Chapter 25 – Ballet, Bombs and Betrayal
Disclaimer: Don't own TSCC.
Derek stuck his finger under his collar and tried to stretch it. One of the few advantages of living in a post Judgment Day world was not wearing a suit and tie. A quick glance at John reassured Derek at least one other male present was uncomfortable. Making matters worse, the long waiting area outside the dressing rooms at the concert hall was packed with well wishers and family members waiting for the seven girls who had just danced. Crowds were a security risk and Cameron was nowhere to be seen.
The growling in his stomach was not helping matters. Derek wanted to leave, stop somewhere to eat, go home and get out of his new suit. Cameron needed to hurry up. Looking over by the reception area in the lobby of the community concert, Derek spotted Sarah talking to the mother of one of Cameron's new friends in the ballet troupe. Another reason to leave soon. It was bad enough Cameron insisted on the males of the Connor/Reese family wearing suits to her first public performance. She had insisted Sarah dress in formal evening attire.
As far as Derek was concerned, this was more proof Tin Miss hated him. The suits were bad enough. The black dress Cameron had come home with unannounced for Sarah was too much. Sarah Connor was a stunningly beautiful woman and the dress Cameron had picked out advertised the fact.
Derek's mind drifted back to Sarah's appearance coming down the stairs at their house. Slit nearly to her hip, the long black dress emphasized how shapely Sarah's long legs were. Sleeveless, the low cut material covered her bosom yet displayed a deep vee between her breasts before meeting behind her neck. Backless, her muscular back and narrow waist were on display as the skirt barely reached above her perfectly curved bottom.
Cameron had come home with black high heels and made Sarah practice walking in them. The cyborg had scheduled a girls evening the night before the recital and they had their nails done together. To Sarah's horror, Cameron had booked an appointment for Sarah to have her hair done and had physically escorted the Connor matriarch right to the chair at the hairdressers.
When Sarah had finally come downstairs Derek and John had been speechless. John was horrified his mother looked so beautiful. Derek was horrified the mother of his brother's son was so beautiful. Sarah, who seldom made much of an effort to make herself attractive to men, blushed as she stood before the two male family members. John's horrified reaction, she expected and found amusing. Derek's embarrassed her and flattered her at the same time.
"Mom, uh, you look really nice, but, uh, are you sure you should wear a dress like that out in public? I mean, you know, uh, you are a mom. Mom's are not supposed to be, like, Victoria's Secret models."
"Yeah, um, Sarah, I agree with John. Some guy is going to get the wrong idea and hit on you. Then you're going to deck him or break his arm or something. Then I'll get in a fight. We'll end up in jail and John will have to bail us out. Even worse, Cameron might see us fighting and go terminator."
Sarah looked at Derek, the lust in his eyes obvious as he admired her. It had been a long, long time since a man had looked at her like that, even Charlie. Moving towards John to inspect him allowed the dress to display her leg for Derek.
Straightening her son's tie, Sarah realized Tin Miss had found yet another way to place her mark of ownership on John. "John, you look very handsome. I have to admit, I did not think a purple tie would look good, but Cameron has managed to put together a perfect ensemble for you."
Moving to Derek, Sarah straightened his tie as well. Smiling at the blush spreading on Derek's cheeks, she leaned close to his ear to whisper, "you're looking very handsome Derek Reese."
Sarah strolled to the kitchen to pick up the tiny black purse Cameroon had purchased to complete her ensemble for the evening. The strange sensation of being watched went up her spine. Sarah felt herself blush. She was deliberately putting on a show for Derek Reese.
"I am ready to go."
The three humans turned to look at Cameron. Dressed for the performance, she had a robe draped around her. Holding a small bag containing her slippers and a few other items, Cameron' looked stunning. Her hair was pulled back into a bun. Her make up was perfect and her lips were a crimson red. All three began to chuckle when the glanced at her combat boot attired feet.
"We will be late. I will not tolerate being late to my first performance. We must leave now." Cameron looked at Sarah expectantly. "Please, Sarah."
A glance at the kitchen clock told Sarah the true story. Even by Cameron's timekeeping standards, they were all ready to depart a half hour earlier than necessary. Sarah walked into the living room. Cameron was pacing by the backdoor, her face empty of any emotion. Tin Miss is nervous. What will be next with her?
