Thanks to those who bothered to review! And also props to my readers!
TSCC FAN: Thanks! And don't you worry, I won't let you wait sooo long to know most of the questions. And no to whether the character is Jesse or Riley. They already appeared and I meant it when I say introduced back in. You'll find the character in there with a mild appearance.
Cptlatnok: Thanks and nope, keeping him in the dark would kill me too much to write it.
Nomad79: Yeah, I figured that the Cameron getting weak would piss someone off but it was all part of my plan to make John toughen up and not be a weakling. I think this is the best way and not get John to just automatic toughen up. That'll be too cheesy and weird. I mean there had to be a reason for such a huge change right? I think that'll explain most of the stuff there. John and Cameron was very careful if you noticed, during the mission to leave any tracks. And don't worry if I would misunderstand the review, I've received worst and I still replied so do not worry. Every writer has the rights to write what they want but every reader also have the rights to review what they want. Thanks so much for reviewing and reading!
mshig11: Thanks and yeah, the baby and Cameron would definitely be the steppingstone for John's final toughening up! Yay! Finally a compliment for my pancake scene! The familiar face would only have a small appearance but gets bigger soon!
zahnfan23: Thanks and I'm glad the protective John is working good for you.
acer-sigma: Lols! Why he didn't ask would be simply revealed later on. But right now, it'll be safe to assume your assumption of him being too happy to care. I mean which going to be father would ask how his baby was made even if the mom is a terminator. Yup, John's attitude would be super protective and I hope you wouldn't be put off by it.
mitchellsunf: I'm glad I finally got you hooked! Thanks and drop as much review as you'd like, preferably more feedbacks (Good/bad)!
kaotic2: Lols and thanks! Don't worry about repetitions, it never gets old! Sarah and Derek's reaction would be quite late, I apologise for that in advance.
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Really huge thanks to the reviews again! Each and every review/suggestion/critism are all taken into serious consideration to change the story so be happy to review and put your thoughts into this! Hope this chapter don't disappoint.
Last thing, I went through it twice but it's late and I hope the typos, which I'm so prone to have, wouldn't be too much to bear!
Chapter 20: Mission
Cameron blinked, stirring from her sleep. Her hand flew up to her belly and rested there for the moment. Then it crept up to her naked right breast. Her fingers felt the rough fabric of the bandage and her eyes open instantly. I'm dangerous…She thought. I let John get into danger. The baby weakens me. It made me scared…scared of losing it. Cameron didn't move as she blinked. She'd consider the baby was a gift from John and now the gift from him will cause his death.
She can protect him and she knew it. Cameron felt the bullet in her flesh. The pain was unbearable and she fell back instantly. She doesn't know what's going on though John told her she's only becoming more human. However, this human she's becoming have a very low pain threshold, apparently. She doesn't know why she couldn't bear the pain.
Cameron has heard of how someone's immunity would be low if they had not been sick. Maybe she's just not used to the pain. Sarah use to say: You'll get use to it. She tried and tried for that moment, that second but she couldn't hold the pain in to kill that human that wanted to harm John. In the end, John had to do it himself and it pained him to kill another human. Cameron could see it in his sad eyes.
She hated the fact that the baby crippled her abilities of protecting her love but she can't bring herself to get rid of it. Cameron had tried it interacting with babies through Ryan, and she loved it. Cameron can't understand how can Skynet bear to kill all the babies in the future? Even a machine like her did not understand why but love babies all the same, why can't a more advance machine like Skynet love them?
Cameron read about how babies looked like their parents and can't help but wonder if this baby looks like John. She wanted to touch it. The small fingers, the smooth skin and she wanted to feel how it's like to have her child. Cameron laid there, thinking, almost hoping that her baby would have John's eyes. She smiled was her hand went down to touch her belly.
After a while, she realized she felt unnaturally energized and a little restless. She shifted her position, pulled her attention away from the baby and for the first time that morning realized John had his arms around her, as usual.
