With this chapter I'm entering the more action oriented part of the story. The title tells what this story's going to be about and you can't have that without some action. Well, not yet in this chapter; after all, everything has to be prepared carefully. This and few following chapters will be dedicated to preparations for the showdown.
But no fears, there will still be romantic and fluffy moments every now and then. After all, the newlyweds still have to catch up.
Chapter 4
For the last half an hour, no one said a single word and heavy silence slowly became unbearable. Isabel finally had enough of it, sighed and began to talk: "So, you say that this Cameron is almost the same as the one we used to know in the future?" She turned and addressed Edward, who was sitting in the last row of the minivan they hired for this trip to Cameron and John.
Edward, who busied himself with disassembling and reassembling of his gun for the umpteenth time, looked at her from under furrowed brows: "Are you really interested in this information or are you just trying to break the tension? I found the silence quite comforting."
Isabel's mouth slowly curled up into a small smile: "I guess it's a bit of both. I find it unbearable how you men can sit for hours in silence, brooding over something and ignoring each other. But I'm also interested in any possible information about our potential commanding officers."
Edwards face eased a little and barely visible grin appeared on it. "You know, Isabel, I thought you were different than other women. But I see that you still have some typical female virtues."
"Don't test me, Edward! You are my commanding officer, but that doesn't mean you have the right to say just anything to me." Isabel's voice conveyed a slight undertone of sarcasm, but her eyes looked at Edward amused.
Her reaction caused him to chuckle a little. Then he carefully finished assembling his gun and after he was done, he put it beside him on a seat. He sighed barely audible and turned to Isabel, who was looking at him expectantly: "What do you want to know?"
Isabel shrugged: "Everything that might be important. Is she more machine-like or more human-like?"
Edward smiled at her: "Well, my first encounter with her was not exactly the most pleasant. She held me by my throat and stared at me with that death stare of hers. But after we cleared the small misunderstanding she acted very much like a human would." He paused and thought for a second: "Before we destroyed that military base, she insisted to let the innocent people escape. Something I would never expect from a terminator, really. OK, maybe from her, but knowing that she is not the one I know I wasn't exactly sure what to expect."
Isabel nodded: "It looks like she's very much like our Cameron. What about her relationship with John?"
"I don't know exactly but as the guy, who helped me get her out of the base told me, she is in a relationship with him. I guess we'll find out soon what's the nature of their relationship."
"As far as I know …" The Beaver chimed in from the driver's seat, "and you, dear Ed too, they are very much a couple in every considerable way. I don't know why you're not telling Isabel the truth."
"OK, I didn't want to tell everything, but … yeah, they are a couple." Edward was slightly embarrassed. He didn't want to tell it to Isabel and Lesley, he hoped they would find out by themselves.
Isabel grinned at him: "My, and you expect me to trust you? While hiding important information from me?"
"I don't know why it would be important information if Cameron and John are a couple." Edward scrunched his face a little.
"It definitely is! They will react differently if one of them faces something dangerous. I guess they would go very far to keep the other one out of harm's way." Lesley decided that it was time to take a part in this conversation. He sat in the front passenger seat and twisted around to look at Isabel and Edward. "Do you think that they would?"
Edward pretended not to understand the question: "What do you mean?"
Lesley sighed: "You know damn well what I asked! Would they risk their lives for each other? OK, I can understand it for Cameron, but John is too important to risk his life for a metal."
Edward grinned at his soldier: "If this John is only a bit like the one from our timeline then you should never use the word metal when relating to Cameron. You know it yourself that it can have very unexpected and far reaching consequences for your health. But to answer your question: we'll see. End of discussion." His voice was firm and commanding as he spoke the last sentence. He definitely didn't want to discuss John Connor's private life. Actually, he didn't even want to think about it.
XXXXXXXXXX
Tim leaned back in his chair and sighed while massaging his temples. "God, I am so not drinking tequila anymore! My head is going to explode."
