Chapter 4: Messy Business

I looked down at my watch and saw that it read 1:15 p.m., I flicked through my Facebook newsfeed on my phone trying desperately to distract myself by reading some of my friends funny posts, but it was all to no avail. I couldn't stop thinking about what happened between Owen and me earlier. Between caught in his arms, to holding him at the raptor paddock entrance…it all just seemed so surreal. It probably meant nothing to him, but I couldn't stop replaying it in my head. Stupid brain. 'I can't get him out of my head. This is all uncharted waters for me, Owen served in the navy…DAMNIT BRAIN STOP!'

I groaned in frustration and let my head hit the steering wheel and my hands flop to my side. Why couldn't I get him out of my head? Ugh I just need to focus on getting through this shift. I eventually got out of the Jeep and waited at the bottom of the stairs and called out to Barry. He came down at a slight jogging pace smiling.

"You know you can just come up now right?"

"Well, I just wanted to get your cell number or see if you had a walkie on ya"

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I've noticed Owen training the raptors and I want to give a heads up or an estimate of when he'll be done each time so that I know when I can check the gates, I don't want to distract the raptors"

"Then why don't you just get Owen's number?"

"I'd rather not"

"And why would that be?" He asked with a smug grin, I narrowed my eyes at him.

"You know why by the looks of things, question is…how?"

"Oh no, not at all" He said with a light chuckle, a big mischievous grin spread from ear to ear.

"Oh c'mon Barry, please don't make me say it" I whined, and he didn't budge for a moment before slapping me on the shoulder.

"Ok ok, the whole crew saw, we heard your outburst and saw the raptors run to the gate so we went to check it out and saw everything"

"Everything?"

"Everything"

"Fuck me gently" I cursed burying my face in my hands as I felt a blush come on full force again.

"You like him don't you?" I gave him an incredulous look.

"No"

"Liar"

"Noooooope"

"You do! AHA!"

"Fuck, yes ok! But you can't tell anyone, I'm already embarrassed as is!"

"Don't worry I won't, but would you happen to know why Owen is flustered?"

"Uh, no"

"Hm, strange. He's been muttering and cursing under his breath since the raptor incident…something about…neat eyes? You sure you know nothing?" He said laughing hysterically again, I slapped his arm and glared at him.

"Seriously Barry shut up!"

"I- I'm sorry, it's just so damn funny, you two are like kids from high school"

"Barry…"

"Oh this is priceless… but all funny things aside, you can have my number and text me, and my frequency if I don't hear my phone"

"Thanks" he gave me his number and I turned my back to him so that he could change my frequency for me. After he did this he patted my back to let me know he was done so I thanked him and went to walk away.

"How much longer until your next check?"

"Um, probably another 20 minutes or so, why?" I asked stopping in my tracks and turning to face him with a quizzical look.

"Come up to the cat walks, we can talk instead of you being holed up like a loner" I grinned.

"Maybe I prefer music to humans"

"So it would seem boogey fever" I laughed and looked back at my jeep for a second. I fished my keys out of my pocket and remote shut off my car. I followed him up the stairs and we leaned against the closest railing that overlooked the paddock. After a moment I decided to break the silence, I had a thought burning in my brain and Barry seemed trustworthy.

"If I'm up here after the incident, won't Owen think I'm being kind of stalkery?"

"No Riley, you're just overthinking things at this point"

"Ok, good…good"

"You ok?"

"No, Barry, I'm not. I'm literally panicking. I have no clue what to do. I've never stuttered and had my brain reduced to rubble in front of a guy"

"Well, what normally happens?"

"Oh trust me you don't want to know"

"If I didn't I wouldn't ask"

"Fair enough…let's see, um, I don't usually date I just uh…sleep around with my guy friends"

"You? Really?"

"Yeah, I mean, I know it's not right but…I got hurt really bad Barry. I mean reallybad. And I can't tell you how right now just know that I'm a good person, who really just wants to settle down, but…I'm too scared"

"Of what" I locked eyes with him.

"Of being hurt again, I'm trying to get better but…I'm so lost it's the only thing I know to do"

"I guess I can understand that"

"I know it's not right, and maybe I'll snap out of it but for now, I've been good at not doing it, keeping myself isolated and busy…due most in part to work, but hey it's a start right?"

"Yes, and keep up the good work"

"I plan on it, I mean most of my friends are out deployed right now anyway and it's been kinda nice not doing that anymore, better than my first choice though"

"And that was?"

