One Leader, One Protector, A joint Destiny

by Fatemaker

Based after 2.13, With Judgement day now destined to happen years early, John and Cameron can't resist falling in love with one another, despite knowing the differences between them and the consequences involved.

19. Chapter 19

Chapter 19

In the weeks after Skynet's infiltrator was destroyed by Allison, the resistance was an high alert. The news that the machines were now able to disguise themselves as a human using a newer updated technology that made their skin appear as real flesh and less rubber like, and the fact that one got so close to killing the Connor's spread like wild fire. Within hours, John was getting reports that some solders had killed their former friends and families, under the assumption that they were machines in disguise. John acted quickly to stop the killings, setting up new security measures to identify who was human and who was machine and also had the murderers punished severely for their actions. The new security measures included having dogs posted on every base, as they were able to identify machines quickly. Despite the effectiveness of the dogs, three bases reported attempted infiltrations and one was fully destroyed with the loss of over three hundred lives. John was deeply disturbed by this and was desperate to find new and better ways of protecting his people and had a team of techs working round the clock on this problem.

Cameron slowly but surely got used to her new body. As her cuts, bruises and swelling disappeared she was able to walk around the base again getting back in to some sort of a routine. She had been going crazy hiding away in the room so no one saw her. She quickly realised that she had to eat a lot more then she used to, having only ate a little food every four or five days. Now, she had to eat everyday like everyone else, much to her annoyance because like everyone else, she hated to taste of the food. Cameron was also terrified when she learned that dogs were being brought to the camp by Liz and tried desperately to convince John to stop it, convinced that she would be found out. Before John could talk Liz round, the dogs arrived. Liz walked in to the command room with her new canine companion and Cameron froze in absolute terror.

Her life flashing before her eyes as she realised that this was the moment she had been dreading. She was about to be discovered as a machine, John and Allison would be lost to her forever. Time seemed to stand still as the dog padded over to Cameron. It stopped directly in front of her feet, sniffed at her hand and then jumped up with it's paws resting on her shoulders and licked her face. Cameron stumbled backwards and with a small scream, fell to the floor, the dog followed and continued to lick away, his tail wagging furiously. Liz laughed, "well he certainly likes you!" Cameron cautiously raised a hand toward the dog and stroked his head feeling the soft fur between her fingers. She looked up at John who was smiling at her. He looked at Liz and said, "Cameron's always been more of a 'cat' person" Though she didn't know why the dog didn't attack her as she still had her chip, she didn't complain, as Cameron felt she had overcome something else she thought she would never be able to.

Since the loss of her friend, Sean, Allison became increasingly withdrawn from everyone. She slowly cut herself off from all her friends, wanting to be alone. She had a mixture of emotions running through her head. She felt betrayed by her feelings, she had so desperately wanted to believe that Sean had fought against the machines and not been killed, that he was still here teasing her calling her 'little Connor', she had experienced the first flutters of teenage love with Sean even though they had never had the time to allow anything to develop, the fact that the possibility of what could have been had been destroyed cut Allison to the core.. She felt torn as she blamed John for Sean's death. She knew that the machine infiltrated the base in order to kill her father and Sean had become the latest casualty in the 'keep John Connor alive campaign'.

But Allison also loved her father and knew that if he was attacked she would be one of the first in line to protect him, along with her mother. Allison was so confused about her feelings and did the only thing she knew, withdraw. She only talked to John and Cameron, and people she had to work with, but she remained distant from all of them . John and Cameron both knew she was upset by the loss of her best friend and she was grieving, but to see her smile again would bring a lot of relief to them both. Allison spent her days either working with Lauren to help the wounded or alone in her room, reading pld books like the Wizard of Oz, which like John when he was young, was her favourite.

After another tiring day, John sat before a computer, Reading what was on the chip of the infiltrator that Killed Allison's friend, Sean. The mission was simple,' Infiltrate the camp, Terminate John Connor and Cameron Connor'. He already knew that it would be programmed to kill him. It made him worry more and more that it had also been programmed to kill Cameron, who was now just as vulnerable as he was. Much to Cameron's amusement, John found himself acting more like her bodyguard a lot like she acted when she was first sent back to protect him. He always kept on eye on Cameron, watching as people walked towards her, looking for any signs of them looking at her like a machine would and sighing in relief when they walked past her with out a fuss. He didn't find much information from the chip as it hadn't been active for very long. It had only been active for fourteen days when it was destroyed. Looking through its database, John found out that the machine had been built in a factory that was hidden underground so John ordered its immediate destruction. Led by General Perry and Kyle Reese, the factory was successfully destroyed. Before turning in for the night, John once again played back the machines memory of killing Sean.

The machine held Sean by the throat, holding him off the ground slightly so he was using the end of his toes to hold himself up.. "Your friend, Allison Connor, she's John Connor's daughter. How close are you to her? Are you just her friend?, or are you something more?". Sean was gasping for breath, his face badly bruised by the machines. "If you hurt her, you won't have a chance to get to the Connor's, neither of them. If you harm a hair on her head, once the Connor's are finished with you, there won't be enough left of you to be used for scrap". The machine responded by squeezing his throat more firmly, making him groan loudly in pain. "Your reaction shows that you are close to Allison Connor. I now know not to kill her. My mission would be compromised if she were to die before I killed John and Cameron Connor". The machine lessened its grip on his throat, allowing him to breath again. "I know this hurts, if you tell me what I want t know, then I wont hurt you, your death will be painless, tell me where the Connor's home is?".

The machine let go of Sean, who fell to the floor. He shook his head and sat on his knees, and looked right in to the machines eyes. "I'd die before betraying the Connors, They keep us alive, none of us will ever give them up, so Fuck off!. If your goanna kill me, then KILL ME!". As John watched, he felt like he was the machine as he was seeing it from the machines point of view. The machine reached down and grabbed the side of Sean's head. The machine then threw Sean backwards against the concrete wall. Sean hit his head hard against the wall and fell. He was already dead before he hit to floor. John shook his head as he watched. He remembered what Derek had told him years ago, he told him that they all died for him, everyone would give their life to protect him, to keep him alive because he was the only one who could save them, save them all. Looking at the machine's last memory, he watched as Allison held the machine at gunpoint. He watched her face as she said, "It was Little Connor, Sean called me Little Connor, he never called me Allison, never, he didn't tell you that so I would know you weren't who I thought you were, you're a machine". He looked at Allison's face and saw the pain and how hurt she was, and he had never seen her like that before. The machine's hud view flickered as it was damaged and John saw his own face as he knelt over the machine and removed its chip. "You've got to stop reading this thing John".

John turned to see Liz sitting next to him. "You said you were going to figure out how to reprogram it". John sighed and leant back in his chair. "I know how to reprogram them now, its just this machine, this chip, what it did to Allison. I wanted to crush this chip the moment it took it from its skull. I made a promise to keep her safe, to keep Allison safe and I broke that promise. She will never be safe because these things are after me and want me dead. They used Allison's friend to get to me, its only a matter of time before they change tactics and try and use Allison herself, or even Cameron. If I lost either of them, I don't know what I would do". Liz gave a small smile and unhooked the chip from John's computer and held it aloft, looking at it closely. She then placed it softly on to the table and took out her pistol and held it up, ready to use it to crush the chip. Before John could do or say anything, Liz brought the gun crashing down, hitting to chip and crushing it. She hit it rapidly until there was noting left. Putting her gun away, she sat back down and again looked at John.

"Even if we move Allison or Cameron to somewhere more secure, they wont be safe, neither of them will be. But they will be safer if they stayed with you. I saw your face when you took that chip, and it scared me to hell. No wonder Skynet's afraid of you". John gave a loud laugh, as did Liz. "Go home John, your daughter needs you to help her through what she's feeling. I know Cameron does her best but she hasn't raised Allison since she was seven years old. You know Allison better then anybody, even herself". John gave a small smile before getting up and began walking towards the door before he stepped and turned around. "Thanks Liz, your always around when I need you". Liz gave him a large grin. "It's what I'm here for". John turned again and walked out of the command room, nodding his head towards those who saw him leaving for the night.

