Author's Note: Okay, first of all, I just want to say that I didn't intend for the last chapter to be turned into a hate-John fest. Yes, he was cruel, but Cameron was not without fault and you have to try to see things from John's perspective too. He's only getting part of the story; he still believes that it's impossible for Cameron to feel love, so he reacts out of anger and confusion to his own emotions. No offense intended to anyone. It was funny to read some of the reactions about John being a complete blockhead, but these were just my thoughts as I was writing it.

LadyKryptonite294 - Thanks! I'm glad you can feel their emotions too. And I'll keep the future one-shot in mind. :)

Augustus Paladin Maximus - Hey, I liked all the ideas. :) Number 2 was the best, very "Romeo and Juliet." I love it, but my actual ending is a little bit happier. :)

Pointzip73 - It's not pathetic. It's actually cool that you enjoyed it that much. Hope you like this chapter too!

TermFan1980 - Thanks for sticking up for John. :)

xxXxGracieyCullenxXxx - Glad you liked it so much. Go Jameron! And go Team Edward! (I'm assuming that from the "Cullen" part of your name. Correct me if I'm wrong.)

Dre4mwe4ver - Yes, you're writing the author, but this author likes to hear what you think. I like your insight into John's perspective. Pretty dead-on. "My" John. :) Sounds cool. And of course, I'm continuing. I never really even considered last chapter as a stopping place before. But, yes, a better ending is coming.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Eight:

The Tempest

John packed in silence and dragged his suitcase out to the bus. He saw both Cameron and Riley in line to stow their luggage, but neither made an effort to speak to him. Suddenly John couldn't wait to get back home.

When they boarded the bus, John sat in his same seat, purposely leaving a spot empty beside him, half-hoping Cameron would decide to join him. She didn't even look at him as she passed by him, sitting five rows back in an empty seat. John felt a pang of regret, but he didn't know how to make amends with her. She was a machine for heaven's sake; he shouldn't have to make amends.

He sat alone, staring out the window. As crazy as it seemed, life was so much simpler when all he had to worry about was the coming end of the world. Most of the students were still exhausted after staying up late for Jason's party, so the ride home started out fairly quiet, which was quite alright with John. He needed some time alone with his thoughts.

He caught himself stealing a glance at Cameron, and saw that she was reading the "Wizard of Oz." He suddenly felt horrible for saying all that stuff about her being just a machine. All she'd wanted was for him to accept her, and he'd thrown it in her face. Some leader I am, he thought despondently. Even now, she was doing what he'd stupidly told her. She was staying away.

After a few hours of driving, they pulled into the border patrol and an officer stopped the bus. John sighed and pulled out his passport to be checked once more. The door opened and John looked up to see the patrol officer step wordlessly onto the bus. Jeez, John thought. Someone's had a bad day at work.

The officer fixed a cold stare on the bus driver. "Is this the LA County students?"

"Yes—."

The officer ripped out a gun, sending several rounds into the driver's chest. John's mouth opened in shock and he ducked behind his seat, heart pounding in terror.

He saw Cameron charge forward from the back, a determined look on her face. "Run!" she shouted to him.

He didn't need any persuading. Cameron tackled the officer, shoving him out of the bus. The man grabbed Cameron and rammed her into the side of the bus. The entire vehicle rocked.

John staggered to his feet, grabbing his backpack and heading towards the emergency exit. No one could beat up Cameron like that. No human anyway.

And that could only mean one thing.

Triple 8.

John felt a spike of fear. How stupid he'd been! They were no safer in Canada than they had been in LA County. His mother was right. They could find him. They could always find him.

John flung open the emergency exit, dropping to the ground outside the bus. He looked back inside. All of the students were hiding under their seats, hands over their heads, crying in fear, but thinking this was just some regular shooter. Good. Let them think that.

