What are dreams?
A short story featuring John and Cameron from "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." In a series of small chapters, using dreams as a basis for my story, Cameron and John begin a new relationship.
This story started off as a one-shot but has grown since the first chapter. I am considering this story as a possible alternative to "Ourselves Alone" and the two part "Today is the Day."
I do not claim any rights to the characters or the TV series.
Summary:
Recently, as John and Cameron's relationship grows, the truth of Riley and Jesse become known to them and Sarah. Derek has been brought into Jesse's confidences at last, and Riley has revealed all to Sarah, John and Cameron. John and Cameron grow closer as John fully realizes how much he truly cares for his terminator protector. Sarah learns the hard truth when she witnesses them both in a loving embrace. Cameron and John each have a private talk with Sarah, and she still doesn't like the idea of John and the metal having any relationship outside of protector and protected.
Chapter 7: Sarah's Dream
John is laying on his bed staring at the stars on the ceiling. His chemistry book lays open on his desk. He tried reading it, but none of the words were making sense. The periodic table looked meaningless. He couldn't concentrate. All he can think about is what his mom said and how Cameron feels. Did he make a mistake? Was he wrong to give in to this relationship with Cameron?
He thinks about it and the only answer he can come up with is NO. She is so different when around him. He wonders if that constant negativity of his mom and Derek keeps her emotions abated when they are around, much like how a child withdraws into itself when confronted by a bully. His behavior towards her before this weekend certainly didn't help any. He wishes there was some way he could get through to his mom, so that she could see who Cameron is and not just what she is.
John's quiet meditation is interrupted by a light tapping on his door. He looks up from his pillow to see Cameron standing in the door to his room.
"Hey." He says sounding kind of down. "What did Mom want to talk with you about? As if I couldn't guess."
"Us." Cameron says walking in and sitting on the bed beside him. "She doesn't trust me."
"I don't think she trusts me either." John says.
"Where's mom now?" He asks turning to face her and taking her hand gently.
"In the kitchen, drinking."
"Oh no." John runs his free hand through his hair. "She either mellows out or goes loco when she drinks too much. How much has she drunk?"
"I don't know. She was drinking while she talked to me and I heard her pour another glass on my way up to see you."
Letting go of her hand, John sits up saying, "I don't know what to do Cam. I've been up here trying to think of something to say or do to change mom's mind and I can't think of a thing."
"It isn't easy being John Connor. Future you has to make hard decisions too. Sometimes it isn't easy for him either. You will have to make a decision about what you should do soon."
"About us, Mom or this Jesse person?"
"Everything."
John sighs. "It's all connected isn't it. Do you sometimes think that fate is working against us?"
Cameron tilts her head to one side and says, "Fate is the belief that something outside man's control determine's his destiny. You are John Connor. Your fate is that of the world's. Without you humanity will die. The future shapes your destiny and that is outside your control. But the only thing working against you is Sky Net."
John just gives her a look. "Thank you Miss Walking-Encyclopedia-and-Voice-of-Doom."
Cameron frowns. Is John teasing her, or is he truly dismissive of her opinion. She decides he is only teasing her as his vocal inflections did not match his expression. He has this unique way of smiling with his eyes.
She smiles lightly to try and ease the perceived tension. "How do you think fate is working against us?"
Cameron is pleased when he smiles back before answering. He was teasing her, she thinks. "Look at us. Here we are, finally giving into the relationship we've always wanted" Cameron's smile grows warmer, he wanted this relationship too. "and not only do we have Jesse out to destroy you, but mom not accepting us in this relationship. It's all too big to be just a coincidence, isn't it?"
"Jesse is our biggest problem. We will need your mom's help."
"I know. The timing of all this stinks."
"I'm sorry John."
John looks at her in surprise. "Why? What have you got to be sorry about?"
She reaches out and takes his hand gently. "I made a mistake. I thought if your mom saw us together, saw how much you liked me, that maybe she would trust me more."
"So you knew she was at the garage door, watching us?"
"Yes." She says looking at him with her wide sad eyes. "She didn't want you with Riley because you endangered her life. I thought she would understand if you were with me, no one would be endangered. I tried to explain it to her."
"Oh, Cam." John groans.
