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 8 – Protector

Cameron Phillips adjusted the pack's straps on her shoulders as she approached the forgotten bank's doors. With a brief glance overhead, she made out the faded letters for Bank of America, which had gone under many decades ago. Cameron had a Glock in her right hand, but she retrieved another from her left back pocket. As she neared the locked glass doors, she fired her right gun at the first set of doors, which loudly shattered. She then fired on the second door about three feet behind the first set. She now had the occupants' attention fully on her.

Inside the dark, eerie bank there were four men in the lobby that were standing guard, but they all hollered in unison when shots rang out. They scrambled behind walls or freestanding counters and prepared their guns for the tall, dark woman that entered the bank. Earlier they'd seen her approach yet were unprepared for her arrogant attack. But they started shouting amongst each other on what to do now that their plans were compromised by this stranger. One man covered his right ear and yelled orders over an earpiece.

Cameron switched from her night vision to thermal imaging to locate the humans. She easily targeted the two humans behind the freestanding counter. She raised her right Glock and began firing on them while she remained poised in the entranceway.

Much deeper in the bank's basement, there were artificial flood lights setup and shined on a large metal door that was left open. The gunshots from above made three men jump to life then one kidnapper bowed his head at hearing his comrade's orders over his earpiece.

"Alright, we got it," he snapped back. "We'll be up there... just keep her busy." He lowered his hand then quickly ordered, "Joey, get in there and stay with her."

Joey was a bit younger than the other men, but he nervously agreed to the idea.

"The explosives are setup if you need to get back out," the same man reminded. "Now go!" He shoved Joey towards the vault's open door.

Joey hastily turned and jumped into the vault that was lit by battery powered flood lights. He walked backwards yet watched the vault's heavy door swing close then it sealed up. He held his breath and listened to the gears rotate and locked him into the vault except for the remote in his pocket that would execute the explosives. Joey turned on his boots, adjusted the rifle in his hands, and stared at the young woman tied down to a metal chair.

Jean Connor had bruised features and a few lacerations on her arms. There was damp blood on her right brow. However, her right knee was the worst from an injury in the hover car. She wore khaki capris but they were torn at her right knee and exposed the bloody injury. Jean was in pain and being tied down in the old chair was worsening her knee.

Jean couldn't stretched her legs because the ropes lashed them to the chair's legs. Her arms were handcuffed behind the chair then tied down to the chair's frame. She didn't see anything except darkness, and she was gagged by a red cloth. She only made out the distant rustle that echoed down into the basement, but it was cut off by the heavy slam about twenty feet away. She also knew one of her kidnappers was with her.

Joey quietly approached the teenager and studied her. He then sharply turned upon hearing loud gunfire just beyond the vault. He was worried yet curious and cautiously neared the vault's thick door. He knew he was at least safe from whoever lurked in the bank. He flexed his sweaty grip on his rifle once it went silent outside the vault. He slowly approached the vault and became leery. Joey then suddenly jumped back when the vault's door gave a loud wrenching sound.

On the other side of the vault, the terminator latched onto another piece of the metal door's anatomy and ripped it off. She hastily threw it behind and grabbed a sheet of metal that she peeled back wide enough. Cameron was fast and determined to pull the vault's door apart piece by piece to get to Jean.

Joey took one step back and worriedly stared at the metal door that was being attacked by somebody or something. He started breathing harder and glanced back at the tied girl. He fumbled for his earpiece in his pocket, hooked it, and tried calling a fellow kidnapper. He received no response from anybody and his features fell once he realized he was alone.

Jean Connor fought with her bonds, but it was futile. She was clenching her teeth and hot tears started seeping between her closed eyes. She bit back a pleading whimper. She didn't know what that sound was and feared it meant her life.

Joey slowly reversed from the vault door that loudly boomed or groaned from something wrenching against it. He stole a last glance at the girl then fished out the detonator remote in his pocket. He held it in his palm and looked up at the metal door. He was told the detonator's wouldn't blow the door into pieces but rather send it off it's hinges then make it fall back onto the basement floor. He hoped that the ten ton door would crush whatever was on the other side.

The terminator came upon the concrete panel that was between the steel lining. She balled her right hand into a fist and prepared to punch through the concrete paneling. But she faltered once she heard a low beep then a circular explosion was set off around the sealed seam of the metal, concrete door. Cameron didn't have enough time as the ten ton door was taken off its hinges and groaned towards her.

