A NEW HOPE

12 - Thanks to Funding

A light beige colored pebble sitting amongst others in the dirt was suddenly knocked out of place by a slightly larger one being thrown at it. Derek cheered. "Ha! Five points!"

Pet snorted and shook her head. "Yeah, just five points! It was too close to be worth more than that!" The hybrid readied her own pebble in between her thumb and forefinger. "See that little black one about…eh, three-ish feet away?"

Derek squinted his eyes to focus on the small rock his friend was talking about. "I think so?"

"Six points, if I hit it."

"If you hit it. Your aim hasn't exactly been the best."

Pet tossed the pebble in her hand and missed her target by two inches. "Right now, I'm thirsty as hell, could use a juicy raw steak and about half a dozen Motrins to kill this headache I have."

Derek picked up another rock off the airport's parking lot and rolled it around in his hand. "Yeah, what's up the whole avoiding steak thing around Mr. Mass Loaded?"

Pet stopped what she was doing to stare in disbelief at the man. "Please tell me you're not serious."

Derek stared back at her and shrugged. "Is it because of his nationality?" The hybrid didn't answer. "Look, Pet…I understand your concern, and that's fine…but-" he stopped, seeing Pet's head perk up. He knew that meant she heard something.

Off in the distance was a vehicle's engine and Pet snapped her attention in the direction of it. "I know that sound… it's the Jeep!" The pebbles in her hand were discarded to the ground, and she stood up excitedly.

A red speck was spotted down the road that became more defined the closer it got. Derek huffed an impressed laugh. "How did you hear that, that far away?"

Muldoon pulled the Jeep up to the two people and barely had time to put it in neutral when Pet had the passenger door open. Even Grant was taken by surprise as the hybrid crashed into him. He hadn't even unbuckled, yet.

Pet tightly held the man and buried her face into the shoulder of his dusty shirt. "You have no idea how happy I am to be back!"

Grant embraced her in return. "At least you're back safely. I kept worrying something might happen to you being right in the middle of those InGen bastards."

A disbelieving laugh escaped the woman. "I think things are going to be a lot different from now on. I'll tell you all about it when we get back to the dig site."


The first day being home was the best for the returned two, though the rest and relaxation after being gone didn't last long. Derek was back to helping around the dig site and helping set up some new equipment Grant just had brought in.

Pet was busy cleaning up the mess Terrence had made in the kitchen earlier. If it was one thing she hated above anything else was a messy kitchen. Behind her and resuming their paddock planning was Muldoon and Terrence. Muldoon darkened a perimeter line to show emphasis on its concrete foundation needing to be thicker than most. After all, Apatosauruses were to be staying there, and they tended to use their weight to their advantage.

Terrence joined Pet at the kitchen sink as he refilled his water glass. "So, how did the trip go? Did the mean ol' people at InGen behave themselves?"

Pet whimpered and frowned. "Masrani violated me with his wallet."

Muldoon stopped tracing the fence line and looked up at the hybrid. Terrence arched a brow. "Pardon?"

The hybrid continued. "He took me out to two expensive as shit dinners the nights I was there."

With a deadpan expression, Terrence flatly stated, "Oh the horror."

Muldoon sighed and resumed working.


A week later, news of three Pteranodon captured in western Canada blew up the media and front pages of newspapers. The man responsible for leading the 'dangerous and exhausting hunt', as they described it, was introduced as the head of InGen Security, Vic Hoskins. He proudly stood before the TV camera and boasted of him and his team's accomplishments. All throughout the news broadcast, the level of arrogance was too much for Pet and her companions.

Terrence scoffed. "What a self-absorbed shit head."

Derek couldn't help but add in his own thoughts. "Hopefully I never meet that guy in real life, or else I'm going to punch him first thing."

Cheryl stood in the kitchen and smeared a wad of peanut butter on some toast. "Why not? Veronica told me how you punched that one guy at InGen. Why stop there?"

Muldoon slowly rolled his impatient scowl over to his nephew. Derek saw this. "Don't look at me like that! That fuckwad deserved it! He's the guy that bought off Reynolds to track down and kill Pet on Isla Whatever!"

Just as quickly as Muldoon's expression turned sour, it changed to one of satisfaction. "Oh. Never mind, then." He even patted his nephew on the back in a congratulatory manner, too.

