An Old Fossil

Independent RP account for Dr. Alan Grant from the Jurassic Franchise NSFW | Highly selective | Multiverse/ship | Mun and Muse 21 + | EST Time Zone

[dr-alangrant]

OOC: Casual Comment

I just want to take a moment and make a personal post. The last few years have been really super shitty for me. This past month a lot has turned around for me and one of the best things has been finding the Alan x Ellie community and @tenaciousellie. I am so thankful and happy and honestly am loving being able to represent Alan. Thank you to everyone who is following and enjoying the content. Anything you want to see, any prompts you want me to do, any questions you have for Alan or me, please feel free to drop in my ask box. ❤️

[dr-alangrant]

Alan nodded. “We could do that. Would the kids mind?” He knew her children were still young enough that seeing someone come into their mother’s life and move in with her might be jarring enough. He wasn’t sure they’d be receptive to her selling the home and moving on top of that.

Let alone what they’d say if/when he finally asked her to be his wife. Hell, a month ago he’d never thought he’d see her again. But he did have a ring, one that he’d never expected to give her since he’d assumed that she and Mark had still been married. Sitting in a velvet case inside his safety deposit box was his mother’s ring. After she’d died, he’d kept it, treasured it; and he hoped that one day, he’d get to give it to Ellie.

[tenaciousellie]

"The kids? No, they won't mind." Ellie said, "we had moved so often with Mark with them growing up it's not like it's their childhood home or anything like that." She commented, "I will discuss it with them just to be sure, but Charlie is already out, my youngest will be out soon too."

She leaned up and kissed him gently, holding his face in her hands as they stood there. "I just want us to be happy, I don't want to feel like we're trying to build something on top of something that was broken." She said, talking about Mark. "I think part of the reason I want to move anyway is that like, the memory of what happened with him still lingers, this is our time now and I don't want that tainted."

[dr-alangrant]

“Long as I’ve got you.” He returned her kiss and stroked her back. “I don’t care about the details. You can decide it all.” He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her jaw, then her neck then took a step back and cleared his throat. Even after all these years, he still got a little awkward with her when it came to initiating things. They both had scars from their previous relationships with each other and their other partners; not to mention their nightmarish encounters at the park.

It had taken years for him to stop having vivid nightmares about the raptors and spinosaurus and how close to death they’d actually come. He’d gone down a very dark path without her. Drinking, casual affairs… it had taken Ian Malcolm intervening to turn his life around.

He was still unsure how to reignite the spark between them. Still unsure how he was supposed to touch her or make love to her. Did she still like the same things that had once made her weak at the knees for him? Did her skin still taste the same? So many questions and he hoped that at some point this weekend, he’d get the answers.

“So this uh… tub you were raving about… want to show it to me?”

[dr-alangrant]

He grinned at her over the menu. “Pineapple.” He raised an eyebrow. “How adventurous are you feeling? Jalapeños and pineapple?”

It had been a long time since he teased someone like this. It felt good to be able to smile and enjoy someone’s company. He supposed he had been too wrapped up protecting himself from having to experience the pain of losing someone again; but Ellie Sattler had pulled him out of that place. He thanked the waiter as two waters were brought to the table. He ordered a pitcher of beer for them both, then cleared his throat as the waiter left.

“Next time we do this, I promise to uh… do something nicer than beer and pizza.” The tips of his ears turned pink as he realized he assumed that there would be a next time.

[tenaciousellie]

"Jalapenos and pineapple?" Ellie asked, a surprised tone in her voice whenever she commented on the suggestion. Looking over the menu she said, "honestly that sounds good, maybe throw a bit of Canadian ham on there for good measure? A salty, sweet, spicy combo? Kind of like me." She teased with a grin.

Ellie took a drink of her water and said, "I'm not a high maintenance girl Alan, I'm just happy not to eat like an MRE. You could've taken me through the McDonald's drive through and I'd be raving about it for days." She grinned and said, "maybe next time we can try that Chinese place down the street?"

She didn't comment on his assumption because she hoped for another date already, she'd be happy with anything as long as it's with him.

[dr-alangrant]

He nodded. “We can do Chinese.” He almost wanted to imagine them with their takeout containers in his trailer, curled up together on his well-worn leather sofa. He didn’t know why it was so easy to imagine being domestic with her but something inside him clearly wanted it. He ordered their unique pizza and waited until the waiter had left before he folded his hands under his chin and looked at her.

“I’m not great at conversation, Ellie. Never have been. I was too introverted as a kid to excel at making friends and that trend has carried over into my adulthood.” He took a deep breath in and tilted his head. “That being said, whatever this is…” he gestured between them then continued, “I can promise it will be something that I will be discreet about. I don’t want you to think that you need to worry about anyone gossiping about it. I’ll try to protect you as much as possible.”

He knew, if things did progress to something that was more serious, that there would inevitably be some level of talk; but still. She deserved better than to be water cooler fodder for the rest of them.

[dr-alangrant]

“I’d argue the plant fossils may be more important than even the dinosaur bones. You can learn more about the ecosystem from them and it helps shape the development of our believes for the species.” He nudged her foot with his. “Remember that. You are essential to the process.”

He meant every word, and if telling her those words made her smile, well then he was just grateful to be on the receiving end. He cleared his throat. “So, pizza… what’s your guilty pleasure? Anchovies? Pineapple?”

He could listen to her talk for hours. She fascinated him. This beautiful woman with her sharp wit and incredible intelligence had stunned him from the first day she’d arrived at the dig and now, having her across from him felt unreal.

