Disclaimer: I do not own the Phantom Stallion book series or any of its characters, settings or horses, that honor belongs to Terri Farley, I'm just moving the pieces on the game board around ;)

A/N: This is set after R.A.H.

Life Goes On

Chapter Four

Five hours later, they had picked Aunt Sue up from the airport, had lunch and filled her in on all the particulars, Sam was extremely grateful that Aunt Sue had volunteered to take care of all the funeral arrangements.

So now they were on their way to the hospital, Aunt Sue sitting in the backseat of the truck cab, Sam and Kit in the front with Cody in his carrier between them.

Pulling into parking spot in the hospital parking lot Kit rolled down the windows and turned off the truck.

Jumping down he walked around to the passenger side and helped down Sam and Cody before also helping down Aunt Sue.

"Why don't you go ahead and take your Aunt in to see your Dad," suggested Kit as he gently rocked a by now sleepy and grumpy Cody back and forth, "Me and Cody here will just take a walk around the hospital."

"Okay, thanks Kit." said Sam with a small smile.

"No problem."

Aunt Sue just stood back, watching their interaction, until Sam turned and motioned for her to follow, heading toward the hospital entrance.

Sue couldn't help but ask. "So this, Kit you said he's a friend?"

"Kit, oh yeah, he's Jake's brother, you remember Jake," said Sam a bit nervously, one hand rubbing the back of her neck as she used the other hand to open the entrance door for her aunt.

Taking the moment to look back at Kit, whom sent her an encouraging smile before turning and starting his walk, Cody slowly calming in his arms.

"Yes, I remember the Ely boys." said Aunt Sue following Sam into the hospital and toward the elevators deciding to drop the subject, especially at such a time as this.

Entering her father's hospital room, almost brought Sam to tears again, but she was determined to be strong, so she threw back her shoulders, stood tall and forced back the tears threatening to fall.

"Hey Dad, how are you feeling?" she asked, walking up to the hospital bed and holding his hand in both of hers.

"Better now." said Wyatt with a weak smile.

"I brought you a visitor,"

Aunt Sue stepped out from behind Sam. "Hello Wyatt," She said in a quiet, gentle voice, "My condolences" she said as she stood next to Sam.

"Thank you," said Wyatt a single tear falling from the corner of his eye, "and thank you for coming and helping Sam out."

Aunt Sue just nodded her head. "Well I'm going to let you two have some time to visit, I'll wait for you in the waiting room Sam, Wyatt you get better now."

Wyatt just mustered a smile and nod and then turned to Sam who had pulled up a chair next to the bed."

"How are you doing Dad, for real?"

"Not so good I'm afraid honey, Doctors said there's really not much else they can do."

At this a few tears escaped from Sam's eyes.

"Don't cry baby girl," said Wyatt, "If it's my time to go, well then it's my time to go."

"But I need you Daddy, I love you."

"And I love you too," and so they sat there in silence for a few minutes just looking at each other with Sam holding her father's hand.

"I'm taking good care of Cody, until you get better."

"Sam,"

"No, you can get better Dad, I know you can."

"I'm sorry honey, I just don't think I'm going to make it this time."

At this Sam burst into tears and leaned over to give her Dad a hug.

Wyatt reached up weakly with one hand and placed it on her shoulder.

"It's going to be okay princess, it's going to be okay." he said, murmuring soothing words until Sam had calmed down. Sitting back up in her chair, Sam wiped the tears from her eyes and said.

"Why don't I have Cody brought up so you can see him before we leave for the night."

"That would be great honey."

"There's just one thing Dad."

"What's that?"

"It's Kit"

"Kit?"

"Yeah, Kit, he came back last night when he heard what happened."

Wyatt just sat back and listened as Sam tried her best to explain to him what was going on.

"I know that you think that he's too old for me Dad, but when you didn't want him to hang around me he didn't and he's been gone for a year, a year Dad and I still love him so very much, and I know he loves me, and I need him right now, I know you probably don't approve but he's been helping out ever since he got back and he's actually watching Cody right now." said Sam with a sheepish smile.

Wyatt just leaned back and didn't let his daughter see the smile that was threatening to escape.

Sure he thought Kit was too old for his daughter and really who could ever be good enough for his princess, however Wyatt respected Kit, Kit who when he had begun to realize his feelings for Sam had sat down with an angry Wyatt and agreed to give Sam space and time to grow up.

And at a time like this Wyatt knew that Kit would be perfect for the job of keeping both Sam and Cody safe, happy, and loved, he did not however let Sam know any of this, instead he let her nervously call Kit and ask him to bring Cody up.

Then they both sat back and waited for Kit and Cody to arrive.

Hanging up the phone Kit looked down at Cody in his arms, "You ready to go see your Dad?" Cody just smiled up at him, so Kit reluctantly turned and headed toward the hospital entrance.

Striding out of the elevator Kit nodded his head in greeting to Aunt Sue as he passed the waiting room and continued down the hallway looking for Wyatt's room.

"Three-twelve, three-thirteen, ah there it is three-fourteen." Taking a deep breath, Kit paused for a moment, before nodding his head decisively and pushing open the room door he walked in.

"Hey Sam, here's Cody." Said Kit handing the baby over to Sam. "Hello Wyatt, how are you?" He asked.

"Not so good, but I guess you knew that." said Wyatt, not unkindly, noticing the subtle way that Kit placed himself next to Sam and responded to her every move. "Thank you for helping Sam out today."

"Oh, uh no problem sir, glad I could help."

Sam just shook her head and stood up to bring Cody closer to Wyatt. "Hey Cody, look who it is." Cody smiled and waved his arms toward his father, cooing softly.

"Hey there Cody," said Wyatt turning his attention to his son.

After spending a few more minutes catching up and talking, Cody began to get fussy.

"I think it's somebody's nap time." said Wyatt leaning back in the hospital bed.

"Yeah, and he's probably going to need another bottle." Said Sam, standing up and handing Cody to Kit as she gathered up her belongings. "I'm sorry to leave so soon Dad but Cody's been up and around all day, I should probably get him home for his nap, but I'll come back after supper tonight."

"You don't have to come back Sam, I'll be fine."

"I want to come back Dad, okay."

"Alright then," said Dad, conceding defeat at that point, knowing how stubborn his daughter could be.

Leaning down, Sam gave her father a hug and kiss on the cheek, then straightening up she motioned toward the door. "We'll be going now, I'll see you later Dad, I love you."

"I love you too Sam, bye Cody, Kit."

"See ya Wyatt." Said Kit, with Cody in one arm he placed his other hand on the small of Sam's back and ushered her out the door.

Wyatt just watched, silently until they had left the room and then sat back, their visit left him with a lot to think about, and after only a few hours of thinking he picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number.