"John." Cameron placed a hand on his bare upper arm which ended with his hand on her bare thigh underneath the sheet. .
"Hm?" He replied blearily, eyes still closed.
"John," She repeated firmly.
"What is it, Cam?" John mumbled drowsily.
"Wake up." She spoke softly.
"Why?" He groaned, turning to lie on his back.
"We have to go to work and-" Cameron reminded but before she could finish, her cellphone rang.
She rolled over, careful not to roll over the side of the bed, and picked up her cell, "Hello."
John blinked and propped his torso up on his elbow, suddenly alert and listening attentively.
"Are you alright?" Cameron frowned in worry slightly, "Okay. You don't have to call here yourself…alright. Bye." She smiled before hanging up. Instantly, her smile slid off her face.
"Who's that?" John asked.
"I thought you are asleep." Cameron sat up in bed.
"Was. Who's that?"
"Aiden."
"Aiden?" John repeated, in an unbelievable tone, "What does he want?"
"He called to tell me we could have a day off. The whole company is having a day off because police would be scurrying all over Kaliba."
"Awesome." John grinned, laying back down on the bed and yawned hugely.
"Still, get out of bed,"
"There isn't work today."
"That's why it's the perfect time for us to get the papers done." Cameron said matter-of-factly, swinging aside the blanket and revealing her naked body. Just as she was about to reach for her robes, John turned.
"Wait." He shifted over and leaned on his elbow in front of her, "Can't we laze in bed for a while?" He asked pleadingly.
Cameron looked at him earnestly before sighing in defeat and nodded.
John smiled and got her to lie down. She laid her head on his shoulder blade.
"I missed so much." John mumbled.
"What?"
"Of your pregnancy. I missed over 16 weeks of it!" John kissed her forehead as she looked at him.
"You didn't miss much." Cameron replied, trying to assure him he didn't but she know better. John Connor isn't that easy to be convinced. He smiled but was still a little soured face, "You could make up for it now."
"How?"
"Anyway you can think of." Cameron smiled. John nodded, grinning. He rested his hand on her belly, feeling the little bulge there.
"It still amazes me how I could miss it being there!" John smiled as his hand traced Cameron's smooth skin gently. She didn't reply but rested in his embrace in pure bliss as John's hand explored her belly, face portraying awe. She chuckled inwardly, not wanting him to mistake her again as teasing him but it surprises her how John can really amuse her most of the time.
His warmth spread into her body, warming her up instantly just like how it would every time he caressed her. His fingers traced her belly and paused at her naval, "When is he or she due?" John asked excitedly.
"Later on." Was Cameron answer which surprises him that it didn't come in weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds.
"Good." John muttered to himself, feeling his heart flutter in joy. He himself couldn't believe the first child of John Connor would be sitting in her stomach right now! John had thought of having some kids with Cameron (if she could have them or they'll adopt) but not this soon that's for sure. He had wanted kids later on, when he was at least 21 but well, who's complaining? I could very well be mistaken as my child's brother…
"John," Cameron, who was admiring John, spoke, snapping him out of his reverie.
"Yeah?"
"What do you want to name our child?" Cameron asked curiously.
"Something meaningful. I want our child to be a fighter, that's for sure." John grinned to himself foolishly.
"I'm surprised you're not expecting more." Cameron tilted her head a little on his shoulder blade.
"More?" John scoffed playfully, "Like how mom wanted me to lead the resistance even when I'm 4 minutes old? I'd never do that to our baby, Cameron. I could never. I know too well how it felt to have us pinning too much hope on the baby. I don't want him or her to be me. I'm not a kid anymore, Cameron, I've never been one and I'm sixteen. I don't feel like one, maybe only when I'm with you, a little," His hand froze and rested flatly on her belly and his face fell in hurt and disappointment for himself.
Cameron cupped his cheek in her right hand, "You're just special."