[tenaciousellie]

She smiled as Alan said she was essential to the process, chuckling she said, "I may put that on my resume if I ever update it. Dr. Ellie Sattler - Essential to the Process."

"Guilty pizza pleasure?" Ellie thought on it and said, "honestly? I love a good pepperoni and jalapeno pizza." She nodded and said, "the meat with the little burst of heat? Taste really good not going to lie." She smiled and asked, "what about you? What's your guilty pleasure?"

Ellie felt herself relaxing as they got comfortable. She felt so lucky that she caught his attention, even if the pizza was horrible, she was going to have a great night.

[dr-alangrant]

He grinned at her over the menu. “Pineapple.” He raised an eyebrow. “How adventurous are you feeling? Jalapeños and pineapple?”

It had been a long time since he teased someone like this. It felt good to be able to smile and enjoy someone’s company. He supposed he had been too wrapped up protecting himself from having to experience the pain of losing someone again; but Ellie Sattler had pulled him out of that place. He thanked the waiter as two waters were brought to the table. He ordered a pitcher of beer for them both, then cleared his throat as the waiter left.

“Next time we do this, I promise to uh… do something nicer than beer and pizza.” The tips of his ears turned pink as he realized he assumed that there would be a next time.

[dr-alangrant]

He reached up, wiping at her damp cheeks lightly. “We hurt each other enough.” He kissed her again then curled her into his chest, hugging her and rubbing her back in gentle strokes. It appeared the last 20 years had been hard enough on them both. He didn’t need to tell her that he’d wish he’d known about her unhappiness when he’d met her and Mark. He wanted to believe that if he’d known he would’ve done something to make it better. The reality was that regardless of knowing or not, the past couldn’t be changed and all they could do was focus on the future— their future.

He leaned back and looked down at her. “No more hurting each other. Life’s too short to waste time like that.” His lips tilted up at the corner as he sighed. “I don’t have much. Some things from my tent and an apartment back in Montana that I sometimes used for breaks from the dig. How opposed are you to me moving in with you?”

[tenaciousellie]

Ellie hung onto him as he pulled her close, taking in his scent she let out something that was a cross between a sob and a laugh. "Fuck you smell the exact same." Ellie said, that familiar scent comforting her. "I don't think I washed my sheets for a solid month after we broke up."

Looking up at him, she nodded, wiping at her eyes again, "no more hurting one another." She smiled happily at the idea of them moving in together. "I would love for you to move in with me, or what if we find a new home together? Something that's just ours, something we can build for this next chapter in our lives?" Not that she didn't like her house, but it had been hers and Marks, she didn't want Alan feeling like he was meant to patch a hole in her life. If they were going to start their lives together, she wanted a fresh start. Something that was theirs only.

[dr-alangrant]

Alan nodded. “We could do that. Would the kids mind?” He knew her children were still young enough that seeing someone come into their mother’s life and move in with her might be jarring enough. He wasn’t sure they’d be receptive to her selling the home and moving on top of that.

Let alone what they’d say if/when he finally asked her to be his wife. Hell, a month ago he’d never thought he’d see her again. But he did have a ring, one that he’d never expected to give her since he’d assumed that she and Mark had still been married. Sitting in a velvet case inside his safety deposit box was his mother’s ring. After she’d died, he’d kept it, treasured it; and he hoped that one day, he’d get to give it to Ellie.

[dr-alangrant]

He nodded. “Higgins is a good teacher. Probably knew that you’d be a natural at this.” In all the times he’d heard her talk, and seen her provide opinions and input, he had found her to be deeply invested in the work they were doing and what would come next. He found her ideas, and the passion she had for them, refreshing and inspiring. She made him want to do more, be more, learn more.

He shook his head as he opened the door to the pizzeria and guided her through, following behind her and casually resting a hand on her side as they stood by the hostess station. “Professor. English. My mother was a stay at home mother and so I, uh, spent a lot of time with her. Dad died before I finished college so I try to send money back to my mom when I can.”

He’d never told anyone about his parents. Hell, even his wife hadn’t known that much about them. Something about this woman made him want to tell her things. He wanted her to understand him.

[tenaciousellie]

She listened to him speak about his parents, resting a hand on his back as the hostess moved to take them to their table. Ellie smiled and said, "I guess the English would account for all the books, dinosaur or otherwise." She smiled as she sat down in the booth and took the offered menu from the waitress as Alan went to sit down across from her.

"It's just fascinating to me how much we can learn about life in general from the fossils," Ellie said on their given professions, "I know a plant fossil may not be as neat as a dinosaur to some, but to me those fossils are just as important."

Looking at him, she smiled and said, "I just find it refreshing how easy you are to talk to." Ellie commented, "I like having someone I can actually talk shop to." She felt as if she could be herself around him, she felt more relaxed than she ever had on a first date.

[dr-alangrant]

“I’d argue the plant fossils may be more important than even the dinosaur bones. You can learn more about the ecosystem from them and it helps shape the development of our believes for the species.” He nudged her foot with his. “Remember that. You are essential to the process.”

He meant every word, and if telling her those words made her smile, well then he was just grateful to be on the receiving end. He cleared his throat. “So, pizza… what’s your guilty pleasure? Anchovies? Pineapple?”

He could listen to her talk for hours. She fascinated him. This beautiful woman with her sharp wit and incredible intelligence had stunned him from the first day she’d arrived at the dig and now, having her across from him felt unreal.

