OK, so now they're ready to go ... all packed up, angry, eager, confused etc. They just have to get there somehow. And check in ... and unpack ... and ...
Here's the next chapter. I'm not exactly satisfied with it, I rewrote it a few times, but it simply doesn't want to get better. lol Still, I hope you'll read it and maybe ... just maybe ... somebody will even find it interesting.
Chapter 4 – Journey with the Connors
"I still think it would be a better idea if I would be driving. We still have another 300 miles to drive and I'm the only one who can't get tired." Cameron spoke flatly, without any expression on her face, slightly leaning forward from her place on the back seat, while in her eyes a slight trace of annoyance could be seen, if someone knew what to look for.
"I've already told you for the last ten time tin miss … NO! I'll do the driving and if I should grow tired, there's still Derek to take over." Sarah couldn't hide a slight note of impatience in her voice. She was reluctant to let Cameron drive, without having any clear reason. She cast a quick glance to the front passenger seat, occupied by Derek Reese and saw him grinning apprehensively. In that moment she felt some irrational anger flaring up in her and she snapped: "Don't grin like a Cheshire cat, Reese!"
Cameron leaned back in her seat, folded her arms across her chest and huffed. She only wanted to relieve her human companions of an effort to drive such a long distance but each time she suggested it, she was met with a rebuff from Sarah. She suddenly felt John's hand, gently touching her forearm and looked at him. He smiled at her comfortingly and in an instant she felt how her sulkiness disappeared. Just one look in his warm eyes was enough to make her feel better. "Don't be angry Cameron. Relax and enjoy the ride. There will be more than enough opportunities to help my mom in the future."
"But I really only wanted to help!" She couldn't help but sulk and pout a little bit more, albeit not exactly seriously. Looking into his eyes, she felt how her lips slowly began to curve upside and before she could process what was going on with her, she was smiling at him shyly. "Thank you anyway, John."
John was overwhelmed by the fact, how he could change her mood in a matter of seconds. He was really proud that he, and only he, had such an influence on her. Wait a minute! Do terminators have moods? I've never heard of a machine sulking, because she wasn't allowed to help and yet she sits here sulking, because my mother didn't allow her to drive.
They've been on the road for about four hours now without stopping and they slowly began to get frustrated. It was really high time to make a stop, to stretch their stiff limbs and to get away from each other for a second. Well, not everyone needed to take a break from the others. John and Cameron definitely didn't need a break from each other. Since the beginning of the journey they've been sitting on the back sit bravely like two kids in front of principal's office, but, quite uncharacteristically, they didn't keep quiet, but talked almost all the time, however, so quietly, that Sarah and Derek couldn't understand what they were talking about, what made Sarah even more jumpy. Only occasionally there was a short period of silence, but it was never an awkward one. It even felt comfortable just to sit there and contemplate the closeness of an important person. From time to time they exchanged furtive glances and every time their eyes met, they both smiled shyly and quickly turned to look out of the window again. They both felt warm inside at these glances, not knowing that the other one felt the same.
"I think we should stop for few minutes mom." John shifted in his seat and moved a little closer to Cameron. "My legs are starting to stiffen and I could also use the restroom."
Sarah looked at the instrument panel: "Well, we'll have to stop for gas sometime soon, so that's when you'll get your chance."
Derek had to add his five cents: "And don't be such a baby, John. How could you be in such a need after only four hours?"
John chose to ignore his uncle's remark and cast a glance at Cameron, just to see how she glared murderous in Derek's direction. Oh dear, it makes her seriously miffed if some makes fun of me. She should learn to relax a bit. Maybe I could teach her? "Cameron, just ignore him. He enjoys making you angry, just to show that you're not to be trusted. But you know better than that, right?" He gently stroked her hand to calm her.
It obviously worked again, for her eyes softened as she turned to look at him: "I don't care what he thinks of me but I can't accept anyone insulting you. Especially not Derek Reese." She tilted her head and fixed him with her huge brown eyes.
Derek turned halfway to look at the backseat: "I don't give a damn what you think metal. Everything you say is irrelevant for me. And I'll insult anyone I want, anytime I want and anyhow I want."
