III

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White beard and grayish hair, it, along with some wrinkles, shows the famous Alan Grant has a lot behind himself, yet he's feeling nowhere close to tired as he continued doing what he's good at and likes most: paleontology. 

He never got tired of it and never will, each time amazed by every skeleton or fossil they discover old fashioned way, and can only roll his eyes at some of his young workers, like the two girls that instead of working were giggling over something on their mobile phones. 

But ever since, he can't enjoy it to the fullest, missing old times and certain people.

Now he's heading to his tent, having been told he has to see something. He expected anything else but his beloved friend standing there, looking around the mess before she noticed him and smiled brightly, her beautiful smile he missed for years. Hell, she's still as beautiful as he remember her, even with the years catching up to her. 

"Ellie Sattler." He breathed out, at one point thinking he's hallucinating. 

"Alan Grant." Gosh, how much he missed her voice. "You look the same. And this place, it's so, so, uh, you." Alan knew she doesn't mean it in bad way, quite the opposite, still he tried to hide his nervousness as he skipped to his table, cleaning some stuff while feeling embarrassed for the mess. 

"I'm sorry. If I'd known you were coming, I would've..." He didn't finish, the right words forgotten away. Instead he backed to the drawers and hid photo of him, Ellie and his daught- niece, taken 30 years back when they were very young while Ellie looked around with her back to him. 

"Can I get you something? A beer or..." 

"Um, well, maybe not at 10am, but iced tea..." The smile Ellie gave Alan put him at ease, yet the fact it's been a very long time and suddenly she appear here, in his tent, out of blue, just pushed him off guard. 

"Tea. Yeah. I can do that." And he did, spilling some when he poured it into cup. 

"Saw a lot of tourists on the way in." Ellie stated, glancing outside for split second. 

"Well, the funding's dried up, so somebody gotta pay for all this." With his head Alan gestured around, before handing Ellie the cup with tea, at which she thanked for. "I read your articles about soil science and regenerative farming. That's great." 

"Thanks." The smile never disappeared from Ellie's lips. 

"Gave me grounds for some hope for a change. How are your kids?" Alan suddenly turned back to her, jumping to another theme. 

"Amazing. Grown. It's shocking. They're both in college. Can you believe that?" Alan always knew how much Ellie loves kids, unlike him, and hearing her talking about her own remind him of certain someone. 

"And Mark?" It was question out of both wonder and politeness, since they are already talking about Ellie's family, one Alan regret giving up on so it can be him and not Mark. Yet he won't ever say any of that stuff out loud. Ellie paused.

"It's over." She shrugged, keeping on smile that's cracking slightly. 

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." No, he's not. Not at all. Mark was a great guy, but hearing this put a small flame of hope in him. 

"It's okay. I'm back to me. And my work. You know, it's...it's good. It is. I'm alone at last." Ellie says it with such cheerfulness Alan almost missed the small glint of sadness. 

"Exciting times."

"Yeah, I'm living the Alan Grant life. It's just..." In her mind she looked for the right word to describe it, Alan mistaking it with his own opinion.

"Can be lonely."

"..so freeing." Alan smiled at that, until today loving each minute spent with her. He missed it. A hesitant look on Ellie's face grabbed his concern, putting confused frown upon his eyebrows. 

"It used to be different." And he does know what she means, sigh leaving him. 

"I know." Like times with Ellie, he also very misses his niece and each day regret saying these stuff to her. He was so scared for her safety he couldn't see the fact he was only blocking her future, but now he does. Alan Grant isn't a stupid man, but once he repeat the conversation in his head, he feels exactly like one. 

"Alan, it's been 17 years. Have you even tried looking for her? Call her? Write her?" The blonde woman pressed, also belonging to those that wasn't able to communicate with the girl, or woman by now, because of certain stuff. Once again Alan sighed.

"Yes. Yes I did, Ellie." He said it more forcefully, uncomfortable with this conversations that's only because he's on fault for cutting off his niece just like that. She must hate him so much. 

"And?" Lips pressed in line, the old man lifted his gaze to meet Ellie's, showing her how much regret and guilt he carry on his shoulders.