[dr-alangrant]

He couldn’t help himself.

She looked so domestic, so comfortable, that it turned him on enough to step up behind her and rest his hands on her sides. He glanced over her shoulder at the meat and kissed her temple. “Mmm chicken tonight. Steaks to celebrate the weekend tomorrow.”

He dipped his head to kiss the side of her neck then moved away, gathering the vegetables and fruit and putting them in the refrigerator. He’d missed this with her. Even after she’d married Mark and their lives had gone in different directions, he still sometimes thought about those days spent in the trailer at the dig and how easy it had been to envision a life with her.

He turned to look as her as he shut the fridge door and crossed his arms over his chest. “You know, I almost came to the wedding.” He swallowed hard and shrugged. “Ian uh… Ian insisted I show up. Stop the madness.” He chuckled. “I almost did… and I thought about that a lot in the last 20 years.”

He sighed. “If this weekend about being honest and transparent about things I uh… I thought you should know that. I never stopped loving you, Ellie.”

[tenaciousellie]

She grinned as she felt his hands on her sides, his lips against her temple she closed her eyes a moment. She opened them when he confessed he almost came to the wedding. Setting down the chicken, she blinked back tears as she listened to him confess his love had never wavered in all this time.

"If we're being honest," Ellie said herself, wiping at her eyes in a bid to stop the tears threatening to fall. "I nearly ran, the day of the wedding." She crossed her arms and leaned against the counter as they spoke. "My mother and father both said to me, 'Ellie, just say the word and we'll take you to him,'" she commented, remembering how both her parents knew she wasn't marrying who she truly loved. "But I was still so hurt, so confused by everything I just couldn't see you wanting me like that again. So I feel like I forced myself into believing I loved Mark." Ellie could feel her lip quiver as she thought of those memories, saying with a sarcastic tone. "Guess we're both just as stubborn." She sniffed, looking at him, she pulled him towards her.

"I never stopped loving you Alan, I was just. . .scared." Ellie said, "I thought I was doing the right thing by not reaching out, but in reality, I was hurting us both."

[dr-alangrant]

He reached up, wiping at her damp cheeks lightly. “We hurt each other enough.” He kissed her again then curled her into his chest, hugging her and rubbing her back in gentle strokes. It appeared the last 20 years had been hard enough on them both. He didn’t need to tell her that he’d wish he’d known about her unhappiness when he’d met her and Mark. He wanted to believe that if he’d known he would’ve done something to make it better. The reality was that regardless of knowing or not, the past couldn’t be changed and all they could do was focus on the future— their future.

He leaned back and looked down at her. “No more hurting each other. Life’s too short to waste time like that.” His lips tilted up at the corner as he sighed. “I don’t have much. Some things from my tent and an apartment back in Montana that I sometimes used for breaks from the dig. How opposed are you to me moving in with you?”

[dr-alangrant]

He kept her hand clasped gently in his as they walked along the sidewalk. It was easy to relax with her and he found himself slowly allowing himself to not feel as nervous as he did. He nodded as she asked about his career choice and tucked his free hand into his denim pocket. “Yeah. I uh… My dad won this stuffed dinosaur at a fair when I was an infant. It made its way into my room and I guess I was hooked.”

He nudged her shoulder with his, “Paleobotany isn’t exactly a common choice. What made you go that direction?” He threaded his fingers through hers, allowing them to more comfortably hold onto the other.

[tenaciousellie]

Ellie thought on it and smiled as he nudged her shoulder, "it is a little niche huh, don't hear too many kids talking about studying plants." She squeezed his hand as they walked and said, "honestly I kind of fell into it. I mean I was always interested in botany, and that's what I originally went into college planning to study." She commented and said, "I had a professor, you may know him, Dr. Higgins? Who introduced the idea of paleobotany to me and honestly ever since it's like I know EXACTLY what I wanted to do."

It was so refreshing talking to someone who was actually interested in what she had to say, she didn't have to dumb it down for some guy who was butthurt she was smarter than him. It was nice talking to someone as an equal.

"Was your father a paleontologist as well?"

[dr-alangrant]

He nodded. “Higgins is a good teacher. Probably knew that you’d be a natural at this.” In all the times he’d heard her talk, and seen her provide opinions and input, he had found her to be deeply invested in the work they were doing and what would come next. He found her ideas, and the passion she had for them, refreshing and inspiring. She made him want to do more, be more, learn more.

He shook his head as he opened the door to the pizzeria and guided her through, following behind her and casually resting a hand on her side as they stood by the hostess station. “Professor. English. My mother was a stay at home mother and so I, uh, spent a lot of time with her. Dad died before I finished college so I try to send money back to my mom when I can.”

He’d never told anyone about his parents. Hell, even his wife hadn’t known that much about them. Something about this woman made him want to tell her things. He wanted her to understand him.

[dr-alangrant]

He furrowed his brow a bit as he studied her. “Conflicted.” He shook his head. “This business of sharing the world with John’s creatures is…” he paused then pursed his lips for a long moment. “Every time I have an encounter with them I am reminded of something Ian had said once. ‘Just because he could have didn’t mean he should have.’ The implications of these beasts is going to linger long beyond us and will impact your children. That… I can’t help but feel like I let your children down by not fighting it more, harder.”

He kissed her forehead then rubbed her sides with his broad palms. “I’ve also been thinking about us.” He met her steely blue eyes with his own and took a seat, holding her hands in his, he studied the way their fingers linked and matched perfectly.

