Rating: M
Warnings: Angst, violence, death

Summary: In Chance’s dreams, Callie dies. When the moment comes, will he save her, or will the dream come true?

Notes: This is a slightly revised version of the same fiction I posted on the SWATKats.com forums.

##

Don’t remember where I was, I realized life was a game,
The more seriously I took things, the harder the rules became,
I had no idea what it cost, my life passed before my eyes,
I found out how little I accomplished, all my plans denied.

So as you read this, know my friends, I’d love to stay with you all,
Smile when you think of me, my body’s gone, that’s all.

A tout le monde -- a tout mes amis
Je vous aime -- je dois partir
These are the last words I’ll ever speak, and they’ll set me free.

If my heart was still alive, I know it would surely break,
And my memories left with you, there’s nothing more to say,
Movin’ on is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard,
You know the sleeping feel no more pain, and the living all are scarred.

A tout le monde -- a tout mes amis
Je vous aime -- je dois partir
These are the last words I’ll ever speak, and they’ll set me free.

So as you read, know my friends, I’d love to stay with you all,
Please smile; smile when you think about me, my body’s gone, that’s all.

A tout le monde -- a tout mes amis
Je vous aime -- je dois partir
These are the last words I’ll ever speak, and they’ll set me free.

##

He was in a warehouse. He was looking at Callie as she stood transfixed in terror.

He was running for her... trying to knock her out of harm’s way.

She was going to die, and he was trying to prevent it. But, it was too late.

He heard two shots, and she collapsed as two roses blossomed from her chest. She fell back onto the cold concrete floor, bleeding profusely. As he gathered her into his arms, she gasped her last breath, her unseeing eyes locked on his face.

“Callie! Nooo!!!!!”

Chance Furlong sat straight up in bed, a cold sweat drenching his fur as he screamed.

He shivered as the door to his room slammed open and a sleepy Jake Clawson burst in.

“Nightmare again, buddy?”

Chance nodded as he panted, then stood, “I’m ok. Jus’ go back t’ bed. It was just a dream.”

“Don’t ya wanna talk about it?”

“I’m fine. Just go back t’ bed, bud,” he said as he rubbed his temples.

“You sure?”

Chance brushed past Jake and headed toward the bathroom.

His gruff voice carried back, “Yeah.”

* * *

That afternoon…

The alarm went off, and Chance leapt for the button.

“We’re here, Ms. Briggs.”

“Guys, the Metallikats are after me. I’m barely keeping ahead of them. Please hurry!”

Jake replied, “We’re on our way!”

* * *

They landed the TurboKat near the Metallikat Express and the remains of Callie’s car.

The leaped out of the jet and heard her scream from within a nearby open warehouse. Razor ran in, hoisting his bazooka, and T-Bone followed close behind.

T-Bone paused as he entered the warehouse... it was the one from his dream.

He wasted no time running for Callie at top speed. He had to prevent her death. He had to... although he knew it was impossible. She was going to die, and he couldn’t prevent it. But, he had to try, for his own sake.

For his soul’s sake.

He leapt as he heard the Metallikats fire. The pain blinded him as he landed on Callie, and they rolled away. They rolled to a stop as Razor’s bazooka flung Mac and Molly into a cardboard bale compactor. Razor ran over and activated it. He watched in satisfaction as the hydraulic press crushed the two Metallikats.

Then he turned...

* * *

“T-Bone!” Callie cried.

He opened his eyes and looked up at her. Shock and sadness flooded her face, and he knew she knew he wasn’t going to make it.

His vision wavered as he stammered, “Y-y-y-you’re alive.”

“You’re hurt,” she replied. He coughed up blood and said as it stained his whiskers and muzzle, “Dy-ying.”

“Don’t say that. You’ll live,” she demanded. She clenched her fists. She knew he was going to die, and it was all her fault. Still, she started to pray for a miracle.

Razor turned and saw T-Bone lying on the warehouse floor, his blood starting to pool around his body.

“T-BONE!”

Razor skidded to a halt by T-Bone.

“T-take care of her buddy. M...” T-Bone coughed up more blood and gathered a rattling breath. He said, “Moving on... is a simple thing. What it leaves behind... is hard.”

Razor shook his head and stared sadly at him as he ordered, “Chance, don’t give up.”

Callie looked at Razor, then at T-Bone, who convulsed in her arms.

“Oh my god,” she breathed, “Jake? Chance?”

“I’d love to... stay with you all,” he said, looking at Razor.

Tears formed in her eyes.

T-Bone tasted salt on his lips and looked up at her. Pain etched his face as he gasped, “Smile... when you think of me. My body’s gone... that’s all.”

He settled back, fighting to say his last words even as he grew cold in her arms.

“A tout... le monde... a tout mes... amis... je vous aime... je... dois... partir.”
(To everyone, to all my friends, I love you, I must leave.)

He smiled as he gave in to the blackness.

Inspirational music:
A Tout Le Monde -- Youthanasia -- Megadeth