Chapter Text
Owen didn't understand why they needed someone else to work with them on the raptor project. Not including him and Barry, there were only 7 or 8 other men working closely with them. Even then, him and Barry were the only ones working hands on with the raptors.
When he found out Hoskins also agreed they didn't need another trainer, he became curious. The bastard had been trying to get more money and more manpower funneled into his project since before the raptors were even incubating. Owen's curious as to what about this new trainer makes Hoskins dislike the idea of him.
Turns out the problem is that they're not a him, they're a her.
"I can assure you that Claire Dearing is very good at her job Mr.Grady. She will be an excellent addition to your team." Mr. Masrani was only half paying attention to him, and Owen trailed behind him, frustrated that no one would listen to his opinion before and that he was now being ignored.
"With all due respect sir, two people working hands on with the raptors is enough. It'll already be impressive if they're tolerant of Barry, I just don't think they'd deal well with a third person."
"Well you will find out soon enough. She's already been signed on. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a lesson to get to."
Owen was left grumbling in the hallway.
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"You can't seriously tell me you think this is a good idea?"
Barry laughed at Owen and continued reading his book. Owen would have hoped at least Barry would've had his back. But no. "Fuck, the only person who agrees with me is Hoskins."
"Well, Hoskins is a sexist bastard. You just aren't open to new possibilities. I have met Claire, she's worked with many of the animals. Been here for about 8 years already. She's good, you two would get along."
"Where is she working now?"
"With the apatosaurus."
Owens eyebrows raised and he stared at Barry incredulously. "She'll be going from working with apatosaurs to raptors?"
Chuckling, Barry put his book down and looked at Owen. "Trust me. She'll do fine. You should go meet her." He checked his watch, picking his book up again and kicking his feet up. "She should be heading out the the apatosauruses territory. One has become ill and they're about to go sit with it in it's last moments. May give you an idea of what it's like to work with these animals."
"How do you know this?'
"I check the emails they send out. Don't you?" Owen could hear the smile in his voice and chose to ignore Barry's teasing, instead heading out.
Getting on his bike he thought it over and realized Barry was right. He'd worked with plenty of animals, but he had yet to see a live dinosaur. He understood they were living, breathing creatures, but in the haste of being recruited to work here and settle in, all of the paperwork and preparation for the raptors to be hatched had kept him from preparing himself for what he was doing.
Owen rode around the island for a good 20 minutes trying to find Claire Dearing, and after finally asking for help managed to meet up with the group of people heading out to see the apatosauras, but found Claire Dearing nowhere in site. He pulled a small kid who was likely an intern aside and asked about her.
"Ms.Dearing is already out with the animal. We're heading there now, but she wanted some alone time with her before..." He trailed off, and Owen just nodded walking away.
Whether it was appropriate to or not, he decided to get in the jeep with the rest of the men and women heading out, and next thing he knew he was in a car heading towards the fields the apatosaurus roamed.
As they neared the fields Owen saw the dinosaur lying one the ground, its stomach moving up and down in a way that looked like it was taking slow, shaky breaths. Sitting by it's head was a woman, bright red hair clipped back. She had her hands on its face and seemed to be stroking it, speaking to it. The car came to a stop, and while no one else moved, Owen got up despite the protests of the kid he'd spoken to earlier.
"You should really wait until-" He ignored him, and walked towards them, slowing his pace the closer he got. He settled down on the opposite side of the dinosaurs neck than, and watched her. Her skin was fair and spotted with freckles. She had bangs that fell just under her eyebrows and blocked her eyes from him. She had on skinny cargo pants and a loose tanktop, which showed off her arms. She wasn't too buff, but was muscular. Despite him obviously observing her, she didn't look up at him, keeping her eyes trained on the obviously ill apatosaurus.
"I thought I said no one was to come out until I gave the go ahead."
"I'm sorry, Claire. I didn't listen to them." She quickly glanced up at him, but quickly looked back down at the dinosaur. "I'm Owen Grady."
"I know who you are. I helped pick you when they were looking for people to train the raptors."
Owen quieted, and watching her smile and talk quietly to the apatosaurus made him wish that he hadn't intruded on this moment. She must of sensed his discomfort because she looked up. She gave him a small smile, but her eyes were so knowing and mesmerizing it didn't come across as quite comforting. "Apatosaurus aren't very smart. Not in the way that the raptors will be. But they are very sweet creatures. You should touch her."
