Sand and Water Chapter 5

Godspeed

Disclaimer: I own no one!

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John sighed, glancing at Rhiannon in the rearview mirror. Her face was red and tear-stained.

"Trish?" He was on his cellphone.

"Yeah, John?"

"Can you meet us at Sloan-Kettering?"

"Why?"

"Rhiannon wants to see him again,"

"What if she freaks again?"

"I've prepared her to the best of my ability,"

"Fine," Trish hung up.

Rhiannon kept silent. John kept silent. They reached the hospital in twenty minutes. After parking, John took Rhiannon out of her booster seat. She set her head on his shoulder.

"Ready, Baby? You don't have to do this if you don't want to," John explained. Rhiannon nodded.

Trish was outside the hospital. Chris, her husband was by her side. John approached them slowly.

"He doesn't have long," John murmured. Chris nodded, to say he understood. " Rhiannon has to say good-bye,"

"I understand," Chris murmured in an inaudible whisper.

John was on a mission. He had to let Rhiannon see Randy alive... one last time. He knew if he didn't allow her to see him, he would regret it forver. The stories of her Papa's love would be just that.

Stories.

She would never know how he had been the first one to hold her. How he had INSISTED on changing her first diaper.

Sure, John would tell her about Papa's love. Yet, stories didn't even begin to scrape the top layer of Randy's love for her.

"Ready?" John asked. Rhiannon nodded. He reached out and opened the door.

Randy was barely conscious. His eyes were open, and yet, it was obvious he wasn't there. The light had drained out of his blue eyes.

The end was near.

"John?" he mumbled in a raspy voice. John sighed. He hadn't expected Randy to be this bad.

"I'm here, Rand. So's Rhiannon," he said. Randy gazed up to Rhiannon.

"Hi, Papa," Rhiannon murmured shyly.

"Rhia," Randy said.

"Papa, when you get to Heaven, will you say hi to Flopsy for me?" she asked, associating the fact Randy would be gone like her rabbit.

"Yes,Rhia," he replied, coughing. She clung to John.

"Can I give Papa a hug?" she whispered. Only John could hear her.

"Of course, Baby," He gently placed Rhiannon on Randy's bed.

Rhiannon scooted closer to Randy. Gently, she placed her arms around his neck and gave him a final hug.

That was the final straw. John began to cry. Trish gently placed her arms around him. She let the man cry on her shoulder.

"Be good for Daddy. Make him smile when he needs to. As long as you're alive, I'm never truly gone. I'll always be with you," Randy rasped. Then, using every ounce of strength he had left, he kissed her forehead.

"Bye, Papa," she said. Chris scooped her up. Trish followed him out of the room, leaving John alone with Randy.

John sat down in a hard plastic chair. Taking Randy's hand between his own, he stared at the still form of his husband.

"God, Rand. I don't want to say good-bye. You've been a part of my life for so many years," John murmured. Then, he realized how selfish he sounded. "Mom always said if you loved someone, you'd know when to let them gp. Go to the Lord. You don't need all the pain. Go gently. You don't need to fight anymore. I'm letting you go," Randy's eyes flew open.

"I love you," he murmured in an inaudible whisper. The monitor alarms began to scream as his vital signs began to decelerate. John grasped his hand tighter.

"Good-bye, Randy. I'll always love you. Rhiannon will never forget you," John murmured. "Godspeed,"

Randy passed peacefully with his husband near. He didn't fight back.

Death was a welcome gift.

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Anyone crying? This is probably the saddest chapter(in my opinion) Keep reading! Keep enjoying! Keep reviewing!

JenLea