NEXT MORNING, NEW CONNOR SAFEHOUSE, 0700 HOURS

Early morning was not something John Connor was fond of and getting up from the warm bed was also difficult when you have such a soothing sensation on your head. John was still lying on his stomach, on his bed with his eyes closed, a small smile of content was gracing his lips. His head felt relaxed, not because all his concerns or nightmares were gone, but someone was running their hands through his hairs in a very precise manner.

This is feeling so good. John thought. Well it's nice of his mother to do this for him.

"Don't stop, mom." He murmured sleepily.

John was still sleepy so his brain didn't work fast enough to realize that the hand that was going through his hairs to make feel relaxed was smaller and softer compared to his mother. And since when his mother started doing something like this for him?

John's eyes opened instantly and he raised his head up to look back. His jaw dropped. It was not his mother. It was Cameron.

John sat up instantly.

"Wh..What are you doing?" He asked in panic, and looked at the door which was still closed, and then back at Cameron who stared back at him innocently. His eyes were wide.

Cameron withdrew her hand back instantly when John woke up. She couldn't understand why he looked so panicked though. Did she do something wrong? She was just helping him to relax and help him sleep better. Her face fell.

"I was trying to help you to relax your mind. Did I do something wrong, John?" She asked innocently.

John saw her face fall. Human reaction. A Terminator does not react like that. Even Uncle Bob never reacted or made expressions like this when he started to understand human feelings. But now looking at her, John again got another proof that Cameron was really different. Maybe even she could feel and understand emotions to some extent?

"No. No." John tried to explain. "I just meant where did you learn to do that?"

"In the future I saw this particular action helps humans to relax their mind. It helps to sleep better without any nightmares or distress." Cameron explained.

"Oh. And you just thought I needed that?" John asked curiously.

"After you fell asleep last night, you started to toss and turn. I understood you were having bad dreams, and thought this particular action might help you. It did, you slept peacefully." Cameron explained further.

"Wait, are you saying that you were continuously massaging my head till last night?" John asked.

"No. Till 4.20 A.M." Cameron answered simply.

John's expression was something to be seen at that time. His face was full of shock, surprise, gratitude, affection and love. She thinks about his well-being that much? John couldn't believe that. She couldn't be just a machine. No machine will understand and will feel the need to do what she did for him. Not even his mother had even considered doing something like this. Of course, John doesn't blame his mother. His mother has a lot on her mind, like trying to keep him safe, keep away from the police, earn money for their livelihood, and of course she has her own issues. John knew how much his mother still misses Kyle Reese, his father whom he never got the chance to meet. Adding to that she herself has no time to relax even for a bit.

John thought about last night.

After he was done cleaning Cameron's back and bandaging her wounds, he visited the washroom and cleaned his hands, getting ready for bed. When he returned from the washroom he was surprised to see that Cameron had already cleaned the room and was sitting on the sofa near the window, staring outside. John slowly got on his bed, and went under the covers. He closed his eyes, but sleep never came. It was not that he was not tired, he just felt outright bad. He opened his eyes and looked at Cameron who was now staring back at him, curiously.

"You know, I will never be able to sleep, if you keep doing that." John smiled slightly.

"Doing what?" Cameron asked, confused.

"Sitting and staring at me like that." John said.

"Oh." Cameron said in realization. "Do you want me to go?" She asked, already getting up on her feet.

"No." John instantly protested. "You can come and lie down beside me on the bed, you know. That sofa is too small even for you to lie down."

Cameron seemed to decide for a few seconds. Then she agreed. "Okay."

She came and lay down beside John on the bed.

John was pretty bold when he requested her to stay beside him on the bed. If his mother finds out she will probably burn Cameron to ashes. But he wouldn't let his mother touch Cameron. She was his friend. His mom would never understand Cameron. John could've let Cameron stay on the sofa for the whole night, but his guilty consciousness didn't let him do so because the sofa on which Cameron was sitting was not even usable. It was like a scrap lying at the corner of the room. When he said that Cameron deserved as much respect and care like the others, he really meant it.

