I apologize for this installment taking so long. Life has thrown a whole lot of curve balls my direction recently, and I've been unable to write. Everything is back in order now, and I'm back to writing again (obviously). I don't foresee any more long periods between my updates. It should be back to business as usual. Hope this installment was worth the wait!

Cameron carefully lifted the covers off her body and slowly crawled out of bed. She stood for a moment making sure she didn't wake John, before scanning the floor for clothes. The lingerie she wore for John would not be appropriate to wear in public, and she had put her own clothes back in her bag. She didn't want to take the chance of disturbing John, so she just pulled on his baggy jeans, and slipped on his shirt she found beside the bed, not bothering with any underwear or bra. Tying her shoes and pulling her hair out of the back of her shirt, she grabbed the keycard and silently closed the door behind her.

********************

The lobby was empty. The large TV was showing a rerun of Bewitched, and Cameron found herself sitting on the couch, pretending to be intrigued.

A redheaded woman approached her from the shadows and sat next to her on the couch.

"You couldn't sleep?" Catherine Weaver asked.

The corner of Cameron's mouth quirked into a tiny grin. "Something like that."

"Mr. Connor is asleep I take it?"

Cameron simply nodded.

"Just as well, there are a few things I needed to speak with you about privately."

Cameron turned up the TV volume a few notches. They would be able to hear each other just fine, but she didn't want anyone else that might come around to be able to hear them.

Catherine continued. "I think you should be aware of certain… circumstances… before we inform the Connors. While the T triple eight's chip was completely intact, someone had erased certain parts of the memory. We're not sure who, but it was done after the initial reprogramming, and it seems, after it was sent here."

"It was compromised here in the present, not the future?" Cameron felt thoroughly relieved

"So it would seem. It's also highly unlikely that it was sent here with termination orders."

Cameron finally glanced at Catherine for the first time. "How have you concluded that?"

A smirk appeared on Catherine's lips.

***************************************

The early morning sun shone on John's face, pulling him out of a pleasant dream. Not willing to wake up just yet, he snuggled deeper under the covers and pull the quilt over his head. Relaxing once again in his dark shell, he slowly began drifting back to sleep.

Until a slightly chilled hand snaked its way around his body and settled on his bare stomach, where it traced light circles on his skin.

He reached down and took the offending hand in his own and pulled it up to his chest, entwining their fingers as a precaution against further distractions.

Letting out a sigh and feeling his body relax once again, John let the hum of the fan loll him back into sleep.

Until he felt a very naked body slide up against his own; a firm thigh capturing his own leg, and soft breasts pressed against his back.

John moaned and snuggled up closer, opening his eyes under the dark covers.

"Okay, okay… I'm up, sheesh," he mumbled.

He felt soft lips plant a kiss between his shoulder blades. "I know you are," Cameron replied in her monotonous voice, but John felt the grin against his back.

Eyebrows raised, John partially turned around to look at a mischievous looking Cameron. "You are so bad."

Cameron raised an eyebrow of her own. "That's not what you said last night."

John stared at her, totally speechless and seriously wondering if the sassy creature staring back at him with a devilish smile was actually Cameron.

Then again, after last night, there shouldn't have been any doubt.

He chuckled and turned completely around to face her. "Yeah what the hell got into you last night? Not that I'm complaining…"

"You."

"Me?" John asked, confused.

"Technically speaking…"

"Oh my God," John groaned and covered his eyes, comprehension dawning on him. "Now you're a comedian."

Cameron kept her an innocent look on her face. "I don't understand what's funny. I was going to say that, technically speaking, it was this morning."

"Oh that's it." John grabbed his pillow and swung it at her. "Take that smartass."

Cameron laughed and easily deflected his attacks. "Your efforts are futile. I cannot be damaged by a pillow."

John laughed as well and ceased his brutal beatings. He collapsed back down on the bed next to Cameron, still chuckling. "Seriously though, I've never seen you in such a good mood. Well..." John paused in thought. "Actually, I have. You just… weren't you."