Navigating through the corridors, John found his way to the door to his home and stepped inside. John tried to be quiet as possible as he walked in to his and Cameron's room. As he expected, Cameron was fast asleep in the bed, her feet pocking out from the bottom of the blanket, exposed to the cold, making her body shiver slightly. As she breathed, He could see Cameron's breath as a mist coming from her mouth. Removing his jacket and discarding it, he moved the blanket down to cover her feet. She instantly stirred and turned over in her sleep. Seeing her face made John feel warmer, as her face was full of colour and life. Reaching around for his discarded Jacket, he placed it on top of her, in a attempt to keep her warm. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he stroked her hair for a while before kissing her on the forehead. As he moved his head away, he was sure he saw her smile out of the corner of his eye, but when he looked towards her, her face remained the same, always beautiful and peaceful. Stepping up from the bed, he moved out of the room quietly, leaving Cameron to sleep. Opening Allison's bedroom door, he looked to the bed and saw Allison was still awake, lying on her bed and reading her favourite book, the Wizard of Oz in Spanish. Allison didn't look up to him, seemingly not noticing he was there. John closed her door, making Allison jump in surprise. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you". Allison closed her book and sat up, crossing her legs. "You didn't scare me, I just didn't know you were there?". John sat down on the bed, taking a pack of cards from his pocket and holding them up so she could see it.

"We haven't played a game since Century, wanna play?". Allison looked to her watch and back to John again. "Its nearly two in the morning!". John gave her a little grin. "You kept me up all night sometimes just to play cards because you liked to win, its just you and me, one game, please?". Allison shrugged her shoulders an took the pack of cards from John. Taking out the cards, she began to shuffle them. Setting out six cards for each of them, they began to play their own cards game they made up years ago. In all their time in Century, once John and Allison made up their card game, John never beat her, not once. It didn't matter how many times he tried, or how much he held on to the best cards, Allison always found a way to beat him. As they hadn't played in years, John thought he had a small chance of catching her off guard and winning his first game, but was quickly proven wrong when Allison easily beat him. Looking up, he saw a small smile form on her face but it quickly disappeared again. John gave a long sigh of relieve. He had seen her smile finally, it was only a small one, but it was a start. "Want to play again?".

Allison gave a nod and handed the cards to John. Shuffling the cards, he sorted six for himself and six for Allison. Looking at his cards, he knew instantly he didn't have a chance of winning and judging by the smirk that formed and quickly disappeared on Allison's face, she had a good hand and she beat him with ease. Despite saying that they would play just the one game, they ended up playing twenty games, Allison winning every one. As they played, it was clear that Allison was enjoying herself, and her smile became more fixed the more she won, so John pressed her to play for longer. "Do you remember, back in Century, when we played hide and seek on your ninth birthday, You hid in Liz's house, under her bed and we couldn't find you for five hours, I had about thirty people looking for you". Allison's smile widened, remembering well. "You were mad at me, you thought the Greys had taken me, but you didn't shout, you just hugged me". John smiled widely. "Yeah, you don't know how relived I was when Liz brought you out of her house, you just looked at me with a grin on your face, the same grin you've got now. I war ready to attack the Greys right there to get you back, I didn't care about the machines". John lay his cards down, sure that for the first time, he had beaten her. Allison's eyes widened in shock. "Yes!, about time I beat you".

Allison then smirked and lay down her cards and began to laugh as John looked in mock horror as he was beaten again. "How the hell do you do that?, one of these days, I'm goanna beat you, I promise you that". Allison smirked again as she took the cards and began putting them away. "We should play more often, just not at this time in the morning". She looked at her watch, seeing it was nearly three in the morning. Allison, handed the pack of cards to John and climbed under her blanket. John stood up and moved the blanket up to better cover her. "I'll see you tomorrow". John moved towards the door, and reached out to open it. "Dad, I'm sorry". John turned and walked back to Allison, and sat down on the bed next to her. "Sorry for what?". John watched as she took several long deep breaths. "Do you remember, back in Century, the woman who used to live next to out house. Her two daughters were my best friends". John remembered back to where they lived in warehouse seventeen, and to the woman and her two daughters.

"Yes, I remember. The two little blond girls, they were twins". Allison nodded. "When the Greys took them away, I lost my best friends, my only friends. And when I lost Sean, I felt the same way, I lost my best friend again. I know its not my fault, with what happened, but I kept feeling like it was my fault, that they died because of me, I didn't think I should be getting close to anyone because I'm your daughter, John Connor's daughter". Tear began falling from her eyes and she moved her hand quickly to wipe them away. "I'm sorry because I've been blaming you dad, I blamed you because they died. But I don't blame you anymore, I'm sorry. It's Skynet and its machines that killed them, not you". John understood where she was coming from. Opening his arms, Allison sat up and let John hold her tight. "It would help everyone if you talked to people again, We all miss the old you, we want you back, it does help to talk to people about your feelings". Allison nodded her head and John let her go, allowing her to lie down again. "I'm sorry dad, I love you". John learnt forwards and kissed her on the forehead.

"There's nothing to be sorry about, I love you to". Allison gave another smile and nodded. "It's good to see you smile again". John stood up and walked towards the door, opening it and closing it behind him. Stepping in to his and Cameron's room, he kicked off his shoes and got himself in to bed next to Cameron. The moment he pulled the blanket over himself, Cameron moved in her sleep, moving her arm across his chest and pulling herself closer to him for warmth. Wrapping his own arm around her, he stroked her hair as he fell asleep, glad to know that Allison had finally opened up to him, after seven long months.

Waking up only hours later, he yawed loudly and looked to his watch, seeing he only had just over four hours of sleep. Turing his head, he watched Cameron as she slept. Shaking her softly, he woke her up. Cameron opened her eyes and mumbled something under her breath before closing them again and falling back asleep, apparently to comfortable to stay awake. Smiling widely, John shook her again but more firmly. Cameron moaned as she was woken, turning her head and pressing her face in to John's chest. "Five more minutes". But the moment she said the words, Cameron's eyes shot open and she raised her hand to cover her mouth. Throwing the blanket off herself and climbing over John, she ran across the room to the bathroom. John could hear her vomiting violently in to the toilet. John quickly got out of bed and followed, finding Cameron leaning over the toilet, holding her hair above her head out of the way. Moving forwards, John took over the task of holding her hair as she vomited again. She turned he head to look a John, her face a pale white. "Why does this keep happening, five days in a row now!". John knelt down behind her, rubbing her back softly through her night gown. "I don't know, You might want to see Lauren. Get her to have a look at you.". Cameron nodded before turning her head back as she vomited a third time. Feeling she had nothing left to throw up, Cameron fell back in to John's arms, breathing deeply and erratically.

"This is ridiculous, what's wrong with me?". John held her tight on the floor, shaking his head, no having the faintest idea. "Nothings wrong with you, you've probably just come down with something. Like I said, go and see Lauren later". Cameron again nodded. "She better be able to stop this happening every morning, I don't think I can take anymore". Cameron slowly got to her feet, stretching her arms. John got up also and turning Cameron around to face him. Looking at her face, he was glad to see some of the colour had already returned to her cheeks. "You look better already". Cameron grinned widely before heading back in to their room, looking for some fresh clothes. Allison heard Cameron and John in the bathroom, and yawning loudly, she climbed out of bed and walked in to their room. "Hi mom, you alright?". Allison didn't even wait for a reply before collapsing on to John and Cameron's bed, pulling the blanket over herself. Cameron stopped looking for her clothes and sat back down next to her. "I heard you in the bathroom, are you alright?.

Allison mumbled her words and seemed more interested in getting back to sleep. "I'm okay, just a bit sick". Allison mumbled a little more under her breath. "I love you mom", and without another word, Allison fell asleep again. Looking up, Cameron spotted John standing in the doorway. John looked back, seeing how taken aback she was. "She hasn't said that to me in months, since Sean died". John gave her another large grin. "We played our card game last night. We used to play it back in Century all the time. She told me what's been on her mind. She'll be okay now I think, just give her some time". Smiling at John, she learnt forwards and kissed Allison on the forehead before resuming her search for some fresh clothes.