John didn't regret his decision. But he had a problem.

When she lay down beside him, he could feel the warmth radiating from her body and his male body just started to react. His heart began to race, in a good way. He took a glance at her form beside him. The room was dark, but the moonlight from outside fell on her face.

God, she is beautiful. Was the only thing John could think of by looking at her.

Cameron turned her head around to look at John, who gave him a small smile. She smiled back at him.

Cameron learnt something new that night again, which didn't surprise her.

John is the best man she knew. Nobody came close.

As John thought about last night and her actions, he couldn't help but shed a small tear. Cameron saw it and immediately tensed at his reaction. But he didn't let her ask anything. He just moved forward and engulfed her in a tight hug, with his face hidden in her soft hairs.

Cameron was totally taken aback at John's reaction. For a moment she couldn't decide what to do. But then she also hugged him back and returned his affection. When she saw him shed a tear, her initial worry was that she must have hurt him somehow, emotionally. But John's reaction washed away all her worries. He was not sad, he was happy and grateful. And John hugging her like this? She liked this. Very much. She liked the closeness she shared with John.

But something happened last night about which Cameron didn't tell John. She didn't want him to feel bad. After John fell asleep beside her on the bed, she was just observing him. His peaceful expression while he slept, his sleeping pattern. She liked watching John. But after several minutes he started to toss and turn. He also began to murmur in his sleep. She didn't like that. She didn't like seeing John in distress. At that moment she thought what she thought was right and would help him sleep better She turned on her left side, then she scooted closer to his sleeping form and got under his cover. She then pulled him against her body, with one of her arms around his chest. John's reaction was automatic. Without waking up, he turned on his right and pressed himself closer to her and hid his face against her chest in his sleep. Cameron also John's left arm was around her waist holding her tightly. The effect was immediate. John's whole body relaxed as his nightmares disappeared and he felt safe and content, without truly realizing what was happening. Cameron didn't think it to be inappropriate, when John placed his face against the bare skin of her chest. If this was any other male human in place of John, he would've been gravely injured. But she didn't mind because this was John. A loving smile graced her lips as she observed him, sleeping peacefully, while pressed against her body and holding her.

He murmured something incoherent against her chest again, but she could understand every word with her perfect hearing..

"Don't ever leave me, Cameron. I love you." John murmured in his sleep.

Cameron's eyes widened and she just stared at John with widened eyes. It was not something she ever thought he'd say, especially to her. Then she remembered what young Danny asked her.

"Are you John's girlfriend?"

The answer was no at that time, and it will stay that way always. John will find a human girl someday, who will be able to love him and take care of him. Cameron didn't even know whether she could even feel human emotions. It's true that she liked staying around John. But if their mission is successful and they manage to avert Judgment Day, she will have to go away from John and stop existing. That way she'd be able to make sure that no one would be able to get any evidence of future tech and build a new Skynet. Provided she remains operational during that time. That's the only way John will be free of danger and perhaps would be able to get the normal life he'd always wanted.

Hours have passed and Cameron held John in his sleep carefully not to hurt him, yet let him feel that someone was with him. She saw the sun begin to rise and looked at John's sleeping form. He didn't move since he relaxed in his sleep last night, but now the sunlight had started to fall on his face. She didn't want him to wake up so early. She knew John needed sleep. Together they escaped from being assassinated, rescued Sarah Connor and even saved the Dyson family.

Slowly she extracted herself from his hold on her, careful enough not to wake him up. She walked at the window and placed the covers and stopped the sunlight from falling on John's face. It was 4.17 A.M. in the morning, and she decided not to get back under the covers anymore. It may wake John up. Instead, she began to run her fingers slowly through his hair, just as she saw some people do the same thing in the future often. A content smile appeared on John's face at her action.

