VIII

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My arms are aching, asking for break from carrying Danny for so long. He's light kid, but I'm using my strenght too long.

After our little argument, none of us pep a word, awkward silence looming over us. I tried ignoring it, instead focusing on the light in distance. Maybe we finally found something?

"I'm sorry." A voice of my friend snaps me from squirming my eyes at whatever is in front of us. Honestly, if we were to start a conversation, I didn't expect her to begin with that.

"I need to stop pushing you into becoming a mother." Even in the darkness I recognize guilt twisting her featuress as she avoid my gaze by looking down. My chuckle take her off guard.

"You know what sucks? That you're right. I don't know how but I need to push aside my fear and face it. Running away won't help, like you said." Corners of my lips twist into weak smile, rubbing Danny's back in slow motion. He switch his other cheek to rest on my shoulder, facing my neck as his thin arms tighten on me. There's no need to look to know Claire smiled at that.

"Look." After a while we come to a clearing with single building that reminds me of a mushroom. Silly me.

"A mushroom tower. Creative." Claire gives me unamused look and aim her way towards it while I gently pat Danny's back.

"Psst. Wake up, kid. We found a giant mushroom." He stirs awake, in the end forcing his big dark eyes half open, enough to look around and see the tower Claire is messing with at the bottom.

"I don't like mushrooms." Unstoppable chuckle escapes my throat, putting the boy down back on his feet, fully letting go of him when I'm sure he won't stumble or anything.

"Yeah. Me neither." Together we approach Claire when suddenly she push a button and lit up the tower. Wow, magic.

"How do we get up?" Danny ask in whispering voice, aware of the danger lurking in the darkness. Claire push another button and she smiles at Danny as we see a ladder pulling down very slowly. Our smiles are wiped off our faces at the chirping sound from behind us.

Dilophosaurus

Yeah, no thanks. I don't like these motherfuckers. They spit shit. Not literally but they spit.

"Slowly, get to the ladder." Keeping my tone low, I tell them, especially Danny, whose heart beat so rapidly I hear it from here. I know now I won't be able to comfort him when we have these pricks breathing on our neck but either way I hold his shoulders, letting him know as long as I'm here, no harm will be done to him.

Claire moves, us after her with me being last, watching our back in case one dino decides to jump at us. Another chirping is heard from in front of Claire, and if she didn't warn us in time, I'd run into her.

"Guys, back up." I dare to turn my head elsewhere, quickly checking for how many could possibly be around while we back towards the tower. Once we are by the column wall, I get in front of the two, trying to shield them as much as possible and take out my gun.

"Jane, I'm scared." Danny's voice tremble in clear fear and my hand rach back to hold his. 

"We will be fine, Danny." Honestly, I myself want to believe my own words, chest rising and falling in rapid speed. I can't protect them both from all of the diliphosaurs, that's what worries me.

"Jane." Claire grip my bicep, shaky voice full of fear. My head snap forward, only to see a Dilophosaurus right in front of me, inspecting us with tilt of head. I prepare my gun, ready to pull the trigger.

He shriek, his two frills spreading and venomous spit about to fly out his mouth. I almost fired, if it wasn't for a hand gripping the dino's throat and force it's mouth and frills closed. With wide eyes we watch Owen pull him back and Kayla shock him with electric device, knocking the dino out. Others ran away.

Finally I can take proper breath as I leaned back beside Danny, only Claire jumping up to hug her husband. Not only the Dilophosaurs are gone, for now, but my best friend and pretty woman are alive. Thank fucking God.

Calming my fast beating heart, my arm goes around Danny shoulders, who's already latched onto my waist in tight hug. Poor guy is still frightened. Can't blame him.

"I did say we will be fine, didn't I?" Tired smirk spread over my lips, patting the boy's head of curly brown hair. He grin weakly, burrying his face in my chest. Someone outstretch their hand to me and I look up.

"Missed me, Treasure?" Oh, endless flirt. Yay.

"You wish, Pretty flirt." Rolling eyes, my smirk doesn't wear off and I grab Kayla's hand, letting her hoist me and Danny up. Our chests bump each other and I feel blood rushing into my face. Crap, crap, crap, crap.

"Pretty flirt, huh? You think I'm pretty?" Shit, why did I say that? I should really watch my tongue. Taking a step back for some space, my green orbs scan her up and down.

"Well, what we gonna lie to each other?" Jane. Stop. Talking! My inner voice scream at me warningly, knowing I'm turning myself into blushing mess. I can't help it! It comes out by itself.

"Are you gonna kiss or what?" A voice interrupt our little flirting moment and our heads turn downwards to Danny, whose arms are still wrapped around my waist.

