Disclaimer: I don't own Firefly, Serenity, or TSCC.
For three days Serenity had flown into the black, making her way towards the crew's intended destination. Tension had been building to the point it was palpable between the two youngest female members of the crew and Derek. It had reached a point where Sarah felt a need to intervene.
She'd made her way to the Captain's quarters, knocked, and asked permission to enter. Sarah climbed down the ladder to find Mal lying on his bunk reading.
"What can I do for you, Sarah?"
"Captain, there seems to be a bit of a problem with the twins and Derek."
"Yeah. There has been a bit o' tension at mealtime. Albatross has not said one word to Derek or even laid eyes on him. Cameron hasn't insulted him once either, come to think of it."
"I'm just relieved River hasn't moved back next to Jayne."
Mal looked up from his tablet and grinned at Sarah. "Worried about competition from River?"
"No, Captain," was Sarah's sarcastic reply. "I'm worried about my friend and my son's Uncle. I'm worried about the girls."
Setting the tablet by his side, Mal sat up and stretched.
"Any idea what the problem is about?"
"I'm sure it has something to do with Cameron," Sarah answered.
"Has little Metal done something I need to know about?"
"It has to do with Allison."
"Happened a long time ago. Derek won't let go of the past, will he?"
"No. It eats at him. Derek's come a long ways in how he views and treats Cameron, but this one thing," Sarah shook her head in frustration.
"For me, it's losing my son to her. For Derek, he just can't get past the fact she's metal, what she did to Allison."
"You're okay with Cameron being metal?
"No, Mal. I'm not. But they have bonded and there's nothing I can do about it. I also know when I'm gone there is nothing that can separate Cameron from John. There is a possessiveness Tin Miss has about John and I take comfort in knowing that. No human woman would have stayed with John and what we've been through the past few years. I hope it's just a mother's fear of being replaced by another woman and nothing more."
Mal looked at Sarah and for the first time he saw what Inara feared about her rival. In the short time he'd known Sarah, Mal had learned she was tougher than nails. She was in fact probably a better soldier than either he or Zoe'. Life had been hard for Sarah and her Achilles heel was her son. Everything she had done in her adult life had been to keep John alive and prepare him to lead the resistance against Skynet whomever that was.
Now Sarah stood on the verge of losing both her son and her purpose in life to not just a younger female, but a Terminator, one of the very machines Sarah feared. She was fragile and needed saving, protection, and to be cared for. The very thing that was his Achilles heel as a man, the need to save the damsels in distress.
"I'm not sure what to do. How to help you here," Mal told Sarah.
"It's a family problem. I only came to talk to you first because it involves River. Captain, I've realized the girls are inseparable. The only thing that would cause Cameron to leave River would be John. John is what this really all about."
Mal leaned back against the wall of his bunk bed and thought for a moment.
"River needs for Derek and Cameron to get along. Cameron needs to Derek to make peace with her because of John. If Derek pushes too hard, John will leave and take Cameron with him. The separation could possibly destroy River, and probably be damaging to Cameron's code or something in some way."
"Mal, Cameron will feel the pain just like River. Don't kid yourself." Sarah looked at the Captain for a moment, gathering her wits about her.
"I wanted to let you know I'm going to sit all three of them down together and have this out."
"Just what do you plan to do?" Mal asked, a bit concerned by the edge in the tone of Sarah's voice.
"Cameron and Derek answer to me as head of our family. River has pushed her way into our family, and that's okay, it really is. But it's time for this to be resolved." Sarah gathered herself, putting a grim expression on her face. "I want to move forward. I want my family to move forward. It's time to resolve or let go of our past. Cameron needs security and I need her to have it so I can deal with letting go of John. Derek needs to let go of his bitterness and anger so he can find out if things will work with River. There is so much more to Derek's anger than what happened with Allison and Cameron. River needs for this to be resolved so she and Derek can form a healthy relationship. Both of the girls need each other. Mal, I don't think anyone on Serenity understands them like they understand each other."
Thinking about his lil' Albatross and what she meant to him, Mal frowned at the idea someone other than himself or Simon could understand River. "Have you seen them communicate without talking?" Sarah asked.
"What?" Mal looked up at Sarah. "No. River swears she can't read Cameron and nothing has ever indicated Cameron's a reader when it comes to humans."
"Well, they do. Facial expressions, looks, stuff like that, its sort of cute. I'd rather watch the girls than watch John and Cameron be all lovey dovey without talking."
