Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 19:14:42
From: Ocean View Doc <docipoo@hotmail.com>
Subject: Jonah: A Hospital Story

			 JONAH : A HOSPITAL STORY

A story about man/boy love. Contains explicit sex details. Not for minors.

     Jonah was 14. Not by much. Nontheless, he would let you know quickly
that he was 14 now even though he didn't look it. He was also gorgeous as
boys go. With dark brown hair about shoulder length. Thick and wavy. He had
deep brown eyes that seemed to look right through you, yet were warm and
friendly. Add to that a light complexion , a body that was a little small
for his age, and the face of an angel. He had a turned up nose. A smile
that could melt an iceberg. A soft voice that squeeked at times causing him
to blush. Last, but not least, was the quick wit. He was always ready to
start a connversation, or to join one, Definitely smarter than the average
boy.  That was probably why he seemed so confident and mature at this age.

     I first met him when they brought him into the West Wing at Children's
Hospital. He had been losing weight fast, tired easily, and was constantly
running a low grade temperature. He had been told that it might be an
allergy. Or that he might be anemic. All Jonah knew was that he didn't feel
right anymore. He knew something was really wrong when they put him in the
hospital, although they had told him "it was just for some lab tests". He
wasn't buying that. Something was wrong. And it was getting worse. He had
been ill for several weeks. Even had blackouts.

     He would have been even more upset if he knew why I had been called in
to meet him. They told him I was a medical technician that specialized in
anemic problems. That was true enough. I was part of a hospital research
team that was working on juvenile blood diseases. The most common, of
course, was leukemia. There were doctors, nurses, and other technicians on
the team. All very qualified. All very professional. Taught to be very
friendly, concerned, dedicated. Not to get emotional or attached to any
patient. For good reason. Some would not make it. We didn't say they might
die. They just might not "make it".

     I explained to Jonah that my job was to start a series of lab tests.
They would include blood, sputum, urine, feces, and gastric samples. I told
him the tests would help the doctors come up with a diagnosis. We would see
a lot of each other.

     Within days, Jonah became a problem. The tests confirmed that it was
leukemia. No big surprise there. But it was very advanced. We had all
agreed on that. His chances of getting well were pretty far-fetched. A
conference was called with the parents. We would not tell Jonah what the
problem was. His father was a preacher. He was not handling this very
well. He insisted Jonah should not be told. He also insisted God would not
let Jonah die. This was just a test of his dedication. His faith was being
tested. I had been through this before. With other parents. It was hard on
all of us. We needed to be sympathetic to the parents without getting
involved. We explained there were "new" drugs and treatments. None of them
had worked well with this type of leukemia . That wasn't mentioned, but we
knew it.

     "Here come da vampire." Jonah greeted me smiling impishly as I came
into his room with my tray of needles and test tubes. "Let me have that
bottle. I gotta pee something fierce." He had an outgoing but warm
personality. And he loved to tease. Thanks mostly to him, everyone on that

Wing now knew me as "Vampire". He watched curiously as I prepared to take
some blood samples. I tried not to stare as he sat up on the side of his
bed to pee into the bottle. Slipping down his boxers, he pulled a sheet
over his waist to cover up. Still, I had a pretty good view of his chest
and his stomach. My protests about being called a vampire were pretty weak,
but gave me a chance to tease Jonah back. "Your blood tastes pretty good
today." I would tease pretending to taste it. "You must be getting better."
Handing me his urine sample, he quipped "How does this taste?" When I
turned away and pretended to stick a straw in the sample he blushed. "I was
just kidding! Tell me you didn't taste that stuff." When I held up a glass
of water, he burst out laughing and tapped me on the shoulder. "Your pee
don't have much of a taste to it." I kept up the teasing. "We'll have to
change that." His smile was winning me over. Without realizing it, I was
becoming much too friendly with this young man. I soon found myself going
by his room just to chat. Or to play a game of chess.

     My visits did not go unnoticed. The team leader was a doctor friend
named Boyd. He walked in on us during a visit. After chatting with Jonah,
he asked me to step out with him."You know what I'm going to say. You're
seeing Jonah a lot more than you should. He thinks the "Vampire" is really
kewl. And he likes you a lot. Right now, he needs you. I want you to be
there for him. But you know the other team members are more concerned about
you. They think your concern for Jonah is going to hurt you in the end. I
have to warn you. Try not to hurt Jonah, though. If you choose to keep
seeing him, his parents think you are really great with him. He even looks
forward to the "Vampire" coming for blood. What kid in his right mind
doesn't mind blood tests?" I shrugged. Kids have a natural fear of needles.
"Jonah needs someone. He is lonely, and scared." Dr. Boyd agreed. Turning
to leave, he added " Jonah is not the one whos going to be hurting a few
weeks from now." I knew only too well what he meant.

     I went back in to finish my chess game. Jonah knew that something was
wrong. He sensed that I had been told something that had upset me. I tried
hard to hide it, but thats not easy when you have tears in your eyes. I
couldn't look at him. The chess board was blurry. "You just made me the
most popular guy in the hospital ." I tried to talk without showing I was
upset." Dr. Boyd says everyone is talking about the vampire. Kids are
actually requesting me to do their blood tests. There's no way I can see
all of them. I have to tell him that all the kids want is for the lab techs
to be more friendly. We get along good because we are friends. You have
done a big favor for all the kids. I'm really proud of you for that. Damn
it! Don't know why I should get all choked up about it."

     Jonah let me jabber on almost incohertly. He. Wasn't buying it. When I
had finished, he reached out to put his hands on mine. "We don't have to
finish the game. I just like having you here. I told all of them you are
just a friend. I tease you to get you to come back. I know I am weaker. I
can't do things without help anymore. And I like the way you look at me.
You're the best friend I ever had. You know I'm scared, but you never
mention it. But I don't want you to get in trouble. I couldn't stand that.
Do you have to stop staying with me?" And without thinking, I leaned
forward and gave him a long affectionate hug. "No way!" was all I could
choke out.