"Why? John Connor again?" He looked away, feeling down at talking about this again. John didn't want to throw a tantrum now, when Cameron's pregnant. He didn't want her to suffer his anger but he just couldn't do anything to stop himself
"No." Cameron's hand pulled his face back to look her in the eye, "Because I love you and only you." John stared at her, a little taken aback by her answer. He sure wasn't expecting that. But what more can he say? This answer was too good and pleasing for his heart. John leaned in and their lips met in a gentle touch before becoming increasingly passionate.
Her hands rubbed the back of his head gently while his rested on her back, pressing his own body against her belly gently.
*
She threw the towel on the chair, picking up her bathrobes and wore it. She turned and saw him sleeping there, sprawled and naked under the sheets. She could hear his soft snoring as her cell broke the silence.
Jesse dove for her phone but it was too late, he was already sitting up, blanket covering him from lower abdomen and down.
She resisted cussing when the caller-ID read 'Riley'. However, this call had to be picked up or he would be suspecting her or something. And worst, she couldn't even lie it was a stupid insurance guy because she didn't even register her existence to the government. Maybe because I took the express trip here and used neither plane, boats, vehicles nor my legs…She scoffed, flipping open the cell and pressing it to her ear.
"Hello?" She spoke softly but forcefully into the phone.
"Hello? Jesse?" that wimpy tunnel rat's voice sounded through the phone.
"What is it?" Jesse gritted her teeth in annoyance.
"Can I meet you?" Riley asked.
"No. Sweetie, I'm busy now." Jesse said in her sweetest voice that sounded like a coy viper that is ready to strike to Riley, "I'll call you back, bye." Jesse hung up before Riley could speak another peep.
"Who's that?" He asked, shuffling around the floor filled with his clothes, looking for his pants.
"A resistance fighter." She replied and mused, that's not exactly wrong…Tunnel rats resist too don't they?
He raised his eyebrow, slipping on his pants, "Resistance fighter? Jesse, you never told me about it." He zipped and buttoned his pants before marching in and towered over her.
"You never asked." She replied matter-of-factly.
"I trusted and expected you have to have the initiative to tell me the truth." He growled dangerously and she know how close he is to putting a bullet to her sorry existence. Jesse realized the change these days.
"I told you the truth!" She scowled before walking to the chair and picking up her towel, "I'm here to stop her, to save him."
"He's gone so what have you been doing?" He said sourly.
"Looking for him." Jesse replied honestly.
"Found anything?
"No." Another lie…
"Next time you're looking for him, I'm coming." He spoke, putting on his shirt.
"There's no next time for a long shot sweetie." Jesse hung her towel in the bathroom.
"Why's that?"
"Connor runs away with that metal! He left his own mother to be with it! We're all dead!" Jesse snapped.
"Jesse!" He growled just as his cell rang. He took his out of his pocket and stared it at sourly. He neither moved to reject nor pick it up.
"Who's that?" Jesse asked.
"No body." Was the reply before he marched to the door, "See you tomorrow, don't call me I'll call you." The door slammed shut.
"Derek." Jesse pursed her lips.
*
"So what we got?" Cameron asked, passing John a cup of water.
John muttered a thanks and took the cup, patting the space beside him with his other hand. She sat down next to him, hips brushing his.
"We got a few companies and names." John replied, downing the water, feeling his bloated stomach gurgling and swam with Cameron's pancakes; much better one than Sarah's and milk.
"Names?" Cameron frowned, sitting forward in her seat.
"Random ones. They are definitely not employees in Kaliba. But there are information. Full and real information. Where they lived, worked and even owned vehicles." John explained, scrolling down the list which he had collated from the papers they had.
"Skynet's targets." Cameron mumbled, reading off the list and memorizing anything they scrolled pass.
"We don't know for-"
"We know, John, we do know!" Cameron said, with some force that surprised John, "It's always the same. The way they work; the way I work."