Joey raised his rifle sum despite he expected this to take care of the attacker. He watched the vault door drop from its welded hinges then it teetered backwards. He lost his faint grin though because the door didn't topple back like he expected it to do.

Cameron locked the ten ton door in her hands then she easily lifted off the floor. Her organic muscles bulged against her skin but her endoskeleton hefty the metal door's weight. She took a sidestep and tossed the ruined door into the basement's dirty open space.

Jean stopped struggling and cringed when a heavy boom echoed throughout the vault. Her ears still rung while a faint breeze brushed against her sweaty exposed skin.

Joey was in disbelief and stared at the well-built woman that'd somehow made it past his six friends and now just tossed the vault door like it was cardboard. He kept staring as she approached him.

Cameron had glimpsed at Jean Connor, but she wanted the last kidnapper first. She extracted her Glock from her front waistband and flicked off the safety. She was lightly riddled by bullet wounds that only showed by the tears in her tank top or bloody spots in her arms.

Joey finally snapped to yet scrambled with his rifle as if he'd forgotten how to use it correctly. He only managed to get it raised before the woman gripped the barrel.

Cameron jerked the barrel away from her then slowly twisted the barrel downwards.

Joey sucked in his breath and fearfully peered up into lifeless blue eyes. "What are you?" he pleaded as if it would save him.

But the terminator saw no point in answering him. She instead freed the rifle from him, dropped it to the floor, and instantly grabbed him by the neck.

Joey struggled against the woman, but he was much too weak. He was forced backwards until his back hit the empty safe deposit boxes. His boots scraped against the concrete floor, and he gradually started slipping down the boxes to the floor.

Cameron kept her grip solid and slowly cut off his breathing by each passing second. She knelt down with him. She studied his vital signs and calculated he had about twenty seconds left.

Joey dug his nails into his killer's arm. He attempted talking to her in hopes he could reason with her. However, he found his vocal box was locked down by her hand so he couldn't speak. He only managed a faint gurgle just as the flood lights danced in vibrant colors.

The terminator tilted her head and watched the frail human approach his death. She always found human death curious because it was so different for them than for machines and computers such as herself. Finally, she detected his heart went silent, and she withdrew her hand. She closed his open eyes then stood up and tucked away her Glock into the front of her waistband.

Cameron almost hurried to Jean, but she remembered Sarah's wishes about protecting Jean more than just physically. She grabbed the dead human, removed him from the vault so that Jean wouldn't immediately see him.

Jean Connor was petrified about what was happening since she couldn't see anything. She'd heard some movements then it went silent, so silent. She figured somebody had to be still with her. She fought with her bonds again and muffled sounds came from her.

Cameron approached the shaken human and stated, "It's me, Jean." She reached for the blindfold, knelt down, and easily pulled it off Jean's head. She hoped her knelt position would hide her bullet wounds for now.

Jean blinked against the bright flood lights but focused on the older woman's calm features. She was relieved and tried talking again without any luck.

Cameron worked against the gag's knot and removed it after a beat. From the simply touches, she detected the human's racing heartbeat, high body temperature, and hurried breathing. "You are safe, Jean." She noted the dried tears and Jean's bloodshot eyes.

Jean gasped a few times then fearfully choked, "Mom... she was... I don't know what..." She had no control over her body and mind's panic.

"Your mother is safe," Cameron promised. She lightly cupped the human's red cheek. "I'm going to get you out of here."

Jean just nodded and was trying to calm down. She bowed her head some and allowed Cameron to deal with her bonds.

The terminator was untying the ropes around the teenager's ankles. She calmly asked, "Can you walk?" She spotted the injury to Jean's right knee.

"I don't know... I don't think so." Jean glanced at her knee but looked away from it. "They carried me in here." She scanned in the interior of the room and realized she was in a vault. She had no idea where or even why this was happening. "Who are they?"

"Kidnappers," Cameron merely replied. She went behind the metal chair and visually inspected the bonds. She studied the old fashion handcuffs that held Jean's arms behind her back. Cameron could rip them open but that would require explanation. Cameron did at least untie the rope that was looped through the handcuff's chain.

"I can't remove the handcuffs," the terminator lied. "But I believe your mother can pick them." She tossed the rope aside and instructed, "Try to stand." She took off her pack while Jean made the attempt. She pulled out her jacket and watched the human.

