Chapter 1119

Hooking Up

John was in the commissary along with Claire, Jesse, Sarah, Jan and Summer.

Claire clearly sported a set of 'pokies' that everyone noticed. She didn't blush either. She was aware and proud of how she looked and the message that was sent. It was the message Cameron wanted her to send and pursue. It was now what she wanted as well for herself. She wasn't sure it was just for John either.

John was finished with his meal but didn't think it was wise to stand up. He'd become very aroused as he took in Claire's beauty. He was sure Claire or Jesse would notice his current 'condition'. He glanced over at Sarah. He realized it would be worse if his mother noticed and said something. That would be the worst case scenario. He was pretty sure that she'd witnessed 'Rosie Palm' in action with him more than a few times. He didn't want it to come up either.

Jesse and Claire were unsure where things were going to go from there.

Claire felt if Jesse and the girls weren't there with her right now, she might try to make a move. She was sure once she started to touch John he wouldn't be able to resist her. She could feel her body respond to that thought in other areas now. She could feel her lady parts were ready for action. She was more than willing to mount him herself.

Normally she just allowed herself to be taken by Paul. It didn't take him long to finish up. It was usually over within two minutes. She would wait until she heard him start to snore later on and then 'finish' herself off. That was how it had been since they'd hooked up and then got married. Marriage was her parent's idea. It wasn't hers. It was what her parents wanted and she was tired of fighting with them about it. Maybe it was time to get things cleaned up in the commissary instead before other things got out of control.

"I think I'll do the dishes." Claire said.

Claire stood and arched her back slightly. That made everything even more pronounced as the shirt stretched tighter.

Jesse was very aroused herself as she watched Claire. She felt Claire was very seductive with just her body movements.

"I'll help you." Jesse said.

Sarah noticed it as well. She tried to tell herself that she didn't but she did.

Claire and Jesse gathered the dishes.

Sarah wanted to help out. Claire told her that Jesse and her would do the dishes since she cooked the meal with Summer and Jan.

She thanked Claire and Jesse for their assistance. She wasn't really sure if they should have complimented her on helping cook the meal since she was the one who burnt the roast.

Claire and Jesse were over at the sink.

"You can make my tee shirt wet now." Claire whispered.

Jesse was really turned on with Claire's current look. She didn't think it would be that comfortable for Claire after a while with a wet shirt.

"I don't think I need to do that. LOOK at those pokies." Jesse said. "They usually only look like that when you 'finish'. Wait. Did you 'finish'?"

A new surge of excitement rushed through Jesse with that thought.

Claire liked the way John looked at her. She could see the hunger and want on his face. She could feel how much he wanted her. The feeling was mutual. The more that she thought about how she would mount him and pleasure herself until she 'finished', the closer she got to a 'finish' just by thinking about it.

"I almost did." Claire said. "It just started to happen on its own. That was a first for me without any physical stimulation. I think it was seeing you and him interact together."

Jesse didn't think she'd done more than she normally did. She'd only ever done what Cameron asked her to do. She'd been willing to do more but John never pulled through.

There were a lot of thoughts in Claire's mind that drove it her desire. She could see the way that John looked at Jesse and Jesse looked at John. They both looked at her intermittently. It was clear they all wanted each other. Maybe it was when she looked at Sarah that she was really driven and motivated. She wondered what a mother-son encounter would be like with both of them. She was willing to try them one at a time or even together. She pictured herself 'working' on Sarah as John was behind her. As that thought crossed her mind again right now, she once again almost 'finished'. She swallowed hard and tried to remain in control. She was doing the dishes after all.

Jesse thought of all the times that she and the girls from the future tried to be with John. It was all done at Cameron's urging. She didn't want to say that she was 'ordered' to be there or the other girls were 'ordered' but she thought it was pretty close to being an 'order' from Cameron. None of them wanted to hurt Cameron but when Cameron was the one who physically led them to John's room and helped them undress and then put them in John's bed, it was hard to protest.

