Thanks to those who read and those who reviewed!
mshig11: Thanks, I'm glad the new format worked out after all. Thanks so much!
TSCC FAN: That is a good thought there about her power cell and yeah, Cameron would be carrying the post of protector a little more lightly now. John would be the protector for a while. Thanks!
Cptlatnok: Yes! Of course! I have put out multiple apologies and warnings. It would be very late but good! It'll be in part 2 of this 3 installment! But it's there! I have it written out!!! I promise I'll explain, just hold out till then and you'll get it.
DragonSeraphin: Thank you so much! And here, it would be mostly what happened to John but there's definitely Cameron!
zahnfan23: thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it!
jojobevco: Thanks so much!
TK-MR: Thank you!
Dc: Thanks so much and nope, you never told me but…I'm so glad you're leaving reviews for my story! Keep doing that! Every simple review is an encouragement to write!
kaotic2: Thanks and you're definitely right about John not letting her protect him. In this chapter, they'll have a small debate at the end! Hope you like it!
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Announcement: Before this chapter starts, I want to clarify something. About the explanation of Cameron's humanity WILL be explained! I have not forgotten about it and I've been considering doing a part 2 for this installment since I've collated up to about 45 chapters and is still writing for this 3rd installment. The explanation would be one of the climaxes of part 2! So just to assure you guys, I have not forgotten! It's only a matter of time! I know some people don't like the wait but it'll all be out soon!
Hope you'll enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 22: Stay alive
He ran.
After all these years of training, John Connor finally put his heart into it to run.
Bedell had run in the opposite direction and John knew Cameron would be watching.
His shotgun is weighing him down and John had problems running with a shotgun. Since Sarah actually trained John to run away after dropping his gun. He didn't actually have real training on running while holding such a gun. So John held the shotgun in anyway he saw the military boys normally held them, which felt really uncomfortable for him.
However, the other option was to of course abandon the gun but John was not running for his life. He was running for the life of his wife and child. Right now, he had a T-triple eight on his ass and John never intended to die either. He intended to live to take care of both of them for as long as he could. If he died, who'd take care of them both?
So he stuck with the gun even if he had to be weighed down. The thing is, although he wanted to live to take care of them, if he had to sacrifice to make sure they lived, he's fine too. To him, losing him is better for Cameron than death. The shotgun would come in handy to distract or slow down the terminator.
He daren't look back, incase he saw Cameron and soften to stay or if he got intimidated by the terminator. But soon, he felt a strong hold on his shoulder and a tug by his jacket. John spun around and flew to the floor with a hard hit. The shotgun tumbled out of his hand as pain surged up his back when it hit the concrete floor. John couldn't hear himself scream. He hoped he didn't for the sake of Cameron, who is watching but John felt a scream escape his mouth.
He was too dazed to hear it but he was also aware he didn't have much time. Ignoring his bruising back (preferably not broken), John rolled to his side, picking up his shotgun and stood up.
John gritted his teeth, feeling his right ankle pop and left him limping in pain with every step. He turned and faced the terminator, just as it advanced on him. Firing the shotgun, he hit the terminator square in the chest. It flinched as the bullet lodged itself in its chest. He turned and ran in a limp, ignoring his aching back and his ankle.
Upon turning the corner, John was relieved he at least got out of Cameron's sight. Even if he died, she wouldn't see it; not that he'd willingly submit his life to a terminator when he had the opportunity to meet his kid if he lived.
He could hear the terminator heavily combat boots thumping on the concrete as he ran, knowing it would only be a matter of time before he was caught up to. Seeing no other option, John crossed the street and ran into a forest. He had no idea how dense it was but John needed some cover and prayed it would provide him some.
Ducking away from the branches, he squatted low among the bushes beside him and the branches hanging low over him. John hoped he hadn't stumble into a hornet's nest by jumping in the bush.