Jean climbed to her feet but too fast and nearly toppled over until strong arms had her. She clung to Cameron's hips and peered up into cool blue eyes.

"Your knee is badly injured," Cameron deduced. She looked up from it and studied the upset human. "I will carry you out." She now had on her canvas jacket so that her bullet wounds were hidden, and she suspected Jean was too overcome by fear to take note anyway. "Let me get my pack."

Jean nodded and carefully found her balance on her good leg. She released the older woman, who quickly scooped up the closed pack.

The terminator slung it on after she checked her Glock was tucked behind it, out of view. She came around the chair.

"My legs..." Jean was confused and voice quaked terribly. "They burn... so bad." She gazed over at Cameron for some explanation.

"It is the adrenaline in your body," Cameron explained. "You must try to calm down so that it'll pass." She'd positioned herself next to Jean, who now finally took in her immediate surroundings.

The teenager still breathed hard, her chest up and down in rapid succession. She started turning her head further right to where she'd barely made out the kidnapper's bent rifle in a dark corner, but Cameron's gentle touch forced her to stop.

"You must not see." The terminator had drew Jean's face back to her. "When I carry you out of here, you will keep your eyes closed until we are outside."

Jean could do nothing but obediently nod. She then found herself so easily picked up into the tall woman's arms. She wanted to wrap her arms around her savior, but the handcuff's mockingly halted her need. So she hid her face into Cameron's sticky neck so that her view was cut off.

Cameron switched back to night vision once she stepped out of the vault. She inhaled the musky odor that filled the basement of the old bank. She moved quickly out of the basement and into the dismal bank's hallway that was splattered with blood from a dead kidnapper. She entered the lobby that started mixing it's moldy scent with that of pungent metal from both human blood and gunfire.

Jean instantly knew when she was outside because of the sun's light then the warmth. She gazed out now and found that she was in a strange parking lot. "Where is Mom?"

"She is in the truck," Cameron informed. She just rounded the mall's corner and saw the F-350 waiting then the truck's passenger door flung open.

"Jean," Sarah hollered. She nearly tumbled out of the truck, but she caught herself on the door then hurried across the distance.

"Mom!" Jean started wiggling in her savior's arms, but her sneakers met the cracked pavement. She could only manage a step or two then she hit a fierce hug. She struggled against her handcuffs that only bit into her wrists.

"Thank God," Sarah muttered and tightly held her daughter for an long beat. She then withdrew and started checking over her. "You're hurt." She caught the blood on her child's pants.

Jean shook her head and started jerking on the handcuffs that still restrained her. She was getting upset again and whimpered, "I can't..."

Sarah had spotted them in the sunlight's flash. She looked from them to Cameron, who stood guard over them. She parted her lips yet remembered the obstacle.

The terminator easily filled the void. "I will help you pick them, but we should go." She slightly tensed because police alerts started popping up in her uplink to the local police's system. "The police will be here in one minute and twenty-three seconds. We must go, now."

Sarah didn't argue; she knew that determined and protective expression on her former lover's face. She cupped Jean's cheeks and explained, "It's not safe here. We'll get them off in the truck after we get away from here."

Jean blinked back hot tears and nodded. She was at a loss on what was happening, but she let her mother guide her to the truck.

Sarah hurried her child into the rear seats. She climbed in last and saw Cameron's pack fly across the front bench seat.

The terminator got in, slammed the driver's door, and put the truck into drive. She floored the gas pedal and drove around the mall to the opposite side from the nearing police's view. She spotted the back entrance was barricaded by jersey curbs. She instead roared over the parking lot's curb, cut across the grass, and jumped off the edge into the quiet street's single lane. A glance in the rear view mirror, she saw a stream of flashing cars zip through an intersection towards the abandon mall's main entrance.

"Hey, hey it's alright," Sarah soothed her daughter. She held Jean's damp cheeks, her own fingers now moistened by the tears. She drew Jean closer to her and whispered, "You're safe, promise." She slipped her right arm around her daughter's waist and held her.

Jean was still riding out her fear and shock about this morning. She didn't understand what'd happened or why it'd happened to them. All she knew was that her mother was alive, and they were safe now. She gasped for air between her tears and her body's burn was slowly receding.

