CH 7

In math class, Cameron sat looking at the teacher, pretending she was paying attention. Only 10 percent of her processes were active in seeing and hearing what was going on in class. Her main attention was on their discussion in home room this morning.

The question of if she was willing to marry John was was already given. She would do whatever John wanted to do. She was his protector. She wanted her John to be happy. Kaylee's question had taken her and John by surprise. Marriage was between humans. Married or not, she would never leave John. He was the reason she was even functioning now. He owed her nothing, but did his best for her. It was illogical for him to reinsert her chip after she tried to kill him, but he had. He explained things to her. He helped her understand things. He helped her explore her emotions she had thought were glitches. Lust and sex were new to her. John returned all her affections and even though he was nervous about George, he learned to growl like George so George would feel at home. She had picked up on that growl as meaning home and family. She grinned at the memory of them performing that special rattling growl during sex. Somehow, it made the experience even more special.

The initial missions she had were no longer active, she was John's because she wanted to be. Because she felt the special attachment humans called love for John. The question was not if she was devoted to John, or him to her. Was it proper to go through a marriage ceremony? Human marriage as she understood it was not only for partnership but also was for having and raising children. Something she could not do. That meant that even if she did marry John, she could not fulfill the marriage agreement.

It also meant that if she could not have children with John, then if he wanted children, he would have to have sex with another woman.

A loud crunching snap got her attention. She looked down to see she had crushed the pencil she was holding. A glitch. Caused by the brief vision of John in bed with someone else beside her. The idea of John with someone else was the emotionally equivalent to pulling her chip and stomping on it.

A tap on her shoulder got her attention. Beside her, Cindy held out another pencil to her.

"Thank you," Cameron said and accepted it. She returned to listening. She tried to stop processing the possibility of marriage with John, and found herself still working out if it was the best thing for John. She did put the pencil down so she would not break Cindy's pencil.

By the end of class, Cameron had come to the conclusion that it was not fair to John for her to marry him. And if he did want to marry and have children, she'd ask him to destroy her chip first. That way, she would not have to experience John with someone else.

Maybe George would eat that woman.

Walking down the hall beside Cameron, Cindy eyed her and asked, "Cam, something wrong?"

"I am fully functional," Cameron replied. Fully functional for her capabilities. Not fit for marriage.

"What was that? Why not?" Cindy asked, leaning closer.

Cameron eyed Cindy. She then realized she had vocalized the 'not fit for marriage' without realizing it.

"John deserves children," Cameron stated.

Cindy studied her, then said, "You can't have children, can you?"

"No."

"Does John know … " Cindy started to say, then motioned to the bathroom and finished with, "In here."

Cameron let Cindy lead her into the bathroom. Cindy walked bent over, checking the stalls then turned to Cameron. "Does John know all about you? What you are, I mean?"

"John knows what I am," Cameron said.

Cindy shrugged and asked, "Then what's the problem? He loves you, right? I mean think about it! He already knows you're not human, and apparently, he doesn't care. I don't think not being able to have kids matters a whole lot to him. If you two really want some, then adopt."

"John deserves to have his own children," Cameron stated.

"If he truly loves you, that won't matter," Cindy stated. "Cam, you are special, I know that. John knows it too."

"I want John to have everything he deserves," Cameron said as she gripped her books tighter.

"I think he deserves to talk to you about it."

Frustrated, Cameron asked, "And what if I go bad and try to kill John again?" Right after she said it, she realized she shouldn't have. She blinked and a drop of water ran down her cheek. She wiped it away and stared at it. Why did that happen? Terminators couldn't cry.

Cindy's mouth dropped open. "What happened? Cam?" she asked.

Cameron did not want to discuss that. Still, she found herself saying, "I tried to kill John. He got … me immobile and passed out. He should have finished me. I know his mother and Derek wanted to burn me. John …" replaying the scene in the junk yard in her head, Cameron said, "Brought me back.. I sat up, he was holding a gun on me. I asked if he was there to kill me. He asked me if I was there to kill him. I told him no. He handed me the gun, pointed at himself and said 'promise'. I had the … I wanted to, but I forced the command down and handed him the gun back and said, 'Promise'."

"Good GOD!" Cindy gasped.