He panted, hands gripping his only life line tightly, index finger lingering on the trigger. John couldn't hear the terminator anywhere. Perhaps it lost him? John hoped so.
Just as he got his hopes up, the twigs snapped. John turned to that direction and saw the eerie silhouetted figure of the terminator, watchful eyes scanning around the forest.
The terminator looked into John's direction and tilted his head slightly. He muttered a curse before jumping up from his hiding place and firing a bullet at the terminator's skull, intending to hit the chip but instead, it went into its left eye, destroying his flesh and the red optical flash beneath, leaving a hollow hole there; the eye now replaced with a bullet.
The terminator seemed to be in a state of shock when its left vision was destroyed, John took the opportunity and ran from his hiding place and deeper into the forest. He attempted to duck from any low branches but hadn't succeeded; many of the sharp ones went into John's face scratching his skin. One of them went really near his eye but he shut them and tilted his body away from the branch, feeling it scratch his eyelid and luckily, not his eye.
"Damn it," John grumbled as he tripped over a protruding tree root, losing grip on his shotgun. He could hear the triple-8 pushing aside branches and bushes behind him. John scrambled to his feet, trying to locate his lost shotgun but was unsuccessful. He realized half his face was covered in fresh blood from the cuts on his face. Wishing for the best, he decided to leave the shotgun and keep running.
Finally reaching his limits of his injured ankle, John sat down behind a tree. He used his hands to wipe of the blood but his hands were dirty and the refrained from doing so, not wanting to infect his eye.
He was scared, but not as scared as when Cameron almost died but still, his heart drummed hard on his chest.
Then he heard its footsteps, following by the cocking of a shotgun. Great, I couldn't find the shotgun and the triple eight convenient took it?
John's eyes began scanning the area for anything he could use as a weapon to survive this stupid predicament he was in. Then he heard it. Water. He slowed his breathing to think.
Those bastards can't swim. That was one thing he learned from Cameron during their little swimming lesson.
With a sly smile on his lips, John jolted up from his seat and dashed for the source of the noise. He ran low, hearing the shotgun go off and the bullet missing his head by an inch.
His ankle was getting worst and his blood was affecting his vision terribly.
Soon, the rush of water became louder and louder. John smiled as he caught sight of the river, a distance away below the slope he was on.
He turned, considering his next move but the terminator emerged through the leaves, cocking the shotgun and hitting the trigger, John ducked down but there was no bullet.
The shotgun ran out them. John gave a small smile but that didn't last long. The terminator moved forward and grabbed John by his jacket, lifting him into the air. He kicked and struggled.
Suddenly, the terminator slipped off the side of the slope. Bringing John with it, they both rolled down the slope.
John felt the terminator let go of him. He gasped in pain as his ankle strike a hard object but his screams of pain were cut off as his body rolled down the slope. John could barely make out the shape of the larger terminator rolling down the slope much calmer than him.
They both hit the water one after another with a splash. John felt himself fall on the terminator. He felt the dreaded feel of the terminator's hand on his injured ankle, squeezing it. John screamed in the water, coming out as bubbles as he trashed and kicked the terminator with his good leg.
The river was moving fast and John could feel both of them moving downstream. He kicked the terminator in the face and finally, he felt a small release. Using all his strength, John twisted his injured ankle out of the terminator's grip gingerly.
John burst out of the water, gasping for air. His arms paddled strongly through the water, against the fast current that struck every part of his body. He had to survive this. Last thing he wanted was to drown to death. He had a choice now, get his numbed muscles working and get a second chance to see Cameron again or die in this river.
He cried out one last time before kicking and trashing towards the bank. Once his fingers felt stone, John scrambled on the shore. Bringing up his good leg, John used it to crawl up the back, lying on his back. His chest heaved in and out while he catches his breath. The sky was dark and the moon was his only light.
John licked his lips blearily, feeling his ankle throb terribly. He could barely sit up, much less walk. His lip was dry and taste of blood. He looked around, strength sapping away with each glance. It looked like forest everywhere he looked. The current in the river was the only noise he heard.
