Epilogue

I'll Always Love you

A week later, John's energy was barely back. He'd been in bed for three days, simply recovering what he'd lost. He didn't remember much until a few days ago, but Cameron had been more than willing to explain to him what had happened when Sarah and Derek weren't checking in on him.

After he'd fallen asleep, Cameron had stood up to find Sarah and Derek. She hadn't taken more than five steps when Sarah and Derek found her. Upon seeing John, Sarah had lost her nerve. She raised her gun and pointed it directly at Cameron's head, intent on killing the machine responsible for what might be her son's death. It had taken Derek to stop her.

Derek never stayed around for the next part. John knew why; he was too prejudiced to admit it.

Derek had thrown Sarah's gun away, grabbed her by shoulder, and shouted at her until Sarah admitted to common sense. That had taken awhile; Sarah refused to see common sense and shouted back. Eventually, she calmed down enough to see Derek's point that if Cameron had killed John, she wouldn't be taking the body with her. Still suspicious, Sarah had listened for John's pulse and breathing. When she had heard both, she was satisfied with Cameron's explanation that he was exhausted.

On the way back, Derek asked why John had fallen asleep. Cameron had told them without impunity: John had received an adrenaline rush of more than 350%, and he had destroyed a T-888. Enter family crisis two. Sarah had slammed on the brakes and headed straight for the hospital, terrified that such exposure would kill her son. Derek had asked, "Really?"

Cameron, with Derek's grudging help, convinced Sarah rest was the best thing for him. They headed home, where their landlady asked their picnic had been. Derek took John to look more realistic, and Sarah explained with a smile that John had fallen asleep after overexerting himself in a race. Once inside, John had been sleeping, with Sarah and Derek checking on him, and Cameron never leaving his bedside.

John sat at the docks, now, sitting a table outside a café. Cameron sat across from him, watching him intently. He turned to face her. "What is it?" he asked.

"You haven't touched your warmed chocolate," Cameron explained. It wasn't hot anymore; it had cooled by fifteen degrees. "Are you all right?"

John smiled. "I'm fine; just thinking."

"You still haven't resumed regular eating habits," Cameron countered. She looked worried.

"Would you feel better if I did?" John asked.

Cameron's processes pretended to think about while her emotion simulator automatically went off. "Yes." Sighing, John finished his entire hot chocolate for her. Cameron's eyes still didn't leave him. Stretching, John turned away towards the waterfront, glancing at his hands. A week ago he had smashed a Terminator with them. He had his strength back, but he remembered the pure power that had coursed through his veins before. It had been incredible, now that he could think straight. If only there was a way to bestow human with such strength naturally, maybe Terminators wouldn't be such a threat…

John's thoughts derailed as Cameron's hands massaged his shoulders. His head rolled back. "You looked stressed," Cameron explained. Her processes worked; had she interrupted something?

"Not anymore," John mumbled, closing his eyes. Satisfied, Cameron scanned the environment. Analyzing………several humans………no machines………no malevolent expressions or actions; threat level: zero. Suggested actions: relax, blend in.

"I love you," Cameron whispered.

"I'll always love you," John replied. Cameron didn't answer back. She didn't quite understand that John was trying to instigate a contest. Her processes naturally thought a contest between them was useless; she'd win. " How about we try bowling?"

"Bowling?" she repeated.

"Yeah; remember, Derek tried it once with Sarah and our landlady? I could beat you in that," he suggested.

Cameron's processes were ahead of them. While some focused on the massage, others still scanned the environment, one or two calculated his pitiful chances. "Your chances in winning are .782% if I try," Cameron stated.

"What if I have another adrenaline rush?"

"Your chances of an adrenaline rush are .00911%, and if you did, your chance of destroying the bowling alley is 84.76838%, and 100% of needing to rest again," Cameron added. John sighed and smiled.

"Want to go anyway?"

"Yes." She stopped the massage and stood up as John pulled himself out of his seat. They headed towards the car, Cameron driving. Sarah didn't want him near the wheel or any weapon until she was certain John was completely healthy. Cameron had no problem with that. She opened the driver's side door and slid in. John climbed in as well, and they drove off, John kissing Cameron on the cheek. Her processes completely crashed for two seconds.

As they were driving, Cameron spotted something. Subject ahead at 200 feet and closing………Analyzing………subject is Riley……..Riley recognizes the vehicle; Riley recognizes me, has not seen John………Riley is 190 and closing………John hasn't spoken or acknowledged her……………..Riley is 50 feet and closing; suggested actions:………processing………

As Cameron passed Riley, where Riley could see, Cameron gave her the finger and kept driving. John raised an eyebrow, highlighting an amused smile.

"Did you just flip Riley off?" John asked.

"Of course," Cameron answered. John threw his head back and laughed.