Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles
title: What Makes You Think I Don't?
author: River2027
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Terminator
setting: during/after "the tower is tall but the fall is short"
genre: drama
rating: T
warning: contains spoilers for "the tower is tall but the fall is short"
summary: oneshot. John's POV during the "John needs help" scene. Later, John is made aware of someone else other than Sherman who can help him. Slight John/Cameron
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"Maybe he's on the list because he helps John," Cameron pointed out.
Both John and his mother looked over at the Terminator. "Helps John?" Sarah repeated incredulously. "What makes you think John needs help?"
"What makes you think I don't?" John asked. Sarah turned around, looking a bit surprised, and even a bit hurt. John glared at her…then at Cameron. She was right, he realized reluctantly. Maybe he did need help. She had continued to be there for him, even after he'd brushed her away.
She still knew him.
He glanced back at his mother.
"Do you?" Sarah asked, her voice catching in her throat. John glanced away, unable to speak. Sarah looked hurt. "Cause you can talk to me, John. You always have."
John considered. Could he talk to his mother about everything that was happening?
Would she even listen?
Or did he need someone else? He glanced briefly at Cameron. He still wasn't sure where he stood with her anymore. Maybe the only thing that could help him was talking to Dr. Sherman.
His mother was still waiting for his answer.
"No," he answered. "I'm fine."
Sarah nodded slowly, and quietly left, casting a glance back at John as she did. He didn't meet her gaze. Cameron lingered in the doorway, but John didn't have the patience to talk to her right now.
"She's right," he said as he stalked past. "I don't need help."
**********
When he came back inside later, Cameron handed him a piece of paper. "What's this?" he asked, flipping it over.
"It's the list," Cameron stated. "From the wall in the garage."
"Why'd you write them down?" John asked.
"So you'd have them as a reference," she replied. "Easier to access. Temperature outside is dropping at a rate of 2.3 degrees per day. Going out to the garage could cause you to catch a cold."
John nodded, dismissively. "Thanks," he murmured. Cameron didn't look hurt at his brush off, but he noticed that she hesitated before walking away. She even briefly paused at the door and looked back.
As soon as she was gone, John looked down at the sheet of paper. She's categorized the names into two sections: SKYNET TARGETS and PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP JOHN. He thought that title was a little odd. Why hadn't she just written 'people who help John'? Confused, he read on.
Under the Skynet Targets, she'd written P. Alto, with Martin Bedell's name added next to it. John scanned over the list until he came to the PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP JOHN section. There were only two names on the list. John read them, and then looked up through watery eyes toward the doorway Cameron had just been standing in.
She'd added one of the names on her own.
The first on the list read SHERMAN.
Right below it was CAMERON.
finis
author's note: please review! I thought it'd was an interesting way for Cam to show John she wants to help him, but please tell me what you think!