And Now They're Gone - Rhett and Link

Chapter 9

1 hour later

Rhett's POV

I waited with the kids for the longest hour of our lives. Finally the doctor came our into the waiting room. "Rhett McLaughlin, can you come with me please. One of the nurses will watch the kids." I nodded and stood up. I followed the doctor over to a small room that had a couch and a coffee table. "Please, sit." I knew what was coming wasn't going to be good. "Charles Lincoln Neal didn't make it." He said.

Those 6 words crushed me. I felt a bit light headed and had tears dripping down my face. "Rhett, is there anything I can get you?"

"T-the kids n-need t-to know. A-and h-his wife. C-Christy." I said between sobs.

"I know. We wanted to tell you first." I nodded. "You can tell them when your ready or I can help you tell them." I sniffled and tried to stop crying butch couldn't. Tears just kept flowing. My best friend in the entire world just died. It was too much to process.

"C-can I have a m-moment a-alone p-please." I asked the doctor.

"Of course. Just call if you need anything." I nodded. The doctor left. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and called Jessie.

"Hello?" I heard her say.

"H-hi." I stuttered, still sobbing.

"Oh my goodness, Rhett are you ok?"

"N-no. C-can you c-come?" right now, I needed Jessie.

"Of course! I'll get a babysitter for the kids. I'll be there in about 20 minutes."

"O-ok."

"Bye honey."

"B-bye." I hung up the phone and skipped it back into my pocket. For the next 20 minutes I cried. When Jessie came the doctor told her where I was and took her to me.

"Rhett." she said softly when she entered the room. "What happened?" she sat down beside me on the couch and held my hand.

"Link's g-gone." When I said those words I couldn't stop crying enough to speak. Jessie just sat there and comforted me the whole time.

***

It has been about an hour since I found out. I'm sure Lily, Lincoln and Lando are terrified wondering what has happened.

"Rhett." Jessie's soft, comforting voice said. "Sweetie, We have to tell the kids."

"I know." I had calmed down a lot more now and wasn't crying as much. "I can't do it." I looked and Jessie and saw she had been crying too.

"Its ok. The doctor and I will help."I nodded and tried to smile but couldn't. Jessie and I stood up off the couch and went to find the doctor.

"Are you ready?" said the doctor when we found him.

"I'll never be ready." I said truthfully. The doctor, Jessie and I walked into the waiting room. Lily was sitting with Lando in her lap. Lincoln was sitting beside her. Lily and Lincoln looked like she had been crying a bit.

"Hey guys." I said with the small amount of cheer I could put in my voice. Jessie and I sat across from the kids and the doctor stayed standing. "Your dad," I started to choke up.

"He passed away." Said Jessie, saving me. I tried to hold back the tears but one fell. Lily, Lincoln and Lando immediately burst into tears.

"Louise." I said. "Your dad, he, isn't coming back." I tried to explain as simply a I could.

Jessie scooped Lando into her arms and squeezed him in a tight hug. I gathered Lily and Lincoln into a hug. The five of us stayed like that for about half an hour. Eventually the four kids pulled away from the hug and started to calm down.

"Alright guys. Your are going to come to our house." They nodded, still tearing up.

***

Having six kids in the house would normally be a little too much but today all the kids were quiet. We all went to bed early that night but none of us were sleeping. We couldn't. I walked past the kids rooms to see if try were ok and I heard Lily, Lincoln and Lando crying. I was crying too. Link was all I could think about. We had been best friends since we were six. We became blood brothers. We did everything together. And now, we can't.