Disclaimer & Notices
Copyright: The Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles characters and concept belong to James Cameron and Josh Friedman. However, I own the plot and other characters.
Notices: This story contains violence and sexual content. Additionally, this story will contain grammatical or other errors. If you're feverish over the errors, feel free to privately message me about what you find otherwise, just enjoy.

Summary: The sequel to "I, Terminator". It's been nearly twenty-two years since Sarah Connor met the Omega terminator, Cameron Philips, who forever altered her life. On a regular work day, Sarah Connor receives a visit at Cyberdyne Systems from Cameron, who reveals that Sarah's daughter is under threat. However, it appears to both Sarah and Cameron that Cameron's exact mission is unclear leaving them to find the answers.

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Started: May 28, 2009
Series 2: No Fate, Story #2

I, Human
by Red Hope

Chapter 5 – The Lies and Truth

Cameron Phillips slowed the motorcycle to a stop in front of the shut workshop. "I didn't close the garage door."

Sarah thought maybe her daughter had done it. She climbed off the bike. "I got it." She went to the keypad and punched in the code for it to open up.

Once the rolling door was high enough, Cameron drove under it and past the Ford F-350. She carefully parked the old motorcycle behind the pickup truck and shut off the engine.

Sarah turned on the overhead lights and walked down to Cameron. She also removed her helmet and sunglasses. Just as she was about to say something to the terminator, she heard her name called by her daughter.

"Hey, Mom!" Jean jogged into the workshop. She came up sharply on her mother. "Where you been?" She'd run through the house and across the backyard when she heard the motorcycle minutes ago.

"I told you Cameron and I were going for a ride," Sarah reminded. She faced the terminator, who held out her empty hands in hidden offer. Sarah took the offer and tossed the helmet to Cameron.

The terminator hooked the helmet next to hers on the sissy bar.

"Yeah a joy ride... not all night," Jean argued. She had a distraught look. "Dad is hot."

"What?" Sarah positioned her heads-up sunglasses on her head. "Is he home?"

"Yes." Jean shifted closer to her mother. "He took the night off from the hospital so he could surprise you. He wanted to take you out to dinner tonight."

Sarah mentally groaned at her mistake. She sensed the terminator right behind her. "Why didn't somebody call me when he got home?"

Jean sighed and put her right hand on her hip. "When he got home, he asked me where you were. I told him you went for a bike ride with Cameron." She glanced back at the tall, blue-eyed woman behind her mother. "I told him you probably weren't going to be long. Next thing you know, it's like seven thirty and he's hungry so I just made dinner for us."

Sarah rubbed her hot brow and was quickly waking from her alcoholic haze. She needed to work up a good excuse because telling her husband that she was at a United Races agent's home wouldn't cut it.

"I tried doing as much damage control as I could," Jean mentioned.

"You should have called me," Sarah muttered to her child.

Jean only shrugged in response but stepped aside when her mother hurried past her. She glanced once at Cameron and teased, "I hope it was a good ride at least."

Cameron only responded with a grin, but she became serious again. She and Jean followed Sarah out of the workshop. However, Cameron shut off the lights and hit the close button for the garage door.

Jean caught up with her mother and softly told, "I thought about calling but... you looked too excited about the bike ride with Cameron. I mean you ran out of the house." She faltered in her next steps because her mother suddenly stopped cold. She looked back at her mother's shocked features. "I didn't want to bother you."

Sarah sighed but she sensed Cameron had caught up to them. "It's alright, J." She continued her fast walk back to the house's deck, she hurried up the four steps, went through the sliding door, and left it open for the stragglers.

Jean went halfway up the steps but looked down at Cameron. "Did she at least have fun?"

Cameron paused on the bottom step and seriously considered the question. "Yes." She caught Jean's brief smile before Jean went into the house. Cameron quickly followed her.

Jean came up short after entering the house. She suspected her mother had gone upstairs to see her father so she half turned to Cameron, who had just closed the door. "You're velcroing to me." She grabbed the older woman by the wrist and brought her along. She didn't want Cameron going upstairs and overhearing her parents' talk.

The terminator raised a curious eyebrow at the human's backside, but she allowed to be hauled away to the entertainment room. She followed Jean's example and took a seat on the overly large, rich blue sofa.

Jean verbally ordered the television to turn on, and she told the television to do a scan through her preset favorite channels. She found nothing of real interest so she chanted a few station numbers that she had memorized and still didn't find anything she liked. She sighed at the local ABC station's regular night lineup.

Cameron considered the various stations she'd watched last night. She then ordered, "MHTV."

Jean oddly glanced at the guest then turned back to the television, which now had Music History Television. She'd watched the channel a few times in the past, but she was never quite fascinated by it. After a minute, she prompted, "You like music history?"

"I like history," Cameron replied.

Jean kicked off her shoes and decided MHTV was a fine choice since she had nothing better in mind. She pulled up her legs onto the sofa and snuggled deep into the comfy sofa's cushions. "Oh, this is the music Mom just loves. What they call it?"

Cameron was carefully listening to the show, which was fifteen minutes into the episode about a unique era in the humans' music history. "It is called 80s music."

"Yes," Jean agreed. "Mom still listens to this stuff. She swears that big hair made the music so good." She let out a few snickers.

The terminator had a wistful smile at the human's talk about Sarah. At a thought of Sarah Connor, she slightly tilted her head and her eyes glossed over from her internal processing. She faded MHTV's episode to the background and instead pulled up the audio feed from the security system. She filtered through the audio feed until she only had the master bedroom's, and she could listen to Sarah and Charley's conversation. She instantly detected their conversation had fallen into an argument by their tones.

"Charley, you could have just called," Sarah snapped. She was standing beside their bed, arms folded, and stared at her husband's back.

Charley was slouched forward, his hands rested on the window's sill, and he stared out over the cleanly cut lawn. He could vaguely make out the worn path that led to Sarah's workshop. "That sort of defeats the purpose behind a surprise, Sarah."

The CEO let out a heavy sigh and remained still. "I didn't plan to be gone that long."

Charley was quiet for a moment then he straightened up. He turned and harshly remarked, "You're a planner, Sarah. I don't believe you didn't know you'd be gone for awhile."

Sarah slightly narrowed her eyes, but she approached him and suspiciously asked, "What's this really about, Charley? I mean I didn't intentionally mean to upset you or ruin your surprise. Nor is the night a total loss." She stood a few feet from him. "We can plan for a dinner tomorrow night."