She'd been in his bed naked. All of the girls had been at some point. When that didn't work, Cameron paired them up. When that went nowhere, she sent the three of them in together. Cameron was on them for years to make something happen to give John added protection against future assassination. John would watch them interact with each other but he never joined them or even touched them. They could all see he was clearly ready for action but he wouldn't let them touch him, especially there. She really wondered how anyone could resist one of them let alone all three of them. She looked over at Claire and spoke with sincerity.

"Maybe you'll be luckier than Allison, Vanna and I ever were." Jesse said. "We all came close but John always buckled."

Claire understood the 'Natural Order'.

"I think we all know the lucky one is going to be Savannah." Claire said.

Claire didn't want it to be her daughter or daughters. It was pretty much a given it would be anyway, at least with Young Allison.

Jesse knew Cameron wanted John to 'get started' with a human female to protect him from being labeled a 'Metal Lover' and assassinated. She actually believed Claire would have a better chance with John than Savannah or Young Allison.

"I think you have a shot at it too." Jesse said.

Claire would prefer it be herself, rather than Young Allison or Summer.

"I think it will be Cameron who will decide who the lucky ones will be." Claire said.

Summer brought over Jan's and her dishes.

"Do you need my help?" Summer asked.

Claire appreciated the offer.

"You and Jan can go do something together. You can practice, play or study if you want." Claire said.

Summer looked at Jesse and then at John and back to her mother.

"Are you going to be 'busy' again?" Summer asked.

Claire felt a little embarrassed because Summer asked her in such a matter of fact way. It was clear she knew what was going on whenever she was with one of the females or as she'd just indicated, it could be John.

"I don't think so." Claire said.

Summer looked at her mother's shirt and then at her face.

"You look like you will be." Summer said and left.

Claire could feel what she 'looked' like. She couldn't help it. Right now thoughts of Jesse, John and Sarah flooded her mind. The possibilities she thought of were very intriguing and exciting to her.

Summer shrugged her shoulders and walked away.

Earlier:

Sarah watched Claire and Jesse head for the sink. She waited for John to finish and collected his plate. She looked at his face for a few moments before she headed over towards the sink.

John thought about making a break for it but Jan and Summer were right there. He tried not to think about Summer. He was sure if he did he was going to think about his favorite scenes. Great, now that he just thought that, it was what he thought.

Sarah returned and sat down across from him. Jan and Summer got up and took their dishes to the sink. They talked with Claire and Jesse for a short while and left.

John waited for Sarah to say something. She didn't.

He felt comfortable enough to get up now.

Sarah decided to take a playful jab with an educated guess.

"I'm glad to see everything is back to normal." Sarah said quietly.

John resisted the urge to look down at himself. He looked at Sarah but didn't say anything. He thought she was only guessing. Maybe his face gave it away. He didn't want to go there.

Sarah tried to hide the smile on her face at his discomfort.

John thanked everyone again.

He saw the front of Claire's tee shirt was wet and he could see everything even better now that the different pigmentation could be seen through the wet material. She looked topless with blue skin. It reminded him of some superhero villain he'd seen. He thought it was a character from Marvel. He'd viewed the actress in a couple of movies as that character. She was basically on screen naked and painted blue. He felt the action in his pants stir a little as he reflected on those scenes. He figured he'd better make a break for it.

John headed for the Command Center.

He looked back once and Claire winked at him.

John wasn't sure what was happening. Now he needed to wonder if Cameron was going to bring Claire along on the cruise after all. If she did and pushed Claire on him, he decided he was 'in'. He thought he would feel more comfortable with Claire than one of the younger girls. Did he want experience or innocence?

"She won't be going." Summer said.

John jumped a little. He looked over and Summer was by the other door. She looked intently at him.

"Thanks for the dinner." John quickly said as he rapidly hurried away.

