This chapter is going to be shorter then what I been writing usually but it was part of another chapter and it didn't really fit so I decided to break it into two separate Chapters.

Letters from home

The wind picked up slightly blowing the dried grass gently to the east. It was a rare day in 2029. Where normally it was bone chillingly cold or skin blistering hot, Today It was simply, beautifully, perfect.

Many of the soldiers that remained at the Command Post stayed out and enjoyed the cool air and the suns rays. Sarah Connor was no different then the rest of them.

She sat in the grass, fatigue shirt open as she watched the camp.

It was the first time since she had woke up in the future that she was truly alone. Up until this point she had been in Ryan's company, not counting her abduction by Steel. So it was strange and a bit frightening experience at the aspect of being alone in a strange world.

Not wanting to focus on that issue at the moment Sarah decided to distract her self by Going through Ryan's rucksack which he had on him since there first meeting. She opened the flap and stuck her hand inside. She rummaged through it looking for anything of interest, or something that might give her a clue about John.

She pulled out a stack of folded papers that where held together between a rubber band. Sarah felt a bit guilty as she pulled out one of the papers and silently read the neatly written but worn text.

Dear Cowboy

I'm sorry I haven't written you … but it's been rough over here lately. Someone has been raiding some settlements to the south and like clock work Command is sending your Mom and me to go check it out.

But that's neither here or there

Your Mom hasn't said much, but then you know that already. :)

I'm sorry that we missed your birthday this year. It's hard to believe that it's been eight years since your mom woke me up in the middle of the night and handed you to me.

Since this is going to be a long and difficult trip I was compelled to write you a few comforting words from home to let you know that we're thinking about you.

Love you, Cowboy

Mom and Dad

PS. When you get home your Mama has a big present for you.

Sarah was a bit flabbergasted at the note she read. If she didn't know better she would have thought that it was someone else that wrote the letter not John Connor, not her son.

She was compelled to pull another out and read it. She chose two papers that were folded together and sticking out like they had had been read recently.

As she unfolded them a picture fell out. Sarah picked it up and stared. It was worn out and the edges were burned like someone had saved the photo from a fire.

In the picture Cameron stood in a familiar, beautiful white strapless silk gown, her hair and skin shimmering in the light. John stood in a tuxedo. He had his hair spiked and his face clean shaven. He looked more handsome then Sarah could ever think possible.

"There wedding picture." Sarah wasn't sure why but she felt a little pain and it surprised her because it wasn't not at the fact that John married a machine, but that she wasn't there to help John get ready for the ceremony or not help Cameron plan the wedding. She wanted to be there to do all the normal things that were expected of the Mother of the groom and bride.

With a troubled sigh Sarah turned her attention to the first letter.

Dear John

I have been laying on the cot watching Ryan sleep all night, wondering if you're alright. So I have decided to write you a letter in the hopes of calming your mutual fears about us.

Ryan has found your old picture of Sarah and has expressed the need to carry it with him were ever he goes.

I've tried to take it from him, but for a three year old he his as stubborn as you. I have all but given up bargaining with him, as he will trade nothing for it.

Despite his wild needs to become the enemy to my authority, I have found myself having the strange urge to pet him and give him as much unwarranted affection as he has me. I often find myself watching him instead of scanning for threats. May be there is something wrong with my programming again?

I miss your presence and your way of talking to me, as it is quite hard to make friends without you.

They won't say where you are, but I have confidence that you will come back to us alive and well.

I love you,

Cameron

Sarah smiled slightly remembering having the same problem with John as a baby with the same picture.

She had a hard time imagining Cameron alone taking care of a toddler as the thought made her blood run cold. However if a mother couldn't be trusted around her own baby then who can?

She read the next one.

Dear Angel

I'm way out here in the middle of nowhere it seems (go figure). There isn't much that I can say about what I'm doing other then it's keeping me occupied.

Don't worry about the picture babe, let Ryan keep it. Mom protected me, so let her protect him. (She's a good luck charm.)

I laughed out loud when I read that Cowboy has been keeping you busy. It seems like along time ago that I would have paid big money to see you take care of a baby … I still would, but for completely different reasons.

Oh Angel, What I would give for just one night away from the war, with you, alone in some place where it's just you and me, some place safe, with a beautiful view to match my beautiful wife.

If wishes were fishes, right.

I miss you and Ryan so much, but there is a job to do.

Give my love to Cowboy

I love you,

John

Sarah's heart was filled with warmth at seeing what John had written about her. She never knew John had felt that way about her and it made her feel loved.

John's letter to Cameron was heartfelt and filled with longing. That was a feeling that Sarah knew well, because she was feeling that deep uncontrollable need to see John and even Cameron to a point just to feel that normal warmth in her heart that she had somebody to come home to. It was in that moment for reasons unknown to her; somewhere in the back of her mind and heart she began to miss Ryan … just a little bit.

Giving one last hard look at the wedding picture she neatly folded the letters over it and placed it back.

A wrinkled and slightly crumbled piece of paper caught Sarah's fancy and she pulled it out and smoothed it over so she could read it.

Ryan

I know that you and I barely know one another, and when we have met, we haven't seen eye to eye.

But your father is hurt badly and he needs you.

Please … it's time to come home.

Kate

The letter nearly gave Sarah a heart attack. The urgency of the handwriting as well as the wording made Sarah feel the need to rush to help John, but she knew that what ever had happened, it was long past as she remembered what Steel had said about Kate.

Folding the letter Sarah noticed writing on the back. She reopened the letter and looked at the ink on the back

Sarah moved her leg not remembering that she had placed the pile on her lap, causing the papers to drop with a thud to the dry turf like ground. As she gathered those back in the rubber band she picked up one that had gotten away.

