Fic: A Helping Hand (Sarah/Cameron, Sarah Connor Chronicles)

[fembuck]

Title: A Helping Hand
Author: Janine
Fandom: Sarah Connor Chronicles
Pairing: Sarah/Cameron
Rating: PG, pre-slash
Disclaimer: I don’t own them.
Notes: Takes place during the bathtub scene in episode 1x03 – The Turk.

---

“You’re bleeding.”

Sarah blinked, her head slowly turning to the side at the soft, curious utterance.

“I am,” she confirmed a moment later, her eyes drifting from Cameron’s impassive face down to her calf where raindrops of blood rhythmically dripped into the warm water below.

“Does it hurt?” Cameron asked curiously taking a step into the bathroom, her eyes focused on Sarah’s leg as she steadily made her way towards the tub.

“I’ve had worse,” Sarah responded smirking slightly at Cameron’s furrowed brows, her seemingly genuine concern perplexing and amusing Sarah.

“So if you’ve suffered a serious injury in the past, minor wounds no longer cause pain?” Cameron asked settling down on the edge of the tub, her eyes drifting up from Sarah’s leg to her face.

“Not exactly,” Sarah responded shifting slightly, the movement catching Cameron’s attention, her dark eyes watching as Sarah’s body settled once more. “It’s more like you know you’ll survive the pain, that you can overcome it if you’ve already gone through something much more painful. It puts the pain in perspective,” Sarah continued her voice drawing Cameron’s eyes back up to her face.

Cameron blinked, her eyes losing focus for a moment before she nodded.

“How were you damaged?” she asked a second later, a long, tapered finger reaching out pressing against the flesh of Sarah’s leg to capture one of the droplets of blood before it could fall.

“I was distracted,” Sarah responded softly suddenly very aware of how naked she was as Cameron’s eyes swept up her body once more. “I pressed down too hard with the razor,” she continued, her eyes drifting to the side of the tub where her pink perpetrator sat, a dollop of white shaving cream speckled with her blood stuck to it.

“You were removing excess hair,” Cameron said as if she had discovered the answer to some great mystery.

“Not excess ... unwanted,” Sarah grumbled her lips pressing together as she shifted again intending to lower her leg back into the water. However, before she could submerge the appendage Cameron reached out and caught her ankle in her hand, returning Sarah’s leg to the position it had been in before.

“What’d you think you’re doing?” Sarah asked irritation clear in a tone as she glared at the girl.

“I won’t get distracted,” Cameron responded reaching out for the razor Sarah had abandoned.

“Don’t you have something better to do?” Sarah asked as she realized that Cameron intended to finish shaving her legs for her, bewilderment, irritation and something else warring inside of her as Cameron lowered the razor to her leg and carefully drew it up.

“No,” Cameron replied her hands continuing to move as she spoke, her eyes focused on Sarah’s calf.

“Of course you don’t,” Sarah griped softly, tilting her head back so that it was resting against the tiled wall.

Sarah’s eyes drifted closed as Cameron worked; her body relaxing even though she didn’t particularly want it to. She wasn’t at all at ease with how used to Cameron’s presence she had gotten. The brunette hadn’t even been around for a fortnight yet Sarah had gotten used to falling asleep to the sound of her foot falls as Cameron paced at night, and Cameron had taken to putting out a cup of coffee for her in the morning just the way she liked it. She’d been engaged to Charley and he’d never figured out just how she liked her coffee.

The truth was, they were becoming entirely too comfortable with each other … far too comfortable, and if Sarah had had any doubts about it their current situation was a deeply disturbing confirmation of a deeply disturbing development.

“Your body’s bangin’.”

Sarah blinked, Cameron’s words jarring her out of the haze she had fallen into as the girl worked on her leg.

“What?” Sarah asked blinking.

“Your body … it’s bangin’,” Cameron repeated her hand stilling as she looked up and over at Sarah.

“Bangin’?” Sarah repeated her lips twitching a little despite her best intentions as she stared at Cameron.