Charley huffed at how Sarah used the word 'plan', like always. "So you want to include me in your plans?"

Sarah was clearly stunned by her husband's question and harshness. "What the Hell is that suppose to mean?"

"We planned everything together," Charley quickly replied. "It was always together. Now, if I want to make plans with you then I'm better off calling your assistant to make an appointment with you." He was upset and walked away from his wife. He went around the bed to his side but turned around and studied his wife's distraught profile.

"You know that's not true, Charley."

"No, you know it's true," he cut off. Charley had a taut expression, and his voice carried heavy emotions. "You have plans for everything... for everybody, but me. When did I stop figuring into it?"

Sarah stared at the wood floorboards, and she shook her head. She glanced over at him and quietly but coldly reminded, "Around about that time you took the university job without telling me first."

"For Christ's sake," Charley snapped. "I had a small window that I could accept the offer, Sarah. I had to make a decision by the end of the day."

Sarah nibbled on her bottom lip then shook her head a few times. "Again... you could have just called." She bitterly smiled at her spouse.

Charley wiped his frustrated expression away from his face then quickly came over the Sarah. He kept his voice down but it was hot. "You knew a long time ago that I wanted to be a professor at UCLA. We talked about it back when I was in med school." He fisted his hand at his side. "You just didn't like that I didn't include you in my plans. It hurts, doesn't it?"

Sarah tightened her arms across her body. She wouldn't reply or react despite they both knew the truth. As a child and teenager, she was never the planner and was more free spirited. But after her fateful meeting with the Omega terminator, she'd learned from Cameron how to be a planner and to be prepared, for anything. She hated surprises and looked for every angle possible.

Charley shook his head a few times and muttered, "Ever since Cyberdyne." He clenched his jaw tightly and his eyes brimmed with dismay. "You changed into this... into this machine." He was breathing heavily, and he could tell his wife wouldn't speak now. She'd recoiled into the safe place in her head where no human could touch her. "Into the very thing you're trying to perfect every day." He swallowed against the formed lump in his throat. "I would say your mission is complete... you made the perfect machine." He then walked away from her and headed to the door.

Sarah lowered her head, but emotions were void of her. She wouldn't call him back because she knew he needed space.

Charley had the door half open yet turned back and softly called, "Congratulations, Sarah... Connor." He then quietly left and went downstairs. He distantly heard the television in the entertainment room, but he didn't want to disturb his daughter by his upset appearance. He and Sarah rarely let Jean know they were in arguments because it was easier on Jean. So, he decided to head to UCLA and catch up on any work despite he could do it from home. He just had to be away.

Sarah remained motionless in the house until she was sure her husband was probably gone. She briefly closed her eyes and willed her feelings to stay silent. She inhaled deeply until her lungs were completely filled then she let it out slowly. Sarah felt her control resurface, but it wasn't enough. She knew it was up to her, thanks to Charley, to go to Jean and make it appear as if everything was fine. But first, Sarah went over to the nightstand on her side of the bed.

"Alpha, omega, phoenix," she softly ordered. There was a low click from the nightstand's drawer, and Sarah pulled it open now that it was unlocked by her voice command. She studied the black Glock that was very familiar to her since 2008. But her eyes flickered past the three bullet magazines and settled on the glass bottle.

Sarah retrieved the small bottle that was three-fourths filled with amber scotch. She left the drawer open but unscrewed the metal cap from the bottle. On her slow trek to the bathroom, she easily drank the liquor that beautifully burned down her throat and eased her taut inner stomach. Once in the bathroom, she set the half empty bottle down on the large sink counter. She then started washing her face in hopes it'd clean away any possible emotions.

Eventually Sarah emerged from the bathroom and resealed the scotch bottle, which was about a third filled compared to earlier. She shut the drawer, and it locked behind her. Sarah combed her wavy hair back now that she felt better in control of her world thanks to her only support. She started downstairs in search of her child.

Cameron ended the audio feed once Sarah's position was outside the master bedroom. Her slightly hazy blue eyes became rather lively, and she focused on the MHTV episode about 1980s music.

Jean was grinning at the brief clip about a singer name Rod Stewart. She chuckled at his dancing, dress style, and singing on stage back in the 1980s. But she instantly spotted her mother entering the room. "Hey, Mom."

Sarah eased a warm smile at seeing her daughter. "Hey." She glanced over at Cameron, who sat on the other end of the three seater sofa. She then looked over at the television on the wall. "What are you watching?"

Jean wasn't exactly sure so she turned to Cameron for help.

"It is 'Big Hair and Big Hits in the 80s' on MHTV," the terminator informed.

Jean furrowed her eyebrows and wondered how Cameron figured that out since there hadn't been any indicators on the show's name. She shrugged it off and remarked, "It's your... groovy music, Mom."

Sarah rolled her eyes at her child's attempt at a word from the 1980s. "They used that word in the 60s, girlie." She smirked and came over to the pair on the sofa. She realized her only option was to take a sofa chair or sit between Cameron and Jean. She didn't want to be separate from Jean so she was forced to the middle seat.

"Where's Dad?" Jean inquired.

Sarah sat a bit closer to her daughter. She propped her right arm on the back of the sofa, near her daughter. "He had to get back to UCLA and finish up some work."

"Work, work, work," Jean grumbled.

Sarah gave a lazy smile and squeezed her daughter's opposite shoulder. "We have to pay for your big, private education."

"Don't you mean my big college education?" Jean teased.

The CEO chuckled and slouched back in the sofa. "No, that'll be freeeee tuition thanks to your father."

Jean laughed and debated, "I thought it'd be from your hefty alumni donations."

Sarah casually shrugged. "Same pair of jeans, just different pockets." She relaxed back in the sofa and stretched out her legs. She switched her attention to the television.

Cameron had been listening, and she furrowed her eyebrows at the strange idiom. She couldn't quite decipher it, but she quickly did research on it.

"Now who is that guy?" Jean pointed at the television.

Sarah became wistful and replied, "That's Michael Jackson."

Jean grew wide eye when the pop icon singer did a strange dance move. "What was that?"

Sarah grinned at her daughter's interest. "It's called the Moonwalk."

"That's so hype," Jean muttered. She was able to see it a few times more, but then she listened to the narrator's discussion about the singer's sudden death in 2009. "He died at fifty?"