"I am dangerous, I can't have children, and I'm not human. There is no reason for John to marry me," Cameron stated. "John saved me a second time. He took on a job that was for me to do ..." Cameron's voice trailed off as she thought about all the things John did for her. Another drop of water leaked from Cameron's eye.

"Why did you have guns?" Cindy asked meekly.

"Until very recently, there was something very bad coming after John. It has been after him his whole life. It tried to kill him multiple times, and almost got me to kill him. It is gone now," Cameron said and refocused on Cindy's gaping face. "John showed me I do have emotions. That does not mean I am any more human, or a suitable mate for John."

"Ahh, Cameron? Maybe that is for John to decide?" Cindy asked meekly.

Pulling her emotions back and dimming them as much as she could, Cameron's face melted into her blank terminator stare. "I cannot allow John to accept a sub-standard mate." She then turned and left.

.

In English class, John noted Cameron had fallen back into her 'terminator mode' for some reason. Before the teacher started, he asked, "Cam, what's up?"

"Everything is fine, John." she stated flatly.

"Ooh kaay," he said slowly. "After class then?"

Cameron ignored him. John spend the rest of the day trying to figure out what her problem was.

.

At the end of the day, Cameron's mood had changed. John noted she was more subdued. Not that she had gone totally 'terminator blank', but the high she seemed to be riding in the morning had dulled way down. By now, John knew if Cameron had a shift in mood, there was a reason behind it.

End of the day home room he'd spent on homework, as did Cameron. Thankfully, Kaylee was pestering someone else with plans for the coming weekend.

On the way home, John put up with silence from Cameron for a couple blocks, then asked, "Cam, what ruined your day?"

"My day was fine, John," she stated.

John looked over at her. Her hand wasn't twitching. She was watching things go by. No signs of being upset, she just looked disinterested. He tried a different approach. "Why does Cindy think you're a vampire? Did she see something that night she came banging on the door? She hasn't told anyone about the head, has she?"

"No, Cindy has stayed quiet," Cameron assured him. "I referenced the myth of vampires. I believe seeing me pick up the man who attacked her, and a brief glow from my eyes convinced her I am one of the undead."

"The eye flash," John said with a sigh. No wonder the girl freaked.

"Yes. I was in error. I was irritated at her that she did not vacate the area. I wanted her to flee, so I lit my eyes up for infrared scanning. That made her flee." Cameron finally turned to him. "Doing that gave me satisfaction. It was partially an emotional response. I have been too free with my emotions. I know you like seeing my emotions, and it does feel nice to show them. I am causing harm and compromising us by doing so."

John nodded as he thought aloud. "Something happened today that convinced you that you need to suppress what you feel," he concluded.

"Yes. That is why I cannot marry you, John."

This caught John by surprise. He stared at her briefly. Or what he thought was briefly.

"John, may I drive?" Cameron asked as she watched ahead.

"No!" He wanted to talk about this marriage thing.

"Then would you?" she asked and pointed.

John snapped his head forward to see brake lights and a red light closing fast. He hit the brakes hard and turned onto the right turn lane to avoid rear-ending the car in front of them.

"Shit!" John hissed, heart in his throat from the very near miss. As he panted out his fear, Cameron touched his neck. "Accelerated heart rate and breathing. Did you defecate, John?"

"No ... " he was about to say more, but a horn blew behind him. Right, the light was green now. He turned the corner and pulled onto the side of the road. He stopped and turned to Cameron. "What's this about marriage?" he asked.

Speaking as if she was merely stating fact, Cameron said, "I am not suitable to be a wife John. We cannot be married. It would serve no purpose."

John was confused. "Cam, getting married isn't a task. We haven't even really thought about it until this morning, and the only one who's opinion counts as far as you being suitable, is me," he explained.

"You are wrong, John," Cameron said

"No, I'm ..." he paused then asked, "What did those girls tell you?"

Speaking in her flat tone, Cameron said, "Kaylee insisted you take responsibility for me. Her facts are incorrect. I cannot get pregnant like a human girl can. There is no reason for you to marry me, John."

John eyed her for a moment, then said, "Cam? Kids are not, well should not be the reason people get married. You get married to the one you love, who you want to be with for the rest of your life. To have them there with you, for good or bad, and no matter what you face you do it together."

