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Ever since the events of Jurassic world she never seemed to sleep right after that. Owen and herself had stuck together a little after the events after claiming it was ‘for survival’ but that wouldn’t last. Claire wasn’t exactly enjoying living in an RV she could never drive, even if it was with the man she loved so much.
That drove the pair apart, leading Claire to get a small apartment in Madison, Wisconsin. She figured if she couldn’t work it out between her and Owen she should at least try and reconnect with her family. It would always hurt when Gray or Zac would mention Owen. Both boys had a fascination with the animal behaviorist and former U.S. navy veteran.
After stopping by Karen’s home for a late dinner she would crash in bed. Sure, occasionally she had nightmares about the park and everything that had happened, but tonight was especially worse.
She found herself relieving the moment she found out the Indominus Rex was still in the paddock, the fear she felt for a man she didn’t know she still cared for. Claire was driving down the road trying to get ahold of anyone inside the paddock, she needed to get ahold of Owen or anyone that had stepped foot into the death trap. Her mind kept replaying the blood and the teeth. All the pain the parks had caused people. She finally heard voices, though instead of words it was only screaming. It was only screaming she heard, belonging to Owen. She felt herself slam on the breaks.
Claire would wake up in a cold sweat, body shaking. She clutched her satin long sleeve shirt, trying to get her heart rate under control. She had missed her companion far more than she would like to admit. Owen simply completed her and Claire couldn’t help it.
That nightmare almost made her call Owen at that moment.
Karen suggested her sister start seeing a therapist for her nightmares and constant flashbacks of the dinosaurs and horrors of the park. She firmly ignored her sister though, not wanting to admit she really needed help. She never admitted it before and now wasn’t any different. Claire and Karen wouldn’t talk for some time after that, both not seeing eye to eye with one another. Claire would pack her bags and move to California, the second worst idea she had since leaving Owen. She kept cutting people out of her life as if it would make her feel any better.
The isolation was fine at first, she just lived on her own, no issues. Until the nightmares came back, until the constantly looking over her shoulder for raptors. Every sound in her new apartment made her jump. The sound of doors closing from the hallway, the sound her ice machine made, and the noises of the city just outside her window.
It was overwhelming.
Claire went to bed after a long hot shower in attempt to ease her mind. It only made it worse. The moment her head hit her pillow she was aware of everything around her. The noises, the talking from the hallway, each car that drove by her apartment. It was too much. Claire knew she needed to grow up and get over it, so she grabbed two melatonin gummies, hoping they would work like they had previously. They did. She was asleep but now her mind went back to the dinosaurs.
The teeth. The claws. The terrible and ugly screeching sound they made. It was all she could think about. She had let a monster be created and she had only cared for the money it would bring in. Claire heard a distant voice say it wasn’t her fault. That Ingen was responsible for the making of that monstrosity but she didn’t quite believe that. She remembered Owen telling her that daily, so much she began to feel bad. Sometimes she wondered if Owen ever got sick of having to help her through her anxiety episodes…
Her nightmare that was all about dinosaurs turned into her and Owen’s relationship. That was scary enough to wake her up. Claire wouldn’t sleep the rest of the night, now too busy thinking about what could have been if she had just stuck around. If she hadn’t left him in a spur of the moment decision. She felt herself grow even more guilty at the thought of leaving Owen after everything.
Once more the thought of calling Owen crossed her mind but once again she ignored the part of her begging to reach out.
Claire was still in her apartment. Though she had began to get out more, small things like leaving to go to the grocery store or just go on morning jogs. It was helpful. Sure, she was still paranoid and absolutely hated herself after everything, but she was slowly getting into a normal routine. She needed a routine.
Owen always joked with her and claimed she wouldn’t be able to function without a routine, in a way he was right. She missed his laugh. The way his hands felt on her body. Or the way he would smile at her when he thought she wasn’t looking.
After an entire day of being out for groceries, going to the gym, and treating herself to a nice quiet dinner alone in the comfort of her own apartment, she would lay in bed. Claire sat there before finally reaching to grab her phone that sat charging on her bedside table. She texted Owen.
Hey. I know it’s been awhile. How have you been?
She hit send and immediately shut her phone off for the night. That night she had nightmares of her and Owen at the original Jurassic Park, when the Indominus Rex had found the two hiding by the Jeep.
