Terminator: Return of the Fallen
Part XXXIX
When I finally find John, he is hunched over a sink in the bathroom. The poor boy is weeping, and I can't say that I blame him. When he spots my reflection in the bathroom mirror, he straightens up and tries to dry his tears. Just like his mother: very proud and very stubborn.
"What is it?"
"How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine, thanks for asking. How's....how's my mother?" His voice is starting to crack.
"She seemed fine when I left her. We had a run in with the FBI, but I took care of it".
"Oh. How?"
"I told Cameron to kill them if they tried to approach your mother's room".
"Good. Good. You can leave now, I'll be out in a minute".
"Ok. Listen, I know what you are going through. My family died on J-Day. But at this moment, your family and the Resistance need you to be strong. Everyone will be looking at you for leadership. Can you handle that?" John turns around and looks me straight in the eye.
"Yes, I can. I've been preparing for this all of my life. Wait outside. I will be out in a minute".
"By your command, General".
I wait outside the bathroom door, and when John is ready, we both walk down the hall towards Sarah's room. Young Sarah is now standing next to Cameron, keeping the Federal agents covered so that Sarah will not be disturbed. I walk a few steps behind John, to provide cover fire in case of an attack. When we reach the room, John walks in first followed by me. When he spots the twerp, he is not happy.
"What is he doing here?"
"I just came to talk. That is it".
"Captain Zacks".
"Yes, General".
"Get him out of here".
"With pleasure". As I walk towards the twerp, I have a huge smile on my face. This should be fun. The twerp looks like he is going to wet himself.
"Now, hold on a minute. We had a deal...."
"You heard the General. If he wants you out, you leave. Would you like to leave here in a car, or a hearse?" As stated earlier, I can be very intimidating when I want to be. The twerp ran out of the room as fast as he could. Sarah was laughing so hard I thought she would double over. "Well, that was fun. Is there anyone else you would like me to threaten?"
"No, that about covers it. Good work, Captain. Now if you don't mind, I would like a moment alone with my mother". As I reply, I alter my voice to sound like the old Cylon Centurions.
"By your command". They both started laughing. As I head for the door, the doctor walks back in. We exchange glances, and then I stand aside to let her pass.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Connor?"
"It's Ms. Connor. I never married". The doctor seems a bit uncomfortable, so I decide to enlighten her on the situation.
"If you're wondering where the boy's father is; he was killed by a machine very similar to me. In fact, he died on the night of his son's conception".
"Oh, I am sorry. You have my sympathies. I was just wondering: do you have any daughters?"
"Why is that important?"
"We ran some tests on your blood, and it seems that your cancer is genetic. If you have any daughters, they should be tested as soon as possible".
"No, I do not have a daughter". Suddenly, we all realize who is at risk of contracting cancer. Our faces turn as white as sheets. "But, I do have a granddaughter".
"She should....wait a minute. You have a granddaughter?"
"Doctor, you have seen what I did to the wall and the waiting room, correct?"
"Yes, I have".
"You also realize that a human can not possibly be that strong, correct?"
"Well, it is highly unlikely that..."
"Therefore, I am not human. If I am not human, I must be a machine. Are you following me?"
"I think so".
"Good. I am a machine that looks, acts, and feels perfectly human. You must have realized by now that this sort of technology has not been invented yet. The technology does not exist, yet here I stand. Is that not puzzling to you?"
"Well. It is a bit puzzling. But I am sure there is a logical..."
"I was born in 1987. Today, I should be 22, yet I look 31. You have Sarah's date of birth on your chart. Does she look the appropriate age to you?"
"No, she looks younger than she should".
"She IS younger than she should be, just as I am older than I should be. It seems to me, that time is not relevant in our situation. Therefore, the fact that she has a 19 year old granddaughter is perfectly plausible, because time is not a factor".
"Well, under normal circumstances, it would be".
"Our lives have been anything BUT normal. Would you like to examine the granddaughter or not?"
"Send her in, immediately".
"Copy that, doctor. I'll go get her. SARAH!"
"YEAH!"
"Could you come over here please? There is something we need to discuss with you". Young Sarah walked over to the door and stood in front of me. God, I hope the doctor is wrong here. She is only 19.
"What's up?"
"The doctors just finished some tests on your grandmother. It turns out that her cancer is genetic".
"Ok. What do you need me for?" She doesn't get it. This is going to be harder than I thought.