“I think I’m going to retire. Billy has been doing a bang up job of running the digs with me for the last 15 years I think he’s more than ready to take over completely. I can…” He paused, shrugged weakly then tilted his head. “I can lecture at the conventions if I’m asked and I can always teach. But I’ve missed out on too much… and I refuse to continue doing it.”

He gave her hand another gentle squeeze. “I meant what I said. I’m coming with you. Wherever that is, I will be with you if you’ll have me.”

[tenaciousellie]

Ellie listened to him, cupping his face in her hand briefly as he kissed her forehead. She understood his confliction, she had it too, but knew in the grand scheme of things they were only two people, and could only do so much.

She sat next to him as he spoke, listening to him, she could feel tears prick at the corner of her eyes as she listened to him willing to drop literally his entire life to be with her, willing to change everything about his life just to have a shot at a life with her. "Oh Alan," she squeezed his hand again and said, "being with you is all I've ever wanted since we went out for pizza that first time." She smiled gently, rubbing the back of his hand with her thumb, "but I also don't want you to feel like you have to uproot everything you are just to be with me."

Holding his hand in between both of hers, "if you genuinely wish to retire, I don't think anyone would stop you and Billy would make a great choice to take over. But I can make concessions myself as well, if you still want to dig, there's no reason we can't split our time, we can work on digs, and when you're not on a dig you can teach if you want. She cupped his cheek again and said, "we both deserve to be happy, if you do truly want to retire then I will support you, no matter what. But I also want you to know, I'm willing to make that compromise as well."

She smiled softly at him and said, "I'm not letting you out of my sight again, Alan, I don't think I could handle being separated from you again."

[dr-alangrant]

He patted her knee and turned, pressing a gentle kiss to her palm. “Ellie… I have spent the last 20 years with my digs. I want to spend the next 20 with you.” He shrugged, “Now, if Charlie is interested in pursuing a dig, I’m sure I could help him get in somewhere good.” The corner of his lips turned up in a wry smile.

“I suppose this is me evolving.”

He leaned in and kissed her, slowly and chastely. Not rushing things between them, regardless of what they both seemed to want. He had missed *her* more than he had the sex. He cleared his throat, “Right. Shall we unpack these groceries and then explore a bit?”

He knew the tenacious blonde wasn’t going to just let him drop it. He knew he was in for a deeper discussion but his mind was made up. He’d let her go and had regretted it every day since. He wasn’t about to make the same mistake again.

[tenaciousellie]

Ellie couldn't help but smile as Alan offered to help Charlie get into a dig. Listening to him, she leaned into him a bit more and said, "I'm sure he'd be more than willing to take the help." Her smile got bigger as he spoke about evolving.

Cupping his face as he kissed her, she moaned softly before pulling away slightly as he spoke, "one more and then we'll unpack." Ellie said, leaning in, she kissed him, just as gently as he had kissed her. Pulling back after a moment, her lips slightly swollen she said, "alright. . .groceries."

Untangling herself from him, she stood and turned to offer him a hand off the couch. As he stood, she gave him a quick kiss before going into the kitchen to start stocking their supplies. Looking at the meats she got, she asked, "hey Alan? Did you want steak or chicken tonight? I'll leave one out and then put the other away for tomorrow."

[dr-alangrant]

He couldn’t help himself.

She looked so domestic, so comfortable, that it turned him on enough to step up behind her and rest his hands on her sides. He glanced over her shoulder at the meat and kissed her temple. “Mmm chicken tonight. Steaks to celebrate the weekend tomorrow.”

He dipped his head to kiss the side of her neck then moved away, gathering the vegetables and fruit and putting them in the refrigerator. He’d missed this with her. Even after she’d married Mark and their lives had gone in different directions, he still sometimes thought about those days spent in the trailer at the dig and how easy it had been to envision a life with her.

He turned to look as her as he shut the fridge door and crossed his arms over his chest. “You know, I almost came to the wedding.” He swallowed hard and shrugged. “Ian uh… Ian insisted I show up. Stop the madness.” He chuckled. “I almost did… and I thought about that a lot in the last 20 years.”

He sighed. “If this weekend about being honest and transparent about things I uh… I thought you should know that. I never stopped loving you, Ellie.”

[dr-alangrant]

He did his best to hide the slight swerve in his driving as she pulled back the veil on how he was truly viewed. He was desirable?! He was dumbfounded. He wasn’t interested in the attention but everyone seemed to be so hesitant to talk to him or listen to his ideas that he had just assumed that he was too out of touch for them. He licked his lips and reached back, scratching the back of his neck as she continued and suddenly the idea of her wasting her time with one of the other men at the dig infuriated him.

He pulled into the parking lot of the supply store and turned to her. “Let me um, just grab the stuff we need for the dig and then we can…” he paused and pointed to the pizza place down the street, “If you want, we can walk?”

He reached out to cover her hand and brushed his thumb across the back of it as he met her eyes in the light from the flickering neon sign. “Listen, Ellie. Regardless of what happens tonight or any night… I want you to know that I’ve never seen you as anything but my equal. The research you’ve done… the ideas you’ve presented… you are so incredibly intelligent and my dig is lucky to have you here.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and slipped from the Jeep with his list.

He returned with several paper bags not more than 10 minutes later and tucked them into the back of the Jeep, hiding them beneath blankets to ensure nothing would be stolen while they grabbed their dinner. He finally came around the truck and opened the door to her side. “Shall we, Dr. Sattler?”