Sarah was bent forward and kept Jean close to her. She shut her eyes and kissed her daughter's head. She was relieved to inhale that soft lilac scent from Jean's shampoo.

After a good ten minutes, Jean lifted her head and through achy eyes, she asked, "What happened, Mom? Who were they?" She had racing thoughts that were getting wilder.

Sarah swallowed and faintly shook her head. Her right hand swept over the handcuffs, which promptly encouraged her to fix the problem. She didn't like Jean being restrained still so she focused on their driver. "We need to get these handcuffs off."

"When we arrive at the hospital-"

"No," Sarah snapped, "Now, Cameron. Just pullover and help me with them."

Cameron checked her review mirror and took in both Sarah's warning look and the traffic behind the truck. She focused back on her driving then pulled into a large parking lot for a shopping center. She slowly rolled through the parking lot until she found a secluded spot set far back from the shops. She put the truck in park, hopped out, and pulled open the passenger door.

Sarah instructed her daughter to sit up, turn in the seat, and scoot down so that Cameron had room. She observed how her daughter's wrists were red and bruising from the handcuffs. She set her jaw then explained, "Cameron is going to hold the cuffs still while we work the lock." She peered over her shoulder at the terminator.

Cameron was seated on the bench directly behind Sarah. Her front slightly brushed against the human's back and side. She reached forward and grasped the right cuff with both hands. She wiggled her fingers between the cuff and Jean's wrist. She easily calculated that her and Sarah's silent plan would work.

"You have a knife?" Sarah asked but this time her tone was gentler.

The terminator freed her left hand and retrieved a pocket knife from her jeans. She handed it over then repositioned her fingers correctly.

Sarah opened the slim pocket knife then placed the blade's tip into the key hole. "You have to stay still, Jean."

Jean easily nodded and closed her eyes. She just wanted them off.

Sarah merely toyed with the lock in the handcuff but waited for Cameron to handle it.

The terminator curled her fingers firmly around the cuff then slowly started forcing the cuff open with her arm strength. She was careful not to jar anything or else the knife could slip.

Sarah had seen her former lover's strength rarely in the past and only recently with the motorcycle. She was dazzled by how the metal cuff bent and the lock gave out under the terminator's superior strength. But she was relieved once the cuff jerked open and freed her daughter's left arm.

Jean heard and felt freedom, and she brought her arm forward. She was relieved that the warm metal was gone. She noted the angry markings left on her wrist.

"Move to the right a little, Jean." Sarah gently pushed on her daughter's hip. She didn't want Jean to face them, and she kept hold of Jean's right hand. Once Jean was situated, she softly told, "Stay still again." She waited for Cameron to grip the cuff like last time.

The terminator slipped her fingers in the small space then prepared to break the lock. Once Sarah was pretending to pick the lock, she slowly pulled the cuff wider and wider until the lock gave out. She took the handcuffs once Jean was free, and she hid them behind herself so that Jean wouldn't see how she ruined them.

Sarah folded the knife shut then sadly smiled at her daughter, who now faced her. She handed the pocket knife to the terminator and gave a grateful look. She hoped her earlier snap hadn't upset the terminator, and she couldn't really tell one way or another.

Jean instantly hugged her mother, who held her close and kissed her head.

Cameron had put the pocket knife away and backed out of the truck. She quietly shut the door then went back into the driver's seat. She buckled first then put the truck into gear and drove out of the shopping center.

Jean felt thin amount of control settle in her after today. She lifted her head from her mother's chest and shakily asked, "What's happening, Mom?"

Sarah settled back in her seat and brushed the stray locks from her daughter's face. She reached for her internal strength and told herself this had to be done, to protect her child. She inhaled deeply then softly explained, "They were kidnappers."

Jean shook her head and murmured, "Why did they come after us?" She turned her head to the right and studied Cameron's hard profile. "She stopped them... how..." She swallowed hard and fathomed how Cameron Phillips stopped her kidnappers and saved her.

Sarah reached up and turned her daughter's head back to her. "They wanted to ransom you back to your father and I."

"But why?"

Sarah gave a heavy sigh. "Because we have the money... because they thought they could do it."

Jean saw something dark flicker through her mother's eyes, but she wasn't totally sure. She straightened up more but stayed seated close to her mother. "How did she..." Her words were low, uncertain, and her eyes traveled back to Cameron Phillips.

