Here's the next piece of the story. For those, who thought Sarah gave up too fast and too easy ... read this chapter. For those, who thought Derek was being too soft ... read this chapter. For those, who are waiting for Cam and John coming together ... read this chapter and wait. I'm evil, ain't I?

Chapter 5 – Best Laid Plans …

Cameron put her bag on the bed and started to pull out her clothes to stow them into the closet which stood at the entrance door and which they just passed. She folded them carefully on the bed to prepare them for stowing in the closet. "Which side of the closet would you like to use?" She looked at John questioningly, only now really noticing, that he still stood at the door from the hallway and looked at her interested. "What? Am I doing something wrong? Do I look like a freak?" She suddenly appeared worried and looked down at herself. In the morning she didn't really think of what to wear, so she put on a tight, very tight, purple T shirt, underlining her exquisite curves, her favorite purple jacket, very short black mini skirt, which John thought was the shortest mini skirt ever made, black thick stockings and her favorite combat boots. She lifted her eyes back to John and looked at him even more confused.

John grinned, stepped over to her and put his hand on her shoulder: "No, Cam, you're looking great and you haven't done anything wrong. I'm just glad that we are finally here, taking a vacation. With you." He stepped around the bed to the other side and threw his bag on it too. "I don't really care which side of the closet I get. You chose one."

Cameron still looked at him a little perplexed, although her lips were curved into small smile upon hearing his words. "Why would you want me to choose my side?"

"Because you're a girl and girls should have priority in choosing such things." John smiled at her.

"I am not."

Now it was John's turn to look perplexed: "What are you not?"

"A girl."

"Huh?" John's eyebrows were knitted together but suddenly a proverbial light bulb over his head went on and his face relaxed: "Oh, sorry. Well, you may not be a human girl, but you are still a girl. OK, a cybernetic girl, but a girl nonetheless! At least you are one for me." He suddenly blushed. "And a very beautiful one too …" he trailed off, looking at her longingly.

Cameron felt not warm but hot inside and she couldn't help but smile widely at John. He sees me as a girl. And he said I am beautiful. "John, I am a cybernetic organism. Living tissue over metal endoskeleton. For most people I don't qualify as a human being."

"But you do for me. Absolutely!" John objected determined and looked at her with interest: "Cam, are you blushing?"

"I am not."

"Oh, for God's sake, stop using that phrase, Cam! And yes, you are blushing! Just look in the mirror."

Cameron touched her cheek and felt that it was warmer than normally so she turned to look at the mirror over the writing desk. She gasped as she looked at her rosy cheeks reflecting in the mirror. "I really am! But … how?" She looked at John with eyes wide as saucers.

"You're obviously much more human than you think you are." John answered earnestly and stepped around the bed to her. He stopped few inches apart from her and looked into her eyes, gazing at him with an expression he never saw in them before. They looked like mountain lakes on a clear day, just in brown instead of blue. Longing, devotion, expectation and more … he could see all these emotions in them. Just to think that only few days ago I was absolutely sure that she has no emotions. Just look at her, just look into these beautiful, expressive eyes. If anyone has emotions it's her. His gaze turned to her full lips, slightly parted as in anticipation of a kiss and he had a really hard time fighting his urge to claim them with his own. Instead, he put his hands on her shoulders: "Cam, you're more human than many humans I know. Don't ever allow anyone telling you differently, not even me. Should I ever say a rough word to you again, should I ever again treat you as bad as I did, just kick me … you know where." He pulled her into embrace and began to slowly caress the small of her back. He felt how she hesitantly rose her arms too to return his embrace and her slender hands began to gently circle his back.

They stayed hugged for a minute, enjoying the closeness, forgetting that just few days ago they were on non-speaking terms, forgetting that John fought his affection for her with every fiber of his being for many months. They both closed their eyes and let themselves be lost in a moment. There were so few happy moments in their lives and they held to this one like to a lifeline. Cameron slowly leaned her head against his shoulder and felt inexplicably happy to be so close to him.