Cameron, who sat on the swing, nestled into John's side deadpanned at him with her best blank terminator face: "You should have shown this wisdom yesterday, before you emptied the whole bottle." However, her voice was much too amused to go with her facial expression.
"Exactly my opinion!" Andrea chimed in and flashed an evil smile at her sibling.
"Yeah, just go on and put some more salt on my wounds. I'm sick!" Tim groaned and tried to get help from his sister's boyfriend: "At least you should understand me. You drank almost as much as I did."
Brian looked completely OK and he smiled at Tim understandingly: "A little less, if you consider that I drank a quarter of a bottle and you reserved one whole for yourself. But rest assured … I understand and also pity you." A slight mocking undertone in his voice was unmistakable.
"OK, that's enough mocking and making fun of me." Tim got up and turned towards the door. He made a step towards it, as it opened abruptly and Sarah marched out with resolute steps.
"Are you going somewhere, Tim?" Her voice was flat, but her eyes had that mischievous look. She knew exactly how Tim felt. She'd been there a few times before. "The only place you should go to in your current condition is your bed. At least for few hours, until your system is clear of alcohol overdose you managed to ingest last night."
Tim nodded slowly and very carefully: "That's exactly where I'm going."
After he entered the house, Sarah looked after him for a second with a small smile on her lips, before turning towards the rest: "I think that he only needs a little sleep."
John nodded and tightened his embrace around Cameron's side: "Definitely. I haven't seen him drinking so much alcohol, even not as you dragged me into a pub before the wedding." He turned towards Brian, who just shrugged and smiled apologetically.
"Maybe you should go and see if he's all right?" Sarah turned towards Brian.
John instantly got the subtle message from his mother. She wanted to talk to him and Cameron, but didn't want Brian to be present at this discussion. He nodded: "I guess it couldn't harm. He really didn't look too good."
Andrea also noticed a subtle note in Sarah's and John's voice, stood up and reached for Brian's hand. "You know … they're right. We should make sure that he doesn't miss the right bed or falls asleep somewhere where he shouldn't."
Brian rose from his sitting position and grabbed Andrea's outstretched hand: "Right. Let's make him uncomfortable a bit."
After Andrea and Brian vanished after Tim, Sarah turned to John and Cameron and opened mouth to say something, but was cut off by John: "What do you want to discuss with us in private, mom?"
Sarah remained open mouthed for a second and then smiled: "You're getting better and better at this, John."
John just shrugged and smiled self-satisfied before he received an elbow under his ribs from Cameron. He looked at her astonished and gently rubbed the area, Cameron hit with her elbow. "What was that for, wife?"
"Show-off!" Cameron answered crisply and stared at her husband blankly.
Sarah snorted quietly: "You know Cameron, I'm really starting to like you. You're the only one to keep my son on a short leash."
Cameron remembered their discussion before they went to winter vacation: "Should I go and get a leash? And a corresponding collar?"
John chuckled upon hearing her deadpan question: "Cameron, you're starting to repeat yourself."
Cameron put on a fake pout: "I am not! I didn't repeat everything!"
Sarah giggled and thought that it was so relieving to see the two so at ease. Cameron managed what no one else could; she managed to make John happy, to forget about the impending future even if only for a while. And for that she was thankful to the cyborg girl. But she came here with a clear intention to talk about something and the playful banter of the newlyweds only distracted her. So she decided to do what she came here for: "We have to decide what to do with your friends when the visit arrives."
John nodded: "Absolutely. Andrea and Tim are no problem, but I'm not sure if Brian can be trusted so far. We all know him for a very short time and it's difficult to judge. What do you think?" He turned to Cameron, who was now looking at him seriously, although she still hadn't moved from her position, pressed at his side.
"I believe that he's not hiding anything. As far as I can judge, he doesn't act. However, I cannot say if he's to be trusted or not." Cameron spoke factually, giving all necessary information without giving her opinion.
"I see. But what do you think? Should we trust him or not?" John insisted on getting her opinion, although he already suspected that she wouldn't be thrilled to share their secret with someone completely unfamiliar.