Sarah bit her lower lip for a second before her daughter looked at her again. She read Jean's worry and even fear, perhaps for the terminator. She gathered her child's hands into hers and continued spinning the lies. "The truth is that I hired Cameron."

The terminator appeared to be focused on her driving, but she easily listened to the pair in the background. She carefully recorded Sarah's pending conversation so that she too could follow it.

"You hired her?" Jean was jarred and leaned away from her mother. "For what? To do what?"

Sarah searched her daughter's eyes, and her heart sank. She told herself she had to do this and that some day Jean would indeed understand it all. "To protect you," she calmly replied. "After she discharged from the army, I hired her to protect you... from incidents like this."

Jean had astonished features and looked from Cameron to her mother. She harshly snapped, "You're paying her to be my shadow?"

Sarah wasn't up for an argument and tried staying calm. "Your father and I are high profile... especially because of Cyberdyne Systems."

"I don't believe this," Jean muttered. She shook her head a few times. "Does Dad know?" She caught her mother's hesitation and concluded, "He doesn't, does he?"

"Your father has enough stress in his life."

"And you never let him feel responsible for me... for my life," Jean sharply reminded her mother.

"Jean," Sarah warned.

Jean sighed and turned her head away. She couldn't understand why her mother went to such lengths to protect her. She closed her eyes and wondered what her father would think about this.

"Listen," Sarah tried, and she gently pulled her daughter's face back to her. "When we arrive at the hospital, we have to tell them that it was a car accident... nothing else."

Jean was wide eye at her mother's plans. "Will the police show up?"

Sarah considered this aspect and finally nodded after some thought. "Most likely the car accident has been reported by now."

"But they'll know something is wrong," Jean debated. "They'll know when the accident happened versus how long it took us to come to the hospital."

Sarah was already working on such a problem but stated, "Cameron and I will handle that detail."

Jean bowed her head and murmured, "Dad is going to be so upset."

Sarah bit her lower lip then finally stated, "You can't tell your father what's happened." She hated to do this but the less people in the crazy circle the better off everybody would be in the long run. She instantly found shocked features staring back at her.

"Mom, we have to tell-"

"No," Sarah cut off. She shook her head, and a sharpness entered her voice. "Your father doesn't need to worry about this." She saw how Jean was very unsure so she soothed her tone and pressed, "You have to trust me, Jean."

Jean bowed her head and shut her eyes. She thought about what her mother asked her to do and why it was happening. She was confused and scared, but she indeed always felt closer to her mother than her father. She admired her mother greatly and watched her mother struggle to keep Cyberdyne Systems on her shoulders. Jean didn't understand how her mother stayed together some days. She decided her mother had made certain plans for such a crisis.

"Why?" Jean murmured after long silence. She curiously gazed at her mother. "Why are you protecting me?"

Sarah cupped her daughter's cheeks, leaned in some, and locked eyes with Jean. "Because you're the most important thing in my life, Jean."

Jean was surprised by her mother's affirmation and forthright. She rarely heard such words but indeed witnessed subtle hints of it in what her mother did for her. She wasn't sure what to say and leaned forward until her forehead pressed into her mother's chest. She closed her eyes and hugged her mother.

Sarah returned the long hug, lowered her head, and let out a low breath. She could feel that Jean would listen to her earlier pleas. She would also do anything necessary to protect her only child.

"I love you, Mom," Jean muffled from her hidden spot in her mother's arms.

Sarah brushed her lips over her daughter's temple and murmured, "I love you too." She and Jean stayed together for awhile longer. But Sarah gazed up and stared at the rearview mirror at Cameron's profile. But eventually, the terminator's icy blue eyes focused on Sarah, and it sent a brief chill down Sarah's back to see it. She knew Cameron was still inwardly focused on the mission to get them to safety.

On the drive to the hospital, both Cameron and Sarah's earpieces silently rang with phone calls followed by voicemails. But neither women paid any attention to the calls since they were working out their story for when they arrived at the hospital. Sarah wanted to keep it simple as possible and told Jean to keep the same story as her mother. Finally they arrived at the hospital that was closest to the Connor home, which was about twenty minutes away.

Cameron assisted Sarah out of the truck, but she knew Sarah could walk okay. She turned back and took Jean into her arms. She was too concern the damage to Jean's knee would worsen if any weight or pressure was placed on it. She adjusted the girl in her arms then nodded at Sarah.

