Chapter 27

Repairs

Vanna was worried stiff as she waited up for Allison to return. She was deeply concerned about Allison being out in the field with Cameron. She knew what Cameron looked like sometimes when she returned. It was terrible.

Maybe it was 'not knowing' which was the hard part. She didn't doubt Cameron would protect Allison as much as possible. There were always things which were unforeseen. Anything could go wrong at any time.

She'd seen Allison get ready before she left with Cameron. They talked about it.

"You know you don't need to do this, or at least do it this way." Vanna said.

Allison wanted to improve herself and get to know Cameron a little more. She understood Vanna's fascination with Cameron better as time went on. Cameron was unlike any other individual, human or otherwise. Her abilities and beauty were unmatched. She knew Cameron and her looked the 'same', but she didn't see it that way. She didn't feel she looked like Cameron. Cameron was stunning and beautiful. She never thought she could be either of those things.

She didn't want Vanna to worry needlessly about her. She was no stranger to danger. She wanted to do everything possible to improve herself.

"I feel the need to do this, Vanna." Allison said. "I'll be as careful as I can be."

Vanna felt more than a little apprehensive.

Allison went to leave.

Vanna stopped her and kissed her. She then gave her a long close hug. She wanted to convey her love and concern to Allison. No further words were spoken. They didn't need to be. The message was sent and received.

Allison smiled at Vanna and gently touched her cheek as she left.

Tears filled Vanna's eyes. She could see Allison felt the same way about Cameron as she did. She knew Allison was in love with Cameron too.

Vanna went to the lab to work. She wanted to think about something else other than Allison being out.

Once she was there, it bothered her even more. It's where she needed to repair Cameron after many of her missions. She left and went back to her room. At least she could cry in there and no one would see her.

Vanna waited up for Allison.

A few hours later, she heard her room door open. It was Allison.

She ran to Allison when she entered their room and gave her another big hug.

She physically checked Allison over for any injuries.

It caused Allison some confusion and irritation.

"What are you doing?" Allison asked.

Vanna went straight to the point.

"I'm making sure you're not wounded anywhere." Vanna said. "You know infections can be deadly."

Allison frowned.

"I'm fine." Allison said.

Vanna wanted to explain her actions since she could see Allison was irritated.

"About twice a week, I help Cameron repair bullet wounds or other damage." Vanna said. "It's very troubling."

It was a surprise to Allison. She never saw damage to Cameron. She remembered the blood she'd spotted on Cameron's clothing earlier. She understood Cameron's concern now. it wasn't about her laundry. It was about her sheath.

"I never knew she was damaged so frequently." Allison said.

Vanna often helped Cameron cover up the true extent of her damages. She wasn't sure it was the proper thing to do. It was what Cameron wanted. Cameron didn't want to worry the others needlessly.

"She hides it. She doesn't want John or Sarah to know." Vanna said. "It's why you may not see her for a few days at a time every now and then. She can hide the damage pretty well everywhere, except on her face. It bothers her greatly when her face is damaged."

Allison felt envious Vanna was able to see, or be around, Cameron naked. She didn't understand how much Cameron was damaged for such an event to occur. She let some words slip out she probably shouldn't have.

"So you get to see and touch Cameron's naked body once or twice a week?" Allison asked. "It must be a thrill for you. You can touch or see me anytime, even if I don't measure up to be as beautiful as she is. I know it's a hard act to follow."

Allison knew Vanna loved Cameron. She was a little jealous. No. She was a lot jealous. Even speaking about it made her more jealous. She'd developed feelings she couldn't control for Cameron as well.

Vanna knew where Allison was going with the statement. She wanted to make sure Allison understood the severity of the events. There was nothing sexual about it. It actually made her physically sick at times before she started to assist Cameron in her repairs. It happened often afterwards too. She wanted Allison to know just how traumatic it was for both of them.

"Allison, it makes me sick. I used to throw up afterwards sometimes. I don't anymore. It happens so often. Next time I'll ask Cameron to let you observe her repairs. It's never anything pretty to see, Allison. It makes me worry to think something similar could happen to you. You have no idea how hard it is pulling bullets out of her, and 'seeing' you."

Allison could see Vanna was serious. No wonder she checked her over when she came back. Maybe she was jealous of the wrong thing to be jealous about.

"I'm sorry, Vanna." Allison said. "I wasn't thinking. I was jealous. I apologize."

Vanna's phone buzzed.

The sick feeling instantly flooded Vanna. She looked at Allison.

Allison could see Vanna's demeanor change for the worse.

Vanna took a deep breath.

"Hello." Vanna finally managed to say.

It was Cameron. It meant she was going to be damaged.