Sarah sighed deeply and mentioned, "I had concert tickets too. I was suppose to see him in London."

Jean was listening to the portion about Michael Jackson's death, and she goggled at how over a million fans were expected to see the fifty concerts at The O₂ arena. "How'd you get a ticket?"

"Your grandfather," Sarah replied. "It was a part of my graduation present. I still went to England and Ireland for my trip."

"Wow," Jean murmured. She hadn't known her mother was going to see the famed pop icon back in 2009. "He's a really good singer."

"Mmmm," Sarah softly agreed.

After the narration about Michael Jackson, Jean looked between Sarah and their guest. "Cameron said you both had a good ride."

"Yes." Sarah finally acknowledged the terminator at her left side. "We watched the sunset then had dinner."

Jean smiled at the fact that her mother had a nice time. But she quietly asked, "Everything alright though?"

Sarah easily deciphered her daughter's concern and promised, "It's all settled." She tugged on her child's shoulder for assurance.

Jean faintly smiled as her shoulder bumped against her mom. However, she was obviously relieved because she recalled how annoyed her father was earlier tonight. She relaxed back into the sofa and focused on the television.

Sarah slouched back too and crossed her ankles.

Cameron curiously wondered why Sarah Connor lied to Jean or led Jean to think everything was okay between Sarah and Charley. She'd concluded that Sarah and Charley hadn't settled their differences, and Charley was especially upset while Sarah seemed indifferent. She recalled her conversation with Jean this morning about Sarah and Charley always working out their differences, and Cameron wondered if it was true or not.

The terminator couldn't determine why Sarah was lying to Jean. She broke from the television and curiously studied Sarah's profile. She noticed how beads of sweat were around Sarah's hairline despite Cameron's readings showed the house to be a comfortable seventy-four degrees.

Sarah detected the terminator's long stare so she rotated her head to the terminator's direction. She said nothing that didn't already show on her face.

Cameron read the fine details in Sarah's face and eyes. What bothered her further was the fact that Sarah's pupils were rather dilated. She'd seen it happen earlier tonight during dinner thanks to the Japanese sake. She'd noted Sarah's reduced dilation once they'd returned to the house; however, it'd returned now. She had to know if her suspicions were true so she stretched out her hand, and she pressed her fingertips to Sarah's exposed wrist.

Sarah glanced down at the feather touch to her left arm that rested on her leg. She furrowed her eyebrows and tried understanding why Cameron touched her like this.

The terminator instantly read Sarah's slowed vital signs. She then was able to do an analysis on Sarah's perspiration and what the contents were in it. Her detailed analysis determined that the human was indeed drunk.

Sarah nearly asked what Cameron was up to until it struck her what was happening, but it was too late. She quickly broke their physical contact and shot the terminator a dark warning look.

Cameron was close to stating Sarah's drunken state, but she faltered because Sarah's eyes dangerously slotted at her.

Sarah tilted her head towards Jean and arched her eyebrow in reminder. She hoped the terminator would recall her daughter's presence.

Cameron slightly lifted her chin in silent resignation. She was clearly displeased, yet she clung to silence and returned to the television episode on MHTV.

"Didn't Grandma love Tina Turner?" Jean brought up to her mother.

Sarah broke her matching stare with Cameron and recalled her child's earlier comment. "Yes, she still does actually."

"Oh wait, I know that song," Jean recalled, instantly. "Grandma does play it still." She wildly grinned and sang the lyrics as Tina Turner sang them too. "That's only the thrill of boy meeting girl, opposites attract." She tapped her shoulder against her mother's to get her to sing.

Sarah easily recalled her mother's favorite song that she also heard one too many times. She couldn't deny Jean and jointly sang, "It's physical... only logical. You must try to ignore that it means more than that."

"Ooooh what's love got to do, got to do with it," Sarah and Jean sang loudly with Tina Turner. "What's love but a second hand emotion. What's love got do, got do with it? Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?"

Jean then started laughing once the Tina's voice faded away and the narrator spoke again. She shook her head and mentioned, "Grandma says that song makes her think about Granddad."

"I know," Sarah agreed. She then softly repeated, "I know." She breathed deeply despite her body was now mellow.

Cameron hadn't expected the mother and daughter to chime in with Tina Turner. She lowered her eyebrow after they went quiet, and she researched the rest of the song's lyrics. In 2008, she'd found that 1980s music was rather insightful about human emotions, especially love. She'd also come to find many songs from the 1980s pleased her.

After about ten minutes, Sarah patted Jean's knee and started getting up. "I need to do some work before it gets any later."

"Work, work, work," Jean repeated again in an annoyed tone.

Sarah was on her feet, but she turned back and bent over her child. "School, school, school," she teased back and kissed Jean's cheek. "Make sure your homework is done." She started leaving but turned back and told both younger women, "And don't be up late, kids." Then she was gone.

Jean waited until her mother was out of earshot and smirked over at Cameron. "You're twenty-five and still being called a kid huh?"

"Apparently," Cameron remarked. She huffed, quietly.

The teenager smirked and needled, "If you were a year younger than Mom, you'd still be a kid."

"Then she views your father as a kid?" the terminator inquired. She was rather serious and looked at the young human.

Jean furrowed her eyebrows and really considered it. "Huh... she could. I never thought about it." She shrugged and explained, "She calls Grandma a kid at times so just take it as a term of endearment." She now started shifting on the sofa but still talked. "Mom can be wicked post-modern, but I love her." She stretched out on the sofa, her head brushed against Cameron's thigh.

"Do you have enough room?" Cameron checked.

"Word up," Jean answered. She tossed her legs over the sofa's arm.

The terminator blinked once; however, she received no definition for Jean's response in her dictionary. She knew enough that Jean's response was positive since Jean wasn't moving around and appeared comfortable. So, Cameron referred to the internet and searched for a modern, urban dictionary to help understand teen slang. She started downloading it to her system as a supplemental dictionary.

For another half hour, Jean watched the rest of the episode on 1980s music then she told Cameron she had to finish her homework. She started leaving but backed up into the entertainment room and tapped the wall once.

Cameron looked from the television to the human.

"Don't forget to voice off the television." Jean nodded back to the main part of the house. "Mom gets hot when stuff is left on and nobody is utilizing." She then smiled and said goodnight to the guest before she headed upstairs to her room for the night.