After a minute, John reluctantly let go of her and felt that she slightly opposed him and held him a little tighter for another second before she let go. He put his hands on her shoulders again, feeling her hands sliding to his waist and remaining there. Still not saying a word, he looked into her eyes and suddenly felt a little awkward. Awkward, but happy. He could see it in her eyes that she enjoyed this moment of intimacy too, feeling quite disappointed that this intimate moment ended so soon.

He cleared his throat: "Ahem, Cam … I'm sorry … I didn't want to scare you. I was just…"

He was silenced by her finger, which she tenderly laid on his lips while smiling gently at him: "Shhh. Don't John. Just don't. Let me enjoy this moment a little longer. And … you didn't scare me. In fact … I … I liked it very much. Really." She suddenly blushed and removed her finger: "Am I being too insistent?"

John shook his head vigorously, still feeling as his lips were burning in the pleasant fire where her finger had been just a second before and missing the gentle touch: "Absolutely not Cam. I enjoyed it too. I wish … I wish …" His voice broke down and he gulped. "Time to go."

Cameron nodded. She knew what John was talking about. If they wanted to meet Sarah in the lobby on time, they should be going. Reluctantly she took her hands from his waist and felt his hands leave her shoulders while looking at his eyes and seeing that he was just as unwilling to let her go as she was. After he removed his hands she felt a sudden feeling of loss and irrational wish he would put them back. She made a step backwards, but couldn't completely hide the expression of longing. "Let's go. We'll finish unpacking later."

John nodded and reluctantly stepped to the door. After one step, he stopped and stretched his hand towards Cameron, who was more than willing to take it and they left their room, walking side by side, their bodies touching every now and then. But this time it seemed that they both enjoyed the small touches.

Sarah and Derek ascended the steps in heavy silence, each lost in their own thoughts, which, what a coincidence, were almost the same. They all revolved around John and Cameron.

After they reached the room, Derek let Sarah enter first and as he closed the door behind them, he tossed his bag forcefully in a corner, not taking a single look around. "Are you now ready to listen to me Sarah?"

Sarah let her bag fall to the floor and stared into Derek's angry eyes with equal amount of fury in hers too: "Why would I listen to you, Derek? You seem to hate everything that even in the slightest deviates from your prejudices. I don't like her being around John any more than you, but she's still the best protector he ever had."

"It, Sarah, IT! Not her!" cut her Derek off with disguise in his eyes.

Sarah looked at him: "I don't care what you think, but to John she's a SHE and that's how it's going to be. John's best interests are what we both should take care of. If we don't agree with him we can try to reason him, but we can never, never, force him into doing something he doesn't want to do. We'll lose him that way. You can hold to your principles, but in that case, be prepared to have many fights with him. And in these fights I won't be siding with you, no matter what I think of her!" Her voice was rising while she talked and in the end she was almost yelling at him.

Derek gazed back at her and grunted. He already opened his mouth to express his protest, but Sarah lifted her forefinger to show him he should stay quiet. After he unwillingly gave up on protesting, she said: "As I said, I don't like her being so close to my son. But I don't want her to leave him to his faith either. We should find a way how to keep them apart and yet allow her to be his protector. I just don't want her to become some kind of a girlfriend."

"What do you mean … girlfriend? John would never …" Derek was genuinely surprised.

"Men! You really don't see anything. Blind as a mole!" Snorted Sarah dismissively. "He's more than just little infatuated with her. If she plays her cards well, they'll be sleeping together before this vacation is over." Disguise was dripping from Sarah's voice. "And John wouldn't have a single word to object. In fact, he'd be glad!" She paused for a second: "And them, being or even sleeping together is something I definitely cannot allow to happen! Definitely not!"

"Well, I hate to admit it, but she really looks attractive. If she were a human girl, someone would be fool not to go there."

"DEREK! Stop that! She's a terminator! A metal! A killer and not a girl!" Sarah rose her voice considerably and cast Derek an unbelieving look.

"As if I wouldn't know it! It's you, who obviously forgets it sometimes." Derek grunted. "You're right; we should find a way to prevent them from coming together. If it were my decision to make, I'd burn it … her. I have a pack of thermite with me. Just for a case …" He offered with a tiny smirk.

