Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 12:16:52 -0500
From: Miguel Sanchez <miguel_sanchez55@hotmail.com>
Subject: Fallen Through the Cracks Ch. 3

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction and that of love. Any resemblance to
actual places, events, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
This story may contain erotic and/or sexually explicit behavior between
consenting boys. If it is illegal for you to, or you find this sort of work
offensive, don't download or read it!

The people in this story do not use protection because diseases don't exist
here. However, in our world they do so please use caution and protection.

This story is protected by copyright. It may not be downloaded or copied for
other than your private enjoyment and may not be changed in any way without
the expressed written consent of the author. This story may not be put on
any pay to view site.

I reply to all emails, except flames. You may write me at
miguel_sanchez55@hotmail.com

I hope you enjoy this story.
Miguel Sanchez

Fallen Through the Cracks -- Ch. 3

I just shook my head no. Zane was still resting his head on my shoulder,
"Let me get him home Doc, and thanks. I will probably have to take a leave
of absence until he's in school then try to see if they can work around my
schedule with him. I might see if there is a private school near here so I
can continue to work."

My next stop was to personnel to see about taking another week off. When I
arrived the director was on the phone so I had to wait for her. Her
secretary looked at Zane, "He's a cute little guy."

I smiled and said, "Yeah that he is. He's my foster son."

Just then the door to her office opened and she motioned me to come in. I
explained the situation and she said, "We do have a program for new parents
that allows them an extended leave of absence but this is for a new born."

I looked at her, "Well, he's sure not a new born. It looks like I'm going to
have to take a couple of weeks off without pay. He's going to need me more
than ever if what I suspect is true."

"What's that Peter," she asked genuinely concerned.

"He is more than likely HIV+," I said.

"Oh my god," she said. "Has he been molested?"

I shook my head no, "Got it from his mother. I don't know how he's managed
to have fallen through the cracks but he's just now being tested."

"Who's his doctor?" She asked.

"Sylvia Hodges," I said.

"Couldn't ask for better," she said. "I'm going to put you in for a 30 day
LOA and if you need more time later, just call me."

I thanked her, "I'm sure I'll be here from time to time over the next month.
Thanks for everything."

On the way home from the hospital Zane woke up and said, "I'm hungry Daddy."

I looked over at my little angel, "Well, hello there. Feeling better?"

"Un huh," he said. "Daddy please don't let another girl see my peepee, it's
embarrassing."

I stopped at BK and got us something to eat to go then headed home. As we
were heading to the condo I look at Zane and asked, "Why is it embarrassing
for a girl to see your peepee? Your mother did?"

"That was when I was a baby Daddy," he said as we walked into the condo.

"I understand that son, but Dr. Hodges is a doctor and she's seen them
before. She will only do what she has to son."

"Are you saying she might have to again?" He asked heading towards the
bathroom.

"She might," I said. "And I will be there with you too, son."

He came out of the bathroom with his shorts and briefs half up then said
surrendering, "Well if she has to."

He finished pulling his pants up then we had lunch out on the balcony. After
lunch Zane snuggled on my lap and fell asleep. I was wondering what was
making him so sleepy but I guess this was the first time he could relax and
not worry about whether or not he would be dropped off somewhere while his
mother took off.

While he was asleep I went online to find a couple of things every boy
needed. The first thing I found was a bike for him. I looked at several of
the photos then called the store and ordered it. I paid extra to have them
deliver it today but it was worth it. I was surprised when a couple of hours
later there was a knock on the door and it was the bike shop. Zane was up by
then, "Son, there is a delivery here at the door for you."

He came in from the living room and upon seeing the bike said, "Oh Daddy,
I've never had a bike before."

He came running over and hugged me and I asked him, "Can you ride a bike?"

He hung his head and said, "I never have."

The man from the bike shop said, "Don't worry about that little man, I have
something here to help you until you do."

I ordered a set of training wheels in case he hadn't learned to ride. The
man put the wheels on then adjusted the seat and handle bars so Zane could
ride safely. The next thing he did was bring out two different types of
helmets and tried them on. Zane took a spin around the condo then I decided
to take him outside. The man from the bike shop left and I took Zane down
for his first ever ride on his own bike.