[tenaciousellie]

She couldn't help but grin as she saw the red creeping up his neck as he drove and listened to her talk about how the women thought of him on the dig. When he mentioned walking she nodded, "walking sounds good, I'll wait out here for you then."

Ellie waited on him to come back and checked herself in the mirror, smiling as she saw him bring back the bags of supplies. As he opened the door for her, she reached out a hand for his and got herself out of the jeep and said, "after you, Dr. Grant."

Walking towards the pizza place, Ellie hummed Rebel Rebel as they walked in stride. She asked, "did you always know you wanted to be a paleontologist, Dr. Grant?"

[dr-alangrant]

He kept her hand clasped gently in his as they walked along the sidewalk. It was easy to relax with her and he found himself slowly allowing himself to not feel as nervous as he did. He nodded as she asked about his career choice and tucked his free hand into his denim pocket. “Yeah. I uh… My dad won this stuffed dinosaur at a fair when I was an infant. It made its way into my room and I guess I was hooked.”

He nudged her shoulder with his, “Paleobotany isn’t exactly a common choice. What made you go that direction?” He threaded his fingers through hers, allowing them to more comfortably hold onto the other.

[dr-alangrant]

He glanced back in surprise then shrugged as they finally found the paved road that would lead into the small town nearby. “I uh…” He squeezed the steering wheel nervously. “I didn’t really know I was taking a chance. I know the general consensus at the dig is that I’m not very social and I’m old fashioned. Boring.” He shook his head. “I heard you talking about daisies and I thought you might appreciate knowing that someone paid attention to what you said… since you seem to be the only one who really pays attention to me.”

He felt his neck start to grow warm at the admission that he’d been noticing her; listening to her. He licked his lips. “I didn’t… think anything was going to come out of… I’m so much older you that I just assumed you’d write me off.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “No one would’ve ever accused you of trying to sleep with me. Pretty sure most of the kids on this dig think that I’m too much of a fossil to even care about that.”

[tenaciousellie]

Ellie smiled as he explained why he gave her the daisy. But couldn't help but chuckle as he talked about how the younger people on the dig viewed him, or at least how he THOUGHT they viewed him. "Oh Alan, if you only knew what the women thought of you, and I know for a fact some of the men as well." She looked over at him and playfully poked at his shoulder, "most of the girls find you very attractive. Yes, you are older but fuck, have you seen the men my age at that dig? Jesus, if I have one more try to mansplain the difference between ferns and cycads are I'm going to scream."

"Women want to be treated as an equal, Alan, not a piece of ass. Sure sometimes you can luck out and find someone your own age that have learned women much rather prefer that a man talk to her and not at her, but most of the time? Not that lucky." Ellie said, "the women couldn't care less about your age Alan, you've got more going for you than you think."

Ellie couldn't help but tease and said, "besides that, I think most would be willing to sleep with you just for the simple fact you have the one working shower on the dig site." She looked over at him and winked.

[dr-alangrant]

He did his best to hide the slight swerve in his driving as she pulled back the veil on how he was truly viewed. He was desirable?! He was dumbfounded. He wasn’t interested in the attention but everyone seemed to be so hesitant to talk to him or listen to his ideas that he had just assumed that he was too out of touch for them. He licked his lips and reached back, scratching the back of his neck as she continued and suddenly the idea of her wasting her time with one of the other men at the dig infuriated him.

He pulled into the parking lot of the supply store and turned to her. “Let me um, just grab the stuff we need for the dig and then we can…” he paused and pointed to the pizza place down the street, “If you want, we can walk?”

He reached out to cover her hand and brushed his thumb across the back of it as he met her eyes in the light from the flickering neon sign. “Listen, Ellie. Regardless of what happens tonight or any night… I want you to know that I’ve never seen you as anything but my equal. The research you’ve done… the ideas you’ve presented… you are so incredibly intelligent and my dig is lucky to have you here.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and slipped from the Jeep with his list.

He returned with several paper bags not more than 10 minutes later and tucked them into the back of the Jeep, hiding them beneath blankets to ensure nothing would be stolen while they grabbed their dinner. He finally came around the truck and opened the door to her side. “Shall we, Dr. Sattler?”

[dr-alangrant]

He furrowed his brow a bit as he studied her. “Conflicted.” He shook his head. “This business of sharing the world with John’s creatures is…” he paused then pursed his lips for a long moment. “Every time I have an encounter with them I am reminded of something Ian had said once. ‘Just because he could have didn’t mean he should have.’ The implications of these beasts is going to linger long beyond us and will impact your children. That… I can’t help but feel like I let your children down by not fighting it more, harder.”

He kissed her forehead then rubbed her sides with his broad palms. “I’ve also been thinking about us.” He met her steely blue eyes with his own and took a seat, holding her hands in his, he studied the way their fingers linked and matched perfectly.

“I think I’m going to retire. Billy has been doing a bang up job of running the digs with me for the last 15 years I think he’s more than ready to take over completely. I can…” He paused, shrugged weakly then tilted his head. “I can lecture at the conventions if I’m asked and I can always teach. But I’ve missed out on too much… and I refuse to continue doing it.”

He gave her hand another gentle squeeze. “I meant what I said. I’m coming with you. Wherever that is, I will be with you if you’ll have me.”

[tenaciousellie]

Ellie listened to him, cupping his face in her hand briefly as he kissed her forehead. She understood his confliction, she had it too, but knew in the grand scheme of things they were only two people, and could only do so much.