John was surer than ever that Summer was like River.

He looked back once. Summer still looked at him. There was no smile on her face. He wasn't sure if that was because he thought about Summer or because he thought about Summer's mother. Maybe it was both. At least he didn't think about anything too perverted. Wait, did he?

Jesse watched the interaction with Claire and John. It was clear what was happening. She wanted to feel a little jealous but she couldn't. She figured the closer Claire got to John, the better off that would be for her. If anything ever happened between them, she was bound to tag along at some point and get some for herself.

"You got your hooks into him good." Jesse said.

Claire was a little confused herself. She was doing things she wouldn't normally do. They just seemed to be in her mind all the time now. She thought she needed to offer some type of explanation. It seemed pretty lame to her, even as she said it.

"I wasn't even really trying." Claire said. "It all just happened."

There were so many thoughts in Claire's mind. She didn't even know where they all came from. They were just there. There were thoughts about what she wanted to do with John. It was as if there was some inner voice inside her, driving her. She knew if John ever touched her that she was going to go all in. She looked down the front of her wet shirt again. She wondered how far the material would stretch before it ripped.

Jesse glanced over at Claire and could see that Claire was highly aroused again.

"LOOK at those things." Jesse said. "You really need to get a set of rings."

Claire looked down at herself and smiled. She remembered what Jesse looked like when she wore hers. If she ever needed a refresher, Sheila wasn't too far away. Sheila would be more than happy to show off her rings as well as anything else anyone wanted to see.

"When I'm done having children." Claire said. "I think I'm going to do that."

For some reason it seemed like a really good idea to Claire. It was often the first thing she thought about when she woke up. There were often a lot of things that were in her head when she woke up. She didn't remember dreaming about any of them either.

Sheila was led off by the super Hot female that had been hitting on Cam. She weren't sure where they were headed but it was more than likely to a secluded location.

Hanna and Gail knew they needed to do something. They were sure there would be some type of negative feedback from Cameron if things got carried away.

"We need to stop Sheila." Hanna said.

Gail didn't like what was happening. She didn't like the way the female looked anyway that accosted Cam and now Sheila. She didn't like the way she'd looked at her breasts earlier. It didn't matter if it was a pickup or not. She viewed all outsiders as a threat.

"I'll do it." Gail said.

Holly looked at Gail's demeanor. She could see Gail looked pretty serious.

"Don't bust anyone up." Holly said.

Gail didn't see it as a problem if it happened. Maybe she should concentrate on Sheila for now. Sheila should maintain better control of her actions as well as herself.

"I'll only bust up Sheila." Gail said.

Hanna just wanted to leave.

"We need to get everyone together. We need to get out of here." Hanna said as she checked around the area.

Holly looked around and felt like a kid in a candy shop. There were a lot of females to choose from and most of them were smoking hot. They needed to maintain control.

"You go collect Ally and I'll get Cam." Holly said. "If we're not out of here soon, we're all going to hook up with some of these Hot strangers."

Hanna felt that way as well. She liked the idea.

"It's very alluring." Hanna said.

Holly could feel it too. It was clear things were going to get out of control very quickly if they didn't leave.

"Let's get them and go." Holly said.

Holly and Hanna were aware they'd already selected 'targets' that were watching each of them the most. Not for termination but as someone to hook up with. The location was very intoxicating and appealing, even to the Metal girls. They were all ready for some 'fresh meat'. They also knew they needed to do a job and help protect the Resistance. Right now that concept was on the back burner.

The desire for more was very overpowering. The human girls always told them how special it was with every new encounter. It was always very exciting for them to see how each new girl was 'different'.

Kyle was thoroughly pleased with his aerial visit of Cajon Pass. He was a little disappointed he didn't see anything other than 'inter-modal trains'. They mostly consisted of containers. The majority of those were double stack trains. He were able to see some TOFC or 'trailer on flat car' activity as well. The majority of those were all from a few trucking companies.