Softer, he added, "And we have plenty of time to figure out what we want to do, OK? I can't legally get married until I'm eighteen anyway. There is no rush to decide one way or the other."

Cameron's face softened some. "John? Would you want to marry me?" she asked.

John offered her a smile and said, "Yes. Because you are my best friend. Because I do always want to be with you. Because I truly believe that we are and always will be at our best together."

"John," Cameron said softly. She leaned over and kissed him. The kiss became deeper as they pulled themselves together in a tight hug. Yes, this was better, and the futon was rolled up in the back, ready to go.

Tao tap tap came three rapid raps on the driver's window.

They parted lips to see the face of a policeman looking in John's window. With a waving motion, he said, "Move along."

"Yes, Officer," John called back through the window. Face flushed with anticipation, John drove them back out on the street and headed for home. He glanced at Cameron and took hold of her hand. "Cam, just know that we will be together. No matter what."

"I love you and you love me," she agreed, and gave his hand a light squeeze.

.

John was relieved this crisis was over. Cameron was getting back into a better mood. Pulling into the driveway they got out and met an angry looking Sarah at the door.

"Mom?" John asked.

Sternly, Sarah said, "One of you get in the car and go get me another package of hamburger and another six pack. The other, go in and get that …. BEAST out of the kitchen and clean up the mess!"

"How did George get out of our room?" Cameron asked.

Sarah eyed her and said, "Probably though the hole he ate through your door. Keep him out of the refrigerator, or I swear I'll shoot that little monster!"

Something crashing to the floor in the kitchen punctuated Sarah's words.

"John, I'll take care of George," Cameron said and went inside.

The refrigerator door was wide open. One wire shelf lay against the door. Pieces of meat package and a few ripped open cans and the beer that was in them were spread across the floor. George's tail hung outside the fridge.

Inside the fridge, George was holding a chewed open can and lapping up the beer inside. His fur was wet and smelled like beer. He looked up at Cameron and let out a burp and a soft rattling growl.

Cameron smiled. George looked so cute cuddled up with that can, but she had to get him out to save him from Sarah's wrath. She growled softly and picked him out, can and all. She took him down back to the stream to wash him. Beer did not smell good on him.

.

John stopped at the hardware store first and got a board to cover the hole in their door. Pausing he also got a piece of sheet metal to put over the board that George would probably just eat through again.

In the grocery store, John paused at the bulletin board. The community center was hosting a ballet company of local talent to perform, and was looking for dancers who knew, of would like to learn ballet. On the strips of paper hanging on the bottom, were telephone numbers. A few were pulled off. John pulled one off and pocketed it. Cameron danced ballet, he thought it might be something she'd like to do.

Besides the burger, John got peanut butter and jelly. If George raided the refrigerator, it was a good chance he ate the jelly too. Not having an adult ID, John skipped the beer. Going to the checkout, he found Kaylee behind the register.

"Hey, John!" she said happily. "Paper or plastic?"

Not happy Kaylee has started Cameron's day of doubting herself, he said, "Sure, that's fine," and put his purchases on the conveyor.

Kaylee grinned. "My choice then." Seeing he looked distracted, she added, "Wedding bells after graduation?"

John snapped his head up. "What?"

"You and Cameron. Wedding after graduation?" she asked as she scanned.

"Ahh, Cam's not too … sure about it," he offered.

"Yeah, Cindy told me Cam is worried she's not good enough because she can't have kids."

"She's scared. We'll see how it goes, we got plenty of time," John said.

Kaylee glanced at him as she filled a bag. "You're right, no rush. Just don't leave her hanging. Cindy said something about a fight you two had. If you talk it out, I'm sure you'll get through it."

"Thanks," John said with a grin, paid the bill and left.

John got back in the car, wondering what 'fight' Kaylee was talking about. Just what did Cameron tell Cindy?

.

George did not like taking a bath. Cameron even brought a towel along to dry him off. He tried escaping the water, then showed his teeth as he growled at her. She growled right back at him with the same snarl and threw him back in. Even after he was decently clean, trying to towel him off ended up in a tug-o-war fight with the towel. His head shaking and pulling as he clamped down on the towel did get him reasonably dry. Unfortunately, the towel didn't survive.