Cameron let out a human sigh before answering: "John, you know my opinion when it comes to your safety. And every new person knowing about you is a potential security risk."
Sarah nodded: "Exactly my opinion too."
John was quiet for a second and then turned to Cameron, who was looking at him with big inquiring eyes and then his look swept over to his mother. "I guess that we all have the same opinion. Not exactly because of my safety …" He turned to Cameron and wanted to continue, but she stopped him with serious expression.
"Your safety is the most important thing John. Don't ever doubt that!"
John smiled at her: "I'm aware of that fact Cameron. As well as I'm absolutely aware that you don't joke about it. Ever. "He inhaled deeply and continued: "I just wanted to say that I don't think he should be let in right now. Maybe sometime later. I'll talk to Andrea and Tim about this matter and only then I'll make my decision when and where, if at all, he'll be entrusted with the truth."
Sarah looked relieved. "Good decision John, even though I'm more in favor of a decision, delayed for infinite time." She smirked evilly for a second.
"I know that mom. It wouldn't be you, if you'd say anything else." John returned the evil smirk, before turning to Cameron: "When will they be here?"
"According to last information I got from them, they should arrive in about two hours." Cameron felt proud that she managed to answer like humans would. She knew exact ETA of the group, but decided to use the vague description.
John noticed a small proud smile that formed on Cameron's lips and pulled her closer, giving her a quick kiss: "Then we still have time to go for a little walk down the beach, right?"
Cameron's smile widened and she nodded: "I'd like that."
Sarah rolled her eyes: "Don't let yourselves be disturbed by my presence. I'll keep the watch and if they arrive early … well, I'll take care of everything."
John and Cameron were already leaving the porch hand in hand and John said over the shoulder: "I'd appreciate if you'd try not be too connorish, mom!"
"What's that supposed to mean, John?"
"Oh, you know … suspecting everyone and everything, showing to anyone that you don't trust them … all such stuff." John stopped and turned to look at his mother with raised eyebrows.
"I'm not that distrustful!" Sarah protested.
"Yes you are!" John didn't wait for the answer, he turned away and pulled Cameron to follow him.
XXXXXXXXXX
"It's almost two hours since we left the cabin, John." Cameron softly reminded John that they should return home. They have been strolling along the beach for one hour and were now just lying and enjoying the serenity. Only soft murmur of the waves on the sandy shore and occasional cries of the seagulls and other birds, circling above them, disturbed the silence. They didn't talk, they just held onto each other and tried to enjoy the moment they had only for themselves.
"Really? Have we really been out for such a long time? It seemed to me like it's been only few minutes." John was lying on his back with eyes closed and talked a little sleepily while squeezing Cameron's hand.
"Yes. We should return. Our visitors should be here any minute." Cameron explained patiently while gently pulling John's hand to sit up.
John groaned softly with still closed eyes: "I'd like to stay with you for a moment longer."
"As much as I'd like it too, we still have to return." Cameron smiled gently at her husband and pulled him up all the way.
"OK, as you say darling. I guess that the honeymoon will have to wait a little longer." John finally opened his eyes and smiled at Cameron. "Let's go then."
As Cameron and John approached the cabin hand in hand, they immediately noticed the minivan, parked at the entrance.
"They're already here." John commented and looked at his wife: "Your timing was really very accurate."
"It always is." Cameron responded while carefully scanning the car and the cabin with all possible vision modes she could in order to determine if everything was all right.
John noticed her serious and concentrated expression and guessed immediately what she had been doing. "Relax, Cameron. They are supposed to be allies, right?"
Cameron's eyes swept the cabin slowly and carefully and she answered without taking her eyes off of the building: "Supposed is the key word. I don't trust anyone before I've convinced myself that they're OK."
"You really mean you don't trust them? Come on, Cameron, you know their leader. He helped you get out of the military base." John knew that Cameron would never change her attitude when his safety was concerned and yet he still argued with her.