Cameron shrugged shyly. "I'm just happy."

John smiled and lifted her left hand. He placed a kiss over the glimmering ring. "I'm glad."

"Sarah is going to flip," Cameron noted.

John made a show of checking out her hand. "Nah… she'll never notice."

Cameron stared at him skeptically. "It's freaking big, John."

John smirked and gently squeezed her hand. "Relax, I already told her. She's probably already over the freak-out stage by now."

*********************************

Sarah Connor squeezed her eyes shut and pulled the quilt up over her head. She was nauseous, had a headache, and generally wished she could call off life for the day.

Why did she drink that much? Really? What possessed her to think that it was a good idea? Oh the inevitable questions that are never answered.

It had started off with beer and hotdogs. Then progressed to beer and fireworks. Sarah smiled at the memory. It'd been years since she took the time to watch fireworks. She enjoyed Savannah's delight, having missed so many opportunities to share her own son's excitement over something so simple.

John… Sarah groaned and shoved her face into her pillow. No longer a boy, her son was evidently planning on asking his girlfriend to marry him.

His girlfriend… lover… a freaking cyborg.

Yup, her son wanted to marry a robot.

Even more screwed up yet…

The robot, she was almost certain, genuinely wanted to marry her son.

Ah… yes. That's what eventually led to a whole bottle of vodka and orange juice for dessert, and her current hangover.

"Uuuunnngggghhhhh." She didn't want to think about it.

She yawned and stretched out her body. She was sore, she had to pee, she was thirsty as hell… but there was no way she was getting out of bed. Clutching her pillow, she rolled over to the cold side of the bed… and hit something large. Opening her eyes, she saw a sleeping Derek Reese.

Savannah sat on the couch eating her strawberry Pop-Tart. She was bored out of her mind. It was late, almost 11 in the morning, and she had already finished her morning chores, which consisted of making her bed and feeding the cats. Sarah, Derek, and Dani were still sleeping, and John and Cameron hadn't come home yet. And they still hadn't got cable TV.

There was laughter coming from outside. Curious, she peeked through the living room curtain to see several children about her age playing in the street. She didn't even know there were other kids in their neighborhood. She was usually not allowed to go outside on her own, except for the backyard.

Savannah glanced towards the stairs, its banister still only half attached to the wall. Nobody was awake to notice though, right? And she didn't want to wake them up…

She stepped outside and blinked in the bright sunlight. Letting her eyes adjust, she sat shyly on the font steps and watched the children play.

They mostly ignored her, barely glancing in her direction as she made her appearance. She wasn't sure what they were all really playing. There was a boy on a bicycle, and a few girls giggling in the yard across the street.

One girl though, who's long dark brown hair was tied back with a ribbon, was sitting alone on her own front porch next door, and noticed Savannah curiously watching the others. She shyly walked over to the Connor's yard and stopped a few feet away from Savannah.

"Hello," the girl said quietly.

Savannah responded with a shy smile. "Hi."

"What's your name?"

"Savannah. What's yours?"

The dark hair girl smiled brightly, and Savannah noticed she was missing some of her baby teeth, too. "Amanda. You're new here, right? I've never seen you before.

Savannah shrugged and glanced back across the street when she heard the girls begin giggling again, this time pointing in their direction.

Amanda followed her gaze and a sour look crossed her face. "Ignore them. They're always mean. I've known them all my life. Shelly, the big one, makes fun of me all the time."

"Why?" Savannah asked.

Amanda shrugged and took a seat on the lower step. "Because she's just mean, that's all. My mom said it's because her parents are divorced and she's taking her frustration out on me, whatever that means. My parents are still together, though. I have 2 brothers and three sisters. What about you?"

Savannah looked away, trying to figure out what she could tell Amanda. "My real parents are dead."

"Oh…" Amanda looked sad. "I'm sorry."