John was taken aback by her rage, "Cameron, you're not them anymore. How many times do I have to tell you...." He placed a gentle hand over her shoulder. She leaned in and rested on him, "I know that you want our child to get a perfect world but there are things that are beyond your control." John whispered.
He heard her sigh before she replied, "I know that but I can't, John. I don't want to bring an innocent life into this. One filled with hate, fear and revenge. What's going to happen to our baby?" She looked up at him, her eyes filled with so much plead and fear.
"I'm sorry Cameron. There's nothing we can do." John mumbled, "But we can try. Just don't hurt yourself in the process. Relax, believe, it is not good for you nor the baby if you go around spitting fire."
"I'm not spitting fire." Cameron cocked her head, replying blankly.
John narrowed his eyes at her to make sure she wasn't teasing him before smiling, "It's an expression but just relax or we won't do this anymore for your own good."
Cameron nodded, leaving John's embrace and they continued discussing about their plan. They spent the entire morning collating a couple of names, so far, nothing Cameron can recognize as important till they scroll down to the next list that was bolded.
"Next list and you want to know what's funny about this one?" John raised his eyebrow as he spoke, "First three on the list: Martin Bedells." John read out. Cameron, who was initially leaning back, sat upright in her seat and frowned as her CPU processed that name.
SEARCHING "MARTIN BEDELL"…SEARCHING…
FOUND 1 MATCH…
"I know him." Cameron spoke.
"You do?" John turned from his laptop, frowning.
"He helped you put the resistance together." Cameron explained.
"So I knew him."
"Everyone knew him. Derek too. The last Martin Bedell on the list, that's him." Cameron pointed to the photo which came with the information.
"So why would skynet want him dead?"
"He had military experience. The knowledge you needed to put the resistance together to fight skynet. He studies at a military school and then go to west point,"
"So he's important?" John assumed.
"Not as you are." Cameron stated blackly.
"No. But important." John mumbled, deep in thoughts before he stood up, "We have to get him." He announced before walking away.
"No!" Cameron snapped, grabbing his hand, "If you get him now, he'll never graduate and go to west point. He wouldn't be as efficient as he is in the future." John paused, frowning. He twisted his wrist out of Cameron's grip and walked to the table, picking up the list.
"There are three Martin Bedells and all of them are in LA. So what do we do? Sit tight and wait for the first one on the list to get killed?" John asked.
Cameron pondered over their situation for the moment before turning to John with a sly smile, "No. We wait and kill the first Triple 8 that shows."
*
"So we wait." John sighed, sinking into his seat.
"Yes, we wait."
"How do we know when the triple 8 is going to show up? There isn't a timetable on that list." John asked lazily.
"No but there's a date for that list." Cameron replied, "At the top corner. It might be when Aiden received the list."
"Yes," John nodded and dragged his reply, "But we stole it remember? How's he going to know who to kill now?"
"He would've have an extra copy in case,"
"So he's bound to show?"
"No, might not be him." Cameron leaned back in the seat and squinted at Bedell's house in the sunlight, "There is a high possibility he'll send a triple eight."
"God we clocked Kaliba real fast this time," John smirked in triumph, "One to the Connors and Zero to Skynet."
"Yes, one to John Connor." Cameron smiled at John.
Soon, John snoozed in the seat, one hand on his glock and another holding Cameron's. She, on the other hand, sat up and stared at the house, observing any movement within the vicity. She observed Martin Bedell number one walked in and out of the house at least 4 times. He always had something to do but Cameron noticed he never goes to work.
She narrowed her eyes as she saw him come out of the house a fifth time, this time, picking up a hose and watering his plants. Due to Cameron's knowledge on plants, it was healthier for them to be watered in the morning and evening, not in the middle of the afternoon. However, her other processors proved that Martin Bedell wasn't being naïve, he was bored.