Cameron was left alone in the entertainment room and switched to the Ancient History Channel now. She'd wait an hour or two before she confronted Sarah in the office because she hoped Jean would be asleep or in bed by that time. She was bothered by Sarah's excessive drinking tonight.

It was just after eleven o'clock when Cameron made her way to Sarah's office where she knew Sarah was located. She pushed open the closed, framed glass door and locked her eyes on the working human.

Sarah stopped typing on her touch-sensitive screen. She briefly bit her bottom lip upon seeing the terminator's rather determined aura. "You know," she started first, "you're getting pretty obnoxious in your old age." She recalled Cameron's earlier trick with reading her vital signs.

Cameron approached the seated human, who stayed behind her desk. "You set a prime example."

Sarah leaned into her chair and tilted her head back to get a better view of Cameron's face. She waited a beat in hopes her temper wouldn't get the best of her. She fairly warned, "I rather not get into a fight with you."

Cameron tilted her head and folded her arms. "So you don't have to lie to Jean about our fight too?"

Sarah almost snapped back, but she faltered because she didn't initially understand how Cameron knew about her fight with Charley. Then it slowly dawned on her that most likely the terminator had eased dropped on her and Charley. "You listened to our conversation?" Now her eyes lit up from fire.

"Yes," the terminator stated, without regret.

Sarah suddenly stood up and snapped, "What Charley and I discuss in our room is private." She eyes wildly searched the terminator's stoic features. "It is not for your goddamn analytic research on humans."

"It was not for research," Cameron refuted.

"I don't give a fuck what it was for," Sarah yelled. "I didn't give you the keys to this house to break my privacy or any family member's privacy."

The terminator instantly fell behind her mission as protection and stated, "I must be aware of all on goings in the house for Jean's sake." She lifted her chin slightly and coolly added, "A threat can come from any direction."

Sarah was jarred by what the terminator was insinuating to her. She pushed away from her desk and came around to the terminator. "If you think, for a second, that I or Charley are a threat to my child then we have a serious problem." She pointed a finger at the terminator. "You are problem... you are a threat."

"I am not," Cameron stated. "You and Charley are a threat because Jean worries about you. That makes her vulnerable because she cares."

"I am not the problem," Sarah grounded out.

"Humans are the problem," Cameron explained, "as much as they are the solution. There is only one way for Jean to be truly safe. She must be alone."

Sarah shook her head and whispered, "What kind of life is that?"

"Jean's life... someday soon." Cameron clenched her hands and sadly added, "It's already your life."

Sarah was rocked by the cold truth behind the terminator's perception. She reacted poorly and hissed, "What the Hell do you understand about life?"

"I understand a lot more than you think," Cameron replied. She then suddenly grabbed the human's nearest wrist and held strong.

Sarah tried breaking free, but not only was her self-defense rusty but her body was slow against the powerful terminator. "Cameron," she threatened.

Cameron lifted Sarah's arm up between them and factually stated, "Your blood alcohol content is currently point twenty-one percent." She was rather displeased, especially when she spotted a small glass on Sarah's desk that most likely contained alcohol in it. "Most humans would be highly intoxicated at such levels, but you have developed a strong tolerance." She lowered her head closer to Sarah's and murmured, "You have been drinking heavily for many years." Cameron now had her answer from earlier tonight after their dinner about how often Sarah drank.

Sarah jerked her arm, but she was still solidly locked by Cameron's grip. She bared her teeth a bit and wasn't sure what to say back to Cameron's analysis.

But abruptly Cameron released the human and stated, "You hide many things from Jean... too many."

"They are things she doesn't need to know," Sarah bit back.

"She is stronger than you think," the terminator argued.

"I don't care how strong she is," Sarah hissed. She pointed a finger at the terminator. "But she's my child, and you can't make those calls." She lowered her hand. "Don't you dare show up in my life suddenly again and shake up my family."

"I'm merely making observations," Cameron argued. "Jean in under the impression that your marriage is strong and stable. However, it is obviously not and at some point, she will find out." She tilted her head and added, "She also believes her relationship with you is open and honest, but you lie to her constantly."

"I protect her," Sarah snapped, "Who are you to judge?" She clenched her hands at her side.

Cameron was not at rattled by the human's anger. She remained calm and fully in control of her emotions despite she was quite displeased and now worried about Sarah Connor. "Apparently I am nobody because my opinion is empty to you." She understood that Sarah was lashing out and targeting Cameron for it. There was nothing that Cameron could do to calm the angry human so she turned away.

Sarah remained poised by the desk and watched the terminator go to the door. She gripped the desk's side and her jaw was clenched tight but trembled too.

Cameron hesitated from drawing the glass door open and glanced back at Sarah. "Perhaps you should consider yourself for once. How can you help Jean if you cannot help yourself first?" Then she quietly left the office and the human.

Sarah still clenched the desk but more out of support because her anger was changing into upset. She waited until Cameron was gone then she slowly knelt down beside her desk. Her right hand clung to the desk, but she hunched forward. She hated how the terminator could make her feel broken, again and again. For all these years, Sarah swore she had control over her life but Cameron's return now seemed to break her down and chase away her inner safety.

Some time passed before Sarah managed to get back on her feet. Her face was cleaned away of emotions, and she found her way behind the desk. She pulled open a drawer and fished around in it until she found a set of old, black keys. She gripped them tightly while she shut down her surface computer.

Sarah combed her fingers through her black hair as she quickly left her office. She'd switched off the lights then went directly to the sliding glass door. She knew that Cameron would easily detect her, but she didn't care and unlocked the door. She slipped out the door, shut it, and hurried off the deck and into the backyard. She made a beeline to the workshop and punched in the door's code. Once the door rolled high enough, Sarah ducked under and went to the Ford F-350.

Shortly the red pickup truck roared to life then the headlights poured out of the workshop. After a few moments, the Power Stroke whistled loudly from the rear of the truck as it drove out of the workshop. The Ford F-350 sped down the worn path that connected with the main driveway, and a dust cloud followed it all the way.

Sarah adjusted the satellite radio until she had a station she often enjoyed. She drew her seatbelt across her chest once she came to a stop at the main intersection in the housing development. She flicked on the right blinker then pulled out onto the quiet road that'd take her to the highway. She had a certain destination in mind.