"Don't even think of it, Reese. As much as I would like it, I know that John would never forgive anyone of us, should anything happen to Cameron." Sarah suddenly sank to the bed. "Derek, I'm afraid of losing him. If we do anything to Cameron, he'd turn away from me. I know him, damn, he's my son, and I'm absolutely sure he'd abandon us both in a heartbeat, should we harm her. He's even more stubborn than me. We must find a way to separate them and keep them separated without harming anyone." She sighed defeated and hung her head.

Derek remained silent for few seconds and looked like he was in deep thoughts. Suddenly he lifted his head: "We should find someone to stop their relationship from coming into life. Like Riley succeeded for a while. A nice, human girl for John and if that might not be enough, also someone for the metal too, to separate them and keep them separated."

Sarah sighed: "The idea is not all that bad. There's just one problem: I'm definitely sure tin miss wouldn't accept anyone else apart from John. We'll simply have to concentrate on finding a suitable girl for John and make him fall for her. I just don't know where you're going to find someone."

Derek chuckled: "Look around, Sarah! We're in a ski resort in the middle of the season. I don't doubt there are many nice young girls and boys, who would be interested in your son and his protector."

"We just have to be very careful. If John or Cameron ever find out about this … "Sarah left the thought unfinished, knowing that Derek understood very well what she meant. She sighed again and shook her head: "It's time to go down. We should discuss what to do tomorrow." She paused. "And see if there are any nice young people around."

Derek grinned and nodded.

John and Cameron were the first to come to the lobby and looked around for Sarah and Derek. Their hands were still intertwined and it was obvious that no one was willing to let go of the other. "Good! We're not late, but if mom doesn't appear in time …" John began, but was stopped in surprise as he felt Cameron letting go of his hand abruptly. He turned to her with raised eyebrows: "Why …" Again he wasn't able to finish his question as Cameron tilted her head in the direction of the stairs and showed him with the eyes he should look in the direction. He obeyed her and saw Sarah and Derek arriving. He sighed and whispered: "Thank you, Cam." He still wasn't prepared to admit to the others that he was falling hopelessly for Cameron. Especially not to his mother, who was waiting like a hawk for a chance to prove Cameron dangerous or incompetent. Hell, he even had problems with admitting it to himself.

"Ah, there you are!" Sarah exclaimed a little too cheerfully for John's taste. He tilted his head towards Cameron and whispered: "Something's not right. She's too friendly. Be careful." Cameron nodded, noticing herself too, that Sarah and Derek looked to be in a very good mood, but it somehow felt wrong, especially after all the fights they had during the journey and especially after arriving to the hotel.

As they approached, Sarah suggested: "Why don't we go to the bar to sit down, have a drink and discuss what we're going to do tomorrow?" She looked at everyone and saw that no one had any objections to her proposal, so she turned towards the entrance to the bar and strolled towards it.

They found a nice table at the wall, with good possibility to control their surroundings and sat down. Even Cameron obviously approved of the table choice, for a tiny smile played around her lips. Or was it perhaps because she sat very close to John? Who would ever be wise enough to decipher this enigma named Cameron Phillips? John was the only one who was hoping to really understand her one day, but at this moment he wouldn't admit this wish openly … not even to himself. Not yet!

The waiter raced towards them the second they sat down, so they had to order before they could start the discussion. Everyone ordered something, only Cameron couldn't decide if she should drink something or not. After a short hesitation she ordered a small coke. "I had no idea you liked coke?" John was surprised that she actually decided to drink something. She smiled a little at him: "I don't need to drink, but I like the bubbles. And the taste is pleasurable." John grinned back and nodded. Then he turned to his mother. "So, mom, I think tomorrow we should do what we came here for, namely go snowboarding."

"I agree, but you should both take a course first! I don't want to risk any broken legs or any other injuries. I guess you can't break any bones or whatever you have inside?" Sarah looked in Cameron's direction.

Cameron shook her head, frowned slightly, but didn't answer directly. "We have to get some clothes first. We don't have anything to wear on the slope." She looked at John, who nodded. "Yeah, she's right mom. Maybe we could go out tonight to find something. There are lots of stores still open at this time."