She sat next to him as he spoke, listening to him, she could feel tears prick at the corner of her eyes as she listened to him willing to drop literally his entire life to be with her, willing to change everything about his life just to have a shot at a life with her. "Oh Alan," she squeezed his hand again and said, "being with you is all I've ever wanted since we went out for pizza that first time." She smiled gently, rubbing the back of his hand with her thumb, "but I also don't want you to feel like you have to uproot everything you are just to be with me."

Holding his hand in between both of hers, "if you genuinely wish to retire, I don't think anyone would stop you and Billy would make a great choice to take over. But I can make concessions myself as well, if you still want to dig, there's no reason we can't split our time, we can work on digs, and when you're not on a dig you can teach if you want. She cupped his cheek again and said, "we both deserve to be happy, if you do truly want to retire then I will support you, no matter what. But I also want you to know, I'm willing to make that compromise as well."

She smiled softly at him and said, "I'm not letting you out of my sight again, Alan, I don't think I could handle being separated from you again."

[dr-alangrant]

He patted her knee and turned, pressing a gentle kiss to her palm. “Ellie… I have spent the last 20 years with my digs. I want to spend the next 20 with you.” He shrugged, “Now, if Charlie is interested in pursuing a dig, I’m sure I could help him get in somewhere good.” The corner of his lips turned up in a wry smile.

“I suppose this is me evolving.”

He leaned in and kissed her, slowly and chastely. Not rushing things between them, regardless of what they both seemed to want. He had missed *her* more than he had the sex. He cleared his throat, “Right. Shall we unpack these groceries and then explore a bit?”

He knew the tenacious blonde wasn’t going to just let him drop it. He knew he was in for a deeper discussion but his mind was made up. He’d let her go and had regretted it every day since. He wasn’t about to make the same mistake again.

[grantsattler]

[dr-alangrant]

Never not reblogging

[dr-alangrant]

He grinned as she walked away from him, leaving him with the knowledge that she had done her research on the jurassic life that was local to the cabin. He headed around to the side of the truck, and stopped her from gathering the bags. His hands covering hers for a long moment before he reached up and cupped her jaw. “Spring 1993. Montana. Couple weeks before John showed up and changed everything.”

He took a step closer to her and nudged her nose with his. “I remember every detail about that weekend, El.” He pressed a long, slow kiss to her lips then stepped back from her. “I had been planning to take you back there after the… park. We never did go.” He turned to grab their duffel bags and chose to leave out the detail that he’d wanted to propose to her after the park, to make good on her desires for children. Tim and Lex had left him changed and he had considered it a second chance when they had all survived the atrocities of that first adventure.

He regretted not acting on those desires every day for over 20 years. He glanced back at her and silently pledged to himself to not mess it up again.

[tenaciousellie]

Her heart skipped a beat when he kissed her, she smiled softly as he pulled away. It had been over twenty years, but the way he kissed her made her feel like no time had passed. She nodded and said, "well, better late than never." She headed up the path to the house along next to him, looking at it, she said, "this one is a tad nicer than the one we went to." Stepping up to the door, she punched in the code the owner had messaged her and opened the door for them, holding it open with her hip as Alan came in behind her.

The cabin wasn't elaborate, but it very well decorated with a lot of natural light coming in from the windows facing the forest. "Oh wow Alan, look at that view." Ellie said as she sat the groceries on the table before walking towards the window. "It's beautiful."

Looking around, Ellie said, "I think that's the master bedroom in the back there." She smiled at Alan and said, "they say there's a big master bath off the bedroom with one of those jacuzzi tubs."

[dr-alangrant]

He chuckled as he lugged their bags in and set them down beside the kitchen table. The picture window certainly allowed plenty of opportunities for her to view the stunning trees and foliage around them. It had been one of the things he knew she loved and he’d been more than happy to take her to a place that would inspire her. As she mentioned the master bath with the jacuzzi he turned to glance at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Well that will certainly be a nice way for you to relax.” He stepped closer and reached for her hands. “I’m an old man. Might break a hip if I try to get in there.” He smirked and tugged her closer, holding her to his chest as he looked out at the forest around them.

There was so much for them to discuss and figure out. His dig in Montana was still active. Her life was here. What steps were they going to take? He wasn’t sure. He only knew that he wanted to be with her. He chose her. Whatever it would take.

[tenaciousellie]

Taking his hands as he walked over to her, she grinned as he held her close. Draping her arms over his shoulders and said “but see, that’s the beauty of bathing with a buddy.” Ellie kissed him softly as she played with the hair at the nape of his neck, adding. “It’s so we make sure neither one of us breaks anything.” She winked and kissed him again before resting her head against his chest as they stood there.

She didn’t know what the future held for them, whether she went out to Montana, or he stayed with her, but for now, they were together and that’s what mattered. Rubbing his back she looked up at him, resting her chin on his chest she asked “how are you feeling?”

The past few weeks after the incident had been a whirlwind for the two of them. This was the first moment the two of them really had to relax and just be together without something trying to take them apart. All she wanted was time with him, no matter what it looked like.

[dr-alangrant]

He furrowed his brow a bit as he studied her. “Conflicted.” He shook his head. “This business of sharing the world with John’s creatures is…” he paused then pursed his lips for a long moment. “Every time I have an encounter with them I am reminded of something Ian had said once. ‘Just because he could have didn’t mean he should have.’ The implications of these beasts is going to linger long beyond us and will impact your children. That… I can’t help but feel like I let your children down by not fighting it more, harder.”

