Chapter 86

Understanding

John and Cameron returned with everyone back to the base. The strike was a success, even if it turned a little dicey at times. They'd stopped Skynet, a Skynet, again. They were able to capture some more Metal and destroy several others. It was a win, even if it was a close one.

Only Jesse still suffered the ill effects from the smoke inhalation. That was from dragging Cameron away form the flames at great peril to herself. Allison's heroic actions helped save both Cameron and Jesse. They all knew from the body cam footage that Jesse saved Cameron from having her sheath burnt off. Cameron would be nothing but bare burnt metal now otherwise.

Jesse almost died saving Cameron. Jesse could have abandoned Cameron at any time to save herself. She did not. That meant something to everyone in the Resistance. It was clear that Jesse was changed and they all wondered if they could have done the same thing under the same conditions. It took a lot of courage to stay with Cameron in that inferno.

Jesse slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was still blurry at first. It looked like Allison was in the room with her.

"Thank you for not leaving me to burn in there, Allison." Jesse said as she tried to focus. "I did all I possibly could. How is Cameron?"

Cameron was the one who stood over Jesse. She was touched by Jesse's actions and again now by her words.

"I'm Cameron, Jesse. It was you that saved me from major damage." Cameron said. "I want to personally thank you for what you did for me. My sheath would have been destroyed if you hadn't risked your own safety to assist me. You SAVED me."

Jesse smiled faintly.

"I did what I could." Jesse said.

Cameron's hand gently touched Jesse's cheek.

"Allison pulled both of us out." Cameron said.

They were aware from reviewing the body cam footage that Jesse instructed Allison to leave her and help Cameron instead. That was also noted by everyone. It was the second time that Jesse was willing to sacrifice herself for Cameron.

Jesse blinked a few times. She thought she was seeing 'double', she was. Cameron and Allison were on each side of her now. Allison walked up and joined Cameron a few seconds ago.

"We all did what we needed to do, when we needed to do it." Allison said. "It was you that removed Cameron from the danger zone. All the credit goes to you, Jesse."

Jesse smiled at both of them. She did it because she loved Cameron. She was well aware the 'old Jesse' would not have helped anyone but herself.

"You both acted beyond the call of duty." Cameron said.

Allison was there because she loved Cameron. That was what brought her into the inferno. The girls all loved Cameron and saving her meant more than their own life to them. Their actions proved that.

"Bob, Jim and Ed carried all three of us out." Allison added. "I don't think any of us would have made it otherwise."

Jesse always liked Allison's look. Now when she saw her there was more than just her 'appearance' behind her feelings. It was deeper than that. Allison saved her.

"I won't forget this, love." Jesse said.

Jesse reached up and touched Allison's cheek.

The two girls shared a look of 'understanding'. There was a new bond between them. They both faced certain death together and they both held on and did the 'right' thing.

Allison reached back and gently touched Jesse cheek. She could feel the deeper bond too. She could not help but think how beautiful Jesse looked.

Cameron could see that Jesse and Allison both 'felt' more towards each other now. This seemed to be an unintended development. She wondered how she could bring the girls closer together. That would be a benefit to the Resistance and to each of them personally. It would also benefit John later on. She wanted Allison and Vanna to share with Jesse. It would strengthen all of them and give them better support. She was grateful to both of them herself for what they did and the risk it took to do it.

"I won't forget it either what both of you have done for me." Cameron said.

Jesse knew she would not hesitate to do the same thing again.

Cameron thought she would leave Jesse and Allison alone. They seemed to be able to share and communicate as 'friends' now. She would return this favor some day.

"I promise to pay both of you back one day." Cameron softly said to herself as she left. "I swear it."

Cameron wanted to reward the girls with a night out. She decided to help Jesse out and make her look as best as possible. She worked on getting Jesse ready. She was very satisfied at the look she was able to achieve, so was Jesse.

Jesse looked at herself in the mirror. She could hardly believe what she saw. This was a long way from a Scavenger camp or starving at a Resistance base.

"I can't believe I look like this, Cameron. I have never looked this good in my life." Jesse said in amazement. "I didn't even know I could look like this."