"Are you angry with me? Did I do wrong?"
"No. I'm not angry with you. I'm angry at me. I should have told her the truth, but I was only trying to protect you, us. That is why she went ballistic. She could always tell when I lied to her. Ever since I was a child."
"Then she is upset because you lied, not because of our relationship?"
"I wouldn't say that. She is plenty upset over our relationship. Lying just made it worse. Just as long as she never finds out we had sex."
"That would be a bad thing?"
"Only her finding out. What we did, you and I . . . was beautiful. I have no regrets."
"Thank you John. I want to be close to you, be your friend. I enjoyed having sex with you. I thought it was . . ." Cameron hesitates to find the word that describes everything that her system experienced and registered, but there is no word or group of words that can described all of the data, so she says with very little hesitation, ". . . beautiful too. While I'm here, do you want my help with your chemistry?"
John smiles at her. It was difficult sometimes to read what Cameron was thinking or feeling. Riley in contrast was very outgoing. She didn't hesitate to tell you what was on her mind, but Cameron's body language was so different, more subtle in comparison to other people, but it was there. His mom and soldiers taught him how to observe people and read them from their body language. If he could do it, then why couldn't Mom, or Derek? Maybe they only saw what they wanted to and blinded themselves to the truth. Sure inside she is made from coltan and silicon and has a hydrogen fuel cell for a heart, but she is still a person.
"John?"
"Huh?" John says breaking away from his thoughts.
"Your chemistry?"
"Oh, right, sure" He says turning around on the bed to face his desk.
Cameron pulls the desk closer so she can sit next John. He sits beside her and hands her a pencil and notebook, before moving his desk chair out of the way.
John flips the text open to the appropriate chapter. "The first few problems are on the basics of covalent bonding. Then it gets into more difficult problems like what is required for two or more molecules to bond. Now that could be nothing, another atom, another molecule, or the application of some outside force. We've got a couple of hours to go over this stuff, before we need to pick up Riley from school."
Cameron was feeling happy spending time with John. Her time with him in the future was so short, but she enjoyed it then too. She didn't realize how much until they were separated. But now she is with him again, and somehow he seems more receptive to her in this younger form, except for when that car bomb caused her chip to reset. The last two days have been the happiest moments of her life.
"Riley" She hears John mention her name.
"SNAP!"
Cameron looks down and sees she broke the pencil. She was still holding it in her left hand where John handed it to her. Her left hand. She quickly analyzes what happened and can find no physical cause for her reaction. The problem must lie in her chip. Is there still something wrong with her chip? Is John still in danger?
"Hey! Earth to Cameron!" John says waving his hand in front of her face. He was getting worried. He heard a loud snap and turned to look to see Cameron just sitting passively, like a statue.
She glances at John's worried faced. "I broke your pencil." She says holding the pieces out to him.
"It's okay Cam. We've got more. There is no need to cry over it."
Cam reaches up to her face and can feel a single tear run from her eye.
* * *
Sarah is sitting alone in the kitchen, trying to decide what to do about John and Cameron.
In front of her sits the bottle of Tequila and a sandwich. She made the sandwich when she realized she'd been drinking on an empty stomach. But then she found the sandwich was making her feel nauseous, so she stopped eating. That's been happening a lot lately, but there are far more important things that need her attention, and now this.
"What am I going to do about John and Cameron?" She asks the empty kitchen.
"What's wrong Sarah?" Sarah looks to her left, and Kyle is leaning on the edge of the counter.
"Why Kyle? Why would John send Cameron back to protect him at this time? Didn't he think this might happen?"
"John is a smart boy. He wouldn't go into this blindly. What did they tell you?"
"John lied. Trying to hide their relationship." Sarah trembles. "Our son. My boy is getting involved with a machine." A few angry and sad tears run down her cheeks.
Kyle is sitting at the table with her. "What did they tell you Sarah?" He repeats with emphasis.
"John said she has feelings. That he couldn't ignore them. That I was ignoring her growing humanity, that I was forgetting about Uncle Bob and what he learned."
"What else did our son tell you?"
"That I was afraid of losing him. Because he's all I've had in my life. He's been my sole purpose for living. Without him, I don't have a purpose."