"Well, come on John, Derek, Tin Miss doesn't want to be late. Let's go."
The loud applause of the waiting family, friends and schoolmates brought Derek back to the present. The door to the dressing rooms had opened and Cameron's two dance instructors, the sisters, emerged first, followed by the seven girls fortunate enough to have earned the privilege of performing. Each girl, still dressed in their dance clothes, had robes draped around their shoulders and carried a dozen red roses. Beaming, each of them slowly made their way down the stairs to their friends and family waiting for them.
Finally, Cameron's face peeked out of the dressing room door. Derek watched with interest as she scanned the entire area for threats. Finally, Cameron emerged to applause from all the well wishers waiting. Derek was surprised to note Cameron held three bouquets of red roses. The crowd parted in front of the embarrassed Cameron whose expression was blank. Seeing Derek, Cameron hurried to her "uncle" and stood close to him. The crowd's applause died down and the people turned back to their own friends.
Cameron looked at Derek with her held tilted, indicating she was puzzled. "Thank you for the roses Derek. I was very surprised to find them waiting for me in the dressing room. Why did you give them to me?"
Looking around, hoping John or Sarah would come and save him from the cyborg, Derek realized he was trapped. "Uh, Cameron, humans have a tradition of giving dancers red roses after a performance. I am sure you have noticed Sarah ordered roses for you and John sent you roses as well."
"Yes. Sarah has been very supportive and encouraging of my dancing. John is my boyfriend. It is understandable for them to give me roses. You hate me. Why would you do this?"
Fighting the sensation of his collar getting tighter, Derek again stuck his finger under his collar and pulled. "You tell anyone this and I'll burn you," he snarled in a low, guttural voice. Looking around, he finally whispered, "in the future, there is not much beauty. I like, I'm moved by, beautiful things. Allison, you remember her? You should," he snarled with anger. "She loved to dance. Kyle and I loved to watch her.
I've watched you practice in your room and at your dance school when I've had to pick you up."
Derek paused and looked away, not wishing to let Cameron see the emotion in his eyes. "You are what you are, but, somehow, I don't see that when you dance. It angers me sometimes, to see you move so beautifully, knowing what you are. Other times, you make me so emotional with your grace, I cry. As much as you anger me, when you dance, I have come to feel a certain peace when I watch. Against my better judgment, I guess it was a moment of weakness, I decided to send you the roses. I knew your dance would be beautiful without ever seeing you perform it before. I was right."
Looking back at Cameron, his face filled with emotion, sadness and anger, Derek spoke again, "so, this is my peace offering for when you dance. If only this once, I want you to know I recognize the beauty you create when you dance. In this one instance, you are not the monster you were created to be. I wanted to let you know I recognize the fact you can do more than kill and destroy.'
Derek quickly strode away, heading directly towards Sarah. Cameron straightened her head and with a solemn, sad expression whispered, "thank you for explaining Derek."
A pair of male arms suddenly thrown around Cameron instantly broke her reverie. In less than a millisecond, Cameron analyzed the situation and identified the arms as belonging to her John.
"You were amazing Cameron! Did you get my roses? You were just amazing! I'm actually looking forward to your next performance!"
Turning to face John, Cameron lowered her face. After a second, she raised only her big doe eyes to look at John. "Was my dance beautiful? Did it move you?"
Realizing Cameron wasn't just looking for approval or a compliment, John paused to consider his words. "Um, yes. It was amazing. There are not many girls I know who could do what you did. Well, I don't know any girls who could do that. I liked watching you and your posse dance and you know ballet is not my thing." Hugging Cameron, John whispered in her ear, "I am very proud of you."
Cameron smiled at John and tilted her head. Here comes the question I won't have an answer to.
" John, the roses you gave me are beautiful. I will preserve them by drying them when we get home. You gave them to me as an expression of affection. Am I right?"
"Well, yes. And I knew you'd knock'em dead. I wanted to do something nice for you, you know."
"Sarah gave me roses as well. I expected them. Ballet is the only thing Sarah has ever shown constant approval of in regard to me."
Noticing a third bouquet of roses, John felt a twinge of jealousy. Does Cameron have a secret admirer?
"Who gave you those?"
"Derek. I am puzzled. I asked him why. His answer can be summed up simply as saying I create beauty when I dance. It makes him cry, because of Allison I think. He said it was a one time peace offering. Have I done something wrong John?"