Jesse looked again to make sure it was really her.

Cameron made one more adjustment to Jesse's hair.

"You look - Tight." Cameron replied.

Cameron stood in back of Jesse as she sat and faced the mirror.

Jesse wanted to turn around and pull Cameron towards her and kiss her but she knew she could not. Cameron was not ready for that adventure - yet. She didn't want to take anything away from Cameron but maybe add something to her life. She certainly didn't want to do anything to 'hurt' Cameron.

Jesse stood and looked at Cameron. The look of love was in Jesse's eyes.

"Jesse, I want to thank you again for pulling me away from the fire. John would not have been happy if I was 'damaged'." Cameron said.

Cameron knew it would have been more than 'damage'. Her whole sheath would have been burnt off.

Jesse could see the look of love in Cameron's eyes. It was not for her but for John.

"You truly love him don't you?" Jesse asked.

Cameron could feel it inside of her.

"Yes, with all my hea…, my - being." Cameron said.

Cameron previously made it clear to Jesse what she wanted for John. She was not sure if she could do it at this point. It seemed as if what Cameron thought she 'wanted' was more than she might be able to stand emotionally.

"You will even sacrifice yourself or your 'heart' for him. I can see what you are doing…. I know what you 'want'…." Jesse said. "I know it will hurt you…."

Jesse was ready to make her body available to John or Cameron at any time.

Cameron thought she was ready. It would not be like John chose someone over her. She was the one who would make the selection. Sharing for reproduction was not 'cheating'.

"Yes, I am barren. I can not provide John with his descendants. I was able to restore the future timeline so Future John could continue his life. He is now with the women he loves and who love him. They are the women who are supposed to be there. That is Future Allison and Future Savannah; they are the women who Future John wanted. They will be able to have a family now. I need to know that when I am - gone, that there will be loving females to provide companionship and offspring for My John."

That statement of finality bothered Jesse. She did not want to replace Cameron because she was terminated. She did not want Cameron terminated in the first place. It seemed Cameron made lots of plans for everyone.

"From what I understand you have four replacements lined up to cover that 'dilemma'." Jesse said. "I am sort of odd woman out."

Cameron looked directly at Jesse and touched Jesse's cheek.

The sexuality radiated off of Cameron. Jesse could feel it. It was like Cameron reached inside of her.

"Five is better than four." Cameron said as she looked into Jesse's eyes.

Jesse swallowed hard. Cameron felt the response Jesse experienced as her hand still rested on her cheek. Cameron was pleased at the reaction Jesse had. It was the reaction she'd hoped for.

Jesse was not used to being overpowered sexually. She was always the dominant one in the room who would pick and choose who she would share her body with. This was different. It was not sexual but somehow it was. It was actually beyond that somehow.

Confusion and indecisiveness were foreign to Jesse. She felt 'lost' in Cameron's presence.

"I'm not…, I have…, I don't kn…, Cameron…, I…." Jesse stuttered.

Cameron knew of Jesse's past. That is what it was at this point. It was her past. She'd offered and given Jesse a better path to follow. She'd given Jesse a future that was actually worth looking forward to.

'Dreaming' by 'Blondie', came to Cameron's mind.

It seemed to say it all for this situation. She would need to get a player and let Jesse hear that song.

"The past is done, Jesse. You are a better person now than you were but not as good as you will be, yet. This is where we are now, you, John and me."

Jesse looked apprehensive.

Cameron slowly kissed Jesse's cheek.

That seemed better than any sexual encounter that she'd ever experienced.

Jesse tried to speak but it seemed she'd forgotten how. She could not formulate words.

Cameron's lips moved from her cheek to her ear.

"Think about it for me, please." Cameron whispered.

Cameron looked deep into Jesse's face. Jesse was totally captivated, lost….

Jesse would do anything for Cameron…. She'd never been so in love before. It seemed beyond love somehow if there was even such a thing.

Cameron heard someone was about to enter the room. She gave Jesse one last 'thank you'.

"Thank you again for not letting me burn, Jesse." Cameron said. "I'll never forget this."

