This one will be in two parts as usual no need to have read the others.
Enjoy.
Since they had teamed up with his Uncle Derek, their missions had gotten more and more bizarre but this one took the cake. 'Of all places why here?'
He was not in the mood to deal with anything this…cheery.
"Mom, why here? Do you really think machines have infiltrated this place?" Sarah Connor gave him her trademark tight lipped smile. "I guess that's a yes then." he snarled. Cameron dipped her head slightly ready to ask a question. "Don't Cam. Just." he trailed off.
Sarah hated when John got this way. It had been happening more and more often since his disastrous 16th birthday and she was determined to wipe that sardonic smile off his baby face.
"Derek and I will go scout out the area. You and Cameron blend in meanwhile." She handed a wad of cash to Cameron, "keep an eye on him at all times." She instructed the terminator and yanking Derek with her took off down Main Street.
"Great just you and me. If she really wanted us to blend in she could have let me ask Riley." John mumbled. He refused to look at Cameron but stuck his hands in his pockets guiltily. Unsure of where to go he talked as they ambled down the street.
"We better start looking like a couple…" his mind halted. 'A couple of what? Tourists, cute kids, siblings or maybe an actual couple.'
He sneaked a glance at his companion. He had to admit it was tempting. After all nobody knew them here and his mom and uncle were nowhere in sight. Besides if he told Cameron not to tell, nobody would be the wiser. Yes it was very tempting but he would be courting trouble.
Said trouble turned to him clasping his hand. "We should appear friendly with each other." she said by way of explanation. John did not bother to correct her or remove his hand. It was only for today.
They made short work of the shops since he hadn't been here in so long. John didn't want to waste the day shopping. "The rides are spread out around the center hub of the park. This is the exact center of Disneyland." Cameron supplied.
He ignored her usual prattle and made a beeline for the matterhorn. It was his favorite ride and he figured what his mother didn't know would kill him. He hoped. They battled their way through the crowds and had to yank hard on Cameron who was scanning everybody.
She felt him drop her hand and she quickly stopped to see what had caused him to do such a hurtful thing. "I can't believe it. They ditched us for the teacups." he grumbled in disgust.
Cameron peered around him and scanned the two adults sitting in an oversize piece of crockery. "I did a facial scan and it is Sarah Connor and Derek Reese inside a giant cup. Why are they in a giant cup?" Cameron whispered quietly to John.
He replied with his own question, "You wanna ride the Matterhorn, Cam?"
"What's a Matterhorn?" she asked.
"Never mind come on." John walked away knowing that she would be close behind him. "Cam, the matterhorn is this roller coaster that goes through… Cameron?" he glanced behind him. He spotted her standing still in front of a tall man pushing a wheelchair with a pregnant woman in it.
He groaned out loud and ran after her. He got there just in time to hear their exchange. "You're a large human." she said. "Thank you." The man answered surprised. "You are welcome." Cameron replied.
John wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her forward and away from the couple. "Sorry." he said. His hands were shaky and he valiantly put from his mind how perfectly she had fit in them.
Once out of earshot, he turned on her. "Don't do that. If mom sees, she'll think you saw Cromartie."
"That was not Cromartie. He is not that large. That man was also a cop which Cromartie isn't." It was a reasonable answer but he still shook his head before leading her to the Matterhorn. To his dismay he saw the ride was closed.
"Dammit. I love that ride." Exasperated he sat on the bench. Cameron followed his example huffing indignantly. They sat together people watching but he was restless. 'Mom, didn't say I couldn't explore.' He jumped up from the bench once more lacing his hand through hers. "Come on."
They approached the teacups but his relatives weren't there.
"Why are people waiting in line to get eaten by that large mammal?" she asked.
"What?" he saw what she was pointing at and burst out laughing. "It's a ride. You get on this boat and enter the whale's mouth and…" he paused.
"John?"
"I don't know. I've never been on it." he finished. It wasn't surprising he'd only come once with a neighbor kid for his 13th birthday. "Let's see what's on the other side."
Cameron nodded. "Ten minutes from this point. That is not accurate it would take less than two minutes to cross over."
"They mean the wait time. Stop being weird." he elbowed her.
They arrived at the dock but Cameron wouldn't budge. "I cannot go on it."
John could feel his face heating up, her behavior was getting them looks and being in the spotlight terrified him. "Just get in. It's safe." he shoved her a little.
"I cannot swim. It would be unwise. If you fall in I cannot effectively save you. I must protect you." she said looking back over her shoulder at him.
He swallowed hastily, her face was just a breath away and her brown eyes were wide with dissapointment. "I won't fall in." he said patting her arm.
"Promise?"
It still made his heart leap when she looked at him that way. As if he could fix any problem and knew every solution. He figured from where she was he was the highest authority. He tore his gaze from her mouth. "Promise."