“It’s a compliment,” Cameron replied seriously worried that she’d offended Sarah in some way. “It means that your form is aesthetically pleasing.”

“Is it?” Sarah asked more surprised that Cameron had an opinion on her ‘form’ than anything else.

“Yes,” Cameron answered without hesitation, no trace of doubt in her voice. “Many people would gladly engage in sexual intercourse with you. Other leg, please.”

Momentarily shocked into silence Sarah lowered the leg Cameron had just finished with back into the water and lifted her other one, Cameron’s surprisingly gentle fingers taking hold of her ankle a moment later.

“Do you … are you programmed to find people attractive?” Sarah asked a few seconds later.

Cameron’s eyes lost focus in the way that they did when she was thinking, or processing or whatever it was that she did, and then “I must be,” she decided going back to work on Sarah’s other leg. “I find you attractive.”

“Oh,” Sarah said her eyes drifting away from Cameron.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Cameron diligently and gently working on finishing Sarah’s leg as Sarah tried to figure out how she felt about the fact that a virtually indestructible killing machine from the future thought she had a bangin’ body and that she was kind of flattered by it.

“Do you find me attractive?”

Sarah looked over at Cameron wearily, the thought running through her head that she really should have seen this coming.

“You’re very pretty,” Sarah responded in an accommodating tone of voice. The truth was that she found Cameron to be extremely attractive, disturbingly so, but there was no reason to share that with Cameron … or anyone else … ever.

Cameron stared at her thoughtfully for a long moment after she spoke.

“You’re …playin’ me,” she said softly a few seconds later. “Your pitch and vocal inflections were indicative of sarcasm,” Cameron continued, her eyes briefly lowering to Sarah’s calf as she finished up with her leg before she returned her gaze to the older woman. “You do not find me attractive,” she continued her voice falling.

“No, I do,” Sarah began immediately the touch of sadness in Cameron’s voice affecting her and bringing an explanation to her lips before she could think better of it. “I mean, you are. Sarcastic is just my default tone. Honestly you’re a very pretty … you’re very pretty,” Sarah finished averting her gaze.

“Why can’t I kiss you?” Cameron asked curiously, accepting Sarah’s response and moving on.

“I don’t … what?” Sarah asked shaking her head before looking at Cameron in confusion.

“This morning you said I couldn’t kiss you … why?”

Sarah blinked. It was a good question. A good question she didn’t want to think about.

“Oh my goodness, look at the time,” Sarah declared straightening up and bracing her hands on the edge of the tub.

“Where?” Cameron asked looking around the bathroom for a clock. “I don’t see it.”

“Don’t you have an internal clock or something?” Sarah asked quickly reaching for her robe once she was upright, draping it around her body before she even stepped out of the tub.

“Yes,” Cameron said standing and taking a step back and extending her hand to the older woman chivalrously as Sarah moved to step out of the tub. “But you don’t.”

“I do,” Sarah said staring at Cameron’s hand for a moment before accepting it. “It’s just a little different,” she continued, removing her hand from Cameron’s once both of her feet were firmly on the bathroom floor. She then held up a few pruned fingers so that the younger brunette could see.

“Why can’t I kiss you?” Cameron asked again her head tilting ever so slightly to the side as she spoke.

Sarah sighed. The girl had a real one track mind.

“Because …” I suspect I’d enjoy it, Sarah thought to herself, “I said so,” she continued out loud.

“I don’t follow your orders,” Cameron responded challengingly, a look that could only be characterized as defiance registering in her eyes.

The fierceness of the response almost made Sarah smile.

“You better follow this one,” the older woman responded, her eyes narrowing meeting Cameron’s challenge, Sarah’s heart thundering in her chest as they stood staring at each other mere centimeters apart.

Cameron smiled a small, surprisingly knowing smile, and stepped back from Sarah.

“We’ll see,” she breathed out softly.

And with that she gracefully stepped around the older woman and calmly moved towards the door.