Savannah just shrugged.

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"No."

"Oh… How old are you?"

"Eight."

"Me too!" Amanda declared. Amanda wasn't sure what else to say. "Hey, you wanna come play in my yard? We have a big swing set out back!"

Savannah's face fell. "I'm only allowed to play in our backyard. Sarah's rules…" She had an idea though. "We have lots of kittens though. Do you wanna see?"

"Oh! I love kitties!"

Savannah grinned brightly for the first time and skipped down the steps. "Come on then, they're on the back porch." She led Amanda around the side of the house, knowing the inside was still way too messy to let anyone see.

"There's Lizzy over there," Savannah said, pointing to a cat sunning in the grass. "She's the mommy cat. The kittens like to sleep in the box up here." They climbed the back porch and found their feet attacked by four little furry monsters.

"They are so cute!" Amanda picked up the fluffy gray kitten and held it against her chest, scratching it behind its ears and coaxing it to purr loudly.

"That's Dorothy. This is skittles," Savannah introduced the black and white kitten. "That one over there is Athena, and the bigger one is Snickers. He's the only boy… and he's bad."

"Aw, how's he bad?"

Savannah pointed to Amanda's untied shoelaces. "See? You didn't even notice him do it. He sneaks up on you and unties your shoes."

Amanda giggled. "That is so cute! We're not allowed to have cats. My dad's allergic to them." She put Athena down and looked around the porch. "Hey, do you have any Barbies?"

"I only have two. I had to leave the others at my old house." When they rushed to pack, she was only able to bring her favorites.

"That's okay, I have a whole bunch from all my sisters. You wanna play with them?"

"Sure!" Savannah grinned. She hadn't had anyone to play Barbies with in a long time.

"Okay, I'll go get mine and bring them over." Amanda hurried back over to her house as an excited Savannah ran back inside her own.

She carefully made her way up the steps and ran into her room. Careful not to step on Dani sleeping ont he floor, she found the dolls under her bed. She gave their tattered clothes a quick adjustment, and hurried back out the door.

Muffled voices coming from Sarah's room made her pause in the hallway. She had thought Sarah was still sleeping. Now that she was awake though, maybe she should ask her if it was all right to play outside with Amanda? She wasn't really supposed to be outside without permission to begin with. When Sarah found out she had gone out, she might get in trouble anyway.

She heard the front door open and a woman's voice she recognized. Ah… John and Cameron were home. She could ask them for permission. John never told her no…

***************************************

Derek landed on the floor with a thud.

"Ow… What the fu…"

A strong hand clutched his throat, and he opened his eyes to see a wild Sarah Connor staring down at him, a 9mm pointed at his head.

He had no idea what was going on.

"Sarah… what... are you doing?" he choked out.

"What the hell were you doing in my bed?"

Derek's eyes widened, and he looked around him for the first time. Oh... shit.

"I don't know… Sarah…"

His cheek suddenly burned as she slapped him across the face. "What do you mean you don't know?"

"I don't know! I have no fucking idea! I don't remember a goddamn thing!" It was true. The last thing he really remembered was… he blinked. Well, he remembered the fireworks…

Sarah stared at him long and hard before finally letting him go. She stood up and began pacing back and forth, running a hand through her disheveled hair. She couldn't remember a goddamn thing either.

Derek stood up and moved as far away from Sarah as he cold. He glanced around the room again.

The bed was in one piece.

They were fully clothed.

Sort of.

He swept the floor with his eyes and spotted her jeans beside the bed. His t-shirt was nowhere in sight.

"Sarah… I don't think we did anything…"

Sarah stopped and glared at him.

"I mean, we're dressed… for the most part." Derek sputtered. "I certainly don't feel like we did anything… it certainly doesn't look like we did anything…"

"That doesn't explain why… you were in… my BED!" Sarah hissed.