John crawled around the corner of the bus, spotting the two Terminators fighting. The Triple 8 had thrown Cameron against the bridge railing, denting it. John fought the undeniable urge to rush to her aid, knowing it would be useless. There was nothing he could do against a Terminator. He would only get in the way…or get himself killed.

As the Triple 8 brought its pistol up again, Cameron's fist shot out, knocking the weapon to the ground. She then grabbed the Triple 8 and rammed him into the barrier, smashing through the railing, leaving nothing between the Triple 8 and a sheer drop to the river below. Cameron tried to knock the enemy Terminator off the bridge, but only partly succeeded.

The Triple 8 went over the ledge, grabbing onto Cameron's leg and dragging her over with it. John's eyes widened in horror and he sprinted forward towards her. She managed to grasp the edge of the bridge with one hand and dangled there with the Triple 8 still clinging to her leg. Her eyes locked on John.

"Run, John!" she demanded. "As long as he's dangling here, he can't get to you. Run to safety!"

John hesitated. His feet seemed frozen in place, unable to run away from her, to leave her alone with that thing. What was he thinking? He felt an unusual urge to protect her, though he was positively powerless to do so. Would he feel the same about Riley? If Riley was caught by a Triple 8, would he go back for her? Would he run?

He had a feeling he would leave, because if a Triple 8 caught Riley, she was as good as dead. But Cameron was almost equal to the Triple 8 in strength. He couldn't bear to leave her, sacrificing herself so he could escape. What had he done to deserve such loyalty? Such love?

What if the Triple 8 killed her? Destroyed her or her chip? He knew exactly what would happen. He'd feel an incomprehensible sadness, a gaping hole that could never be filled, not even by Riley. Because if Cameron ever died, he would be begging the Triple 8 to kill him. Because what was the use in fighting for the future when she wouldn't be in it?

And he no longer cared about what his mother or Derek thought. He couldn't deny it anymore. He felt stupid for blinding himself to these feelings before. After everything they'd gone through, he still hadn't seen Cameron's actions for what they were. He seen her love for him and he'd been denying it because it was utterly impossible. He knew better now.

He couldn't leave.

Because he loved her.

"Run, John, please!" Cameron pleaded, begging him to save himself.

This was the time. He'd be her hero, not just the hero of mankind. No fate but what we make.

I'm not running. Not today.

Despite her protests, he rushed forward and grabbed the Triple 8's fallen weapon. He darted to the edge beside Cameron, peering down at the Triple 8, who was still clinging to Cameron's leg. He pointed the gun down, shooting off several rounds into the Terminator's hand, careful not to hit Cameron. The blast caused the machine to lose its grip on Cameron and it fell, plummeting towards the river. John grasped Cameron's hand, hauling her up as the Triple 8 hit the water below with a tremendous splash.

"He'll be back," Cameron said quickly. "You should have run. You should have done what you're trained to do."

John gripped her hand tightly. "This is what I'm trained to do. I'm trained to be a soldier, a hero. And I don't leave my friends behind."

He hoped she understood his meaning.

"We have to go," she ordered. "Now."

John pulled their passports out of his backpack and they quickly passed through the border patrol, back into the USA. Not that it mattered. It didn't matter where they went. The military stationed on the border couldn't stop it. It would find him. Right now, the only thing that mattered was getting off the bridge and stealing a car that would get them far away before the Triple 8 managed to crawl out of the Detroit River.

"There!" John said, scanning the area near the end of the bridge. "There's a jeep by that warehouse!"

He and Cameron rushed over to it and climbed in. Cameron quickly hotwired it and pressed down on the gas pedal. They didn't move.

John groaned, looking at the gas gauge. "Out of gas. Just our luck."

Cameron looked up into the rearview mirror, spotting the Triple 8 walking out of the river. "Run, John," Cameron ordered. "Hide in the warehouse."

She jumped out of the car and rushed at the Terminator, slamming her hand up under its chin. The Triple 8's head snapped back at an unnatural angle, but it kept coming, throwing a punch that knocked Cameron backwards.