"No, not at all Cameron. You've done something very special for my uncle. It's just hard for him to tell you something nice. So he gave you roses."
Cameron smiled for a second as she looked at John.
"I did well?"
"Yes. You should feel good about tonight and what your performance means for our family. I am sure Mom is proud as well. Come on, Derek and I want to get out of these suits and get something to eat."
"John."
"Yeah?"
"You are very handsome in the suit, shirt and tie I selected for you. Please hold my bag while I scan for threats. We must leave now."
John and Cameron made their way towards Sarah who was serving punch to the guests leaving the performance. Derek waited solemnly in the nearby corner.
As they approached, the two noticed a distinguished, well dressed man talking to Sarah, the smile now gone from her face. Realizing the man was undoubtedly propositioning his mother, John slowed his pace and whispered, "Cameron, do not do anything, even if the man touches Mom. She can handle this herself."
"I know John. I have already done a threat assessment. The likelihood of Sarah being injured is low. The likelihood of the man being slapped is very high."
John's sudden burst of laughter caught the attention of both Sarah and the man bothering her.
Beaming, Sarah quickly brushed by the man, deliberately running into his shoulder and shoving him out of the way. "There's my ballerina! You were amazing Cameron! I am so proud of you!" Sarah reached out with both arms and embraced Cameron.
As soon as Sarah released Cameron from the rare public display of affection, Cameron's nemesis, Cindy approached, her mother in tow.
"Well, I see how you it works. You slutty foster mom must have seduced somebody on the school board. It's the only way you could have been the prima ballerina."
Sensing eminent bloodshed, John grabbed Cameron by her arm while whispering, "Ignore her. No bloodshed. No physical injuries. Do NOT reveal your true nature."
Cameron's CPU pulled up a long list of possible insults to select from. Before she could verbalize option d: "No, I think it was more a case of you're a no talent slug whose rich daddy made bunch of donations for you to even get on the stage with me and my friends," Sarah moved past her.
"Funny. Cindy I've heard the boys only like you because you're a freak who puts out."
Cindy's mother pushed the trampy little dancer behind her and stood toe-to-toe with Sarah.
"How dare you insult my princess? It is obvious from your attire you, madam, are the slut!"
Slowing rising up on her toes, anger filling her eyes, Sarah glared at the woman, taking in her lumpy shape and ill-fitting dress. Derek began approaching Sarah from behind, ready to grab her at the first sign of a blow being thrown.
Suddenly Sarah rested her hand on her hips, extending her long leg from the slit in her skirt, a devilish smile slowly spreading on her face. Looking the Cindy's mother up and down like a wolf examining a lamb tied to a stake, Sarah exuded both danger and sensuality, drawing a crowd around the two women.
Speaking in a sultry voice, Sarah smiled, "I don't have to sleep with anyone for Cameron to be the prima ballerina. Unlike your no talent daughter, Cameron is a beautiful dancer."
John and Derek both flinched, knowing the caustic comment likely to start a fight was about to leave Sarah's lips. Cameron smiled in anticipation, hoping to hit Cindy with a light punch.
"Of course, it's a good thing your husband is a wealthy man. Men want to sleep with me. You would have to pay the men on the school board to sleep with you, you fat pig!"
Cindy's mom's huge purse flew towards Sarah's head only to fly in the opposite direction as Sarah blocked the arm of Cindy's mother. Using the slit in her skirt to full advantage, Sarah kicked the woman in the face, sending her flying backwards, landing on the table containing the punch bowl, spilling its contents everywhere.
Cameron stepped over to her rival Cindy and glared in her eyes.
"Slut."
"Uh, uh, bitch."
"Bitch whore. You stay away from my John. You leave my friends in dance class alone. If you think Sarah is tough, I'm tougher. Remember, I know terminator!"
Sarah strolled over to the small table she had left her purse on. Picking it up, she wrapped her arm around Derek's. Speaking in her sultry voice in a flirtatious manner, Sarah batted her eyelids and smiled, "Honey, I am so sorry. That fat bitch called me a slut and insulted Cameron. You know I just can't be insulted like that. Let's go."
Smiling with pride, Derek escorted Sarah out the glass double front doors and down the dozen steps outside the concert hall. Dozens of adult men watched the deadly but sultry Sarah strut as she went down the steps, envious of Derek. Dozens of wives began elbowing their husbands at the same time.