John laughed humorless at his words: "If I were in your place Derek, I'd reconsider at least twice, before giving such statements. I don't think you'd enjoy being the target of Cameron's AND my revenge."
"Hey, hey, hey! STOP! Stop arguing over such trivial issues. I have to drive and I can't listen to your stupid remarks and pointless ranting. It just distracts me. Don't forget that we're going on vacation and I definitely don't need any fighting before we're even arrived there." Sarah stopped the debate, which threatened to go up in flames, with resolute and quite loud voice. At that moment she noticed a rest area and announced: "We're stopping here for the gas and everything else you might need. And no objections!"
Cameron was looking at John with surprise, written all over her face. She still couldn't understand how much he had changed in relation to her. In the last few days he never missed the opportunity to defend her from Derek's and Sarah's insults. She suddenly felt valued and important and she had to admit to herself that it was a wonderful feeling. If only it would stay that way.
John grinned upon hearing his mother's words: "Finally!" He slid on his seat even closer to Cameron, almost touching her hip.
It took them another six hours and one more stop to reach their destination. Sarah was reluctant to allow anyone else to drive and weariness began to overwhelm her. She felt tired and was glad that they finally arrived. In her thoughts she thanked to whoever was responsible that the road conditions were good. There was no snow or ice, although the land along the road was covered with a thick layer of snow. As they stepped out of the car, they also noticed, that it was bitter cold.
"I'll go and check us in. After all, we made the booking under my name." Cameron didn't allow anyone else to go to the reception. Sarah looked a bit surprised that Cameron would do such a thing, but after seeing her determined face, she let her have her way and didn't want to object her. John was eyeing his protector conspiratorial, knowing exactly why she didn't want Sarah or Derek with her at check-in. After all, they did make the booking together. He almost began to grin, but could suppress it just in time not to reveal himself to his mother. Cameron looked at him, winked with a small smile and strode purposefully towards the hotel entrance.
"Hey, tin miss, what about your bag!" Sarah noticed that Cameron didn't make any effort to take her bag with her, but Cameron simply ignored her call and continued towards the hotel entrance.
"I'll take it!" John grabbed both their bags and pointed himself after Cameron, not allowing his mother any answer or reaction.
Derek stood rooted to the spot and looked after his nephew: "Is he going mad or what? Now he's playing a gentleman for the metal. I must still be dreaming!" He shook his head and turned to take his bag. Sarah too looked after her son, but refused to comment on his behavior. However, she fumed inside and swore to herself to have a long, very loud and very one sided conversation with John after they'd checked in their rooms.
As John entered the lobby, he could see Cameron standing at the reception desk, smiling sweetly at the young man behind the counter. It was obvious, that the receptionist had some problems concentrating on his work, for his cheeks were ever so rosy as if it would suddenly become very hot in the lobby and his eyes kept on turning to look at Cameron's smiling face. John grinned at the sight but also felt a small pang of jealousy. He suddenly realized that he didn't want Cameron to smile to someone else so sweetly. She should reserve her beautiful smile for him. But, he had to admit, that it was obviously very effective, for he saw that the young man already handed her the cards for their rooms. Even from his distance he could see that Cameron smiled even wider what made the man blush furiously and after she turned to walk to him, man's eyes slowly glided along her perfect figure. John's face darkened at the sight of the man and he realized with small surprise that he was actually very jealous.
He dropped the bags and waited there for her to join him. Before she covered the distance between the counter and him, Sarah and Derek joined him and waited too.
Sarah was looking Cameron walking towards them and suddenly realized that the cyborg didn't walk in her usual horse-like way, but just as any girl her age would. She's changing from day to day. If I wouldn't know better, I'd swear that she's a beautiful teenage girl and not a killer machine from the dark future.
After Cameron reached them, she smiled slightly at John, but her smile vanished after she turned towards Sarah. She handed her one card: "Here; room number 223 for Sarah Baum and Derek Reese."
"And where are you two? I mean, in which room?" Asked Sarah curiously.
"We're in the room 516. Unfortunately they didn't have two rooms on the same floor. It would really be a problem for me to protect John should I have to share a room with you." Cameron was obviously enjoying the fact that they made the booking as they did.