This time Cameron's deadly serious eyes turned towards John and she answered without a second of hesitation: "When your safety is involved, I'm just as paranoid as your mother. You know that John and when you married me you married all of me, not just the human side."
John smiled at her seriousness and squeezed her hand before answering: "I know that Cameron and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you, all of you, not just your human side."
Cameron gazed into his eyes for a moment, searching for any signs if he was telling her the truth and after few seconds, her eyes softened: "I know John and I am honored that you chose me to be your wife." Then she turned back to the house: "We should get in. Sarah has sometimes problems socializing unknown people."
John snorted: "Tell me about that. We're going in, but not before I do something."
Cameron turned back to him with questioning eyes: "What?"
"This!" John bowed to her and kissed her passionately.
For a second Cameron stiffened. This really wasn't the best timing for passion, but she willingly gave in and kissed him back with everything she had.
"I'm afraid we won't be getting many more free moments for a while now, so I wanted to kiss you properly." John smiled after they broke the kiss.
Cameron looked at him with slightly unfocused eyes and a content smile, but regained her stoic mask very quickly and turned back to the house: "Let's go."
They entered the house and immediately noticed four strangers sitting around the table, a woman a huge man, another man with a long pony tail and yet another man, who looked at Cameron and smiled at her, while Sarah and Derek stood at the kitchen counter, both with their arms folded on their chests and looking not all too friendly at the strangers. Chris was standing a little away from the two, obviously feeling slightly uncomfortable with all the strangers in the room. After all, he had no idea who these people were, apart from Edward and he wasn't a hardened soldier like Derek and Sarah.
John couldn't help but smirk a little at the sight, feeling confirmed in his fears that his mother might not show the necessary hospitality towards these people. He noticed that Andrea, Tim and Brian were not present and he assumed that Andrea and Brian were still guarding Tim or were otherwise occupied. Good! There are things that have to be discussed without them knowing. Maybe someone should tell them to stay in their rooms for a moment?
Cameron checked the present people quickly and suddenly went completely rigid. John noticed how she stiffened instantly and looked at her in surprise. He saw how she glared towards the man with the long pony tail, even though he was sitting so that they only saw his back.
"What's wrong Cameron?" He asked worriedly and noticed something, very close to hatred in her eyes.
Sarah and Derek noticed their arrival and lifted their heads, signaling to those who were turned with their backs to the door that someone entered. The man with the pony tail turned too and as soon as his eyes met Cameron's , John could see that the man instantly felt uncomfortable.
Cameron didn't answer his question, she just glared at the man, who now slowly stood up and turned completely towards her.
"You!" Cameron almost spat at him, completely forgetting her blank terminator face.
Everyone in the room looked completely taken aback with the obvious tense atmosphere between the man and Cameron. Suddenly John remembered something Cameron told him, something about the man she thought to have seen while she was driving away from the military base.
"Is this the man you thought to have seen back in the mountains?" He asked Cameron and now she obviously registered his question. She turned to him, the emotions wiped from her eyes and face, the perfect terminator once again: "Yes, it's him. I obviously wasn't mistaken!" Her voice was devoid of any emotion.
The man meanwhile took a hesitant step towards them and looked at Cameron slightly unsure if he should do it or not: "Yes, Cameron it's me. But I'm not the same man I used to be."
"That's highly unlikely." Cameron continued with cold voice and gave the man a death glare.
"But it is so. I've seen and experienced things that changed me." The man's voice was quiet but determined.
John's eyes darted between the two and he could sense how the tension in the room was rising. He decided that this was not acceptable, so he squeezed Cameron's hand to get her attention. After she slightly reluctantly turned to him, he exclaimed with firm voice: "It's obvious that you two have some unresolved issues. If we want to do anything together, you'll have to reach an agreement. I suggest you go out and talk about what's burdening your relationship. And don't come back before you've cleared the misunderstandings you have."
He looked at Cameron with determined eyes and turned then to the man with the pony tail: "I'm deadly serious. We're not talking about anything until you two come to an agreement. Understood?"
