The Plan
Chapter 3
As Sarah watched John sleep in two pushed together chairs, She remembered when he was younger learning military training by a simple game of chess. People didn't understand how a game taught you how to survive. Now her son became reckless over a machine putting everything they fought for in jeopardy. Looking over at Cameron, Sarah knew nothing could pull her from John's side unless it was permanent deactivation. She came out of her thoughts when Derek entered the church with a few of their belongings from the old house. Setting the things down on the floor, Derek approached Sarah after seeing how upset she had become.
"You shouldn't upset yourself needlessly. You know what the doctor said would happen if you keep pushing it."
"Don't you think I know? I can't keep this a secret for long!" Sarah exclaimed in a hushed whisper feeling Derek put his hand on her stomach. The two hadn't been paying attention to Cameron watching who made a note to ask John about the gesture tomorrow. For now Cameron took over watch duty for the night in case danger came up.
The next morning the four stepped out into the bran new day which for them felt like an endless cycle especially for Sarah. She tried her hardest to get John come her but John insisted on going with Cameron. After a few more attempts, the group finally broke up in twos so they could find a place quicker.
As the two teens walked down the sidewalk, John glanced sideways at Cameron quickly diverting them back ahead when she looked at him. Caught in the act, he asked "Are you alright?"
Cameron stopped. "You don't believe me John, do you? You think I'm what they call nuts, crazy, syco, fruit loops. loop-"
John waved his hand in the air to stop her sentence. "I never said you were. Its just weird you bust in the door screaming danger and there is no one behind you."
Cameron continued to stare at the boy beside her as if he had grown another head. John looked at the places on her face where she had stapled them together. "I wanted to rush out to the truck to save you but my mom wouldn't let me."
"She had you're best interests in mind plus now you can't be trusted anymore."
"Wh-why not?"
"You almost risked you're life to save me. That would've been a very dangerous thing to do."
John felt the string of Cameron's words, however, it went quickly away with her question. "Why does a man touch a woman's stomach?"
Taken off guard, John answered awkwardly "I-I don't know they love each other or I've seen men do it to their pregnant wives. Why?"
"Because I saw Derek do it to Sarah last night. They were in intense conversation."
John stopped walking again. "W-wait a minute! you saw Derek touch my mom's stomach? It can't be possible, he's my uncle for crying out loud!"
Cameron looked at John strangely wondering why he looked upset about her question. "Maybe he loves her," she replied innocently.
John cringed. "I hope not. Lets go we need to find a house or something," he mumbled as he started walking again.
Sarah and Derek were having their own awkward silence as they continued on their search for a house. Sarah had chewed Derek out this morning for touching her the way he did last night because of Cameron watching. It unnerved her to think an innocent gesture could turn detrimental to the sanity of the group not to mention all fuss it would create. Suddenly Sarah felt her stomach lurk and she ran to the side bending over.
Derek hurried over to her side with a bottle of water. Pushing his hand away, Sarah replied weakly,"I can't do this Derek. I can't be sick like all the time especially while we are on the run. I'm no use to anyone."
"That's not true. You've done way more than anyone I know. You raised John to be the the leader he will be in the future."
Sarah stood straight up again; this time taking the bottle of water from Derk and a meal bar. "Not with Cameron around. We can't keep hiding the baby from John; he'll find out soon enough."
"I know. How about when we get settled in we let him know?"
Sarah nodded her head a little and the two quickly moved on to continue their search.