The ride into Los Angeles took forty-five minutes but another fifteen for Sarah to make it through the city. She hadn't driven the truck through the city in a long time, and she was grateful that it was late at night. She was careful and drove fairly slow. Thanks to the lowered driver's window, she lost some of her alcoholic haze that she'd succumb to awhile ago.

Sarah pulled her foot off the gas pedal and made a right turn. She grew tense and her stomach twisted tightly, but she forced herself to do this after so long. She wasn't sure why she thought she had to do this yet here she found her destination straight ahead. Despite most of the buildings were different, the street was much the same and the area still zoned for commercial.

Sarah carefully braked the truck and pulled off to the right onto the curb. She parked the truck behind a hover car then shut off the headlights but left the engine running. Sarah hit the auto down button for her window and rested her left arm on the door. She became fixated on the old grocery store across the street.

But for Sarah Connor, she no longer saw a grocery store that was built back in 2009. Instead her memories redrew the building as being circular and at the top it proudly displayed Security Trust of Los Angeles. Sarah could still recall the parked cars out front and the customers, who either entered or left the bank. Despite she'd only had brief glimpse of the bank in 2008, she vividly remembered it to this day.

After awhile, Sarah broke her stare and dropped her head against the seat. She shut her eyes and covered half her face while she fell back into emotional memories about that day. However, a low motorcycle growl pulled her back to the present, and she straightened up once she was sure it was an old motorcycle. Beyond the front window, Sarah indeed spotted the old motorcycle and Cameron Phillips' large form seated on the Harley Davidson.

Cameron drove from the opposite direction and approached the truck that stood out compared to the hover cars. She came to a stop across the street from the Ford F-350, and she parked the bike along the curb in front of the grocery store.

Sarah's immediate reaction was annoyance because the terminator followed her. She felt as if her privacy again was invaded by the nosy terminator. She shoved open the truck's heavy door, slammed it, and started across the street.

The terminator had killed the bike's engine and set her half helmet on the seat. She only made it a few feet before Sarah was in her space. She could easily read the human's returned anger.

"Did you have to follow me?" Sarah instantly blasted.

"You are endangering yourself by driving drunk," Cameron rationalized.

"I am not drunk," Sarah snapped. "I'm not slurring, staggering, or have slow reaction."

Cameron folded her arms because she did not fully believe that Sarah wasn't physical impaired to some degree. She then stated, "Regardless, your blood alcohol content far exceeds the legal limit in California."

Sarah briefly stared in amazement at the terminator then laid into her again. "Oh I forgot you posed as a cop so long ago."

Cameron narrowed her eyes at the human's sarcasm. "You are acting irrational and argumentative. Your judgment has been badly impaired."

"Oh you're good on the compliments still," Sarah needled.

Cameron was not at all deterred and instead asked, "Why did you come here?"

Sarah pointed to the grocery store behind the terminator. "Because I wanted to reflect back on my favorite goddamn day." She lowered her arm and her wild eyes stayed locked on the terminator. She could tell for once she had Cameron speechless. She then mentioned, "I never came back here, like you asked... until tonight."

Cameron tilted her head and quietly tempted, "Then why now?"

"Because you're back," Sarah simply answered.

Cameron didn't like that the human returned here, and she too held bad memories about this location. She moved closer and grasped the human's side. "I must get you home."

Sarah shoved the terminator away then stepped back once. "Don't touch me." She targeted Cameron with a nasty glare because she didn't like how Cameron could read her vital signs. "And I can get myself home."

"It is too dangerous and risky," the terminator argued.

"I'm not your mission anymore, remember?" Sarah clipped. Her hands were balled up again in a defensive manner.

Cameron shook her head and took a step closer which put them both in the middle of the quiet street. She then recalled an old promise. "I protect you because you're my human." But her words seemed to recharge Sarah's furry.

"Your human?" Sarah echoed back and her tone dripped with sarcasm again. "You lost your human twenty-two years ago," she heatedly told. She glanced back at the grocery store and pointed at it. "You blew it all up a long time ago, sweetheart."

Cameron lost some of her shield, and her distraught developed on her face. She emotionally argued, "You said I would always be unique in your heart." She remembered Sarah's exact words that fateful day.

"And you took my heart away," Sarah coldly revealed. "You took it all away from me!" she now yelled. She then covered her chest where her heart frantically pounded. "I became the machine that day." Sarah went quiet finally and bitterly stared up at the terminator, who was obviously hurt by the truth. She couldn't take it and walked away from Cameron. She went back to the truck.

Cameron stared at the paved road with glossy eyes. She locked her jaw as she looked up at Sarah, who was starting to open the truck. Her protective streak to keep Sarah Connor safe came back to life at seeing the human about to get into the truck. Cameron swiftly pursued the drunk human.

Sarah had opened the driver's door part of the way, but to her shock the handle was ripped from her hand. The door slammed shut on her. It'd actually scared her, and she spun around only to be wedged between the truck and terminator.

"You are not driving," Cameron harshly stated. She kept her left palm flat against the door.

Sarah actually lost some of her confidence because of the terminator's obvious determination. She quickly realized that there was nothing she could truly do to stop Cameron.

"I will protect you," Cameron swore, "even if it's from yourself."

Sarah leaned in slightly and whispered, "Too little... too late." She straightened up after she saw how she'd cut deep into the terminator's coltan armor.

Cameron tried not letting Sarah get to her because she suspected it's what Sarah expected from everybody else. But Cameron would not stand down like others that may have in the past. She instead imposed herself by moving in closer and lowered her head to Sarah. She softly told, "It is not too late."

Sarah peered up with dark green eyes. She was glued to the truck's door, her hands gripped the metal. She desperately kept her body separate from Cameron in what little space was left between them.

"This is not too little," the terminator argued. She pressed her right hand against the truck door too, just near Sarah's head. "You know I will not give up."

"No," Sarah softly agreed, "but you will leave again."

"I will not this time," Cameron fought.

Sarah suddenly pushed off the truck and tried shoving Cameron away, but she clearly failed against the stronger woman. "You will leave again!" She made another attempt to push Cameron away. "Again and again... just like in my nightmares." She weakly pushed against Cameron's solid form that never budged once. But this time Sarah slumped into Cameron for help this time just as Cameron drew her in close.

Cameron let go of her stoic attitude at seeing the human's true feelings finally surfacing. She brought Sarah into her arms and held her. "I am here to stay, Sarah."

