A/N: I apologize for the increasing times in updates; it's finals week, and this is getting more complex to write.

Chapter Five

Bonds and Ties

Joseph glanced off towards the kitchen. When Sarah started to move, he averted his gaze quickly and curled up in the corner he was in. Across the room, in another corner, John Henry was tenths of an inch away from the wall, either staring intently at the composite materials in it or even shut off. Whether or not he was made little different to Sarah; he was being punished, and she had made that point very clear.

The fight had continued, amidst cheers and outbursts from the small audience, until it had been enough to distract Sarah from whatever she was doing. She had stormed into the living room, intent on finding what was causing so much noise. She walked in when John Henry and Joseph had each other by the throat, and the others were cheering them all. From there it had gotten very nasty. Everyone had become aware of how close they were to passing over when Sarah screamed.

Reactions had been incredibly quick. With speed that only a Terminator could employ, Cameron had dived in front of John, trying to pick him up from behind and head for the door. Derek and Ellison ran into each other for a desperate attempt for the same door, and settled for placing the table and chairs between them and her. Jack, Mark, and Fred tried to scramble past her, each individually hoping that they wouldn't be the one caught. Joseph had actually dived out the window, shouting for John Henry to follow. Caught up in the whirlwind of panic, John Henry had done just that.

It was natural, Cameron believed, that everyone would panic at the sight of Sarah angry. It made even more logical sense when you added that Sarah had a shotgun in her hands and had been loading it. The three soldiers had been the first she'd struck, using her elbows and the shotgun. None of them had expected her to react so well or so brutally; they now understood where General Connor had gotten his toughness. Next had been John Henry and Joseph; Sarah had literally fired out the window at them. Luckily for them, they were already gone.

Finally she had turned her wrath on them: Cameron, John, Derek, and Ellison. For ten minutes she shouted at them and asked them all why they thought the fight was such a good idea and why none of them had tried to break it up or prevent it. Derek, in his usual rebellious mood that Cameron had identified, argued back angrily that it was enjoyable to watch. That had centered Sarah's attention on him, and as they began to fight, Cameron had slipped John out the back. Ellison was already gone by that point, which Cameron had marked as intelligent.

Now that they were back at the house, all four Resistance members were suffering from broken pride, bruises and hits, and Sarah's meaningful glare. Derek had the worst of it, probably because he was used to arguments with Sarah. Cameron's processes used arguments loosely. Upon their return, John Henry and Joseph were sent to different corners to think about what they had done. It was obvious to her sensors that Joseph wasn't; John Henry was analyzing his efficiency and what he could've done better. Ellison had only been berated, and afterwards he had asked Derek what he had gotten into. Derek had replied that he didn't want to know before sipping a cold glass of water.

Miraculously, perhaps because Cameron had kept herself in-between John and Sarah, John had gotten off without any repercussions or punishment of any kind. It showed in the still amazed, relieved look on his face. Ellison shared it with him. Derek, Mark, Jack, and Fred were eyeing the both of them jealously, no doubt upset that they had gotten hit around but neither of them had suffered even a little bit for it. Cameron would have to make sure they didn't get any misguided revenge on John and set to watching them as well, assigning two processes to each of them. Seventeen processes were still analyzing John Henry.

Dinner was pancakes, and for once Derek did not try to tease Sarah about her cooking. John also ate in silence; Ellison was too polite and scared to mention anything. At his insistence, though, dinner that night began with a prayer. He had said it; no one else really knew much on how to say one. Cameron paid attention to what he said during it, and wondered how a supernatural deity would hear them out of everyone else on the planet and somehow grant them health and safety. She didn't understand it, unless the deity actually came down and protected them. John Henry had turned to look when Ellison had said the prayer; he was curious about it, too.

Mark, Jack, and Fred were probably the most enthusiastic about dinner, and might have been one of the reasons Sarah was in such a better mood. They loved it. In fact, Cameron estimated they told her they enjoyed it on average of once every 8.97258 seconds. They certainly appeared to: each ate faster than Derek or John usually did. Cameron knew from experience what food was like during the war; they were enjoying what they had now. Analyzing behavior………comparing……….processing comparison for use………would be efficient and logical to instill behavior in John………would lower stress levels.