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"No. I'd much rather do anything but this," Sarah answered. "Mal, this is going to cost me."
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John strained to read the screen as something blocked the light from behind him. "Cameron is that you?"
"It's me, Jayne. Got a minute, John?"
Every muscle in John's back tensed, making his already sore back ache in pain. "Yeah, just let me save this and cut it off." John went through the necessary steps in a hurry and turned his chair around so he could see Jayne.
"Why don't you sit there." John nodded his head at the box Cameron liked to sit on while he worked.
"Reckon I will," Jayne answered, pulling the box forward and settling down upon it.
"John, did I so something to offend your Ma?"
"I don't think so. Mom said you were really sweet when you took her out."
John watched Jayne's face closely as the older, larger man frowned and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Your Ma's avoided me sense that evening. I gone out of my way to not hover or make Sarah feel like I'm tryin' to pressure her in some kinda way. The only time she's even talked to me was when your Ma worked out with me a few days ago."
Dealing with Sarah's issues was never pleasant for John. He forced himself to sit in silence for several minutes, gathering himself so he could be civil to Jayne. It wasn't the big man's fault his mother was a commitment phobe.
"Jayne, everyone, Simon, Kaylee, and even Mom, said you were a gentleman on your date with Mom. Mom said she had fun."
"So I didn't do nuthin' wrong?"
"No, not at all."
"Then why won't your Ma talk to me? She's skipped meal time twice and when she comes Sarah don't even look at me."
"Jayne, I don't want to have to tell you this, and it's nothing but a guess on my part, but you scared my Mom."
"Huh? How did I do that?"
"I'm not implying you meant to. In fact, if I didn't know my mother as well as I do, I would be puzzled as much as you are. See, Mom is big on show me, don't tell me. When you took her to the gun shop, you frightened her."
"But your Ma loves guns! She even made a trade for your Cameron's Built Day comin' up. We had a blast target shooting."
"I know y'all did. That's not what frightened her, and Jayne, Mom did have fun with you at the gun shop."
Frustration building in Jayne, the mercenary stood up and began pacing just outside the tiny room allotted to John for his work on the Cortex.
"I don't understand. That was my special place. I ain't never told nobody about the Emporium."
"That's why it frightened Mom."
The big man stopped and looked at John with a baffled expression.
"I don't understand."
"You shared something private with Mom that nobody else on Serenity knows about. By doing that, you in effect told my Mom how special you think she is. That you really like her and want to court her."
"But that was the point! I knew Sarah loves guns and it was the one thing I knew I could do and show your Ma a good time without screwin' things up. I wouldn't have to speak no fancy poetry or talk like Simon would if he knew how to talk to Kaylee."
"And Mom got the point. Jayne, a Terminator killed my father in front of Mom's eyes. She was pregnant with me and alone, without a husband. Men used her and, to be honest, Mom let them in order to learn what she needed to and to protect me."
"Your Ma never found another man to be your Pa? To take care of her?"
The question brought up feelings John had pushed deep down inside himself. Jayne's single, sincere question caused all the old emotions to come back in a flood, threatening to overwhelm him.
"Jayne, there was one man. He was an EMT named Charlie. Good man, do anything for anyone. Loved my mother. They even got engaged. I was going to finally had a father." John paused to calm himself before continuing. "Then Mom got spooked and ran, taking me with her. Greys found Charlie while we were trying to escape a couple of years later. He died protecting me so I could escape."
"But there ain't no Terminators or Skynet for Sarah to fear now. Just the Alliance."
"It's not that simple, Jayne. Mom's, how do I put this? Mom's messed up. Her entire life has been about keeping me alive and preparing me to lead the fight against Skynet. Now it's like her life's work was a waste. Mom knows I want to be with Cameron, make her an honest woman as she likes to say."
"So, your Ma thinks she won't have a reason to live?"
"Something like that," John sighed. "It's not like I'm going to abandon her. I just want to be with Cameron, to do what's right for Cameron. I can't be a momma's boy my entire life. It's why I'm okay with you wanting to date her. Mom needs to be of use, able to contribute in a significant way in life. It's a big part of why Cameron and I want us to join the crew. Mom could have a life that was hers."
"You okay with me waitin' for your Ma?"
"Yeah. I am. Just remember, Mom's fragile mentally and emotionally. Don't hurt her or make her feel cheap. You do either, I'll turn Cameron lose on you."
"I understand. You should turn lil' Metal loose on me if I do somethin' that stupid."