He remembered one of the railroad videos he watched where there was a lone locomotive from the Sacramento Railroad Museum. It was a former Southern Pacific E9A that had been donated to the museum. It was freshly painted in its original colors of red and orange. It was originally a passenger locomotive that hauled passenger cars that were painted the same way. It was a very colorful combination. Those special trains started out with similarly colorful streamlined steam locomotives. Only one still existed in Portland. He hoped to visit the Sacramento Railroad Museum one day in the future. He was aware that was where the last surviving original AC-12 Cab Forward locomotive was housed.

Right now he needed to enjoy the ride in the Mitchell. Savannah opened up the throttles and the ride just became very intense.

He was sure Derek enjoyed everything even more than he did. He liked to see his brother happy. He was very appreciative for everything that Cameron did to 'give' him his brother back. Skynet had done a lot to take Derek away but Cameron was able to bring him back. It was with the help of Mrs. Weaver as well. Right now he didn't want to think about the past - the future. He wanted to enjoy the flight and the scenery.

Savannah left Cajon Pass behind and followed the 'Palmdale cut off' on the rail line. It was pretty much a straight shot to Cameron's private airstrip from this point.

She wanted to give Young Allison a treat. She would buzz the Young residence with the Mitchell. Since she was flying at the maximum speed, she would make a lot of noise at the current altitude, it should be a pretty noisy flyover. It wouldn't take much of a deviation from her current path. They would leave the railroad tracks once they crossed over Sierra Highway anyway.

"I can fly over the Young residence." Savannah said. "Have Young Allison come out and see us."

Cameron liked that idea. She knew they would be there very soon.

"I'll call Anna." Cameron said.

Savannah checked the landmarks around the area without consulting the map.

"I make it at four minutes until our arrival." Savannah said.

Cameron could see that Savannah's estimate was right on.

Savannah started her descent down to five hundred feet. She would probably drop it a little past that. She wasn't showing on anyone's radar, thanks to John Henry and CamNet. Any neighbors that called to complain would get no further than John Henry. Anyone who persisted would get to meet the wrath of CamNet. It never ended well for them. All of their electrical devices would soon cease to function. Wherever that individual went, the 'problem' would follow them.

She checked the engines and instruments. The shallow dive she was in should put her at about three hundred miles an hour as she passed over the house. She was still at full throttle. It wasn't something that she did very often but she liked to have a little fun as well. She was pretty sure that Young Allison would be the one who enjoyed it the most. It was what she wanted for her anyway.

Young Allison and Anna follow the progress of the previous operation as well as the girls at the private club and Savannah in the B-25.

"I think Savannah is getting close." Young Allison said.

Anna knew exactly where they were.

"Yes they are." Anna said.

Just a few seconds after Anna spoke, she received a call.

Young Allison looked over at Anna.

Anna took the call from Cameron. She already knew they were close. She looked over at Young Allison as soon as she hung up.

"Savannah and Cameron will pass over the house in less than four minutes." Anna said.

Young Allison watched the footage from the drone high above them. The news excited her. Her first thought was to go out into the backyard but she didn't want her visibility curtailed. They would have a better field of view from the street. They could watch the aircraft come and go easier that way.

"Let's go out in front." Young Allison said.

They checked all the monitors again and then headed out of the bunker up into the house.

Young Allison thought that the house looked big and empty around them as they passed through it. All the life was gone from the house. She knew she sought a future in the past like this. It would be Anna, Cameron and her. The future called to her through the past. If that is how it was to be. So be it. She wanted what was hers. She wanted her true mate.

They quickly made it outside to the street.

Young Allison couldn't see or hear them. She hoped Anna could.

"Can you hear them?" Young Allison asked.

Anna listened.

"No, they'll be very low." Anna said. "Wait. I can hear them now."