"Vanna, I can use your assistance." Cameron said.

Vanna wanted Allison to be a part of the process. It would be one more person to help her and someone Cameron could trust.

"I'll be there." Vanna said. "May I bring along Allison to observe the work?"

Cameron was greatly bothered about her recent damage. It took her a moment to respond.

"No! I don't want her to see me damaged." Cameron said. "It's very disturbing this time. Something is missing. It was blown off."

Vanna felt it was necessary. It was more than just about helping Cameron.

"It's nice to have help sometimes." Vanna said. "She wants to learn and help. I want her to understand. I'd like her assistance. It will help me too."

There was a long pause.

Cameron calculated a number of different scenarios. She didn't think Vanna would have said anything specific, unless it was something she needed for herself.

"OK. As long as she tells no one." Cameron said.

Both girls knew it meant not telling John or Sarah.

Vanna looked at Allison. She felt a little unsure of herself. It seemed to be the way she felt more and more. Maybe there was a feeling of helplessness associated with it. Whatever was done to repair things, was almost undone as rapidly.

"I think this is going to be bad." Vanna said. "I need your strength."

Allison wasn't sure what she was getting herself into at this point. She felt bad about being jealous of Vanna earlier. She was going to address the issue. She decided not to. She was sure it would make things worse where they were about to go. There was really nothing else to do, except get started.

"I'll do my best." Allison said. "Let's go."

They left their room.

Vanna took Allison's hand as they walked.

Allison was now afraid of what she was going to see. Vanna was never like this. Vanna was always the strong one. It made her especially worried since Vanna said she needed to borrow her strength.

Cameron waited in the lab for them.

She'd already stripped off her top.

Vanna and Allison entered the lab.

Cameron's back was to them.

Allison let out a gasp. She felt bad for accusing Vanna of seeing Cameron 'naked' when she saw the damage, and how bad it looked. She could see several bullet holes in Cameron's back. She moved around to face Cameron to ask her if she was alright. She stopped dead in her tracks. There were a dozen holes in Cameron's front torso. It was 'bad news'. It got worse from there. One breast was half blown apart. It looked like a large chunk out of the front of it was gone.

She was almost physically sick, but she held it together. It was worse than she'd ever imagined. She only ever saw dead people with this extent of damage. She saw a lot of dead people in her future.

Allison knew if she looked the same way, she would be dead. It didn't leave her with a positive feeling at all. It filled her with a sense of dread and doom.

"Cameron, you're hurt. Can you feel the pain?" Allison asked.

Allison was very worried.

Cameron reached up to touch the most damaged area. Her hand stopped halfway there, and lowered back down.

"Yes. I can. I've currently shut down those receptors." Cameron said. "I feel nothing now. It was very traumatic when it happened."

Vanna looked at Allison.

Allison's face was ashen. She felt ashamed for what she'd said to Vanna earlier. She would need to apologize to her later. She didn't want to do it in front of Cameron. It was clear Cameron already had enough on her plate. She didn't need any emotional drama from them.

"It's all bothersome." Allison said. "You seem to handle everything very well."

Cameron wanted to explain herself some to Allison. She wasn't quite sure if the term 'well' applied. There really wasn't a choice. Circumstances dictated a change in her tactics.

"I can make self repairs, but it goes quicker when I have help. John or Sarah used to help me." Cameron said. "I no longer ask them. It now causes a problem. I don't like problems, or upsetting people, especially those I care about."

Allison knew Cameron went into the building alone.

Cameron knew there was an ambush set up. She'd gone in anyway. It was her goal to terminate the target. It's what she'd done. It would save countless lives going forward in a Skynet future.

"Why are you doing this, Cameron?" Allison asked.

Cameron felt the need to protect the others. She cared about them. There was as much perception as reality involved.

"It needs to be done. Every bullet I take, is one less for John, Sarah, Vanna or you, Allison. I can't allow those I care about to be put at risk. I won't do it. I can't let John see me like this." Cameron said. "John will endanger himself to keep me out of harm's way. It's my function to protect John."

Allison knew John wanted 'more' from Cameron.

"Is it why you keep some distance between you two?" Allison asked.

Cameron felt it was necessary to keep some space. She was ready to do more with John, but not if she was damaged all the time. She feared she would be rejected again. She didn't want to be pushed aside again. She glanced at Allison for a moment, and quickly pushed the thoughts from her mind.

"Maybe it is." Cameron said. "John will put himself in harm's way to protect me. I can't allow him to do it. I'm dispensable, John isn't."

Cameron also knew part of the 'distance' was because she wasn't 'real', but didn't bring it up again. It made her feel inadequate just to think about it. To actually say it, would make it even worse.

