** Howdy peeps. Thank you so much for reading and feedbacking. :) **
"You can drop the charade. I know exactly what you and Cameron are up to."
I shrugged her off. Returning her determined stare. "What are you talking about?"
"The robots, Zeira Corp. All of it. I know everything."
I felt a twinge at the small of my back. My right hand reflexively reaching for the gun that normally rests there. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I sucked in a breath and did my best to blank my expression. "What exactly do you think you know, Kim?" I stressed the word, 'think.'
The door clanged open before she could answer. A half dozen women came charging in.
"Oh my God. You look just like Shane on L Word." one of them squealed at Kim. "And you look like the hot girl in the Twilight movies. Only a little older and a lot sexier. Look-a-likes! This convention just gets better and better. Can we get a picture with you?"
Not happening. This can't be happening. I had a really good feeling of how Dorothy felt after the twister took her to parts unknown in a land of things that couldn't possibly be real and yet somehow were. What I wouldn't give for a pair or silver or even ruby shoes to zap me back home to John. Hell, I'd even happily spend a day hanging out with grumpy Derek if it meant getting away from this insanity.
"No pictures." Kim and I spoke at the same time. Evidently we shared something other than an affection for Cameron. We smiled awkwardly and let the women pass. I indicated the door with my chin. "This probably isn't the best place to discuss..." I trailed off. "We should go someplace private."
Kim nodded. "If we're skipping class you'd better make this worth my while, Sarah. I want Cameron. You know that."
Must be nice to want things. I bit my tongue to stop myself from speaking the sarcastic remark. I hoped Weaver was in the mood for love. "Yeah, we'll see what we can do about that. First you and I are going to talk."
"What if I want you to watch?"
Then you're shit out of luck. The woman had brass balls. More than that. Possibly even Coltan balls. I had to give her credit for that much. I gave her what I hoped was my most withering stare. "Not in this lifetime. Let's go."
"Que sera, Sarah. I'll find Megan and meet you and Cameron by the pool in an hour."
"We don't need to wait an hour. We can-"
"An hour." she cut in. "Take it or leave it."
My last nerve was rapidly fraying. "Fine. One hour." I ground out on my way past her.
Cameaver was only a few feet way when I stepped out of the restroom. She flashed the half Cameron, half Weaver smile and pulled me off to the side so it looked like we were sharing an intimate moment. Her forehead touching mine. Hands on my hips. My stomach twisted.
"Well now, this is an interesting turn of events." she whispered in her brogue accent. "What do you suppose Kim means?"
"What are you talking about? You heard her?" I tried to place some distance between us. Hearing Weaver's voice from Cameron's lips was giving me a bad case of the heebie jeebies. Her hands held me firmly in place.
"Indeed. I did. The bug I placed on Kim works perfectly. I also heard you offer Cameron in trade. What changed your mind?"
"I didn't offer anyone. I had no choice. I volunteered you."
"Me?" she tried to look innocent and failed miserably.
"Yes, you. Quit busting my chops."
"Very well. I have other news as well. Cameron is awake and seems no worse for the wear."
At last some good news. "You're sure she's okay?"
Weaveron looked genuinely pleased. "The level of concern you show for her is astounding. My faith in you seems to have been well placed. She's perfectly fine. Shall we go see her?"
I shook my head. "I need to talk to her alone. Why don't you keep tabs on Kim and Megan until our meeting?"
Weaveron fisted her hands on her own hips. She looked me over, considering something. "Have Cameron escort you to the pool. I'll be nearby in the event I'm needed."
"Hey, just so we're clear, drugging me and upgrading Cameron. Both, really bad ideas, right?"
She gave me one of Cameron's patented eye rolls. Perhaps she'd spent a little too much time pretending to be Cameron. "Yes, Sarah. you are all knowing. I will not make any moves or plans without consulting you first."
"You know what? One sarcastic cybernetic organism in my life is more than enough, thank you."
Cameron met me at the door. Her eyes back to the innocent chocolate I'd grown accustomed to. I hugged her to me. Already our bodies automatically adjusting and conforming to ensure maximum contact. I inhaled exotic passion fruits and a tangy spice I couldn't place. The scent was intoxicating. "You're sure you're okay?"
"Yes," she breathed against my neck, igniting a spark I felt from my center and radiating outward to every nerve. "Better than okay. Greatly improved."
"Good to know." I steeled myself and gradually gathered enough strength to back out of the embrace. "I've had a shitty morning and it's probably only going to get worse. I had to kiss Weaver. I-"
"Wait." she cut in. Something she generally didn't dare to do. "You kissed Weaver?"
The hurt and confusion in her voice playing on my emotions. "It wasn't something I wanted to do. She was pretending to be you, Cam. The seminar people required it or it never would have happened. It had to last a minimum of thirty seconds. Felt like an eternity in hell." I shuddered. "I need another shower."
"I could help you." she offered. A new sexy grin spreading across her suddenly not-so-innocent face.
It took a lot of effort but I shook my head. I backed further away when she started forward.
She tilted her head, regarding me closely. A sadness marring her features. "Weaver's drug is no longer in your system."
I nodded in agreement and tried to walk past her. She put her open palm on my chest much like Weaver had done earlier. Tears shone in her honey eyes. "Please talk to me. Don't shut me out, Sarah."
"What do you want from me?"
"Please don't push me away. Do you no longer wish to be with me? Did you only make love to me because of the drug?"
I bit my bottom lip, fighting to hold back my own tears. "No, Cameron. I'm demanding your honesty. It's only fair I give you mine. The drug might have made me a little more receptive to you, but what we shared last night happened because we both wanted it." I breathed deep and sought her confirmation. "Right?"
"Yes, absolutely." she agreed. Her expression solemn. "I desperately wanted to. I want you again right this instant. I will always want you, Sarah."
"I want you too, Cameron. It's too bad I can't trust you." I grasped her wrist and tugged her hand away. "Yeah, the drug is completely gone and I still want you, but I can't act on it."
"I do not understand. You want me. I want you. What's stopping us? Weaver is definitely not here. I can say that without a doubt after my new upgrade."
"It's not Weaver I can't trust right now. It's you. How could you let her do whatever the hell it was she did to you? You had no idea what would happen to you? You could have reverted back to your Skynet directives. Hell, you could have died, Cameron. You made a life altering decision and didn't even think of checking with me first. This kind of thing can never happen again."
She stared at me. I could see in her eyes she was processing my words and reacting, not with programmed responses but genuine emotions. "I am so sorry, Sarah. I-I did not think through the ramifications. I have hurt you. That was never my intention."
My resolve weakened. Her sincerity drew a smile from my lips. "I know that now. Thank you." I reached up to wipe a stray tear from her cheek. "You're all put back together now, Tin Miss. I shouldn't be expecting anymore glitches or haunted Christmas eyes?"
"Haunted Christmas eyes?"
"Yeah, your eyes were blue and red and non-stop flashing. It was pretty freaking freaky."
"Its sounds pretty freaking freaky." she repeated with a hint of laughter behind her words.
I gave her a look. "Well, the upgrade didn't screw up your warped sense of humor. So, what the hell did it do to you?"
"Everything has been enhanced. Vision, hearing, processing speeds and more. It would be difficult to explain it all." She must have seen the look on my face because she quickly added. "But of course I will try."
** More to come
