A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I tried to reply to everyone, but my internet connection is shoddy, so some of my replies may not have gotten through. But know that I do read them and they really do help.
It appears I forgot to say this earlier, so: I OWN ABSOLUTLY NOTHING. Seriously, if I did, we all know how the show would have gone down.
Expect a delay of a few days between chapters from now on. Looking back over what I wrote, I can see heaps of ways it could have been better, and I really didn't take the time to plan out future chapters and to make sure everything flows together that I should have.
I know it kinda sucks, but you'll get better quality writing because of it- and you'll be happy, and I'll be happy, and then the happiness will spread...
I'm still updating 'Why Do You Love Me?', but this story has priority, since I started it first.
I gave you an extra-long chapter to make up for my lateness.
Please know I'm really not happy with this chapter, so I may change it in the near future. I know I missed out some crucial scenes, I may change that or add them in the future, I'm not sure.
This chapter was originally very long, so I had to cut it in half.
Sometimes
Chapter 3.
The next morning
Her voice ran on a constant loop throughout his head. The tone she used, her gestures...It was official. He was going crazy.
Anthropomorphism: the act of attributing human characteristics to non-human or non-living things.
Non-human and non-living objects.
She is, he tells himself, no more than an advanced automaton.
He was beginning to forget again.
John forced himself out of bed, and made his way down the hallway, down the stairs.
He stopped abruptly on the third last step.
Bright morning light filled the lounge room, casting a warm glow on everything it touched. Open windows and doors throughout the house caused curtains to dance lightly. And in the middle of the room Cameron sat, legs folded beneath her, leaning over a book, head slightly inclined.
He watched her gently run a finger along the edge of a page, before turning it. A hand reached out to brush the hair from her face.
A second later she flicked it over her shoulder. He could almost hear her sigh; the gesture was so human. Her face was perfectly serene, her eyes intently focused on the words before her.
Apparently humans were made in god's image. He had never believed in any god.
In that moment he couldn't imagine a being more perfect then her.
Oh, how he so desperately wanted to believe in her.
He nearly jumped when her head lifted to look at him. Their gazes met and he smiled at her; he couldn't help it.
A shadow of confusion flitted across her features before a slight smile took its place.
...
Derek watched John enter the kitchen from his seat at the table. The kid had that dazed faraway look on his face. He could guess where it came from.
It was dangerous, the way he looked at her. She was dangerous. Yes, a gun may be a useful tool; but only if you can control it.
Derek had never had any desire to understand the tin cans. He didn't need to; he was only an average soldier- follow orders, blow stuff up, and so forth. Besides, it wasn't like there was anything to understand.
But Cameron was, much as he hated to admit it, different. Not in the way that John perceived, or wanted her to be, no. But there was an extra layer to her, an unheard of ability to deceive.
Then there was the fact that she could seem so human. And pretty. Hell, even he had to admit the gift wrapping was perfect. But that's all that it was; something beautiful to hide the ugliness underneath.
Not that John seemed able to remember that. He was fooled far too easily by her fake humanity.
At least he hadn't seen her dancing; that would have been a mind fuck.
John sits down across from him, pulling him from his thoughts.
"Hey." John greets.
"Morning" Derek grunts through his toast.
"So where's Mum?"
"She said something about following a lead. Some dodgy tech company. Said she'd be back by lunch."
"And you let her go by herself?"
"As if anyone could stop her. Besides, nothin' will happen." He pauses to take a swig of coffee. "She's guessing that it may have something to do with the marks on the wall and her currant conspiracy theory." John doesn't look reassured "Nothing will come of it, and she knows it. Sarah's not stupid; she wouldn't put herself in danger."
John sighs and gets up, walking over to the cabinets to rummage for food. He finds a packet of Doritos, and leans against the counter to eat them.
Cameron silently walks through the kitchen. She snatches the bag from his hand as she goes past.
"Hey!" He protests.
She pauses to look over her shoulder. "This is an inefficient breakfast." She explains.
Derek can't help but smirk.
...
When Riley comes over and they decide to paint his room, he remembers what a pleasant distraction she is.
Even though he knows what she is doing, he has come to care for her. She is sweet in a vulgar way, funny and kind. So human.
There are still things he doesn't understand though; she is too careless, too rudimentary a liar to be a hardened soldier. She cannot have come of her own accord. He knows she must have a handler; although they are yet to appear. It doesn't matter. His mother had always taught him the value of patience.
Still, she was hurt, and that was unacceptable.
...
Riley was there, again.
Next time, Cameron decides; she will allow him to fill his body with harmful chemicals and preservatives.
