Disclaimer: I don't own Jurassic Park.
Chapter 2
Billy's POV
If it was at all possible, my pace quickened when I recognized the tall slender figure coming out of the van.
"What luck is this! Joey the computer savoy genius happens to show up THE DAY I have to recalibrate a rapid prototyper..." The sun just seemed to shine a bit brighter at my good fortune. I felt a smile tug at my lips as I watched Joey boss around Jefferson and a few of the other part time students.
"An innate leader, just like her father...yet, not..." I thought, only a dozen yards away. It's both the similarities and differences that caused such a great friendship between us. She is every bit as stubborn, dedicated, loyal, and honest of a person as her father yet she is also very adaptable, and excepting of new things.
"She is like a mini super Alan that happens to be incredibly computer savoy" I thought, with a chuckle. She looked a bit sad though...
"Hmmm." I said thoughtfully.
My thoughts now a bit damper, noticed the large boulder all but to late. I could only watch on the side lines as, of course, Jefferson tripped over it causing him to do a sprawling wipe out. His blonde side swept hair was disheveled and thick, black glasses were askew. He quickly, yet shakily, righted himself from his ungraceful landing.
My attention however was on Joanna whom was severely struggling to support the extra weight of the massive machine. The other two students could do little to help her. So, I sprinted up to be beside her and alleviate the weight. The massive beast of a machine now supported, I was able to see the relief instantly rush through her features. It was in that moment I realized how great she actually looked. It'd been a while since we'd last seen each other but the little time had done her well. Her shoulder length hair held a light brown color like her father's, but had her mother's wave and thickness. She also had her father's brilliant blue eyes which inherited his signature intensity. She was still thin though, only sole experience reminded me of that deceptive hidden strength. The tables have turned considerably since the time she totally kicked my unsuspecting hinny in wrestling. My humiliating loss to that epic battle did me two important things; I began doing regular, vigorous work outs, and I gained a dependable and true friend that had at the time totally showed up my smug ass.
Having been unconsciously guiding the machine to its prepared tent, The white canvas door smacked me right in the face effectively redirecting my focus to the current task at hand and away from my thoughts. A few more steps, and with a thud the machine was in place. "Wait a second..?" I thought doing a mental count.. "I am missing 2 component boxes."
"JEFFERSON!" I yelled. "Be a pal and bring those smaller boxes over here please!"
I was momentarily startled when Joanna suddenly spun around to face me. I saw recognition flash in her eyes and gave her big goofy grin as she babbled about not recognizing me. I laughed internally "she's still cute when she babbles" I enveloped her into a hug that could kill. She was wearing jeans, a light blue tank, hiking boots, and her lucky necklace that she was ever so rarely without.
"Hey Joey, how have you been? How was your trip? I heard you were living at Ellie's."
"I've been great!" She replied with a grin. "I had to take a plane to get here though.." her delicate features grimaced slightly at the memory "but, everything else was just fine. Haha! and I brought you some plane peanuts!" she exclaimed while showing me 20, or so, small blue and red colored aluminum packages from her bag.
"Hey thanks," opening the offered treat. "These things are so tasty I wish they would sell them in stores." I confessed aloud, popping a few into my mouth I happily munched.
"I know right," I wondered the same thing. "Anyways it was no big deal I just remembered you liking them," Her tone indifferent. "So, how have things been here? I don't see dad around I was hoping to surprise him." She asked her tone exposed her disappointment.
"Things have been progressing really well here, if it weren't for being on the verge of bankruptcy, I would be ecstatic." my tone solemn. "There is hope though, I have been working on a project that will shine a whole new light on the velociraptor." I amended with true excitement and pride. "Alan is in Maryland giving a lecture to gain funds for the site. He called earlier this morning to tell me that the lecture was postponed till tomorrow. He was planning to visit Ellie and you since he had the opportunity."
Joanna laughed "looks like we just missed each other then, let me take a guess that his lecture is going to be another invigorating lesson on raptor superiority..?"
"Not that I blame the guy but yes, you hit the nail on the head with that one, his work has been increasingly focused on the study of velociraptor mongoliensis." I said through a smile but with a sympathetic tone.
"I know I didn't mean to tease, his work means a lot to him and he has had it rough lately...On a lighter note, How has Billy Brennan been?"
