Disclaimer: I own nothing. I wish I did. 8D I'd make them do naughty stuff that makes me giggle.

Warnings: Gay characters, underage flirting and stuff, no sex (Chas doesn't write porn anyways), language, possible death and dinosaur violence.

Notes: Sequel, part 2, of my Raptor series. You should read part 1 before reading this. But here's a vague, brief summary: Wu turns Owen into a raptor. Owen now shifts into a raptor. He raises the girls like kids (they even call him dad a couple times). Enter Zach and Gray. Owen tries to fight it but feels an immediate attraction to Zach. Then Ida (the Indominous Rex) attacks. Charlie gets her tail blown off, but is still alive. All the raptors are still alive. Simon is still alive. Ida's half blind but escapes. Delta kills Dr. Wu. And Hoskins is nowhere to be found. At the end, Owen remains behind with the raptors to save the island. And Lowery stays behind to help Owen.

Pairings: Owen/Zach, background Claire/Zara (very background in this one)

Summary: Owen stays behind to give Ida one last chance. Zach goes back home to attend his final year in high school. They try to make their odd long distance whatever it is relationship work. And it does. Everything's going great. Until suddenly, it's not. And Zach gets a call from the island that's not Owen.

Raptor
Drop Anchor
Chapter 1: More Teeth

He took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. Calm. Calm. Remain the fuck calm. He had one shot at this, just one. Because if he panicked or ran or basically did anything, he could be eaten. Or laughed at. He would certainly be laughed at. Because this was crazy! And he was probably going to be eaten. Yeah, that fear hung over his head, loomed, really. Once he opened that door, there was no going back. Because he doubted that he could get her back in there. He put the radio to his mouth and breathed out. "Open paddock 9." He said, trying to keep his voice level and even.

"Dude." The voice on the other end of the radio held much more excitement than he felt. "You are so cool!" The voice practically squealed. "You wanna come over tonight?"

Owen rolled his eyes and shook his head. He was standing there, risking his sanity and life on an extremely fleeting idea, and Lowery was asking him out on a play date. "Lowery!" He snapped. "Can we talk about it later? Kinda doing something here."

"After work, of course." Lowery said quickly. "You can bring the other girls. Charlie would probably like the other company. Right Charlie?" He paused for barely a second. It wasn't long enough to get an answer, if he could get an answer from her that he could understand. "She said yes. I mean, I don't really know that she said yes. But I'm saying she said yes. Oh! You all could spend the night! We could have a sleepover!"

Owen blinked and shook his head. Did the man really just say that? So excitedly? A sleepover. Like they were 12. "Lowery!" He snapped.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Lowery breathed out. "Opening in 10. You gonna raptor out on her?"

Owen sighed and rubbed at his forehead. "Just open the door. Please." He didn't even try to hide the whine in his voice as the gate started rising slowly.

"This is so cool!"

Owen was really starting to regret showing the other man his little secret. It had been a week ago, just after everyone else had fled the island. It had been that very first night. After Owen and the raptors returned to the control room to check on Charlie. Owen had been exhausted, covered in dirt and his clothes torn. Lowery had panicked and Owen had shook his head. "I'm fine." He'd said. And then he'd just asked him. "You wanna see my special trick?" He asked. He was slouched down in the chair across from Lowery, his head in his hand. He was beyond tired and maybe it was a bad idea. But he figured he would scare Lowery into being quiet for a bit. It hadn't worked. Because after jumping up from his chair and knocking down all his little dino toys, Lowery had sat back in his chair and asked a million questions.

"How does it work?"

"Why does it happen?"

"Were you born that way?"

"Does it hurt?"

"Can you do it anytime you want?"

"Can you do raptor things?"

"Can you control it totally?"

"Can you talk to the dinosaurs?"

"Is it a werewolf thing? Like the full-moon?"

"Oh! If you bite me, will I become one, too?"

"Can we try that?"

Owen had been way too tired. He barely had the first question answered, after shifting back, before the next was thrown at him. If anything, it had only made Lowery more excited and vocal. Owen had never thought that possible. Honestly, he'd been secretly hoping to scare the man, maybe give himself a week or so of quiet. It hadn't worked and Owen almost regretted it. Almost, for a second. Because they were the only people left on the island. Owen needed help keeping his other skin off the working cameras. And while Owen had his raptors, he knew Lowery was lonely.