Cameron walked back to the house with George staying near, but not too close to her. They did get back to soft growls at each other. By the time they walked into the yard, all was well. Cameron opened the door and George ambled in.

"I cleaned up your mess," Sarah stated as she folded laundry on the coffee table.

"Thank you," Cameron replied as she watched George go back into the kitchen. She followed him. Sure enough, George went over to the refrigerator and pawed at it. Cameron put a hand against the door to keep it shut. "No!" she said firmly.

George ignored her and kept digging at the edge of the door.

Cameron understood. George didn't know words. She did something he could understand. She growled, a nasty, sneering growl at him. George stopped and backed off and returned her growl. Since he stopped digging at the door, she stared at him. He moved for the door, she growled again. This was a language George understood. Again he backed off and growled. He didn't try for the door again though.

Cameron offered a soft growl and moved to walk away. George followed her. Cameron was learning a little more every day about how to deal with George.

.

In the wire cage, George knew nothing but eating the food he was given. Ever since the odd smelling creature came and returned his family call, he responded. Unlike all the other creatures he'd seen, the one smelling different fed him good and let him explore his world and examine the objects around him. If his simple brain could understand concepts, his identification of the odd smelling creature was 'mother'. His mother took him to new places and showed him new things.

Until recently, his mother showed no aggression towards him. Finding food in the big white box, mother took him out and carried him to water and dumped him in. He didn't like that, and liked it less that she kept him in the water. After the water, mother did play with him with a soft cloth. After they played, she brought him back to their den. George wanted to go back into the big white box with the food. Mother would not let him open it.

Being the first time mother had ever denied him food, he was confused. Mother did not want him in the big white box. The brightness inside the box did hurt his eyes. Mother didn't like that. George went with mother. Inside the big white box was not a place to be.

The other creature that shared the same den with mother George identified as brother. Brother did growl some with George and with mother. He also made other noises with mother that George did not know. By the smell of him, this creature was not a mother, more like another creature that depended on mother.

The third creature in their den made George confused. Not mother, not brother, but mother accepted this one inside the den. This creature made growl like noises now and then, and did not let George come near. It was a den creature. Not food, not family. A mystery. Mother allowed it in so George did not try to eat it.

Following mother into another part of the den, George saw the mystery creature sitting and dangling another long soft cloth. George liked playing with mother near the water. He ran over and bit the dangling end of the cloth and pulled with a growl. The Mystery creature shot up and let out a loud wailing noise. It dropped the cloth and backed away. Did it want George to chase it? It did, George ran to it, and it ran away making wailing sounds.

Yes, playtime!

The creature was faster than George. It ran into a room and shut itself in. George sniffed the crack under the door. George growled softly and dug at the door. Inside, the mystery creature continued to make loud noises.

A soft growl behind George made him look. Mother held a bone and went into the tree room. Food. George followed. Mother hung the bone up on a branch of a tree. George was distracted by banging sounds. Behind the door, brother was hitting the door. Curious, George climbed up on brother's back and watched him hit the shiny thing. Brother didn't have food, and not playing. George got down and went over to the tree and climbed it to get his food.

.

"Put the gun away, Sarah," Cameron said firmly.

Red faced, Sarah glared at Cameron as she pointed to their room as she yelled, "That friggin BEAST attacked me, GET RID OF IT!"

Calmly, Cameron said, "George played tug-o-war with a towel. You had a towel, he just wanted to play."

"Then why did he chase me?" Sarah asked in a demand.

"Maybe because you didn't play with him. George is sensitive," Cameron explained.

Sarah stared at her. "You must be joking. That thing is dangerous!"

"He is George."

Sarah glared at Cameron briefly, then said, "I'm going out. You're buying new towels." Sarah stomped out of the house.

.

John got the new foot tall metal covered board across the bottom of their bedroom door. George had climbed up on him to see what he was doing, then went back to one of the trees to go fight with the new bone Cameron had hung up.

He knew his Mother was having a hard time with George. He'd peeked out when she went screaming to her room with George running behind her. Cameron had saved the situation but his mother was not amused. In a way, John thought having George around was pretty cool. Cameron was treating George like he was her own child. Still, John knew his mother hated him. He had to find some sort of compromise.