"Wow, that's my Mom! Let's go Cameron before we get in trouble. There will be trouble enough at school tomorrow."
Later at Dinner…
Sarah relaxed as she leaned back in the corner booth, watching the two most handsome, well dressed men in the restaurant make their way back to the table. Cameron sat in the booth, still wrapped in her robe, dressed for the performance, her hair still up. Sarah smiled as she watched Cameron scan the entire eating area once again for threats.
The evening had been surreal. John and Derek had dressed up with minimal complaining. The dress Cameron had picked out for her made Sarah look and feel like a million dollars. Cameron and the troupe had performed beautifully. Sarah had gotten a chance to put a stuck up rich woman in her place, the mother of Cameron's rival no less. Now, an enjoyable evening at a nice restaurant with her family, albeit an unusual one.
Derek sat down, a bit closer than normal, and smiled at Sarah. "Have I told you how fantastic you look tonight?"
"Ahem, yes, about seven times Derek."
Cameron leaned over and whispered in John's ear as he sat next to her. "The dress shows how attractive Sarah can be despite being a mature woman who has experienced childbirth. Derek is not drunk and he is showing interest in possibly engaging in mating with Sarah."
Sipping on his soft drink as Cameron whispered in her terminator tone, John swallowed some of the fluid down his windpipe and began coughing.
Alarmed, he looked first at Cameron, then his uncle and finally at his mother. Recovering enough to speak, John stood and reached out his hand for Cameron. "Cameron, there's something I would like to show you. Why don't you come with me and take a look."
Blank terminator expression in place, Cameron took John's hand and rose to follow him. As the two walked to the entrance area of the restaurant, Derek moved a little closer to Sarah. To Derek's surprise, Sarah did not move away.
"Tonight has been a nice evening for our strange family. Wouldn't you agree Sarah?"
"Oh, so Tin Miss is family now?"
"Oh, c'mon Sarah. I've been on good behavior all night. Cameron was very impressive as were all the other girls in her troupe. John is having a good time. Dinner was incredible. You put that crazy mother in her place. I'll begrudgingly admit, Tin Miss had a lot to do with tonight, from the performance, to dressing us all up to picking the restaurant. For one night Cameron can be family. I'll go back to hating her tomorrow morning. After breakfast."
Derek watched Sarah as she strained to keep an eye on John and Cameron as the two moved out of her line of sight. Despite the years of hard living and stress, Sarah was still a beautiful woman. Not for the first time Derek saw the woman his brother Kyle had fallen in love with.
Reaching over, Derek placed his hand on top of Sarah's. "Tin Miss is with John. He's safe. You can relax."
"He's safe from everyone but her. I know you don't like to think this way about Cameron, but have you seen how that costume she has on leaves nothing to the imagination? She acts more human every day, she's got her…"
"Enough Sarah. It's too late. Tin Miss set her hooks in John a long time ago. We both know, I'm the only one still really opposed to their relationship. Can we talk about something besides those two and Skynet."
"Derek, I don't want her taking him outside to make out. It would ruin a wonderful evening for me."
Before Derek could speak, the waiter arrived with their deserts. Sensing a bit of tension, he hurriedly placed the deserts on the table, smiled, excused himself and retreated.
In the lobby…
Cameron stared at the painting on the wall, taking in every detail. "It's a print John. I do not see what is so impressive about this image. The artist has rendered an excellent rendition of the northern California Mountains. The use of color and brush stroke is better than average. But it is a print."
"I don't care about the print Cameron. What are you up to?"
Cameron turned to John and tilted her head sideways.
"I do not understand your question John. Please explain."
"I know tonight is a big deal, your first performance and all. It's great you wanted to include everyone. I appreciate the fact this dance stuff is important to you, and it's the only thing you and mom really get along on. I mean, why else would she agree spend money on all these fancy clothes? You picked the restaurant, everything."
"Is there a problem John? Did I do something wrong? I thought the restaurant was nice. The flowers you gave me were wonderful. You look handsome in your suit. The purple tie really set everything off. You look tight."
"Don't change the subject Cameron."
The small terminator bounced up and down on her toes, her head still tilted to the side. "I am not changing the subject. I do not understand." Pouting, she moved closer to John and gave him her big puppy dog eye look.
