The first chapter in 2023, Happy New Year Everyone!

Chapter 12

Back to the present day

After two days of travel John, Cameron, and Kyle finally arrived in Salem the capital of Oregon, it would have taken less time if Kyle have listened to Cameron and John about not eating in excess, but he did not. Either way during the drive to Salem, Kyle told them stories of John from his future from when he came to their base until the moment of finding and reactivating Cameron.

After listening to Kyle's story John looked at Cameron and had to smile thinking about that in the end, they were reunited in the future that they have avoided with the aid of Kyle.

Cameron was in deep thought after listening to the same story she felt the warmth again when she learned about John's devotion she wasn't as sure as before that it was love, she might one moment be sure that she is in love and doubt it later.

Kyle glanced at them as he spoke "We should start searching for a safe house" he stopped for a moment and remembered "I almost forgot, I've got new IDs for you" he took them from the pocket of his coat he eyed John as he said "For now you are John Lyman" then he turned his eyes towards Cameron and said "And you will be Cameron Gage" he had a smirk on his face as he told them their new identities adding "and yes, you are not siblings".

"Mom won't like that," John said shaking his head.

"Yes, you told me how much she disliked the closeness between you two" Kyle stated.

"Did my future self, tell you how she might react?" John asked

"He told me that she would probably kill you both" Kyle smiled

"Yeah, that mom" John nodded, then he thought and said, "I should tell her about you before she meets you, she saw the other Kyle die protecting her, so you understand".

"Yes, she might be shocked at seeing me, I do it your way, John"

"Now about the safe house, I think Cameron should be the one to look for one I that she will find what we need," John said eyeing Cameron who seemed to be in a different world, John was looking a bit worried and decided to tap her on her arm asking if she's all right.

Cameron was taken from her thoughts when she sensed someone taping her arm as she looked towards the source, she saw John's worried look and listened to him asking her if she was all right, she smiled slightly sensing the warmth again, and answered "Yes John, I'm all right" she was still surprised at the change in their relationship 'Wait relationship? When I started to think that way about me and John?' she silently asked herself. She was also concerned at the fact that somehow, she disconnected and wasn't aware of her surroundings, if they were attacked, she wouldn't be able to protect her John efficiently.

John saw that he had her attention but not knowing about her concerns told her about how he planned to search for the safe house after that she told them to stop at the newsstand to buy a newspaper to see all the ads looking for a safe house, she also wanted to into some motel with Wi-Fi saying that with John's laptop, they connect to it and search for the safe house on the internet.

Truth be told Cameron besides searching for a safe house simply wanted some time alone with John, since leaving Los Angeles they never had time to be alone and she was growing impatient which she noted was a strange development since she never experienced it before.

After buying serval local newspapers and finally renting two rooms in a motel that Cameron saw as adequate for their needs, Kyle recognizing the look on Cameron's face understood perfectly that she wanted to be alone with John, so he decided to rent a room for himself.

John set his laptop on the desk in their room and connected it for charging, powered it on, and connected it to the motel's wi-fi finally he looked at Cameron who had a curious expression on her face and she gave him a smile.

John smiled back at her not believing how good it made him feel while still staring at her he was brought back from his reverie by her when she said "John".

"Yes?" he shocked his head.

"You were staring at me for 47 seconds" she tilted her head and asked, "why?"

"Oh, It's that beautiful smile of yours…" 'Did I just say it out loud?' he asked himself silently meanwhile Cameron looked at him tilting her head with wide-open eyes.

"Do you think my smile is beautiful John?" she asked innocently although he could see that the corners of her lips were slightly turned upright.

He started to blush which made her smile even more visible, he finally with a bit of nervousness said "Yes…" she smiled at him even more, "Anyway… have you found anything?"

"Yes John, there are a few options for a safe house in Salem suburbs and some of the towns around" she answered.

"That's good, we'll take a look tomorrow I'm tired," John said as he lay on the bed preparing for sleep.

"I will patrol de perimeter and return," Cameron said to him "Goodnight John".

"Night Cam"

Kyle was in his room watching TV he wasn't interested in what there was now on it, but he still enjoyed the fact that it existed, in the future, there wasn't a lot of entertainment, and he now was enjoying what the world before the war has to offer. At the same time, he understood that soon things would change, and he would be on a mission again.

Kyle thought for a moment about everything he could do now, and there was one thing he wanted more than the others he wanted to meet Sarah Connor, ever since he saw the picture of her in general's hands, he felt a connection with her, and he wanted to finally meet her. He also wondered about her relationship with other Kyle since nobody told him much about it except that he was sent to protect Sarah from a T-800 and killed in the process.

