Title:  Choices of the Heart

Author:  Nancy

Rating:  PG-13

Keywords:  Jurassic Park, Alan and Ellie

Category:  Action/Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Spoilers:  Some, from all three films

Warnings:  Animal violence and horror, sexual tension, severe depression, angst, death. 

Feedback:  Always welcome (Just don't beat me up too bad!).  nkm56@cox.net

Archive:  Yes, just please ask me first

Summary:  Finding herself widowed and alone, Ellie decides to return to work with Alan in an effort to deal with her loss, but none of his associates know where he is.  Using her husband's contacts at the State Department, she discovers that Alan has returned to Isla Sorna to study the animals - and has been there, completely alone, for months!  Overwhelmed by the sudden feeling that his life is in grave danger, she impulsively flies to the island to join him.  Completely alone together in a dangerous and unpredictable environment, they are forced to confront their feelings for one another as well as the animals that inhabit the island.

Disclaimer:  This is a work of fan fiction intended purely for the enjoyment of the author and the readers.  No copyright infringement is intended.

NOTE:  I elected to go in a different direction than the other fan fiction stories I've read on this subject, and because of this, some people may object the way I decided to deal with the subject of Ellie's family, but it is necessary for the direction I chose to take the story.  I had actually given Ellie's daughter the same name as one of your other wonderful authors, so out of deference to her marvelous story, I changed child's name.


PROLOGUE

Early December

Ellie Sattler Degler sat quietly on the decorative stool at her vanity mirror, critically examining the status of her makeup and hair, while at the same time complaining silently to herself that her husband’s job at the State Department frequently made it difficult to plan any kind of special occasion.  Her first book had just been published, and early sales indicated that it was showing great promise.  Although not particularly interested in the book’s topic of dinosaurs and paleobotany, Mark had promised to take her out to dinner at a fine restaurant that evening to celebrate the occasion, but, as usual, his work had interfered with her plans.

Irritably, she glanced at the clock on the bedside table.  The reservations were set for seven o’clock, and it was already six-fifteen.  In typical fashion, he would come rushing in at any moment, asking if she was ready to go.  She had been ready for almost an hour.

Behind her, her three and a half year old son, Charlie, played on the floor with his toy dinosaurs, gifts from the "Dinosaur Man", a man he had met only once in his short life, four months earlier, but whom he had not forgotten.  The dinosaurs were his favorite toys, much to his father’s chagrin, who would have preferred seeing the boy play with the Tonka trucks given to him by his paternal grandparents.

Ellie fondly watched the boy play, so youthfully oblivious to the trials and tribulations of adulthood.  Totally unaware of the tension his mother felt, he was perfectly content to entertain himself and his younger sister, sixteen-month-old Halley, who watched her brother’s animated performances with wide-eyed fascination.

Ellie’s irritation began to fade as she watched her children.  They were the offspring she had wanted so desperately for so long, and every moment she shared with them was a special blessing.  Both children would be spending the night with her parents, providing an evening alone for her and her husband.  Mark had promised to take the children to their grandparents’ house when he got home, but with his demanding and generally unpredictable position at the State Department, plans always seemed to change at a moment’s notice.

With a sigh, she wondered if she should go ahead and drive them over to her parents’ house. Then the task would be out of the way, and they could leave directly for the restaurant when Mark got home.

Picking up her purse, she unzipped it and reached inside for her car keys, but her hand froze the instant it touched the folded newspaper clipping she kept hidden there.  Time seemed to stand still as she withdrew the clipping, and set the purse back on the dresser.

Careful to avoid tearing the thin newsprint, she unfolded it, and her eyes fell upon the headline:  Boy Rescued From Dinosaur Island.  Below the headline was a photograph of the man she had once hoped to spend her life with.  He stood beside a twelve-year old boy, reluctantly posing for the photograph taken by a Post staff photographer based in Costa Rica.  Lovingly, she traced her fingertips over the ruggedly handsome face, a face she longed to see again.

The slam of the front door jolted her from her reverie.

"Sorry I’m late," Mark’s voice boomed from the foyer.  "Are you ready?"

"Yes, honey," she replied, as she quickly returned the clipping to its place in her purse.  Mark was aware of her former life and her former lover, but it would be harmful to her marriage if he knew she still carried treasured mementoes of him.

He entered the bedroom just as she zipped the purse shut.  He tossed his briefcase on the easy chair in the corner, and leaned over to kiss her.  "I’m sorry.  I know I should have phoned, but I got called back in just as I was leaving, and couldn’t get to a phone."