Cameron sighed and wriggled a little to change her posture, feeling her legs start to numb. She frowned, unable to comprehend the reason for this. Her muscles are stiffening from the lack of use but she had never had this problem before, even after she became more human. In a futile attempt to block out the discomfort of the numbness, she stretched her legs as far as she could.
The afternoon sun was also getting to her. Her head hurts and the heat made her dizzy. Her HUD constantly produced static and blurred her vision. To conclude this, she was restless and needed some air.
However a glance at John blocked out all her needs for air. He had his head leaned on the headrest and his body slummed down in the seat. She couldn't help but smiled. John Connor lazing in the middle of a hot afternoon just felt amusing to her somewhat. Cameron had no idea why, but John just amused her so much unnecessarily.
Suddenly, John's eyes snapped open and his hand squeezed Cameron's tightly. His breathing had obviously quickened and his heart rate increased a good lot compared to a second ago.
"John?" Cameron leaned over, squeezing his hand in return.
He turned to her, pupils dilated. This made Cameron conclude, he definitely had a nightmare.
"John. Are you okay?" Cameron probed.
He looked at her worriedly before breathing deeply and slowly, he began to calm down, "I'm fine." He croaked out, pulling her hand to his lap and holding it in both of his.
They were both silent after that as Cameron decided to not pursue about the matter. It would upset him. John stared ahead and cleared his thoughts before turning to her, studying her carefully.
Beads of perspiration formed on her forehead, soaking her hair. John could already see her fringe in long thin strands, soaked in sweat. Cameron looked tired and a little pale. She constantly fidgitted and John slapped himself inwardly. Of course she can't sit so long like she used to! She's pregnant for god's sake John! If you keep this up, it'll take a miracle for Cameron to survive this! John felt bad for being an irresponsible husband. Cameron should be the one snoozing while he kept watch and instead, it was the other way around.
John reached out with one hand and wiped off the sweat on her forehead with his sleeve gently. She turned and smiled at him appretiatively.
"You must be tired and hungry. Let's go grab something so eat." John suggested, wiping off the perspiration on the side of her face.
"No." Cameron objected instantly, "The triple 8 may show up any minute."
"Our mission is one thing. Letting our baby go hungry is another more important one." John countered. She opened her mouth to object but John was already winding up the window to block out the afternoon heat and switching on the air conditioner, "I could drive." He offered but Cameron shook her head.
"Where do you want to go?" Cameron asked.
"You?"
"Hotdogs will do." Cameron replied after considering the location of the park which was near.
"Okay. Drive." John said gently.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"Two hotdogs please." John said with a small smile. The lady nodded and started preparing the food. Cameron stood stock still behind him, eyes darting around like a hawk, ready to attack anyone who proved to be a threat to John.
Cameron couldn't help but become more paranoid since they had already resumed their mission of stopping skynet. She had spent half the night calculating the dangers of John Connor and it scared her a great deal.
"Hotdog time." John thrust a hotdog under her nose. Cameron took it after thanking him and they sat on the bench, watching the children running around at the playground. He turned to watched as she bite into her hotdog ravenously but with dignity. "See, you're hungry."
"A little." Cameron admitted after swallowing a big chunk of her hotdog.
"You don't have to keep protecting me you know?" John said casually, starting on his, "I learnt a lot in the time of your amnesia. I learnt to protect you."
"Whatever it is, I am your protector." Cameron stated, watching a blonde hair toddler slid down the slide.
"Not anymore." John sang.
"Maybe," Cameron shrugged. She turned to John, looking at him earnestly, "I'd still die for you. We'd both die for you."
We all die for you.
To be continued…
Next Chapter: Cameron and John move on and jumped right into the action as they attempts to save the first Martin Bedell from the terminator. They both get caught in between their predicament. John wanted to protect her but had a mission to complete whereas Cameron needs to protect John and fight off the terminator but the baby is crippling her abilities. Someone's about to get hurt…