Lowery and Charlie got on well enough, Charlie had told Owen she liked him. She was confused, at first. She didn't understand why Lowery smelled so... off to her senses. Gender was pretty straight forward for the raptors. They'd had such limited interactions with different people over their short lives. People smelled like males or females. And they all looked and sounded like their corresponding genders. But Charlie had said Lowery looked, sounded, and acted like a male. But he smelled sort of like both male and female.

Owen had never noticed himself. But he had to admit, he'd never purposely smelled the man. And his human nose wasn't as adept at picking up differences. So he'd used his other half's senses the next time he'd been around Lowery. And Charlie had been right. The man smelled like both genders. Owen wasn't sure if that meant Lowery had been born with both, in some varying fashion, or if he was transgender. To his knowledge, he hadn't been around anyone similar in the last three years. He didn't exactly go around sniffing everyone. He tried his best to explain it to Charlie and in the end, he thought maybe she understood. As best as she could, at least. Owen had been surprised, of course. But he shrugged it off. It didn't matter to him and it wouldn't change his opinion of the slightly annoying man. Because he was still Lowery. And still slightly annoying.

It wasn't that Owen didn't like Lowery. They actually hadn't really hung out or anything before this happened. Owen only saw him occasionally in passing. Now, though, with just the two of them? The man was just a lot to take. All the time. And he liked to talk. And ask questions. And Owen was the only one around that could answer him back. But Owen would be in the dark, quite literally, without someone in the control room all the time. Lowery did a lot from that room. And he really appreciated Lowery taking care of Charlie and keeping her company. But still, a little discretion on Lowery's part would be appreciated. Really appreciated.

The door was finally opened. And there she was. Towering above him in an all-consuming, terrifying way. Her lips were curled back and her eyes narrowed and was she always that big? Did she always have that many teeth? Had he ever been this close to her before? Thank God for the electrical field that buzzed between them, keeping her at bay.

Owen fought the urge to growl at her. "Rexy." He called in a calm, even voice. He held up his hands and took a step back slowly.

Her eyes snapped to him, focusing. Her lips curled back more, exposing more of her long, very large, very sharp teeth.

"Wait, wait, Rexy." He said loudly. "Hold up. I'm not here to tease you. Or fight." He added quickly. "Just here to talk." He was really starting to doubt Gray's idea.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Earlier that day...

He let out a sigh as he stared at his new phone. Glare was a better term. He was outright glaring down at his phone as he held it. It had been a week since they got back home. A week of their parents and aunt fawning over them. A week of distant relatives calling, some that they'd never even met or heard of. A week of friends coming over and trying to talk to them. Everyone wanted to talk about their traumatic experience. And Zach was completely and utterly sick of it. He was so over this pretend, happy family dynamic. His parents weren't fighting anymore. They were hardly talking and when they were in the same room, they were all fake smiles. It was annoying. And exhausting. But mostly annoying!

And to make everything worse, Zach had texted Owen. A lot. Like so much, he was sure he was annoying the man. But fear kept nagging at him. Now that he wasn't on the island and wasn't near Owen, he was certain the raptor Alpha would forget all about him. Or follow through with his repeated declarations that Zach was too young. Why else would Owen be avoiding texting him back? Zach understood he was busy, off saving the island and blah, blah, blah. But the man couldn't even spare a few seconds to text Hi back. Or busy or some other one would answer that would let Zach know he was alive. And that thought was frightening. Because that could be the other reason Owen wasn't texting him back.

Zach forced that thought from his mind and continued to glare at his new phone. Which was pretty much all he'd been doing since he got it. Glaring. Like it was the phone's fault. He was in his bedroom, sitting on his bed, and doing absolutely nothing except blaming his phone. He really didn't have anything else to do. It was the last day of June and in a week, he'd be stuck in summer school for a month. A whole fucking month! His last summer break of his whole life and he was going to be stuck back in school! He'd signed up for it, of course.

It had been Gray's idea, the stupid summer school thing. Because the stupid kid was too smart for his own good and had already figured out Zach's life goal of moving to the island when he was old enough. And that lead to Zach telling him that Owen said he had to go to school and graduate. And Gray suggested summer school, to make up for the class he failed and the couple others he wasn't doing the best in. Gray said it would be good to bring up his grades and help his overall GPA and then starting in on college and blah, blah, blah. In truth, Zach had agreed to get Gray to shut up. But he looked into it. And it didn't look that bad. And yes, he could do it. He could do it for Owen and for future. Blah, blah, blah. And Gray had promised to help him. So there was also that.

