the replacements: a daring rescue

by nita dee

disclaimer: "the replacements" belong to dan santat and walt disney productions

chapter nine: saying goodbye

"five minutes..no more." raja rameen said once again as his brother senjay led k, dick and carter into a tent for some privacy.

"let me untie your hands." senjay rameen said as he untied k's hands.

"thank you for stepping up for us. are you related to the raja?"
k asked.

"i'm his brother. i'll be just outside. do say your goodbyes quickly. the guards will be back for you shortly, agent k." senjay said as he exited the tent.

k turned to dick, who began to cry.

"dick..no tears. please, my dear..don't cry." k said with love in her voice.

dick took k into his arms and held her tight.

"i won't let you go, katie. they'll have to go through me to get to you." dick said, his warm tears falling on k's white golden hair.

"dick, they wouldn't think twice of killing you to get to me."
k said, her heart breaking but her own eyes dry. "i have to go and face my destiny in a few minutes and there is much i need to ask you to do for me."

"i've failed you..i let you down.." dick said with a moan.

"no..my love..no. you didn't fail me. you had me out of here.
you had me out. i was the one who couldn't bear to see another child die. never, never blame yourself for what happened today." k said,
wiping dick's tears with her right hand.

"dick, how are the children?" k asked.

"they are fine. they are in london with your parents. i promised todd and riley i'd bring you home..and i failed them.." dick said with a sob.

"dick, listen to me and listen closely. in a few minutes, i have to place myself at the feet of that elephant again and it's going to take everything i have in me to do that. i don't want to die. but i need for you to be strong and brave for me and not cry anymore. i need..dick..i need you to pray for me. don't follow me when i leave and please don't watch the execution. it will haunt you the rest of your days. stay back in this tent with carter and pray that god takes my soul directly to heaven and that i leave this earth quickly and that the foot of the elephant is swift and sure.." k said, becoming the commanding member of the couple she had always been.

"k, you are being so brave through all of this." carter said quietly as dick took his lips and kissed the top of k's head.

"carter, it's an act. the old british stiff upper lip if you will.
i'm terrified. there are so many people out there and you know how easily frightened i get in front of crowds. but i made myself a promise last night that i would die with grace, dignity and humility." k said.

"dick." k said, her attention turning back to dick who had stopped crying. "there is a life insurance policy through british intelligence that will be tripled since i am dying in the line of duty. there is almost a million pounds that you can use to give todd and riley a good start in life. you know, college? money to help them start out in life?"

"college. a good start in life." dick said without emotion.

"our children will need their father more than ever now. dick,
promise me that you will move on quickly from all of this. i can't bear the idea of todd and riley growing up without their happy-go-lucky father." k said.

"joy is dead to me, k. the light is being taken out of my life."
dick said softly.

"try for their sake, dick. please?" k said softly.

dick nodded.

"tell my parents not to blame themselves for this. i signed up for this life when i was seventeen years old and it's not been a bad life.
it's just the jig is up, i guess." k said.

"they'll blame me for failing you." dick said.
"stop it, dick daring! you did not fail me. did you know that you coming into my life was the best thing that ever happened to me? do you know how happy i've been with you and the children? you gave me something i needed. you gave me a life. you gave me love. you gave me you. i don't think you know how much i love you, mr. daring." k said with deep emotion.

dick began to cry again and he held his wife closer still.

"dick, please..." k said softly. "i need you to promise me something else."

"anything, katie, anything." dick said.

"in time..maybe a year or so..i want you to meet someone else.
woo her and tickle her fancy. make her happy, dick. love her like you love me." k said.

"no..there will never be anyone else." dick said coldly.

"please dick..i want to die knowing that you will make another woman as happy as you made me." k said.

"katie..my katie.." dick sobbed.

"dick, let go of me. they will be back shortly and i want to say something to carter before i go." k said.

dick let k go and the woman knelt down next to carter.

"carter..it's been quite a ride, hasn't it my friend?" k said.

"k i think i know how it feels when a human's heart breaks."
carter said quietly.
"car, you always had a way with words. carter..when you are re-assigned and it's a slow day, i want you to tell your new special agent about this girl who came into your life when she was 17 years old and how twenty years later she tried to turn you into a family sedan." k said with a smile.

"they'll never be you, agent k...katherine." car said. if he could have cried, he would have.

the flap of the tent opened suddenly and senjay rameen entered.

"the guards have arrived, agent k..it's time to go." senjay said.

"goodbye, carter." k said and she kissed the modulator.

rising, she turned to dick and gave him a passionate kiss.

"i love you, dick. tell our children that i love them. tell them to never forget me." k said. she turned suddenly and walked out of the tent with senjay rameen behind her.

dick walked over to the flap and watched as the head guard bound k's hands behind her back and as the four guards reformed around the woman and together they walked back into the arena.

"katie..." dick whispered.