"Yeah. Right. Not buyin' it. You bought all the clothes. Mom did not give you enough money. You used some from your money stash. Cameron, I saw the price tags in the garbage can."
Cameron looked away with a defiant expression on her face.
"You are very handsome in your suit. I will not apologize for the purchase. It was my own money."
"Yeah. You spent almost as much on Derek. With your own money."
"You have no proof of this fact. I could have spent Sarah's money on Derek's apparel."
"You didn't'. What's more, what were you thinking when you bought my mom that dress? I don't know what's worse, having half of the males in this restaurant looking at you like a wolf looks at raw meat or the other half ogling my mother! Thank goodness Derek is sober or who knows what would have happened by now."
Cameron looked at John with a frustrated expression.
"Yes, that was a mistake. I should have allowed the waiter to bring a wine and beer menu."
"I knew you were up to something. Spill it Cameron."
Cameron's CPU flashed warning signs and began pulling up a wide range of verbal options to use to explain away her verbal slip up.
"John, they are both adults. They are both lonely. I thought Derek would notice Sarah if she looked more feminine. Sarah still has a few years left in which she could bear Derek a child. Derek just needs to see Sarah in a different light. I think that is the correct expression. My mistake was not allowing alcohol. I was concerned Sarah would resort to physical violence to repel Derek's advances if she found them unwanted. I had not counted on Derek not making an advance in a sober state."
"I can't believe, you of all people trying to pimp my mom out to Derek."
"John, if they had a relationship and were happy, they might be more accepting of our relationship. It would make everyone's life better."
"Cameron, Derek dates some girl named Jesse. From Australia, she's got a cool accent."
"I do not like her. There is something about her that makes me rate her as a Medium Level threat. I have considered terminating her."
"Leave Jesse alone. Leave Derek alone. Leave my mom alone, well, don't try to play matchmaker at least. C'mon, let's go sit down and eat our desert."
At the table…
Sarah continued to strain to spot her son and Cameron. Hearing Derek sigh, she looked at him as he looked away. "What is wrong with you Derek? I just want to see where Tin Miss has taken John."
"Eight times."
"What?"
"Eight times. That's how many times I told you how fantastic you look tonight. What do I have to do Sarah?"
Confused by Derek's response, Sarah looked right at Derek, and for the first time since first meeting him, she saw, really saw, Derek was Kyle's brother. His scars were in different places, but the two men were nearly identical in appearance otherwise. Her breath caught as she realized Derek had seen her in a different light, a truly different light that evening. He had seen her as a beautiful woman and he was trying in his own way to let her know he was attracted to her.
"Oh, look. There's the two lovebirds. Come on you two, it's getting late. John needs his sleep. The desserts are here, so eat up so we can go."
Cameron smiled as she sat down and began eating small spoonful's of her ice cream. The other three at their deserts hurriedly and Derek caught the waiter's attention for the bill.
Silence surrounded the group as they made their way outside. Walking quickly, they stopped by their SUV. As Derek fished in his pocket for his keys, Cameron scanned the area for threats. Just as Derek unlocked the door with the remote, Cameron heard a click in the bushes nearby.
Shoving John to the ground and covering him her body, Cameron shouted "hit the ground! Take cover!"
The bomb blast knocked Sarah over as it ignited the bushes the bomb had been located in. The brunt of the blast was taken by a large dual axle truck parked next to their SUV.
Cameron stood quickly and scanned John. "John is not hurt. We must leave immediately."
Cameron pulled John to his feet and pushed him into the SUV. Running to Sarah, Cameron scanned her quickly. "You appear to be uninjured Sarah. Hurry we must leave." Cameron pulled Sarah to her feet and quickly helped her into the passenger seat and shut the door.
Derek stood stunned, looking off into the distance. Cameron scanned Derek as well. "Sarah and John are uninjured. You must drive or allow me."
Derek swallowed and looked right at Cameron. "You record everything you see. Replay what you saw in the street when we came out. Right now."
Realizing Derek would not leave until she did as he demanded, Cameron quickly replayed the view of the street. She noticed a silver sedan was present across the street but was now gone.
"There was a silver sedan. License plate number…"
"That's what I thought. Tomorrow after school Tin Miss, you and I are going to have to take care of something."
"Jesse?"