Sarah watched as the young brunette exited the bathroom, her eyes continuing to trail her form until Cameron disappeared from sight.

Sarah sighed and ran her hand through her hair before heading through the door herself. As she passed the hallway Cameron had disappeared down she found her eyes drifting to the side, searching for the girl’s form but there was no sign of her as she passed.

Well, Sarah thought as she made it to her room, her body collapsing against the door the moment it was closed, at least I’m not comfortable anymore.

The End

Comments

[sinandmisery.livejournal.com]

*squee* I love this! You got Cameron's Terminator-ness down and the "your body is bangin'" was classic. I love that there's so much Cameron has to pick up about humans.

Also, I love your writing so I'm glad you love this fandom!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Phew *wipes brow* I was worried about this one, so I'm glad it didn't suck, lol!

"your body is bangin'" was classic.

*grin* Man, I love episode 3 for making lines like this totally in character. If only I'd been able to find a get Cameron to say 'tight'.

I love that there's so much Cameron has to pick up about humans.

She's so cute, like a cute, eager puppy ... that could kill you in the blink of an eye. Seriously, I love Summer Glau. She makes Cameron so huggable, which is great of Camerah femslash because you can totally see how Sarah wouldn't be able to resist her.

[pellnell.livejournal.com]

Wow, that was really great. You've really got the dialogue down, I could definitely hear Summer Glau saying those things.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for responding, I'm glad that you enjoyed it!

You've really got the dialogue down, I could definitely hear Summer Glau saying those things.

I love Summer for making Cameron so distinct, I was imagining her in my head as I was writing and it was great to be able to imagine the inflections and facial expressions she would use and I could do it because she has totally owned this role.

Summer ... *le sigh*

[postxf.livejournal.com]

Dear god, this was perfect. “I won’t get distracted." Haha. I love it. This was so spot on. I hope you continue scenes like this.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for responding, I'm glad that you liked it!

I was kind of nervous before posting it, so I'm glad it turned out alright.

I hope you continue scenes like this.

I'd love to be able to do little scenes like this based on a snippet from future episodes, that shows the progression of their relationship. I don't know if it's possible yet, but it's definitely something I'd be interested in doing.

[teh-no.livejournal.com]

“Your body’s bangin’.” ... “Many people would gladly engage in sexual intercourse with you. Other leg, please.”

Oh, Cameron, you and your sweet-talk!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I know, who could resist such romantic sentiments? Poor Sarah doesn't stand a chance.

[kjaneway.livejournal.com]

There were so many good lines and things in this episode.

Sarah's line about Cameron not kissing her, for example, made me laugh out loud imagining how much fun we could have with it in the femslash world.

You nailed one use of it in this piece. Nice job.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

This episode was genius. I seriously loved it. I was LOLing like every 5 minutes. *hugs SCC writers*

Sarah's line about Cameron not kissing her, for example, made me laugh out loud imagining how much fun we could have with it in the femslash world.

Oh, I know! What cracked me up was that I really was waiting for Cameron to try to kiss her, so when Sarah said that I was like "omg, she knows Cameron has a girl crush on her!" And there was something domestically sweet about the "these need to be cleaned" line and Sarah handing her the dish towel. *sigh* I love these two. I love this show.

Thanks so much for the feedback, I'm glad you enjoyed it :D

[usagiko.livejournal.com]

Awesome. Love it!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

P.S. Awesome icon. Asuka is love.

[random-flores.livejournal.com]

Perfect characterization. What a lovely read. Thanks!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much. I was really worried about the characterization before posting it, so I'm glad they were in character!

P.S. *sqees at icon* Brooke and Sam make my heart quiver. Their love was obvious pure.

[amikana.livejournal.com]

brilliant! i loved when that little scene came up in the episode and i was so hoping that it would get worked into a fic or two.

great job! :)

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

And yeah, with the bathroom door flung wide-open and the crazy, sexy cool that is Sarah ... fic had to result, lol.