Zach was torn away from thoughts of the Dreaded Summer School when the screen suddenly lit up. He stared down at the phone and blinked at it. Unknown video call. Zach frowned down at it. "The hell..." He hit the answer button and it was a couch. Yeah, that was just a little bit odd. Then there was a familiar whistle. It sounded like... his eyes widened. "Echo!" He said her name excitedly and pulled the phone closer to his face.

The raptor's eye appeared on the phone, taking up the whole screen. She let out a chirp and her eye bobbed.

"Is it working?"

Zach felt his throat tighten at the man's voice. "Owen?"

"Zach? Echo! Move!" The raptor moved and Owen appeared. He smiled and waved and sunk down on the couch. He looked tired and a bit disheveled, but very much alive and smiley and goofy. Owen glanced off camera. "Hey Blue!" He called loudly. "It still works." He looked back at Zach. "Honestly didn't think it would." He said, still smiling widely. "Haven't used any of it in years. Not since they were little and we recorded stuff for the doctor."

Echo pressed to the screen again and squeaked.

Owen leaned forward and pushed her out of the way. "Stop, Echo." He snapped, frowning at her.

She turned to squawk loudly at him. Then she turned back to the camera and pressed in again.

"Echo!" Owen snapped louder. "That's it. Get out!"

Echo turned and shook her head.

Owen rolled his eyes. "Get back from the equipment! Right now! You break it and we can't call Trip anymore!"

Echo squeaked and took a step back.

Owen shook his head. "Not far enough. Get behind the couch. And watch your tail!"

Echo disappeared from the camera for a moment. And then she was behind Owen, peaking over the couch. She squeaked again and leaned her neck over the back of the couch. She nudged Owen's shoulder and squeaked yet again, sounding very impatient.

"Fine!" Owen snapped. He turned back to look at Zach. "She says hi." He breathed out with a sigh.

Zach smiled and let out a laugh. He lifted his hand to wave at her. "Hi, Echo."

She bobbed her head happily and it almost sounded like she was purring.

"There? You happy?" Owen snapped, turning to look back at her. "You said hi, he said hi, now get out!" He said and pointed towards the door.

Echo stuck her tongue out at him and then turned to leave.

"Tell Blue she can..." Owen stopped. He jumped up and dashed off screen. "Delta! Stop it!" Owen's voice carried as he shouted at the raptor. "No, don't lie to me. I can hear you!" There was a pause. "Yes I can!"

Zach laughed and shook his head. He really wished he was there. It looked like Owen could use some help refereeing. And then Blue was suddenly on the screen. She tilted her head and blinked at him. "Uh... hi Blue." Zach said awkwardly. He wasn't exactly sure where he stood with her. He thought she liked him. But it was harder to tell with her. Echo was easier to read, but Blue, he felt, he needed to impress. "I wasn't laughing at you." He added quickly, shaking his head. "I promise!"

Owen appeared back on screen and sunk down on the couch. He leaned back and let out a loud, long, sigh. "I told them they have to take turns." He breathed out. "They can't all fit in here at once, not without breaking something."

Zach smiled and leaned back against his headboard. "You look tired." He breathed out happily. Relief washed over him. Owen and the raptors were fine. Everything was fine.

Owen laughed and shook his head. "Understatement of the fucking year."

Blue snorted and shook her head.

Owen glared at her. "It's not funny!" He snapped and then looked back at Zach. "I'd forgotten how much work they were. It's like when they were little. Except they're big. I'm with them now. All the time!" He punctuated the words. "And I mean all the fucking time!"

Blue snorted again and shook her head and Zach got the idea that she was laughing or disagreeing. Or maybe both.

Owen crossed his arms and glared at her again. "I haven't been allowed to sleep in my own bed." He snapped. "Not by myself because they can't fit in there."

Blue shook her head again and turned to warble at Owen.

He laughed and shook his head. "No, no, no." Then Owen let out a weird like rumbling sound that sounded close to Blue's own warbling. And she answered. They seemed to be talking or bickering back and forth in their own language.

It was a bit unnerving, how easily and fluidly Owen switched between talking human and raptor. Zach glanced away for a moment and bit his lip. He wished he could understand it. Any of it. But it was a world he would never fit into. He breathed out a sigh. When he looked back, Owen was staring at him. "What?"

"Well?" Owen said.

Zach tilted his head. "Well... what?"

Owen's mouth fell open. "Zach!" He threw up his arms. "Have you listened to anything I just said?"

Zach blinked at him. "Uh... no." He answered.

"No?" Owen repeated.

Zach glanced at Blue and then back at Owen. "Owen... I thought you were talking to Blue. You started like... speaking raptor or something. I didn't understand."