"Did you feel this way when he was seeing Riley?"
"I . . . what?"
"Sarah, were you afraid of losing him when he was seeing Riley?"
Sarah remains quiet as she realizes that this was also true.
"John will be a man soon and Judgment Day is rapidly approaching. What did Cameron tell you?"
"She said she was sent here to be John's friend, and that she loves him. That this was his last chance to be himself and to be happy before Judgment Day. But she's a machine, Kyle! A machine!"
"Is that the real reason you don't like it? Or are you using it as an excuse, because you are afraid of being alone?"
Sarah just looks at him. "How can you say that? A machine killed you. They kill that's all they do!"
Kyle is standing at the back door. "You've been strong for John. You've fought for him, and the future will be better because of you. I'm proud of you, Sarah."
He looks at her with great compassion. "But you need to trust John. Trust our son. He is a smart boy. You need to let him go. If he is to become the man who leads us, then you need to let him go."
"I'll always be with you Sarah." Kyle walks out the door. "I'll be waiting for you."
In a panic, Sarah leaps up shouting his name and stumbles, catching herself on the table, before getting to the back door.
"Don't leave me!" She shouts after him
Kyle is in the driveway. He looks up at her. "Speak to Derek. Remember the diamond merchant." Then he fades away.
Suddenly feeling dizzy and nauseous, Sarah collapses on the floor.
Sarah suddenly wakes up. She had fallen asleep, her head resting on the table. Her partially eaten sandwich in front of her. Fighting the revulsion she feels at eating it, she gobbles it down quickly.
That bastard! She thinks. Derek knows Jesse. I'll kill him, if she hurts my son. I'll kill him.
* * *
Derek and Jesse are walking outside to her car. He's carrying a box while she limps along.
"Thanks for helping me pack my things and take them out to my car." Jesses says as she unlocks and opens the trunk.
Derek sets the box inside next to the others he brought out earlier.
"Is this really necessary? I don't think Riley would come after you. She's just a girl."
"Just a girl? Look at me Derek. This is what "just a girl" did to me. But it isn't her I'm running from. If Riley returns, then that metal bitch could be following her."
Derek nods his head. "Where are you going?"
"Don't know, but I've got my eye on a couple of places. They may not be as nice as here, but they are nicer than that hell we left behind."
"Call me when you get settled in."
"I will." She says then kisses him.
Derek walks off, not looking back.
Once he's out of sight, Jesse walks around to the front of her car and gets in, without limping.
Starting the car she pulls out and drives off shifting through the gears without problem. Her left foot working the clutch just fine. She'll have to hurry, to get to her next appointment.
Derek watches as she drives away. As soon as he was out of sight he double backed and watched her from behind the ornate bushes around the apartment building. Something is wrong, he thinks. Sure, he doesn't like any metal, and but for that one exception when Cameron went rogue, she's done everything she could to protect John, despite his unwillingness to cooperate.
He understands Jesse's sympathies. He hates the metal bitch himself, but he was there in Mexico. He saw Cameron's concern for John's safety. He saw the surveillance photographs that Jesse took of John and himself. He steps out from behind the bushes and walks away. Jesse is up to something more than just using Riley as interference. Does she think she can play him? Ensnare him in whatever game she's playing? If she does, then she doesn't know him. No, Jesse doesn't know him at all.
Derek walks away quickly, trying to think of a way to figure out her plan and stop her before someone gets hurt, like John.
* * *
"John, you are not concentrating on the problem."
"What?" John says looking up from his paper.
"The combination of those two molecules will result in the loss of a hydrogen atom the gain of two carbon atoms. You also have your nitrogen atom in the wrong location."
"I'm sorry, but chemistry just isn't my thing."
"Well you need to make it your thing. Like physics, you need to know this stuff in the future."
John looks at her out of the corner of his eye. "Are you saying I need to know physics and chemistry to be the leader of the human resistance, or are you just saying that, thinking it will make me study harder?"
She looks at him with a straight face, but suddenly breaks into a big grin. "You only need to be familiar with it to understand your engineers, but the more you know now the better off you will be in the future."
"Well, for you I'll try harder, but it isn't easy concentrating with all that is going on right now."