Vanna looked over the wounds. She wondered if the damage was repairable back to how it was. There was a lot of sheath material missing from the one breast. She wanted to give Cameron some perspective on how she felt.

"No one is dispensable. You need to stop taking such big risks. You may be durable, but you aren't indestructible." Vanna said. "The damage is very bad."

Cameron saw it as her function. She put it before her personal desires. She was there to do a job. Everything revolved around the same issues.

"I must protect John." Cameron said. "I must defeat Skynet."

Allison touched Cameron's shoulder.

"I want to help you fight. I want to help repair you, Cameron." Allison said. "I can't accept it. This isn't a one woman war."

Cameron wanted to tell Allison she was a machine, not a woman, but Allison already knew it.

Allison gave Cameron a hug. She held the hug. Cameron slowly reached up and hugged her back. Tears were in her eyes.

The three of them all shed a few tears. There was nothing to do but go forward.

Allison felt determination now instead of sickness.

"Tell me, and show me, what to do." Allison said. "I need to learn more."

Vanna showed Allison all the necessary steps to repair the damage. They removed the bullets, sutured the wounds and covered them. She told Allison it expedited the healing process.

Allison had seen wounds on people before. It took some time for them to heal.

"How long will this take to heal?" Allison asked. "Your one breast is terribly damaged."

The damage was massive. About a third of the front of the breast was missing. The remains were stitched together.

Cameron was aware most of her injuries seem to heal relatively quickly, especially in comparison to humans.

"In three days, most of the damage should no longer be visible." Cameron said. "The nipple will take a little longer. It's completely gone this time. I've experienced damage in the same location before. It took weeks to regenerate properly. It never got back up to its original size, even if it appeared so to the human eye. This time it may not fully regenerate…. The sheath can only take so much repeated damage in the same area. The structure of the sheath material itself starts to lose its integrity."

Allison was a little queasy to look at the stitched up mess. The thought of a smaller breast, without a nipple, compounded the sick feeling.

Vanna didn't see what else they could do once everything was stitched up. Time, is what was needed now.

"Here are some fresh clothes." Vanna said.

She always kept some ready for Cameron.

Cameron glanced down at herself as she dressed.

"I'm afraid I'll no longer look Tight for John one day." Cameron said.

Vanna felt John's love was a little deeper than Cameron's appearance.

"John loves you for more than just your looks, Cameron." Vanna said.

Cameron knew it wasn't true. John already rejected and replaced her once.

Vanna knew she loved Cameron for who she was, not how she looked. She wanted to tell Cameron she would love and accept her no matter how her sheath looked or was damaged. If Allison wasn't standing right there, she would have.

Cameron faced Vanna and Allison.

"I don't think I'm going to survive the war." Cameron said. "Vanna, Allison, I'm asking you as my only friends, to help 'take care' of John. He'll need companionship, or he'll grow cold, bitter and alone. It's what happened in 'my future'."

Vanna and Allison knew what Cameron just 'asked' them to do.

"Allison, Future John loved 'you' in 'my future' and 'you' loved him. There was a love triangle which developed. After Future Allison was gone, he pushed everyone away but me. He said 'anyone he loves dies'." Cameron said sadly. "It created a lot of animosity in the Resistance. I was John's only contact with the outside world. For some reason, people blamed me for everything they could think of."

Allison wanted to know more about the love triangle.

"Who was the third person?" Allison asked.

Cameron looked away from Allison to Vanna.

"It was Savannah." Cameron said. "It was Future Savannah."

Vanna and Allison looked at each other.

"Cameron, don't worry. Nothing is going to happen to you." Allison said.

There was a strained look on Cameron's face.

"Promise me you two will look after him when, or if, I don't survive." Cameron said. "You both have something to offer him I can't."

Vanna took Allison's hand, Allison nodded.

"We'll be there for him, Cameron, in whatever way he needs or wants." Allison said.

Cameron wanted a deeper commitment.

"Promise me." Cameron demanded.

Allison and Vanna looked at each other again.

"I promise." Allison said.

"I promise too, Cameron." Vanna said.

A look of relief crept across Cameron's face.

"Thank you. Thank you both so much. Thank You." Cameron said. "I really appreciate it."

All three of them cried together.

Cameron looked at what was left of her damaged breast and cried some more.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Repairs

It will often take
More than a bandage
To cover up
Or repair my damage

When the damage is physical
And by all can be seen
I can't fix it
No matter how much I preen

At that point the real damage
Is now in my mind
It tries to escape
I can't keep it confined

Perhaps if I fail
At my own repairs
It's time for others
To share a few affairs

I ask my true friends
To stand tall when I fall
Please share everything
Please share it all

Nobody