Young Allison looked in the direction Anna looked. She wondered how Savannah would make her approach. She was sure Savannah would do it so they could see each other.

"I bet they'll come right over the backyard of the house so I can see Savannah." Young Allison said. "She'll know we'll be out in front."

Anna spotted them a few seconds later.

"I see them." Anna said. "You're right."

Young Allison and Anna moved all the way across the street to better see them.

They could both hear the sound of 'thunder', at least the thunder of the exhaust of the big R2600 engines at full throttle and very low to the ground.

"Listen to those engines." Young Allison said.

As they watched, the Mitchell came in low. It looked like it was no higher than three hundred feet. Savannah pushed it past the FAA rules. They would never need to answer to the FAA.

Anna could make out the red hair of the pilot.

"I can see Savannah." Anna said. "She's waving."

It took Young Allison a little longer. The roar of the plane shook the ground as she spotted Savannah.

"I see her now too." Young Allison said.

Young Allison jumped up and down as she waved at Savannah.

As quickly as the B-25 was there with its reverberating thunderous roar, it was gone.

They expected to see some of the neighbors come out but none did. It actually happened very fast.

"That was awesome". Young Allison said.

Anna knew they would land soon.

"They'll be here in a short while." Anna said.

Young Allison wanted to go and meet up with them.

"There are still a couple of SUVs here." Young Allison said. "Let's take one and go get them."

Anna didn't think that was wise. There were already prior arrangements made.

"That isn't the plan." Anna said. "Two of the Detail are out now. They will bring them back."

It gave Young Allison a new idea. She wanted to look her best for them.

"You're right." Young Allison said. "I want to look Tight for Savannah and Cameron."

Anna wanted to help Young Allison. It would allow her to touch Young Allison.

"I'll assist you." Anna said.

Young Allison saw it as a challenge. It was a challenge of time and herself.

"I can do it on my own." Young Allison said. "It's better if I work under pressure."

Anna knew Young Allison needed to get started.

"You don't have a lot of time." Anna said.

Young Allison headed back to the house.

"Then let's get crackin'." Young Allison said.

Young Allison broke into a run. She wanted to look her best for both of her future mates. She wanted to let them know what awaited them. She hoped it might speed things along a little bit but didn't think that it would. It never hurt to try.

Minutes ago:

Derek was jazzed when Savannah opened up the throttles on the Mitchell. He was in the waist gun position with Bob. He knew the flight wasn't as fast as the one that he shared with Ally but it was still great. He kept track as best as he could of where they were at. Things in the remote part of the High Desert pretty much all looked the same.

He watched the 'Colton Cut Off' merge into the original railroad tracks. Kyle previously provided him some information that said the original line was completed in 1876. He was also informed through his headset that they would be flying by the Young residence in a few minutes. There were buildings and houses that appeared below them seemingly from out of nowhere. A few minutes ago it was a very barren landscape. Now it looked like any other city.

The B-25 was really moving at this juncture. Savannah had dropped down in a shallow dive to only a few hundred feet above the ground. He looked over at Bob.

"I'm going to need your help to identify anything on the ground at this speed and low elevation." Derek said. "By the time I spot something, we're past it in seconds.

Bob was able to quickly calculate exactly where they were. He moved Derek to the port waist gun position.

"Affirmative…." Bob said. "We should pass over the Young residence in twenty three seconds. Young Allison and Anna should be on the street in front of the Young residence."

Bob made sure Derek could get a good view.

Derek was able to spot them. They were there just for a few seconds and then gone just as quickly.

"I see them." Derek said. "Young Allison looked thrilled."

Bob and Derek prepared to land at Cameron's airstrip that would happen in a few minutes.

John entered the Command Center. He looked back once expecting to see Summer looking at him still but she was gone. He still remembered the stern look she gave him. John Henry didn't seem to notice him. He looked busy with the monitors. John wondered if some action picked up with the Grays or Fanatics. He decided to check it out himself.