After dinner was over, Sarah returned to her room to sleep. Taking glares at the machines, the three Resistance fighters left to go to their place to sleep. They offered Derek an invitation to come with them and leave the machines here. He was tempted, but he refused. That was in character with him; Derek wouldn't leave John, just as she wouldn't. Mark, Jack, and Fred left with one final farewell to General Connor, stating when they would return in the morning. John had acknowledged them properly, warning them not to do anything reckless. Cameron agreed; they needed fighters for what was coming.

Ellison also left after dinner. When he went to leave though, John Henry requested whether he could stay and examine their behavior. Derek immediately began grumbling and muttering about metals. Unable to take anymore, he went to his room. He grumbled more when John said yes.

*****

"John? I want to talk to you," Derek said, sticking his head in the doorway. John and Cameron, sitting at his desk and working on his paper exchanged a glance before John nodded. Derek hated how they did that; what could they possibly know about each other? What did they share? They started to stand up. "Hold on; I just want to talk to John."

Immediately Cameron started to disapprove, but John stopped her. "It's fine, Cam. Derek won't hurt me," he joked. Still she hesitated before slowly sliding back into her seat. Her eyes never left John as he walked off with Derek. Derek was certain that if somehow John got so much as a paper cut while he was with him, Cameron would make Derek pay. He hated how she did that. John wasn't in danger twenty-four seven.

They entered Derek's room, who shut the door behind them. "What's up Derek?" John asked, leaning against the wall and sticking his hands in his pockets. "This isn't about Cameron, is it?"

"No, it's not about her," Derek assured. He hesitated before going further. "It's about your mother." John tensed immediately, just like Derek knew he would. But John had nothing to worry about; Derek was the one more worried about what would happen to him.

"Is there something wrong with her?" John asked. "She hasn't done anything, has she?"

"No, she's not in any trouble," Derek assured. How was he supposed to explain this? "It's just that I…" He left it trailing as he searched for words. John was bright kid, and he was quick to pick up on the vacuum.

His face was mix of revulsion and terror. "Oh disgusting! No! Bligh! Ah man, come on!"

"It's not what you think," Derek warned.

"You. Are. Sleeping. With. My. Mom! That's gross!" John actually gagged and looked ready to puke.

"No I'm not!" Derek nearly shouted back, flush in his cheeks. John, in the middle of a gag-reflex, looked at him skeptically. "I just…have an interest in her."

"But you're my uncle!" John protested, holding his stomach. He did look green.

"Shut up already, you idiot!" Derek ordered. John glared at him. "Okay, maybe you think it's a little gross." John gagged in agreement. "I just thought you deserved to know."

"Great, more knowledge I never wanted. At least I'd rather have you tell me than her."

"She doesn't know."

John's head came up, surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah; I already said Kyle and I never dated each other's girls."

"So she doesn't think…?"

"No," Derek assured. His face hardened. "But if you so much as tell her…"

"Oh please! No!" John gagged again. Derek sighed; at least the secret was safe. He let John go, and to his displeasure, John headed towards the bathroom. It wasn't that bad. Without a doubt he would tell Cameron, in some hope of letting go. Hopefully Cameron would be told to keep the secret as well. Otherwise, regardless of the future, the metal was scrap.

*****

Cameron considered the next day very important to her and John regarding Sarah. She passed by Mark, Jack, and Fred, who were having a glaring contest with John Henry. John Henry was examining their faces and put names to them. Without any hint of privacy Cameron walked into Sarah's room. Sarah was checking her gun. Something told Cameron's processes that maybe this wasn't a good time. But Sarah never liked having information withheld that involved her son. She would risk it; it wasn't like Sarah could pinpoint joints in her skeleton that could maim her.

"What do you need, tin miss?" Sarah asked, not looking up from what she was doing.

"I need to talk to you about John," Cameron replied.

"What about him? Is he sneaking out at night?"

"No; John has been sleeping with difficulty at night. I wanted to tell you that I wanted to marry him."

The gun snapped sharply into place as Sarah's eyes came up to meet hers. Analyzing facial expressions………expression is combination of surprise, disbelief, anger, and denial………Processing………Sarah does not know how to react………Recommended Course of action: Let Sarah begin questioning; will result in less combat.

"Excuse me?" Sarah asked, her voice loaded with more emotions that Cameron could recognize on the spot.

"I wanted to marry him."

Something in Sarah's eyes said that she didn't like the idea, and the probability of Cameron being shot went up 11.56%. She didn't even seem to be fully aware of what Cameron was suggesting. "Why on earth would you want to get married to my son?" Sarah had emphasized 'my son.'