Although, even she must admit, it is somewhat absurd to be concerned about some unfortunate dietary choices when in a few years time they will have to worry about nuclear radiation.
Well, she would worry. He would be as flippant and heroic as ever.
It would make him a legend to his people; to the world.
They didn't know of all the narrowly missed bullets, the far to close assignation attempts.
Or the time she had to break him out of Skynet; before they realised who he was, and anyone at the camp noticed he was gone.
He had ignored her warnings about the extra coverage needed, the extremely dangerous area they were travelling. The result of which was him in a very small cage, and her with rather large bullet wounds, and a not insubstantial amount of damage.
He least he had the decency to look contrite. And guilty. Apologetic.
This John, however, didn't seem to have the same ability.
...
The look on Riley's face is one of pure fear.
He doesn't understand why Cameron is so viciously distrusting of her, there is no logical reason. None that she knows of, anyway.
If Cameron did know, he is rather confident that Riley would be dead.
"We need to talk. Now."
"I'm fine. Talk" He can practically feel Riley's relief and Cameron leads him away.
...
He followed her outside.
"She's lying." Cameron states.
"About what?" He asks challengingly
"I don't know," She admits "but her pulse was elevated and her hand was perspiring. She's lying."
"Yeah, her pulse was elevated because you were freaking her out. As usual."
Cameron looked at him, with an expression of almost...pity. "What happened to her face?" the question seems slightly rhetorical.
"I don't know," he said dismissively "she didn't say."
Cameron obviously didn't believe him, her face told him that much. "I can get her to tell me the truth." She says gently.
She knew what his response would be.
"Stay away from her." He warned, glaring at her before turning away.
Strong fingers grasp his wrist before he can leave.
...
Panic floods through her body. She knows that it knows. The things it says, it must do. Not that it matters now. However much John cares for her; she's as good as dead.
But Riley knows it wouldn't be so simple. There wouldn't be a shot to the head or a broken neck, followed by darkness. The tin can would make certain of that.
Even if she tells everything, it'll kill her. It's what they do. John won't be able to do anything, even if he wants to. She knows he doesn't have as much control of it as he thinks he does.
All she ever wanted was peace. A home, family. Somebody to love her. She had thought that Jesse did, that John might-someday.
She sees a razor on the side of the bath.
But then a voice rings through the door.
...
It had been a long, tiring day; even if it is only lunchtime. All Sarah wants is to take a hot shower. Moving down the hallway she sees John's silhouette out on the balcony. She'll talk to him later, when she can be bothered stringing a sentence together.
She turns to go into the bathroom, only to find it locked. "Derek?" she calls.
No answer comes. "Cameron?" Still nothing. "Hey! Derek, if you've used all the hot water again- so help me-"
"It's just me, Riley."
"Oh, right. Sorry. Are you going to be long? I just-" The lock clicks and the door swings open, revealing Riley.
"Sorry." She smiles "all yours" and steps aside.
Sarah manages to force a greeting out.
"Have you seen John?" the girl asks.
"Outside, last I saw."
"Right, thanks." Riley walks down the hall, in the wrong direction. Sarah considers calling out to her, but finds she hasn't got the energy. Besides, when she glances back out to the balcony, she can she no-one.
...
Cameron gently, but firmly, pulled him the stand next to her, beside the low brick wall, out of sight from the hall.
"You're lying." She states. But her tone is not accusing.
"Huh. And is my pulse elevated?" he asks.
She looks down at her hand, still holding his wrist. She lets go as if burned.
John acutely feels the loss. He hates himself for wanting to reach out and take her hand.
She looked back up at him "No. I don't know. I didn't check."
"Well why'd you grab me?"
"Because I didn't want you leave." She said simply. "And you are lying."
"Yeah, what about?"
"Everything." She said.
He looks at her blankly, barely controlling the pain threatening to cross his face. "And just what is that supposed to mean?" He gets no immediate response "Nothing, right? Nothing you say or do means anything."
Cameron closed her eyes and turned partially away. He watched the wind play through her hair.
"What? Not going to cry are you?" He says bitterly, rhetorically "There wouldn't be much point; not with me."
Cameron turned back to him "No." She says softly, vehemently. "I won't cry." She steps back towards him. "I do nothing but what you expect of me."
"What?"
Although standing directly before him, she does not meet his eyes. "I'm a scary robot. That is what you ask of me, and that is what I give you. To be anything else, anything more...you cannot comprehend the concept. Let alone accept it."
TO BE CONTINUED...
WTF is up with Cameron? What will Riley do? How will John react to Cameron's little speech?
Again, please remember I am not happy with this, but I felt really bad not posting anything.