──────────❝ 🦕 ❞──────────

The moment the group was safe, Brooklyn unceremoniously passed out from the pain and exhaustion which momentarily scared the others. Medics tended to the woman immediately at the sight of her wounds and the knowledge of her name, they worked for the remainder of the night to stitch up the tooth made cut in her shoulder blade before moving on to stitching and cleaning the deep cut on the right side of her face. The future scarring of the cut would begin at her hairline and over her right eye ─ which had miracles remained unharmed ─ to her top lip. By the time the medics had finished up with the girl, hooking her to a temporary IV and managing a quick blood transfusion thanks to a nearby tourist who had a universal blood type that replenished some of the blood she had lost, the sun had risen.

Once the medics cleared out, Zach didn't hesitate to sit at her side with Gray laying on a nearby bedcot. The Hanger they were in was flooded with people waiting for the new ship arrival, they had been slowly transferring survivors onto the ships to safety. Zach kept Brooklyn's hand in his own, his pinkie rested against her steady pulse while his thumb rubbed absent-mindedly against her knuckles. He looked at the bandage that peeked out of her new tank top that was to keep the shoulder wound clean before his eyes moved to look at her face, the right side of her face was bandaged awkwardly but necessary for her healing process until she did a proper check up with a doctor.

Claire sat with Gray, his head in her lap as he rested his eyes due to his own exhaustion. Owen had been pulled aside by Barry along with others, though it was obvious that Owen wanted to be with his best friend to make sure she was truly okay. It wasn't an hour later when Claire looked up from the now awake Gray, making eye contact with her sister and brother-in-law. "Boys, it's your parents," Claire told the two, "It's your parents. Come on, come on." Gray got up quickly, he was really wanting a hug from his mother. But Zach was more hesitant, he didn't want to leave Brooklyn's side so he was glad that his parents walked straight towards them; he wouldn't have to go too far from her side.

"Are you okay?" Karen asked as she pulled her youngest into her embrace, tears filled her eyes as she held her son. Claire stood to the side as Zach embraced his father, the two were silent but it was obvious that his father was happy that his sons were alive. "You okay?" Scott asked his eldest, pulling away to look at his son. "Yeah... I'm alive," Zach replied before he hugged his mother, the woman let a smile show at her eldest sons affection. Scott pulled Gray into his arms, the two talking softly to each other. Zach heard a light groan from the side and looked over to see Brooklyn reaching up to scratch at the bandage over her eye. "Baby, no," Zach quickly moved over to her and grabbed her hand in his.

"I can't..." Brooklyn muttered painfully, she blinked her left eye but couldn't seem to do the same with her right. "It's only temporary, Lyn. Just while it heals," Zach cooed softly at the panic on her face, his parents watched in awe and shock at their son. There was a new sense of maturity in his eyes but their was also a look of longing and adoration as he gazed affectionately at the woman laying on the bedcot. "Who is that?" Karen asked her youngest. "That's Brooklyn Malcolm, Mom. She kept us alive, saved us. She and Zach are..." Gray trailed off with that, Karen and Scott smiled slightly seeing that the experience wasn't only traumatic. Karen turned her attention to her sister, the two hugged and whispered to one another. Scott and Gray stepped away with the sisters leaving Zach and Brooklyn alone.

"I feel so uncomfortable," Brooklyn whined, Zach smiled slightly before he moved to help her sit up. The bedcot rested against a wall, he sat down and pulled the woman into his arms, craddling her close to his body. "That's better," Brooklyn whispered, she still felt so tired but she couldn't see herself falling asleep until she was in a more comfortable bed. "My depth perception sucks right now," Brooklyn said with a pout that made Zach smile, his heart felt light seeing her awake. "You scared me when you fainted," Zach told her softly, his voice threatening to crack, "I thought the worst..." Brooklyn felt guilt for all of the fear she had put in Zach within twenty four hours, she could only imagine would it would've been like.

"I'm sorry... I wasn't trying to--" Brooklyn was cut off by a quiet laugh from Zach, "Don't apologise, Lyn. Just promise me, a calm life from now on." Brooklyn smiled at his words, she reached up and brushed his hair from his face, he had clearly washed his face with something. "As long as you stay apart of that calm life," Brooklyn whispered,  "You know, to make sure I keep my promise?" Zach smirked at her words, he cupped her cheek before leaning down and kissing her. Almost dying in that park together had formed quite the strong bond between Brooklyn and Zach, the two had only known each other for twenty-four hours but it felt like years. Both just wanted to get to know each other and spend the rest of their lives learning everything about one another.

