Fractured Luck // Owen Grady

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Before

The chopper took us back to Costa Rica, where survivors were kept in a warehouse, awaiting their families.

Owen and I were split. I tried to go with him to help injured people, but the boys refused to let me leave them.

"If you leave, you'll never come back to find us," Gray said.

"Yes, I will," I said.

"He's right," Owen said, receiving a punch from me, "Boys, spend a few hours with her. She'll love it."

Truly taking advantage of their time with me, the boys were laying on me as we waited for their parents. I was on my back on the floor, Zach with his head on my stomach, Gray's head on my shoulder, and Claire sat on a chair beside us.

Within ten minutes, the boys were passed out. I was forced to lay there as their pillow and stay still, to avoid disturbing their slumber.

"Enjoying that?" Claire asked.

"I'm kind of feeling as though I should just take a nap," I said.

"By all means," Claire agreed, "Thank you, Lauren. For all that you did during this.. Catastrophe. It means a lot to me that you protected myself and the boys."

"Ugh, don't get sentimenal. Just do not call me ever again, unless you're offering to pay for a night at the bar."

"That I can do."

With no wit left in me, I closed my eyes, sleep coming very easily to me.

I was rudely nudged awake by a foot pressing into the opposite shoulder of Gray.

"What now, Claire?" I asked, my eyes still closed.

"Uh, hello," an unfamiliar voice said, "Those are our boys laying on you."

"I see they like you," the father said.

"A bit too much," I said. I patted Zach's head, then wiggled my shoulder to alert Gray, "Children, rise."

"That sounded pretty evil," Zach mumbled.

"Why do we have to get up?" Gray whined.

"Did you just ask me for justification?" I said, in a tone that scared the boys enough for them to sit up.

In doing so, they saw their parents and commenced in a loving group hug.

Claire helped me to my feet.

"Okay. Well, good-ish memories. Glad we could keep each other alive. Take care of those boys. And I'm going to find Owen," I said.

I gave a smile to Claire and the parents, as the boys were squished in the hug. I turned, took a couple steps, and was stopped by two boys wrapping their arms around me.

"Why are you touching me?"

"Will we ever see you again?" Gray asked.

"You're making me so uncomfortable right now."

"Answer the question, Lauren, will we ever see you again?" Zach asked.

"I don't know," I said. I tried to take a step, causing the boys to squeeze tighter, "Oh, my God, fine, I'll visit, you visit me, whatever! Let go."

Satisfied with my answer, the boys let go.

"We'll miss you," Zach said.

"Aw," I teased, patting his cheek, "You only added, 'we' so it wouldn't seem awkward in front of your parents. Parents, your boy had a crush on me, and it was hilarious. Okay, bye!"

Giving a last wink to Zach and Gray, I walked away.

Owen found me first, having seen me walking through the isles to catch a glimpse of him.

Wrapping his arms around my waist from behind, he whispered a brief, "Hello," before he kissed the top of my head.

I spun in his arms, staring up at him with a smile. "So, I'm out of a job."

"I'm out of a house," Owen added.

"What do you suppose we do?"

Owen took a breath, shrugging his shoulders playfully. "Stick together, I suppose. For survival purposes."

"Owen, I'm gonna kiss you now."

"Lauren, I would--" but Owen didn't get to finish his sentence, because I'd smashed my lips into his.

"--love that," he finished when we broke away, "Should we start heading out?"

Hand in hand, we strolled out of the warehouse, silently wishing we were leaving our traumatic experiences with Jurassic World behind.