Cheryl shifted her watch to the other woman. Why would anyone want to track her down and kill her? And what was she doing on the islands, anyway? Something wasn't making sense and hadn't since coming to better familiarize herself with the raptor specialist. Did she maybe know more than she was supposed to? Find some dirty little secret after sneaking down to the islands? So many questions.


Simon was furious and threw down a newspaper boldly reading Dinosaurs in Canada. The subtext below the headline followed with, Three prehistoric creatures killed in British Columbia. The man clenched his jaw in anger and tried to remain professional the best he could. Easier said than done.

"Killing the escaped assets was NOT part of the arrangement!"

His dark eyes, smoldering brilliantly with his inner rage, burned holes into the man he had trusted to take care of the escaped Pteranodon issue correctly.

Vic Hoskins wasn't at all phased by the overly hateful glare he was receiving. If anything, it further fueled the prideful smirk smeared across his goateed face to the point of taunting the billionaire from across his office desk.

"Those were dangerous creatures out there, Mr. Masrani, flying around doing who knows what!" Hoskins crossed his arms over his chest and trained his gaze down on the other man. "Those things could've killed someone if they had gotten any more out of control. They almost killed that one scientist! Practically almost tore him to shreds!" Vic lowered his brow and hardened his expression. "If they had the ability to do that to a grown man inside the confines of their cage, I couldn't imagine what they could possibly do outside it." He shrugged, hands landing on his hips. "Those things were already pretty riled up, anyway, and a danger to my team. I did what I felt was best before a major catastrophe landed you in hot water, seeing how you're now responsible for InGen. I didn't think you would want another San Diego like incident further tarnishing InGen's reputation. That Isla Sorna incident with the family and the military getting involved has already garnered bad enough press."

"Enough!" The room went dead quiet, Simon heaving a deep breath to calm his further growing anger.

Hoskins continued. "Look at it this way... this kind of publicity," he slammed his forefinger down on the news paper's title article, "successfully thwarting a dangerous threat...is what's going to boost your popularity and approval ratings when you get ready to reveal your park to the world!" The heavyset man smiled slightly smarmy like. "The fact that you," he lifted his finger off the paper to encouragingly jab the man opposite him in the shoulder, "are willing to go that extra measure to ensure the safety of the people is what's going to make Simon Masrani a success!"

Simon should just call security right now and have his man escorted out of his office. Out of his building, for that matter! But, thinking on it, no matter how obnoxious and arrogant Hoskins was, he had a point. John Hammond was continually staying in trouble with legal issues involving people falling victim to his company's creations. Not to mention his seeming lack of caring in taking preventative measures to ensure it didn't happen again. It's what eventually brought down the mighty genetics empire of InGen crumbling to bankruptcy.

And now, here he was with the famously bad reputation of InGen attached to his otherwise hugely successful corporation's banner.

Simon nodded in admittance. "You're right." He brought his eyes back up to meet the beady, dark stare of the head of InGen Security. "The animals might have been considered dangerous, and things could've gone a lot worse. Fortunately, they didn't." Hoskins was about to say something, only to be cut off by Simon holding a hand up to silence him. "However, should there come a time you are directed to do something particular such as this again... you will be mindful to inform me if a change of plans occurs. Understand?"

Hoskins wanted to protest, wanted to continue arguing with the CEO but refrained. He had already been told he was right. What else did he want? "Okay. Sure thing, boss. I can do that."

The two men continued to silently and visually berate the other with acidic stares. "Good. Since we have an understanding..." Simon sat down behind his desk and folded up the offensive newspaper, tossing it in his office's trash can. "There is nothing left to discuss."

Knowing he was being dismissed, Hoskins gave the other man a final scowl and left. The slamming of the office door only emphasized his overall irritation.


In the four months following, the dig site gradually started to improve both functionally and morale wise. New equipment and old equipment being repaired with the funding costs allowed uncovered fossils to be better mapped out, which helped Grant tremendously. How had he gone so long without using this stuff? New computers and tools were brought in to better aide the site volunteers and aspiring students in their work. Things seemed to be looking up for the senior scientist.

Nothing like hearing and seeing how much money was in the excavation's supporting bank account. Several thousand dollars staring back, versus the mere struggling two to three thousand, blew Grant's mind every time.