John and Cameron left ten minutes later and headed towards Lauren's lab. Before they managed to take ten steps, John's radio came to life, making both of them jump in the deserted corridor. "John!, John wake up!". John considered not replying, but the sound of Liz's voice convinced him to reply. "Liz, I'm awake, what's wrong?". "We've just got a transmission from Oregon Bunker, level five priority, get here now!". Cameron raised her eyebrows in surprise, having a huge urge to go to command and punch Liz in the face for talking to John like she was in charge. "I'll be right there". John sighed loudly as he put his radio away. "I'm sorry, you know what level five is, you want to wait for me to go with you later or are you just going to go now?". Cameron shook her head and moved her hands to John's shoulders. "I'll go now, get it over on done with. You go to command, your in charge for a reason, they need you now". Both learning forwards, they kissed. Quickly before John rushed off towards the command room, leaving Cameron alone.

Cameron walked slowly towards Lauren's lab, not really wanting to go there alone, but not really having a choice. Ever since she had her operations to make her human, she only want back to the lab once for her old endoskeleton to burn them. She remembered standing over a large concrete crate, her endoskeleton placed in the centre, surrounded by thermite. With John at her side, he handed her a flare, and she held it up, ready to ignite it. "I remember a time when your mother would have loved to do this". John smiled next to her. "Are you sure about this?, you don't need the endoskeleton any more, but it will be a part of you, its where you came from after all". Cameron smiled back before looking at the flare in her hand. "I know where I came from, I can't change that , but if I'm going to be able to move on from where I came from, I can't have this sitting in the back off the lab". She ignited the flare and held it above the her endoskeleton. Without any hesitation, she dropped the flare and both John and Cameron stepped back as the thermite began to burn and melt the endoskeleton. Cameron grasped John's hand tightly as her old endoskeleton slowing disappeared before her. They stood there and watched until the thermite burnet itself out, leaving nothing left in the crate, her endoskeleton gone forever, and now only existed in her memory.

Cameron opened the door to the lab and stepped inside. Cameron instantly spotted Lauren, asleep at the other end of the room, her head resting on her desk. Cameron walked over and shook her awake. Lauren immediately sat up, looking around widely to see what woke her. Once she spotted Cameron, her sighed with relief and held her head in her hands. "Sorry, I didn't hear you, I must have dozed or something". Lauren stood up and walked towards a table near her desk, making herself something to drink. "You want a drink of something?". Cameron shook her head, feeling like she would be sick if she ate or drank anything. Lauren made herself some coffee and turned to face Cameron, and shook her head again before she took a large gulp of coffee. "So, what can I do for you?". Cameron took a deep breath before replying. "I've been sick lately, I need you to check me over, make sure I'm okay". Lauren nodded and pointed towards the operating table nearest to them, the same one that was used for Cameron's transformation seven months ago. Cameron sat on the table, dreading what Lauren was going to find. As the minutes ticked by, Cameron's nerves went through the roof. What if her body was rejecting itself?, Was she going to die?. As the thoughts kept circling through her mind, she didn't notice Lauren move in front of her, waving her hand before her eyes. "Cameron?".

It was Cameron's turn to shake her head. "Sorry". Lauren didn't say anything for a few seconds, and instead looked closely at her. Lauren raised a small flashlight and shone it in Cameron's eyes. "Have you been feeling different at all?". Thinking back, there were plenty of times in the last few months when she had been feeling different. "I've been dizzy a lot. It happens for no reason, My head feels strange and I have to grab hold of something to stay on my feet". Lauren nodded again and using the flashlight, looked at her eyes again, but more closely. "I keep throwing up in the mornings, every time I wake up, It happens". Lauren put down the flashlight took a small step back. "Lie down". Cameron did what she was told and lay down. "Lauren then pressed her hands softly across Cameron stomach, pressing down softly and then moving her hands to a different spot before pressing down again. "There's something here that's not supposed to be, have you felt anything else, around your stomach?". Cameron thought back to around two months ago. "I felt a cramp, months ago, but it went away quickly and I haven't felt anything since". Lauren raised her hands away from Cameron, shaking her head in surprise. "I need to check your stomach, have you eaten anything different lately".

Cameron shook her head and Lauren disappeared from view, returning thirty seconds later with a medical scanning machine. "I can use this to scan and see what's there". Cameron again nodded as Lauren began setting the scanning machine up. "What does John know?, about you being sick?". Cameron turned her head to Lauren, seeing that she was looking at her with a grin. "He doesn't know about the dizziness, I didn't want to worry him". Lauren smiled widely. "I doubt John would be happy to know you've been keeping things from him". Cameron turned away from Lauren, looking to the ceiling and spoke with an angry voice. "John's got more important things to do then worry about me, just find out what's wrong with me and fix it". Lauren nodded her head and turned the scanner on. "Lift up your top, this will be cold". Cameron, lifted her t shirt up, exposing her skin below her breasts. Lauren raised the scanner smeared with clear coloured gel and pressed it to Cameron's stomach, making her to gasp out as the cold gel touched her skin. The screen of the scanner machine was turned towards Lauren, so Cameron couldn't see it. Cameron just kept her eyes on the ceiling, trying to ignore the coldness of the gel and discomfort of the scan. She tried not to think on what Lauren was going to find, she had already said something was there that shouldn't be there. After about a minute, Lauren removed the scanner from Cameron's stomach. "Well there is nothing to indicate any type of abnormality with your stomach".

Cameron turned her head towards Lauren, surprised. "If its not my stomach, what is it?". Lauren looked away at Cameron and instead stared at Cameron stomach. She raised the scanner and pressed it to Cameron's skin again, this time moving the scanner lower down the abdomen. Once Lauren was able to see the screen, her mouth dropped and she stared to the screen in complete shock. She raised the scanner from Cameron's skin and blinked firmly before lowering it again. It was like Lauren didn't believe what she was seeing but her facial expression didn't change when she looked again. "Lauren, your scaring me, what's wrong?". Cameron was more nervous now then she ever, she knew Lauren had found something and by the look on her face, it didn't look good. Lauren looked at Cameron and back to the screen again, shaking her head in disbelief. "It's impossible, you can't, you just can't". Cameron was close to tears, she was sure she was going to be told she was going to die. "Lauren, just tell me, what is it?". Lauren turned to her and muttered two words to Cameron that she thought she would never hear, something that was impossible. Lauren took a deep breath and said, "Your Pregnant!".

Cameron tired so hard not to faint. She had never been so taken aback since John asked her to marry him. She wasn't sure she had heard Lauren right. "What did you say?". Lauren looked towards the screen again, shaking her head at the impossible. "Your pregnant, I don't know how, but your pregnant". Cameron eyes widened. She didn't know if she was more happy or shocked by what Lauren had said to her. "Can I see?". Cameron's voice was trembling so mush she was forced to repeat herself. Lauren nodded and turned the screen towards her. Cameron clapped her hand over her mouth as she was seeing her own baby, growing inside of her. Lauren moved herself slightly to see the screen herself, but keeping a hold of the scanner to Cameron's skin. "I don't know how you did it, you shouldn't be able to get pregnant, you don't have your own DNA, or at least I don't think you do". Cameron shook her head slightly, not taking her eyes off the screen. "I don't care how it happened, I don't care!, that's my baby, mine and John's". Tears began falling rapidly down her cheeks, not tears of sadness but tears of joy. Lauren couldn't help but keep the grin off her face as she watched Cameron cry at the sight of her baby on the screen.

"Here, If I can get this right, then I might be able to do something for you". Lauren began turning one of the small knobs next to the screen and also moved the scanner slightly. "Listen!". They both listened hard as Lauren turned the Knob. Slowly, they both could hear a low drumming sound, coming from the scanning machine. "That's your baby's heartbeat". Cameron cried out with joy, trying hard to stop crying but couldn't help herself but to carry on crying. "From what I can see and hear, the baby's very healthy, I'll be back in a minute". Lauren quickly left the room, leaving Cameron alone with her eyes fixed on the screen. Cameron didn't even notice her leaving, she didn't care, nothing mattered more to her at this moment then looking at the impossible something that she was sure could never happen, her baby. Lauren with an old book that looked like she found it in a sewage pipe and began scanning through it. She noticed Cameron's confused look. "This came in useful when my mom was pregnant with my sister, I might be able to see how old it is". Cameron nodded before returning her gaze to the screen. Lauren then looked towards the screen and back to the book again, muttering under her breath. After a few minutes, she closed the book with a large smile.