"I did?" Owen asked slowly.

Zach nodded.

Owen smiled and leaned back against the couch again. He glanced at Blue and she tilted her head. "We've been up in the mountains." Owen said, looking back at Zach. "Near the volcano, tracking Ida for three straight days. First time I've been able to wear clothes."

Zach raised his eyebrows and looked away for a moment.

Owen cleared his throat. "So uh..." He trailed off for a moment and sighed.

"I texted you..." Zach said softly, interrupting. "Like... a lot."

"Oh?" Owen's smile was back full force. "Echo broke my phone. Like right after you guys left. Like the second the boat pulled away. I mentioned trying to find it and she raced off and she broke it."

Zach breathed out, feeling relieved again. He really had thought Owen was ignoring him. Or hurt. Or worse. "I thought... uh... never mind." He said, shaking his head. He didn't want to say it out loud.

Owen laughed softly and glanced at Blue. He nodded towards the door. "Give us a moment."

Blue snorted and shook her head. Then she turned and left.

Owen waited a moment and then looked back at the screen. He scooted to the edge of the couch and leaned closer to the screen. "You thought... what?" He asked softly. "I'd ignore you or forget or change my mind so quickly?"

Zach shrugged and didn't answer, because that's exactly what he thought.

Owen's smile only seemed to widen. "No." He said softly, his voice barely a whisper but still full of conviction. "I haven't changed my mind. Just..." He sighed and straightened up. He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. "Wasn't kidding when I said they've been a lot of work. All of them have." Owen rubbed his hand over his face and leaned back against the couch. "Trying to keep Rexy and Moe alive alone... is like a full-time job. The herbivores are easy. But the carnivores..." He paused for a moment and shook his head. "And hunting Ida... she's like... disappeared!" He breathed out a sigh. "She's covering her tracks. Like completely. We can't find any trace of her."

Now Zach felt bad for doubting him and worrying. Owen had so much to deal with. He didn't need some obsessed flaky teenager bugging him. Owen didn't need Zach adding to it. "I'm sorry..." He started softly.

"Don't be." Owen said, interrupting and shaking his head. "I'm just sorry I didn't think of pulling this shit out until now!"

Zach smiled. "So you remembered my number from memory then?"

Owen glanced off screen and shrugged. "Maybe I did."

Zach smiled and breathed out. "I'm uh... glad you're okay. All of you."

Owen smiled as he leaned back against the couch. He stretched for a moment before propping his legs up and getting comfortable. "So how are you doing? You guys get home okay?"

Zach nodded his head quickly. "Yeah, we got home fine. Mom freaked out when she saw my back, after Gray told her. She made me go to the doctor."

Owen smiled again. "Yeah? What'd they say?"

"Just bruised." Zach said. "Just like your guy said."

Owen nodded. "It still hurt?"

Zach tilted his head and shrugged a bit. "It's like a dull ache now. I crashed for a few days right after getting back. Doctor said adrenaline and shit. But it's getting better."

"That's good." Owen said. "How's Gray?"

"He's fine." Zach answered. "He's had a few nightmares and he crawled into my bed the other night."

Owen's mouth dropped open. "Aw! How cute!"

Zach attempted and failed to fight a smile. Instead he cleared his throat and looked away for a moment. "But yeah, he's good. This whole thing has not dampened his obsession one bit. Dinos are still great and shit. And he's told everyone he knows that he's friends with the raptors."

Owen let out a laugh. "Yeah, that would probably be a fair statement." He paused for a second and crossed his arms. "So... to change the subject, how are you doing with my conditions?"

Zach stared at him for a moment. "Still summer." He stated dryly. "School doesn't start until September. But uh... I let Gray talk me into summer school. Says he's gonna help me. It starts next week. Lasts clear through July and half of August. Gonna try to get my grades up so I can graduate without any trouble."

Owen smiled but shook his head. "That's awesome and I'm super proud! But that's not the condition I'm talking about."

Zach shrugged. Of course he knew what Owen was talking about. But he shrugged like he didn't and looked away from the screen. "I already told you I wanted to come back." He said softly. "Just waiting for you to do that whole heroic thing and get rid of the evil dinosaur."

Owen rolled his eyes. "Not that one, either. And you know it!"

Zach let out a sigh and looked away again.

"Zach!" Owen snapped.