She smiled, even though John couldn't see it.


CONNOR SAFEHOUSE, 0930 HOURS

John sat down on a chair in the dining room and looked at his mom, who was already there sitting on another chair with a grim expression on her face. John wondered what his mother was thinking. He hoped that she'd talk about what's in her mind, but knowing his mother, there was no chance she'd do that. Today they need to get the fake IDs ready and hand them over to the Dyson family. They needed Enrique again.

"So, are we ready to visit Enrique?" John asked casually.

"Yes." Sarah replied, looking down towards the floor at her feet.

John sighed. "Mom, what are you thinking?"

"Nothing." Sarah replied flatly. "Let's visit Enrique."

At that moment Cameron came in. She heard the name 'Enrique' but couldn't find details about this person in her database. "Who is Enrique?" She asked.

"I did paramilitary training with Enrique outside of Oaxaca. He taught John how to shoot rifles." Sarah explained, looking at Cameron.

"He is a good man." John added. "We can trust him."

Cameron seems satisfied at John's statement, which Sarah didn't fail to notice.


ENRIQUE'S HOME, 1145 HOURS

Sarah and John sat on a sofa in Enrique's house while Cameron sat on a tool at the corner, carefully observing the unknown man. She was ready to terminate the man, at the slightest hint of a threat to John. Although John assured that this man could be trusted, Cameron was not ready to take any chances when it comes to John. Her eyes carefully followed Enrique's every movement.

"I am not surprised." Enrique said, "I know I looked surprised when I saw you in that first moment." He chuckled, pouring drinks in the glasses. "Heh, but I am not surprised." He then looked at Cameron who was staring at him blankly. "Do you know this woman well?" He asked Cameron, who didn't reply. He chuckled again, "It's rhetorical. If you don't, you don't. But if you do, and you're anything like her, you'll lie and say you don't. But if you do, then I know, like me, you are not surprised."

"I am not like her. Sarah is very uptight." Cameron said bluntly, with a straight face.

John couldn't help but let out a loud laugh at his mother's expense, who glared daggers at Cameron. Even Enrique laughed.

"This girl is funny. I like her." Enrique commented. Then he looked at John ."And look at you, John. You are all grown up. You are a man now."

Cameron didn't understand Enrique's statement. Was John not a man before? She couldn't help but cut in, "John was always a man. He was born a man. He couldn't be a woman."

Enrique looked at Cameron with wide eyes. Then he laughed out loud, again. "I told you this girl is funny." He chuckled looking at John.

With a hint of a smile on his face, John looked at Cameron who looked outright confused now. "That's not what he meant, Cameron. He means that I am of age now." John explained.

"Oh." Realization dawned on Cameron's face. "Thank you for explaining." She added as usual.

John just shook his head while smiling.

Sarah looked annoyed and decided to get back to business.

"I need six sets of papers. I can pay. Not a lot, but some." She said to Enrique.

Enrique closed his eyes and lifted his hands, indicating to her to stop. "No."

"Why not?" Sarah asked curiously. Enrique had never denied her request in the past.

Enrique sighed and relaxed back on his chair. "I am finished with that life. I lived my wild life. I have fought the wars I wanted to, and a few I did not. But I lived every day free. Not one day behind bars, nor in the hands of the enemy. I wanted to remain undefeated. So, now I am finished."

Sarah's face fell. But she maintained a tight smile on her face. "Happy for you. Sorry for me, but I'm really happy for you."

Then Enrique smiled again ."Eh, don't give up so easily." Then he got up and brought a piece of paper and pen. "I did not say I cannot help." He added, looking at everyone's confused expression. "My nephew, Carlos, has, uh…how we say, has taken over the family business. His operation is very good but he is not a believer." He added handing the piece of paper to Sarah after writing the contact details of his nephew on it.

Sarah smiled slightly. "Few believers left I think."