"From what I can tell, your about twelve weeks pregnant". Cameron held her hands to cover her mouth, covering her large grin. Lauren turned off the screen, and removed the scanner from her skin. Cameron felt shocked and angry, she wanted to stay and look at her baby. "This is a very unique situation and I will have to monitor you very closely, but from what I can see you seem to be in perfect health and the baby is absolutely fine. All your symptoms, morning sickness, dizziness, stomach cramps, that's all normal during pregnancy, so don't worry about it". Cameron nodded and sat up, rolling her t shirt back down to cover her belly but she kept her hands on her stomach. Lauren turned and picked up a syringe. "I'm going to take some blood. Just a small amount. I want to see how this is possible. You can't get pregnant if you don't have your own DNA. You are pregnant so you must have some sort of DNA".

Cameron nodded and held out her arm. Cameron closed her eyes and ignored the discomfort as Lauren took some blood from her arm. Cameron felt Lauren remove the needle from her and Cameron opened her eyes, seeing her blood in the syringe, the sight making her feel a little sick again. "Now you better go tell John your having his baby and Allison she's going to have a little brother or sister". Though she never followed anyone's orders except John's, Cameron got off the bed and wrapped her arms around Lauren. "Thank you, with out you, none of this could have happened, you and Allison, you both did this for me". Cameron felt Lauren pat her on the back a few times before pulling away. "Go on, go see your husband". Smiling widely at her, Cameron ran for the door and stepped in to the corridor, determined to get to him as quickly as possible.

John walked in to the command room, seeing that everyone there was in complete silence. John spotted Liz and walked over. "Liz, what's wrong, what was the message". Liz jumped and looked at John, holding her hand over her heart. Everyone in the room turned to look at John, making him as always, feel a little uncomfortable. "Sorry John, I was miles away". Judging by the looks on the other faces in the room, they hadn't seen him enter the room either. "What's wrong?, what's happened?". Liz shook her head and looked to the floor. John knew instantly that something was really wrong because Liz only ever looked to the floor when something big was happening, and that big something usually meant that a lot of people were going to die. John put his hands on her shoulders, making her look up at him again. "Just tell me, you've known me for years, you can tell me anything, what's wrong?". Liz didn't talk an instead pointed to the computer nearest to her. The woman using the computer raised her hand and pressed a single button. The first thing John heard was static, but slowly, the static faded and he and everyone in the room heard the sounds of screams and gunfire. A single voice spoke, that of a young woman, crying hysterically.

"This message is for John Connor. Oh god, I hope you get this sir. The machines are here, at Oregon. They are killing everyone, the children, all the children are dead. They tore them apart. My daughter, they killed my daughter, she was only two weeks old, my baby, they killed my baby girl". John instantly shook his head, hating every word he was hearing. "The machines are using the nuclear plant, at Avila Beach!, trying to cause a meltdown, kill us all. If you get this, then you have to stop them sir, your John Connor, its too late for us here, but you need to save everyone else, stop the machines at the plant, save us all". The sounds of screams and gunfire intensified in the background. "FUCKING MACHINES, I'LL KILL YOU ALL!". More gunfire was heard, but seconds later they heard the woman scream out as she was killed by the machines. The gunfire and screams all stopped, and all John and the others could hear could hear were footsteps, being made by the feet of metal machines. A huge explosion was heard and the message ended, leaving everyone in the room in silence.

John knew that they people at Oregon had set explosives to prevent the machines capturing anything useful, destroying Oregon bunker forever. John held his hand over his eyes shaking his head. He felt a surge of guilt as more people had died, people he couldn't save, but he was John Connor, he should be able to save them, they all looked to him to do it and yet they were dead. The nuclear plant, John knew the plant in question was the one at Serrano Point. He hadn't been there, but Cameron had, and so had Sarah. It was also there that Sarah made the fatal mistake to go through a contaminated room with out protection, which ultimately led to her death. While there, they had stopped a meltdown from happening and by the sounds of the message, John would have to go and stop the machines trying it again. Holding his hand to his forehead, he tried to think on what to do, but other thoughts kept surging through him. Why did so many have to die?, even a two week old girl had been killed, not even having a chance to smile or laugh in life.

John really wanted to go and sit alone, but he couldn't, not with everyone looking at him for answers, for leadership. "How long until the machines can cause a meltdown?". Everyone began looking at each other, not having a faintest idea, except the woman who earlier had started the message. "Sir, my father used to work at the plant, I learnt I few things from him, give me ten minutes and I'll find out how long". John turned to look at her, making the young woman gulp. "okay, get it done, I need to know how long we've got to stop them". The woman gave a nod and began working furiously on the computer, two others leaning over her shoulders, lending assistance. "Bring up all the information we have on the Avila beach area on the wall screen". With in seconds, the wall screen turned on and a birds eye view of Avila beach appeared. John could clearly make out the power plant near the centre. Liz appeared next to John, looking at the screen with him. "Your not thinking of doing what I think you are going to do, are you?". John nodded.

"It depends on how long we've got until the meltdown. Looking at the screen, John could see the power plant was build out of the way of civilian homes. This meant that they wasn't a lot of cover when approaching the plant, meaning anyone moving nearby would be spotted quickly. "Sir, I've got it, the meltdown will happen in…. just under forty eight hours". The woman's voice dropped as she told John how long they had. John closed his eyes in frustration. "Damn it, its not enough time". Liz looked at John, a little sign of hope in her face. "If the power plant goes in to meltdown, we should be okay. I mean, we survived Judgement day, all the bombs, we should be able to survive this". John instantly shook his head, knowing that he and everyone couldn't bare to live through another Judgement day. "No, we would survive the meltdown but we would be trapped in the bunkers, underground, unable to move. How long do you think we'd last before we run out of food and water. How long do you think until people start to starve and become desperate?. We've all seen what happens when people get desperate, it will be like those years after Judgement day all over again. Murder!, rape!, it will all happen again. We'll kill each other, wipe our selves out".

Liz backed down instantly, her eyes fixing on the floor again. John looked around the room, seeing all the familiar faces, most of them had been in warehouse seventeen with him, for six long years, working and planning to escape, to fight back. Back then, nothing could have convinced any of them to quit, but seeing their faces now, he could see their doubts and fear. One of them stepped forwards, "We should run, take as many people as we can and head south, the further south we go, the safer we'll be". Liz's brother William, next stepped forwards, "We should do what Liz said, sit tight, we survived once, we can survive again". Their words erupted in to a full argument, people began screaming at each other, trying to get their point across. Only John was left in silence, backing himself against the wall. As he watch the scene before him, he knew he had to say something. Taking out his pistol, John primed it and fired at the ceiling, silencing everyone in the room. Putting his gun away, John took a deep breath and spoke up so everyone could hear him.

"Look, most of you were in Century with me, we spend six years together, working together, living together, suffering together, seeing our friends, our loved ones die before our eyes, even before they were taken away to be murdered. I'm not supposed to trust anyone, trust is something that can get me killed. But I do trust, I trust every single one of you because I know what you've been through, I was with you every step of the way. There isn't a moment when I wouldn't gladly give my life to save any one of yours. We've been through so much together, all of us. But I can see your doubts and your fears, I just need to look at your faces to see them. I know your scared, one of life's greatest secrets is that everyone is scared. I'm terrified of the world, I feel fear, and hate and remorse just like any of you. I know some of you want to run, to run as far away as you can. I know others want to sit tight, wait it out, wait until we can go back outside again. But we can't you all know we can't. If we sit tight, we'll die, if we all run, we die. If we die, we loose the war and there won't be a future for our children and our children's children. I'm asking you to keep trusting me, to help me, I can't fight this war alone, I need you, need you all. John finished his speech, surprised at himself for saying so much. Looking around, he was more surprised to see the impact of his words on them. Some were shaking their heads, other looked down at the floor, ashamed of themselves for their actions.

