Pairing: Alan/Billy (D'oh!)
Rating: PG
Archive: Sure, anywhere.

Summary: A conversation between our intrepid pair during their return to the US after the movie ends.

Spoilers: Big time. Many. Do not read before seeing film unless you want to be spoiled.

Disclaimer: Dr. Alan Grant, Billy Brennan, The Kirbys, and Ellie Sattler belong to Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. I mean no harm to anyone. I am poor, so if you sue me, all you get is my mortgage.

Notes: My many, many thanks to Ms. Cori Lannam, who beta read this twice and made all kinds of excellent suggestions which helped make this story much better.

Please direct feedback to ChelseaFrew@aol.com.

And now, on with the story...

"Can I sit with him?" Dr. Alan Grant asked the young medic who had reluctantly allowed him on the medivac helicopter leaving Costa Rica for the final leg of their journey home.

The medic finished checking his patient's pulse, then nodded. "Sure. Just try not to tire him out too much. He needs his rest."

Alan nodded back, then took a seat on the bench which paralleled the stretch on which Billy Brennan lay.

"Alan," Billy whispered in greeting as the helicopter leveled out, setting a course for the United States.

"Hey there." Alan rested his hand for a moment on his young protégé's shoulder, careful not to touch any of the numerous injuries the pteranodons had inflicted. "How are you feeling?"

"Shredded." Billy grinned despite his words. "Hey, thanks for bullying your way onto the 'copter."

Alan shrugged, embarrassed. The medic hadn't wanted Alan to come, telling him that Billy needed to rest and Alan could meet him at the hospital back in the States. Alan wasn't buying. He had been separated from Billy twice in the last 48 hours. No more. His best intimidating stare had eventually gotten the medic to agree to let him board the helicopter.

"Did the Kirbys leave yet?" Billy went on to ask.

"Yep. They're on a plane which will take them directly back to Oklahoma and Kirby Paint and Tile Plus."

Billy smiled. "Good." He closed his eyes briefly, his face twisting in pain.

"Billy?" Alan became instantly worried.

Billy pulled in a deep breath, then opened his eyes. "I'm okay. The pain comes and goes."

"You should rest."

Billy shook his head. "Not tired. Keep me company?"

"Absolutely."

For a few minutes, Alan's company was silent company, unsure of how to say some of the things he wanted to say. For the moment, he was content with simply having Billy in his sights again.

Billy broke the silence. "It was worth it, Alan."

"What was?"

"All of it. The whole trip to the island, the pteranodons' attack, everything. It was worth it."

Alan smiled. This was Billy all over; he never had been one to look on the bad side of anything.

"I got to see dinosaurs," Billy continued. "I've dreamed about that my whole life."

"I know," Alan said. Wryly, he added, "But did you have to go for such a close look at the pteranodons?"

Billy didn't laugh, as Alan had expected him to. Instead, a serious look on his face, he said, "I couldn't let Eric die. It was my fault the raptors chased us into the birdcage."

"Billy, no. You were trying to help. I was wrong. You did have the best intentions." Alan suddenly realized that Billy had no idea what had happened to him and the Kirbys after they'd escaped from the birdcage. He quickly filled him in on the raptor attack. "You saved our lives. Both with the eggs and the resonating chamber."

Billy's face relaxed in relief, and he let out a sigh. "Thank God."

Alan placed his hand on Billy's shoulder again, squeezing gently. Before he could chicken out, as he had over and over before, Alan said, "There's something I have to tell you, Billy."

It was as if a cloud had passed directly over Billy's face, so quickly did he tense up at the words. Alan offered swift reassurance. "It's nothing bad. I promise."

Sighing once more in relief, Billy admitted, "I thought you were going to tell me I was off the dig."

Alan shook his head vehemently. "No, never. You're the best assistant I have ever had."

Billy offered a small smile. "Thanks."

