Chapter Text
New Sensation
You have been working on Isla Nublar for almost a year now. As an electrical engineer, it is your job to make sure that all regular processes in Jurassic Park are automated: that the computer counts all animals at regular intervals, for example. Or that the carnivores are fed automatically at certain times.
Your direct supervisor is John Ray Arnold, called Ray, who is an excellent engineer and mentor. In your spare time, he often challenges you to play darts – even if you keep improving, you usually lose.
Among your other close colleagues are also game warden Robert Muldoon, geneticist Henry Wu, and veterinarian Gerry Harding. Together, your task is to care for the animals as best as you can while minimizing the need for human intervention, especially with the carnivores. On an island full of dinosaurs, you need to rely on one another. Therefore, you have quickly grown together to form a family of sorts. (Except for that new guy, Dennis, who works for an external IT company. He’s kind of shady.)
Apparently, being surrounded by potentially deadly prehistoric creatures every day makes people bond; most of the sparse free time you have, you spend together. You can tell each other almost everything, from arguments with Hammond to problems with your families or partners at home. Some nights, when there is alcohol involved, conversations can even get quite spicy – you guess it’s only natural when people are crammed together on a remote island.
However, there is one thing that none of your friends knows. And that is that you have a massive crush on game warden Robert Muldoon.
Pretty much since day one he has fascinated you. His deep drawl, his piercing blue eyes, his pitch-black humour, the way he exudes skill and authority… You have fallen for him hopelessly.
There are mainly two reasons why you haven’t made a move yet. First, you keep telling yourself that you don't want to jeopardize your friendship. You love your little second family on Isla Nublar too much for that. Second, you are convinced that he would never reciprocate those feelings. Thus, you have decided to get this silly crush out of your head.
The only problem: The more you try to suppress your feelings, the more difficult it becomes to ignore them. In fact, it's getting to the point that Ray may suspect something. He’s been teasing you more than usual. You just pray that Robert will never find out.
Nevertheless, because you are so close, you can't help but notice that Robert is very stressed lately. Who can blame him? He’s the game warden on a goddamn dinosaur island, all while being one of the first people to ever deal with these creatures. Nevertheless, he has become particularly tense in recent weeks. While you know and cherish his coarse language, he seems increasingly angry and bitter to you. Another worrying thing is that his day drinking is getting out of hand, even if he is good at hiding it.
That's why you have decided some time ago to do him a little good. You are just waiting for the perfect opportunity to put your idea into action.
*
When Robert stomps into the control room this afternoon, you instinctively look up from your computer to study him. There is a deep frown etched on his face, and he looks like he’s going to commit murder at any moment.
“Whoa, what’s up?” asks Ray, who is sitting beside you, the inevitable cigarette hanging between his lips. “Trouble with the raptors again?”
Every species in the Park presents its challenges to the crew. Many have unexplained diseases; some die without anyone being able to determine the cause. The raptors, however, seem to be wickedly resilient creatures, and their behaviour is unpredictable.
“It’s not even the bloody raptors anymore that I’m worried about.” Aggressively, Robert hits a few keys on the computer keyboard, and the live camera image of the raptor enclosure appears on the screen. “It’s how Hammond expects us to deal with them. It feels like there's a horde of serial killers on the loose and the police are equipped with nothing but fucking cotton balls.”
Since the raptors have been in the park, Robert has been constantly on edge. Earlier this month, a new raptor from Isla Sorna killed a considerable share of the pride; just one incident in a long list. It all culminated in one of his workers being fatally injured when another new raptor was moved to the enclosure. You know that Robert blames himself for it, even though there was nothing he could have done.
Ray and you exchange a quick look, both of you knowing that Robert has been arguing with Hammond about the use of weapons. Hammond does not want his precious animals to be harmed, Robert wants maximum safety for the employees and potential park visitors. It’s an endless struggle.
A few times, Ray and you have overheard Robert screaming at Hammond in his office. Of all the staff, Robert is the only one who dares to talk to the old man like that, but you are all grateful that someone has the balls to do it. Apparently, Robert has only been able to convince Hammond in part about the safety issues.
“What did he say this time?” you ask, knowing that the answer will not please you.
“He proudly announced to me on the phone that we’re allowed to use proper doses of tranquilizer now”, Robert explains, shaking his head. “That smug little bastard. As if any amount of MORO will help us if things go wrong.”
“Damn Hammond,” Ray grumbles, turning back to his computer. “He’s gonna put us all in the grave.”
You shoot Robert a sympathetic look, peeved that you can't help him. “How about you call it a day?” you suggest, knowing that he has been up for at least twelve hours by now.
“I can’t.” He sighs and rubs his face. “I need to get to Gerry to help him with the sick triceratops. Speaking of… has anyone seen my car key?”