Liz stepped forwards, also holding her head in shame. "I'm sorry, you saved me from that gang, that first day we met, you saved me. I never stopped trusting you and I never will. You saved us from Century and I'll never forget that, I'm with you to the end". John gave a nod of thanks to her and Liz moved herself behind John, making John feel like he was recruiting a gang. As soon as Liz stopped, Liz's brother, William again stepped forwards. "You me and my sister from a machine before this war even stated, you've been fighting these things your entire life. You walk in to hell, I'm right behind you. I'm with you until I die, I swear it, you lead, we follow". Everyone else began muttering the same words, "You lead, we follow, you lead, we follow, you lead, we follow". Eventually, they all began shouting in union, "YOU LEAD, WE FOLLOW!, YOU LEAD, WE FOLLOW!". John had never felt so grateful to hear them say what they were. He felt himself going red in the face, but he didn't care, he knew that he had them with him, that together, they would all march to Avila Beach and take the power plant, and they can win this war, and win it they shall. Hearing a familiar voice shouting the words, he turned himself to see Allison standing near the door way, a large grin on her face as she shouted the words.

Smiling back, he shouted back, "IF YOUR WITH ME, THEN LETS GO AND WIN THIS WAR!". Everyone screamed and cheered, shooting there arms in the air. They eventually began getting to work, working as fast as they could, more determination in their eyes now then there was when they broke out of Century. "Contact Perry, tell him to move his troops to Avila Beach and we need anyone and everyone who knows how to operate a power plant. I don't care how much they know, find them and get them here". Allison made her way through the crowd, the grin on her face still fixed. "Good speech, nice and short". John couldn't half but grin back. "It leaves more time for drinking, except we drank it all at you and your mothers birthday that time". They both laughed loudly, and John felt more relive as he hadn't heard her laugh for a long time. "Where's mom?". John had to think hard, completely forgetting about Cameron with what had just happened. "She want to the lab, to see Lauren, she wasn't feeling well". Allison nodded and turned and left for the labs, disappearing behind the door. Before John could even turn away, Allison came back through the door, quickly followed by Cameron.

"I heard what you said on the radio, I'm impressed". John gave a smile. "I'm glad I can still surprise you". Grinning herself, she learn in and kissed John deeply, both quickly become lost in the passion of the kiss. Allison pushed the two apart, shaking her head. "I am here you know, stop embarrassing me, you've got plenty of time for that later". Shaking her head again, she moved away from them both, disappearing through the crowd, looking for Liz. "I forgot to ask, what did Lauren say?, are you alright?". Cameron didn't seem to notice and instead looked at the wall screen, seeing the power plant. "Serrano Point?, what's going on?". John quickly explained the situation to her. Looking at the wall screen, she pointed towards a ruined building near the plant. "We can use the bar as cover, its about two hundred metres to the plant from there, if we're lucky, we can get inside the plant with out the machines outside seeing us". John nodded, not really interested in what she was saying. "Yeah, great, what did Lauren say?".

Cameron turned to him, desperately wanting to tell him the good news, but instinct told her told hold back, not to tell him yet. "Nothing, she said I had a bug or something, I'll be okay in a few days". Something about the look on John's face convinced her that he didn't believe a word she said. He didn't reply to her words and waited for her to tell him the truth. Cameron didn't say anything to him, hoping he wouldn't press the issue. "Okay, lets hope it doesn't take too long" . Leaning forwards, he kissed her, just the way she liked it, making her feel more guilty about not telling him. When he broke the kiss, John smiled and moved away, in to the crowd and began talking with Perry on the radio.

Before Cameron joined him, she tried to understand why she had not told him. She didn't know why she had not shared the single most important thing with the man she loved, she hadn't kept any secrets from him since they confessed their love for one another. Once that happened, she told John all her secrets, everything she had ever kept from him, but now, the most important thing to happen to them both, having their own baby after thinking for so long that they could never have one, and she hadn't told him about it. But then it hit her, she had to kept the news to herself for now. If she told him now, he wouldn't let her go with him to Serrano Point, where she was needed. He'd make sure she was safe, keep her out of the way, out of danger. She didn't want that, she wanted to be at John's side when he goes there tomorrow. Though she hated herself for it, she took a deep breath and joined in with the planning of the attack the next day, swearing to herself that she would tell him he was going to be a father, the moment the battle was over.

The journey to Serrano Point reminded John of his and Cameron's first trip through the deserts of Mexico before Century work camp. He and Cameron had joined by with hundreds of people, just trying to escape the terror that was behind them. This time, John was joined by hundreds of solders, heading through the ruins of LA to Serrano Point, to fight a battle that could decide the fate of the entire war. Everyone moved in silence, not just as a rule when out of the bunkers, but as they were all nervous about what they were about to be a part of. They arrived just a few miles from the power plant, and John and Cameron met with General Perry, who upon spotting them, instantly saluted to them. "Sir, good to see you,". John gave a salute back while Cameron nodded to him. "Follow me, sir". Perry led John and Cameron in to ruined building nearby. Inside, they were numerous computer terminals being set up as quickly as possible. Perry stopped and turned to them both. "Sir, I've got three thousand men waiting for your order to advance, and from our sources, we've got three hours until the power plant goes in to meltdown". Both John and Cameron looked at each other at surprise. "We had it at eight hours, three hours isn't enough time".

Perry shook his head. "Skynet must have found out what we were going to do, it stepped up its plans. We need to change ours". John resisted the urge to punch the wall and stepped forward, looking at the map on the wall screen that had been set up. "Cameron, yesterday, you said something about an old bar we could use as cover to get in the plant". Stepping forwards, Cameron looked at the map and pointed towards some ruins near the plant. "There, if Perry can keep the machines busy on the other side of the plant, we can get a small team through the back door, take the plant from behind them". Perry instantly shook his head. "I think the machines will see that coming, they have all their firepower pointed in our direction, but I doubt they will leave the back door unguarded". Cameron looked to John for support as was pleased to see him nodding his head in her favour. "Skynet's is willing to cause a nuclear meltdown to try and kill us. It thinks I'll attack with everything I have at the front, try a punch a whole through to the plant, they won't think I'll send some men behind them. We need you to keep them distracted Perry, keep the machines busy, while we go in from behind, we'll escort the technicians to step the meltdown".

Perry instantly began looking at them both shaking his head with surprise. "You can't be considering doing it yourselves, you can't do that, I won't let you, I know some men who can get the job done". "Good, get those men to us now, and we'll go right away, we need to get to the plant as soon as possible". Perry just stared at the two of them, thinking they were insane for what they were wanting to do and for a moment, he didn't look like he would do what they asked, but he eventually nodded his head and walked to the other end of the room and talking to some of the men there, who began working on the computer terminals they were on. John followed Perry and began Woking with him in working out the plan in more detail, while their strike team in to the camp was being assembled.

As Cameron watched him, she felt her eyes turn to the back of her head and she lost her balance. Reaching out, she managed grab hold on to the wall, preventing her falling over. Breathing in deeply, she looked around and was glad no one had noticed. She shook her head, trying to throw the dizziness out of her but it just made her feel worse. Moving her self slowly, she moved out of the room and in to the corridor. Leaning against the wall, she slid down it to the floor, her head feeling still feeling dizzy. She sat still for a few minutes, waiting for the dizziness to disappear, which it slowly did. As she waited, she ran her hands across her belly, knowing the reason for her dizziness was because of the child growing inside of her. Slowly, she got to her feet and walked back in to the room. John spotted her and walked over, looking at her with concern. Stopping before her, he looked in to her eyes and shook his head, raising his hand to touch her cheek. Cameron raised her own hand, keeping his hand in place. "You look pale, are you okay?".#

Cameron nodded her head with a smile but John shook his head again. "You not telling me something, Cameron, what is it?, please tell me". Cameron lowered her head, disappointed at herself for being unable to last a day since seeing Lauren before feeling dizzy again. "Is it something to do with what Lauren found?". Cameron gave a nod, still keeping her head lowered. "Its not just a stomach bug that's making you sick, what is it, is it bad?". By the sound of his voice, she could tell that John was scared that something was very wrong. "It's not bad, I promise, it's just I can't tell you, not yet, I want to tell you, I do, but I can't". Looking up, she could see John was a little hurt by her words. "I love you Cameron, I always have done, you can tell me anything". "I know you do, and I will tell you, as soon as this is over, once the battles finished, I'll tell you, I promise".