Not hesitating he put a hand out, stroking it over the dinosaurs skin. It let out a groan and his hand stilled. Claire muttered a quiet "it's okay" and started shushing it, continuing to stroke it. She started humming, and used a hand to pull out a medical kit from behind her, one he had not noticed before. Unzipping it with one hand, she opened the top, not bothering to grab anything but bringing her hand to stroke the animals face once more.
Owen sat back on his heels, taking the the creature in front of him that he'd only ever seen drawings and photos of. He took a second to imagine what it would be like when the raptors hatched. Reminding himself that he likely couldn't do this with the raptors, at least not for long, he focused his attention back to the animal in front of him. "Does she respond to that? Is it comforting her?"
"I hope so. There's no real way to tell if any of the animals are satisfied here. At least, not in a way that you can measure. But I think you can see it in their eyes." Owen let out a hum, and she turned back around. He was only slightly startled when she pulled out a needle. Mostly by the size, but considering how large the animal was it made sense. "It won't hurt her. It's thought that they'd live to about a hundred years. But with genetic modification there's much more room for error than there is in nature. Not that it's natural for her to be here in the first place."
Soon enough the deed was done, and the animals loud shudders stopped. Claire sat there a moment before turning to look at Owen. "Let's walk."
They started heading away from the group who was not approaching the dinosaur, Claire carrying her medical bag. "Well since I highly doubt you're here to watch an apatosaurus die, what's up?"
Owen scratched the back of his head, feeling slightly guilty for walking out, thinking it was appropriate. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that."
"It's fine." Despite her casual attire she sounded very business like. "I'm sure you're concerned about whether adding another person to this project is a good idea." She sounded a lot more serious now, her voice clear and controlled.
"Yeah. Listen, I know that Hoskins doesn't want you there because-"
"-I'm a woman."
"Right. I don't want you to think that's how I feel. I'm just not sure it would work."
"Mr.Grady-" She glanced over at him, and he recognized the look as one his mother used to give him when he was about to be lectured.
"Owen is fine."
"I know plenty about imprinting, and animal behavior, and dinosaurs. I'm sorry if you don't trust my credentials, but I'm going to be working on this project. Mr.Masrani already approved of it, so you'll just have to accept it."
Owen was getting frustrated. He had a headache, and genuine concerns, and he was tired of nobody listening to him. "Isn't it fair for me to worry about the fact that you're going from giving herbivores shots to dealing with carnivorous-"
Claire scoffed slightly. Turning to look up at him. "Do you even have any idea what this project is about?"
"It's a study-"
"What it's actually about. A smart man like yourself, straight out of the navy, you must realize there's something much bigger at play here." They'd stopped and she was glaring at him now, arms crossed over her chest. "I'll just let you know, since you think you know what's best. About five years ago, they were able to make a metriacanthosaurus. A carnivore, very aggressive, eight feet tall, 30 feet long. That is twice the length of a velociraptor. I worked on that project. They wanted to see if they could get her to follow orders. Long story short, it failed. It brought up a lot of questions though, about the intentions of the project."
"What were those intentions?"
Claire had become slightly less tense and was looking at him intently. "InGen was trying to create a weapon out of animal that should've stayed extinct."
"And what, you think-"
"That they're doing the same with the raptors, just downsizing so it seems less dangerous? Yes. I'm almost sure of it."
"How can you be so sure?" Owen asked, crossing his own arms. Now he was more curious about what he was being roped into than he was about Claire, and she sounded so sure of herself he had a hard time not believing her.
"I worked on the first project. Hoskins ran that one as well." She didn't elaborate, but moved on. "You may already know this, but despite the fact that they're smaller, velociraptors are even more aggressive and intelligent. They all start out tiny and cute, but the science's purpose isn't the same as for the herbivores that are displayed to the public. Not only that, but you can't modify instincts, and things can fall apart. You work with animals, you should know that. People aren't careful enough, the design isn't structurally sound, someone trips when they're on the raised walkway..."
She trailed off but he got the picture. Owen bit his lip, taking in everything Claire was saying.
"Mr. Grady, I know it's not the best idea for there to be three of us working with the raptors. But I can assure you now that you will lead the project. I just want the best for these animals, and I really don't want anyone to get hurt. Can you understand that?"
Owen thought it over for a moment, thinking about the flicker of horror in Claire's eyes when she had spoken about the metriacanthasaurus. He'd have to bring it up to Barry later, but she seemed sensible. "I can." Claire nodded, and Owen stuck out his hand. She shook it, and they continued walking. "I'm sorry I questioned you."
"It's okay, Mr.Grady."
"You can call me Owen, Claire."
She let out a noncommital hum. "I will tell you a secret though. Half the reason I took the job was to piss off Hoskins."