BTW, I love Seven icon. Mmm, Seven so pretty (and delightfully Cameron-like ... or should that be Cameron is delightfully Seven-like ... either way is awesome I guess)

[dreiser.livejournal.com]

You've got the character voices down perfectly and I love how you write Sarah to be sardonic, sexy, and sweet at the same time. Which, really, is so canon for how Lena is playing her. Fabulous job!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the feedback! I was a bit worried about Sarah's voice, so it's nice to know that it worked out. I could picture it in my head, but it's sometimes hard to get that across.

Which, really, is so canon for how Lena is playing her.

I'm in love with Lena's Sarah. Especially after the last episode. I think Lena's doing some great stuff with the character, and she makes Sarah very fun to write.

[sojourn-storm.livejournal.com]

Damn. I told myself not to fall into another fandom. Gossip Girl is enough, but I'm hooked. You had to write this story didn't you, lol? I loved it though.

Especially loved this : “You’re …playin’ me,” she said softly a few seconds later. “Your pitch and vocal inflections were indicative of sarcasm,” Cameron continued, her eyes briefly lowering to Sarah’s calf as she finished up with her leg before she returned her gaze to the older woman. “You do not find me attractive,” she continued her voice falling.

It's a great Cameron voice you've written and the above illustrates that, imo. She's a robot but she's got emotions but she can't quite make out exactly what Sarah's feeling and goes with what Sarah uses more often than not, sarcasm.

Great story. Thanks for posting.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I told myself not to fall into another fandom. Gossip Girl is enough, but I'm hooked.

If it's any consolation it's a totally awesome fandom ... and really, really pretty *wink*

Thanks for the feedback, I'm glad that you enjoyed the story. I'm getting totally obsessed with these two, I love the way they play off each other. So different and yet oddly complimentary.

[slipjay.livejournal.com]

So many people have beat me to it, but I'd still like to add my happy praise! Like all the other readers, I'm eager for more and can't wait 'til you post again. :)

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks so much for writing! I'm really glad that you liked the story. And if the show continues to be so totally kickass I'm sure that it will inspire many more stories :D

[billy-rose.livejournal.com]

damn, you're good O.O
totally have Cam down ^_^
great fic

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

*smile*

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. I was struggling a bit with the characters, but I think writing this has really helped me get a better feel for them.

I can't believe I have to wait two weeks for another new episode though *sobs* So unfair.

[crys-22.livejournal.com]

Yay, another Janine Sarah/Cameron fic! I was hoping you would do another one. I'm in total agreement with everyone else, you captured both characters' voices so well. I am so loving the way Sarah and Cameron play off of each other on the show and you really managed to capture that perfectly.

Those two make it hard to decide, whether or not I want a Sarah of my own or a Cameron.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I've been living in fear since the summer that the show would suck, so I've been delighted with how awesome (and funny) it's been and couldn't resist an opportunity like the bathtub scene, lol.

I'm glad the characters felt right, I was struggling with them a little, but I think battling through this really helped me get a good feel for them. I love their vibe on the show so I'm happy it came through in the fic.

Those two make it hard to decide, whether or not I want a Sarah of my own or a Cameron.

Ah, a timeless debate, lol. I know, it's so difficult to decide. This must be why threesomes were invented!

[ralst.livejournal.com]

This was great. You really nailed the characterisations and brought them both to life. I could see this scene playing out in the episode and neatly tweaking their future interactions.

Sarcastic is just my default tone.

I love that line.

I hope you'll be writing many more for these two.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm glad that it worked out okay. I'd gone through about four drafts of another S/C fic that I just couldn't get a handle on and was despairing that I wouldn't be able to write this pairing even though I love them, so this not sucking makes me happy, lol.

I love that line.

I love that Sarah really is so sarcastic. Sarcasm is totally hot!

As long as the show continues to bring it, I will attempt to as well ;)

[pocabomba.livejournal.com]

freakin' awesome.

i love how you incorporated that interesting line about not kissing into the fic. priceless. they are so hot together.