Sarah combed her untamed hair back and beelined to the Emergency Room's doors. She automatically became in charge as soon as they entered the ER. She hastily explained to the nurses what happened in the car crash and that they needed medical attention, especially her daughter.

The nurses hurried the three women into a private room and had a doctor on the way. Soon they were taking care of the injuries and performed scans on Jean's knee. The doctor arrived shortly there after and inspected Jean's knee while the nurses tended to the mother. He was pleased to find it wasn't as bad as it initially looked from the outside.

Sarah remained near her daughter while the nurses cleaned then healed her wounds with the regenerator. She had to remove her shirt and receive a few scans around her ribcage.

Cameron had taken a seat by the wall and just watched over the humans. She was grateful that the medical technology in 2030 was far more advanced than in the early twenty-first century. She concluded that once they were done at the hospital that Jean's knee would be mostly healed except for some minor aches. And she suspected Sarah's ribs would only be a memory from the car crash. However, she knew that today's events were burned in their minds, for a lifetime.

Just after wrapping up the the doctor, Sarah ended the handshake and her features dimmed at the approaching police officers. She noted they were uniform, which eased some of her concern.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Connor," the first officer greeted. He and his partner entered the room without invite. He gave a thin smile to the exiting doctor and nurse then centered back on the two women.

Cameron started to stand, but Sarah's sharp glance made her stay still. She inwardly sighed, crossed her legs, and continued looking relaxed despite her systems were edgy.

"Good afternoon too," the CEO properly returned. She gently touched her daughter's uninjured knee in hidden signal for her to remain seated on the bed. She stepped forward and held out her hand.

The officer, Jason Briggs, took the CEO's small hand and firmly shook. "I'm Corporal Jason Briggs and this is my partner, Officer Emily Hicks. We're with the California State Police."

Sarah simply nodded and slipped her hands into her slacks' pockets. "I assume you're here about my car."

"Yes, Mrs. Connor your hover car was found overturned next to the intersection of Route 11 and Raintree Road." Corporal Briggs produced a touch pad, pulled out a inkless pen, and prepared to take notes. "It was reported by a passerby and appeared abandon."

Sarah dipped her head in agreement. "We were in a minor hit and run," she smoothly explained. "My daughter, Jean..." She signaled her child just behind her then gazed back at the officers. "And I were going to eight o'clock mass. We travel Route 11 anytime we go to church." She half shrugged then continued telling the officers what'd happened this morning. "I stopped at the intersection and on the opposite side there was a fast approaching hover SUV."

Jean carefully listened to her mother's story, which so far was true. Her eyes flickered over to Cameron, who was seated far behind the officers. She noticed how Cameron remained passive yet fully centered on her mother and the officers.

"As we crossed the intersection, the SUV plowed through the stop sign and hit us head on," Sarah told. "We were forced off the road, into the ditch, and we both fell unconscious."

Officer Hicks had a puzzled expression but her partner asked the question on her mind.

"They struck you, deliberately?" Corporal Briggs checked.

"I'm not sure whether deliberately or just weren't paying attention," Sarah replied. She freed her right hand and brushed her hair out of the way. "You'd have to ask them."

"So you didn't speak to them?"

Sarah switched her attention to the female officer. "It was a hit and run," she reminded. "My daughter and I were out for maybe thirty minutes or so. I'm not exactly sure how long. But we came to, and they were gone."

"Did you get their tags?" Officer Hicks pressed.

Sarah shook her head then looked at Jean. "Did you see them, sweetie?"

Jean frowned and looked from her mom to Officer Emily Hicks. "I was barely awake... it was too early in the morning for me." She acted as if she could care less.

The CEO slightly glowered at her daughter's attitude, but inwardly she was rather pleased by it. She sighed and softly added, "Sorry. My daughter goes to church for a reason." Behind her, she heard Jean's low huff, but she ignored it.

Officer Hicks glanced at her partner, and she was sure he agreed that the famous CEO's daughter was probably a spoiled brat. She tried not rolling her eyes so that she remained polite. "Would you be able to describe the make, model, and so on?"

Sarah folded her arms and shifted her weight to her right foot. She furrowed her eyebrows then half turned to Jean. "It was black."

"Navy, mom," Jean corrected. "It was a navy SUV."

Officer Hicks studied her partner's touch pad and saw he was jotting down the information. "Do you know the make?"