"Alcohol"

"Jeez Riley"

"Yeah, not the healthiest person mentally, but I've come a long way"

"Good, I'm glad, y'know, I know we've only met this morning but… I feel like I can trust you…I care about you Riley. I consider you one of my closest friends"

"I feel the same Barry, I'm glad we met" I was about to check the gate when I saw Owen approach the main catwalk overseeing the middle of the paddock, he had a clicker, one that reminded me of the ones that bouncers used to count people coming in and out. Almost as if on cue came Blue and her raptor pack behind her, Barry placed a hand on my back and pushed me toward Owen, and he followed me.

We watched him as he trained them, I was so awestruck that I'm pretty sure my jaw was stuck open. I of course had never seen anything like it other than with dogs, and who knew raptors could be trained? That and the level of respect between Owen and the raptors was astonishing. He finished and it took a moment of me snapping to before I went to walk away to check the gate, and hopefully escape Owen's presence but his voice stopped me.

"So what'd you think?" Oh crap. I turned around and put on a smile that hopefully wasn't as awkward as I felt.

"Pretty damn impressive actually, thanks for letting me watch"

"Thanks! And hey no problem, you should uh…come up here more often- y'know to um, watch the raptors"

"Yeah, yeah, I'd uh, I'd like that"

"Cool cool"

"So um, I'm gunna go check the gates now if that's cool" I said jerking my thumb behind me.

"Uh yeah sure, sure"

I smiled a small smile before turning toward the stairs, and I heard Barry say something like he needed to run an idea by him so I took that opportunity to all but sprint my way down the stairs and out of sight. When I got to the first gate I leaned my back against the wall and let out a puff of air.

"Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit, fuck shit" I breathed out, my heart felt like it was about to burst, Terry came down to let me in and I quickly stood up.

"Hey Riley, how'd you like the show?"

"Uh, pretty cool I guess"

"They seem to really like you"

"Huh?"

"The raptors…"

"Oh right, na it's more respect than anything really"

"Whatever you say, I still think you're great, period."

"Uh thanks I guess"

He let me in and I did my usual, and the raptors came to greet me. However upon seeing Terry, Blue lost her shit.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Blue! Hey! No!" I put my hand on his shoulder and she screeched at me, as if scolding me. I gave Terry a serious look.

"I think you should go back to gate 1"

"But"

"But nothing Terry, get out, and leave my gun on the ground outside the gate" He nodded at me and left quickly causing Blue to lunge at the gate. I sighed.

"Not fast like that Terry, Blue, my special lady, hey, may I touch the gate" She stopped her fit for a moment and looked at me and stepped back a bit. "Thank you" I shook it and waved to her.

"Later baby girl" And with that we parted ways, I came out of the front gate and Terry shut it behind me.

"I'm sorry, Riley, I…panicked, and I don't usually deal with them"

"They're animals albeit extremely intelligent ones, but they felt threatened for whatever reason and when you run off like that they think it's chase time so…don't next time" I lectured as I walked away to my car. I plopped my ass in my car and noticed Terry walking to the maintenance shed with his head low, I felt bad but that could've cost a life or injury. I turned my car back on and leaned my seat back a bit to relax folding my hands behind my head as I laid back against it interlocking my fingers.

I made it a point to try and get the raptors used to Terry but it seemed after 6 times they weren't letting up with going into a fit so I'd stopped. Eventually my shift came to an end when 7 p.m. rolled around and I was exhausted. Quite the eventful day for raptor paddock detail surprisingly enough. I hopped back in my car after my last shift and buckled up I'd started to reverse when Barry came running up to my window.

"Riley wait!" I put my brakes on and looked over at him.

"Yeah?"

"I'm having a bonfire this Saturday, you should come"

"Yeah sure, what do you want me to bring"

"Whatever your drink of choice is and, oh, it's a luau type thing so, a sundress is mandatory, the guys will be in Hawaiian shirts and shorts so"

"Alright will do, I'll have to get one"

"You don't own a dress?"

"Nope, not a one"

"Well alright then see you Saturday around….7?"

"You got it, but Barry"

"Yeah?"

"I'll see you at work tomorrow"

"Ok have a good coffee date!"

I put my car into drive and yelled out a playful fuck you as I drove off.

*A/N: Hey guys holy cow that's chapter 4! There's gunna be a little more romance in the next chapter but with who? You'll have to read to find out!*