Surprised by the tough, calloused mercenary's attitude, John added one final bit of insight. "Jayne, Mom's lost every man she ever gotten close to. Not because they left her. They died. My father, my first protector, Uncle Bob, he was a T-800, and she ran from Charlie to spare him. Skynet Greys killed him in the end. Skynet might not be hunting you, but your the mercenary on the crew. That fact is in the back of Mom's head."
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"There you are Derek."
John's uncle looked up to find Sarah looking at him as he wiped the sweat off himself.
"Hey, Sarah."
"Finished?"
"Yeah, what do you need?"
"I need to talk to you. Would you please come with me," Sarah asked in a tone indicating her words were an order and not a request.
Not waiting for an answer, Sarah turned and vanished into the passageway. Derek picked up his workout bag and went up the stairs to follow Sarah. His stomach sank when Sarah vanished into River and Cameron's quarters. He followed, stepping through the door only for it to shut behind him.
"Sit," Sarah ordered, pointing at Cameron's bed.
Sitting on River's bed was the two young women, holding hands and looking expectantly at Sarah. Cameron's expression was blank but River looked anxious, almost like a child caught in the act and waiting for punishment.
Butterflies flying in his stomach, Derek sat down slowly, watching River and Sarah both.
"This has to come to an end," Sarah announced harshly. "I've let this go on for too long."
"What are you talking about?" Derek asked, confused by Sarah's attitude.
"You and Cameron. She has tried to make peace with you all these years. I've seen her try and I've never said a word to support her or to help you deal with your anger Derek."
"This is none of your business, Sarah," Derek snapped, his anger flaring up.
"It is every bit my business!" Sarah shouted back. "It affects John! It hurts him that you won't make peace with Cameron. She's saved your life, saved my life, and saved John's life. What more do you want? You're John's uncle, he'll never be able to know his father, Kyle. He needs you. But you refuse to make peace with the other person he needs, needs more than you or me, and that's Cameron."
"Don't go there, Sarah. Cameron's metal."
"I'm going there! She love's my son, and John, for whatever reason, loves her. What do you want from Cameron? Tell me."
"What do you want from Cameron," Derek snapped, pushing back. "You don't want her to marry John, you know it and I know it. She'll be able to lure him away and that will be that."
"I won't do that," Cameron interjected. "I wouldn't do that. It would make John unhappy to be without his family."
"Like I believe you. You'll say whatever it takes to get control of John," Derek accused.
Tears welled up in Cameron's eyes and began to flow down her cheeks, leaving dirty streaks contrasting with her porcelain skin.
"If that was what I wanted, to just control him, I would have let him use me as a sexbot. I would have used sex to control him but I didn't."
Stunned by the volume of Cameron's voice, Derek fell silent.
"Derek, I'm going to say this, right now, in front of you and River. I want you to hear me, do you understand?"
"Just what are you going to say," Derek shouted back. "That I have to leave Tin Miss alone?
Ignoring Derek's attempt to lash out, Sarah walked over to the girls, hugging River and then Cameron. Tears running from her own eyes, Sarah took Cameron's face in her hands with a soft gentleness and tilted Cameron's head back so the two could look each other in the eye.
"You have my blessing. John is yours. Take care of John the way you know I expect you to. I would hope you and John will stay on Serenity but if the two of you want to strike out on your own, I will not stand in your way."
Turning to face Derek, Sarah reached out to him in the same manner, holding his face in her hands.
"I love you, Derek. I wish things could have been different. That Kyle was here and you could be free of the burdens you feel. But things are what they are. I can't bring my Kyle back. And yes, Cameron is a machine like the one who took my Kyle. Yes, she killed Allison. But you have killed too. I know about Jesse. Everyone in our family has sinned."
"Sarah, don't do this," Derek pleaded.
"Make peace with Cameron. Forgive her so you can let go of the bitterness and hate. You have a chance to be happy with River. Don't let that slip through your fingers. River needs you and she needs Cameron. You of all people understand how important family is. You know what I've lost, what John's lost. You even know what Cameron's suffered, how far she's come. The humiliation she's been through, humiliation inflicted on her by you and me."
Drained, Sarah turned and reached out to a stunned Cameron who watched with her head tilted. As Cameron took Sarah's hand, the matriarch pulled the cyborg towards the door.
"You have one week, Derek Reese. If you won't do as I ask, I'm going to have Captain Reynolds put you off Serenity. River, I'm sorry. Better to end it now and heal than for it to end a year from now."
Without another word, Sarah departed, taking Cameron with her.