He moved around in back of John Henry and saw what all the monitors were on. They were all of the girls in the private nude club, around the pool and playing volleyball in the sand. He liked to see that the volleyball wasn't the only thing that bounced around as the nude females played.

John Henry still seemed unaware of his presence.

"Is anything else happening?" John asked. "Are there any problems?"

John Henry didn't look at John.

"That's fine." John Henry said.

John was acquainted with this type of behavior from Cameron.

"How are any problems fine?" John asked.

Now John Henry looked around.

"What?" John Henry asked.

John just shook his head.

"I'm glad Summer or Jan didn't stop by." John said.

John looked quickly around again, maybe they did. He was glad he didn't see them.

The screens all switched back to their normal functions.

"I'm sorry." John Henry said. "I was captivated by viewing such beauty."

John was pleased John Henry could see physical beauty,

"I'm glad you can recognize beauty." John said. "Beauty can come in many forms."

John Henry was aware there was more than physical beauty. It was something Savannah drilled into him many times. Strangely enough it was reinforced by Cameron.

"Yes." John Henry said.

John knew beauty could spark love.

"Beauty is very powerful." John said. "It can make someone do anything."

There was a line John Henry remembered from a movie.

"Beauty killed the beast." John Henry said.

John was caught a little off guard by John Henry's statement.

"I know what that's in reference to." John said.

He wondered if that also would be the case with Cameron and Skynet. One was clearly a beauty and the other one was definitely a beast.

John looked around to make sure no one was coming. He didn't think it could hurt to see some live feeds of beautiful women.

"Let me check on the 'security' of the girls at the club." John said.

Several of the monitors at John's station now showed the club. It did excite him to see all the nude females. He was sure it excited him a little more because they didn't know they were being watched. He never passed up the opportunity to peek in an open door around the Resistance base. He also never passed up the opportunity to peek in the door at either of the two houses they'd stayed in once Cameron joined them. He wouldn't admit it but he'd also peeked in the door on his mother more than a few times previously. He didn't know if his mother knew or not but he was pretty sure that Cameron did. She never indicated that she did but he was pretty sure that when she dressed or undressed that the show was for him. At the time he didn't know what would happen if he walked into her room at that point. Maybe he did know but he was afraid. The more he looked back on it, the more he realized Cameron made herself 'available' to him multiple times. He really wondered what was wrong with him back then. Cameron even lay on the bed next to him but he was so blinded by his lust for Future Riley that he couldn't wait for her to leave. He wanted to run off to Mexico and the waiting honeymoon suite with Riley. That turned out to be a real grand episode. He figured he'd better focus on what was right in front of him, not what was done and gone.

"There's a lot of beauty there." John said.

John Henry believed the female body was truly a work of art.

"Indeed." John Henry said.

John remembered Cameron told him human physical beauty was transitory.

"One day those women will all be old. The beauty will have dulled and faded." John said.

John Henry thought about that. He actually wished that on all the females there. He believed that any of them that went through that transition would be lucky. There were worse scenarios.

"I hope so." John Henry said. "It's better than being bleached skulls in the Wastelands. There are worse things that can happen to them before they end up that way."

John saw some of it first hand. He was aware there weren't very many older people in the future. It applied to both men and women.

"I guess you have a point there." John said. "Old age is better than death at the hands of Scavengers or Skynet."

John Henry knew death came in many forms.

"Many things can kill." John Henry said.

John thought that was true. He wondered where Cameron was at. He wanted to make sure she wasn't going to go off and do something on her own and get shot up. He didn't want anything to spoil their trip tomorrow.

"Where are Cameron and Savannah currently at?" John asked.

John Henry was provided with an update from CamNet.

"They just buzzed the Young residence in Palmdale." John Henry said.

Drone footage of the event began to play. The camera zoomed in and focused on Young Allison. She looked very happy and excited to see the plane fly by.

