Howdy, big apologies for the insanely long delay.

Also a big thank you to those of you who continued to leave comments and send me very sweet P.M.'s of encouragement. They are much appreciated and directly responsible for lighting the fire under my butt that got me back to writing.

The usual. I own nothing. Although Kim the freaky geek is a product of my own warped brain.


"I walked into the battle blind
It happens almost all the time
The yard is kind of overgrown
And all those happy times are gone

But it doesn't mean a thing to me
It doesn't mean a thing to me
And it's about time you see
That things ain't like they used to be"

Lyrics from "Things Ain't Like They Used to Be" by the Black Keys


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Kim gives a slight shake of her head from side to side. Her perfectly messy hair bouncing and then falling right back into place. "Be reasonable, Sarah. You just came out of a coma yesterday. You can't go after Jesse now."

I give her the 'get back stare' and kick the covers off. I grab my pants off the end table and quickly put them on. "Take me to Weaver or get out of my way." I order as I button my jeans.

The brazenness of Kim always amazes me. She stands her ground. Hands on slender hips, hazel eyes determined. "Maybe the bullet to the head did more damage than Weaver thought."

"I got my ass kicked. I didn't get shot."

"Yes, you did. I saw it happen."

"That's bullshit. You weren't there when Jesse attacked."

"Big brother, John Henry was. He has access to every satellite in the atmosphere. I watched the entire encounter in crisp HD. Jesse is one very F'd up individual. You were holding your own though. A couple times I thought you were going to flip the tables and get the best of her. If she hadn't had the thug there to help her she wouldn't have won. To top it all off she shot you in the head."

She's so sure. It gives me pause. My head starts hurting out of spite as I try to think back. Jesse's angry face swims across my brain. I remember the knife. I walk past Kim and into the bathroom. I again check my forehead and again find no new scars. "I don't remember getting shot. I did get cut. There was a lot of blood. I could hardly see." I trace my fingers where I remember the knife digging in. "What the hell's going on? Why don't I have any marks on me?"

Her shoulders bunch up as she shrugs. "Beats me. Weaver said she uh, somehow, she merged with you when we were all in Florida. I'm not clear on the details. Her chemistry is very far outside the scope of my knowledge. She claims the various alloys in her body have healing and restorative features. It seems to be true because you healed from mortal wounds and at a highly accelerated rate."

This is a lot to take in. My eyes narrow. I rake my fingers through my hair and across my scalp. No scar tissue. No lumps. "So, Weaver's turned me into some sort of freak?"

Her head shakes. "You say it like it's a bad thing. I'd say it's more like she's given you a super power. It's not like the bullet just grazed you. It went in just above your eye. By all rights you should be dead."

"Why do people keep telling me that?"

"Beats me. Megan might know more. Do you want me to get her?"

"Nope. I don't have time to worry about it. The longer I let Jesse run around unchecked the more time she has to come up with a plan to hurt John or fuck the world over." I pick up the phone Weaver gave me earlier and try to make it cooperate. I know it has GPS and a detailed map of Zeira Corp. I bypass Kim and head out the door.

She catches up to me easily. "So, tell me, are you intentionally heading to our recycling and waste facility?"

"Fucking Android phones and terminators. Every so called technological advancement is conspiring against me." I grumble.

"I don't know if anyone has ever told you this but you're kind of paranoid."

The urge to grab her and throttle her is damn near overwhelming. "Careful, Kim. The last person who said that to me wound up with a broken arm and a syringe full of drain cleaner in his neck."

"Easy." She holds her hands up in surrender. "I'm sorry. It was supposed to be a joke." she shrugs. "A bad one. Sometimes I get carried away. Give me the phone and I'll help you."

I'm still torn between smacking her or handing over the phone. I take a step toward her and she backs away so fast she bounces into the wall. It's a little childish but I feel better. I suck in a ragged breath and offer her the phone.

She's not nearly as cocky as she comes forward just close enough to take it then backs away in a hurry. She wordlessly flips the phone in a different direction. Her fingers quickly press and slide across the glass screen. A moment later a female voice fills the silence. "Greetings Sarah Connor. My name is AnyEvs. I will guide you anywhere you would like." The screen projects a mirror image to the highly polished floor in front of us. "You are here." A pink arrow lights up. "Where would you like to be?"

I roll my eyes at Kim, "Is this for real?"