[harper-m.livejournal.com]

fabulous icon. i'm jealous.

[harper-m.livejournal.com]

most excellent. the banter was classic (and in character, so kudos). wonderfully done.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I love the writers for creating such a cute and interesting dynamic between the two of them.

[hivesix.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I like Cameron's voice... I can picture Summer Glau saying it! Can't wait to see this ep now lol.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Thanks for taking the time to write, I'm glad that you liked the story.

I totally love Summer in every this role, she has a very distinct way of playing Cameron which is great because when I was writing this I was like, "Can I picture Summer saying this?" and then depending on the answer would keep a line or delete it!

Have you seen the episode yet? It's love.

[pictureplaces.livejournal.com]

you read my mind! as soon as i saw that scene i thought "SOMEONE HAS TO WRITE THIS SCENE WITH CAMERON IN IT!" and you did. oh you did. *is happy* :D

i didnt think i could take much more sexual tension in the show but then you wrote this and it's made it ten times worse/better and i want to mash the keyboard. sdsfdgfhjhkhhgg ah, much better.

Brilliant work!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

as soon as i saw that scene i thought "SOMEONE HAS TO WRITE THIS SCENE WITH CAMERON IN IT!" and you did.

With the open door and Cameron's habit of following Sarah around like a puppy dog I was kind of expecting her to actually walk in in the episode! But yes, Sarah + Bathtub + Cameron = Awesome.

i didnt think i could take much more sexual tension in the show but then you wrote this and it's made it ten times worse/better and i want to mash the keyboard.

*is touched to have inspired keyboard mashing*

[were-lemur.livejournal.com]

You really did a great job catching the disconnect -- the way that Cameron just does not "get" things.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for responding! I'm glad that you enjoyed the story.

I really love that disconnect with Cameron too, but also that she's trying, that she really does seem to want to connect just doesn't know how. I'm really looking forward to seeing her develop on the show.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for taking the time to write. I'm glad that you enjoyed the story, and that they were in character! I was struggling with them for a while, so I'm glad that it seems I finally got a sense of them.

[mondoshawan555.livejournal.com]

I'm just gonna say the first word that came to me when I saw this: squeeeee!!!

[calliopes-muse.livejournal.com]

SQUEEEEEE!!! There...I did it for you. :)

[sapphire-magick.livejournal.com]

OH WOW.

*falls tumbling down into another fandom*

I shouldn't be too surprised though...it's inevitable when you start writing. =p

LOVE all around <3 for the fic. You made me (and Sarah) all uncomfortable at the end though.

OH OH OH! DO A SEQUEL! =D Make Sarah and us readers comfortable again! =D You want to make your favourite characters comfortable, don't you?

[sleepy-jaffa.livejournal.com]

OMG I love your icon! You wouldn't have the orig. pic anywhere by any chance would you? *stares*

[zleznjiyh.livejournal.com]

I loled so hard on some things because they were so spot-on. Nice writing!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks so much. I'm glad that you enjoyed it! These two are so much fun, I had a blast watching it.

P.S. Pretty icon. Even wraith-like Missy is hot!

[calliopes-muse.livejournal.com]

*thunk* That's my jaw hitting the floor. Damn, this was so perfect and like other have said, that scene was begging for a fic. I wanted to do it, but you beat me to it and quite frankly did a helluva better job at it.

I wanna see the next scene!!! MORE, MORE!!!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

that scene was begging for a fic. I wanted to do it

Do it! Do it! There can never be enough bathtub fic. Never (at least when Lena Headey and Summer Glau are involved, lol).

I wanna see the next scene!!!

Me too, but stupid FOX is making us wait another week before they air the new episode *sobs* But hopefully that episode (when it finally airs) will inspire another installment :D

[sleepy-jaffa.livejournal.com]

Absolutely fantastic. =D

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for writing, I'm glad you enjoyed it!