There was no doubt George was destructive. He had to 'wolverine proof' the house, though he had no clue how to do that. All steel doors and a locking refrigerator? The only other option was to make Cameron take George back to the zoo. For how attached Cameron was to George, John really didn't want to do that. He knew he did have to do something.

.

Sarah sat at a table in a dark corner of the bar, nursing her beer. Staring into the glass, she wondered if she should just get her own place. After all, John was growing up and Skynet was gone. The life John had was not one she had envisioned for her son. His girlfriend was a terminator, their pet was the most viscous animal Tin Miss could have possibly brought home. It was like John was the head of a demented Addams Family.

Taking a slow swig, Sarah pondered leaving after John graduated high school. In one way, she would be glad to leave Tin Miss and her little terror of a pet. Then again, it would be leaving John.

"Mr. Grey."

"Mr. Grey."

Sarah looked up. At a table not far away, she watched the men who greeted each other.

"We got a target?"

"Yes, The Target. Boss says John Connor is living close by. He drives to school with the metal."

"He's about to have a traffic accident?"

"Yes, Hit and run. Pull up beside them, pop him and take off. The metal won't be able to do anything. We use silencers. Let's get the boys together."

Sarah sat still as the men got up and left. Once they were gone, she followed them out and played with her keys as they got into a gray van. She noted the license plate as they left. Sarah got her van and followed them at a distance.

.

John stood leaning against the counter out of the way as Cameron made dinner. "Cam, Mom's terrified of George. We have to do something about him."

"I know. I'm working on it," she said simply.

Throwing up his hands, John said, "What I don't get is why George is fine with us, but he went after Mom."

Cameron put the chicken in the oven and started the timer for the rice. "Sarah doesn't like George," she said. "By what I have learned, George is bonding to us. Sarah is hostile towards him. That may well be why he is hostile towards her. If we can get Sarah to sit down with us and offer George some food, he will be friendlier to her."

"And what if he decides to take a chunk out of her?" John asked.

"I will stop him."

John rubbed his face. "I really hope you can," he said with a sigh.

Cameron went over and kissed John. "I accessed information about a man in Alaska who raised a pair of wolverines from babies. I got the following information. The wolverines he raised looked to him to learn. They also saw his home as theirs and considered him to be one of them. No other humans, just him. Yes, they were destructive. They learn by tasting things, activities they did and watching. That soft growl is like a cat's purr. They identify with their family by that purr. Sarah does not purr for George. Their 'play' purr is louder. That is what George was doing when he was chasing Sarah. She took it as he was being mean."

"Can you explain that to Mom?" John asked.

"I will. Everything will be all right, John," Cameron promised.

John hugged her. "Let's hope so."

.

The front door burst open as John set the table and Cameron put the food on serving platters. Cameron quickly spun to shield John. Sarah strode in, shutting the door behind her.

"We got trouble. Skynet is not gone!" Sarah stated. "Men are planning to kill John on his way to school in a drive by shooting."

"Did you see their car?" John asked.

"At the bar I heard two men talking. By what they said, there's more of them. When they left I followed them to a Motel. I have the license plate to their gray panel van."

"Who are they?" Cameron asked, her face shifting to her blank stare.

"I never saw them before. "

"We need to find them and interrogate them," Cameron stated.

"After we get John to safety," Sarah agreed.

"Yes, after John is safe." Turning to John, Cameron said, "After dinner, take the emergency pack, go down the escape trail and cross the stream. There is another path there to a hidden clearing. Pull the brush together behind you after you cross the stream."

"I'm not running away," John stated.

Cameron shook her head saying, "No, you're not. I buried a sniper rifle there with a tripod. It has a silencer and a thermal imaging scope. You can see the house and have a good field of fire. You will be the long range cover in case they find our house."

"They might come here," Sarah added. "I didn't see anyone following me, but it's safe to assume they did."

Cameron turned to Sarah. "Finish dinner, I am going on a patrol. John, stay clear of the windows until I get back."

John clasped her hand as she turned to leave. "Be careful," he said.

Cameron nodded. She went to their room first and got three spare magazines for the 9MM she carried. When she left, her mind was in full terminator mode. She didn't notice George slipping out of the room with her.