There she was, the strongest person they ever knew, dead. The three of them kept side by side, in a deep silence, just looking at her body for what seemed an eternity.
Derek thought that Sarah did a great job raising John, his mother just died and he wasn't desperate nor taking emotional driven actions, he was just there looking at her. Derek would miss her, but he was used to losses and life goes on.
Derek put his hand on John's shoulder, John slowly turned his head to Derek with his eyes still focused on Sarah, as if he believed she would disappear if he stopped looking. Their eyes met, John had the disbelief expression of those who want, but can't, deny the reality. He saw this expression many times in his past, he looked to his feet and back to John thinking on what he should say, but nothing came to his mind, he wasn't good with words, he just gently squeezed John's shoulder and nodded showing comprehension then slowly walked away from him.
Cameron just watched everything with her traditional expressionless face. John haven't said a word since Sarah's death and she could see signs that he was under great stress, but he wasn't reacting, she didn't knew what to do, the future John never stood this way. Her experiences and social skills were only enough to tell her what not to do, don't stare at him, don't state anything, don't rush things. She saw Derek's attempt to offer comfort, John's state hasn't changed, the attempt was a failure, but it gave Cameron an idea. When Derek moved away she approached John and hugged him softly, looking in his eyes with an expression of compassion, she felt John's muscles relaxing and his arms involving her in a hug. Cameron decided easing him physically was the best her knowledge could do and felt satisfied for being able of doing so.
Watching her hugging John, to Derek, was another proof that her relationship with John was going too far, but she was giving John something he couldn't, comfort... Derek always hated Cameron, she represented a risk to John physically and mentally. He almost desired Jesse's plans had achieved success, at least Riley was human. For now he would have to accept that proximity.
He wanted to throw himself in the hole Sarah left in his heart, John had supported the weight of the world on his shoulder since before his birth but he always had her to share the weight, and now he would have to do it alone, alone because if the timeline kept the same Derek and Cam would be gone soon or late, alone because he is the only damn hero of mankind. She loved him more than anything and prepared him better than any mother could prepare a son to the future. He had been so selfish lately doubting her, mistreating her, he were unfair but now it didn't matter, he couldn't say sorry and he would have to live with that and prepare himself to live with many more losses, because he was the only hero of mankind.
John released Cameron, forced his wish to cry to fall back, made a tough expression and walked away not looking back. Derek gave Cameron a look full of suppressed hate, looked at Sarah in a glance and walked out. Cameron looked at Derek expressionless leaning her head to the left, she took a final look at Sarah and followed them.
John haven't shed a single tear that day. Now he was one step closer of being the hero Derek and Cameron knew, one step colder.
There were no clouds in the sky, the sun was shining, and a cold breeze was blowing. The universe was indifferent to Sarah's death. She had no personal life, no friends, but it didn't matter she had a mission, protect and prepare John, and it was all that matter.
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