Jean just shrugged despite the make popped up into her head instantly.

Sarah racked her memory but came up short. "I'm better with old, historic cars or computers than what's on the road these days." She bit her lower lip then offered, "I think it may have been a Chery... that Chinese brand."

The corporal was bobbing his head and lowered his pad as he focused on Sarah Connor. "So you were struck maybe ten to fifteen minutes of eight o'clock. You blacked out for no more than half an hour...?"

Sarah considered this then gave a single nod.

The corporal glanced at the time on his PDA and did the math. He was slightly baffled yet inquired, "What were you doing between eight thirty to nine thirty when you checked into the hospital?" He saw from the hospital report that the mother and daughter arrived around nine thirty.

"Well," Sarah started, "after I came to, I woke up my daughter. It took us some time to get out of the hover car. After we climbed out of the car, I called Cameron, who is living in my home." She signaled the terminator, who still sat behind the state police.

The corporal and his partner now noted her as if for the first time. Corporal Briggs half turned to Cameron and asked, "Your full name, miss?" He lifted his PDA and entered into the police database.

The terminator stood up and approached the officers. "My name is Cameron Phillips." She took the CEO's side and saw that Corporal Briggs was searching her name in the police database. She was slightly tense while the corporal researched her.

Corporal Briggs discovered the young woman in the system and found the photo matched up perfectly. He attached her information to the police report then looked up.

"I arrived only a few minutes later," Cameron explained. "I helped Sarah and Jean get into the truck. I was going to take them directly the hospital. However, Sarah insisted that we needed to track down the SUV that'd struck her car."

Corporal Briggs instantly gave a curious stare to the CEO.

Sarah shrugged and explained, "Insurance information... the assholes hit me and ran. I was hoping they wouldn't be far away. I figured it'd be easy to pick out their smashed front end."

Officer Hicks now couldn't help rolling her eyes. She couldn't believe this overly rich CEO was more worried about collecting insurance information than getting her child to the hospital. Now she understood why the daughter acted like a brat and not just spoiled to the core.

"We didn't have any luck," Cameron reported to the officers. "I finally insisted to Sarah that we had to take Jean to the hospital."

"Whatever," Jean cut in, "don't make it all about me." She blew up some air, which caused a few strands to lift away. She received a scowl from her mother.

The corporal lowered his touch pad and softly asked, "Anything else?" His question was directed at his partner.

"No." Officer Hicks was satisfied and stepped forward. "We'll file the report so you can send it into your insurance company." She knew the CEO was mostly concerned about that aspect, obviously. She held out her hand.

"Great." Sarah shook hands but looked at the corporal. "Can I get your information?" She fished out her earpiece, held the talk button for five seconds, and released it once it flashed red instead of blue.

"Of course." The corporal was tapping away on the touchscreen. He finally came to the correct screen then linked up with the CEO's earpiece. He uploaded the necessary information to her earpiece then closed out the connection. "Thank you for your time, Mrs. Connor." He shook hands with her too.

"Thank you." Sarah slipped her hands into her pockets and watched the officers head to the open door. She felt her stomach unknot, a little.

But Officer Emily Hicks faltered in the doorway and curiously turned back. "One last question, Mrs. Connor." She saw the CEO's features become serious. "We contacted your husband, Doctor Charley Dixon, after we didn't receive an answer from you." She tilted her head. "He knew nothing about the accident. Why didn't you contact your husband first?"

Sarah Connor swallowed yet quickly informed, "Because I didn't have the insurance information for him." She had a nervous expression. "I won't hear the end of this one."

The officer shouldn't have been surprised, and apart of her felt for the CEO. She concluded the wealthy woman may be the CEO at Cyberdyne System but was apparently ruled by her husband. Emily Hicks just tipped her hat's brim and finally offered, "Goodbye, ma'am." She quietly left with her partner.

Sarah listened to the officers' footfall down the hall until they were far enough away. She released a hefty sigh and dipped her head.

Jean grasped her mother's shoulder. "You alright, mom?"

Sarah covered her child's hand and nodded. "I'm alright." She gave a half smile. "How about you?"

Jean seriously considered it. "Better than earlier." She physically felt better at least, yet she was inwardly shaken by today. She freed her hand then gazed over at Cameron Phillips, who was her hired bodyguard thanks to her mother.