"I was late. She wasn't answering my calls, then I found out about the park and after that I lost her completely. Nothing about her location. The only thing I know is she's very well know for her close bond with dinosaurs or whatever they said, but that's it." Done with himself, he leaned against the table, pinching the bridge between his eyes. 

"Alan." Ellie has known the Grants her whole life and know how both of them are, and seeing the man she care about so deeply look so given up and bothered pain her heart. 

"I messed up, Ellie. I was never able to apologize to her, so I just gave up looking. I'm sure she's better off without me." It's not really unusual but it didn't happen often to see Alan Grant being so guilty, regretting, given up. 

"Don't say that." Ellie walked up to him and gently laid her hand on his shoulder. "Yeah, you messed up, but I know Jane and know she could never hate you. Don't lose hope, Alan. There's still possibility you will run into her one day and have chance to make things right." Alan shook his head.

"I don't think it would change anything. I left her, Ellie. Without leaving a note or something. I cut her off, dammit!" He rised his voice, sounding so vulnerable. Ellie rubbed his shoulder in comfort.

"You were blinded by anger, Alan, it happens to people. All you wanted is protect her from danger, Jane knows that too. It's understandable you were angry because she didn't listen and was only running towards it. But you know how she is, especially when it contain dinosaurs. Don't blame yourself this much." Silence settled upon them, the only noise being the workers from outside. Something behind Alan caught Ellie's eye and she pointed at it. 

"Is this from her?" Alan followed her finger, realizing she's pointing at the hanging raptor claw his niece dug when she was 7-years old. He nodded.

"Yeah. Sometimes when I look at it, I see my little Jay smiling at me and showing the claw for me to see how clever she is. She used to say when she grow up, she'll be paleontologist like me...... She's better than that." It brough small smile on Ellie's lips. 

She always loved to watch the bond between the two, a bond way closer and stronger than only uncle and niece. It was mainly amazing to people's eyes since Alan was never fond of children. Jane was, and still is, very special to him. 

"I believe things are gonna turn good, sooner or later." Ellie said, making Alan chuckle. 

"I hope so. Now tell me the real reason why you came here. I don't believe it was just to chit chat and catch up on our lifes, right?" 

"Well..." The conversation suddenly took whole 360° to another theme, yet none of them know how deep will this all lead.

~🦕~

In only black jeans, tank top and old shirt she stole from Owen, Jane stood outside under little shelter for her hybrid child, cleaning it a little. Izy tends to be quite messy. The shelter is attached to back door leading to Jane's room, and beside the door stood Owen, leaning against the wooden wall. 

He so happened to be bored and approached her, saying all he wanna do is spend some time alone with his best friend like old times, even though all he did past this time is annoy her and do more mess in here. Thankfully he stopped when she threatened him to stab him with garden fork she uses for hay. 

"I live with you for what? 8 years? And still can't figure out how come you snore so loudly." Grant brought up, feeling a little cranky today since she couldn't sleep again, listening to Owen's snoring through the whole house. 

"I don't snore loudly." The man protested, shaking his head with look like he's so sure of his words. Jane shoot him a look.

"You fucking do. It's heard in the whole house, dammit." She argue back, dark cyrcles under her green eyes. 

"Are you sure you aren't mistaking it with me and Claire doing it?" Owen asked with amusement, Jane's eyes widening in disgust. 

"No, I don't, Owen! I know how you two sound when you're in mood." She didn't realize how bad it sounded until it's too late. 

"You listen to us having sex? Jeez! You perv!" Even though it's only playful argument, it didn't stop Jane from defending herself. 

"Oh my God! No! Ew! I'm not you, you know." Jane grimaced, shiver running down her spine. Izy looked at the two with tilt of head, unable to understand the point of their conversation. Thankfully.

"How am I a perv?" Upon hearing this, Jane smirked mischievously and turned to face him, one hand on her hip and the other on fork. 

"I don't know who's been having dreams about Claire, moaning her name and always woke up with boner." Owen's eyes widen and cheeks flushed in embarrassment. 

"Alright, you proven yourself. I don't need to hear more." He made his way towards her with hand outstreched, ready to shut her up so she rattled more, backing with grin. 

"Or once in pub when you tripped and fell on some chick and commented she has nice boobs? Or when I caught you jerking off and all you did was ask me if I wanna join?" Giggles between teases dripped from Jane's mouth like waterfall, too used being around Owen to be disgusted. She looked for more to bring up, until Owen finally covered her mouth. 