Grant felt he had the hybrid to thank. Had she not been there on Isla Sorna when they were rescued, their close personal connection to the other wouldn't have led to the generous funding. Everything would be so different, right now, if it weren't for her presence during the rescue. Grant would be looking at the paltry bank account he had become so used to. To add to it all, his dig site would most likely be under the leadership of Dr. Burke if not for the woman.

Grant owed so much to her, starting from the day they first met at Jurassic Park. Technically, before they even met. It was her admiration of him dating back to her much younger years at Kenya that inspired John Hammond to fund the struggling dig site in the first place. Then came the fact of how she saved him too many times to keep count. The knowledgeable assistance she provided over the years at his excavation was just as valuable. Every time he thought of something to do for her in return, nothing seemed worthy enough.

He'd taken her out on several nice dinners that he could afford since the funding checks started to come in, but it all felt so meaningless. That's when it hit him. Since there was some extra money left over from the month's funding check, yet not enough to buy his next piece of equipment, why not put it to use? He didn't think his sponsor would mind a little extra money going to something just as meaningful as new excavation equipment and tools. Off he went to find the hybrid.

Grant was almost to Quarantine when Derek exited the trailer. The younger man took one look at the senior scientist and stated, "Watch out, Doc. Pet's on one."

Grant's puzzled expression followed the bounty hunter striding off towards the excavation's fossil canopy. A shrieked hiss heard from within the trailer refocused the man on his reason for being there. But now, he wondered, if it was even a good time. He could hear the slew of profane rants flowing through the trailer's open kitchen window and cringed.

Yup, she was definitely on one.

"Am I the only fucking person in this entire damned trailer who knows how to clean up their fucking mess? Look at this shit! Is it so damn hard to take a paper towel and clean up a spill?"

Grant continued to stare at the open window, thinking it best to leave now since he hadn't been seen by the woman. Instead, he found himself opening the trailer's door. Other than the hybrid throwing a spoon into the sink, his attention happened to notice the pokerfaced expressions of Muldoon at the dining table and Terrence on the couch, staring at the hybrid.

By now, they were used to it and expected this to happen like clockwork. One such occasion was so bad, Derek was forced to wrestle the hybrid and chloroform her. Or so he was told. Thankfully he was out of town for a few days when that supposedly occurred.

Pet slammed her clawed hands down on the countertop that happened to startle Grant. She hissed a snort. "Seriously, sometimes I think I live with a braindead monkey..."

The scientist easily figured out she was referring to Darek. This kind of directed rant is what probably made him leave. Understandable. Grant scoffed. "Apparently you've never met my protégé."

The woman aimed a finger at the man. "Don't talk to me about Billy! I know all too well, after dating him as long as I did." She snorted a bark in annoyance. "Coffee stains all over the cabinet by the coffee pot...food and grease cooked onto the stovetop! Let's not forget that brand new fucking skillet of mine that he ruined!"

Yeah, he should just leave before a rant about something ages old was thrown his way. Yet, Grant's feet took him straight to the woman.

Terrence spoke up. "Might not want to do that, Doc. Derek got hit pretty good, earlier."

Grant knew the hybrid otherwise. He wasn't Derek, and he knew she would never do anything to hurt him. Pet jerked around to fully face the man, her raptor eyes stabbing daggers into him. "What?"

Smiling, Grant answered. "We should get married."

The woman's expression quickly shifted as though someone slapped it off her. "W-what did you just say?"

"I've been thinking about it…since Isla Sorna, actually."

Pet didn't know if she wanted to scream, cry, or run around in absolute joy to what she was being asked. Her eyes gradually changed to their blue-green, and her lower lip quivered on the verge of an emotional breakdown. "You're serious."

"One hundred percent."

Pet couldn't restrain her excitement anymore and flung her arms around Grant's neck in a suffocating hug. She sobbed into his shirt's collar and tightly clutched onto her now fiancé.

Grant held her against him and explained through his barely restrained happiness. "I'll have to buy a ring, of course, to officialize everything." Pet just kept on sobbing.

Terrence huffed a laugh. "I can honestly say I didn't see that coming."

Muldoon smiled in approval. "I did. We discussed it while Pet was gone to California."

A slow nod came from Terrence. "Ah."