"I don't know! Maybe you just passed out and I carried you in here, and then just passed out myself…" Derek raised his eyebrows. He had pulled the explanation right out of his ass, and was surprised at how awesomely believable it sounded.

Sarah sighed and rubbed her face. It was a disturbing situation, and it made her even more nauseous than she already was. "Okay, this never happened. Got it? You get out of here, go to your own room, and pretend this never… ever… happened. Don't mention it, don't think about it, just forget it about it completely. If anyone ever finds out…" Sarah dropped her voice to a menacing tone.

Derek didn't need to ask what would happen if anyone found out, he was good at guessing. He just nodded and headed for the door. Turning the knob, he opened it as quietly as possible and peered into the hallway.

And found himself facing a very intrigued cyborg.

**********************************

"Hi John! Hi Cameron!" Savannah said as she galloped down the steps.

"Well hey, Savannah! What are you up to?" John was surprised when the girl enveloped him in a hug.

"I met a new friend today. Can I go outside and play with her?"

"Uh…" John was slightly alarmed, and so was Cameron. With Savannah's history of friends… "A new friend? Who is she?"

"Her name's Amanda. She lives next door."

"How did you meet her?" Cameron asked. She was aware there were kids in the neighborhood, but they hadn't met any of them.

Savannah glanced at the floor. "Well… she was outside this morning…"

John quickly looked around. "Savannah did you go outside without permission?"

The girl's face reddened to match her hair. "Sarah was sleeping and I was bored… I wanted to play with the other kids…"

"Savannah…" John sighed and knelt down so that he was at eye level with her. "We have rules for a reason. It's very, very dangerous to go outside alone, especially when you don't tell anyone."

A tear trickled down her cheek and she sniffled. "I'm sorry."

John knew he shouldn't give in, but he couldn't help it. "It's all right. I can't lie and say I've never snuck out before… but it's a bad idea. I learned my lesson." He thought he heard a soft snort behind him, but ignored it. Yet another annoying human behavior Cameron picked up on. "Why don't we go outside and you can introduce me to her?" Better to double check that this 'friend' from next door didn't come with cords attached to the back of her head. Speaking of… "And guess what?" he asked, leading her out the back door. "John Henry's coming to visit this afternoon…"

Cameron picked up the forgotten duffel bags and carried them downstairs to their room. She already knew who Amanda was, as she had done her research of the neighbors when they first moved in. Amanda Leigh Robinson was the youngest daughter of Alan and Tina Robinson, born two months before Savannah.

But John was right to be concerned. Savannah was young and small enough to be kidnapped, by human or machine. She shouldn't have gone outside alone; but it was also true that he had done it himself on several occasions. Perhaps he understood better than anyone what it was like to be lonely, and want to make friends.

She left their dirty clothes in the laundry room and carried their toiletries bag back upstairs. She glanced at the banister and made a mental note to make sure Derek finished fixing it later. They also needed to repaint the kitchen. Preoccupied with calculating how many cans of paint they would need to buy, Cameron almost didn't hear the voices inside Sarah's room.

She stopped in front of the door and waited. It was only seconds before the door opened and a disheveled Derek poked his head out.

"Good morning Derek Reese. Or actually, good afternoon."

Derek looked like a deer in headlights. "Um, it's not what you think."

Cameron tilted her head to the side. "Oh, so just one can then?"

"Huh?"

"You said it's not what I think," Cameron replied.

Derek looked thoroughly confused. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"What are you talking about?" Cameron asked. "I was thinking about how many cans of paint we would need to paint the kitchen. I concluded two, but you said it wasn't what I thought. So that would mean then we only need one can."

Derek narrowed his eyes at the slight smirk on the cyborg's lips. He couldn't follow a single word she was saying, and was certain she was doing it on purpose. Shaking his head, he pushed passed her into the hall and headed to his own bedroom. Cameron followed him with her gaze until he shut the door behind him, and then turned her attention to a ragged Sarah, still standing in the middle of her room.