"Now, now, I was a teenager so shut up. There's no need to hear more." To get him off, she licked his palm and he immediately let go.

"Ew! What are you? 9?! You are literally worse than Izy and that's saying something." Instead of being offended, she shrugged, admitting it without hesitance.

"And you are way bigger perv than I am. And loud snorer." She went back to work.

"Alright, I agree with the pervy part but not snoring." Owen held his finger out, ready to argue about it. Pausing in raking hay, Jane glanced at Izy and pointed at Owen.

"Does he snore?" And Izy nodded, huffing and walking off. Few times Izy grew so annoyed with Owen's snoring he began crawling at Jane's door in plead to shut the man up. 

"He only agree because you are his mother!" Now it's only looking for saving from this stuff, whinning in protest. 

"He gave you his answer. If you don't believe us nor anyone else, I will record it. You want a prove, I will give you prove." She feel so proud of herself for winning this short playful fight, smiling to herself as she cleaned. 

"You are pain." Owen kept whinning, only this time he also kicked cleaned hay in frustration, making more mess. His best friend gave him scolding look. 

"I am pain? You are pain. Look what you did. Again!" She's too tired to fight with him about this any more so she only went to fix it back. But Owen decided to be Owen, kicking it more and more with wicked laughter. 

"No! Stop! Stop! Owen-! You prick." With the garden fork she poked Owen's butt and stomach, swatting at him like witches in cartoon movies with their brooms. The guy laughed more, dodging the sharp point and lifting her over his shoulder. 

"Hey-! Put down! Put me the fuck down! I'm warning you!" Despite being slightly annoyed, Jane still laughed along with her best friend, the fork long forgotten on the ground. 

"And what you gonna do, Sweetcheeks?" But the fun was quickly cut off when their ears caught a familiar sound. A raptor sound. 

Owen let Jane back on her feet and they rushed around the house, seeing Maisie standing frozen in front of Blue and.....smaller Blue?! It quickly clicked in their heads that smaller raptor is Blue's baby, the question being 'how'? 

"Maisie, don't move." The father ordered his adoptive daughter in firm voice, sparring her no glance to make sure Blue won't suddenly pound on them as they approached the scene. 

"Hey, girl. Staying out of trouble?" Owen held his hand out towards Blue like in old times, him and Jane holding their expression strong and not letting Blue see what they truly feel and think. 

"She had a baby. That's impossible." Maise breathe out quietly and Ian Malcolm's voice ring in Jane's mind to taunt her for what he once said. 

"Not if they added a frog DNA when creating her. Females can switch their sex and have a baby." Blue growl and shriek at Maisie and Jane, the young girl flinching with gasp. Izy suddenly appear beside his mother and with shrieks, chirps and squeals he talks to Blue, who's pupils are way more slit than they tend to be, standing in front of her baby in protective maneuver. 

"She won't hurt us, right?" Hands hold onto Jane's arm, the woman mirroring Blue's actions but with Maisie. 

"Damn right she will. Just breathe. If you don't, she'll think you're scared." All this time Owen nor Jane let their eyes off the raptors, switching back and forth between the hybrid and mother. 

"I am scared." Maisie whispers, the three of them watching Blue snap her jaw at Izy, who growls in return but doesn't try anything back, instead inch closer to his mother's side. 

"Nah, she doesn't need to know that." Owen then shakes his head at Blue and the raptor back, chirping to her baby to go into the forest and both of them run off. 

"Her nest must be nearby. Maisie, get inside." Adoptive aunt of the girl order, scanning the way Blue and her baby ran off to. Lucky for them, they left trail of footsteps in the thick snow so they can follow them easily, if not, Izy will smell them out. 

"I'm coming with you." Maisie attempt to protest, but one look from her aunt shut her up and back down. 

"Listen to Jay, Maisie. We don't need her to get mad." Hearing Owen's words, Jane also glares at him and he does the same like his adopted daughter, shutting up. The last time when Jane was angry, she let her anger out on cutting the wood and accidentaly almost stabbed the axe into Owen's head, thankfully she stopped the axe mere inches from his head. 

