Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2004 17:34:49 +0000
From: Ben nobody <ben_sc@hotmail.com>
Subject: Ben's Gift-beginnings-chapter 5

Ben's Gift

By Ben

Chapter Five


Evening rays of sunshine spilled through the hospital chapel's stained
glass windows as Ben knelt. Tears spilled from his eyes and dripped from
his cheeks as he bowed his head and remembered the events of the long,
eventful day.

Although any surgery seems to take forever, an organ transplant is doubly
stressful. There are two surgical teams involved and the timing involved
has to be carefully coordinated. This is especially true when both the
donor and the recipient are alive and are expected to return to full
health.

At least that's the way it was supposed to work.

Ben, Ricky, Jose and Carla waited in the small private waiting room for
what seemed eternity. Carla became restless and uncomfortable. She knew
that Ben was anxious and asked him to help her up and to take a walk around
the hospital with her.

She wanted to see the nursery, so they took the elevator and exited on the
appropriate floor. After making sure it was okay with the floor nurse, they
walked to large glass windows separating the hallway from the newborn
babies.

It was a large nursery, befitting a major medical center. There was easily
space for over 25 babies as well as a special room for premature babies,
incubators etc.  There were only seven brand new people in the tiny cribs
on the other side of the glass.

Carla smiled at them and unconsciously held her huge stomach between here
hands. Ben knew she was eager for her twins to be born. He knew she would
be an excellent mother. Although she was very wealthy and a powerful
business woman, Ben suspected that she would take charge of rearing her
children, first hand, and not leave them to the care of nannies.

For just a few moments, as he gazed at the babies, he almost forgot his
worries about Berto, and the Padre also. He was transported to the time
when he had watched his own son delivered. It was the younger of his
children, the first being born while he was at sea, in the US Navy
Submarine Service.

His thoughts also drifted towards how quickly they grow and how fast things
change. Both his sons were grown and successful, handsome young men. Just
like Berto.


This brought him back to the present and he took Carla's soft hand. "Care
to walk some more?" He asked her.

"Si." She nodded. "Let us go and walk outside. I could use some fresh air."

"Me too." Replied Ben. They thanked the floor nurse as the elevator door
closed and they began their descent to the lobby.

"Ayee!" Carla said, as the elevator made a slight thump at the ground
floor.

"Are you okay?" Ben was concerned.

"Si, I think so." Panted Carla. "It was just the sudden stop."

"Do you need to sit down? Shall I call somebody?"

"No, no. Really, Ben. I am fine now. Let's just walk a bit."

 Ben held out his arm and Carla took it. They exited into the bright,
noonday sun.  The autumn air was clean and sweet- just the right
temperature for a walk. They headed toward the tree-lined grassy area. It
looked almost like a park, complete with sidewalks and benches.

Birds chirped in the trees and the fragrance of the fall flowers filled the
air as the walked slowly. "Have you decided on names for your babies, yet?"
Ben asked.

"We have a few that we like, but I think it's best to wait. We don't know
if we have girls or boys yet." Carla explained.

"Or perhaps one of each." Ben suggested.

"Si, that is also a possibility. She conceded.

Ben felt Carla grasp his arm as she inhaled sharply. "Carla! What is it,
what's wrong?"

Carla has bent over slightly and holding her stomach with her free
hand. Ben helped her to sit on one of the benches. "Should I get a doctor
or a nurse?" Ben asked anxiously?

Carla looked up and he could see the pain and something he had never seen
in her expression before. Fear flashed in her eyes, but was soon gone. She
nodded and Ben ran for the doors.

He returned shortly with a wheel chair and two nurses. They carefully
loaded Carla into the chair and wheeled her inside. "We'll take her
straight up to OB. Are you her husband? Asked one of the nurses.

"What? Oh. N-n-no. I'm a family friend. Her husband is in surgery." Ben
answered

"He's a patient in the hospital?" She asked.

"No. He's a doctor. He's assisting a transplant surgery."

The nurse nodded her understand. "Are there other family members here?"

"Um...yes! Her brother is here. He's in the waiting room." Ben explained.

"Could you tell him to meet us in maternity?"

Ben didn't answer. Instead he headed for the stairs and took them two at a
time.  He burst into the waiting room. "Ricky!"

Enrique looked up and saw Ben's worried expression. "What is it, mi amigo?
Has something happened to Berto? We have heard nothing..."

Ben shook his head. "It's Carla. She...they..."

"What has happened?" Rick was becoming concerned.

"We were walking...and she had some pains...they took her to the maternity
ward..."

"Madre de Dios!" Exclaimed Ricky. "Where is it?"

"Seventh floor. I'll show you." Ben panted. He started toward the elevator
then stopped short. Looking toward the operating room, he said, "Berto."

"You stay here, Ben. I can find it." Ricky entered the elevator and was
gone.

Ben didn't know what to do. He stood there looking confused. Jose took his
hand and led him into the waiting room. "Sit down, Ben."

Ben allowed himself to be led to the couch, where he sat briefly. Soon he
was back on his feet, pacing nervously. "I just can't sit still,
Jose. There's so much going on.  What should I do? Should I go and check on
Carla? Should I stay here and wait for word on Berto?"

Jose chuckled at him. "You need to calm down. I will go and check on what
is happening with Carla and you can wait here. I promise to return soon."
Jose disappeared through the doorway.

Ben watched the clock. Time seemed to stand still. Miguel stuck his head in
through the doorway and looked around quickly. "Seventh floor." Ben told
him. Miguel nodded and hurried away.

Jose returned and told him that Carla had, indeed, entered premature
labor. The hospital had reached her obstetrician, but it was doubtful he
could make the trip from San Augustin in time to deliver her twins. They
were assured that the staff of the San Diego hospital could care for her.

"Come, let us find Enrique and get something to eat. I have gotten a pager
from the surgery desk. They will call us when there is any word."  Ben
didn't want to leave, but he was hungry. It was late afternoon and he
hadn't had anything but coffee all day.  No wonder he was wired!

Ricky met them at the hospital cafeteria. The food was surprisingly good
and the atmosphere was that of a fine restaurant. They were just finishing
their meal when Ricky's cellular phone chirped.

"Hola? Si? Si." Ricky's face lit up. "Magnifico, Miguel!"

"What is it?" Asked Ben.

"It is a boy!" Said Ricky, enthusiastically.

Jose jumped up and they hugged excitedly.

"Congratulations, Tio Enrique!" Ben said happily. "Is everybody doing
okay?"

"Si, si. So far everybody is fine. Carla still has to deliver the other
baby, but all looks good so far."

They all left the table and headed for the maternity ward. On the way,
Ricky's cellular phone rang again. Carla had delivered a baby girl as
well. All were doing well.  With all the whooping and happiness going on in
the elevator headed to the seventh floor, Ben almost missed the pager
buzzing in his pocket.

I appreciate your patience, your loyalty and your email messages. I really
don't mean to take so long between chapters. My life is very busy and I
have much going on right now.  More as soon as I can. 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