❝ The only thing that matters now
are the people we love. ❞

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By the time the group had pulled up to the raptor paddock it was dark and Penny was wiping her eyes from the very uncomfortable nap she took on Zach's shoulder.

She was furiously hoping this was a dream and she was gonna find herself on a monorail and being awoken by the rude Zach Mitchell she met this morning.

Well she was awoken by the new Zach just not the rude one she met this morning.

No Zach Mitchell who she identified with. Who she actually came to really care about.

Zach You-Were-Some-Kind-of-Serious-Gorgeous Mitchell who she actually liked.

"Stay here." Claire told the three in the backseat as her and Owen walked over to who Penny recognized as Vic Hoskins.

They couldn't hear what was being said but soon Owen punched Hoskins in the face making all three of them gasp and Penny smile finally happy he's gotten what he deserves.

Owen furiously whispered to Hoskins talking low enough so the kids couldn't hear.

It was Claire who raised her voice. "Hoskins you wanted this to happen you son of a bitch."

It seemed that bitch was the couples favorite word.

"Jesus." Hoskins finally spoke up. "How many more people have to die before this mission starts to make sense to you?" He asked.

"It's not a mission, it's a field test." Another trainer she recognized as Berry spoke up.

"This is an iNGen situation now." Hoskins explained. "Okay there are gonna be cruise ships that show up here at first light everybody is gonna get off this island. You're gonna watch a news story tomorrow about how you all saved lives, better yet about how your animals saved lives."

During this speech Penny had climbed over Zach and pushed herself out of the car not caring that both of the Mitchell brothers had followed her.

"They've never been out of containment it's crazy." Berry said.

Penny had made her way to stand by Owen "If they've never been out and they're putting them up against a genetically modified dinosaur they could all die."

"Let's move out!" Hoskins shouted over her.

Hoskins turned around and looked at Penny. "Look mini Grant." The girl rolled her eyes at the nickname. "This is happening."

He turned to glare at Owen. "With or without you."

Owen glared right back. "Fine but I'm in charge." He put his gun over his shoulder and followed Hoskins, Berry chased after them.

Which left Claire and the kids.

Penny looked like she was about to burst from being so pissed off and not only Hoskins but Owen.

Claire put a hand on her shoulder. "It's gonna be okay."

Penny scoffed. "Don't make those kind of promises." She stormed off.

Claire looked between her nephews.

Zach sighed. "Just give her time, I'll go see if she's okay."

This made Gray chuckle at the smitten teens as Zach made his way to stand by Penny who was watching the military guys get the raptors ready for their mission.

"They're gonna be okay."

Penny shook her head. "I'm so sick and tired of empty promises. All I've been hearing is it's gonna be okay, you'll be fine. And you know what? No one knows that for sure."

Zach nodded putting his arms through the gate standing closer to Penny. "No but we have hope. You can't always expect the bad things out of everything you know that right?"

"It's just easier to expect the worst, stops you from being so disappointed."

Zach had to stop and wonder when did Penny get so negative. "Penny, we're alive. Do you know how much shit we went through today and here we are."

Penny pushed her hair behind her ears. "It's not over."

"No." Zach shook his head. "But we're gonna be fine." Zach took a chance and grabbed Penny's hand intertwining their fingers doing his best to reassure her.

He couldn't promise that they were going to be okay but he could do everything in his power to make sure she was okay.

They both heard footsteps approaching and Penny looked back to see Owen and Gray approaching them.

Penny quickly dropped Zach's hand and crossed her arms choosing to forget that moment of weakness and the pinkness in her cheeks from when Zach grabbed her hand.

Owen walked over to the far left and opened the gate for him before locking it as the kids watch from the other side.

"Easy blue." Owen said as they all three watched him with interest.

"Owen!" Gray said as he stood on Zach's other side making Owen approach them. "Are they safe?"

"No." Was his simple answer. "They're not."

"What are their names?" Zach asked just as curious as his brother.

Owen turned and looked at the raptors. "Well you got Charlie, this is Echo, here is Delta, and this one's called Blue she's the beta."

Zach looked around at the raptors trying to remember their names.

"Who's that alpha?" Gray asked.

"You're looking at him kid."

This made the three chuckle and Penny shake her head.

"Come on. We need to get someplace safe." Claire said coming up behind the group.

The three made a move to follow and Penny made a quick decision to turn around and face Owen. "Be careful."

He nodded at the younger girl before she ran off the follow Claire, Gray and Zach as Claire pulled open the back of an iNGen vehicle.

"See." She said. "Totally safe." She tried to convince them.

Penny didn't question Claire out loud as Claire pushed in Gray and Zach helped Penny up.

Penny sat on the right side of Zach as Gray sat on the left and the looked around the back of the truck.

"If you need me I'll be right up front." She told them. "Just open that window." She pointed to the little window behind Zach. "Okay?"

They all nodded.

"Put your seat belts on." She told them.

The three of them looked on either side of them confused since there were no seat belts.

"There are none." Penny told her.

Claire nodded. "Okay. So just hold hands." She said before closing and locking the door.

Penny sighed and put her chin on her hand tapping her foot. She didn't miss when Gray held out his hand to Zach who looked at him weirdly and ignored it making her smile slightly.

The smile was cut short when they heard a growl. Of course it was probably one of the raptors but contained in a small box did make you kind of nervous.

"Um nothing is getting in here right?" Gray asked the two teens.

Zach look at his brother sadly, wondering when he became the most positive person in the room. "Hey, you remember that ghost at the old house? Remember the one in the garage?" He asked Gray.

"I protected you right?"

Gray nodded. "You made a battle axe out of a ruler and a paper plate."

Zach was smiling as he nodded remembering that. "Yeah. See nothing is going to get you while I'm around." He put a hand on his brothers shoulder.

"But you're not always gonna be around." Gray interrupted before Zach could tell Penny the same thing.

Zach bit his lip before turning fully to Gray. "Yeah well, hey. We're brothers. We will always be brothers and we'll always come back to one another. No matter what."

"No matter what?"

"No matter what"

They went in for a hug and the Zach turned to Penny.

"And you." Zach put his hand on her knee making her look up at him. "You're my ... friend. I'm - We are going to protect you."

Penny didn't answer she just sighed and leaned her head on Zach's shoulder.

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NOTE.

Let's appreciate that the gif isn't something I made and that they exist together and I'm screamING and if you can figure out my reference to the fifth wave in here then I love you