Raleigh's POV

After recruiting Blue we returned to the Control Center, where I donned my clothes and then went to help Owen. Zach saw me as I made my way to the Main Computer Room and jogged to catch up.

"Hey! You need to eat," He told me. I turned my head to look at him and gave a small sigh as my response.

He raised his eyebrows at me and said, "I'm going to get you food and you will eat it." I rolled my eyes at him and gave him a good-natured smirk.

"Yes mom," I replied with a mock salute. He chuckled as he walked away. I then pivoted on my heel and skipped into the Main Computer Room. I saw Owen and Claire hunched over a screen as Lowery tapped the keyboard in a swift rhythmic motion. I jumped onto the desk and swiftly sat just above the computer screen, my legs criss-crossed.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Without removing his eyes from the screen Owen answered, "We're trying to get eyes on Isla Sorna. We could actually use your help."

At that moment Zach made his appearance with a large plate of food in his hands. He lifted the plate in front of me and gave me a pointed look. With a mischievous grin I grabbed an apple off the top of the pile and took a large bite out of it.

"What? You said I had to eat but failed to specify how much," told him still smirking.

Zach just sighed in response and set the plate off to the side and leaned in to see the screen.

I cleared my throat before speaking, "Well most of their unit is underground. The weakest and easiest parks to strike are the entrances and the ground level training arena. In terms of security there are guards stationed at every entrance with rotations every three hours. Techies block a lot of satellites so it's hard to see what's going on from above."

Owen pursed his lips and furrowed his brow as he thought, "Surveillance is gonna be difficult."

"Well, lucky for you I happen to know the InGen satellite pass codes as long as they haven't been changed, and if that fails Lowery and I can get into a government satellite," I replied to Owen with a wink.

"How did you—"Owen narrowed his eyes at me before raising his arms in surrender, "Never mind, I don't wanna know."

I then walked Lowery through the steps to get access to the InGen satellites between bites of apple.

Gray walked in at that point. I waved him over and he joined me on the desk, crawling into my lap. I hugged him close as Zach rolled his eyes. Both Gray and I stuck our tongues out at him in response.

"Hey Ral? Your pass codes aren't up to date; let's try the government satellites," Lowery murmured without looking up from the screen.

With a sigh I then walked Lowery through the steps of satellite hacking that my Uncle Tim taught me (this is all very hush hush so I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone about this). As soon as we got access to the satellites Owen, Claire, and Lowery began to discuss ways to enhance the video feed.

"Hey Owen, have you called Uncle Tim yet?" I asked as soon as there was a break in their conversation.

He met my eyes and sighed, "Yeah, but they won't be here for another few weeks because they're cleaning up some mess in like Germany or Russia or something like that."

"Russia? Why would they be 'cleaning something up' over there?" I asked incredulously.

Owen shrugged in response, "Beats me."

We continued to watch the screen as Lowery fiddled with the controls.

Suddenly Lowery blurted out, "I've got something!"

We all leaned in closer. On the computer screen was an image of the island; not just any image a thermal image.

"There," Lowery continued, "Now we'll be able to see every warm body there from the satellites."

As I stared intently at the picture it began to look more and more awry. Something was wrong but I couldn't quite place it. Then it hit me.

"Lowery zoom in on the west side of the island," I commanded.

Lowery pushed up his glasses and did as told.

Pointing to the screen I said, "This is where the Care Homes are located; there are hundreds of kids there. Or at least there were."

Owen's eyes widened as he began to understand what I was saying.

"This side of the island should be red hot but instead there's nothing there. All those kids were experiments. I can't be the only successful one," I said grimly.

Claire gave me a worried look, "You don't think they're coming here do you?"

I cast a grave look at her and didn't respond for a while.

"They know exactly where we are, you can thank that tracker they put in me for that," I finally said.

"But you destroyed it," Zach piped up.

I tuned to him and replied, "Yeah but it had been in me for a while before I smashed it. I guarantee you they were tracking me the second we left."

Lowery then confirmed our suspicions by zooming the satellite image out to reveal a large group of helicopters and military looking ships heading directly for Isla Nublar.

Owen took a step back rubbed his face tiredly, "Well, we better get ready."