Meanwhile John craned his neck to look at the paper, Cameron held in her hand: "Cool! Cameron Phillips and John Baum." He looked at Cameron and grinned foolishly. "At least we won't have to pretend to be siblings."
"WHAT!" Sarah exploded with rage. "How dare you present yourself as Phillips! I'm not allowing this. Give me the paper! I'll sort it out with the receptionist. NOW!"
"I don't think so, mum. It's better this way. How would it look if we'd be in one room as siblings? Someone might get the wrong idea. Or, even worse, someone could think we're married." John had the answer ready and delivered it with a cheeky smirk. No wonder, they really did plan everything from the moment they made the booking and due to Cameron's thoroughness they had an explanation and excuse for almost every possible objection Sarah or Derek might raise.
Sarah fumed especially when she saw her son's smirk and realized without a doubt that such arrangement had been planned by him and Cameron all along, but she slowly realized that he might be right. It would probably really look a bit awkward if they would share a room as siblings or even a married couple. She even shuddered a little at the thought that they could be regarded as a couple. But she still couldn't get rid of a very bad feeling that something would be going to happen in the next few days. It took her few seconds, but she did calm down significantly and let out an exasperated sigh: "So you two really did plan everything this way, right? You even made up every possible excuse for presenting your arrangements as the best possible."
Before she could go on, she was rudely cut off by Derek, who was obviously trying very hard to suppress his anger but failing in his efforts: "I told you Sarah! But you wouldn't listen to me! No, the lady knew everything better than the dumb warrior from the future! I'm just a stupid uncle with no education! Just look how it's trying to claw its metal fingers in him and take him away from you. He's already been brainwashed by it! That's what these things are made for. We should burn it immediately!"
John's face darkened upon hearing his uncle's words: "Now you listen to me, Derek Reese!" His voice was quiet, but sounded dangerous and he didn't even pretend to be looking friendly at his uncle. "I already told you once that her name is Cameron. I won't tolerate any more outbursts like this. If you don't like the way it is, you can return home and do what my mom told you to, or even get lost. Your call. And I couldn't care less that you're supposed to be related to me." He ended his little speech sooner as intended for he felt a feather light touch of Cameron's hand on his shoulder. He turned to look at her and saw that she slightly shook her head at him, while looking at him pleadingly. It was all that it took to make him calm down and he looked at her apologetically, his anger dissolving in the warm brown pools that gazed at him.
Even Sarah, although angry because Cameron presented herself as not related to John, noticed that Derek went too far this time and slapped his arm forcefully: "That's enough Reese! I may not approve of what she did, but she's still John's best chance of survival. And you will accept it … or do what John said!"
Derek looked at her in utter disbelief, but upon seeing determination written all over her face, he just spat out with a shrug: "Fine", picked up his bag and started towards the stairs to the rooms.
Sarah cast another threatening look in Cameron's direction and made clear: "I still don't approve of what you two did, but I'll accept it for the time being. Now go to your room, pack out and we'll meet here in half an hour to decide what to do tomorrow."
John understood that it was the best they could get right now and didn't try to push it any further so he just nodded, picked up his bag and stretched his hand towards Cameron: "Shall we?"
Upon seeing this, Sarah shook her head annoyed, but bit her tongue and chose not to comment. She turned and followed Derek, who was already at the stairs to go up to their room. John grinned after her, but turned to Cameron as he felt her hand, grasping for his. As their eyes met, he saw that she was smiling at him gently. "We should take the elevator." His voice felt a little insecure and Cameron's hand in his felt hot like fire. He gulped and pulled her towards the elevators, noticing that she willingly followed his lead. Here I am, a teenage boy, leading around the most sophisticated creation Skynet ever made, who could decapitate me with a single blow of her hand and outsmart the best supercomputer. And yet she lets me guide her, as if she really were as fragile as she looks. He grinned proudly at himself.