John sees that his remark has suddenly brought a frown to her face.
"Hey! Why don't you and I take a break from chemistry, and get out of here."
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise." John says with a smile.
He's pleased when she smiles back. He grabs his wallet and handgun from his dresser and leads her out the door and down the back stairs.
* * *
Sarah's still sitting in the kitchen. After forcing herself to eat that sandwich, she suddenly felt sick and threw up her sandwich and most of what she drank into the kitchen sink. She's put the bottle of tequila away and has been thinking.
She doesn't know what to make of that dream with Kyle. It was like he was condoning their relationship, but he did remind her of something regarding Derek. That bastard knows Jesse. If he's in on this, and John gets hurt, may God help him, because there is nothing on this earth that would stop her from killing him.
Sarah pulls out her cell phone and dials Derek's number. It rings and rings, no answer, then goes to voice mail. She tries to speak in a normal voice, without sounding artificial, "Derek, this is Sarah. We've got a problem. Two of them actually. Call me as soon as you hear this message."
Sarah hangs up and decides to go upstairs and try to have a calmer talk with her son and Cameron. She doesn't like this relationship between her son and Cameron. Despite knowing this, they need Cameron, even though she doesn't trust her, but she trusts John.
Sarah goes up the stairs. The door to John's room is open. She walks in to find it empty. His books are sitting open on his desk. It looks like John was working on his chemistry schoolwork.
Sarah steps back into the hall and pushes open Cameron's door. Her room is empty. The bed clothes are messed up. Cameron never sleeps, so why are her bed clothes messed up?
She steps into the room and sees John's shoes and socks on the floor. Next to them are some of Cameron's clothes, including her underwear. Cameron is such a neat freak. She never leaves her things lying about. Early this morning when he called to John, he sounded nervous and ran down in his bare feet. There can only be one reason why her clothes and John's shoes and socks would be on her bedroom floor.
Sarah sinks down, sitting on the corner of Cameron's bed. It's worse than she thought.
Suddenly the sound of an engine starting in the driveway catches her attention. Sarah gets up quickly and runs down the stairs, through the kitchen and out the back door. She arrives at the end of the porch just in time to see the black Dodge Ram disappearing at the end of the drive.
"John!" She yells to no effect.
* * *
Catherine Weaver walks into the basement where Mr. Murch is working on the computer servers which operate the cybernetic body for the A. I. called John Henry.
Catherine stands there a moment looking at Mr. Murch as he has his head and a good part of his upper torso inside one of the computer cabinets.
"Mr. Murch." She says firmly and loud enough for him to hear.
There is a thud and an exclamation of pain just before Mr. Murch comes out from inside the cabinet.
"Hello Ms. Weaver. Is there something I can help you with?" He says rubbing his head.
"How much longer until John Henry is operational again?"
"The A. I. is still running, but the circuit board that interfaces his system with the body is fried."
"Have you been able to discover the cause?"
"It's difficult to say. I checked the log and it appears there was some kind of a power surge at the precise moment John Henry was running a detailed search on the background of one of the companies investors."
"Which investor?"
"The one you saw this weekend, Mr. Bennett."
"Did this power surge affect any other circuits?"
"No. And that is what I find very curious."
"Why is that, Mr. Murch?"
"A power surge big enough to fry that circuit board should have fried others. Then there is the fact we've got more surge protectors for John Henry then we've got for most other projects that are taking place. So a power surge that we had more than adequate protection against fried a circuit board. A power surge big enough that it should have fried other circuits, but only this circuit board was affected."
"What are you saying Mr. Murch?"
"Someone knew John Henry's weakness and attacked this board specifically. Without it, he can't access the cybernetic body. It's quite a coincidence this occurred over the weekend."
"So why not just replace the board."
"We can't."
Catherine frowns at him. "Why not?"
"We don't have any in stock, and the manufacturer doesn't make them anymore. And before you ask, I've called the company and they don't have any in stock either. But they have promised to check their warehouse. They say that sometimes old stock doesn't get cataloged and gets left in the warehouse. They'll call me as soon as they find the part. In the meantime, John Henry is doing a search on the Internet looking for a substitute and I'm trying to see if I can utilize some electronics from stock to bypass the damaged board."