Owen was shuffling through the various items in the garage, trying to find a way for them to leave. She had just been standing there, unsure of what to do. Claire remembered the whole world shaking, it felt like the unstable building would collapse at any moment. Owen had grabbed Claire’s hand, the touch firm as he guided her to a safer position than just standing in the middle of the garage. With each step the Indominus Red took the building shook more and more. She vividly remembered the growling and nothing else. Claire’s whole body was frozen as fear overtook her as Owen had held a finger to his lips, telling her to just stay silent. She remembered the feeling of the Indominus Rex’s breath on her face. She didn’t dare move one muscle. As it went away she thought they were safe. It had been not even five seconds when the monster crashed through the roof, lunging at the two. Immediately the dinosaur ate Owen, blood splattering all over her white jacket and skirt. She let out a blood curdling scream as she tried to run away.
Abruptly her body would wake itself up. She would sit up, eyes blown wide as her mind would replay the moment Owen died on her nightmare. It was terrifying. Was it a sign that Owen really didn’t want to see her? Right . She had sent that message. With shaky hands she reached for her phone only see that Owen had actually responded to her even after all this time…
Didn’t expect you to ever text me again. What did you get into now?
Somehow against all odds she would meet Owen at a bar. Not the most shocking place. Claire was almost too stunned to speak at first. There sat the man she couldn’t stop thinking about, sitting in front of her, safe, and not eaten by a crazy destructive demon dino. Claire couldn’t tear her gaze away.
Owen couldn’t help but laugh as he took a sip of his beer, watching her eyes stare at him with something he couldn’t quite place.
“Clearly someone missed me so much.”
He spoke, unable to help the teasing.
That made Claire look away, rolling her eyes as he spoke.
“Don’t get too cocky now, I was the one to leave you, remember?”
She would remind, looking back at him.
Owen just smirked.
“Yes… but didn’t you text me the other night asking to see me?”
Claire shook her head.
“No, no, no. I texted you asking how you were doing.”
The two would bicker and go back and forth on the topic for about one more minute. In a way, Claire had missed the constant light banter between the two. It felt, normal. Like the last thing she had left. The two would end up drinking quite a bit that night. Claire ended up back in a place she swore she’d never go back to. Owen’s RV. She drunkenly looked around, noticing the way things had barely changed. Granted it had only been a few months, but still. She would immediately crash on the bed after some struggles of making it through the small space and to the bedroom. Owen trailing behind her, not as drunk. He could handle his alcohol much better than his ex-girlfriend. The two would lay with one another, tangled in each other’s arms. Claire found her arms wrapped around him, never wanting to let go. Owen’s face was pressed against her neck. It felt so intimate. So right.
She remembered pterodactyls everywhere. They were coming at her and Owen left and right. It was overwhelming and all she could focus on were her nephews. The two boys she promised to watch over during their stay. Another thing she messed up. This time she went to shoot one that was nearly to Gray and Zac but the gun wouldn’t shoot anything. So instead she watched as Gray was grabbed and then Zac as he was grabbed by a different winged monster. Claire screamed as she watched them get taken. Turning to see Owen who was once again dead, pterodactyls picking at his body. Claire saw one flying straight towards her.
Though it never came. Instead she was snapped awake, staring at Owen who seemed very concerned. She glanced past him, it was light out. How long had she been there?
All she could smell was alcohol and the fading scent of Owen’s cologne. She was clearly out of it as Owen gently grabbed her attention by taking her cheek into the palm of her hand.
“Claire? Can you hear me? You’re freaking me out.”
Claire heard his voice clearly, nodding quickly.
“Yeah- I’m-“ she cleared her throat, taking a deep breath to eliminate the shakiness in her voice. “I’m fine.”
Owen looked at her, eyes full of skepticism.
“That’s a load of bullshit. We both know that.”
The moment Owen called her out Claire was explaining it all. All her nightmares, the moments of paranoia she would randomly feel throughout the day. The shadows of raptors she swore were there… it made her feel so crazy yet so much better to finally tell someone about it. It made it all better knowing that someone was Owen.
Owen would sit and listen to her, never once interrupting her. Not at a time like this. When he knew she was done talking he would wrap his arms around Claire, feeling her lay her head on his shoulder. Owen could feel Claire’s breath on the side of his neck, letting his eyes close as he just enjoyed the feeling of her weight against him. It felt so right. “ How about we try this whole ‘sticking together for survival’ thing one more time?”
Claire let out a shaky breath against Owen’s neck as he brought up the idea. She never thought she’d hear him ask it again.
“Yeah… I’d like that a lot.”