Re: Derek/John
John wasn't sure what to say. This was pretty much out of his experience entirely. Weapons, tracking, first aid, his mother had taught him all of those things. But, she had never covered psychology or psychological trauma. Like Derek, they just kept going as long as they could stand and shoot and run. "It may be normal, but it's not right, Derek. And it's not something that should have gone unsaid." He held up a hand. "Before you say it, I get that we need to work through things, we don't have time for coddling, and all of that. But, you should have told me. I could help, find some way to make things easier."
Running a hand through his hair, he took a deep breath. "You never told me what she did to you," he said quietly. Never told him that Future John had reprogrammed the machine that had tortured Derek to protect John as he was now. In his head, he knew it wasn't Cameron, it had been the triple eight inhabiting the shell where Cameron now was. But, there was a part of him that would always look at her as the one who had hurt his family...and his Future self...had he known? Was that why he sent Cameron back with instructions to bring John forward to when he'd sent Derek back? Or was he so far gone past caring it didn't matter that he kept his best lieutenant's worst nightmare hanging around? Not that any of that was important now. Now, here and now, Derek was what mattered, not the never-ending cycle of John Connors. "Yeah, I saw her once or twice after we sent her after that dance instructor and her brother. But, I didn't know about...that."