"I mean-"

"No." I'm quick to cut Kayla off, knowing exactly what she was about to say, not needing to see her seductive smirk. I need to get away. With Danny I quickly passed Kayla and threw myself into Owen's awaiting embrance.

"Are these tears I see in your eyes, Jay? Are you crying?" Owen tease, him being the one that knows about my dislike of crying. Who does he think I am? Sniffing, I hide my face in his chest.

"No, you idiot." His chest vibrate with short laugh and pull slightly back, enough to notice Danny attached to me. Looks like he isn't letting go anytime soon.

"Hey, buddy." Owen's massive hand ruffle Danny's messy hair, getting a toothed grin out of him. Good.

"He's quite attached to you, Jay." I meet my best friend's gaze, smile slightly fading.

"Yeah, it seems so." My facial expressions says it all and only Owen know exactly what I'm telling, after years of knowing each other easily recognizing which expressions tells what.

More chirps are heard around, but this time also growling with distant roar. What else is here? Two pairs of arms tighten around me and our minds connect like bluetooth.

"We should get inside." Owen suggest and we all can't agree more, nodding our heads.

"Great idea."

~🦖~

3rd person pov...

Fist slammed against the locked door, eyes roaming around for a key or anything they could open them with. To their unfortune, nothing that could help.

"It's useless." Jane groaned, letting her arms hang by her sides and turned to Kayla, who climbed up with her while others remained on ground.

"Guys, it's locked!" The dark skinned woman called to those down there, unaware of green eyes checking her muscled arms, due to her jacket now tied around her waist. "Gonna need something heavy, something sharp, or both."

"Or we can smash head through. The glass can't be that thick. What do you think?" Jane grinned over her shoulder at Kayla, only to see her staring at something in distance, along with Owen, Claire and Danny. Confused what took their breath so suddenly she looked up too, and her eyes widened.

Whatever that is, it's not good news. A flying fire or like flock of burning birds flying above the forest and spreading everywhere. It's gonna put the whole forest under fire. Great.

Leaves and bushes rustled rapidly, a heavy noise getting closer to them from their left. Sharing a look with Jane, Kayla climbed back down to join others and see what the hell is making that noise.

A car stopped some distance from where Claire, Owen, Kayla and Danny stand, ending up on its roof. From her place Jane is unable to see faces of the people in there, however, her clever ears caught familiar voice.

"Help!" Others already sprinted over to help Maisie out of the car and Jane rushed to climb down.

"Oh my God. You're okay. You're okay." Claire breathe out, relieved tears streaming down her cheeks as she and Owen cradle the girl. Her daughter is back, with them, in her arms. They're back together and that's all that matters. Finally she can breathe properly.

"Auntie Jane!" The parents let go of Maisie so the girl can hug her adoptive aunt with the same strenght of love like her parents put in it.

"Jesus Christ, Maisie. I told you to get me when you wanna go to town." Jane ran her hand down Maisie's hair, glad at least one of their children is back. But, where's Izy? Did he get away too or Biosyn still have him locked up?

"Wait. What?" Owen and Claire placed their hands on hips in unison like the protective parents they became. Ups. Jane raised her arms in defence.

"Poor girl wanted freedom! And it was better to have her with someone than alone!" On that they can't argue much. Sure, it was safer to have an adult they trust with Maisie, but not Jane! She's wanted person too.

"We will discuss this later." Owen pointed a strict finger at both his daughter and best friend, the two only rolling their eyes in process.

"I remember you." They followed Maisie's gaze, Kayla in return giving a small smile.

"Remember you too." A conversation back in Malta when they first talked replayed in Jane's head. So she lied? All this freaking time?!

"You knew? And refused to tell me?!" Not only in her eyes but also in voice is heard anger bubbling like boiling water about to spill and burn anything nearby. Kayla backed, her smile turning slightly nervous.

"Now now, let's not get too feed up, Treasure." Yeah, failed attempt saving her ass. Jane growled and reached for the woman with intention to strangle her. And she would do so, if footsteps didn't take their attention. But who she sees next takes her brath away.

A greyish man of tall height stumbles from behind the car, elder blonde woman not far behind but turns back to help the last person still stuck in the car.

"Man, what happened to you? You used to look so hot. Now I'm glad I wasn't old enough to date you." It's like her whole mood changed in snap of fingers, big smile spreading over her tired face at the sight of Ian and Ellie behind.

"I take that as offense, Mini Grant." The next thing she know is squeezed in the man's arms. He may not be blood relative to her, but just as Ellie, Owen, Claire and Maisie, he's like family to her.