He kissed her forehead then rubbed her sides with his broad palms. “I’ve also been thinking about us.” He met her steely blue eyes with his own and took a seat, holding her hands in his, he studied the way their fingers linked and matched perfectly.

“I think I’m going to retire. Billy has been doing a bang up job of running the digs with me for the last 15 years I think he’s more than ready to take over completely. I can…” He paused, shrugged weakly then tilted his head. “I can lecture at the conventions if I’m asked and I can always teach. But I’ve missed out on too much… and I refuse to continue doing it.”

He gave her hand another gentle squeeze. “I meant what I said. I’m coming with you. Wherever that is, I will be with you if you’ll have me.”

[dr-alangrant]

He hadn’t stopped thinking about the way she so easily touched him. No one had ever been as tactile with him, not even his late wife, and it was new to have someone so casually be comfortable with it. The beauty of his position at the dog meant he had the trailer either a full working shower. He had done a quick rinse and scrub then changed into clean jeans and a fresh t-shirt, leaving his flannels behind.

He didn’t do that often but if he was reading her correctly- and he deeply hoped he was- he figured he might as well give her an opportunity to see him not wearing his usual attire. He’d been intimate with women since his wife had died, occasional flings and one night stands, and- as he opened his rarely used after shave and cologne to dab some on- he wondered just what she was expecting from the evening.

He gave himself one last glance over in the mirror and shook his head. It was as good as it could get right now. He smoothed a hand over his hair and grabbed the keys to the jeep as he headed out.

He couldn’t avoid a couple catcalls from his longtime colleagues and he simply blushed and flashed them a singular finger before he navigated to the jeep and approached her, hands tucked into the back pockets of his jeans. “Uh, thanks.”

He gestured at her and tilted his head, “You uh… always look good.” He swallowed thickly as he opened the door to the jeep for her and gestured for her to enter. He’d kept his eye on her since they’d first met at the camp. At first it had been in a purely professional, protective manner but the more she’d shown her intelligence and passion for the work, the more he’d found himself thinking about her in ways that crossed those lines.

“El- Ellie.” He caught her hand in his for a brief moment and gave her a shy smile. “I’m not great at this kind of thing.” He shrugged, “So in case I don’t say it later, thank you for coming out with me tonight.”

[tenaciousellie]

She smiled as she took his appearance in, "you look sharp," she said as he came up to her. When he complimented her she blushed slightly and said, "thank you, did what I could in a tent. Only so much prepping one can do when you're living out of a tent and a communal shower." She joked as she rubbed her clothes jokingly.

When he took her hand, it caught her off guard, it wasn't a bad thing, she squeezed his hand as he thanked her for coming out with him. She smiled gently at him, intertwining her fingers with his, she squeezed his hand tight, "there's no where else I'd rather be tonight. Thank you for inviting me."

Keeping her hand in his, she gently pulled him towards the jeep and said, "lets go, I'm starving." She winked as she moved to get into the passenger side of the jeep.

[dr-alangrant]

He followed her as she tugged and helped her into the car, shutting the door behind her before he headed to the driver’s side and climbed in. He started the old engine, listening to it rumble for a moment before he began to back out of the dig site. It was just turning toward evening, with the sun starting to lower in the sky, bright blue sky giving way to a vibrant mix of blue and tangerine. As they drove he fiddled with the radio, cursing quietly that the reception was such trash.

“I think I’ve got a couple cassette tapes somewhere in that glove box. You can put one in if you want…” He wasn’t sure that he had anything she’d like, probably some old classic rock shit that was probably too much of an old fogey thing.

His eyes darted from the dusty path to glance at her then turned back to the road. It still didn’t feel real that she was here with him. He swallowed hard as he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and debated what, if anything, could come from this. Was she expecting him to take her to his trailer at the end of the night? He made a mental note to grab a pack of condoms at the gas station with all the other supplies they needed; just in case.

[tenaciousellie]

Ellie got settled into the passenger seat and couldn’t help but be nosy and looked at his cassettes. “Oh, Bowie!” She put the others back and looked at the tape and said. “This was actually the first record I ever bought.” Putting it in, she turned it on low so they could still talk but hear the music. Leaning back she brushed her hair out of her face. Looking over at him with a smile.

“May I ask what made you finally take a chance?” She asked innocently. “I was going to say something if you didn’t.” She teased him as they drove. “But I didn’t want to be seen as the one trying to seduce the boss.”

[dr-alangrant]

He glanced back in surprise then shrugged as they finally found the paved road that would lead into the small town nearby. “I uh…” He squeezed the steering wheel nervously. “I didn’t really know I was taking a chance. I know the general consensus at the dig is that I’m not very social and I’m old fashioned. Boring.” He shook his head. “I heard you talking about daisies and I thought you might appreciate knowing that someone paid attention to what you said… since you seem to be the only one who really pays attention to me.”

He felt his neck start to grow warm at the admission that he’d been noticing her; listening to her. He licked his lips. “I didn’t… think anything was going to come out of… I’m so much older you that I just assumed you’d write me off.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “No one would’ve ever accused you of trying to sleep with me. Pretty sure most of the kids on this dig think that I’m too much of a fossil to even care about that.”

[dr-alangrant]

He hadn’t stopped thinking about the way she so easily touched him. No one had ever been as tactile with him, not even his late wife, and it was new to have someone so casually be comfortable with it. The beauty of his position at the dog meant he had the trailer either a full working shower. He had done a quick rinse and scrub then changed into clean jeans and a fresh t-shirt, leaving his flannels behind.