John noticed the drone image lingered on Young Allison for quite a while. He was able to see her youthful jubilance to its fullest extent. He couldn't help but think how beautiful she truly was. He felt 'Little Willy' stir.

"Are you doing that?" John asked.

John Henry was as surprised as John.

"No." John Henry said. "The 'future snapshot' is complements of CamNet."

John could feel the inevitability of it all.

"There's no way around any of this, is there?" John asked.

Every screen showed two giant letters on them - N O.

John looked forward to his honeymoon with Cameron. He was going to bring the subject up if she didn't about her intentions and about the 'Natural Order'.

He hoped that the only thing that would come out of the 'temporal management' was Savannah and Young Allison as lovers and not with Cameron and him. He knew Cameron was going to do it no matter what. He only wondered if he could direct the outcome some.

John Henry spotted visitors on the way.

"Claire and Jesse are coming." John Henry said.

John hoped he was talking about them arriving at the Command Center. He was. He knew it could have as easily been something else. The only individual more uninhibited and risqué than Jesse was Sheila. It was always a reminder that the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

"Thanks for the warning." John said.

John Henry wanted to give John one more thing to think about. It was a preemptive warning.

"I wanted to give you a 'heads up' but that's probably going to happen anyway." John Henry said.

John quickly looked over at John Henry. He wasn't sure if that was a joke or not but it sure seemed like it. He was about to respond but Jesse and Claire entered the Command Center.

"Hello." Claire said. "How are our Metal girlfriends doing?"

None of the monitors currently showed the private club.

John Henry and John shared a quick glance with each other.

"I'll have to check." John Henry said. "I wasn't following the mission. It didn't seem to be a priority."

Jesse wondered why not. If she was there, it's what she would have been doing.

Some scenes from the club appeared. They were very explicit.

Jesse and Claire looked at each other. They wished they were there too.

"LOOK at where they are now." Jesse said.

Claire was afraid Hanna might find someone she liked better. She could see a lot of contenders who she thought looked better than she did.

"Are they in danger?" Claire asked. "There are a lot of people around them."

John Henry knew there was danger. He wasn't sure which way it would be directed. He decided to focus on the positive.

"They seem to be the most popular thing to hit the club in a long time." John Henry said. "That's my impression anyway. I wouldn't know that for sure."

Jesse could see they would start pairing up soon.

"I think they are all about to hook up." Jesse said. "They might be selecting partners."

Claire looked at the group. She could see a lot of fine looking females there.

"I hope not." Claire said.

John was worried for Claire and Jesse now. He was sure what they viewed must be bothering them. He thought about asking John Henry to switch it off.

"At least until we can get there." Claire added. "It looks like there is plenty there for all of us."

That wasn't the response John expected. It was clear Claire wanted in on the action.

Jesse thought of her new responsibility.

"I might need to stay." Jesse said. "Precious may need me."

Claire looked at Jesse and nodded. She cared deeply about her. She didn't want her to be left behind. Love was about sacrifice. She would stay with her new lover.

"I'll stay with you then." Claire said. "The girls can have a fun night out if they want. Everyone deserves a little pleasure."

Claire and John shared another long look.

"A little dessert goes nice with the meat and potatoes." Claire said as she winked at John.

Claire and Jesse excused themselves and left.

"That wasn't the reaction I expected." John said.

"I have experienced quite a few 'reactions' that I didn't expect as I watched them." John Henry said.

John looked down at his pants.

"It happens." John said.

He readjusted his pants, again.

Hooking Up

When two first meet
What's the goal
Is it just to put
A pole in a hole

Whatever it is
It's always a game
No matter how it's played
It always ends the same

Sometimes it's longer
Sometimes it's less
It usually unfolds
Into some type of mess

It seems not to matter
When both are greedy
What always plays out
Is little more than seedy

Things take off and go wild
With a kiss and a close-up
It's the way to start out
When two are hooking up

Nobody