She unfolded it but had a hard time reading it, because there was water stains that smudged out the writing like someone had let water droplets leak on it.

Dear Ryan

I write this letter as I'm looking over you in your hospital bed.

There are many things I should and want to say to you, but you haven't the time.

What I want to say is that as I held your battered body in my arms last night I stroked your hair like I use to when you where a baby.

As we laid in silence I replayed your birth to my abduction. When it occurred to me that in your entire life … I have never said what is important.

So I may be late in saying it…

I love you

Mom

Ps. my last request is that you be promoted and given a Commendation of Valor for your attempted rescue of Allison Young. See that Barnes gives it to you.

Sarah cleared the emotion from her throat as she wiped her tear brimmed eyes. It was hard to read a second time as she saw the tear stains on the paper knowing that Ryan had left them there.

She folded the note and stuck it back into the pack she couldn't bare to read anymore.

As she pushed the letters back in she felt a metallic item brush against her hand. She frowned a moment before she pulled it out.

It was a heart shaped locket made from tainted gold. Sarah examined it closely before opening it. Instead of a picture, a mini figurine of a Ballerina popped out and twirled on a mechanical wheel. A scratchy and mechanical chirping tune vibrated out of it. The slow and sad music made Sarah feel some what haunted as she watched the beautifully carved figurine twirl.

The melancholy song comprised with the almost painfully sad look on the Ballerina's face made Sarah snap it shut.

"This place is getting me." She sighed emotionally staring at the music box. She was in the process of wondering why Ryan would ever have this on him when faded lettering appeared in her vision.

TO OUR FIRST BABY GIRL …

WE LOVE YOU ALLISON.

It all became clear to her where he had got it from.

She pondered for a moment who Allison Young was, She had lived with Cameron for almost two years, but she was sure that the two where nothing alike. From what little she heard from Ryan she knew that he had felt immense guilt for not being able to save her. Maybe he had kept it because it was a part of his biological mother, or maybe it was there to remind him that he won't ever let it happen to another person again.

"Sarah … Sarah Connor?" A voice called out to her.

Sarah turned her head to a mousy brown headed woman with an open fatigue shirt standing over her. She gave the woman a confused look

"You don't know who I am, do you?" The woman asked with a smile. Sarah couldn't quiet put the name to the face, but it was so familiar.

"Sorry." Sarah shook her head.

"It's okay I doubt you would, it's been a while." The woman smiled.

Sarah gave her a hard look. Then it came to her in a flash.

"Lauren … Lauren Fields?" Sarah asked surprised.

"There it is!" She laughed plopping down next to her. Sarah stared in shock.

Lauren was no longer the "Peppermint" Patty tomboy that she remembered, but a quiet stunning grown woman that had a striking resembles to her mother.

"Well don't look to shocked, it has been twenty one years." Lauren smiled, However her smile faded slightly as she gave Sarah a once over.

"You know … you don't look like fifty three Year old woman." Lauren poked Sarah's arm.

"That's good, because I don't happen to be a fifty three year old woman." Sarah replied. Lauren gave her another once over.

"Oh … so that's what happened to you." Lauren groaned.

"What?" Sarah asked

"You got TDEd, and here I thought you were dead." She said with a scoff.

"Nothing about that statement seems weird to you?" Sarah asked with a confused frown.

"Look Sarah, My sister was delivered by a soldier from the future who told me that her blood would help save humanity from machines that I've been running from since I was sixteen … I have learned to go with weird." Lauren laughed putting a hand on Sarah's shoulder.

***

Both women walked through the Command Post toward one of the concrete Buildings across from the main bunker.

As they walked, Sarah observed two solders sitting near a tent start to harmonize on a Violin and a guitar. They played a slow, beautiful Irish sounding song that Sarah remembered from her childhood. Lauren and Sarah stayed and observed the two who didn't seem to mind or notice they were there.

The song for a reason unknown made her think of John. She felt a pain in her heart as she thought of all the years he has spent without her. She could only imagine the heart ache had to have suffered. Sarah may have not liked Cameron, but she knew what she had meant to John and what her death what have done to him. Something inside her wanted to see and hold John with every fiber in her being. While the other feared what he will say when he sees the person that promised to protect him return after abandoning him for twenty one years.

"Hey, post Judgment day earth to Sarah." Lauren called to her. Sarah turned to Lauren who was staring at her with a humored smile.

"What?" Sarah asked.

"You're freaking out the locals." Lauren said in a hushed tone.

Sarah turned to the musicians who have stopped playing and were giving her weird looks.

"Sorry" She apologized and motioned Lauren forward.

***

The Concrete building they entered turned out to be a medical facility. There were several long wooden tables with sheets covering them. There was a locked cabinet with medicine inside, and off to the side mini roller carts with surgical equipment.

"You have now entered the domain of Laurenvania, in this realm I'm queen and there's no one greater then I … not even John Connor!" Lauren announced playfully.

"You're a doctor?" Sarah almost laughed at the prospect.

"Hey … that's chief medical officer to you ma'am." Lauren pointed out in a mock air of superiority.

"Excuse me …" Sarah smiled, putting her hands up in a defensive manner.

"Your forgiven … for now." She winked unlocking the medical cabinet. She rummaged for a moment before she pulled out an amber colored bottle then closed and locked the door.

"Over here" She pointed to a round dinning room table with several glasses already on it.

Sarah placed Ryan's rucksack in a chair and sat down across from Lauren.

"So …" Lauren trailed off as she poured a glass for Sarah.

"So …" Sarah parroted back watching Lauren.

'what's new with you?"

Sorry if this feels like filler, but once again I seem to be working out the kinks in this goddamn story … but I Digress.

I want to thank everyone who had reviewed this bullet train on the wrong track of a story, but trust me it will get good.