John didn't look satisfied but he backed down, this time nodding his head. "Okay, at least go and find Lauren before we set out,, she'll be setting up the field hospital outside, get her to have another look at you, please, for me". Cameron nodded and in the process, she raised her other hand to take John's away from her cheek. With her fingers, she ran them over his wedding ring. "I love you too, I always have done, and will do until the day I die". Letting go of each others hands, they stood they for a brief second just gazing in to each others eyes, waiting for the other to make the first move. When neither of them did, they moved together, their lips locking, their arms wrapping around each other. John didn't know why, but this kiss made him feel like the time when he kiss her right before he left her alone on the basement of their old house, right before she went in to stand by mode. Though he knew she had now lost the ability to go in to standby mode, when they broke apart, he was more then happy to see she was still awake, still there with him.

Cameron made her way out of the building and outside. Stepping out in to the cold morning air, she began to walk towards some brown tents being set up nearby, which was to be the medical aid station. As she walked, many people stopped what they were doing to stare at her. Ignoring them, she spotted Lauren talking with another woman, with dark long hair. Lauren spotted Cameron and stepped her conversation, turning herself to face Cameron as she approached. "You look like hell, are you alright?". Cameron shook her head, bringing her hand up to move some of her hair out of her face. "I nearly collapsed, I was so dizzy, I couldn't focus on anything". Lauren nodded, looking around at he nearest tent to them. "Come on, I'll have a look at you". Cameron followed Lauren in to the tent and was in turn followed by the woman with the dark hair. Cameron turned to look at her, wondering why she was following. "Oh, this is my sister Sidney, Sidney, this is Cameron Connor". Sidney held out her shaking hand and Cameron took it with a smile. Lauren opened a steel box and began sorting through some medical equipment, finding a small flash light. Cameron sat down on a small fold out chair and let Lauren look in to her eyes. "When was the last time you drank anything?". Cameron didn't answer, not remembering when she did last have a drink. "Sidney, get a bottle of water, quickly". Sidney nodded her head and hurried out of the tent.

"You've got to remember your not a machine anymore, you can't just pick and choose when to eat and drink, you need to remember to eat and drink everyday, like the rest of us, especially in your condition". Cameron tilted her head to one side, not knowing what Lauren meant by her condition. Lauren quickly saw she was confused. "Your pregnant, your eating and drinking for two now, not just yourself, you need to remember for your baby, your body is dehydrated". "Is the baby okay?". Cameron felt ashamed at herself for her actions could have resulted in her baby coming to harm. "The baby will be fine, its only been a day since I last saw it". Looking up, she saw that Sidney had returned and was listening to them talk, and she looked speechless. "Your pregnant?, congratulations!". Cameron gave a small smile and took the bottle of water she was holding out. "Drink it down now, it will make you feel better". Taking the top off the bottle, Cameron did what she was told, drinking the entire bottle. Taking a few deep breaths when she finished, she was glad to feel better already. Handing the empty bottle to Sidney she noticed that Sidney was staring at her again. "What are you looking at?". Sidney shook her head and looked at the ground with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, its just I know all about you, about what you used to be, and what you did for me and my sister and my mother".

Looking around at Lauren, Cameron felt betrayed that Lauren had told someone about her being a machine. "I've raised Sidney since she was born, I've never kept a secret from her, she hasn't told anybody and never will, don't worry, take off your jacket and lift up your top, I'm going to check your baby is okay". Cameron nodded and took her jacket off and held up her t-shirt, showing her belly. Looking down, she did notice that he belly looked a little larger then she remembered it, though not by much. Looking at Sidney, she noticed she was staring again, but this time, Sidney held out her hand before retracting it again. "I'm sorry, may I?". Cameron nodded and Sidney raised her hand and held it to Cameron's belly, quickly followed by Lauren. "Sidney's a medic at Eagle Rock bunker. She's delivered over twenty babies, she knows all about this, more then I do". Lauren let go of Cameron and got a sonar machine out,. She handed it to Sidney, who held it to her belly and instantly the repetitive beat of the baby's heart echoed from the sonar. Cameron instantly smiled and looked at Sidney who smiled in return saying "That's your baby, strong and healthy" Cameron felt a little nervous as she heard movement in the distance, outside of the tent, it sounded as if the machines were ready to move.

Sidney removed the sonar and said "Your baby is fine, its healthy and strong but you need to eat and drink a lot more then you are doing". Cameron nodded, and pulled her t-shirt back down and pulled her jacket back on. Lauren held out her hand and Cameron saw a couple of biscuits in her hand "Ginger, it'll help with the sickness and dizziness." Cameron nodded and crunched a biscuit and drank some more water. "Thank you, I need to get back quickly". "Before you go, what did John say when you told him". Cameron's face dropped instantly to the floor, her eyes fixed in the ground. "I haven't told him". Both Lauren and Sidney looked at each other and then back at Cameron, Lauren looking disappointed. "Why not?, don't you think he should know?, especially since you both though you could never have your own children".

Cameron raised her gaze from the floor. "I haven't told him because if I do, he won't let me go with him to Serrano Point, and I'm needed there with him, I'll tell him the moment the battle's over". Lauren nodded her head, but her face showed Cameron that she disapproved. "Your second in command, I can't tell you what to do, but if I were you, I'd tell him now". Cameron gave a small smile and turned to leave. "Remember to eat and drink more". Cameron stepped out of the tent and made her way back towards the ruined building and to John, smiling at Laurens parting words. As she walked, it was clear that the solders were ready for the battle. Some stood with plasma rifles, others with rocket launchers. Others were stood on top of trucks, holding on to mounted plasma machine guns and rocket launchers, ready to attack the machines.

As she approached the building, she saw a group of about solders standing together. As she walked past them, they all turned and watched her. One of them stepped forwards and saluted to her and only after she looked a second time, she realised she was staring at Kyle Reese, her father in law. Cameron had never met Kyle and now that she finally did, she felt like she was meeting an old friend. "Kyle Reese, we haven't met before". She held out her hand and Kyle Reese took it. "No we haven't, but your John's wife, he showed me a picture of you once, when you were younger". Kyle smiled at her before turning around and rejoining the group behind him. Cameron instantly recognised Kyle's smile as John's smile and also noticed how much alike they looked. "Cameron, are you alright?". Turing away from the group, Cameron was met by John again. "Yes, Lauren gave me something to help, I'll be fine". John nodded, looking around at the group. "We have to go now, the machines are moving towards us here". Cameron nodded and took her plasma rifle from John as he handed it to her. John walked to the group of solders, all of them going silent. "Kyle, good to see you, ready to move". Kyle gave a small nod to John. "We move on your word, sir".

Cameron moved to John's side an they set off towards the back of the encampment, to try and work their way around the battlefield. They spotted a trench up ahead, which by the looks of it, led all the way up towards the bar Cameron pointed out earlier. "Everyone, in the trench, single file and keep low". One by one, the men and women jumped down in to the trench. John jumped down in to the trench after half of the solders did, followed closely by Cameron. John held up his radio. "Perry, it's time, good luck". "You to sir". Perry's voice came back through the radio. Instantly after, a huge rumble was heard as the tuck in the Resistance encampment thundered to life and began to move. The stick team moved along the trench as quickly as they could, ducking down more and more and they got further along as the trench became less deeper. The group stopped and John looked over the solder in front of him towards the front, seeing Kyle, who had been leading the way, had stopped in his tracks.

John took his radio again. "Kyle, what's up?". "We're too exposed, the machines will see us if we move past this point". John moved himself up, so he could see the battlefield. He could see the enormous HK tanks roll forwards slowly, with large aerials escorting them. John looked to where the machines were headed and saw nothing at first glance. But as he looked closely, he could make out the figures of solders, lying prone on the ground, waiting in ambush. John turned to his left and saw Cameron had also stood up to see, and was having trouble doing so as she was on the tip of her toes. John wrapped his arm around her, helping her to balance. She didn't speak, but gave him a loving smile in thanks. John held up the radio again. "Kyle, sit tight, when the attack begins, run for it". "Yes sir". The machines kept showily moving forwards, until they were very close to the solders waiting in ambush.

