𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒 . ian malcolm

𝑽𝑰. ⸻ the t-rex

THE RAIN WAS HEAVILY POURING DOWN HEAVILY. The windows were useless, since let neither a view nor any light in. It was very dark outside, the rain becoming a cloak of an even darker shade. It made Minerva want to sleep.

Ian and Alan were sitting in the two front seats and Minerva was sitting in the middle seat of the back row. She had her headphones off and her walkman was powered down. She'd listened to her tape many times already and sitting here in silence was only slightly better. She was tired and bored and she really just wanted to go home. Minerva was sure the other two thought and felt the same thing, especially when she listened to their uncomfortable small talk.

"You got any kids?" Alan asked Ian, not looking at him. Just talking to pass time, since Alan thought Ian was insufferable.

"Me. Oh, hell yeah. Three. I love kids," Ian replied, taking a sip of whatever was in his flask. Minerva looked down at the console, hoping to hide her confusion. She was sure, just by looking at him, that he wasn't the type to like or even want to have kids. He was one of those handsome seducers who couldn't settle down if their lives depended on it. Not all first impressions have the right judgement, though.

"Anything at all can and does happen," Ian tried passed Alan the flask, but he shook his head. He held it over his shoulder and Minerva took it gladly. "Same with wives, for that matter."

She took a quick swig, trying not to cringe at the warm alcohol. It wasn't very strong, but it still wasn't a good feeling. She passed it back to him and he made a big show of taking it back from her, grabbing her wrist first, and then her palm, and then the flask. He held eye contact with Alan, and Minerva stared at the inattentive side of his face.

"You're married?" Minerva said slowly, relaxed and calm. Ian whipped around quick to look at her, and she explained quickly, "You don't have a wedding ring on."

"Occasionally," he replied after he turned back around. "Yeah, uh, I'm, I'm always on the lookout for a future ex-Ms. Malcolm."

He laughed, looking at Alan. The car continued for a few more yards when Minerva saw the screen at the front of the car shut off.

Before she could say anything about it, Ian continued speaking. She didn't want to interrupt, and she was sure it meant nothing. It was proably just because of how long the cars had been sitting there. "By the way, Dr. Sattler, um, she's not, like, available...is she?"

"Why?" Alan asked immediately.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. You too are, um..."

"Yeah," he replied with a slight attitude, like he might yell if Ian continued. But, he couldn't. The car creaked to a sudden stop, and Minerva looked outside of the window. They weren't in front of just any random enclosure, it was the other side of the T-rex enclosure. And the car had suddenly stopped in front of it.

"Hey, what'd I touch?" Alan asked, lifting his hands up.

"Nothing, we stopped," Ian answered.

"The screen went out too," Minerva added quietly because at that point it was obvious.

After a few minutes, Alan went to go check on the kids in the other car, and Dr. Malcolm and Minerva were alone.

"So..." he started, still looking forward. Minerva didn't say anything, she only looked at the back of his head. "Minerva? Hm, I've, uh, never heard that one before," Ian stated.