Sarah felt a hint of relief at knowing her daughter was feeling better. But she knew that Jean was forever shaken by what happened today. They would have to discuss it later when they had a chance to be alone. She now turned to the terminator, who stood next to her.

Cameron regarded Sarah Connor, her human, and held a question in her blue eyes.

Sarah lightly touched the terminator's lower midback in a new habit. "Thank you," she whispered, sincerely. She noticed instantly how Cameron's features softened as if a the terminator persona was switched off in Cameron.

The terminator studied her former lover for a beat then glanced at Jean's weary features. She then stated, "We should go home."

Sarah was in full agreement and turned back to Jean. "How about it?"

Jean just nodded and gripped the bed's edge. She really wanted to get out of the hospital and back to her home where she felt safe.

"Let me find the nurse," Sarah murmured. She pushed away from the pair and went in search of their nurse or the doctor to make sure it was okay for them to leave.

Jean was quiet and stared down at her dirty, bloody shoes. She felt uncomfortable now with Cameron Phillips. She wasn't sure how to handle the news about her protector.

Cameron easily detected the young human's uneasiness now. She debated her options on how to relieve it and finally neared Sarah's daughter. "How does your knee feel?" She tried opening the conversation with something simple.

"A lot better but just sore." Jean tested her knee by swinging her leg. It did feel a lot better after the nurse used the regenerator gun.

"That should subside by tomorrow," Cameron concluded. She saw Jean's faint nod. She decided on a new tactic to get closer with Jean, again. She hoped the young human would feel comfortable with her like before. "I am sorry I did not tell you the whole truth."

Jean shook her head and cautiously peered up at the tall woman. "I'm sure mom asked you not to." She noticed how Cameron didn't agree or disagree. "I means it's a bit sketch and stuff but it's kinda... tight."

The terminator considered Jean's last word with a tilt of her head. "Tight?"

"Yeah... you know, cool or whatev." The teen half shrugged and explained, "I mean how many kids can say they got their own bodyguard? It's kinda hype." She had a grin.

Cameron relaxed now that the teen seemed okay with it. "It is pretty tight."

"Word," Jean agreed. But she became serious and informed, "Just don't like... mother me or anything."

Cameron pretended to consider this and told, "Your mother asked I go to school with you and any friends' homes." She stayed serious until Jean went wide eye then grinned.

"That's so wrong," Jean fought. She shook her head but knew Cameron was teasing her. She then leaned closer to the older woman and asked, "You see that female cop?" She noted Cameron's now arched eyebrow. "She was so minging."

The terminator was suddenly perplexed and researched the slang word, but Jean beat her to it.

Jean lowered her voice and defined, "It's somebody that wasn't just touched by the ugly stick, but severely beat by it."

Cameron had just retrieved the definition and was jarred by how the word most likely was a cuss word. But she shrugged and muttered, "She was a bit fugly."

"Word up," Jean agreed. She then grinned, devilishly. "I'm so glad I got mom's genes." She shook her head and quietly stated, "Mom is so hot... even if she's in her Jurassic age."

Cameron folded her thick arms and considered Sarah Connor's physical attributes. "Yes, she is very aesthetically pleasing for a woman in her forties."

Jean slightly grinned at her protector but could tell Cameron was definitely serious. She didn't have a chance to ask anymore and clammed up because her mother returned. She glanced at Cameron, who was fixed on Sarah as if measuring her mother's hotness rating. Jean shook it off though.

Sarah paused in front of the pair because they both oddly stared at her. "What?"

Cameron blinked and suddenly straightened up from her leaning position on the bed. "Are you and Jean cleared to leave?"

"Yes." Sarah was glad once the pair moved away from the bed in silent agreement to leave. She let Jean pass by, and she gingerly grasped Cameron's wrist. "We need to talk later."

Cameron dipped her head in agreement.

Sarah returned the nod then gently squeezed Cameron's arm in a tender manner. She let go and hurried them after Jean, who waited just outside the room. They joined together and left the hospital to go back to the truck. Sarah detected her earpiece's vibration in her pocket, and she assumed it was Charley. Once she was at the truck, she told Cameron and Jean to get in it, but she walked away and put on her earpiece. She wanted a semi-private conversation once she glazed over the story she, Jean, and Cameron were giving everybody. She couldn't shake her knotted stomach or heart's slow sink.

To be continued.

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