After they reached their room, John was curious what it would look like. He had stayed in many motels in his life, but this hotel was way better than any of those hotels, motels and boarding houses, he had a chance to experience before. He already wanted to enter the room as he felt Cameron's hand on his shoulder, yanking him back gently but firmly and leaving no doubts that he should wait for her to enter the room first. "I'll go in first!" She looked at him with determination that didn't give him any chance to oppose. So he just nodded and let enter the room as first. She made few quick steps in the room, scanned it quickly, opened the door to the bathroom and after few seconds turned to John, obviously satisfied with what she found – namely nothing. "It's safe to enter the room John."
John sighed with a smile: "What did you expect to find Cameron? It's just an ordinary boring hotel room. It's not like it would be a terminator hideout." The second he said it he already regretted his big uncontrollable mouth. He saw how light in Cameron's eyes instantly died and she spoke mechanically: "I'm here to protect you John. That's what I'm going to do, and it doesn't matter if you like it or not."
"I'm sorry Cam. I didn't mean to criticize you. It was just that I really think there would be no danger waiting inside. But I do understand your care and I'm thankful that you are by my side and on my side. Really!" He reached for her hand again, interlaced their fingers and squeezed it gently. He didn't miss the slight widening of her eyes as he called her Cam and he saw how coldness in them melted away at his words.
He called me Cam. He had never called me that way before. I like it. Cameron felt good and she smiled at him: "I understand John. But you have to understand me too. It's not just that it's my mission to protect you. I … I want to protect you." She was suddenly stuttering as she realized that she was telling him the truth. It wasn't her programming or her mission to protect him anymore; no, she wanted to protect him, she wanted to be at his side. Always. She wondered for a second how it could happen that her feelings, her wishes overrode her programming, but found no plausible explanation. She filed the question to analyze it further some other time.
John was lost in her eyes for a second, but remembered that they were still standing in front of the door to their room, so he cleared his throat and spoke in a hoarse voice: "Well, let's step inside, shall we?" He didn't wait for her answer and entered the room. He looked around and whistled quietly at the sight. The room was quite spacious, with a big king size bed with small cabinets at each side, a comfortable settee on the other side, big writing desk with a comfortable looking chair in front of it. In extension of the desk there was a small cabinet, which obviously hid a fridge and on the other side there was another cabinet with drawers. At the settee there was a nice wooden club table and a beautiful lamp, throwing a discreet light over the sitting area. The floor was covered with thick and soft flooring and the far wall was partially covered with thick drapes which were parted in the middle to left open the door to the balcony. Unfortunately it was already dark, so he couldn't see the view, but he suspected it would be a nice one. The whole room was looking warm and friendly, the furniture was almost new and it looked cozy. Some nice paintings on the walls completed the picture. He turned around and looked into the bathroom too, just to find it was completely equipped with everything a guest might want and it also looked new. He grinned as he saw that the bathroom was in light purple color. Cameron will definitely like the bathroom. Then he turned to Cameron and grinned wider: "I like it. We made a good choice with this hotel."
Cameron nodded and gave him a ghost smile: "Sure. It's one of the best hotels here, so it's not exactly surprising that the room is well furnished and comfortable. It also is very suitable to control the surroundings. We are overlooking the park and the view to the mountains is quite impressive, although it doesn't influence the security. But I guess you'll like it." She smiled at him a little wider
John gaped at her: "How … how do you know this?" Then it hit him: "Right! Night vision!"
Cameron grinned at him and nodded. Then she pushed herself past him and their bodies brushed lightly for a second, bringing a signal red color into John's cheeks. "Ahem … what are you doing, Cam?"
She looked at him innocently and slightly perplexed: "I'd like to enter the room to unpack. Was it a wrong thing to do? Should I have waited outside?"
John coughed: "No, it's just that you … Well, never mind." He decided not to reveal his thoughts to her. Not yet. "You're right. We should unpack. Mom's expecting us in the lobby in …" he looked at his watch "… twenty minutes."
Cameron smiled at him: "Correct. We shouldn't be late. We upset her enough for one day. I don't believe Sarah Connor would be willing to forgive us another breach of her rules and demands."
John grinned back and nodded: "Absolutely. I wouldn't want to challenge our luck any more. Let's unpack and get back down before she goes all ballistic."
TBC