Suddenly, the solders rose from their hiding places and fired at everything in front of them. Four of the tanks in front of them were destroyed instantly, quickly followed by two more. A huge exchange of plasma and rocket fire then erupted through out the battlefield. The Resistance solders moved forward, using the remains of the tanks as cover as they fired at the advancing machine's. The aerials and drones flew over the solders, firing at anything that moved and were met by return fire, destroying many drones and forcing the aerials back. "Kyle, lets go, their distracted". Everyone had forgotten why they were there to watch the opening exchange of fire from the battle. Kyle, ran forwards, quickly followed by the second solder and then the third. Perry's voice came on to through the radio, "Sir, we've stalled their advance, but I can't guarantee it will stay that way". John looked back up again and saw that indeed, the machines had stopped advancing, its tanks unable to move forwards as the remains of the other tanks blacked their way. "Good, job Perry, keep at it". "Yes, sir". Just as John finished, it was his turn to move. Moving forwards, he could feel how close behind him Cameron was and he could tell that she was scared. Looking around, he took her hand and they ran across the gap together, jumping back in to the trench on the other side. Knowing that John was looking out for her seemed to boost Cameron's confidence again. She took the lead of John this time, guiding him after Kyle and the others. It took nearly twenty minutes to make it to the bar on the other side of the trench.

The trench went right through the old car park next to the building. Looking over the side of the trench. John could see a large hold in the wall, where the door in to the building used to be. "Kyle, your and the first four, check it out, quickly!". Kyle and four of the solders jumped out of the trench and ran in to the building, rifles raised and ready. John, Cameron and the others waited, listening to the battle going on not to far away from them. John and Cameron listened to his radio, listening to what people were saying. At one moment, John was sure he heard Derek Reese's voice, giving an order to take down an aerial. Looking at Cameron, he knew he wasn't hearing things as she looked like she had heard the same thing. Kyle Reese reappeared back from the building, out of breath but looking pleased. "The buildings clear, sir". John nodded and put his radio away. One by one, everyone got out of the trench and moved in to the building. Once inside, John moved to one of the broken windows and looked towards the power plant. Cameron appeared next to him and pointed towards the doors on the side of the plant. "There, we go through there and its not far to the control room". John nodded and looked up to the sky. "GET DOWN!".

Dropping to the floor, they watched as an aerial flew past them, moving towards the battle. The aerial stopped and turned to face the building they were hiding in. It's lights shot on and it scanned the building and John thought they had been discovered. After about a minute, the machine turned again and flew towards the battle again. "That was too close". They moved away from the window. "Kyle, You can see the entrance to the power plant just outside this window, find a way to get there with out being seen if you can". With a nod, Kyle left through a door out of the room. Cameron pointed towards two of the solders. "You two, go with him, no one should go anywhere alone". The two solders left quickly after Kyle. John looked at Cameron who merely gave a grin back. John heard Perry's voice on the radio again but he wasn't speaking to him. "Hold the line!, we need to give the Connor's more time, hold the line!".

Cameron didn't like the sound of what she head and she didn't like the look on John's face, knowing that they were being pressed hard and wouldn't be long until the were completely routed. Turing away from the window, John led the way through the door Kyle went through earlier. John thought he had stepped back outside in to the open. The far was on the room was a pile of rubble and the ceiling was also rubble on the floor. Crouching near a small part of the wall that was left standing, was Kyle and the two solders Cameron sent after him. Kyle turned upon hearing them and then turned to look back outside. "Sir, there's no cover from here to the entrance, we'll have to just run for it, go in pairs, two at a time". Another aerial flew over their position, along with dozens of drones. Keeping a low profile, the group remains still until the aerials and drones had gone, disappearing in to the chaos of the battlefield.

John moved himself forwards, and could see the entrance inside the power plant clearly. "Okay, Cameron, you stay here, send everyone over in pairs, Kyle, you and me are going over first". Both Kyle and Cameron nodded. John stuck his head out, looking left, right and above them, seeing if it was clear. "Ready, let's go". John ran out first with Kyle right behind him. They ran as if they were being chased, not looking back, just running as fast as possible. Quickly, John and Kyle hit the door, pushing it open and stepped inside. With their rifles held up, they scanned the scene in front of them. The power plant looked empty, but it was clear that it was active. The machinery on power red up and the alarm had gone off, signalling that a meltdown was close to happening. Though the area looked clear, neither Kyle nor John lowered their weapons, it all looked to easy. John looked to his left, seeing a flight of stairs led up to a catwalk above them. "Something's not right, an ambush maybe?". Kyle nodded and stepped forwards, taking cover near the bottom of the catwalk.

"You better start bringing them over, if there is a ambush, we need more then just us". John turned and looked back towards the ruined bar, spotting Cameron waiting for his signal, her brown hair blowing in the wind. He waved his hand, and Cameron waved back. A second later, two solders waiting behind her began to run across. They John covered the two from the power plant entrance while Cameron did the same from the ruined bar. The two solders arrived at the entrance and took positions at where Kyle pointed. John waved his hand again and so did Cameron, sending two more across. They repeated the process until everyone except Cameron and one of the solders were across. John looked one last time to see it was clear and waved his hand.

The moment he did, Cameron and the other solder broke in to a run to get across. Before they got half way, John spotted something moving towards them in the air at high speed. Gazing at it for a few seconds, he realised it was a drone. The drone fired two rockets at the two, forcing John t go back outside. "CAMERON, GET DOWN!". Cameron did what she was told, dropping to the floor and dragging the other solder down with her. The rockets shot right over them and continued on towards the plant, hitting the wall and exploding, leaving a large hole. John took aim and fired with his plasma rifle, but due to the drone's high speed, he missed. Cameron and the solder got back up and broke in to another run. The drone flew closer and fired again, just seconds before John managed to destroy it. The second pair of rockets again zoomed for Cameron and again, Cameron didn't notice as she had her back to it.

With out thinking, John threw his plasma rifle aside and ran forwards. He and Cameron met seconds later and John threw them both to the ground, making sure he landed on top of her to shield her. The rocket missed Cameron and hit the wall of the plant, leaving a second hole, but the other rocket hit the other solder in the back, killing him instantly. More drones appeared in the air, rushing towards Cameron and John's location. "We have to go". Rolling off Cameron and getting to his feet, he helped Cameron back up and they ran, hand in hand towards to plant entrance. Kyle and six others from the group all appeared at the entrance and fired wildly at the swam of drones descending on them. John managed to bend down and grab his discarded plasma rifle while still moving. Running inside the plant, Kyle and the other closed the doors behind them. Taking a few seconds to breath, Perry's voice came through on the radio. "Connor!, what the hell have you done?".

Everyone turned to look at him as John took out his radio and held it up. "What do you mean?". "I mean you've got a hell of a lot of metal on the way. You better get yourself out of there, now!". John shook his head, seeing that everyone didn't look pleased about the impending machine attack on them. "I'm not leaving until I've stopped the meltdown!". "Sir, with all due respect, you'll be killed, if you die, we'll loose everything". "Yeah, and if I turn and run now, we'll still all die, I'm not going anywhere". There was a long silence as John waited for Perry to reply. "Yes sir!". John could sense a lot of pride in Perry's voice, making him feel a little better with their situation. "Kyle, take point!, get us to the control room, quickly, we haven't got long left". Kyle moved forwards slowly, rifle held up. Everyone else followed slowly, branching off in different directions around the machinery in the plant. The moved through the plant with out any problems and eventually found themselves heading along some corridors, only a few hundred metres from the control room. As they moved along, Both John and Cameron became increasingly nervous. This was too easy, way to easy. The should have run in to some machines by now. "Kyle, stop!". Kyle did indeed stop moving and turned. "Something's wrong". "I know, we should have seen some metal by now". John this time moved forwards, taking the lead of Kyle and came to a corner.

