I do not own Terminator.

And I can't let go of Michael Biehn yet. He just has too much heart.

No Fate

Caught and Found Out

"Sarah Conner."

She turns at the sound of her name.

Even as part of her brain is screaming that it's a Terminator, there's another, it's come, even though Kyle said it couldn't.

Even as another part of her brain is screaming that it sounds too human to be a Terminator, a machine from the future.

And terminators usually aren't . . .

"It is you, I thought it was."

. . . little old ladies.

"I said to myself, Brenda, that's Ted Conner's daughter over there, clear as day."

And the dog is calm and quiet.

"You look just like you did when you were a little girl."

So it really can't be.

"Well, maybe not exactly."

And Sarah realizes she hasn't spoken a word, not a single word, to this lady standing in front of her . . .

"When are you due?"

. . . still talking her head off.

"Pardon? What?"

Except now she isn't.

"What?"

And Sarah's mind . . .

"What did you say?"

. . . is fumbling.

The little old lady blinks in confusion.

Clears.

Smiles gently.

"Pregnancy brain, dear. We all get it. I said I guess you have changed since I saw you. You're having a baby? When's it due?"

"Oh. Uh-"

And Sarah's hand's protectively on her belly.

Covering him.

Some great mom I turned out to be.

Holding him.

I can't even protect my unborn child from an old family friend in the middle of the general store.

And she tries a smile.

"I don't, uh,-"

Feels like she failed.

"I don't exactly know yet."

Tries again.

And the lady's own dentured smile falters.

"You don't know? Haven't you been to the doctor, dear?"

And Sarah Conner suddenly wants to flee, sprint, run away.

"Haven't you been to the doctor?"

She feels exposed, horribly exposed.

"Oh, uh, . . ."

Stark naked in front of the whole world.

"No."

And everyone in it.

"I keep meaning to but . . . I just haven't gotten around to it yet."

Even though she's fully clothed.

"Haven't gotten around to it yet? Dear, you look you're about to drop him right here in the store and you haven't bothered to go to the doctor yet?"

Because she's been caught unawares again, she's been snuck up on, how is she supposed to be the Mother of the Savior of the Human Race if she can't even handle this little old lady in the deli section of the mom and pop general store-

"I'm sorry, I have to leave, I'm not feeling very well, it was good to see you-"

And then she just stumbles almost blindly out of the wood-paneled mom and pop general store and-

"Dear, are you alright, you look pale-"

-out into the afternoon sunshine.

She stubbornly wipes her tears away on the drive home.

And keeps a tight lip-

"Are you okay? Did something happen?"

-on her thoughts.

"Yes. I mean, no."

Because what good would it do to tell Kyle-

"I mean, yes, I'm fine."

-and worry him that the woman he came across time for is absolutely, completely, without a doubt-

"I promise."

-batshit crazy.

He looks at her, all he does is look at her.

With that face and those eyes and that care and-

"It's so stupid, I'm so stupid-"

-and all her resolve crumbles.

And she reaches out and he catches her and-

"Hey, it's okay, it's alright-"

-she just cries and cries.

"Do you feel unsafe? Do you think we should move on?"

She laughs, barking and bitter.

"Where? Where would we go? I don't know how to do this?! I don't know!"

And now instead of weeping and pitiful, she's filled to the brim with rage and helpless frustration.

"I don't know what to do, Kyle! You're from the future, why don't you tell me?!"

And he doesn't say anything, of course he wouldn't.

He doesn't fight back, he doesn't yell at her.

He just . . .

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to, I didn't-"

. . . quietly sits and waits her out.

Gone up against terminators, I must be easy to deal with.

And this makes her angry too and she doesn't know why.

But she's about to cry again and she knows she's being crazy, she feels crazy and she hates it-

"I don't think I need to talk anymore. I'm not making sense."

And suddenly, she's overwhelmed and crushed and tired, more than tired, she's exhausted and-

"I think I just need to lay down."

But she doesn't want to be without him, the thought is almost as suffocating as everything else-

"Will you come with me? Please?"

And he nods after a moment of which she was sure he was attempting to process how this sniveling basketcase of a person could possibly be Sarah Conner The Legend.

And they go into the main bedroom.

And . . .

"Thank you, Kyle."

"You're welcome, Sarah."

"I love you."

"I love you."

"Say it again."

" I love you."

And eventually . . .

Maybe when I wake up, I won't be crazy anymore.

. . . Sarah Conner falls asleep.

And she isn't crazy when she wakes up again.

Well, not very anyway.

Kyle is next to her, arm around her, breathing deep and even.

"Kyle?"

But he answers instantly the moment she speaks his name.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry. About before. I'm sorry I was crazy."

His voice is soft and his arm around her tightens almost imperceptibly.

"It's okay. You're not crazy. It's all a lot to deal with."

She huffs at his obvious statement, one she cannot deny, even in the depths of her embarrassment and self-loathing.

"Yeah. No shit."

And then they just stay quiet for a while.

"Kyle?"

"What?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, Sarah."

Thanks for reading! :D