Disclaimer: I of course…don't own any of The Terminator legend. The world and its characters belong to James Cameron and the Hollywood powers that be. I'm simply borrowing them for a while.

T4-Connor's War

Chapter 3

"We'll talk about it when I get home," Mark said impatiently into his cell phone. They were calling his flight and this argument was only getting worse.

"No! We'll talk about it now! How could you say a thing like that to my mother?"

"She had it comin' Jo-"

"She's my mother!"

"Yeah, and I'm finally beginning to see the family resemblance-" but the phone cut off just then. Skynet had taken control of the cell network…and Jo Kinsella never heard from her fiancée again.

"No!" she cried, wrenching her arms out from beneath the scratchy blanket, swinging her sweaty legs over the edge of her cot. It had happened again. The dream. She was back in her lab, observing the results from the second wave of trials on the Gemini experiment to keep her mind off of Mark. Mikey, her brother and partner in crime, had just arrived from the warehouse with a new set of samples…and that was when the ground shook.

It was about 6:20. The rest of the staff left well over an hour beforehand as Jo would have too. But she couldn't face going home to an empty apartment, pictures of her and Mark scattered everywhere…what she wouldn't give for one of those pictures now.

Mikey, ever the dutiful sibling, agreed to postpone his date with HBO and finish with the set of tests they were working on. It had been dubbed the Gemini experiment because they had conceived of a delicate set of bio-mechanical cells that could be used to duplicate human tissue. The goal was to eventually end up with a new medical procedures that would allow doctors to replicate human tissue for skin grafting, cosmetic surgery and other such types of operations. She and Mikey had devoted the past three years to the research at the expense of postponing her wedding to Seattle wiz-kid, Mark Anderson twice…Mikey was now all she had left of that life. And he was the first to rush to her side when she screamed.

Mike flipped on the light to her quarters, still fumbling with his glasses as he knelt beside the cot. "Jo! Jo, it's all right!"

Jo clung to her brother, forcing herself to remember they were safe now…for the moment. But Mikey's comforting face, raked with chemical burns and bandages was only a chilling reminder of everything they had lost. Mark's angry voice echoed in her head as she collapsed in short, violent sobs.

"Is she ok?" Mike heard behind him as he rocked his sister in his arms; something he'd done so often when they were kids. Jo was only a year younger than her brother, to the day in fact, and she had always joked that someday, she'd catch up to that final year. She'd fashioned her whole life around this concept in order to do just that and was actually the first of the two to earn a PHD in biochemistry. They began their research at Mercury-Tech right after Jo got the grant money. She'd done more than half the research, even headed their division. In many ways, she had caught up to her big brother…but on some points, he would always be the elder.

Mike twisted around, patting her head as he recognized the woman Kate who had journeyed nearly 2 days to rescue them. He nodded and turned back to Jo. "She's fine."

Kate remained a while longer, studying the girl, her arms clenched tight around her brother as she mumbled incoherently remnants of the nightmare she'd had…it was then Kate noticed it- a tiny sparkle, shimmering in the light spilling in from the corridor…an engagement ring. Her stomach gave a slight lurch.

Luke Mitchell who had also heard the scream appeared in the doorway, concerned and exhausted. Kate did her best to assure him all was well and then stole one more glance at the girl before closing the door behind her. Girl...she thought. But Jo Kinsella wasn't a girl. She was a woman. A strikingly pretty 27-year-old woman…older than Kate! A woman who had been successful and loved. A woman who'd been engaged…

Kate started as a hand covered hers, still clutching the door handle to Jo's room. She could still hear her sobs as she turned to John, his eyes heavy and unguarded. "Are you ok?" he spoke with that same intense voice he used now, his sparse yet meaningful words a continuing comfort in the past few months.

She nodded toward the door, "She just…had a nightmare."

His eyes narrowed. "Are you ok?" he repeated. Kate smiled then, understanding, as she slipped into his arms-a wordless answer. John's arms, always tense, were as comforting as his voice was commanding. Lulled by the muffled sobs behind Jo's door, Kate rested her head against his hard shoulder and closed her eyes. At once, she felt his nerves buckle and she relished the slight ease of tension her embrace inspired. John breathed deeply…fully…for the first time,  it seemed, since she'd been away. Then he too shut his eyes as they took a moment out of time and revisited a memory…

"Crystal Peak."

"What? What is he saying?"

"It's your only chance…take care of my daughter-"

"Get down!"

"Daddy!" Kate shrieked as she gasped for air, clutching her sweat-soaked tank top to her breast. Struggling to slow her erratic breathing, she gulped and flicked on the lamp. She checked her watch as light spilled into the cell-like room. 12:02am. She had slept exactly 20 minutes since the last nightmare. And every time she awoke, it was the same. Dizziness, disorientation. Confusion. Where was she? Where was Scott? Where- she closed her eyes as if she could shut out reality. She was home. Daddy was at work. Scott had been kept late at the office…and John Connor was just some punk kid from junior high that-

Kate's eyes flew open again, and she began to cry. Judgment Day. The end of the world. It had come just as the robot said it would. Just six hours ago, she stood before a deadened radio, waiting for the bombs to stop. Her tears were silent and mournful- and brief. She gathered herself together and snatched at the wooly blanket tangled and discarded round her ankles. She shivered, suddenly cold, pulling it around her as her feet touched the chilly floor. Slowly, she pushed the door open and jumped.

Kate wondered vaguely why she was surprised that he should be sitting there…right there, in the hallway as if waiting for her. He was propped up against the opposite wall, arms resting on his knees, a small piece of paper in his hand. His eyes met hers, a mixture of apology and concern. "John," she whispered and she came to him.

John waited as she settled down next to him, her arm barely brushing his as she pulled the blanket tighter around her neck, instinctively trying to hide her filmy damp tank top. He watched her, nervous…trembling slightly and she was oddly reminded of a boy she met once in a dimly lit basement. But that image vanished when she'd finally sat and he turned a sober gaze back to the paper in his hand. "You ok?" he asked quietly.

It was then Kate noticed it wasn't paper, but a photograph. A tiny Polaroid of a woman  looking oddly content. She nodded, leaning a bit closer as she shamefully strained a look at what was obviously a very private possession. John didn't seem to mind. "My mother," he said, fingering the edges delicately as he brought it closer to her. The woman was beautiful. Young, but strangely wise, bearing a look of serenity on her face that no longer belonged in this world. "Sarah Connor," he said, introducing her.

Kate thoughtfully chewed her bottom lip, searching for something to say. But nothing seemed adequate.

"I'm sorry about your dad," he said suddenly. Kate reeled back, gaping between John and the picture. "What?" but he simply shrugged. "It wasn't your fault-"

"I know," he said quickly, turning to face her, determined not to be misunderstood. He held out the picture to her meaningfully, "that's what she always told me."

For a second, Kate hesitated, unsure of what she was to do now. Gently, he placed the photo in her palm and she felt the weight of what it meant to him in her hand. Her eyes met his and at last she understood. It wasn't his fault. And it wasn't hers either. "Thank you," she whispered and the tears fell again.

John gave a small smile as his own eyes watered. He parted his arms, beckoning her and Kate at once nestled against his shoulder. John sighed as he hugged her close and remained there while she fell asleep…

* * *