Then an idea struck the back of John's fuzzy mind. Moving his hand to his chest, John dug into his shirt and pulled out the necklace by its silver string. It was soaked and he could only pray as his bloodied finger moved to the side, pressing the button which opens the cover of his birthday present.
The device flipped open and the screen lit up. John smiled to himself weakly. Gently, he mumbled into the device.
*
Cameron hit the breaks and turned down the engine. She reached back sorely from her wound on her ribs, bringing up her shotgun from the house and the rounds.
Filling the shotgun up, she alight the SUV and held the shotgun loosely in one hand. She marched stiffly across the street, ignoring her injured thigh, and took the turn John had took, flinching a little as she saw a small blood stain on the concrete. It hurt her just to think if it's John's.
Cameron was faced with many rows of houses and cars. She had no idea where to start looking and her thigh is really starting to hurt from the light walking.
She heard the leaves rustled a little and a soft wind caught in her hair, bringing it across her face. Cameron brought up her shotgun as she turned abruptly.
The muzzle of her shotgun came into the face of a cat. Cameron lowered her shotgun, noticing the hair of the back of the cat's neck standing. It stood tall on the top of a garbage can, snarling.
Cameron cocked her head and took a step closer to the cat. It stiffened and snarled again, as if warning her not to come any closer. Cameron heeded its warning and instead reached out with one hand.
The cat stared at her with its yellow eyes, considering her before leaning forward a little. Cameron saw that its fur is white, like snow. And also soft as her hand come in contact with its head.
Gently, Cameron touched the cat's head as it purred. She took the opportunity and went closer. The cat didn't seem to mind her at all. In fact, when Cameron came closer, the cat leaned in and licked her thigh, where the blood is beginning to seep through. It mewed out softly as if it felt Cameron's pain and pitied her.
Cameron let a smile flutter on her lips. Without warning the cat leaped on to Cameron's shoulder, jumping down on the floor from there. She turned and felt the cat rubbing its head against her leg. She tilted her head to the left.
Then she jumped slightly as words flashed across her HUB:
ALERT!
INCOMING MESSAGE.
ACCEPT? Y/N
Cameron let out a gasp of shock and happiness as she opened it.
CAMERON…CAM...ARE YOU OKAY?
-JOHN
His voice filled her ears and instantly, Cameron knew, he was hurt and weak. And yet he didn't call for help… Tears welled up in Cameron's eyes as she began to do a trace for John's position.
He knew, John knew that without revealing his position, Cameron would be able to track him if he sent out a message to her. After all this time and he actually remembered.
She smiled to herself before heading into the woods, leaving the cat mewing in protest but didn't dare follow Cameron into the dark forest for fear of 'bigger animals'.
Cameron couldn't see a 'damn' thing: how John would've put it. The moonlight was sufficient but the trees block out the light at some point but that won't stop her advance on John.
He needed her and she could feel it. Holding the shotgun firmly, Cameron walked deeper into the forest, not faltered when an owl hooted in the dark. The sound of river rang loudly in her ears and she knew she was close. She felt her way, scratching her hands on rough trunks and sharp branches but she had not noticed them
Approaching the bank, Cameron walked along it, positive she was getting closer to John.
Her eyes widened as she saw a figure lying on the bank. She ran the rest of the way. John was laid out there, eaten out by the cold night air and his wet clothes.
"John," Cameron breathed out in horror, kneeling by him. She slipped her arm under his neck and pulled him closer to her. John stirred, gripping on Cameron's arm weakly.
"Cam, are you alright?" John blinked before using her as a support to sit up, refusing her hug.
"I'm fine." Cameron nodded, pulling him into a hug, feeling his cold body against her warmer one.
"Cam, we got to go." John mumbled.
"Alright," Cameron let go of him, "Can you stand?" John struggled a little.