Their mouths moved in perfect sync, despite the awkward bandage, and it felt like their hearts were finally at ease. Zach pulled away first so they could breath but he took notice of Brooklyn moving forward to chase his lips, he caressed her cheek before hugging her close, simply relishing in the fact that she was alive and in his arms. "So about that date?" Zach asked, he smirked as Brooklyn's flushed expression deepened. "It'll be interesting to see if you can truly wow me, Mitchell," Brooklyn teased. "Oh, trust me, Malcolm... you'll be in awe," Zach whispered huskily, the tone and look in his eyes sent a shiver down Brooklyn's spine. She didn't hesitate to kiss him, the eighteen year old boy didn't hesitate to kiss her back.

──────────❝ 🦕 ❞──────────

After meeting Karen and Scott Mitchell, Brooklyn kept close with Zach and Gray as they finally got onto the cruise ship that would relocate them off of the island. Brooklyn was suddenly grateful that everything of sentimental value was left under the care of her mother rather than it all being stuck in Owen's shack, she could thank her father's paranoia for that. Teasingly, Scott had lead the two eighteen year olds into one of the cruise ship rooms where he left them alone. The travel from Isla Nublar back to shore would be an almost two day trip allowing many to settle before their return to society. With a bag of spare clothes, Brooklyn decided on a shower to wash the dirt and grime from her body.

Brooklyn removed the bandage from her shoulder, she awkwardly twisted her body to look at her shoulder blade ─ at least what she could see ─ and took notice of the jagged cut that bought a frown to her face. She shook her head before moving to remove the bandage from her head, the medics had advised that she left it until she saw a doctor but ultimately, it was her own choice. And so, the bandage was removed causing a light gasp to leave her lips. Though the woman had never been one to care much for scars, she always saw them as reminders that you survived or won. But this, it made her feel sick to her stomach as the jagged scar dug deep into her face, the section over her right eye was deep but thankfully, her sight was unaffected.

Brooklyn closed her eyes before turning away from the mirror, she immediately focused on just washing her body and hair as best as she could. The hot water burned her wounds but the emotional turmoil she felt overpowered it, the home she had known for a majority of her life was gone. The Raptors she helped raised were left with one, a lone Alpha with no pack is bound to struggle. The home she shared with Owen would be left to ruins under the weather of Isla Nublar and the scattered Dinosaurs that had been freed by the Indominus' rampage. And worst of all, her father was right about all of it ─ History is bound to repeat itself and Life finds a way.

──────────❝ 🦕 ❞──────────

After her shower, Brooklyn changed into some pyjama shorts and a low cut tank top to get some sleep in. She decided to just put her hair into a messy bun to keep it from tormenting her wounds. As she stepped into the room, Zach had clearly showered elsewhere as his hair was wet and he was wearing some sweatpants and a random blue shirt. He lifted his head to see Brooklyn, his eyes landed on the stitched wound on her face causing her to lower her gaze. "Still as beautiful as the first moment I saw you," Zach complimented her which caught her slightly off guard as she looked up at him. He got up from where he sat on the edge of the bed and approached her, he ever-so-lightly brushed the tips of his fingers against her injured cheek, "Pretty, beautiful, gorgeous, hot, stunning. All of the above."

Brooklyn's insecurity faded at his soft words and gentle touch, she knew she'd have people telling her how badass she looked now but to have Zach call her beautiful in so many different words, it was all she needed to let those self-conscious doubts fade away into nothing. Brooklyn leaned forward and kissed Zach, the gentle approach made Zach blush as he reciprocated the kiss. He had never been kissed in such a delicate way before, no hurried nature or rushed desire, simply the action of a gentle act of admiration and adoration; dare he even say, the first steps of love. The two later settled into bed after eating dinner with the others, everyone now clean and feeling a little better. Zach held Brooklyn in his arms, she snuggled into his chest finding herself a new home.

──────────❝ 🦕 ❞──────────

──────────❝ 🦕 ❞──────────

Rosemary Speaks. . .

Okay, so this was kind of cute and all...
But I swear, as I was writing, it sounded like someone was outside my room which has rattled me. It's almost 4 am soooo... I just gotta stay quiet till the sun rises lmao

Thoughts, Suggestions or Questions

See you in the next chapter!