Chapter 2: Her Son

Sarah Connor drew in a few deep breaths, trying not to cry anymore and instead tried to focus on what the nurse was telling her. She had never been more grateful in her life to hear someone speak nearly perfect English to her.

The bottom half of her body was still numb but she could feel some pain along her lower abdomen, which was where the doctor had to perform an emergency C-section in order to save her child. She had been terrified when they had told her that she would have to be cut open because her son's heart rate had plummeted dramatically, almost killing him. However, Sarah was relieved to find that it wasn't as painful as she was expecting.

She knew that the recovery was going to be hell but at least she wasn't pregnant anymore and she and her baby were safe. She didn't feel ready to have such a small child, knowing how much more she would need Jolanda's help, but she knew that Jolanda would stay by her side. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the hospital bed, feeling thankful for a friend like Jolanda.

Sarah heard the nurse speak again and opened her blurry and tired blue eyes to see her with a bundle of blankets in her arms that was crying loudly.

"Is he…"

"He was a little distressed in there but we managed to get him out just in time. He's quite the fighter though. We'll keep both of you here for a few days and monitor your conditions to make sure that you are healthy before we can let you go."

Sarah nodded slowly as another nurse helped prop her up slightly so she could hold her child. The moment the nurse placed her son in her arms, time seemed to stop. Every fear and doubt that she had were immediately erased in the moment. Sarah gasped once she laid eyes on the tiny baby in her arms. He was smaller than she had expected but knew that he was a few weeks ahead of his due date.

Sarah's heart lurched inside of her as she rubbed her hand softly over her son's dark hair, trying to stop his cries. She smiled and felt tears well up in her eyes again as she held her son. Part of her joy instantly mixed with sadness as she stared down at him, realizing that he was also Kyle Reese's son. She wished that he could be by her side, looking down with pride at their son, knowing that he had changed the future. Her smile grew a little bit wider as she thought of how Kyle would react to their child.

The small baby continued to cry and Sarah slowly drew him closer to her chest for comfort, kissing his forehead softly. She then gently grasped his small hand in her's watching his tiny fingers curl around her finger, holding it tight. And just a few moments after taking her hand, he slowly stopped crying. Sarah couldn't help but gaze at him with a heart full of love.

He opened his mouth to let out a huge yawn before his eyes opened slowly. Sarah let out a small breath once she noticed the beautiful and familiar color. Her newborn son carried the same pale green eyes as his father with more light, optimism, and hope than she had ever seen in Kyle. She felt as if she could feel the future grow brighter just by looking into his kind eyes. Sarah's heart began to beat faster as she smiled down at him.

"Hello, my little hero."

Sarah shook her head slowly as she looked over her baby boy, marveling over him.

"You are so perfect, I'm afraid to name you."

Sarah spent the next few moments silently looking over him, searching for the perfect name in her mind. She had spent months looking through baby name books but had always had trouble finding the right one. She watched with love as the corners of his mouth slowly folded up into a small smile before he closed his eyes. Sarah licked her lips quickly before she said the first name on her mind.

"John…"

She kept her eyes trained on her son, softly rubbing his small hand.

"I didn't think I would use something so common but… I feel like that's your name. What do you think about it?"

She giggled softly as he watched his left eye open part of the way before closing it again.

"Me too, John… me too."

The door opened slowly and Sarah looked to see Jolanda standing there with a large grin on her face and light in her tired brown eyes. She slowly walked over to Sarah's side, placing one of her rough hands on her friend's shoulder, glancing down at the child in her arms. The sweet Mexican woman shook her head slowly as she looked down at him.

"He is so handsome, Sarah."

Sarah nodded slowly as she looked up at Jolanda with a sad smile.

"He looks just like his father… dark hair and green eyes."

Jolanda returned the sad smile as she sat down in the chair next to the bed.

"Do you have a name for him?"

"I'm going to name him John."

Jolanda's eyes glanced back at the baby as she nodded slowly.

"It is perfect for him."

"I know… John Connor."