"You still on with that nickname?" She understand when she was younger, but now it's little out of way. In the end, she's not 7 anymore.

"Of course he is, dear." Another voice intervene in their little reunion, Jane's already big smile growing in sizes it hurts her cheeks.

"Ellie!" Remember when was said Jane let her guard down only in private times or when she wasn't able to hold it all in, this is one of them, tears blinding her eyesight as she switched from Ian to Ellie, a woman that played big role in her life when she was younger. Unfortunately, after Jane's original phone broke in Jurassic World, they were no longer able to contact each other. "It's been so long."

"I know, dear. I know." There wasn't a time when Jane didn't enjoy Ellie's motherly hugs, maybe of the fact she has no memories of her own and Ellie was the closest she ever had to a mom.

Jane's closed eyes opened at the sound of another footsteps joining them, and her breath hitched.

There stood Alan Grant, her uncle she didn't see nor spoke to a single word ever since her interest got her back on Isla Nublar. A man that means more to her than only uncle. Ellie let go of her, knowing these two need to reunite.

At first they only stood in their places, staring at one another with many thoughts whirling in their heads, until Alan offered a teary smile full of regret and apologizes, one his niece reflected back.

Jane didn't waste a second from jumping into his opened arms, letting him squeeze the life out of her, as long as it means she can be with him. Years of his absence, thinking he's mad at her this whole time, erased her from his own life because of her selfish mistake going away, and now, after 17 long years, she's back in his warm fatherly embrance.

"I-I'm sorry. So, so sorry. I'm sorry, uncle." Hearing his niece's voice shake pain his old heart, like every time when she was younger and was having a hard time. He remember everything they ever experienced together, and blame himself for missing half of her life.

"No, no. I'm sorry." He pulled slightly back, enough he can look at her broken, tears stained face.

"I'm sorry. It was wrong of me holding you back. And mainly, I shouldn't cut you off. You deserve way better uncle than me." His thumb wipe tears from her cheeks, cupping her face in his old hand. He may be old, but nowhere close to weak, just like his love for his only kid he raised. Jane's bottom lip tremble in her saddened yet happy smile.

"I don't want any other uncle. You are all I need. Please, don't leave me again." He pulled her back into stronger embrance, letting her cry her eyes out, just like he himself let those few tears escape him.

"I thought you hate me." It comes out muffled, due to having her face burried in her uncle's shoulder.

"I could never. Anger blinded me for long, but I realized you have all right to decide for yourself." This truth was bothering him for long, worse was he wasn't able to tell her this sooner till now, along with apologizes.

"You were just trying to protect me."

"Still." Alan protest, resting hands on her shoulders when she pulled back.

With softened heart others watch uncle and niece reunion, or in their and everyone else's eyes, father and daughter.

Whereas Owen was there from almost the beginning, watching his best friend languish for almost two decades, was there whenever the weight was too much for her to handle and made sure she isn't alone, he can't be happier. And as far as they know, she's letting Danny in.

"I apologize for breaking this very touching moment, but whose child is this?" Ian pep in, pointing his finger at mentioned one. Before they can turn to him, hands grab onto Jane's arm and no way she can fight a smile at Danny looking up at her uncle with those cute big eyes she grew to adore. When he mentioned he's her fan, it's understanding he's Alan's fan too.

"I didn't know you have a child." Alan didn't but those that know caught the quick fade of their friend's smile, forcing it back on.

"Danny is not my child." Younger Grant lifted her head to older Grant. "Accidentaly I took him with us when we were escaping from Atrociraptors. Until I figure out what next, he's under my care."

Only to Jane went Danny's dejected expression unnoticed, however, only Claire and Owen didn't have to show sympathy to the kid. They know their friend too well to predict some of her upcoming decisions. There's only little worry she, in the end, might change her mind.

"Let's first get out of here. Then we can catch up, how about that?" Jane's uncle suggested, an idea everyone agree with. Still there's wee problem.

"Sounds amazing, uncle, but before that we gotta get Izy." Alan's niece reminded, Beta also belonging on the list.

"Who's Izy?" Who the hell has a name like that, thought Alan, furrowing his eyebrows.

"My child." Says Jane in the most simpliest way possible, putting her uncle in more confusion than he already is.

"I thought you don't have a child."

"A dinosaur child. He's a hybrid." Jane shot daggers at her best friend, knowing Alan will from then see her as crazy.

"You're raising a hybrid dinosaur?!" Here it is. He think she lost her mind. Pursing her lips, Jane fought the urge to roll her eyes. They have a lot of catching up. Her mouth opened, yet no words came out when too close growl came from behind her.

They're cooked.