"I've got to." He leaned heavily on his good leg. Cameron swung his arm over her shoulder and got John to carry her shotgun. They slowly made their way back to the SUV, careful to avoid downstream in case the terminator managed to crawl on shore.
While they walked, John told her his story in bits and pieces on Cameron's request to keep him conscious as she had no idea whether he had any bleeding and she wanted to avoid that subject. She knew if she brought injuries up, John would pursue hers which won't be good.
They walked and walked until they reached the SUV.
"Where'd you get that?" John mumbled as Cameron opened the passenger door for him. He settled on the comfortable leather seat.
"Stole it." Cameron replied with a smile. He nodded knowingly.
"Right, I knew that." He grinned. Cameron shut the door and rounded the car, trying not to limp.
John's eyes scanned the SUV, finding blood stains on the driver's seat, arm rest, floor, steering wheel, gear. There was blood everywhere. His eyes widened in horror as he took in the bloodied SUV.
Cameron smiled as she entered the jeep, oblivious to his stare of worry. She jumpstarted the engine before John grabbed her hand so quickly it was hard for her to notice till she was grabbed. He held it firmly, pulling it away from covering her thigh
The bloodied jean was obvious in the moonlight. John's mouth hung open limply as he took in the sight and heartbreak.
"Cameron…" He mumbled, hesitating whether to reach out to touch her wound.
"John, we'll do this later. We have to get back to the house first." Cameron said gently, removing her wrist from his grip and pressed on the accelerator.
Through the whole thing, John stared at Cameron's bloodied thigh his eyes occasionally darted to her rib area, knowing somewhere under her jacket buried the wound he can feel for her but not see.
She helped him to the house and the moment they entered it, John urged her up to the bedroom, trying to ignore the dull throb in his heart as his eyes took in the bloodied couch and the table.
He grudgingly took the medical kit and limped upstairs, rejecting Cameron's help. They entered the bedroom and John shut the door behind him.
"Lie down." John instructed softly. She obeyed, hoping he'll get this over with so that she can check his ankle, "Where are you hurt?" He asked gently.
"Upper torso and left thigh." Cameron replied stoically.
"May I?" John asked, receiving a small nod and he gently took off her jacket as she sat up gingerly, only to lie back down after he placed her clothes on the tip of the bed, "You didn't do a good job in wrapping these up." He commented.
"I had to find you." Cameron mumbled. John ignored that, gently removing the bandage of her torso wound, also noticing the noticeable bulge. It was pretty obvious she's pregnant.
John couldn't help but ask as he worked with cutting off the bandage, "Is the baby alright?"
"Yes, it should be. I have not picked up anything unusual from it." Cameron replied.
"Is there a way we can confirm there is nothing wrong?" John asked, not satisfied with the answer.
"There isn't a way for you to know if anything is wrong with it but there is a way if you want to know if it is alive." Cameron replied.
"What's that?"
"You hear the heartbeat,"
John froze, "You mean- we would be able to hear the heartbeat now?" He asked incredously, as if he had never heard of an infant having a heart.
"Yes."
John blinked, "May I?" He asked excitedly. She nodded and John slowly moved to kneel by the bed. Anticipation took over his mind. He's finally going to hear the heartbeat of the little life he made with Cameron! The life so fragile and helpless.
Taking in a breath, John pressed his right ear on her belly, right where the bump is. At first he couldn't hear anything but soon, when he stopped breathing, he could hear a quiet beat, it was soft… Ba dum ba dum
John's lips curved into a smile as he lingered there, just listening to the little heart beat. He created a little life to bring to this world! Their baby! His own flesh and blood!
In the past, John heard about babies and how parents became so proud and happy. He could never understand it then till his own flesh and blood sat in Cameron's belly. It felt so magical and unrealistic that it made John's head float helplessly in mid air in pure happiness.
The soft heart beat was so much like his, like Cameron's. The little heart in there sound like it is beating so hard, as if telling John, his father, it wants to live and that it wanted to see the world, to breathe. Just like everyone else.