"That’s what the cell phone is for, honey," she replied with dutiful patience.

He smiled, sheepishly.  "I forgot to put it in my briefcase this morning.  I guess you’re used to that, though, aren’t you?"

"You have a lot on your mind," she told him, tolerantly, wondering why the men she loved were so wrapped up in their work.  "Never mind that," she said, quickly.  "We still have time.  We’ll drop the kids off at Mom’s on the way."

"Good."  He stooped to pick up little Halley, who reached up her arms eagerly to her father.  Ellie passed him the baby’s coat, then gathered up Charlie’s toys and put them in a paper sack for the trip to take with him to his grandparents’ house.  When he was in his coat, she took his hand and the children‘s overnight bag, and they followed Mark out to the car.

"You look beautiful, by the way," Mark said as an afterthought as they walked out to the car, admiring the elegantly slinky blue dress she wore, and the way it showed off her slender figure and accented her blonde hair.

"Thank you," she replied.  "You look pretty good yourself."

He did, indeed, look handsome in his business suit and white shirt that always seemed crisp and fresh no matter how long he had it on.  As always, every hair was in place.

The children were placed in their car seats, Charlie behind Ellie, Halley behind Mark, then he opened the car door for his wife.

"We’ll pick up some champagne on the way home," he suggested.  "No reason to stop celebrating just because we leave the restaurant."  He leaned closer.  "I’ll make it up to you, I promise."

She smiled.  "I’ll hold you to that."

He pushed the car door shut, and hurried to the driver’s side, fishing the keys out of his pocket, which he inserted into the ignition and started the car.

"I think it’s going to snow," he said, as he sped down the street toward the intersection.

"If it does, remember you promised Charlie to take him sledding, and to help him build a snowman."

Mark grimaced, slightly.  "You know I’d love to, honey, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to.  Things are really hectic at the office, right now.  We’ve had some layoffs, and the workload is being redistributed.  Kevin and I are both having to take on more responsibilities.  Maybe you and the kids can have fun in the snow together."

"He wants to spend time with his father," Ellie insisted.

"I know, and I want to spend time with him, but I’m afraid it’s out of the question, this time."

"What kind of cases do you have?" she inquired, wondering what was so important that he couldn’t spend time with his young son.

He hesitated briefly, casting a peculiar sideways glance her direction.  "Nothing you’d be interested in," he replied, evasively.

She saw the puzzling glance, and felt a stab of apprehension, wondering if he was hiding something from her.  "I might find it interesting," she said.  "Tell me."

His gaze lingered a moment, then he looked away, as if he had said too much already.  "Just a few domestic and international obligations.  The usual stuff."

She knew he was withholding something, but before she could question him about it, she saw the blur of a white car, driving without headlights, speeding into the intersection they were just entering.

"Look out!" she screamed a warning to her husband, bracing herself for the collision.

It came with bone jarring force.  The white car slammed into the driver’s side door of Mark’s car, filling Ellie’s ears with the terrifying sounds of metal impacting metal, the shattering of glass, the squealing of tires, and the abrupt bang as Mark’s car crashed into the stop sign opposite that which the other driver had failed to obey.  Then there was silence.

Snow was falling softly in Ellie’s face when she awakened to the flashing red lights of the emergency vehicles.  A face bent close to her, shining a small penlight in her eyes, first one then the other.  It was painfully bright, and she tried to turn her face away from it, but a strap across her forehead held her in a rigidly fixed position on the gurney.

"Don’t try to move, ma’am," the paramedic said, his voice kind.  "You’ve been in an accident.  Do you know your name?"  The question was asked casually, but she knew he was trying to determine the extent of her injuries.

She hesitated, her mind slowly catching up with her other senses, the main sense being intense pain.  The pain was nearly unbearable. 

"Ellie," she replied, her voice sounding strangely weak.

"Try to relax, Ellie," he told her, his voice calm and soothing.  "We’re taking you to the hospital, now."

"M-my family. . . ."

His face was sympathetic, his hesitation brief.  "My partner is looking after them.  Try not to worry.  Just concentrate on yourself."

"No.  I want to see my children."  She attempted to turn her head to look for her family, but the strap held her head firmly in place.  "Are they all right?"

"I really can’t say, ma’am.  My partner is taking care of them.  Try to relax."

Two police officers lifted the gurney into the ambulance, and the slight rocking motion as they lifted it caused her pain.  She cried out as darkness overtook her again.