"Do me a favor…" Sarah started.

"I didn't see anything," Cameron said, and with a quick wink, she turned and made her way to the bathroom.

Sarah was left standing there, stunned and speechless.

*************************************************

Cameron stood outside the closed bathroom door for 3 minutes and 24 seconds before it finally opened to reveal Dani. The swelling in her face had decreased, but the mottled bruise was rather hideous. Cameron was surprised to find she actually felt bad for the woman.

"Hello Dani," she said politely.

Dani just eyed her warily and stepped out of the bathroom without replying.

"Thank you for packing our bags. That was very kind of you. I appreciate the care you took to make sure you packed everything."

Dani's jaw dropped slightly. Not only was Cameron thanking her, but her gratitude seemed genuine. Maybe she was still sleeping and it was all just a weird dream.

"Uh… you're welcome. No big deal."

Dani was visibly uncomfortable, and Cameron wasn't sure why. She was purposely trying not to seem intimidating. She was not posing any threat to her.

Cameron held out her hand, and Dani shied away from it.

Cameron tilted her head, but left her hand out. "Truce."

"What?"

"Truce," Cameron repeated. "I don't like you, and you don't like me. We can agree to dislike each other. But if you're going to be a part of this team, we need to work together."

Dani stared at Cameron's hand for a long moment before hesitantly taking it. "Fine. Truce," she agreed.

Without another word, Cameron let go of her hand and entered the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Dani stared at the closed door for several minutes, not quite sure what had just happened.

*****************************

The doorbell rang, and a napping Sarah cringed on the couch. "Why is that goddamn thing so loud?"

"I'LL GET IT!" Savannah shouted as she ran full-speed to the door.

Sarah groaned and covered her ears as she sat up. "Savannah please, no screaming in the house."

Savannah opened the door to see a well-dressed man and an old lady standing on the porch.

"JOHN HENRY!" The girl shouted again, and threw herself at the man.

Luckily, that man was made of a sturdy hyper-alloy combat chassis, and caught the child easily without stumbling.

"Hello Savannah. I missed you," John Henry said.

"I missed you too!"

John Henry lowered her back to the ground, and he and the old woman entered the house.

Sarah grimaced and leaned against the couch armrest. John had told her earlier that they were expecting a meeting, and she wasn't looking forward to it. The machines still made her uneasy, regardless of whose side they claimed to be on. She glanced at the old woman who made her way nonchalantly through the living room to stand right in front of Sarah. "I wonder whose grandmother she killed," she wondered.

"Hello Sarah Connor. How are you today?" John Henry asked politely.

At least HE has manners. "Fabulous," she answered sarcastically. "JOHN! DEREK! TIN MISS! DANI! LET'S GO!"

The troops filed in, nodding greetings and taking seats around the living room.

"Where's Cameron?" Sarah asked, noticing the conspicuously empty seat next to John on the smaller sofa.

"Right here," a voice said behind her. Cameron walked in and set John's laptop on the coffee table. "We need a faster computer," she remarked, as she took her seat next to John.

"Isn't that what you're here for?" Derek asked. He smirked at his own joke and put his feet up on the table.

Cameron gave him a withering look but refused to comment.

"Shut up, Reese," Sarah groaned. "Let's get this show started. Savannah, why don't you go upstairs…"

"No."

Everyone turned to look at John questioningly. Even Cameron seemed a little surprised.

"She can stay. Come on over, Savannah." He held out his hand to let her know it was all right.

"John, she's too young. She doesn't need to be here right now," Sarah argued.

"I wasn't too young now, was I?" he said defiantly. He hiked Savannah up onto his lap and wrapped an arm securely around her waist. "She already knows the basics. She's part of this family, too. We're a team. All of us," he said, pointedly looking at everyone in the room, daring them to argue.

"John…" Sarah said warningly.

"Hey, I have an idea," John started. "Let's ask the person in charge. Oh wait… that would be me." He fixed his mother with a determined stare. "She stays."