"Uh-huh, Weaver must really like you. This is one of the prototypes I created for her. We left that iphone Siri bitch in the dust. This phone allows for all voice commands. You never have to search for anything. Just tell AnyEvs Anything and Everything you want and she'll help you achieve it. You get it right, anything and every-"

"Yeah, I get it. I'm map challenged. I'm not an idiot. I want out of this building."

"Nuh-uh, not happening." She shakes her head. "If anything happens to you Weaver will chop my head off."

"Come on. Grow a pair. Get me the hell out of here."

"Silence AnyEvs." Kim presses a button on the side of the phone and the holographic map disappears. "It's best to conserve her battery. I can guide you around here. It's only four in the morning. I'll take you to the food court. We can get a bite to eat. You can fill me in on the situation with hot bot."

Hot bot? I repeat in my head, then groan when I realize what she means. "Cameron will kick your ass if she hears you call her that. You're a wiz kid in engineering and A.I. You should know she's a cyborg."

"Yeah, yeah. I do know that but hot bot is cool. There's nothing cool that rhymes with borg."

"How about morgue?" My right eyebrow arches. "That's where I'm going to put you if -"

"Easy." She holds her hands up again. A slow smirk spreading across her lips. "You're funny, Sarah. I think I really do like you. Come on, we'll get coffee."

Even the promise of coffee isn't enough to sway me from my mission. "Call Weaver."

"I told you. It's four-"

"Relax. She's a terminator. She doesn't sleep."

"Weaver does. Or at least she pretends to for her daughter's sake." She argues while pressing in Weaver's number. "Yes. I'm aware of the time. I'm with Sarah. She wants to see you right away." she pauses a moment as she listens to whatever Weaver is saying. "I'm sorry we disturbed Savannah. I'm sure Sarah is too. Yes, we'll be there in ten minutes." she hangs up and leads us through a maze of hallways to a king size silver elevator.

"This place is huge. All shades of white, chrome, or gray. There's nothing to differentiate one area from the next. If I didn't have you here to lead me around I'd probably find a shotgun somewhere and have to blow my way out."

"Bad idea. If we disturb her daughter again Weaver will probably lock us both in a cell."

"She really has a kid? A human kid who has no clue she's not human?"

Kim's shoulders rise as we ride the elevator. "Savannah is very smart. I'm sure she's aware her mother is different. She's afraid of her though. She'd never tell her she suspects anything is the matter."

"That thing shouldn't have a kid."

"Do you want to be the one to tell Weaver that?"

"When the time is right I will. Right now, my priority is Cameron. I need her to help me deal with Jesse."

In a repeat of the day before Weaver orders Kim to wait outside. She ignores Kim's complaints and ushers me into her office. In the corner of her office, a mini version of Weaver is sitting at Weaver's Desk. A box of crayons scattered across the glass surface. She looks up and smiles timidly.

"This is my daughter, Savannah. She is the light of my life."

I force a smile. "Hi."

"Savannah, say hello to Ms. Connor."

"Sarah." I cut in. "Just Sarah."

Savannah's smile widens. There's a spark in her blue eyes. Definitely human. "Hello Just Sarah." she finishes on a giggle.

"Mind your manners, Savannah."

"Give her a break."

Weaver's eyes cut to me. I glare right back. "She's a kid. Just being a kid."

"I do not condone insolence."

"She wasn't being insolent. She was making a joke."

"Wait here." Weaver orders before walking past me to step out into the hall.

Savannah keeps her eyes trained on the door until it closes behind Weaver then she whispers. "Are you crazy?"

I chuckle softly. The kid is sassy. I can appreciate that. "Why would you ask me that?"

"My mommy scares everybody. No one talks back to her."

"Some people need to be stood up too. You'll see when you get older. Until then just keep your head low. Try to do as she says."

She squints her eyes and lays her head on the desk. "How low do I need to keep it?"

"Sorry, kid. Figure of speech. You can lift your head. Just do your best to stay out of her hair."

The door opens and Weaver returns with Kim in tow. Kim offers a big smile and holds out her hand to Savannah. "C'mon Savannah. Megan is making your favorite, green eggs and ham."

Savannah jumps up and runs toward Kim excitedly. At the last second she stops and looks at me. Her small hand grasps the leg of my pants. She motions for me to bend down so I do. She cups her hand over my ear. "Be careful, Sarah."