Sarah hid her face past Cameron's navy jacket in pressed her forehead against Cameron's warm chest. She clung to Cameron's shoulders and sharply gasped for air. She was trying not to cry, but it was getting harder. She whimpered, "You left me... you just left me."

Cameron bowed her head until she could gently lean her head against Sarah's. She shut her eyes at hearing what truly hurt the human so badly from years ago. Cameron tried so hard protecting the human from danger and harm, yet she managed to internal harm Sarah in the worst way. She didn't understand it at the time, but now she did because she too experienced the emotional pain from leaving Sarah in 2008.

Cameron gathered her strength yet when she spoke, her voice trembled for the first time. "I did not wish to leave you, Sarah. I wanted to stay with you."

Sarah now rested her temple against the terminator's chest. Her hot tears silently trickled down her face. She muttered, "Every night I dream that I keep losing you." She wiped her face and opened her eyes. "I wake up feeling alone." Now her head was tipped up by gentle fingertips.

"You never lost me," Cameron revealed. "I have dedicated immeasurable processing hours on you after I returned to 2045."

Sarah couldn't help a lopsided smile at a computer's version of how a saddened human would be thinking about another one. She lost her smile though and softly confessed, "I can't... do this again if you're returning to the future. I can't be broken twice."

"I am not returning," Cameron promised in a definitive tone. "I am not leaving you again."

Sarah let out a low breath she'd been holding in her tight chest. She leaned forward until her forehead pressed against the terminator's chest. She hooked the back of Cameron's neck with her right hand.

Cameron kept Sarah close until she felt that the human had calmed down. She carefully studied Sarah's features and told, "I do not wish to argue with you, Sarah."

Gradually, Sarah peered up at the terminator. "I know."

"It is taxing on my systems," the terminator explained, "because I don't like to see you this way."

Sarah just shook her head and gave a low sigh. She murmured, "It is what it is."

But Cameron tilted the human's head up until their eyes met. "What does that mean?" She raised her right eyebrow and summarized, "It sounds as if you've resigned yourself."

"We both know what I'm meant to do... what my life was fated for," Sarah replied. "I've resigned myself to my fate." She leaned back some and gazed up at the terminator.

Cameron quietly considered this along with what else Jean had told her about Sarah Connor. She'd also heard whispered fragments from other humans, who went rather silent once they realized she was near. Cameron could never make sense of why the humans seemed to gossip about her, but she concluded it was because she was the Omega terminator. She'd spoken to Jean about it once and in fact Jean agreed that it was because Cameron was the Omega terminator.

Sarah sensed she'd lost Cameron to something. "What is it?" She found blue eyes focused back on her.

"Perhaps fate is not set in stone."

Sarah huffed and argued, "It's been pretty damn right so far."

"Yes... and no," Cameron debated. "Your marriage and Jean's birth were accurate. However, Jean has continually stated your marriage was strong, and you both were in love."

Sarah shook her head and dropped her hand from the terminator's shoulder. She gripped a sturdy hip instead and murmured, "Maybe ten years ago."

"Then the future could be changing," the terminator purposed.

"Possibly," Sarah muttered.

Cameron slightly frowned because she didn't have enough data to make a positive conclusion. She didn't like this at all so she heavily sighed. She put aside her processing and stated, "We must return to the house."

Sarah considered the motorcycle and posed, "You'll follow me back?"

The terminator tilted her head then replied, "I will load the motorcycle into the truck. You cannot drive back."

Sarah decided it wasn't worth fighting about nor did she mind being driven back. She patted Cameron's other shoulder then started separating. "Alright... I'll help."

"I do not require assistance," Cameron informed. She let Sarah go finally, but she turned her head to the right. Her eyes were fixed on the human.

Sarah grabbed the rear door's black handle and held onto it. She smirked and huskily reminded, "My bike, my truck." She opened the door and ordered, "Get the bike and I'll get these tie-down straps."

Cameron mutely agreed and crossed the quiet street to the motorcycle. She lifted the bike off its stand and kicked the stand up. She then walked the bike to the rear of the truck.

Sarah shut the truck door after she found her four red tie-down straps that she often used for transporting the Harley Davidson in the truck. Long ago, she'd removed the hard tonneau cover because she was moving the bike around a lot. She met Cameron at the back, and she dropped the tailgate then climbed up into the truck.

From a side glance, Cameron caught the human's slow and slightly off-balance movements. She didn't comment on it and instead parked the bike near the tailgate so that it was positioned horizontally. Next she jumped into the truck bed, which caused the truck to heavily dip against her weight.

Sarah had tossed the neatly rolled tie-down straps into a corner then went to Cameron's side. "So how we going to do this?" She combed her fingers through her midnight locks.

Cameron sideway glanced at the human then decided it was easier to answer by just doing it. She knelt down on the bed's edge until her right knee touched the black surface. She bent forward and grabbed the bike's front and rear with her hands. She first lifted it with her arms then started carefully standing up.

"Jesus," Sarah breathed out. She backed off so that she wasn't in Cameron's way. She knew the terminator was incredibly strong, but she couldn't recall a true demonstration such as this one.

Cameron was fully standing and had the bike horizontally locked in her hands. She made a few adjustments so that she could bring the motorcycle onto the bed. She glanced over her shoulder and was glad that Sarah had moved out of the way. She proceeded to align the Harley Davidson in the truck's bed so that the front tire pressed into the front of the black lined bed.

Sarah was clearly impressed and decided it was easier to let the terminator work it out. She folded her arms then worriedly scanned about the local area for any onlookers. She was grateful it was late at night because there was no way she could explain this away. But off in the distance, she spotted headlights growing brighter through the street.

"You may want to hurry," Sarah suggested. "There's a hover car coming up behind us."

The terminator long ago heard the rather quiet car thanks to her excellent hearing. She was starting to kneel and put the bike down. She didn't want to damage anything. Once she fully squatted down, she asked, "Can you balance the bike?"

Sarah quickly moved to the right side after she made it around the rear tire. She held the Harley. "I got it." She watched the hover car speed past without a care, and she sighed.

Cameron stood up and collected the tie-down straps. She studied them and noted they were made of red nylon with ratchets and steel hooks. She knew exactly how to use them in accordance to the Harley.