They all made a short pause, because the waiter brought them their drinks. After he served them all, he asked in general direction of the older two: "Should I charge the room, or are you going to pay separately?"

"Just charge it on the room. The number is 223." Answered Sarah. The waiter nodded, wrote the number down and handed the slip to Sarah to sign it. After she did it, he gave her a copy. "I wish you all a pleasant evening! Should you have any wishes, just call me." And he was away, before they could answer.

"Where were we? Ah yes, the clothes. Well, John, I really had no idea this vacation was going to get so costly." Mocked Sarah not exactly serious. She knew as well that neither of them had any suitable clothes for sport activities in the snow. "However, I'm not going to try any of sports involving snow, so I don't need any new clothes."

"And neither do I." Derek smelled his opportunity to get out of the whole affair. "I'm not going out on the slope, no matter what." He underlined his statement by drawing a horizontal line in the air with his finger.

John expected something like that and he just grinned ironically at Derek: "Who's the baby now, Derek?" Then he turned to Cameron, before Derek could reply to his question: "Well; that leaves us two to get some clothes. Shall we go immediately?"

Cameron showed at her coke with her head: "As soon as I finish my drink." She craned her neck to look into John's cup of coffee: "And you haven't finished your coffee either."

John grinned and nodded: "Sure, as soon as we're finished, we'll be off to find a store." He turned to Sarah: "Would you like to come with us?"

Sarah shook her head: "Not really. I've been shopping for clothes with tin miss once and it's an experience I wouldn't want to repeat any time soon."

John turned to Cameron, who was glaring into Sarah's direction, clearly annoyed: "What did you do to make mom decide not to want going shopping with you again?"

Cameron turned her eyes to John and answered with a little pout: "Nothing important. I just didn't appreciate the clothes Sarah selected for me and she didn't approve of my choice."

John grinned and nodded: "I get a picture then. You two have a very different taste and it would be a small wonder should you agree upon clothing style. Although … you do dress very much alike, you know."

This time it was John's turn to be glared at. Cameron was clearly annoyed and she answered coldly: "No, I don't know. And no, we do not dress similarly. Sarah never wears mittens and she has no purple jacket! And she definitely doesn't wear mini skirts." She lifted her chin defiantly to underline her indignation and turned away from John, grabbed her coke and put the straw in her mouth, signaling that the discussion is over for her.

John looked a little surprised, for a second fighting the urge to laugh at Cameron's outburst, because he really didn't expect such reaction, especially not such a glare. Winning over his urge, he gently touched her arm: "Sorry if I said something wrong Cameron, but I really think that clothing styles of you two are a bit alike. You both prefer dressing like killer queens." He chuckled a bit at his comparison.

Cameron ignored his pathetic attempt to apologize and continued to audibly suck her coke, while concentrating on the straw completely. But she didn't shrug his hand off and it gave John hope that she was just teasing him.

Derek rolled his eyes and exclaimed annoyed: "You gotta be kidding me! What's wrong with it … her now? I don't believe it! Is she offended now? Terminators don't get offended, they just kill!"

John cast him a dark look: "Derek, please … SHUT UP!" Then he turned back to Cameron: "Shall we go now, Cam?"

Upon hearing her nickname again, Cameron's lips turned slightly upwards and she suddenly couldn't sulk anymore. She turned her eyes sideways to look at John, straw still in her mouth and nodded with smiling eyes.

John sighed relieved and stood up: "I think there's a nice sports equipment store quite near. At least I've seen some signs as we came." Then he turned to Sarah: "We'll be back soon. But don't wait for us. If we don't meet anymore today, we should meet tomorrow at breakfast at … let's say about 8 o'clock?"

Sarah nodded. She didn't want John to know that she and Derek would be following them, as they agreed before leaving their room. They were definitely going to work on the realization of the plan to keep John and Cameron apart. She did feel a little pang of guilt at this thought, but tried hurriedly to persuade herself that it was only for John's benefit. Still … somehow the guilt didn't want to go away as she wanted and expected it to.

Cameron was finally finished with her coke, so she put the cup on the table and stood up, joining John. Without spending a look at Sarah and Derek, she turned and followed John, who already started towards the exit.

TBC