"You said I had to be nice!" Zach said softly, a slight whine in his voice. "So no texting or phone calls. She's visiting her grandparents! Her parents said she's supposed to get back soon. I asked them to have her call me when so I can go meet her somewhere... I'll tell her as soon as I can. Nicely. I promise!" Zach insisted.

Owen eyed him for a moment longer. Then he nodded and the smile was back on his face. "Okay. Just yeah, be nice and shit."

Zach nodded his head. "Yeah, I said I would!"

"Oh I believe you." Owen said with a straight face. And then laughed.

Zach frowned. "Why is that so funny?"

Owen tilted his head a bit. "Because you can be a bit... short... with some people."

Zach continued to frown and his eyes narrowed into a glare. "I can be nice!" He snapped.

"Hey Zach..."

Zach looked away from the phone as Gray peeked in. The kid always managed to have the worst timing in the world. "What?" He snapped.

Gray's eyes widened. "Uh... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."

Zach rolled his eyes and breathed out a sigh. He shook his head quickly and waved at Gray. "Never mind, it's fine. What did you need?" He lowered the phone a bit to his side, trying to hide it.

Gray hesitated for a moment longer before pushing the door open a bit more. "Mom said to tell you dinner's done."

Zach blinked at him for a moment. "Uh... okay."

Gray pushed the door opened wider and tilted his head. "What are you doing?" He asked.

"Hi Gray!" Owen yelled.

Zach rolled his eyes. "Talking to Owen." He breathed out.

Gray's eyes widened. "Really? He's okay?"

Zach nodded and waved him over. "Come in and close the door."

Gray closed the door and ran over to him. He jumped up on the bed beside Zach, bouncing them both a bit. He settled down and leaned over as Zach held up the phone. "Hey!"

Owen smiled and waved. "Hey. What dinosaur is always sad?"

Gray smiled. "What?"

"Cryalotosaurus." Owen answered and Gray laughed. Owen smiled and glanced off-screen. "Echo! Come back in a minute and say hi to Gray."

Gray said hi to Echo. Then to Blue and Charlie, who Owen had to practically carry inside. Delta was standing guard and refused to come inside. Owen laughed and said she was sulking because he yelled at her. Then Gray started asking a million questions. About the island and Ida and everything he could think of. Owen smiled and laughed and answered easily. He told them about tracking Ida and training a couple of triceratops to help him keep Moe fed. And how Lowery and Charlie were total bros now. Zach listened to them talk. And he tried really hard not to feel jealous or resentful. He wasn't really, he just wanted Owen all to himself. He bit his lip and leaned back, letting Gray take over. The kid sounded happy. Really happy. Zach guessed that was a good thing.

"She got a hold of Delta last time we ran into Ida." Owen said, shaking his head. "She's okay, but it almost wasn't. We hardly do any damage to her." He sighed. "She's too big. Her hide's too tough. Too hard to bite.. uh... for the girls to bite." He correctly quickly.

Gray nodded slowly. "You need more teeth." He said.

Owen tilted his head. "More teeth?" He asked.

Gray nodded. "Bigger teeth."

Owen's jaw slowly dropped open. "Oh shit..." His eyes widened. "Why didn't I think of that?" He mumbled under his breath.

Zach pressed closer to Gray again to look at the screen. "What?"

"Gotta go." Owen said, jumping up. "Uh... Zach... sorry. I'll try to call again. Soon, okay?" He turned. "Blue!" He hollered. "Gray had an idea. I got a new plan! Line everyone up."

"Owen!" Zach said quickly before he could turn the camera off.

Owen paused and looked back. "Yeah?"

"Good luck." He said with a forced smile.

Owen smiled and waved as he moved closer to the camera. "Later."

The screen went black. Zach smiled and glanced at Gray. "So what was your idea?"

Gray shrugged.

Zach sighed and leaned back against the wall. Of course, he would have liked more time to talk to Owen. Alone. But just knowing he was okay, that was good enough for now.

Gray turned and looked at him. "I'm sorry." He said softly.

Zach looked over at him. "For what?"

"You were talking to your boyfriend." Gray said. "I shouldn't have interrupted."

"He's not my..." Boyfriend. Zach smiled at the word on the tip of his tongue. He shrugged. "Don't worry about it. It's fine. Sounds like you may have helped."

Gray smiled. "Yeah. I wonder how."

Zach shrugged again. "Honestly no clue."

"When he calls back... can you ask?" Gray asked softly.

Zach nodded. "Yeah, I'll ask."

Gray smiled again.

"Come on." Zach said, sliding off the bed. "Let's go before mom starts yelling."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Author's Notes: AHHHHH! 8D