in that context.

"Practically begged for it." Owen said.

Zach's eyes widened a bit and he looked away, his cheeks red.

Owen realized what he'd said and cleared his throat. "Yeah. So... yeah." He scratched at the back of his neck and turned away. "Took them on the gyro. I will admit to going off-road a bit, but we Lowery keeping an eye on us. Then we came back here and watched movies with the raptors. Everyone stayed on their own side of the fence. Then we went out for food and came back here. Nothing bad happened."

Claire glared at Owen for a moment longer. Then she looked at the brothers and both of them nodded.

"See?" Owen smiled and crossed his arms. "I'm a great babysitter."

Zach rolled his eyes and shoved his hands in his pockets. He flinched a bit and sucked in a breath. He really should have remembered to bring his pills with him. They had worn off a while ago.

Claire caught it and stepped forward, concern on her face. "You doing okay?" She asked, reaching out to touch his arm gently.

Zach nodded and looked at the ground. "Yeah."

"You didn't over do it?" She asked.

He shook his head quickly. "Just pretty much sitting." He mumbled out.

Claire nodded and turned to Owen. "I will be taking them now."

"Sure." Owen nodded. "Good. Because you know, I do have a job to do about here. And it's not babysitting."

Claire shook her head slowly and stepped around Owen to smile at the brothers. "Let's go, alright?"

Owen turned around and smiled at them. He gave them a double thumbs up behind her back and nodded.

Zach rolled his eyes and shook his head. Dork. But he was smiling despite himself. He couldn't help it. Maybe Owen's smile was infectious.

Gray waved at Owen and then turned to Claire. He followed close behind her, all excited again. "Aunt Claire! Owen's raptors are awesome! They're so cool and he can talk to them and they listen! And Echo, she's obsessed with the movie Finding Nemo. And they..." Gray babbled on and on, speaking a mile a minute as they headed to the car.

Claire smiled and nodded, but didn't get a word in until they reached her car. Then she stopped and turned around. "I think I left my phone in Owen's office..."

"I'll get it." Zach said quickly, turning around.

"Alright." Claire called after him. "Hurry up! Don't let him kidnap you again!"

Zach rolled his eyes and hurried towards Owen's office. He opened the door and didn't see anyone. But the forgotten phone was sitting on Owen's desk. He crossed the room quickly and grabbed the phone. He turned for the door and it opened.

Owen was walking in, a pile of papers in his arms. He looked up from them and his eyes settled on Zach. He stopped and the papers fell from his hands, fluttering around them as they fell to the ground. "Zach..." He said the name and swallowed.

Zach swallowed as well as he looked up into Owen's eyes. They were dark and unreadable. Zach moved to step back but Owen's arms shot out, grabbing his own. It wasn't hard. Just enough pressure that Zach knew he shouldn't move, that Owen didn't want him to. He wasn't sure he wanted to. He wasn't even sure if he could. He felt glued to the spot. Or anchored. He felt anchored there, standing in front of Owen, with the man's hands on him. Owen drug his hands slowly down Zach's arms and the teenager shivered. Aunt Claire was just outside. Waiting for him. Zach swallowed again. He really didn't want to leave. He really didn't want to stop Owen. But Claire and Gray... "Owen..." He said softly, his voice squeaking a bit with the name. "Claire's waiting for me..."

At her name, the raptor alpha seemed to snap out of whatever daze he'd been in. He blinked and shook his head. Then he wrenched his hands away like he'd been burnt. He dropped his arms and jumped back, colliding with the door. "Shit, Zach! I... I don't..." He stammered for a moment. "I don't know what... came over me... I didn't mean to..." He turned and ran a hand through his hair. "Fuck!"

"It's fine." Zach said softly.

"It's not fine!" Owen snapped. Zach stepped towards him and Owen caught the movement out of the corner of his eye. He lifted his hand to stop him. Then he stepped aside.

Zach hung his head and hurried out the door.

Owen took a deep breath. He sunk to the ground slowly and started to pick up his papers. Forms and shit and paperwork about something or other he was supposed to be doing. He hated paperwork. And usually just let it pile up. Just like this. But he thought, after everything that had happened the last couple days with Zach, he needed something else for his mind to do for a while, other than obsessing over the kid. He quickly picked them all up and dropped them on his desk. Then he let out a sigh and turned. And came face to face with Vic Hoskins. Again. He hadn't even heard or smelled the man invading his space. His lips curled into a snarl. He couldn't wait until this man was off the island and away from his raptors. Hoskins smiled at him. Owen wanted to punch the man. But of course, he didn't. "Not in the fucking mood for your shit right now so get out of my face before I rip your fucking throat out with my teeth."

Hoskins raised an eyebrow. His smile only seemed to widen. "You are a real delight." He stepped back out through the door and motioned Owen to follow. "A surprise meeting with a couple of investors."

Owen's eyes widened for a moment. Fuck everything. Seriously! Why the fuck was Hoskins doing this now? It was getting late in the day. He took a breath, put on a smile, and stepped through the door. There were two men standing off to the side of the door. They were dressed impeccably in fancy suits, looking very out of place. Neither said a word. "Gentleman, sorry for any delay. Mr. Hoskins here didn't alert me to your arrival. I was under the impression there would be some demonstrations in a couple days."

"That's why I said surprise." Hoskins said with a smug smile. "They arrived early to see the park in full swing before it closes for the break."

"Well... a phone call would have been nice." He glanced sideways at Hoskins, fighting hard to keep the smile on his face. "But we can make due. Though if you'd like to come back tomorrow..."

Hoskins cut him off. "They have other meetings tomorrow."

Owen bit his tongue in effort to not snap at the man in front of the investors. "Well... I've been escorting some important clients for Claire Dearing around."

"Oh yes." Hoskins turned to the silent men. "Two kids. One rather clumsy. He fell into the raptor paddock yesterday. Not too bright. I'll show you the footage later."

Owen fought the urge to growl at the man for insulting Zach. Because how fucking DARE he?! "I gave my crew the day off..."

Hoskins' eyes widened rather dramatically. "You're alone here? All day? With just the kids?"

Owen wasn't exactly sure what the man was implying. He narrowed his eyes but kept his voice light and even. "Oh no, of course not. Let me reiterate. Most of my crew have the day off. Still a few running around here somewhere. " He turned, smiled, and nodded at the investors. "If you'll excuse me, I'll see if I can find them..." He ducked back in his office before Hoskins could comment. He pulled the door shut and grabbed his phone. "Barry!" He hissed into the phone the second his friend answered. "Where are you?"

"Just arrived at the pool." Barry answered.

Owen frowned for a moment. "You're important plans were the pool?"

"Yes." Barry answered.

Owen sighed. "How fast can you get here?"

"Maybe 5 minutes?" Barry answered. "What's going on?"

"Hoskins just showed up with the investors." Owen hissed. "And wants us to put on a show!"

"That's not good." Barry said.

"Fucking understatement." Owen mumbled. "See if you can get a hold of anyone else. Anyone! And pretend you've been here all day."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Author's Notes: This chapter was getting too long for my short chaptered mindset. 8D So I spliced it in half. Woohoo! Which means nothing to you guys. 8D