Then they shared a hug and Enrique did the same with John. While outside the house, and they were walking towards the car, Cameron said only one thing to John, "He lied."

Both John and Sarah were surprised at her sudden comment.

Sarah looked a little pissed off. "About what?"

Cameron stopped and stared back at Sarah blankly. "About him being undefeated."


FEW HOURS LATER, CARLOS' PLACE

By following Enrique's instructions and information, the Connors arrived at Enrique's nephew's home. The men and even women who were seen outside his house seemed to be some kind of gangster.

Sarah approached a young girl who was leaning on a railing. The young girl didn't even acknowledge Sarah even when Sarah approached her.

"I am here to see Carlos." Sarah said, looking at the girl. She still didn't acknowledge Sarah's presence. "Enrique sent me." That got her attention. The young girl took a good look at Sarah and indicated to her to follow inside. Sarah looked at her son, who told her silently that he would wait outside. Naturally Cameron stayed back with John. Sarah didn't like the closeness her son had with the machine, but she decided to worry about it later.

The young girl escorted Sarah inside and returned. As before she again leant on the railing and began to observe her surroundings. At that moment her eyes fell on John, who was standing with his back leaned against a car parked on the road, casually looking around. She licked her lips with her tongue and a smirk appeared on her face. Vacating her current space, she walked towards John and leaned on the car beside him and gave him a seductive smirk. John spotted the way the girl was watching him, and now that smile, well he was flattered, but not interested. He was interested in someone else, someone he could never have. God, his life is fucked up.

John felt somewhat uncomfortable by the way the girl was watching him. She was beside him, but there was a distance of about one meter between them. The girl smirked at John and unbuttoned the top two buttons of her shirt, giving him a generous view of her cleavage. The girl scooted a little closer to John and touched his arm. John cleared his throat and retracted his hands immediately when the girl touched his left arm. His face reddened. But John didn't realize the girl was kind of desperate and arrogant. She was quite attractive, John had to admit it to himself, but John felt himself comparing this girl to her, and he felt just nothing. She turned around to talk to John, but at that moment someone came in between them and interrupted what could be an intimate moment for the girl.

Cameron stood a few feet away from John, beside a car with her hand on the door handle, observing her surroundings and scanning for threats. The Grays could be anywhere and she was always alert. But then her eyes fell on John and beside him stood a girl, with chestnut hair, dark eyes, and a perfect figure. The girl was looking at John with a smile on her face, which Cameron understood immediately. The girl was trying to seduce John, but then she looked at John and found him completely ignoring the girl. This whole time, since Cameron spotted the girl, who was trying to get closer to John, she experienced something akin to emotion which she deduced as 'irritation'. She didn't want to get involved. She kept her distance. But then Cameron spotted the girl touch John arms and her fingers on the door handle tensed. She didn't even realize that her fingers just crushed the handle of the car door. Cameron saw that the girl was not ready to give up, and within 0.05 seconds she decided to intervene.

This whole time John was looking in the opposite direction of the girl, trying to tell her silently that he was not interested. He failed. But now, the sudden presence of someone else beside him got his attention. It was Cameron. She was also now leaning on the car, just like the way John was and stood between him and the girl, like an obstacle. It was like she was silently telling the girl, if you have to touch him, you have to go through me.

John smiled at Cameron to show his gratitude, which she didn't see. Her eyes were fixed on the girl who stood there still, with her mouth wide open. There was no expression on Cameron's face, she just stared back at the girl blankly. Like a warning.

Defeated, the girl stepped back and went to stand back at her previous position. She sent a dirty look at Cameron, which she ignored and stared back without blinking. After a moment the girl looked away.

John squeezed Cameron's hand lightly, showing his gratitude silently. She looked back at him and smiled, which he returned gladly.

A few minutes have passed, John and Cameron stood there silently waiting for Sarah. She was yet to come out. But at that moment, Cameron's eyes fell on something on the road.