After a few more minutes, he decided to go take a breath and see the world outside, once out of the motel building, he saw the lighted streets of Salem and cars passing by unlike in the future where everything was dark, gloomy, in ruins and dead.

He took deep breaths and simply stared at the panorama in front of him enjoying every bit of it, he was still looking when a movement to his caught his attention, he looked in the direction of the movement and saw the well-known cyborg coming towards him.

'Some things never change' he thought to himself remembering Cameron he knew in the future and her tendency to go on patrol at night before returning to her and John's quartiers.

"You went on patrol?" he asked her.

"Yes, I haven't detected any threats" she stated.

'Definitely, early days' he thought to himself then he notices her questioning gaze and knew she wanted to ask a question "Is there anything you want to ask?" he asked her.

"Yes, has future John or I give you any missions that we shouldn't know about," she asked.

'Always to the point' he sighted and answered "Yes, there's one mission that for the moment I should keep from you two, I don't know the reasons for it, but John was clear that I should not tell you anything about it until the appropriate time."

"I understand, the next question is about me, and John how are we like in the future," Cameron asked.

"I can answer that, he's the leader, our general he cares about his soldiers and never gives up, he gives people hope but at times he's difficult to deal with especially when he's angry. You are his co-commander and the person he trusts the most, most of the resistance trusts you and doesn't have any problem with you beginning a machine, you are seen as a caring leader who supports the general not only physically but also mentally you also care for the fighters of the resistance and help families in need" Kyle explained.

"Thank you for explaining, I want to ask one last question," she said.

"What it is?" he asked.

"What kind of relationship I have with John in the future?" she asked.

"Well, you two are very close to each other and inseparable. You both take care of each other" he tried to answer without revealing too much this time.

"I am married to John?" she asked more bluntly.

Kyle knew that she wouldn't leave him alone until she got the answer so he responded sighting "Yes, you were I was even at your wedding, and excuse but I would like to be alone for a bit, please".

Cameron just nodded and went to her and John's room meanwhile Kyle thought to himself 'Kids…'.

To say that Sarah Connor was angry would be an understatement she was very furious, it's been days since she was there and there was still not a word from John or Cameron, she was pacing through the safe house of the resistance and most of the fighters avoided her fearing to disturb the dragon as they started to call her.

'At last, we know from where the general took his temper' the lt. Burke thought to himself.

Sarah stooped pacing and looked at him "Lieutenant how long do I have to wait for my son?"

Burke looked nervous fearing the reaction that the woman in front of him would have to his answer as he said, "We don't know, it could be today or tomorrow we don't have a schedule of when general Connor and his co-commander should arrive".

"I shouldn't have come here instead I should have gone to John immediately after beginning freed from the prison. I can't trust anybody with his safety only myself" she said glaring at Burke.

"I assure you, commander, that they probably looking for a safe house and once they have one, they will contact us" Burke tried to reassure her, but he knew that he failed when her glare augmented.

"Yes? How can you be sure that they haven't been attacked by a machine?" she asked him through gritted teeth while still glaring at him.

Burke decided he had enough "You should rest a bit I'm sure nothing happened and soon they will contact us. Now I must go I still have a recon to do" he left before Sarah could answer.

Still, furious Sarah entered her room 'Dragon's cave' as John would probably call it she thought, she slammed the door and looked at a bottle of tequila she was fighting against herself, on the one hand, she wanted to drink until she forgot about everything, on the other hand, she knew it was wrong and it might impact negatively her and John's image in the eyes of the resistance.

Now that she thought about it the first days before she become so frustrated went very well, she got to know about other leaders in the region and was able to do a small war game with the resistance fighters operating on the outskirts of the city.

Many of them looked at her with respect after that and agreed that General Connor must have learned everything from her which wasn't the full truth for both Derek, the men she meet for many years in their travels in South America, and especially Cameron had also a very big impact on him.

One of the women that served in the resistance even told her that she was an inspiration for the women in the future, and John Connor and even his co-commander Cameron, or Tin Miss as Sarah called her always spoke of her in superlatives.

As Sarah thought more about it the more proud she felt and started calming down, she was still worried about John but for his and her own sake she would try to control herself and serve as an example for the soldiers.

John was still sleeping in bed when he felt someone gently caressing his hair, he didn't want to wake up he wanted the caressing to continue but he knew that they had to find a place so they could finally contact the resistance there and his mother who he was sure that was right now somewhere pacing around or drinking tequila to calm herself.

He started to open his eyes and immediately sat down on the bed surprised that he didn't even think about who could be caressing his hair while he was asleep, then he saw Cameron sitting on the bed with her right hand extended towards him.

She looked at him and his reaction and began to worry that she has done something wrong and started to apologize "I'm sorry John, I didn't want to disturb you".