-----

Owen had called in all the workers. Apparently there were two other camps on the island watching for rogue dinos. As soon as everyone was back at HQ Owen briefed them of the situation. Everyone was assigned a set post and a set amount of guns and ammunition. We were beginning to run low.

After assigning them their posts I debriefed them on what they would be facing, "Alright listen up! In less than an hour InGen forces will be landing on our beaches. Among them will be a group of children; I don't know how many there will be but you must understand that they are hostile. They can and will kill you. This being said, don't kill unless absolutely necessary. They're still people, after all, they're just scared. Don't waste ammo, stay together, stay alive. Dismissed."

As our rag-tag team of fighters dispersed I felt to strong arms wrap around my shoulders. I immediately tensed but relaxed when I realized it was Zach.

"Nice speech," he murmured.

A small smile graced my features, "Thanks... You should go wait this out in the Control Center. I don't want you to get hurt, or ya know, dead."

"Like hell I'm letting you fight without me. Gimme a gun," was his immediate response.

I raised an eyebrow and said, "Do you even know how to work a gun?"

I felt Zach sigh against my neck, "I mean, no not really, but I've seen people do it in the movies so how hard could it be?"

I let out a humorless laugh, "Yeah you are so not handling a gun. You get the privilege of manning the fort Raptor Boy."

Zach released me from his grip and groaned in response.

"How the hell am I supposed to help from in there?!" He snapped.

I folded my arms across my chest and said, "You're not. You're supposed to live."

He furrowed his brows, his mouth opening and closing as if he were finding the right words to say.

When he finally spoke his voice was soft and quiet, "And what about you?"

My boots suddenly looked really interesting.

"Ral?" Zach called my name.

I kicked a small rock around with the toe of my shoe not bothering to answer.

"Raleigh?" Zach persisted, louder this time.

I sighed and cast my gaze towards the ocean, tracking the horizon with my eyes but still not responding to Zach.

"Tabby, c'mon, answer me," Zach said.

My head whipped around at the sound of the new nickname. Well, it wasn't new, technically, I just hadn't heard anyone call me that in a long time. It's what my parents used to call me and after they died I didn't bother using it anymore. I must admit it was incredibly refreshing to hear it again.

"Look, I don't know how this is gonna end and I really don't know what we're gonna be facing, but I do know that people are going to die, plain and simple. No way around it. I just don't want you or Gray to be two more names on a list of casualties," I finally respond.

Zach purses his lips and just stares at me for a while, a range of emotions cycling through his eyes. He takes a step closer to me. As we search each others' eyes I can't help but find the humor in everything that's happened. Who would have known that this little jerk would be the one catching my eye. Who would have known that he would weave and tangle himself so deeply into my heart in such a short time that I couldn't bear the thought of losing him. How rude, him unconsciously controlling me like that. I guess the one upside is that he's the damsel in distress, and you can bet your ass I'll be holding that over him for a long time.

I mean, if one of us doesn't die.

Small things.

As I slowly come back to reality I realize Zach is muttering under his breath, "How rude, her unconsciously controlling me like this. The prince is supposed to save the princess, not the other way around."

I smirk and say, "Well Princess, this is my story and I don't like rules."

His eyes widen for a brief second as he realized he was speaking out loud before his face splits into a dazzling smile.

"Yes ma'am," he says.

I let out a breathy laugh and mutter, "Now go on, I have to get ready."

His smile drops momentarily and he lets out a small sigh. He meets my gaze for a second before quickly leaning down and kissing me on the lips. It takes me a moment to realize what's happened and I barely have time to kiss back before he's pulling away and engulfing me in a hug.

My arms are tight around his chest as he murmurs in my ear, "Be safe."

"I'll try, I promise," I replied quietly whilst thinking, What a stupid thing to say; it's a good thing you're pretty, RaptorBoy.

I finally pull away and push on his chest.

"Go," is the only word I can manage to say.

He just nods, turns, and jogs back towards the Control Center.

The only thought on my mind at that moment is, God Zach, what have you done to me?

-----

Hey lovelies!

The end of this story is approaching, I know sad right? It's okay though because you are going to love what I have planned... maybe... probably...

Anywho! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

As always feel free to leave me feedback or suggestions, I love hearing the ideas you guys have! Don't forget to vote!

Lots of Love,

LODC :3