While staring at the man intently, he missed an admiring look that Cameron and Sarah gave him. He also missed the look of surprise on the faces of a woman and the biggest man. Isabel and Lesley looked at each other and then at Edward, who just nodded them with a smile, as if he would want to tell them 'I told you so'.
An uncomfortable silence lasted for few seconds, until the man with the pony tail nodded and stepped towards the entrance door. "OK. Fine with me."
Cameron looked hesitant for a second, but then cast John a questioning look. After he gave her an encouraging smile, she smiled aback and turned to follow the man out of the house.
After they both vanished through the entrance door, John turned back to the people in the room, who were all looking at him. He stepped towards the table and sat down on the place that the man with the pony tail occupied before, motioning Sarah, Derek and Chris to join them. After they were all sitting, he took a long, careful look at everyone and didn't miss the vague similarity that the woman had with his wife. "So … I think that you all know who I am and that puts you at the advantage over me. Let's start with the simple things … like your names."
XXXXXXXXXX
The man with the pony tail stood on the porch and waited for Cameron to join him. He looked at her and noticed how she folded her arms in front of her chest like she would try to show him her displeasure with being forced to be here with him. She managed to get her emotions under control and she just gave him a death glare, like only terminators could.
Both of them remained silent for few seconds, before the man decided to start: "Look, Cameron, I really owe you an apology. I've been anything but friendly towards you in the future and for that I'm really sorry …"
"The last time we saw each other, you threatened to destroy me." Cameron cut in with ice cold voice, matching her stare.
The man stopped, hung his head for a second and nodded: "Correct. I did, even though I didn't mean it exactly that way."
"If I remember correctly, and I always do, your exact words were 'Get away from me, you metal bitch, or I'll burn every part of you until there's only dust left.' Are you trying to persuade me that you didn't mean that?" Cameron slightly tilted her head.
The man sighed deeply and nodded: "I don't remember the exact words, but I guess it was like you said. If anything, you have a perfect memory." He paused and sighed again before continuing: "But after you left, things happened that shattered my word and made me completely change my mind."
Cameron tilted her head for a fraction of a centimeter further: "Such as?"
"After you left, John Connor became completely unbearable. He was no more the man he used to be, he was actually an emotional wreck. I tried to write it off to the stress, but the funny thing is … after you left, the things calmed down significantly. There were weeks of peace and everyone were happy. Well, almost everyone. John distanced himself from us and he remained in his quarters for days."
Cameron looked at him with the slightest furrow of her brow: "I don't understand."
The man gave a humorless chuckle: "Neither did we. Until I accidently came upon the truth, the real reason why he closed himself from the world. You see, Cameron … he was grieving."
"Grieving? Why?"
"I didn't know it before, but then I once passed his quarters and heard strange sounds coming from the room. It sounded so strange that I worried for him, so I entered and saw him sitting on the bed, holding a picture in his hands and crying over it. I was shocked beyond my wildest expectations. The almost machine-like John Connor, who never showed his emotions, was crying over a picture. Do you know who was on that picture?" The man paused and looked at Cameron expectantly.
Cameron suddenly got an idea who might have been on the picture, but discarded it as impossible: "No?"
The man waited for few more seconds before answering quietly: "You, Cameron! It was you on the picture!"
"But that's impossible! He was never romantically interested in me! I was his bodyguard and his confidant in some matters, but never anything more than that. I don't even know if he saw me as his friend." Cameron's head tilted even further and confusion was clearly written on her face.
"So he led you and everyone else to believe. The fact is, he was deeply in love with you and after you were gone back in time, away from him forever, he broke down." The man paused to see the impact of his words on her.
"How do you know all that? I don't believe he would have told you such a thing." Cameron was unconvinced, even though some future John's actions became more and more plausible with this explanation. Maybe my John was really correct in his assumptions about future John? She suddenly remembered the discussion she and her John had back on their winter vacation about the motives future John might have had to send her back, to forbid her to get involved with the teenage John and everything else that she found strange at the time. It finally began to add up.