"I'll make you a deal." I whisper back. "I will if you will."

"It's a deal. See you later." she skips out the door.

"How did you do that?" Weaver asks when Savannah and Kim are gone.

"Do what?"

"Get my daughter to warm up to you so quickly."

I'm not a metal bitch. "I laughed at her joke. Laugh, and the world laughs with you."

"Thank you for explaining." Her lips twitch in what could be interpreted as a smile. "So..." she trails off. Her arms crossed over her chest. "Have you made up your mind about Cameron?"

"Cameron deserves all of her memories. I know that's impossible now, but you can give her most of them. Restore her to the day of the upgrade."

"Am I to understand you do love her?"

I bite my tongue to stop myself from telling her to go fuck herself. I pretend I'm back in Pescadero trying to convince Silberman I'm sane enough to have a visit from John. I keep my voice as level as I can. "Jesse has been free to do as she pleases for three weeks. Who knows what kind of crap she's been pulling. We can't waste anymore time."

"True enough. Tell me what your decision means and I will reinstall her chip."

"It means I have a conscience. I put myself in her place. It might be easier to choose to give her less memories. I wouldn't have to deal with- With whatever is between her and I. Easy is sloppy. I don't have that luxury."

"You are trying my patience, Sarah."

"What else is new?"

Weaver's pupils constrict and her nostrils flare as she inhales deeply. A moment later she turns her back and begins to pace. "Very well. I shall drop the issue of your relationship with Cameron. For now. How do you intend to handle Jesse?"

"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of her."

She heads back in my direction, stopping about a foot away. "More time is required in order for you to heal before you challenge Jesse.

"I'm fine. Haven't you heard? I'm like Wonder Woman thanks to you."

"Raise your left arm."

"What? No."

"I can make you. Is that what you want?" She closes the small gap between us.

My back is literally against the wall. The look in her eyes makes me rethink any further protests. I slowly lift my arm, wondering what the hell she has planned. I don't have to wonder for long. She puts her right hand forward and grasps my side. Just a slight squeeze has my eyes misting.

"Even Wonder Woman has limits. You would do well to keep that in mind."

"Okay. I get the point. You can let go now."

She nods curtly before withdrawing her hand. "I applied only the barest amount of pressure. Had that been a blow from Jesse you would likely be incapacitated. John Henry will ascertain Jesse's location, her defenses, alarms, etc. I will even aid you in eliminating her if you wish. However you must agree to wait until you have fully recovered. Am I clear?"

"As a window." I find myself staring at the blemish above her eye. I know I can't do much to stop Weaver, but it's good to know Cameron can. "Will you please take me to Cameron now?"

"Wipe the smile from your face. I know what you are thinking. Cameron caught me unaware once. Be assured it will not happen again. The information regarding her offensive maneuvers and my defenses has been deleted from her chip."

I refuse to admit defeat. "Just take me to her."

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John Henry's sneak preview and my past encounters with deactivated Cameron didn't prepare me for the sight in Weaver's lab. The smell was antiseptic and chemical. An unnatural chill sent shivers up and down my backbone. Goose flesh spread along my bare arms. My throat constricts. My sore ribs making it painful to breathe.

Kim hurries over to a long cabinet against the wall. She returns a moment later with a long sleeve Zeira Corp shirt and a lab coat that matches the one she's wearing. "Put these on or you'll freeze."

I'm pulling on the coat when we round a corner and enter a room filled with plasma screens. In the corner, sits Cameron. At least her body anyway. She sits like a posed doll. The palms of her hands resting on her knees. Back painfully straight. She's clad only in nondescript hospital scrubs. Her face expressionless. Eyes staring blankly ahead. I had expected them to be closed. That maybe she'd be laying on a gurney. Her long hair is pulled back in a ponytail which is way too similar to Weaver's. A long blue cable extends from the top of her head and seems to lead to the wall of computers in front of her.

"Good morning, Cameron."

Cameron's eyes blink. Her head swivels in our direction. An unfamiliar female voice similar to the AnyEvs voice issues from her mouth. "Good morning, Miss Weaver, Dr Kim. Would you like a status report?"

"What the fuck did you do to her? That's not Cameron."

"Nonsense. Of course it is her. Once I install her chip she will be restored to the Cameron you know."