Jesse thought she was going to 'finish' and she hadn't even touched herself yet. It was Cameron's presence and sexuality that were affecting her as if it were a real physical touch.

Allison entered the room. She paused for a second as she looked at Jesse. It raised a 'hunger' inside her.

"Damn, she looks Tight." Allison said as she walked into the room.

Jesse moved over and hugged her. She wanted to share her thanks too.

"Thank you, for not leaving me." Jesse said.

Allison could feel the sexuality radiate off of Jesse. She tried to downplay her real feelings that flooded her right now.

"You are part of the team, Jesse. We would all do the same for each other." Allison said.

Jesse felt so overwhelmed by both of them. There were feelings inside her she did not know how to fully process.

"I owe you, Allison. I won't forget this." Jesse said. "All of you are different, caring and loving. I have never felt I 'belonged' before. I do feel that now. It is something very special."

Allison wondered where this could go when there was a new arrival into the room.

"Tight City." Vanna said as she entered the room.

Vanna hugged Jesse.

Jesse and Vanna looked at each other and Jesse gave Vanna a second big hug.

Vanna could feel the room was full of sexual tension that needed to be acted on and released. She wondered where this was headed. She wanted to express her appreciation to all of them.

With Vanna in the room now with them, Jesse needed to do more. She needed to say more.

"I want to thank all of you for treating me with kindness and 'respect'. I want to thank all of you for helping me. I want to thank all of you for 'saving' me." Jesse said as she looked at Cameron, Allison and Vanna. "You have saved me beyond the fire…. You have all worked to save me at a personal level."

Jesse felt like a different person. Everyone could feel it. She didn't feel like garbage anymore. She was more than just somebody to be 'used' for someone else's sexual gratification.

"Girl hug!" Allison said and all four hugged together.

Vanna was pleased at this new shared atmosphere that they all felt

"Is Sarah going to come with us?" Vanna asked.

Cameron tried to keep her phraseology clean.

"Not tonight, she said she had a lot of 'catching up' to do." Cameron said.

All four girls giggled. They all knew what that meant.

Suddenly Cameron looked dead serious.

"You three, ALL THREE of you, will need to make sure John is 'caught up' when I am - gone…."

Allison and Vanna exchanged glances when Cameron said 'you three'.

They knew Cameron wanted Jesse to be part of the 'circle'. That was something they were open to at this point.

Vanna did not want Cameron to go down that path.

"Cameron, don't start that again. Let's go have some fun tonight." Vanna said. "We don't need to talk about any of that right now."

Allison knew how this subject seemed to torment Cameron. It was not pleasant to witness.

"We will do what is right for the time if needed." Allison said. "That is only WHEN it is needed, IF it is needed."

Jesse planned to do her part. She would do anything for Cameron.

"All of us." Jesse said and held out her hand.

She looked at Cameron, Vanna and Allison in turn.

Cameron seized the opportunity to bring them all closer together.

Cameron stacked her hand on top of Jesse's hand. Vanna and Allison looked at each other and did the same.

Cameron was pleased. She'd brought them all closer together. They were all much closer on a personal level. It was a start. Cameron would work on expanding it. She wanted them to share with each other.

Allison made an exploding sound and all four their hands flew off in different directions.

Cameron felt happy looking at her three 'replacements'. They were all Hot and Tight. John should be pleased with any one of them. He could have all three.

Cameron looked at the three beautiful women again. She was very happy, she was even happier for John. Cameron knew she'd chosen well for him. Beauty was something Cameron could recognize. It was more than skin deep too.

Cameron smiled as she selected a song on Allison's player.

'Going Up the Country' by 'Canned Heat', filled the room.

Two Can Save Two

It is not known
If one can save
Another that already
Has a foot in the grave

It has been said
That one can save themself
If they are saving another
Salvation creates itself

As the sky falls
One has not won
If the total is emptiness
To shun still equals none

As the shaking ledge collapses
Under ones unbalanced slipping feet
A steady hand extended seems sweet
To hold firm unfailingly is no easy feat

Deep within a mind
There is so much to give
From a lost frightened soul
Who yet seeks to live

Nobody