"That is what people do when they want to develop a closer relationship."

"And the two of you want a closer relationship?"

"Yes."

Something glimmered in Sarah's eye before she answered. "You don't need to get married to have a closer relationship. No." Cameron pressed her request; she wanted to.

"I was informed that marriage was appropriate among couples. Was I wrong in that evaluation?"

"No, but you're a machine. Did John put you to this?"

"No. I offered it to him first. He doesn't know I'm talking to you."

So this was solely instituted by the machine. Sarah wasn't so certain know how bound Cameron was by her code or programming or whatever John explained ran machines. However, she was certain that even without knowing what a programming language was that Cameron wanting a marriage was something beyond what she was originally made to do.

"What gave you this idea?"

"I've examined on television that married couples are closer and have a greater understanding of each other. I want that with John."

Of course; Cameron still hadn't fully grasped that television wasn't real. Still, it wasn't a bad idea to have instilled in you. "And you're telling me because…?"

"People often ask permission of the parents of the people they wish to marry. Since I cannot ask John's father, and since I have no parents, I have to ask you. And John Connor's stress level would be reduced if he knew you would not find out and damage him."

If Cameron was human, she would be the polite young woman every mother hoped her son brought home. But this was different: Cameron was a machine, just like the one that had killed Kyle. Just like the ones that had attempted their lives so many times. And yet…

"You know it's funny," Sarah said, "I once thought that a machine would be the perfect father for John when he was younger. It would never do anything to harm him in anyway and would always look after him. You're offering a similar choice as something different."

"How is that different?" Cameron asked, obviously wanting to know.

"Because you want to be something more intimate than a husband. Something that is morally wrong; you're a machine and he's human. And you have, according to John, emotion."

"I do."

"Beside the point. Any sane mother would not allow their only son to marry a machine."

"You are sane."

"But I'm not normal." Sarah bit on her lip as she thought. "I don't want to think about this right now. Get out." As Cameron made to leave, Sarah added, "John's not in any danger from me." Cameron nodded in acknowledgment and left Sarah to her confused thoughts.

Outside the room, she searched for John. It was strangely quiet inside the house. The four Resistance fighters were crowded on the couch, eyes watering. Cameron's processes couldn't confirm why. Ellison was reading the bible at the table, tears dripping down the sides of his cheeks. John wasn't in the house; neither were John Henry or Joseph.

Analyzing visual evidence………states of sadness………does not match………processing………they are not crying because they are depressed; means John Connor is not damaged………processing possible reasons: onions, humor, longing, death; processing senses………there is no trace of onion in the air; tears and posture do not match humor or longing………there is no sign of death around the environment; suggested action: Find John Connor and ensure health; secondary action: find reason of tears……..processing and comparing past data………John Connor has gone outside to escape pressure.

Cameron walked out through the door. John was sitting on the porch step, tears streaking silently down his face as well. He looked up at her and smiled through the tears. "Hey Cam," he mumbled. She sat down next to him. To her surprise, John unpredictably put his head against her shoulder and held her close to him. Trying to comfort him from whatever unknown disturbance was making him cry, Cameron put an arm around him, too.

"What is wrong?" Cameron asked, her emotion simulator automating. She was concerned for him.

"Nothing's wrong," John managed between a sob. "Look," he said, pointing a finger. Cameron followed the path with her eyes.

Joseph was sitting on one of the swings. He wasn't swinging, but holding it as still as he could for a seat. Next to him, John Henry sat in the swing next to him, locked in the same motionless maneuver. Joseph had a children's book in his hands, opened to a page. John Henry was pointing words out and speaking with Joseph, who was struggling to see what John Henry was.

"John Henry is teaching Joseph to read," Cameron confirmed. The statement brought fresh tears to John's eyes. "Is this wrong?"

"No," John half-laughed, watching the scene. "No; it's definitely not wrong. It's perfect. That's why it's so sad. Why couldn't it have been like this? We're fighting the machines, yet here in the middle of it all, a man is learning to read from a machine." John was silent, and Cameron took in what he said. He meant the future. He wished the future could be like this. Cameron still didn't understand why it was making him cry though. She stored the event, watching it closely as John did. Maybe one day she would understand.

She knew John cried harder when John Henry complimented Joseph for getting a word right.