"John." She called him.

"Yes?" John asked, looking at her.

She then pointed towards the road, several feet away from them, "What is that puppy doing in the middle of the road?"

John narrowed his eyes and looked for a moment. "I think he is hurt. Look, he cannot even walk properly."

Cameron stared at John for a moment then looked back at the puppy, "Shouldn't we help him?" She asked.

"Well…" John was about to agree but then his eyes widened. A car was fast approaching from the opposite direction, fast and perhaps the driver didn't spot the puppy on the road, or perhaps he didn't care. Cameron was looking at John so she didn't spot the fast approaching car. "God dammit! The car!"

Within a fraction of a second, Cameron turned around and spotted the car. Then she was gone from John's side. John observed from afar and signaled the car to stop but it didn't. And just before the car could hit the puppy Cameron snatched the poor creature away from the harm's end and jumped away safely.

John ran towards her and found a very confused Cameron, sitting on the grass beside the road with the puppy in her lap, who was currently licking her face affectionately. John smiled at the scene. As he approached, Cameron looked up at him then turned back again at the puppy on her lap.

"I do not understand." She said, looking at John.

John didn't say anything. He waited because he knew she would ask the question herself.

"Why is the puppy not growling at me? Dogs hate us." Cameron asked John, with a puzzled expression on her face.

John smiled and shook his head at her innocence. "Cameron, this puppy does not care who you are. It just cares that you have saved its life." Then he pointed at the puppy. "See he is showing his gratitude to you."

"I still don't understand." She said again, and her expression fell.

John sighed. Sometimes he feels that he was not born to be the one to lead humanity in the war against Skynet, instead he was born to answer Cameron's never ending questions. He was not annoyed, he found her innocence to be rather cute sometimes.

Yeah Johnny boy if your mom hears that you think that Cameron is cute, it will be the end.

"Umm. Suppose I hate bad body smells. Now, think that you are smelling right now and I am in danger. Then you save me. Now, what will I do? Of course I will thank you, I will not hate you because you smell." John tried to explain to her as best as he could.

"Oh." Realization dawned on Cameron's face. "Thank you for explaining." She added predictably.

John chuckled. "You're welcome."

At that time, John saw his mother exiting the house and she looked …pissed off? Now what happened?

Sarah Connor came storming towards her car and entered into the driver seat. John and Cameron followed her.

"What happened?" John asked.

"Carlos is making an extortion! He is asking for $40000." Sarah replied, furiously.

"Maybe I should go talk to him." Cameron proposed.

Both John's and Sarah's eyes widened in panic. If Cameron gets involved, either all of Carlos' gangs including him will have broken bodies or will probably die.

"Nope. That's a bad idea." John stopped her immediately. "We will find another way."

Sarah sighed and shook her head. "I don't know John. We need those IDs immediately."

Cameron looked at Sarah, then at John. She decided to speak now.

"There is another way." Cameron said. "I know people who can do a better job than Carlos."

"Who are you talking about?" Sarah asked, curiously. John also stared at Cameron with a questioning look.

"The Resistance fighters that future John sent back. They have money." Cameron explained.

"And you didn't tell us this before because?" Sarah glared at Cameron.

"Because you trusted Enrique. And you never asked." Cameron said, simply.

Sarah let out an irritated sigh. "Fine. We will go now. Get in the car."

Cameron got in the car and sat beside Sarah. But John was looking at the handle of the door of the back seat of the car. It seems that something has crushed it to pieces. Then something clicked inside his mind, he saw Cameron standing right where he was standing right now and holding the door handle of the car. It was right before that girl tried to get close to him and Cameron saved him. Why would she crush the handle of the door?

Perhaps unless she really felt angry or was she jealous? He hoped the latter.


Note: The story didn't progress much in this chapter, because it was mostly based emotionally on Johnny boy and his Cameron. Hope you all will like it. Let me know your thoughts by reviews.