"Good. I see you have it under control then. How are you doing John Henry?"
Across one of the video screens text scrolls by, "I'M DOING WELL. I NEED MY BODY BACK."
"We are doing our best for you John Henry. I promise you will soon have access to your body."
Catherine Weaver steps to one side of the room and pulls her cell phone from her pocket.
"Mr. Ellison. I need you to run a background check on one of our investors. ... Yes, I understand you can't personally but you still have friends in the bureau. ... His name ... Edward R. Bennett. ... That's right Mr. Ellison, that Mr. Bennett. One more thing, try to be discrete." Weaver breaks the call
"Mr. Murch?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I don't believe in coincidences. All things happen for a reason, and it is up to us to find the reasoning behind events, whether they be accidental or by design. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good."
Catherine Weaver walks out of the basement room.
A shiver runs down Murch's back as she departs. There's something very calculating about her. Like she measure's every word for its value before speaking. Then there is also the question of where she got the cybernetic body. He didn't ask any questions at the time, but it surpasses anything, everything they are doing in Japan or Korea.
Shaking off the feeling, Mr. Murch quickly crawls back under the cabinet and begins soldering in a voltage regulator circuit to replace the smoking ruin that is now laying in the container with the other damaged pieces.
**
John and Cameron are walking across a wide expanse of green lawn with clusters of bushes here and there with park benches. No one else is at the park, school is not out yet.
Cameron reaches over and takes his hand as she has seen other couples do when walking together, but she has the benefit of also feeling John's blood pressure and heart rate. He is significantly calmer than earlier in his bedroom.
John looks at her and smiles, "What does your diagnostic reveal?"
"You blood pressure and pulse are normal, perspiration slightly elevated, but that is probably due to the ambient outside temperature and not from any stress." She replies automatically, but then can see the devilish grin on his face. He was expecting an analytical answer.
"And what does that mean to you?" He asks.
"It means . . . you are happy." She says pulling him closer. "And so am I."
They reach the other side of the park and exit a gate onto a sidewalk. Across from them are many specialized stores.
"Are you ready for your surprise now?" John asks as he guides her down the sidewalk.
"I thought the walk through the park was your surprise. I enjoy your company."
"Well, I enjoy your company too, but your surprise is right over there." John says pointing at a small store across the street.
Cameron reads the signs and look at the displays in the windows. They are a supplier of formal wear and dance apparel. According to one sign they supply a local dance society. She looks at John.
"Why are we here?"
"I thought you'd might like a pair of ballet slippers to wear when dancing, instead of always doing it in your bare feet."
"But I don't mind dancing in my bare feet. My feet don't need the protection like your feet would."
"Cam, if you are going to dance ballet, then you should wear proper shoes. If you don't want them, then fine, but I wanted to get them for you as a thank you for your help and to apologize for being such an idiot. Will you let me buy you a pair?"
"Yes." Cameron says gently. "You never bought me a gift before."
"Well, I think its about time, don't you?"
Cameron smiles briefly at him then does a quick scan of the traffic. There is gap they can go through, now! Suddenly, Cameron grabs John's hand and rushes across the street with the sound of squealing tires, honking horns, yelling drivers, and John shouting apologies.
**
Derek walks across town and stops at a food court to buy himself a hot-n-spicy beef burrito and a Coke.
He sits on a bench to enjoy his meal. After a couple of bites he checks his phone.
He turned it off hours ago so he and Jesse could spend some time together without interruption. Derek is surprised to see that Sarah has left twelve voice messages.
He listens to the first. "Derek, this is Sarah. We've got a problem. Two of them actually. Call me as soon as you hear this message."
The next two are much the same.
The fourth message, "John's gone. He's run off with Cameron. Where the hell are you?"
By the sixth message she's swearing more than when those twelve guys got covered in raw sewage when that bomb hit the latrine one month before his leaving. She also sounds drunk, which isn't like Sarah at all.
He doesn't bother to listen to the rest of the messages. The last message was left over an hour ago, about the time he saw Jesse off.
Derek jumps up from the bench and drops his half eaten burrito in a trash bin and heads off to Sarah's place. Unless he can get a ride, it will take him half the day to walk there.