Cameron gently touched the back of John's head, feeling the spikes of his wet hair on her palm. He snapped out of his happiness and reluctantly retreated from listening to that little but beautiful sound. He grinned at her, happy like a little kid.
"What'd you hear?" Cameron asked, tilting her head on the pillow.
"A little life in there, telling me she wants to come to this world. And like the rest of us, she wants to live, wants her heart to keep beating." John replied, gripping Cameron's hand tightly.
"Might be a he." Cameron corrected.
"When would we know?" John asked gently, bringing up her hand to touch the side of his face.
"We should know now or a week from now. Including if we got the equipment." Cameron smiled.
"I'll beg and steal to get one." John offered.
"No. Don't steal nor beg. They'll just tell you to go to the hospital." Cameron said.
John was sour for a moment at the thought of not being able to see his child like all other fathers.
"You'll get a surprise when he or she is born." Cameron said in a desperate attempt to comfort poor John, who was just being excited of being a dad, since he never had one. He nodded and got to clean her wound after giving her a little anaesthesia.
Cameron watched closely as John worked, taking in every single wincing on his part from the sight of her wound and his every movement. Once or twice, she couldn't resist but reach out and touch his hand which was busy with her. His touch made her shiver and created goosebumps all over her smooth skin. She knew John was also lost in the touch once or twice but hid it better than she did.
After that was done, they waited for the anaesthesia to wear off and John took the time to listen for the heartbeat again. He sat up grinning from ear to ear much like an idiot.
Cameron had to push him all the way to the bathe. In the end, John convinced her to join him and it was a good two hours in the shower before they walk out of the bathroom, wrapped in nothing but towels. Later, Cameron helped John with his ankle.
It was a little dislocated and sprained. After putting it back in place, they rubbed medication on it. Later, Cameron helped John see to the cuts on his face before lazing in bed together. They had a small chat about what happened and also what was going to happen.
"You will not do that again." Cameron said. It was not an order and of course not a question but a decision that she had already made for him.
"You can't stop me." John whistled.
"I'm becoming more of a danger to you than a protection." She tilted her head to look him in the eye. It was a whole thirty seconds of gazing into each other eyes, trying to understand each other before John decided to reply.
"I'd like that." He smiled softly, kissing her on the top of her head.
"You shouldn't." Cameron mumbled, snuggling up to his body as he tugged the blanket further up to keep their nude bodies warm.
"It's what fathers do. It's what husbands do." John said, his tone remaining gentle and warm.
"I shouldn't be with you." She concluded, "I'll get you killed."
"Don't say that." He hissed, cupping her cheek to make her look at him, instead of averting his stare like she is doing, "You're the only person I'd die for. The person I won't allow to get hurt because of me."
"John I'm not-"
"I love you." That shut her up for good as she closed her eyes in defeat; leaning closer to him, resting in his embrace, having nothing more to say.
John drew small circles followed by big circles and small circles again on Cameron's belly while she slept in his embrace.
He looked at her picture perfect face while she slept with a certain gentleness but intensity. He was thinking. John felt he couldn't let this continue. Her mindsets never change all this while and she'd never understand that it's alright to step down for the sake of the baby as the protectee for once.
But he'd never known that she'd decided to kill the baby if it endangered John's life. She couldn't tell him or he would just lose all that this baby had come to built up for John, for their relationship.
John also realized couldn't shrink the responsibility of saving the world or being a father. Not after knowing his child wanted to live, like all of them. It worked so hard to live and John isn't about to let his child fight and fight just to give up eventually. So he'll fight for Cameron and for the child. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all. This little bug might just save the world.
To be continued…
Next chapter: John and Cameron continued to work to stop Skynet. They found out that they, after all, aren't the only ones working towards that goal. As they let their allies do the work, John and Cameron return to Kaliba to work only to make new discoveries there.