Chapter 9: The Passing

Welcome back to Afterlife in the Shire. Please R&R and enjoy

It was now a week after Saharah and had gone to the Gamgee's for dinner. She hadn't seen Frodo since then. It wasn't like her to not see him for such a long period. She had decided to go visit Frodo when Daniel (her father) started to get really sick. She couldn't cope with this on her own and Frodo had said that if she ever needed his help that he would be there, so she said to her father 'Father, I am just going down the lane I will be back as soon as I can be.' She kissed her father on the head and raced down to Bag End and knocked on the door frantically. She heard quick foot steps coming to the door. 'Hello, Saharah. Oh, are you ok?' Frodo had a worried look on his face.

'Frodo! It's my father he is getting sicker and sicker and I can't cope with it on my own. Can you come?'

'Of course I can come. Just let me get a few things. I expect you want me there all the time?'

'Yes if that isn't too much trouble.'

'No, no trouble at all, Sah.'

Frodo and Saharah quickly ran back to number two to find Daniel coughing frantically and trying to make some tea.

'Father I told you to stay in bed. I would be back in a minute. This is Frodo Baggins. He is here to help me with some things.'

'Bag—Baggins? As in Bilbo Baggins' nephew?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Frodo and Saharah helped Daniel back into bed after he protested saying he was fine. Saharah went out of the bedroom and sat on the couch and started to cry.

'Saharah!' Frodo rushed over to her and hugged her. 'It's ok. He'll get better.' He started to stroke her back and her sobs calmed. They sat there for well over an hour when Sahrah fell asleep in Frodo's arms. He picked her up gently and took her to bed. He kissed her forehead and went out for some fresh air.

After five minutes or so Sam came over to weed the garden. 'Hello Mr Frodo! What are you doing here?'

'Oh hello, Sam. Er, Saharah asked that I come over for a few days because her father isn't very well and she wanted some company.'

'Well that is nice of you, Mr Frodo.' Sam had a giggly smile on his face that he tried to suppress. 'What are you giggling at, Sam?'

'Nothing, Mr Frodo, nothing. I must be getting back home now Rosie has been wanting some food so I best go and make her some.'

'Goodbye, Sam.'

It wasn't long before Saharah came outside looking for Frodo.

'I had wondered where you had got to. Sorry about before.'

'Don't apologize! It is natural to cry when a loved one isn't well.'

'Thankyou, Frodo.' She hugged him and kissed his cheek. 'You are one of the nicest hobbits I have ever met. And you're a good friend.'

'Thankyou, Sah.' He bowed to her.

They stayed hugging for a while when they heard a crash in the hole. They went rushing in and saw Daniel lying on the floor, not moving. 'Dad!' Saharah screamed and she ran over to him and turned him over. 'I'll go get the doctor. I'll be as quick as I can.'

Frodo hurled himself out of the hole and ran to number two. 'Sam! Sam, open up! It's Saharah I need you to look after her while I am away getting the doctor. I will explain later just please look after her!' With that Sam was left stranded on his front step. When he had realized what had happened he ran over to Saharah's and instead of knocking he walked in. He felt very rude doing this.

'Oh, Sam thank god you're here! Please help me get him back to bed.' Saharah and Sam gently put Daniel back into bed.

Meanwhile Frodo was running as fast as he could to the doctor which was all the way over the Bywater. He started to feel sick and started to sway. He fell over feeling as though he was about to pass out. Not now! He thought to himself. I have to keep running. I can't stop now. He pushed on and on until he was physically tired. He finally got to the doctor's clinic and told him to come it was very urgent.

After about another half hour of running back to number two, Frodo and the doctor rushed into Daniel's bedroom.

'Now what seems to be the problem here?' Saharah filled the doctor in on the details and told him to tell her what was wrong as soon as he knew. Sam went home and Frodo told him that he would tell him what was wrong as soon as he could. The doctor came out and took Saharah's hand and led her outside. 'I am sorry Miss. I am afraid Mr Daniel only has a few days of life left in him. He wishes for you to be there when his time comes.' The doctor hugged Saharah and left.

The look on Saharah's face made Frodo hug her tightly. 'It will be ok, Sah, I'm here.' They walked inside and sat on the couch together. Frodo got up and made some tea as Saharah hadn't had anything to eat or drink today. They drank their tea in silence. Saharah had again fallen asleep in Frodo's arms and he was dropping off too. It must have been at least two hours that they were snuggled up together asleep.

The next day Frodo awoke and found that he and Saharah had spent the night together asleep on the couch. He gently shook Saharah awake and their eyes met. She quickly looked away. 'Thankyou for staying, Frodo.' She snuggled into him. After about ten minutes Frodo got up to check on Daniel and make some tea. 'Oh, no! Saharah? Saharah?!' He called her name a few times before she came and saw her father. He was pale and eyes closed. He was dead. Saharah collapsed into Frodo's arms and started balling loud and hard into Frodo. He took her out of the room and layed her on the couch, comforting her as best he could. There came a knock at the door. It was Sam. 'Sam, I'm sorry but this isn't really a good time.'

'Well, I heard something really loud coming from here so I thought that I—what is wrong with Miss Saharah?'

'Sam, Her father has just died and I don't know what to do.' Without anymore talk Sam walked into the hole and comforted Saharah. This seemed to work because she seemed to calm down slightly. She stuffed her face into Sam's chest. Frodo felt helpless so he decided to make some tea for Saharah, himself and Sam.

When Saharah had finished her tea she went outside saying that she was going to go for a walk to clear her head and to figure out something to do, and that she would call her relatives later. Sam and Frodo weren't sure what to do while she was gone so they decided to clean the house for Saharah and made some breakfast for her.

Saharah didn't come back until early evening. She walked in and Frodo was lying on the couch asleep. She shook him gently and he sat up. Saharah sat next to him. 'Well, Frodo I have spent the whole day walking and thinking, and this is the only thing that I could think about.' She leaned in and kissed him.