Sarah held onto the bike despite she could have used the kickstand. But she curiously watched the terminator anchor down the motorcycle, and she was rather pleased at Cameron's precision. She had to admit that a perfectionist super-computer controlled machine was a mechanical engineer's absolute fantasy. And Sarah knew that in her case, she really had one that would most likely do anything for her.

Cameron stood up after ratcheting the last tie-down strap into place on the rear tire. She raised an eyebrow at Sarah, who still held the bike.

Sarah released the bike and smiled at the job well done. "I think I'll keep you around." She tapped the bike's front tire, and the bike only rolled back a half an inch. She was quite pleased because she couldn't have done it better herself.

The terminator was taken by the human's last statement. But she reminded, "We should go."

Sarah only nodded then stepped out onto the tailgate.

Cameron had already hopped out of the truck, but she faced the human. She could tell that Sarah was being slow because the alcohol had indeed affected her motor skills to some degree. She resisted from helping because she calculated that it would anger the human. But she waited until Sarah was on the ground.

Sarah neared the terminator, and it seemed like she wanted to say something yet held her silence. She brushed her fingertips over the terminator's slightly exposed wrist because Cameron had her jacket's sleeves folded back. She then went to the front passenger's door.

Cameron considered what the human may have wanted to say, but she let it go. She went into the still running pickup truck and adjusted the seat back. She buckled up then put the truck into gear.

Sarah was situated too and leaned against the passenger door some. She studied the passing scenery on the drive back home. She was growing weary finally and almost dozed off until Cameron's voice jarred her.

"I haven't told you everything," the terminator confessed. Her voice was low, which indicated slight nervousness.

Sarah straightened up and looked over at the terminator. "About what?" She'd grown tense and easily pushed past her tiredness. But she bowed her head and touched her brow in worry.

"About my mission," Cameron replied.

Sarah closed her eyes at those words and muttered, "I hate being right." She let out a low sigh and tried staying calm. She raised her head up and watched the terminator's profile.

"My mission is true," Cameron explained. She didn't dare glance at the human, who she suspected was probably angry. "I am here to protect Jean." She hesitated but added, "And you."

Sarah positioned her right arm on the door. She carefully asked, "Then what haven't you told me?" She looked over at the terminator and waited for the unknown. She prayed it wouldn't set off her temper. But she noticed by Cameron's expression that Cameron was genuinely confused and concerned too.

"When I returned to 2045," Cameron started, "I was..." She couldn't seem to find the right word for it. She gave a glance to Sarah then found the only word that suited how she felt in 2045. "I was broken." She watched her driving and had to stop at a red light. "But I debriefed with Omega, Jean and the UR about my mission in 2008. Then for a year and sixteen days, I went unnoticed and continued my duty as Jean's protector."

Sarah was curious about where this would lead. She wasn't quite sure what Cameron meant by going unnoticed, but she just listened to Cameron.

"But then Jean confronted me and stated I was regressing." Cameron hit the acceleration pedal, which caused the Power Stroke to whistle loudly down the street. She stayed behind a small hover car that the truck easily towered above.

"Regressing, how?" Sarah questioned.

"I was not becoming more sentient. She thought I was regressing and losing my self-awareness." Cameron looked over at Sarah, who was mulling over the story. "I rarely initiated physical contact. I started spending less time with Johnny. And when I was with Jean, I hardly spoke and just performed my duty like a programmed soldier."

Sarah furrowed her eyebrows and whispered, "You were depressed."

Cameron was quiet for a few beats because she processed Sarah's conclusion. But she went back to her story. "Jean had expected my mission in 2008 to help me become more sentient and self-aware. She was highly displeased that it seemed to have caused the reverse. I tried assuring her that I had not regressed."

"Did she believe you?" Sarah asked.

"At the time, she didn't seem to and threatened to have Omega directly link up to me and scan my systems." Cameron had a dark expression at her memories about that day. "They never scanned me after I returned from 2008 because Jean believed I was sentient and had the right to my privacy."

Sarah found this interesting and was curious as to why Jean concluded Cameron would be sentient after the mission. "So what happened?"

"I tried convincing her that I hadn't regressed and didn't require a scan. She wanted Omega to confirm or deny my regression." Cameron flipped on the left blinker so that they could get onto the highway that would take them home. "She told me she had no other choice unless I could prove otherwise that I hadn't regressed." She pushed down on the gas pedal when the traffic signal gave her a left green arrow. "I couldn't lie to her anymore."

Sarah bit her lower lip for a second then softly guessed, "You told her what happened between us in 2008."

"Yes," Cameron admitted.

Sarah breathed deeply and nodded once. She then glanced at the terminator. "How did she react?"

"She initially smiled," Cameron told, "but became worried about me."

"She smiled?" Sarah checked. Her brow wrinkled, and she stared at the terminator. "Why?"

"I am unsure." Cameron was obviously displeased by this too. "Jean was worried about me psychologically. But I told her I felt relieved to have talked to somebody about what happened between us in 2008."

Sarah bowed her head because she could truly understand Cameron's hardship. She'd never spoken about her and Cameron's relationship to anybody, but a few times she was close to telling Chola Santiago. But for nearly twenty-two years now, Sarah remained in silence about how she gave her heart and body to her protector.

"I am sorry, Sarah," Cameron seriously offered. She was clearly distraught that she'd given in and told Jean.

Sarah was quiet for a few moments then finally shook her head. She understood her former lover's hardship and whispered, "No... no." She wearily looked over at the terminator. "I understand. It's good you told her."

"But I promised you I wouldn't tell her," Cameron refuted.

"I know," Sarah softly replied, "but it's okay." She could tell it greatly bothered Cameron that the promise was broken. But in hindsight, Sarah never knew how hard it would be for them both to hold their silence for so long.

Cameron somewhat settled, but it still bothered her that she'd broken her promise to Sarah. She wanted to tell Sarah the rest about why she was sent on her mission here in 2030. "After I told Jean, she started performing testing on me." She furrowed her eyebrows and mentioned, "I don't believe Omega was aware of them."

Sarah was confused by this too yet asked, "What was she testing for?"

"She had a record of my current state before I was sent back to 2008." Cameron watched her driving and sped up the truck once they were outside the city limits. "She retrieved my current state at the time then did a comparison and analysis. I believe she was looking for signs of progression and development in my systems."

"I'm sure she found them," Sarah quietly decided aloud.