"Well, I have been working for Dr. Grant for a while now aaaaannnd am majoring in paleontology but you all ready knew that" I said with a nervous laugh "I feel great though, I have been eating healthy and I have been lifting weights...Oh, also I went on a trip to New Zealand a little while back."
"That's crazy! Did you see the country? And of course you will be showing me pictures right?" She asked excitedly.
"Yeah of course, I went parasailing with some buddies down their off the Milford Sound cliffs."
"How exciting, I heard that it is beautiful there it's the flying part that keeps me from going I'm just an over grown chicken..."
I exaggerated the motion of looking her up and down and said "Well, I wouldn't say your over grown."
She eloquently replied with sticking out her tongue.
I laughed good heartedly "So hey, actually I could really use your help with this." motioning to the prototyper, "How long are you here for?"
She beamed happily, "Well actually I am a stu-"
"WHERE DO YOU WANT EM?!" Shouted Jefferson from the opening of the tent interrupting Joanna. He was carrying two large brown boxes full of cords and various electrical components. "Too lazy to make a second trip," I thought with a shake of my head. Jefferson's body language screamed for help as he looked ready to faint and drop the modestly filled boxes. His red and contorted face pressed itself on the top box while his porcelain knuckles had a vise-like hold on its sides.
"Here, let me help you with that..." I said, walking over towards Jefferson. Just as my hands grabbed ahold of the bottom box, his released their hold and he exaggeratively staggered back a few steps trying to quickly regain composure for the second time that day.
"You alright there Jefferson?" I asked with raised eye brows.
Joanna came forward to get a better look at him and shot me a side wink. I turned placing the boxes down the action concealed my knowing grin.
"Is the altitude is all." Jefferson panted out.
"I don't know. it looks more serious than that..Here you should sit down." She said mock seriously as she forcefully dragged him towards a plastic chair.
Joanna's face was scrunched in thought... ... she felt Jefferson's forehead... ... ..
"Hey Billy he has a fever too... Do you think he could have the?.. No. Well..." She thought aloud.
"Actually, now that you mention it.. I think he does." I returned giving her an equally grave frown.
"Wha! Wha does I have?!" Jefferson shouted, his gaze franticly flicked to Joanna and I. His features desperately pleaded for an explanation that his vocabulary couldn't properly ask for..
After sharing a look with Joey, I stared hard at Jefferson as I said solemnly "The brown plague."
Jefferson's eyes grew large behind his glasses. He looked around the tent and began opening and closing his mouth while he unconsciously fidgeted in his seat. He looked to Joey and asked her with a paled face and shaky voice "Is it fatal?"
"Gravely.." (Jefferson's face had a slight green hue)
"Unless..(hope lit up Jefferson's eyes) its caught in the early stages.." she said
"I has to still be in the early stage I feel fine when I wake up." He rationalized desperately.
"Thank god, you still have time for the treatment" I said in relief.
"You are one lucky fella! you'd be coughing up this brown gunk... and large pus sacks would form on your lymph nodes only in extreme cases would your groin turn blue." Joanna said
"Wait! What?" Jefferson forcefully grabbed my arm, turning us away from Joanna He whispered "Man, does she means... my.. Junk?" with a gesture to his jeans.
I grimmly nodded "but, thank god there is a cure... Damn! Joanna do you remember where Alan's remedy book is? I know he has the treatment in the book."
Jefferson's hopeful eyes shone upon Joanna.
"Yeah, with all these cases of the brown plague popping up lately he's been keeping it handy. I bet it's in his trailer. I'll go get it stay here." She commanded before quickly running out of the tent.
"You are gonna be okay, Joey has taken first aid classes and I took a few biology classes." I said reassuringly.
"Yeah?" Jefferson asked a hopeful smile across his face.
"Well.. I got a D but, hey I passed." I said with a innocent smile.
Jeffersons smile quickly fell and he seemed to pale a bit and Joanna burst through the tent. "Found it!" She exclaimed cheerfully. "The remedy is a bit unorthodox.." she warned.
"I will do anything!" Jefferson pleaded.
Flipping to a page she pointed and said " It says here that the cure for those infected with Acute interstitial pneumonitis, commonly known as the brown plague, is a three step treatment. The first step involves drinking a bottle of castor oil and 4 raw eggs. The second step is to do 3 hours of rigorous exercise followed by 3 hours of sleep. The third step involves eating large amounts of vitamin K.. you know broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale. After that it says that the sickness should pass right out of your system. You are a lucky fellow to be in the early stages." Joanna said.