I look to Kim for confirmation. "Is she telling the truth?"

"I think so. Cameron was only hooked up to these computers to give her body a means of growing back her skin, circulating her blood, and -"

"Never mind." I cut her off. Then focus on Weaver again. "Fix her."

"I realize you were not expecting to see Cameron in this state. That is the only reason why I am not pinning you to the wall. Do not attempt to give me orders again."

It takes some doing but I manage to keep my mouth closed. I cross my arms and watch with barely suppressed disgust as Weaver disconnects the cable. Cameron slumps over. Her arms dangling loosely at her sides. Eyes blessedly closed. The only thing keeping her from falling out of the chair is Weaver's strength.

Weaver inserts the chips and Cameron's eyes snap open. Her whole body gives a shudder. Her eyes frantically tracking back and forth. What looks to be a tear falls from her right eye. Her lips begin to move but no words form.

"Cameron?" My voice is shaky. I hate the fear I hear in it.

She blinks several times. I watch her pupils dilate and contract rapidly. Another tear slides down her cheek.

"Easy Cam, Easy." I speak in a reassuring whisper. I take her hand and kneel in front of her. "It's okay. You're okay."

"Sarah." It's her voice. The one I've grown accustomed to. She reacts positively to my voice. Her eyes begin to steady. Her thumb slides over the top of my hand. "Where are we?"

"Weaver's lab."

"We are no longer in Florida?"

The hesitance and doubt in her voice are unnerving. I shake my head. "You've been offline a while. We have a lot to talk about." I say as I get back to my feet. The torn cartilage in my ribcage tightens.

Cameron hasn't released my hand. "You are injured."

"It's nothing."

Her gaze lands on Weaver. "Did you hurt Sarah?"

"I did not. I have been nothing but helpful to you both. If not for me you would have perished. Quite possibly Sarah also. You need to be debriefed."

Cameron's eyes are still not completely focused. She continues blinking rapidly. Her breaths are coming faster and faster.

"Relax, Cam. We're both okay." I tug her hand until she stands beside me. "Forget about Weaver. Just listen to my voice. Stay with me."

I never thought I'd be grateful to Kim but when I hear her convince Weaver to give Cameron and I some time alone I make a mental promise to order her a week's worth of the funniest T-shirts I can find.

"Easy," I say again, trying to ease Cameron's fears and hide my own. "She's gone, Cam, it's just you and me. Just concentrate on that." The words seem to do some good. Her gaze locks on mine, where before her eyes had darted everywhere, struggling to analyze every bit of our surroundings. "That's it," I murmur. "Just relax."

Without thinking I graze my thumb over her cheek, a belated attempt to take away her tears. Cameron leans into my touch but keeps her bright eyes open. It's almost like she's afraid to look away. "What's happened, Sarah?"

The underlying shakiness in her voice leaves me shaken. I bite my lip, swallow hard. She's so vulnerable right now, so badly in need of an anchor. I want to be that for her, but I don't know how to say what needs to be said without causing her to spin out further.

Thoughts of Derek come to mind unbidden. Cameron had looked vulnerable then, as she forced herself to tell me what the soldier did to her. She won't remember that, won't remember the private details she trusted me with.

She won't remember that time in the woods behind Charley's either. The rain muffling her sounds of pleasure as we helped each other let go. The memory makes me shiver.

Then another thought hits and that expression of pleasure becomes something else. Cameron after the fight with Jesse. As she was on the screen in John Henry's room. Her skin sheath obliterated. Exposed for the metal she is. The horrible, bloody mass that rose from the depths of the crimson tank.

I freeze, fighting the urge to yank my hand away from her synthetic flesh. Fighting not to retch. I tense and she frowns.

"Sarah?"

Fuck. I'm making things worse instead of better. It's not her fault, Cameron can't control what she is. And I can't control my most instinctive reaction to seeing what she is, truly seeing it, for the first time.

I try though. For her, I do the best I can. "We have a lot to talk about," I repeat. "It's going to be okay," I tell her, trying to sound reassuring and hoping that I haven't told a lie.

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More to come. (promise)

Thanks for reading :) Comments, favorites, p.m.'s are always appreciated. Have a kick ass day.

Thank you CBLG for the huge assist on the end of this chapter. Writer's Block sucks. You don't. :) And happy almost birthday. I owe you big time.