ficwize | FIC: Five Things that Derek Reese Learned About John Connor

Title: Five Things that Derek Reese Learned About John Connor
Author:

wizefics
Fandom: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Characters: Derek and John
Rating: Gen
Warnings: None really - general spoilers. Umm, and I probably butchered what I could remember of the dialog I quoted. *headdesk*
Summary: Derek can see the man he once knew in the boy before him.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything of note here and don't make money doing this.
A/N: Written for the Five Things Challenge at

d_or_c. First fic in this fandom. :)

As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated!

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1. Derek learned that John trusts metal. He doesn't understand how or why - but he understands that its true. In the future, John had few friends, and if given the option he surrounded himself by the machines. In the past, John's words pounded into Derek's mind until he knew he'd never forget them: You don't have to trust her. You can trust me!

As he got to know his nephew, Derek wondered if John's reliance on the machines was a way the boy protected himself. If the things were destroyed, no one cried and no one grieved and no one blamed John for allowing more death.

Derek hated himself for it, but when he thought about it like that, he could forgive John a little bit.

2. Derek learned that John as a boy already possessed the qualities that he recognized from John as a man. He was smart - so damn smart - there was nothing about the machines he couldn't figure out if he only had enough time. He didn't take well to being criticized. He was ruthless - no one was above being used if that's what it took to win - not his best friend and father, not his mother, and certainly not an uncle that he barely knew.

We don't know what her real plans are! She shows up here, from the future...

The same could be said of you.

Derek could understand that. Trust no one, let no one close. It hurt less that way.

3. Derek learned that John carried the weight of the world on his shoulders with ease as an adult, because the burden had sat so heavy when John was a child. Every death, even in the time of war, was a wound that would eventually drain the hero dry. And there was very little that could ever replace the innocence which John lost.

What did you do with Kyle?

Do you ever wonder what happened to Todd and Janelle?"

I got them killed. And the boy John took responsibility for the decision that he would make as a man to send his best friend back, to not tell Kyle what he knew, and to be born. It was a burden that would have crushed Derek and even though he hated John for it, he also respected the hell out of him.

4. Derek learned that sometimes beer and ice cream can make things bearable, even to a man or a boy who thinks that his only worth is in what he can do and not in what he is.

How did you know it was my birthday? The question, seemingly so innocent was filled with a wealth of pain that kept Derek from telling John that in the future everyone celebrated John Connor's birthday - it was more popular than any holiday except Christmas.

I celebrated your 30th with you. You got drunk as a skunk.

The smile on John's face struck Derek as the first real smile he'd ever seen from John and Derek realized what loneliness looked like.

5. Derek learned that you can love someone that you also hate.

I've seen Kyle looking out of your eyes ever since I saw you.

Derek saw John cry as he looked at the boy who would one day be his best friend, and one day after that be his father, and he knew that although he'd kill for either John, he'd die for this John willingly.