"Yeah, you go ahead and take the rest of the day off Jefferson and don't forget a step remember whats at stake here." I said both our eyes dropping to his jeans.
With a shiver Jefferson squeaked out his thanks as he bolted out of the tent to his tattered white van, no doubt on his way to the grocery store.
As we listen to the desperate sound of gravel crunching and tires grinding in the distance Joanna and I burst into a fit of laughter.
"What a gullible guy." Joanna said wiping away her cruelly earned tears.
"So who do we have to thank for our cure," I asked reaching over and grabbing the book. "Ahh, Betty Crocker's New Good and Easy cook book," I read the title out aloud. "The groin bit was a nice touch, I thought for sure he would have called us out on that one though." I said with a chuckle.
"Yeah, but he deserved the extra scare I mean look at your equipment." She motioned to the dinged up components.
"Well, while Jefferson shouldn't receive praise, I expected as much with it being a rental and all," I said with a scrunched face. "It's gonna take longer than I thought for me to set it up by myself." I groaned inspecting the mass of tangled cords. "So, do you have somewhere to be? I'd appreciate some help with the rapid prototyper if you don't mind?"
"Are you kidding? Of course, I would love to help!" Joey said jumping up and down with unrestrained excitement.
I laughed aloud "Great!"
I was happy to see that some things hadn't changed...
(4 hours and 20 packages of airplane peanuts later, Steve the now named rapid prototyper was calibrated and night was approaching fast.)
"Geez, that took forever! You can definitely tell Steve was a rental," Joey said tiredly "The people who had him last sure did abuse him.." wiping grease off her face
"How is it that you're Alan's daughter? I mean, the man still uses the abacus..." I asked truely perplexed.
"Hey! that's been retired, I bought him a really nice calculator for christmas last year." She joked mockingly.
"Hahaha, the one that's still in the packaging in his office desk, ha ha, but I'm serious though. Thank you for the help I wouldn't have been able to fix Steve for Dr. Grant's surprise tomorrow if it wasn't for your immense talent." I added greatfully.
"It was my pleasure, Steve was stubborn in the end he knew he stood no chance." she said with a wave of her hand.
"I gotta ask.. why name the prototyper Steve...?" I asked puzzled with the light mystery.
"It's a pretty name.." she replied indifferently. "Anyways, its gonna be dark soon. Do you wanna head over to Pompilio's for dinner? We skipped lunch." she said rubbing her grumbling stomach.
"Sure thing! Its been a while since you've been there and it looks like we are the last of the mohicans here so let me just spend a minute to check and make sure everything is in order before we head out." I said trotting away to each tent, picking up the random empty bottle here and there.
"Billy!" Joanna yelled from across the site.
"Yeah," I singsonged back.
"Is this your car?"She motioned to the dusty brown truck that had two tan side stripes running along its side.
Jogging back over and laughing. "Did you think we were going to walk to Pompilio's?"
She grabbed her bag with a embarrassed huff, "No, that would be ridiculous. I simply didn't remember you owning a car." she said.
"Well, you are correct there. Say hello to Winston, he is my fathers old and retired white steed."
"Couldn't afford your own sterling white horse ooh Sir Brennen..."
"With what your father pays me?" I said incredulously "Nahh, I still gotta save up for my shining armor.." I replied whilst gallantly brushing back my non existent long hair locks when giggles erupted beside me.
"Come on now don't make fun of Winston we don't want him to stall on us." I said while trying with difficulty to get the truck started.
VAA VA, VAA VA, VA VOO. *putter putter... "Crap."
VAA VA, VAA VA, VAROOOO. *putter putter... "DARN IT! I almost had it."
"Maybe Winston just needs some polite reinforcement?..." Joey offered.
"Be my guest." I said curiously.
"Noble steed," she said in a commandingly serious tone... "You would please let Sir Brennan take us to where we need to go, I promise that there will be a good car wash in it for you after." Ending her motivating demand with a light pat on the dash board. She turned to me expectantly.. "Well, start him up.." She said impatiently.
I turned the key and so smug was her face when
"VAROOM!" the truck instantly revved to life.
I put the car into drive fully expecting the car to stall but alas her words seemed to have encouraged the car because we experienced no problems on our way into town. She made me keep her promise though and we took Winston to the coin operated wash...