There was a palpable tension in the air as mother and son stared each other down, each fighting for authority. Derek, who had the unfortunate position of sitting between them, looked as if he was watching a tennis game with his head swinging back and forth and mouth slightly agape. Cameron sat beside John, her face stone-set in her unreadable terminator mask, but a comforting hand rested on his thigh, for which he was thoroughly grateful.

Because despite his confident demeanor, John was extremely nervous, even a little terrified. He had never publicly defied his mother before, especially to this degree.

But this wasn't so much about authority, really. He really did believe they needed to start training Savannah. She was smart, and already knew a lot. If judgment day really was just around the corner and they couldn't stop it, they all needed to be prepared, including Savannah. While it wasn't likely she would understand anything they'd be talking about anyway, she needed to start being a part of the grand scheme of things, so to speak.

Sarah was almost too shocked to even feel angry. The direct defiance, in front of everyone to boot, was a tough blow to take. Her first instinct was to yell at him, ground him, do something motherly to take back control. But she couldn't.

She just stared at him, sitting next to Cameron with a child in his lap.

And gave in.

Without another word she tore her eyes away and swallowed hard. With one nod, she gave the consent to continue.

Not having a clue what had just happened before him, John Henry took is cue and dove right in.

"Yesterday Mr. Connor brought me the chip, and I was surprised that it was still in one piece. But regardless of the condition, I was unable to find some important information. Still, I believe we have plenty to start with. For one, we know who sent it here."

"Who?" Sarah asked.

"I did," Cameron uttered softly. She felt John jerk in surprise, and pulled her hand away.

This time, everyone turned to stare at her. Cameron stared at the floor, not wanting to see the look on John's face.

For the first time, the old woman spoke up. "Before everyone starts jumping to conclusions… quite obviously she didn't send it here to kill herself and Mr. Connor."

Everyone focused their attention on Catherine, except John. He was still studying Cameron's face. He could see right past that emotionless terminator façade, and could tell something was bothering her. He silently reached over and reclaimed the hand she had pulled away, giving it a light squeeze. She still didn't look at him, but she didn't pull her hand away again, either.

"Cameron wouldn't hurt us," Savannah said innocently.

"That's right," John agreed, giving the girl's hair a gentle tug. "That means… either it went bad, or someone made it go bad." He looked back at John Henry. "Right?"

"Well, it would be our assumption that yes, someone reprogrammed it here. Unfortunately, it was only here for a short time before it happened. There's a gap in its memory that seems to have been erased. We do not know who did it."

"You mean we don't see who did it," Sarah said. "Because I'm sure we could make an educated guess."

"Kaliba," Derek said.

"It is highly probable," John Henry agreed. "Unfortunately, we don't know where to locate them, as of course, we have been trying very hard. What we do know, though, is where the T-888 was located at the time of reactivation."

Everyone seemed to want to talk at once. "What the hell are we waiting for then?" Dani spoke for the first time from her spot on the floor.

"Do you really think they're still around wherever they reactivated it?" Derek asked.

"It's worth a shot," Sarah said. "We don't have anything else to go on. Where were they? Do we know anything about the area?"

"Stop," John held up his hand for quiet.

The room fell instantly silent.

"Let's not lose sight of the other, perhaps even more important issue we have on our hands here. Cameron…" He gave her hand another squeeze and she finally turned her gaze back to his. "I know you don't know, because it wasn't really you… yet… who actually sent it back. But can you think of any reason as to why you would send it back?" It was a huge risk to send a machine with so much knowledge back in time. Even Cameron wasn't sent back with exact information; she had to track him down. There had to have been a good reason for her to make such a decision, and he hoped Cameron might have some sort of idea.

"Yes, I can think of a reason," she replied. "And if I'm right… we're in a lot of danger." She looked at Catherine. "Can you reprogram the chip? We're going to need that triple eight."