In the past, John would have yelled at her for anything similar, but this time John surprised her by taking her hand in his, looking into her eyes, and asking, "What are you doing?" there was no malice in his voice just curiosity.

"I am caressing your hair" she answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I know that, but why?" he asked her still with curiosity.

"You were having a nightmare; you were tossing around in the bed I saw in the future people caressing other people this way to calm them down" she answered his question.

He looked deeply into her eyes he found them beautiful and full of life and not cold and dead like those of other machines, he squeezed her hand in his slightly and said, "Thank you, Cameron, have you been doing this all night?" he asked.

"No, I've been doing this since 5:27" she answered, she didn't tell him that when she came from her patrol, she saw him having a nightmare and decided to come under his covers and embrace him, then he calmed down and, in his sleep, he embraced her back putting his face on her bare chest.

They spent all night like that until 5 am then Cameron decided to take a rapid shower and change her clothes when she came back, she started caressing his hair and was doing this until he woke up.

He was still looking into her eyes when she spoke "You should eat breakfast."

As if on cue, his stomach grumbled "You right, I saw a KFC not far from where we could go…"

Cameron interrupted him "John, you should eat something healthy there's a dinner not far from there that serves healthy food".

"Well, I'm not going to argue with you this time," he said although he really didn't want anything healthy.

He went to the bathroom and took a shower dressed up and went with her to the diner on the way he asked if they should go with Kyle, but he was apparently still asleep.

They entered the dinner which was small, and they both took a site at a table near the exit the waitress came and asked what they wanted.

John was the first "I would like an omelet and coffee" then he looked at Cameron and gestured that she should eat too.

She told the waitress "I would like the green salad and tea".

The waitress smiled and left them after a few minutes she came back with their food and beverages.

"So, when do we go looking for the safe house?" asked John.

"We should start after Kyle wakes up, he has all the money," Cameron said.

"How many addresses do you have?" he asked her.

"I have addresses for 5 possible locations of safe houses that comply with the requirements" she answered.

"Which requirements?" he didn't know.

"It needs to have at least 2 rooms, a bathroom, storage, kitchen…" she was interrupted by John.

"Yeah, but I mean the other requirements."

"Oh, sorry, the safe house needs to have a good escape route, a place for the weapons, it has to be out of sight and somewhere where we can burn endoskeletons" she answered.

"Well, but where would Kyle and you sleep if we have just 2 rooms?" John asked her.

"I don't sleep John; I only need a wardrobe for my things and Sarah will be living in Portland according to what Kyle said at last until we are done with Kaliba in Oregon" she answered.

"Wait, mom is going to live in Portland and not with us?" John asked in surprise.

"Yes, your future self, gave her orders to command the resistance in Portland while you learn how to command an army with Kyle" she explained.

"My mom is definitely not going to like this," he said.

"Yes, she's going to freak out," Cameron said, and John chuckled.

"Yup" he nodded at her while still chuckling then he stopped and looked into her eyes and said, "I still think that you should have a room, you might think of yourself as just a machine, but I don't".

"Thank you, John," she said smiling at him.

They finished their meals and drink the beverages after that they paid and went back to the motel.

Kyle was already awake and had eaten some of the fast food he bought during the night then he showered and put on his clothes "I will have to buy more; those are the only ones I have" he said to none.

As he came towards the car, he saw that John and Cameron were already waiting for him, he opened the door and sat in the back of the car "So, we are going hunting".

Cameron tilted her head as always when confused and asked "John, I thought we were going to look for a safe house not hunting."

John looked at her and smiled "By hunting, he meant not actual hunting but looking for a safe house" he explained to her.

"I don't understand," she said confused.

"Cam, it means that we a going to look for it just as a predator is looking for its victim" John tried to explain carefully.

"Oh, thank you for explaining," she said smiling and he smiled back.

They went searching for a perfect safe house, John still was thinking about stories told by Kyle, his mother, and how Cameron caressed him before he woke up this morning, Cameron was driving since she knew all the addresses and at the same time was thinking about everything that Kyle said about her and John in the future.

They came to the first address on Cameron's list, it was a small house with two rooms it had a garage and was out of sight, but it needed reforms since a great part of the water pipes were in a bad state and the electric system was a fire hazard according to Cameron's scan, so they took it out of the list of potential safe houses.

The next one was bigger it had four rooms and a shed, it had also good water and electric system that wouldn't put anyone in danger it was also slightly out of sight, everything looked fine for Cameron until she saw a blonde girl around John's age going out of the neighbor house after that she decided that she didn't like this place anymore and explained to John and Kyle that she was concerned about other hazards.

After that, they went to the third address, and they only saw that it was basically a ruin that would be better to demolish and build something new in its place, so they left.

The fourth address had a small house with only one room, and it needed renovations, so they left.