The Triple 8 stood over top of her, continuously punching her. Against his better judgment, John started to rush for her side, unloading the remainder of his ammunition at the Triple 8's head in a desperate attempt to impair its vision. Cameron stumbled to her feet and spotted John's approach. She quickly grabbed the Triple 8 from behind and hurled him into a huge dumpster on the side of the warehouse.

Spinning around, she stalked over to John and dragged him by the collar towards the warehouse. "Don't worry about me," she said. "I'll be fine. I'm just a machine, remember?"

John winced hearing his own words. "Cameron, wait, I didn't mean that…"

Cameron whipped her head around, and John saw the Triple 8 climb out of the dumpster and begin stalking towards them. Cameron gave John a push.

"Go!" she ordered.

John didn't need to be told twice. He darted into the warehouse.

************

John felt his way in between the maze of crates, trying to find a back entrance. What if Cameron couldn't hold the Terminator off? What if it came looking for him? His pace increased and he reached the back wall, horrified to see it was a dead end. "Oh no," he whispered. He started to turn around when he heard the warehouse door creak open.

He quickly crouched down, praying that the Terminator would not come this way. He heard the methodical slow steps…coming right for his hiding place.

John took a deep breath. It was coming closer, he could hear that. A few more yards and it would be standing right beside him. There was only one thing to do. One chance to buy some time and escape.

He had to charge the Terminator.

He almost laughed at himself. How stupid can I get? But he quickly realized that he would have a better chance with the element of surprise, rather than when the Terminator reached his hiding spot and put a bullet to his head. There would be no escape from that, no where to run. If he could charge it and knock it off its feet, he'd have a slightly higher chance of escaping. If Cameron were here, she'd calculate the exact increase in his survival percentage. He felt panic grip him. If the Triple 8 was coming his way, what had it done to Cameron? Would she die never knowing that he loved her?

John took another deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. The shadow crossed in front of his hiding place, and John suddenly moved, launching out and slamming his full body weight into the Terminator. It went down easier than he thought, lighter than he'd expected a Triple 8 to be.

He landed on top of it, prepared to jump up and bolt for the nearest exit when he finally saw its face.

"Cameron!" John felt the adrenaline rush out and he visibly relaxed. "Where is he?"

Cameron held up a battered CPU, and John nodded in acknowledgement, still breathing heavily with relief. He was suddenly aware that he was still sprawled out on top of her and he quickly scrambled backwards, face flustered. He leaned back against a crate, watching as Cameron did the same.

"Where is it?" he asked.

"Just outside the warehouse," Cameron stated. "I didn't have any thermite."

John nodded. "There's a box in my backpack. I left it in the jeep."

It was funny really. With most people, the most necessary item to bring on vacation was your toothbrush. With the Connor family it was a package of thermite and a flare. Yet another thing emphasizing the fact that he was not normal.

"I didn't mean it," John said quietly. "When I said you're just a machine. You're not."

"I understand," Cameron replied. "I did not mean what I said either."

John frowned. "What did you say?"

"That I was only acting. I wasn't."

John felt his heart rate speed up. That was what he'd been waiting to hear. Derek had been wrong. His mother had been wrong.

Riley had been right. Cameron did love him. Even when he'd thought it was impossible.

He cleared his throat. "That's good," he said. "Because I wasn't acting either."

She smiled and John felt his heart lift. The day's events seemed to fade into the background. The Terminator's attack, the near death experience, none of it mattered anymore.

Just him and Cameron.

He remembered a time that seemed so long ago, where Sarah had asked him how his day had gone. I didn't get killed and she didn't kill anybody. I'd say it's a pretty good day.

John smiled to himself.

Pretty good day, indeed.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

author's note: Alright, just one more chapter to go! I hope you all enjoyed the action sequence. It's really the first one I've written with a Terminator story. Let me know what you think!