"It means that the cancer runs in the family. The doctor said that her daughters should also be tested. She doesn't have any daughters, but her son does". Her eyes flew open. She looked terrified.
"But I....I don't have..."
"They just want to make sure. I'm sure you're right, though". She looks like she might burst into tears.
"I'm only 19. I can't have cancer. Can I?"
"Even if you do, it's not that bad. Death really isn't that scary, I should know".
"Your death took only a second! Dying from cancer is not the same thing as blowing up!" I just stare at the floor. Her voice becomes much softer and sympathetic.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. It's just....I'm scared".
"It's ok, and you're right: I don't know what you are going through. I just know that death is incredibly peaceful, and it is not something to be afraid of. Don't worry, you are going to be fine".
"Ok. Let's get this over with". We walk back into the room together with my arm around her shoulders. I want to be as supportive as possible. It is bad enough that one Connor will have to die in the prime of her life.
"Captain, I would like you and the young man to leave. Young lady, I would like you to get undressed and put on a hospital gown".
John and I walk out together and leave the Sarah's with the doctor. The Federal agents are no longer in the hallway. John Henry and Cameron are talking to each other at their posts. I wonder what it is like to speak to someone with the same brain as you.
"Great minds think alike, eh J.H.?" Cameron looks puzzled by my comment and John Henry mouths the words: shut up. "What happened to the Fucking Bastard Idiot agents?"
"They left right after you scared the twerp away". It is slightly amusing to hear Cameron say the word twerp. "What is wrong with Sarah?"
"Which Sarah?"
"Colonel Connor".
"The doctors think that breast cancer runs in the family. They just want to make sure that young Sarah does not have it". John is holding together like a real trooper. If I had been in his place, I would have fallen apart by now. His mother is dying and his daughter might be ill. Life is never easy in the Connor clan. Speaking of the Connors...."Hey, where the hell is Reese?"
"He's in the cafeteria. Would you like me to go get him?"
"No, you stay here with John. I'll go find Reese".
I find him sitting in the hospital cafeteria, drinking a cup of coffee. His back is to me, but I doubt he would have seen me if I were standing right in front of him. He just stares out the window, lost in thought. The table is covered with tear soaked napkins. The poor guy is not holding up well. Knowing him, he will deny this ever happened. A Reese and his reputation are never parted.
"Hey, Reese". He nearly jumps out of his seat.
"What the.....oh, it's you. Hey".
"How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine. How's John?"
"He's holding together. You can tell that you guys are related".
"Really?"
"Yeah. When you get caught crying, you deny it. This macho bullshit might be good for your image, but it can not be good for your health".
"You....you have no idea what I am going through".
"Hey, my whole family was wiped out on J-Day, remember? I do know what it is like to lose the people you care about. I also know that they would have wanted us to be together when the end came. Sarah needs you, Reese. So finish your coffee, get off your ass, and show that woman just how much she means to you". Reese just stares blankly at me. Then he smiles and gets up, but not before throwing his coffee at me. "Very mature, Reese".
"Don't slap a man in the face unless you are ready to get slapped back".
"Good point. Come on, you have a beautiful woman waiting upstairs. It is kind of funny watching her try to cover her butt".
"What are you talking about?"
"The hospital gown does not have a back, and she is not wearing anything underneath". Reese now has a huge smile on his face. "Hold on, Don Juan, at least wait for the doctor to leave the room".
"Oh, I wasn't...I mean I didn't plan to..."
"Yeah, whatever. Let's just get up to the room".
We head upstairs together. Outside of Sarah's room, we find Cameron comforting John while John Henry stands guard with his plasma assault weapon. Everyone in the hospital is tip-toeing around this room. They are all afraid of us. Just as we are about to walk into the room, we bump into the doctor as she is walking out.
"Well, what's the verdict, doc?"
"The granddaughter does not have cancer, yet. It may develop over time. I recommend routine checkups, just to make sure. Both women can leave whenever they wish". The two Sarahs open the door of the room.
"We're leaving now".
"Ms. Connor, you are free to leave. But I do suggest that you stay here a little longer for treatment".
"I only have a few months to live. I prefer to spend them at home with my family. Everyone grab your things. We're leaving, now".
We all gather our things and head out. The Connors and Reese are all sitting in the back. I almost consider getting in the back with them. These past few hours are the closest I have felt to being a part of this family. I actually felt like a Connor. Sarah is determined to spend as much of her remaining time as possible with her family. At this moment, we all feel like we are her family.