"You know, if the next one is not going to comply with your requisites, we should go back to the third and take it," John said to Cameron.

"I know," Cameron said not looking at him.

The fifth address had a house with 3 rooms, a shed, and a garage it was out of sight, and Cameron didn't find any fire, water hazards, or competition from any blonde bitch whore who could seduce my John.

'Wait where did the last one come from" she thought.

After looking at the house Kyle started speaking with the proprietary.

"We like this house we would like to rent it," Kyle said.

The landlady looked at him and smiling said "I'm sure that you and your family like it, are those your children?"

Kyle had to think for a spilt second and said: "The boy is my son John; the girl is Cameron she's his boyfriend we took her in after her parents died, they both are inseparable".

"I'm sorry to hear and what about the boy's mother?" the landlady asked.

"She's working in Portland and comes home from time to time we hope that after she finishes the project, she's working on we'll be able to spend more time together," Kyle said.

"Well, if you ever need help just call me, and now back to business," the landlady said and so they started talking about the rent meanwhile John and Cameron were in the backyard knowing that from now on they would live there for the next few months.

"Cam?" John wanted to ask her something.

"Yes, John?" she had now all her attention on him and the surroundings searching for any threats.

"Do you like this place?" he asked her.

"Yes, it is secure, you should be safer than in other places we saw before," Cameron said.

John sighed "I mean if you like it not if it's safe" she tilted her head, so he tried to be more specific "I mean if you like the decoration and the small forest."

"Oh, thank you for explaining, yes I like the look of this place," she said and smiled at him.

At that moment Kyle entered the backyard and said "It's official we are living here from now on. Oh, and you have new cover stories".

"So, who are we from now?" asked John.

"From now on I'm your father, Sarah's as always is your mother but this time she's working on a special project in Portland, so she comes home only from time to time, and Cameron is your girlfriend" Kyle explained and was amused by John's expression that was of a big surprise meanwhile Cameron's was simply blank.

John was for a few moments unresponsive processing everything and in his mind concluded 'I have a real family, a father at least biological which he doesn't know, and Cameron is my girlfriend' in the past he would have protested but now he accepted fully that he loved Cameron.

Then he thought of his mom and come to another conclusion, and it was that they should inform her that they were all right, John was sure that his mother was terrorizing resistance fighters right now in Portland fearing for him.

"Kyle, we should inform our army there and especially my mom about us," John said.

"Yes, sir!" Kyle saluted John who just shocked his head.

"Don't do that" he said to Kyle.

"Yes, sir!" Kyle answered mockingly and smiling.

John chuckled "I think I'm going to call you from now on dad".

"That's fine by me son" and it was, for some reason, Kyle felt it was something natural, "Well, I better contact the resistance and tell them we are in the game".

The whole day was just another nightmare for Sarah but at least she had more control over herself soldiers at the safe house appreciated that Burke didn't return, and she was sure she wanted to avoid her, she herself didn't blame him she would do probably herself in his place, yet nobody knows anything about the whereabouts of her son, John Connor and meanwhile she's managing, for now, she's not at all in a mood to speak with anybody.

'l hope that nothing bad happened and John is safe otherwise someone will have to pay for that'.

She was pacing around her room; nobody ever entered it everyone understood that Sarah wanted to be alone unless they got any news about the whereabouts of John Connor, it was her direct order.

Lieutenant Burke was currently in another safe house checking all the weapons that the resistance was able to gather in the last weeks but in truth, he was there to avoid Sarah Connor.

He was prying that the resistance fighters from Salem contacted him and told him that John Connor was already there so he could inform Sarah Connor and perhaps then she would be at peace and would resume her role of commander efficiently.

As if on cue the phone in his pocket started to ring, he answered and put the code that everyone had to put in to verify their identity and a few minutes later he got out of this safe house and drove with a smile on his face towards the safe house where Sarah Connor resided.

He entered the safe house and went directly to Sarah's room, he didn't even knock on the door when entering.

Sarah was working out when Burke entered the room, she instantly looked at him and glared asking harshly "What are you doing here, don't you see I'm training".

"Sorry commander but it's very important" Burke spoke.

At this, Sarah stopped glaring at him and instantly began to worry about the worst, still, she asked a bit harshly "What it is lieutenant?".

"Resistance fighters from Salem have informed us that the general and co-commander are there." He said to Sarah.

Sarah stopped worrying and instantly looked at him with hope and said, "What we are waiting for then, we should go to him right now."

He stopped her and said, "No, they said he's coming here tomorrow, and nobody knows the address where he's at this moment."

She just started glaring at him again and said "Fine, but if tomorrow he's not here I'm going to Salem myself and nobody is going to stop me".

We won't even try" said Burke understanding the woman in front of him.