"Oh, but he did! He was in dire need of a friend and I offered him a hand."
"Judas! You never cared for John and now you're trying to persuade me you were his friend?" Cameron's eyes almost burned holes into man's face.
The man shook his head: "See, that's where you're wrong. I always respected him, I always looked up to him as the beast leader I've ever had. And after I saw that ruin of the man, I simply knew that I had to help him." He paused and chuckled. "OK, the fact that he was losing his grip and made some very questionable decisions helped in making my mind up too. He was turning into a leader that people would hate with all their passion and that was something I couldn't allow to happen."
"What does all that have to do with me? Why would you change your opinion about me?" Cameron was still cold, but not as hostile anymore.
"Oh, it has everything to do with you, Cameron. I realized that I was wrong about your relationship with him. I believed you were corrupting him, trying to distract him, but after I saw in what he turned after your departure, I realized that you were exactly the opposite. You were the one, keeping John sane and approachable. I don't know why and how, but you made him a better man."
Now it was Cameron's turn to look stunned. "I never tried to …"
"I know, Cameron. After he accepted my offered hand, we talked a lot and I realized how much you meant to him. He slowly opened his heart and allowed me to see it. He showed me the real Cameron, the one whom I never saw before. You know … he never trusted anyone explicitly. But he trusted you with his life. I realized your true role in his life too late and I'm sorry for that."
"Well, there's nothing we can do now for the future John. So, tell me … why are you here?" Cameron's voice got colder again.
"Before I answer this question, I have to ask you a question. Do you remember a day before you left?" He looked at her expectantly.
Cameron nodded: "Of course I do. Why?"
"Well, you saved my ass. You risked your life for saving mine even though I threatened to burn you just a minute before. I may not have shown it then, but I was completely shocked that you saved me. You could have left me to die and nobody would blame you. You could have solved all your problems by just not helping me and exposing yourself. And yet you chose to help me. I couldn't understand it then and I still can't understand it. Why?" He looked at her and expected to get an answer to the question that ate away at him all the time since that day.
"You were important to the resistance. And human life is valuable." Cameron explained without hesitation. "Now answer my question."
The man smiled at her slightly: "Thank you. I was correct then in my assumptions that you didn't do it only because of your programming. To answer your question: I'm here on my own. Nobody sent me, I have no assigned mission. But I saw what your absence did to John in the future and I decided to help. I want to protect you two and prevent that anything happens to you or John. I now know that he can be that great military leader only if he has you to support him. And that's my self-assigned mission."
Cameron looked at him for few seconds. Everything he told her seemed plausible, but she simply couldn't believe that he could change his mind about her so thoroughly. And yet, he was, at least according to her scans, telling her the truth. She could detect no hostility or disgust in his face and eyes. So she relaxed a bit. "You're telling the truth." She stated with a hint of surprise in her voice.
This time the man smiled relieved at her: "Of course I am. I know it better than to lie to you. You could always read me like an open book, especially when I tried desperately to hide something."
Cameron's lips moved fractionally up as she answered: "I did and I still do."
Then the man suddenly offered her his hand: "Truce? I'd like to help you and John as much as I can."
Cameron hesitated only for a second and then unfolded her arms and accepted his hand: "Truce. For now! I'm keeping my eye on you."
The man smiled: "I know. I promise I'll do my best to keep you and your boyfriend safe."
"Husband." Cameron corrected him.
The man now gaped at her with open mouth: "Excuse me? Husband?"
Cameron smiled self-satisfied at him: "Yes, we got married two days ago."
Finally getting over the shock, the man grinned: "So you two managed on your own. Congratulations."
"Thank you." Cameron answered politely. "We should get back inside. We have some things to discuss."
"We sure do." The man nodded and stepped towards the door.
Cameron followed him. She still didn't trust the man completely. "Oh, and another thing William!"
The man turned: "Yes?"
"Don't say anything about the future to anyone else besides John, Sarah, Derek and Chris. Understood?"
"Absolutely!" William nodded and stepped to the door.
TBC