He slowly moved his head around , just enough to see what was there. He could see the control room, and he could also see machines. There were at least two T ones, both waiting with their twin machine guns. There were also four T triple eights, all four guarding the entrance to the control room. John moved back before he could be seen and turned to face the others. "There's T triple eights and T ones guarding the control room, the corridors to narrow with no rooms to go in for cover, we can't head through that way". Cameron moved forwards and looked around herself, also being careful not to be seen. "There should be another way around. If I can get there and make the machines follow me, you might have a clear run to get inside". John nodded and turned to the rest of the group. "Who here knows how to stop the meltdown?". At least nine of them raised their hands, all of them rather slowly, nervous on what John planned for them. "Okay, you stay here with me and Kyle, Everyone else, go with Cameron!". Cameron gave a small smile as she walked past John and down the corridor, most of the group following her, leaving John, Kyle and the nine who rose their hands behind. Both John and Kyle waited nervously for Cameron to distract the machines. John stuck his had around again to look, seeing the machines hadn't moved from their spots. As John looked, the T one closed to him moved its had in his direction and began moving down the corridor towards in, its tank like tracks making a squeaking sound as it moved. "Shit, I think It saw me". The machine continued down and John heard Kyle get ready behind him. Before the machine got to them however, John heard the sounds of plasma fire from down the corridor. Moving his head back to look, the T one coming towards him began to reverse back towards the control room, where the other T one and the T triple eights were in the middle of a fire fight with Cameron and the others. Two of the T triple eights took direct shots to the head and fell.

The other two T triple eights, as well as the two T ones, advanced on Cameron, leaving the control room exposed. "Lets go". Kyle and John led the way quickly down the corridor, the sounds of plasma fire from around the corner and explosions from the battle outside made it almost impossible to hear anything else. Getting to the end of the corridor, just outside of the control room, John turned the corner and with Kyle and the others with him, they fired at the T one's and T triple eights from behind, destroying them all. "Get in there, stop the meltdown!". Two of the solders behind down moved in to the room. Two shots were heard, followed by two screams and two bodies fell to the floor. John and Kyle took position on either side of the door, rifles ready. The alarms in the power plant began to get louder as a second alarm went off, telling them a meltdown was imminent. One of the solders behind John, moved forwards, Sir, its almost past the point of no return, we've got seconds before its irreversible". John looked and Kyle, and took a deep breath. "Its now or never!". Kyle nodded. "On three?, one, two, THREE!".

Both John and Kyle moved in to the room, and both instantly saw a single T triple eight. Driving in opposite directions, the machine didn't know who to target first, which gave John and Kyle the advantage they needed. Both taking aim, they fired together, and hit the machine in the head. The machine shuddered but didn't fall, forcing John and Kyle to fire again. This time the machine did fall, were it remained still on the ground. John looked to the computers in the room, seeing the words ' MELTDOWN IMMINANT', on the closest computer, flashing repeatedly. John looked towards the door, "All clear, get in here now!". The others all ran in and instantly got to work to stop the meltdown. Cameron arrived seconds later, taking her place next to John. "Kyle, make sure the corridor is secure!". Kyle nodded and left the room, giving orders to the other solders outside. "Sir, I don't think we can stop it!".

The solder pointed to the wall, and to the main computer screen, showing John and Cameron a timer, showing that there was only thirty seconds left. "Just keep trying, we have to stop it, everyone dies of we don't". The solder got back to work, typing quickly on the computer. Everyone turned to look at him as he typed,, some holding their hands over their mouths, some looked away altogether, not able to bare to look. As the time ticked down past twenty seconds, John and Cameron grasped each others hands tightly. The timer went passed ten seconds and the solder who was typing was close to panicking. Eight seconds, sweat dropped from his face on to his hands as he typed. Five seconds left, he started swearing under his breath, "Come on, shit, shit, shit, come on!". The alarms intensity increased, causing Cameron and John close their eyes in fear that they had failed. Three, two, One, and then silence.

John and Cameron's eyes shot open, their hands shaking in each others grip. Looking around, they saw everyone else in the room was in the same condition they were in, looking around with confusion and fear in their faces. The solder who had been working on the computer fell back on to the floor, breathing erratically. John looked towards the screen and saw the words, 'MELTDOWN AVERTED, SYSTEM POWERING DOWN TO AVIOD RADIATION LEAK, COOLING SYSTEMS ENGAGED'. John read and reread the words over six times so he was sure he read it correctly. "He did it, he stopped it". Everyone in the room gave cries of joy and began to clap, one of them kneeling down next to the solder and gave him a firm pat on the back. John held up his radio. "Perry, what's you status?". "Sir, I don't know why, but the machines are leaving. They just stopped fighting and left, all of them are gone, we've won!".

"Good, we've also stopped the meltdown, move in and help secure the plant". "Yes sir, right away sir". With the power plant power red down, the alarms all turned off, allowing the sounds of cheers from the solders outside to be heard. The battle of Avila Beach was over, and the Resistance had won it, their first major victory. Perry got back on the radio again, "Sir, I'd just like to say, you've done one hell of a job, you saved us all again, thank you!". John couldn't help but grin, as did Cameron from his side. "Thanks, and Perry, good job, really good job".

That night, their was a huge celebration in the power plant and the surrounding area. With Skynet's machines moving in the opposite direction, they could celebrate their victory, which the men and women of the resistance did. They lit bonfires and danced and drank, just enjoying themselves, something a lot of them hadn't been able to do in a long time, some of them not since before Judgment day. Though they had won the battle, neither John nor Cameron felt like celebrating. Everyone congratulated them on their success. Neither John nor Cameron could forget those who had died in the battle, over five hundred were dead, and many more were wounded. Though five hundred seemed like a small number, it wasn't to John. Since Judgement day, John felt the guilt of not being able to stop Judgement day and save the three billion who lost their lives, and now he had the guilt of five hundred more on his concisions. Cameron herself, was feeling guilt, not just for those who had died, but because she hadn't told John yet about being pregnant with his child.

As she walked through the power plant, she raised her hands to rub her eyes. She felt exhausted, her muscles ached and she wanted nothing more then to find somewhere quiet to sleep, but with the celebrations going on around her, that was almost impossible. Before finding somewhere to rest, she wanted to find John and tell him the good news and so walked around, asking others if they had seem him. None of them did, and none of them seemed in any fit state to know, being drunk with victory. So she just kept walking, becoming more desperate to find him and tell him. As she walked, she could feel sweat on her face and a small pain in her stomach, which didn't bother her at first, but the pain slowly increased in intensity, until she was having trouble walking. Cameron eventually spotted John outside one of the aid stations that had been set up in the power plant for the wounded. He spotted her and began walking towards her, but as he did, Cameron felt a huge surge of pain in her stomach. Her hands darted for her belly and she fell forwards, screaming out in pain. "CAMERON!". John ran over and knelt beside her. "What's wrong?, Cameron, what's wrong?". Cameron felt another surge of pain an cried out again, unable to speak due to it. John didn't know what to do, so he cried out, "HELP!, SOMEONE, HELP ME!". Within seconds, footsteps were heard in all directions and solders appeared, all thinking John was under attack, though upon seeing John and Cameron, they all stood down instantly. Cameron lost all focus and fell back in to John's arms. John scooped her up in his arms and noticed blood on her trousers.

"SOMEONE, GET HELP!, GET A DOCTOR, NOW!". Three of the solders watching immediately ran in to the aid station to get help. "Cameron, stay awake, just keep your eyes open, please". John didn't understand what was wrong, she looked fine earlier, now she looked like she was dying in his arms. The three solders returned seconds later, with both Lauren and Sidney fields. They both ran over and knelt down next t her. "What happened?". John shook her head, tears falling from his eyes. "I don't know, she just collapsed, she was holding her stomach". Lauren and Sidney both gave each other a glance before Sidney moved her hands to her belly, feeling around. "We need to get her to the aid station now, if we don't hurry, she could miscarry". John instantly froze in shock, rehearing those words in his head. The solders around them all went silent , the women clapping her hands over their mouths. "Miscarry?, what do you mean miscarry?".

Lauren turned her head to John, shaking her head. "She's pregnant, she was going to tell you after the battle was over". John looked down at Cameron, shock and disbelief. "Pregnant?, you should have told me Cameron, you should have told me". Lauren stood up and pointed at two of the solders watching them. You two, carry her and follow me". She next turned to John. "John, if we don't get her to the aid station, she will loose the baby and she might die herself, so move out of the way, now". John instantly moved out of the way and watched as Cameron was picked up and carried after Lauren and Sidney. John followed them, refusing to leave her, he wasn't going to let her die, her or their baby.