"Yes," Cameron confirmed. She thought about her talks with Jean after she revealed to Jean about 2008. "She never told Omega what happened in 2008. After her comparison analysis, she suggested I return to the past, but I refused because I didn't have a mission." She glanced over at the human. "To gain clearance to use any TDE, you must have an approved mission."

Sarah mulled it over and started guessing as to what happened later. "So when news came that the Resistance used TDE then Jean probably jumped on it and used it as your cover story to send you back."

Cameron slowly nodded and better explained, "I argued with her repeatedly that it was not responsible of her to disguise my wanting to return to you with a mission."

"But she was adamant about it," Sarah muttered or that's how she understood it from Cameron.

"Yes, she pursued several avenues on how to send me back."

"Why though?" Sarah was utterly confused and reminded, "Jean promoted the Timeline Directive. Why would she be so bent on sending you back when it's a greater risk to the timeline?"

"I often tried asking her, but she merely said that someday I would understand the importance." Cameron gave a low sigh. "She refused to explain herself to me. She knew that I would not return to the past unless I had a mission. I would not do it for selfish reasons despite I wanted to see you again."

"Do you think Omega knows anything about it?"

"I do not believe so," Cameron replied.

Sarah shook her head and argued, "But you're not sure." She could tell that Cameron was bothered by what'd happened between 2045 and up until Cameron stepped into the time machine. Sarah was confident that Jean knew exactly what and why she was doing it all.

"I should have told you sooner," Cameron admitted. "But I was unsure how you'd react to this information. Nor did I think it would matter to you."

"Why wouldn't it matter to me?" Sarah gently asked.

"Because it isn't truly relevant to the mission," Cameron answered. "It is merely background information."

"It's relevant," Sarah argued. She shifted in her seat and grasped the seatbelt across her chest. "If I could corner Jean... older Jean and get direct answers from her then I would." She sighed and shook her head. "What the Hell is she up to?"

Cameron was quiet for a bit while she processed an answer to Sarah's question. She then finally hypothesized, "Her ultimate mission has always been to make me sentient. Perhaps that is her reasoning for wanting to send me back."

"Maybe," Sarah muttered. She had a stern look on her face because she was thinking so hard about it. "But what good does that really do if she can't study you while you're developing?" She sighed heavily and dipped her head. "It just doesn't make sense... it's all so contradictory."

"That is a very human characteristic," Cameron mentioned. She then glanced at Sarah when she heard a low laugh.

"True," Sarah agreed. She slowly lost her grin. She set aside her thoughts about why Jean was so hard pressed to send Cameron back to her. Instead her thoughts wandered off about the fact that Cameron had grown depressed. She hadn't expected it to be so hard for Cameron like it was for her. She'd assumed that the terminator would easily rely on her programming to make it through the days.

After several quiet minutes, Sarah hoarsely asked, "Is there anything else you haven't told me?" She turned her head to Cameron. "You know I don't like being lied to or things hidden from me."

Cameron honestly replied, "I have told you everything."

Sarah was convinced and didn't press the terminator further. She also felt that tense edge leave her now that she knew as much as Cameron.

However, Cameron was a bit nervous because she considered Sarah's earlier remark. She reworked her observation into a question and brought it up to Sarah. "If you do not like being lied to or having things hidden from you then why do you do such to Jean and Charley?" She regarded the worn human and checked, "Is it not the Golden Rule to 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'"

Sarah rubbed her face at hearing the old bible quote given to her. She easily knew the deep Catholicism history behind the words, and it did sting at her. "Yes," she whispered, "that is the Golden Rule."

"But yet you do not seem to follow it. You are Catholic," Cameron argued. "Why do you blatantly break it?"

Sarah shook her head and tiredly looked at the terminator. "I know... just let it go tonight, Cameron."

Cameron had further proof that humans were extremely contradictory. Yet, she didn't push Sarah any further and could only hypothesize why Sarah lied and hid things from her family. She instead fully focused on the last fifteen minutes of the drive to the house.

Sarah folded her arms over her stomach and leaned against the door. She was extremely run down tonight more than any night. She saw the digital clock read nearly three in the morning. She just wanted to get home and crash into bed until seven o'clock would come for her.

Cameron could tell the human didn't sleep during the last of the ride. She noted though that Sarah had her eyes closed in a silent need for space. Cameron respected it and was left to her processing. Once she came upon the Connor home, she slowed down and hoped the diesel engine wouldn't wake Jean.

Sarah straightened up once she sensed they were home. She was too slow to get out of the truck and get the garage door, which was shut again. She watched Cameron do it then she unbuckled her seatbelt while Cameron pulled the truck into the workshop.

"I will take care of the bike tomorrow," the terminator mentioned. She parked the truck and shut off the engine. "You need to rest."

Sarah silently agreed and shoved open the truck door, but Cameron's door slammed shut. She was lethargic and wasn't quite careful about stepping off the running board because her hand slipped off the door handle. But she was safely caught in strong arms and gently lowered to the concrete pad.

Cameron studied the human's blood shot eyes and stated, "The alcohol has impaired you."

"I've done far worse," Sarah mentioned. She patted the terminator's taut stomach between the jacket then slipped past her. She went to the keypad and slowly punched in the code so the door would shut. She sensed the terminator right at her side.

Once inside the house, Sarah kept quiet so she wouldn't disturb her child. She could just imagine what Jean would say about her and Cameron coming home at three in the morning. She hesitated on the second to last step because she was disoriented but a sure hold on her sides steadied her.

Cameron stood on the step below and balanced the human. "If you fall, I believe it will be more painful to hit me than roll down the steps." Her voice held a teasing note.

"Funny," Sarah muttered back. She made it up to the second floor then started towards the empty master bedroom. She knew that Charley wouldn't return tonight like prior times they'd fought badly. She paused and turned in Cameron's direction. "I'll see you tomorrow." She acted as if more was on her mind, yet she continued on her way to the bedroom.

Cameron remained poised for a moment and watched Sarah silently go into the bedroom. She slightly frowned but went into her bedroom.

Sarah made it to her bed and sat down on it. She bent forward after a moment and fought to get her boots off. She tossed them aside then became far too exhausted to care about her clothes. She rolled back into her bed, clothes on, and fell asleep on top of the bed sheets. Her last conscious thought was about how at least Cameron remained in the house despite their fights, unlike Charley.

To be continued.

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