**
An hour later, and Cam has not only a pair of very nice pink ballet slippers, which cost more than John realized they would, but Cam also bought for herself a new pair of tights and a leotard.
She insisted on trying them on in the store, which took more time than John expected. Which was much to his embarrassment as a group of young schoolgirls came in as Cameron was modeling the fourth leotard of the afternoon. Seeing the schoolgirls, reminded him they had to pick up Riley. John told her to pick one, that they needed to go.
As they walk across the park, John asks her why she took so much effort to choose a new costume.
"I lost all of my dance clothes in the fire at the old house. I didn't want to ask Sarah to buy me new ones as I thought it would remind her of what happened the day of the fire. And as I didn't need them for another undercover mission, I didn't think she would let me buy them for personal reasons either."
"So when I offered to buy you shoes, you took that as an invitation to replace your wardrobe." John says with a grin.
"Yes. The shoes are the most expensive piece. As you offered to buy them for me, then I could easily argue in defense of buying the remaining costume." She replies with a straight face.
"Yeah, like we aren't in the fire enough at home." John mumbles. Oh hell, he thinks, they can't make things any worse than they are already.
John places their purchases on the backseat and closes the door. He goes to open the passenger door for Cameron but she stops him.
"What is it? Is there something wrong?" He asks suddenly looking about for any signs of danger.
"No John. I just want to say thank you. Not just for buying me the ballet slippers, but for finally showing me the friendship and love I've always wanted from you."
John hugs her and as he pulls away, she kisses him and soon the kiss becomes something more as she opens her mouth and her tongue darts into his.
**
Trevor is giving Kacy a lift across town to visit her OBGYN.
He points across the street and says, "Hey isn't that your neighbors truck?"
Kacy looks over and can see the black Dodge Ram parked on the side of the street. As they quickly approach, John's head comes into view.
"Yes it is. I can see John."
"Looks like he has girl with him. You ought to ask them over and I can put on a barbeque or something."
Kacy is still staring as she sees the girl John has been kissing. If it wasn't for her pregnancy enhanced breasts getting in the way, her jaw would be resting on her stomach. Which considering her state, isn't that much further away.
Kacy turns back to face the front of Trevor's car, as John, Cameron and their truck disappear from view. Her jaw snaps shut.
"Is something wrong?" Trevor asks glancing at her quickly. She appears to be in some kind of shock.
"No, um, no. Everything is fine. Just get me to my appointment please." Kacy says, hardly believing what she has just seen.
**
As John and Cameron get in their truck, a delivery man in gray coveralls sets a package down on a doorstep then pulls out his cell.
"Yeah, just found them. They are leaving now." He says as the truck pulls out into traffic.
He slides the phone back in his pocket and gets into a van and drives off.
**
A plumbers van pulls up outside the Connor's home. The passenger door opens and Derek hops out.
"Thanks for the lift." He says while closing the door.
He runs up the gravel drive to find the back kitchen door open but the screen door closed.
Something isn't right he thinks. It is too quiet.
Ignoring the obvious entry, he walks around to the front door and carefully opens it. He looks about carefully. It is semi dark, as the sun has moved off the front windows and the drapes are drawn on the western windows. He gets about three steps inside when he gets this uncomfortable feeling. That's odd, Sarah's messages indicated she was home.
Derek reaches behind his back to pull his gun out from his waistband, when suddenly a dark shape flies out of the shadows and the next thing Derek sees is stars. He lays on the floor unconscious. The only sound being that of the sound of tearing duct tape.
END OF CHAPTER
A/N - Sorry for such the long delay. I know a few of you have been clamoring for an update to this story. I apologize, but since posting the previous chapter to "What Are Dreams?" I was quite busy finishing up the edits to the last two chapters to "Reunion Part 2: Armageddon" and after posting those chapters I got quite busy organizing my notes into the first new chapters of "Reunion part 3: Babylon."
Then just when I thought I had this chapter ready, someone posted a new chapter to their fanfic which contained some very similar elements to my original chapter. So I've been busy the last couple of weeks making even more rewrites.
So, this is it, the seventh chapter in "What Are Dreams?" I hope you enjoyed it.
The1Russter 01-16-2010