MicroFic #7, by The Crusader

Originally posted on July 30th, 2009

There was a knock on the door. John didn't answer, he didn't have to. He knew that it was Cameron coming into the room. John sat on the edge of the bed staring out the window.

Cameron stepped inside and walked toward John. She stood there for a moment behind him, waiting for him to speak. 3 minutes and 28 seconds pasted before he finally said something.

"I'm sorry, Cameron."

"Sorry? What are you sorry for?"

"That I blamed you. When she first got sick."

"You still blame me."

"What?"

"If you hadn't followed me into the future, you would have been with her. You think you might have prevented the cancer from getting worse."

"But I don't blame you Cameron. I blame myself. And not for going after you. For not trying harder to make her see a doctor, when we got back."

"No doctor could have cured her."

John went silent for another moment before turning around to face Cameron. He expected to see the blank expressionless face of a terminator, instead he saw an expression of sorrow and pity

"When?"

"When what, John?"

"When do I stop ending lives and start saving them."

"You already have saved lives, John."

John knew what Cameron meant. He had saved her life. More than once. Although she showed no appreciation at first, he now knew that she was thankful for what he had done. John slid over to one side of the edge of the bed inviting Cameron to join him. She accepted the invitation. John took her hand in his.

"Tell me that I didn't save your life for nothing."

Cameron was bothered by this. Was he regretting his actions? She had stayed at his side all along, kept trying to make up for what she did and the hurt that she caused. Had she failed him yet again? Then John clarified what he meant, while his eyes were brimming with tears

"I don't wanna find out that I saved you, only to have you leave me again."

"John, I told you how hard that was. How much I wished I didn't have to."

"I understand Cameron. I do. But everyone leaves me. Even my Mom. Don't you leave me too. You're all I have."

She wiped the tear away from his face.

"I promise, John. I'll be here, as long as you want me to be."

John forced a smile onto his face as he spoke his next words.

"Then it's a good thing that your power cell lasts a long time."