"Ugh, fine." Finally Maisie listened and walked back into the house, leaving the two adults to follow Izy into the woods, following trail of footsteps. They fell in silence, looking around and having Izy get lost from how fast he went. 

"Life finds a way. Ian used to say that a lot back in days, and I bet he does it until now." Jane bring up, shaking her head to get Ian's voice out of her head. That asshole of man is like laughing in there.

"Yeah, but the thing is, he's right. We just saw an example." The man beside Jane says and she roll her eyes. 

"Like I didn't see that myself. Now, where did Izy run off to?" Like on cue, panicked rapid shrieks are heard from their left and their heads snap to left in speed it's surprising their necks didn't break. 

"Oh, no." Jane's heartbeat fastens, breaking into running when seeing men putting most probably Blue's baby into the truck, the poor creature wriggling in net. What raged Jane up is the long, black tail with yellow stripe sticking out from the back of truck.

"No, no, no, no! NO!" Unfortunately, it's too late, the truck with men kidnapping Blue's shrieking baby and unconscious Izy already speeding away. How come they didn't hear Izy or gunshot when they took him down? They must've shoot minimum five sleeping darts into him it knocked him out immediately. 

The duo stop in their track, Owen's eyes widening when seeing the man he ran into yesterday in the front seat, holding a shotgun. He had this off feeling about him but didn't push it further, blamimng the fact they took the Parasaurolophus from them. Now look where they are. 

The man in car lift his shotgun, shooting at them. Owen duck, however Jane doesn't follow, snatching her own gun from the back of her jeans and shooting rapidly back at them. In the last minute she caught bullet hitting the man's shoulder before they grew smaller and smaller, disappearing from their sight and leaving Jane to think again. 

They took Izy from her. Her baby. Again. Firstly she had her unborn baby taken from her, then Inza, then her dinosaur best friend and now Izy? Hell no! She's so not gonna let some pieces of shits take her baby, not this time! And when her green eyes burning with fire settle on one of the men again, if not all of them, blood will stain her hands. 

"Jay. Jay. Snap out of it. I need you to stay with me. Come on, woman." Gentle slaps to her cheeks bring her back to reality, the fire settling down enough to percieve her best friend holding the sides of her head but not disappearing completely. 

He grasp her hand and together they run after where the truck had gone. From the physical and mental change of the DNAs Jane ran way faster, switching it into her dragging Owen behind her and make him stumble few times. 

They stop down a snowy hill, in distance catching the same man Jane shot throw Maisie's bike off the bridge, then return into car while holding his injured shoulder and follow after two more cars. 

So not only did they took Blue's child and Jane's child, but also Owen's and Claire's, flicking flame of rage in Owen too and making the already burning one only rise in Jane. One of their worst nightmares came true. 

The two angered best friends ran back to their house, Jane being the first one to burst through the back door, on accident knocking it down from hinges. Nonetheless, right now she can care less, storming her way past confused Claire to her supplies of guns hidden in her room under her bed, leaving it on Owen to catch Claire on to what's actually happening. 

Anger, furiousness, rage consume her mind, blinding her for split second when she repeat the scene of Izy's tail sticking out the truck. If he were conscious, the men would be dead in blink of an eye, and Jane would be only proud of him for doing so. 

Call her mad, but those that hurt her loved ones gets only added on her list of people she hate or just simply dislike, Hoskins, Wethley and Mills belonging between them. But they are long dead so they're marked as mission completed. 

Packed with guns and other things she will most probably need for however long they will be gone until they get their children back, she stop at her reflection in the mirror. 

This is nothing like she used to be, a killer, a person desired for revenge, an animal. However, that changed a long ago she can't even remember. Now all she can do in her life is just go and see what will happen next. 

A glance down at the raptor tooth necklace resting on her chest flashes memories of her childhood and she has to blink hard, shaking her head out of it. Why she can't let go of the necklace is mistery to her. It was in the box, but somehow she found herself back up in the attic taking it back out and putting around her neck, to its previous spot it always stayed on, no matter what happened. 

Sighing to herself, her legs move out of her room to front door and she walk out, catching only glimpse of Blue running back into forest and the two parents relaxing their shoulders, turning to Jane. 

"What did I miss?"