𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒 . ian malcolm

𝑰𝑿. ⸻ the ending

THE WALKIE-TALKIE MADE A QUICK STATICKY SOUND. "John, I'm in," Ellie's voice rang.

"Great," John replied, "Now, ahead of you is a metal staircase. Go down it."

"Okay. Going down."

"After twenty or thirty feet, you come to a t-junction. take a left-"

"Just have her follow the big cable-" Ian said, attempting to intervene.

"I understand how to read a schematic," Hammond said with annoyance, turning to face Ian.

"Damnit, dead end," Ellie said, her heavy breathing making Minerva more nervous than she should be. The fact that Mr. Arnold hadn't come back was making her jittery, even though it was obvious as to what happened to him. She would be even more upset if another life, especially Ellie's, was lost.

"Uh, wait a minute, wait a minute, uh, there should have been a right turn back there somewhere-" John stumbled over his words. Ian, with present frustration, grabbed the radio from his hands.

"Uh, look above you," Ian said. His voice was gruff and Minerva looked down at the map instead of him. "There should he a large cable. And, uh, pipes all heading in the same direction. Follow that."

Minerva pretended to look down at the diagram to avoid from smiling at Ian's annoyed attitude. She quickly wiped away her smirk when she remembered the situation she was in.

"Okay, following the piping."

And after a few moments, "I see the box. It says high voltage? Yeah."

"Ellie, you can't throw the main switch by hand. You gotta pump up the primer handle in order to get the charge. It's large, flat, and grey," Hammond directed, the walkie back in his hand.

"All right, here I go. Okay...one, two, three, four. Okay, charged."

"Now, under the words 'contact position', there's a round, green button which says 'push to close'"

"Push to close, okay,"

"Push it."

She did.

"Now, Ellie, the red buttons turn on the individual park systems. Switch em' on."

Ellie muttered the control as she was turning them. Soon after, she happily stated, "Mr. hammond, I think we're back in business."

Then, just as quickly as Ellie had turned on the switches, she started screaming loudly. Minerva looked up from the map, her body freezing and her stomach sinking. There were many loud noises and screams and her and Ian had matching expressions of worry.

"John, what's happening?" Minerva asked, speaking fast out of nervousness.

"Oh, Mr. Arnold," they heard her calmly say. The sound was quieter, like maybe she was farther away from the radio.

Ellie didn't say anything and they heard her gasp before the line cut out.

"John! What-what happened?" Minerva asked, moving her hand off of the table fearfully.

They didn't hear anything for a long time. Minerva paced around, hoping for some sign that things would end up alright. She knew this wouldn't happen, though. Ellie and Muldoon still hadn't come back and all connection with them had been lost. There was little to no chance that Mr. Arnold was still alive, considering how long it had been since he had left the bunker, and how Ellie had suddenly reacted after thinking she found him.

"Stop pacing and...fix Ian's blanket," John said angrily like he had thought this was all her fault. She knew she needed to stop worrying, so she did as he said. Minerva walked to a supply closet, grabbing a big fleece blanket and walking back over to Ian. He looked at her, but she couldn't seem to make eye contact back.

Minerva carefully moved the blanket over Dr. Malcolm's hurt leg. Minerva looked at him then, an apologetic look in her eyes. She lifted it up to his waist and he grabbed the palm of her hand. She relaxed at his touch, but she couldn't help but be nervous, and Ian knew that too.

They looked at each other until the phone began to ring. The doctors looked at the phone, then back at each other quickly, then back at the phone. Mr. Hammond grabbed the phone and brought it to his ear.

"Grant?"

Pause.

"The children all right?"

Pause. Hammond's frame tensed like someone had jumped around a corner to scare him. Minerva clutched Ian's forearm with her free hand when she heard John's loud yell.

"Grant!"

Hammond waited a moment before putting the phone back on the the wall, tapping with his thumb, picking it back up again, and dialing.

He called the helicopters on the mainland and when he hung up the phone, he turned to the other two again.

"Come on, let's go. Hurry!"

Minerva and Ian's hands were a fumbling mess as they tried to untangle the blanket from his legs.

"Walk on the other one, walk on the other one," Minerva commanded swiftly, helping him stand. She grabbed his midsection carefully, and he slung his large arm around her neck, careful not to crush her hurt arm while he did this.

They hurried out of the bunker, heading back up to ground-level. Minerva loaded Ian into the car, elevating his leg, and sliding into the seat next to him.

Ian stealthily placed his hand on Minerva's upper leg, knowing she was very anxious still. She realized it, but was so stuck in her head to acknowledge it. He tapped his thumb on her thigh, and she wished desperately that nothing bad had happened, and that they could've of just spent and afternoon or two together in a ridiculous amusement park.

Mr. Hammond was driving, and when he stopped in front of the visitors center, Alan, Ellie, and the kids ran out. Minerva and Ian waved them in, pulling the kids over the door to avoid wasting time opening it.

"Hammond! After careful consideration, I've decided...not to endorse your park," Dr. Grant stated as he hopped into the passengers seat.

They drove for a while, at a speed much quicker than when they had arrived. Hurrying to the helicopter pad to escape.

"So have I," Hammond said, quickly pressing on the gas. The four recent escapees got out of the car quickly and Minerva followed after them. She rushed to Ian's side of the car and opened his door. She helped him out, just like they had exited the bunker, and they both got into the helicopter. Dr. Grant and Mr. Hammond stayed outside for a second as Minerva and Ellie pulled Ian's long legs into the helicopter.

Minerva wrapped her arms around his waist to help him inside and kept it there. The helicopter took off hurriedly, and everyone relaxed. Alan and the kids had their eyes shut and were all leaning against each other.

Ellie was smiling at them slightly, finally getting some relief. Ian and Minerva were looking at each other in content, smiling ever few moments. Ian weakly brought a hand to her hair, pushing a piece behind her ear. Minerva rested her head on his chest.

As the helicopter chugged across the ocean, on the way back home to the states, Minerva caught her breath.

After a long time of thinking, she figured Ian was right. No matter what happened to them, neither would know the resulting factor or how one thing could change another.