Chapter Text
Sometimes whenever Claire would be at her most cute were times most unexpected. At least unexpected to those who didn't know her that intimately as Ricardo did. She seemed cool under pressure and as frosty as the Snow Queen to most. Nothing got under her skin.
And yet here Claire was, sitting in the waiting room of the dentist's office, squeezing the life out of Ricardo's hand.
Sure his hand hurt and he was surprised at how strong Claire actually was. But he was mostly amused and downright smitten with Claire. Here she was dressed in her all white business suit and skirt plus her favorite heels. She looked much like the the boss of Jurassic World whom everyone was intimidated by. And here she was, legs crossed, nervously tapping her feet, and eyes darting at the fish tank in the waiting room.
Claire nearly jumped as Ricardo pulled her into a hug. His head rested against hers as he kissed her cheek.
"You'll be okay babe. I'm here with you."
She smiled. Her fear wasn't totally forgotten. But her nerves eased up a bit. Her grip loosened and she hugged her boyfriend back.
"I know. I know. I'm just.... I'm being a silly girl."
"Everyone has their fears. You'll never see me talk to a clown, that's why I avoid Hoskins at all costs."
Claire chuckled at that. Not the big belly laugh that Ricardo found so cute but a chuckle none the less. He was glad she eased up a bit.
The door opened and a nurse stepped out. "Ms. Dearing?"
Ricardo's hand was gripped again. He clasped the top of Claire's hand. The two shared a look. Her green eyes which were always so confident, so strong, now were shaking. Claire pulled Ricardo in for a kiss.
The nurse stood there for a moment unsure what to do and so waited. Claire held Ricardo in place as she took the lead in the kiss. Ricardo minded not as his girlfriend's lips overtook his. He felt her body which had been so tense start to relax a bit as he kissed her back. Then Claire sat back breaking the kiss looking into his eyes.
"I love you."
"I know."
Claire got up from her seat and proceeded to follow the nurse into the dentist's office. Ricardo was now left alone in the waiting room staring at the fish tank.
Eventually after what felt like hours, the door opened and the nurse called Ricardo to come back with her to see Claire. He followed her down a hallway that felt too narrow for comfort to one of the operating rooms. There laid back against a chair with gauze stuffed in her mouth like a chipmunk was his girlfriend.
"Hahghafhghah." said Claire. Her eyes looked big and wide as she smoke. A bit of drool strolled out down her chin.
"She's still pretty sedated. You're going to have to give her this medication for the pain and change her gauze after a few hours. It should wear off but Ms. Dearing is reacting a bit... strongly to it."
"Ryhaurhj huaohrjwb wkarjhr?" said Claire again.
"You all right babe?" asked Ricardo.
Claire laughed as she raised one hand up and pointed her finger. Ricardo blinked as he lowered his head only for Claire to poke his nose. She only said one word: Boop!
This would be amusing later.
Ricardo walked Claire out of the office and helped her get in the jeep. Ricardo would drive her back to her place and spend the night to make sure she was okay. The whole ride back was full of nothing but Claire's ingenious observations allowed by her state of drug inducedness.
"You ever wonder... if your hands are really hands?"
"Sometimes."
"Dinosaurs have three hands. It's not fair you know?"
"Fingers babe. they have three fingers on each hand."
"Whooooooooaa."
Claire started feeling a bit of pain in the middle of the ride. The medication must have been wearing off. To combat this she held her hands and pressed them against her puffy cheeks. This however made her imitate a duck quacking.
"Babe you like ducks?"
"Oh of COURSE! We got ducks at thepark. The Big duck duck ducks."
"You mean the Hadrosauruses?"
"Yeah the duckasauruses."
"Oh my mistake babe."
"They don't quack quack quack. They're like a.... HHRRRYOOOO-SQUOOONK!" Claire imitated the dinosaurs using the full motion of her stomach to do so.
Amusingly some of the dinosaurs just off of the road replied back. Claire's eyes were wide as dinner plates.
"Oh myyyyy Gooood. They knooooooooow!"
"What do they know?"
"They just knoooow. You know?"
"I can't say I do." Ricardo laughed.
God he loved Claire.