He didn’t do that often but if he was reading her correctly- and he deeply hoped he was- he figured he might as well give her an opportunity to see him not wearing his usual attire. He’d been intimate with women since his wife had died, occasional flings and one night stands, and- as he opened his rarely used after shave and cologne to dab some on- he wondered just what she was expecting from the evening.

He gave himself one last glance over in the mirror and shook his head. It was as good as it could get right now. He smoothed a hand over his hair and grabbed the keys to the jeep as he headed out.

He couldn’t avoid a couple catcalls from his longtime colleagues and he simply blushed and flashed them a singular finger before he navigated to the jeep and approached her, hands tucked into the back pockets of his jeans. “Uh, thanks.”

He gestured at her and tilted his head, “You uh… always look good.” He swallowed thickly as he opened the door to the jeep for her and gestured for her to enter. He’d kept his eye on her since they’d first met at the camp. At first it had been in a purely professional, protective manner but the more she’d shown her intelligence and passion for the work, the more he’d found himself thinking about her in ways that crossed those lines.

“El- Ellie.” He caught her hand in his for a brief moment and gave her a shy smile. “I’m not great at this kind of thing.” He shrugged, “So in case I don’t say it later, thank you for coming out with me tonight.”

[tenaciousellie]

She smiled as she took his appearance in, "you look sharp," she said as he came up to her. When he complimented her she blushed slightly and said, "thank you, did what I could in a tent. Only so much prepping one can do when you're living out of a tent and a communal shower." She joked as she rubbed her clothes jokingly.

When he took her hand, it caught her off guard, it wasn't a bad thing, she squeezed his hand as he thanked her for coming out with him. She smiled gently at him, intertwining her fingers with his, she squeezed his hand tight, "there's no where else I'd rather be tonight. Thank you for inviting me."

Keeping her hand in his, she gently pulled him towards the jeep and said, "lets go, I'm starving." She winked as she moved to get into the passenger side of the jeep.

[dr-alangrant]

He followed her as she tugged and helped her into the car, shutting the door behind her before he headed to the driver’s side and climbed in. He started the old engine, listening to it rumble for a moment before he began to back out of the dig site. It was just turning toward evening, with the sun starting to lower in the sky, bright blue sky giving way to a vibrant mix of blue and tangerine. As they drove he fiddled with the radio, cursing quietly that the reception was such trash.

“I think I’ve got a couple cassette tapes somewhere in that glove box. You can put one in if you want…” He wasn’t sure that he had anything she’d like, probably some old classic rock shit that was probably too much of an old fogey thing.

His eyes darted from the dusty path to glance at her then turned back to the road. It still didn’t feel real that she was here with him. He swallowed hard as he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and debated what, if anything, could come from this. Was she expecting him to take her to his trailer at the end of the night? He made a mental note to grab a pack of condoms at the gas station with all the other supplies they needed; just in case.

[dr-alangrant]

He grinned as she walked away from him, leaving him with the knowledge that she had done her research on the jurassic life that was local to the cabin. He headed around to the side of the truck, and stopped her from gathering the bags. His hands covering hers for a long moment before he reached up and cupped her jaw. “Spring 1993. Montana. Couple weeks before John showed up and changed everything.”

He took a step closer to her and nudged her nose with his. “I remember every detail about that weekend, El.” He pressed a long, slow kiss to her lips then stepped back from her. “I had been planning to take you back there after the… park. We never did go.” He turned to grab their duffel bags and chose to leave out the detail that he’d wanted to propose to her after the park, to make good on her desires for children. Tim and Lex had left him changed and he had considered it a second chance when they had all survived the atrocities of that first adventure.

He regretted not acting on those desires every day for over 20 years. He glanced back at her and silently pledged to himself to not mess it up again.

[tenaciousellie]

Her heart skipped a beat when he kissed her, she smiled softly as he pulled away. It had been over twenty years, but the way he kissed her made her feel like no time had passed. She nodded and said, "well, better late than never." She headed up the path to the house along next to him, looking at it, she said, "this one is a tad nicer than the one we went to." Stepping up to the door, she punched in the code the owner had messaged her and opened the door for them, holding it open with her hip as Alan came in behind her.

The cabin wasn't elaborate, but it very well decorated with a lot of natural light coming in from the windows facing the forest. "Oh wow Alan, look at that view." Ellie said as she sat the groceries on the table before walking towards the window. "It's beautiful."

Looking around, Ellie said, "I think that's the master bedroom in the back there." She smiled at Alan and said, "they say there's a big master bath off the bedroom with one of those jacuzzi tubs."

[dr-alangrant]

He chuckled as he lugged their bags in and set them down beside the kitchen table. The picture window certainly allowed plenty of opportunities for her to view the stunning trees and foliage around them. It had been one of the things he knew she loved and he’d been more than happy to take her to a place that would inspire her. As she mentioned the master bath with the jacuzzi he turned to glance at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Well that will certainly be a nice way for you to relax.” He stepped closer and reached for her hands. “I’m an old man. Might break a hip if I try to get in there.” He smirked and tugged her closer, holding her to his chest as he looked out at the forest around them.

There was so much for them to discuss and figure out. His dig in Montana was still active. Her life was here. What steps were they going to take? He wasn’t sure. He only knew that he wanted to be with her. He chose her. Whatever it would take.