Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 16:21:19 +0000
From: Ben nobody <ben_sc@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Ben's Gift-beginnings-chapter 2

Ben's Gift

By Ben

Chapter Two


	"Did they feed you this morning?" Ben asked.

	Berto shook his head. "Miguel told me I could not eat until after
the operation. It is okay, though, because I am not very hungry."

Ben nodded his understanding. "Has Miguel been in to see you yet? Has your
surgeon?"

"No, not yet. The nurse came in very early to measure my temperature and
blood pressure. You are the first one to see me this morning."

Ben looked lovingly down at Berto. He adored seeing him first thing in the
morning with the sun shining on his smooth brown skin. Berto's hair was
always jumbled and despite his serious medical condition, he looked the
very picture of health. Ben wondered how much pain Berto was hiding from
him and the rest of the world.


"Enrique and Jose will be in to see you before you and the Padre go into
the operating room. Carla had to go back to San Agustin yesterday, to
attend some urgent business, but she will be back tonight. She threatened
Miquel with bodily harm if he let anything happen to her 'hermano'".

Berto giggled. "I believe her, too. Miguel has been wonderful. I trust him
completely.  Although he won't be completing the operation, he will be in
the room to make sure everything is taken care of. You mustn't worry, Ben."

Ben looked down into the big brown eyes that had mesmerized him for years.
Berto's expression showed confidence and concern; not for himself but for
his lover.  "Berto, I worry about you every time you are out of my
sight. You are the most important part of my life."

Berto smiled and changed the subject. "Already some good has come of all of
this."

Ben gave him a puzzled look, so Berto continued. "Jose is flying once
again!"

Ben nodded. "Yes but I am not certain he would have done so had it not been
to get you and I to San Diego so quickly. He didn't even wait for Ricky to
get back from Mexico City. Then he sent Jake to fetch Carla and Miguel
along with him. I don't know if he'll be doing anymore flying once you are
out of danger."

"Ah, but you forget. He flew to Santa Rosalia to bring the Padre here,
too."

"Yes," Ben conceded. "Yes he did at that. We shall see if he falls in love
with flying again.  I would even welcome the opportunity to go with him
again, myself."

Just then Miguel and the surgeon walked into the room. The both consulted
Berto's chart then each proceeded to examine him thoroughly and
separately. Berto seemed a bit embarrassed by all the attention, but when
Ben offered to leave the room for a bit, he asked him to remain.

	The poking and prodding finally ended and the surgeon, once again
went over the entire planned procedure. Although Berto spoke fluent
English, Miguel translated every word to make sure that Berto understood
exactly what would be happening. He took the time to explain any complex
medical terminology.

Ben listened and found himself amazed by how much Spanish he had picked up
from living in Mexico and having a Latino lover over the years. Nathan had
drawn up legal documents concerning living wills and life-sustaining
decisions for Berto and Ben a few years before. Nether of them suspected,
then, that they might need them so soon.

After the two doctors left the room it was just a matter of waiting until
all the players were assembled and the operating room was set up and
ready. Ricky had been very instrumental in making sure the finest medical
facilities in San Diego were made available and spared no expense in
Berto's care.

Ben sat on the bed and stroked Berto's shaggy head as they talked. Soon
there was as light tap on the door. The door opened and two handsome,
smiling faces peeked around it.

"Ricky! Jose! Hola!" Berto called out. The two stepped inside and came to
the bed. The each hugged Ben and then Berto.  Ricky was still the
handsomest man Ben had ever seen. His thick, black shiny hair was showing
just a few flecks of gray, but this did nothing to detract from his
looks. It only served to enhance them and made him look a bit more like his
father, the late Don Chavez.

Jose looked just as he had when they had first met- tall, lithe, smooth and
very sexy. The old gleam was back in his eyes and the sunshine in his easy
smile that was absent for while following the plane crash. It was great to
see them both.

Berto was very special to them. They had known his mother and loved her
dearly. Carla, Ricky's sister and Miguel's wife, was like a sister to
Berto. The fact that Berto was their best friend's lover was incidental. He
was a part of their family. Ricky thought nothing of funding Berto's
medical care and insisted on the very best of everything available.

The whole thing had caught everybody off guard, including Berto. He had
always been the very picture of health. His body was lean, strong and
athletic. He was very active all his life, so when he became ill and didn't
seem to improve for a long time, the finest specialists were consulted.

It turned out that Berto had been born with only one kidney, and it was
deteriorating to the point that he either needed to have a transplant or he
would be subjected to dialysis twice each week. When Ben witnessed one such
dialysis procedure, on another patient, he knew he would move heaven and
earth, to keep Berto from such agony.

Ben talked to Berto's only living relatives, his mother's sister and
Berto's cousin, Carlos.  They were both tested for possible donorship, as
was Ben, Ricky, Jose, Carla and Miguel. Even Jake and Nathan were
tested. In a surprisingly generous move, both of Ben's sons also
volunteered for testing after they heard of Berto's need. The younger of
the two had never even met Berto.

Money talks and Ricky knew he had to help. He contacted several
international resource agencies in an effort to find a suitable kidney
donor. Many of the inhabitants of Santa Rolsalia also came to be
tested. The "perfect donor" turned out to be the town's priest, Padre
Umberto.



-This story continues from "Berto's Roses". I have not written in many
months. Those of you who are fans may thank Rich from Iowa for getting me
going again. I have heard from many of you and your encouraging messages
are certainly appreciated. To find other stories I have posted on Nifty,
click the "Authors" link and scroll down to "Lyle Benton".  There you will
find a list of stories I have submitted to Nifty. Comments are always
welcome.  Write to me at ben_sc@hotmail.com

Thanks for reading!

Ben