You notice that his irritation falters slightly as he walks over to your chair, and your heart skips a beat as he leans down to you, placing one hand on each of your armrests. Damn, falling out of love with this man is hard. Especially when he is always so close.
You look up at him feigning innocence. This morning, you have borrowed his jeep to exchange a fuse in the Hypsilophodon Highlands. He knows that you do this sometimes although you’re officially not allowed to roam the park alone. But Robert permits it because he knows that the engineering department is chronically understaffed. Without these little rule violations, the park would never be finished on time.
“Oh, you mean this one?” You pull out his keys from the pocket of your denim jacket.
An unnerved expression appears on his face, which is also painted with worry. “Just don’t die while doing this, alright? I don't think I could handle it. Getting fired because of a computer nerd overstepping their competence, I mean.”
“I’ll do my best. I know you couldn’t live without me,” you sneer and toss him the key, which he catches with one hand.
‘God, I wish it were true,’ you think. ‘I certainly couldn’t live without you.’
For a split second, his mouth relaxes into the hint of a smile – an expression that is becoming increasingly rare these days. Just a moment later, his face becomes serious again, and he looks tired. Seeing him like that gets to you.
Maybe today is the day.
All week, you have been working on the code for the quartz lamps. Finally, you have finished the commands that will make the lamps turn on all over the park at sunset. Along the way, you have been thinking about how you could give Robert the chance to finally unwind a bit. Even if you have determined not to act on your feelings; you want him to feel better.
Since Hammond isn’t on the island and both you and Robert have a night off, tonight could be the perfect opportunity. Your idea will hopefully impress him with your work, but most importantly, it should help him release some tension.
“Robert?” you say as he is getting ready to leave the control room.
He turns around to look at you.
“Um… Would you mind coming back here when you’re done?” you ask as casually as possible. “We need to implement the new feeding schedule for the raptors.”
He raises an eyebrow, lips pursed in indignation. “Didn’t you just tell me to call it a day?”
“Well, you didn’t want to take my advice.” You shrug. “Now you have to live with the consequences.”
He rolls his eyes, muttering something that sounds suspiciously like “pain in the arse” and leaves the control room. Satisfied with yourself that he took the bait, you return to your work. It is only after a few seconds that you feel Ray staring at you. You put on a naive front. “What’s the matter?”
Ray frowns as if questioning your sanity. “You do remember that I’ve already determined the feeding schedule with Gerry, right? He was just here this morning.”
“Yeah, I know. I just want to fine-tune the new plan with Robert,” you lie. “He knows the raptors best.”
Ray does not quite buy your manufactured excuse. Should you tell him about your idea? He’s your boss, but he’s also your friend. And Robert’s friend, too. Fuck it. Even though it’s not exactly permitted, there's nothing indecent about it, after all.
You sigh. “Actually, Ray… it’s a pretense. I thought that he could use a little distraction from everything that he’s been dealing with lately.”
“Yeah, I agree.” Ray still looks at you skeptically. “But what exactly are you up to?”
“Hammond is not on the island, so I was thinking about the pool at the Safari Lodge. I want to give our game warden a little wellness treatment.”
A series of different expressions flash across Ray's face. His mouth drops open, his eyes widen, first shocked, then triumphant. “Oh, damn! You and Muldoon, I knew it!” He claps his hands. “Tell me everything, but also… spare me any dirty details.”
Only now do you realize that this must have come across completely wrong. “Oh my God, Ray – it’s not what you think!”, you hurry to say. “I just want to get him to relax. There’s absolutely nothing inappropriate going on between Robert and me.”
Ray starts grinning so widely that his cigarette threatens to fall out of his mouth at any moment. But miraculously, he manages to keep it between his lips. “You sure about that?”
“Yes, I am sure, Ray. Will you let me get back to work now? I really want to finish this code today.” Dramatically, you tap a few keys on your keyboard.
“Whatever. Just don’t be surprised if your 'wellness treatment' turns into more.”
Noticing Ray’s exaggerated finger quotes from the corner of your eye, you pause to look at him. “What are you implying?”
“I do have eyes and ears, you know,” he replies after taking a long drag from his cigarette. “I can see you drooling over each other when you think the other’s not looking. Besides, your bickering is starting to get on my nerves. I think it's about time that you two finally blow off some steam.” He wiggles his brows suggestively.
“Ugh, stop it!” You playfully slap his shoulder.
“Alright, we’ll discuss your wellness treatment tomorrow then.” Looks like Ray won't let you off the hook so easily.
You roll your eyes, deeply regretting your choice of words. “I assure you there will be nothing to discuss.”
Ray casts you a conspiratorial grin and envelops you in a thick cloud of smoke. “We’ll see.”
With that, you both return to your work. However, you start chewing your bottom lip frantically from now on, finding it very hard to focus on your code.
*