The following chapter was inspired by Alone, a Jurassic Park Fanfiction by classicalreader313.

January 10, 1998

"Ah, is this ah-- Dr. Sattler?"

"Ian? Is that you?"

He chuckled a little. "Hi, Ellie, it's me."

"Are you alright, you sound a little down-in-the-dumps...is everything okay?"

Ian scratched the back of his neck nervously. "I -- uh...no, it's -- it's my girl, Sarah. You know, Sarah Harding, the animal behaviorist?"

"I know Sarah. Is she alright?"

"Well-- yes, but...our relationship-- it ended. Ah, last week, I guess."

"Oh, Ian, I'm so sorry. Did...did you want to talk about it?"

"No, I-- well, I..."

Ellie smiled. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about, Ian. Everyone has relationship problems. It was the Tyrannosaurus, wasn't it?"

Ian nodded, although he knew she couldn't see him. "Yeah-- I just...I got so angry. Sarah, she wanted to go back to the island, you see, and I told her, I said, "I don't want to go back, and I don't want you to go," but she...she--"

"Went anyways?"

"Yeah. And then...my daughter, Kelly, she snuck on the trailer that I took to Isla Sorna to find Sarah. And now, after the San Diego incident-- I can't see my daughter anymore, Ellie."

He seemed to choke on the last part, and it broke Ellie's heart to hear him so torn up.

"I got mad at Sarah, and I told her to leave my apartment. It wasn't fair. I know that now. But-- but when I try talking to her, she, uh...she hasn't answered my calls. I don't know what to do, Ellie, but I just thought-- I just need someone to talk to, is all."

"I'm sorry, Ian. I know how hard it must have been for you to go back to the island. I probably wouldn't have the courage to go back, even if I knew someone I loved was there."

Ian chuckled a little. "Oh, c'mon, Ellie, I know you're better than that. How's life going for you, then? You, uh-- doing alright?"

Ellie supressed a sigh on her end. "Well-- it's actually going quite well, right now. Mark and I married, as you know, and I'm having our baby soon."

Ian wished he could be there to congratulate her in person. "That's great, Ellie. I uh-- I hope you enjoy it as long as you can."

There was a certain sadness in Ian's voice, and Ellie suddenly felt bad for bringing up her pregnancy. Surely Ian was missing his own child too much to want to hear about anything she had to say. "I'm so sorry about your daughter, Ian. Are you able to talk to her?"

"I've tried. Jen...her mother, won't let me."

"Well...I'm sure Kelly loves you no matter what."

"Thanks, El. I just--" he paused,

"Ian?"

"I just wish she'd never had to be on that island. I'm her father, and I can't even go a night without dreaming about those beasts. And, I don't even know what it's like for her, because I can't talk to her. What's her mother supposed to say? I just-- I want her to be okay."

"You've been having nightmares again?"

"Nightmares. Flashbacks. Whatever you want to call them. Only last night, it wasn't me getting...eaten-- it was Sarah. It picked her up, and ripped her apart--"

"Ian...you don't have to be alone. I know it's a rough time for you, but if you ever want to come visit with me, you're more than welcome."

"Thanks, Ellie. I think I should stay here, for right now, though."

They were both silent for a moment, as if, after so many years, they had nothing else to say to each other.

"I used to have them, too, you know...the nightmares," her voice was suddenly serious and almost sullen, "I'll never forget the way the raptors sounded. And then, a couple months ago, after what happened with the Tyrannosaurus..."

"You thought the nightmares were coming back to get you, huh?"

"I was so worried that if others figured out what Hammond did on that island, they would use it for themselves. And then, after seeing the first reports, I thought for sure that's what happened. And then...I saw you. In the news reports, with Sarah. I knew something must've went wrong. I saw the fear in your eyes."

Ian chuckled darkly, cutting Ellie off. "I always thought it would go differently, you know? The world would figure out that dinosaurs existed, and then, poof 'Ian's not crazy after all!'. Of course, I should've known better."

They were both silent for a moment.

"Well-- it must be getting late, I should cut to the point, shouldn't I? I just...I need your advice. You knew Sarah. What-- is there anything I can do?"

Ellie wiped the tears from her eyes. She tried not to sound like she was crying, but knew she was failing utterly at doing so. "Just-- wait on her, Ian. Give her time. And...if she comes back to you, tell her how you feel, and don't let her go."

The blonde paleobotanist was confused when Ian didn't answer her right away. She laughed, realizing how cliche her statement was. "I know it sounds crazy, Ian, but-- I do think you should give her time. She's hurting too."

"No, Ellie. You're right. Perfect, as always."

Ian glared at his watch, realizing that it was 10:30 at night, and for Ellie, it was probably much later.

"Uh, Ellie-- I'm so sorry, sweetheart, it must be so late for you. I should go. Thanks....for everything. I owe you my life. I hope you're well, and I wish you all the luck in the world with that little one of yours. Maybe-- maybe when things get better, Uncle Ian will come visit-- if it's okay with you, of course."

"Thank you, Ian. You're welcome anytime. Goodnight."

The call ended with a click, and despite feeling slightly better from Ellie's encouragement, Dr. Malcolm was suddenly very lonely.

Suddenly, there was a loud, rapid thumping on the door. Ian was so dissolved in his own thoughts that he jerked at the sound. He ran to the door, looking out the peephole in the middle.

Sarah? He jerked the door open, then scoffed at himself. The latch was still hooked on the other side, and a chain hung between he and his girlfriend.

He closed it, unlatched the chain, and immediately enveloped Sarah in an embrace. "Sarah," She fell into him, wrapping her arms around his middle and holding him tight for a moment's time.

He pulled away to examine her. The whites of her eyes were red from tears. Her face was puffy and she wiped her nose with a sleeve. "Darling, sweetheart, I'm so sorry," he said, hugging her again.

Sarah let out a single sob. The redheaded behaviorist had wanted to engage Malcolm under better circumstances. Dr. Harding had planned to go to his door in a more serious manner. If he kissed her, she would call it off. Kissing her was a way that he controlled her; the action didn't allow her to think straight, and Ian knew the effect he had on her when they kissed. But he hadn't kissed her, as she so expected. Instead, he had wrapped her in a tender embrace. A sign of love, yes, but one that was more delicate, almost a more personal one...at least, for Ian and Sarah, it was.

This time, it was her who pulled away. "I love you, Ian. But I can't do this unless we change. I want us to be together more often. To really be there for each other."

Ian kneeled down in front of her.

"Marry me." He took her hand.

She pulled it away. "But-- but, Ian..."

"You said you wanted us to really change. To be together more often-- what better way to do that--"

"But-- but you've married two women already, Ian. How can I know that you really mean it?"

"Please, Sarah. Please."

Sarah knew she wanted to be with Ian. But their histories and imperfections scared her, and for a moment, she nearly refused. Then, she noticed-- Ian was crying.

They'd been dating for a long time, yet Sarah Harding had never seen Ian Malcolm cry. Even in the dead of night, when he feared the glare of the beasts that haunted his dreams, Ian Malcolm had never cried in front of his girlfriend.

His pure, raw emotion was all that she needed. She watched his hopeful brown eyes as she kissed him, feeling his skin against hers again. When she pulled away, all she could manage was, "Yes."