Before he continued, Alan checked to see if anyone else was listening to his and Billy's conversation. The pilot and co-pilots were busy flying the helicopter, and the medic was busy entering notes into a chart, headphones on. Alan guessed the medic was counting on Alan to alert him if Billy needed something. That was irresponsible, but Alan needed the privacy, so he'd deal.

"This is something I should have told you a long time ago," Alan started nervously.

Billy didn't say anything, allowing Alan the freedom to go on. "When I thought you were dead, I had a whole night to think about regrets. First, I regret that I spoke to you the way I did when you told me about the raptor eggs. We were all in the most stressful situation imaginable and that's why I reacted the way I did, but that's not an excuse. You thought you were doing the right thing. So, I owe you an apology there."

"Accepted."

"But there was something even bigger I regretted," Alan confessed. Despite his resolve, Alan found he still couldn't say the words he wanted to...needed to...say.

Billy must have sensed that this was important...personal. Softly, he said, "Whatever it is, Alan, you can tell me. It's okay."

Alan pulled in a deep breath and decided that now that he'd started, it wouldn't be fair to back out. "I want you to know that I'll totally understand if you want to resign as my assistant after I tell you this."

"Alan, you're scaring me," Billy said. "Just tell me. Please."

"Okay. A long time ago I was in love with Ellie Sattler. You remember her?"

Billy grinned. "Yes. She was the one who sent all that help."

Alan hit his own forehead. "D'oh. Well, anyway, Ellie and I were really close, but there was always something keeping us from being closer and eventually we decided we'd be better friends than we were lovers. And we've been friends ever since."

Billy nodded his encouragement.

"I think I knew all along what the problem was. Why it didn't work with Ellie or any other woman I've been involved with. I just couldn't accept it. It was easier to just ignore the problem and bury myself in work. Then you came on the dig last year and I couldn't ignore it anymore. Billy, I'm gay."

Billy's first reaction was a surprise to Alan. "I know."

Alan's eyes widened. "You know?"

Billy nodded firmly. "I know."

"How?" He thought he'd been careful. He'd tried to keep looks and touches to a minimum. He hadn't wanted to scare Billy off. But apparently all of that work had been in vain.

Billy shrugged, wincing slightly at the pain that brought on. "I don't know. Gaydar, maybe. But I'm not surprised."

"Okay, that part was easier than I thought it would be," Alan said.

"There's more?"

Alan nodded. "But I suspect it's not going to be any easier."

"Would it help if I outed myself, too?" Billy asked frankly.

"Pardon me?"

"Geez, Alan, buy a clue," Billy said with a smile. "I'm gay, too."

"Well," Alan replied faintly. He had been expecting almost anything but this, and he didn't know whether to be elated or terrified. "I'm gay, you're gay. That's great."

Billy's smile widened. "Yeah. It's really great."

His head spun a little at the words, and at the unspoken cue he hoped lay beneath them. "I love you, Billy." There they were, just like that. The four words he'd been dying to say, but had been too scared to.

To his relief, the grin on Billy's face didn't diminish. "I know."

What didn't Billy know? Alan shook his head in astonishment.

"I just figured you needed to work yourself up to it," Billy explained. He paused briefly, then made his own confession. "The feeling's mutual, Alan. I love you, too."

Alan decided, that he was tired of words. Leaning over, and suddenly unconcerned with who saw or heard what, he pressed his lips gently to Billy's. He had imagined this moment many times, but he had never imagined it just like this. One part was just as he'd imagined it, though. Billy was kissing him back.

After this first, sweet kiss, Alan sat up straight and ran a hand over Billy's forehead, finding it warm and clammy to the touch. "You have a fever, Billy. You really do need to rest."

"So long as you stay right there while I do."

"I'm not going anywhere. Not ever again. I promise," Alan said, the last two words a loving whisper.

Reassured, Billy closed his eyes. Within moments, he was asleep. And Alan, at peace for the first time in a very long time, sat back on the bench to watch.

The End :-)

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