One evening, later in the week, Zane was lying in the couch using my leg as
a pillow when he said, "Daddy, I don't feel good."

I put my hand under his shirt and he did feel warmer than usual. I carried
him down to his room and placed him on his bed then went to get the
thermometer. Zane saw me come in with it and started to put his underpants
down. I reached my hand down and placed it on his chest then said, "Can you
hold it under your tongue son?"

He said, "I'll try. I've never done it this way before."

I slipped it under his tongue and he tried to keep it there and close his
lips around it but he said, "I can't breathe."

I explained how it was done but he couldn't get the knack of it. I guess it
was because he wasn't feeling well that seemed to frustrate him. I got my
other thermometer and quickly took his temp and it was almost 102. I gave
him some children's Tylenol and put a call into Dr. Hodges. It was after 10
and I hated bothering her but I wasn't about to go trying to treat him on my
own so I called her service.

While waiting for Sylvia to return my call, I gave Zane a brief exam
checking his lymph nodes and belly. I didn't feel anything out of the
ordinary. When she called me back, I told her what was going on. She said it
just could be all the excitement from the past few days and for me to watch
his fever during the night. She said she would call to see if the all blood
work was done and for me to call her in the morning if his fever was still
elevated.

I looked at Zane and asked, "Is there anything you want son?"

He crawled on my lap and said, "Can I sleep with you?"

This was the first time he'd wanted to sleep with me and I wasn't going to
deny him. "Of course you can son," I said picking him up and bringing him
into my bedroom.

I placed him on the bed and he immediately got off and went to the bathroom.
I started to go out to turn out the lights when suddenly I heard his crying.
I went into the bathroom and there was Zane with wet briefs. I want to him
and he pulled back saying, "I'm sorry Daddy. I didn't mean to."

I put my hand out to him and he came to me then I slipped his wet briefs off
him then said, "It's OK son. Daddy's not mad at you, accidents happen."

I got a wash cloth and washed his crotch and butt then cleaned up the floor.
I set him on the bed then went and turned the lights out and got him a clean
pair of underpants. I helped him get those on then I got undressed. I did my
bathroom duties then crawled into bed and held Zane close to me. I kissed
his cheek, "I love you son."

He laid his head on my arm and said, "I love you too Daddy.

I woke about 2 and had to pee so when I was finished, I decided to check his
temp again. I had to struggle to get his briefs down so I decided to just
let him sleep naked. I gently slid the lubed thermometer into his rectum and
he didn't make a sound as it entered. Three minutes later, I removed it and
looked to see what his fever was. He was still in the 102 range at 102.6. I
knew temps are known to spike at night and I would check it again in a
couple of hours.

I'm not sure what made me do it but I was awake again at 4 and Zane was
cuddled next to me sleeping soundly. I eased away from him and reached for
the thermometer. I turned the light on and lubed the end and gently parted
his cheeks so I could see his rectum. I slid it in then held it in between
two fingers as I rested my hand on his butt. As I removed the thermometer I
heard Zane moan then say, "What are you doing Daddy?"

I kissed his cheek and said, "Just taking your temperature again."

"Oh," he said as he rolled over onto his back. He covered his crotch then
said, "Daddy, I'm naked."

I rubbed his belly then said, "Un huh, it's easier when I check your
temperature while you're sleeping."

"When I'm sleeping?" He asked.

"I took it earlier and you never moved," I said. "I left your underpants off
because it would be easier when I had to do it again. Is there a problem
with you sleeping naked?"

"Mommy," he started saying. "No Daddy. You've seen me before and I kinda
like it."

I was seeing that he was at conflict with what his mother did and me. I
fixed him his liquid Tylenol, "I take it you don't sleep naked."

He drank the medicine, "No Daddy. Mommy says little boys who go naked are
bad."

I sat up on the bed as he moved over and sat him on my lap. I kissed his
nose, "Son, as long as you're in your home you can be naked provided it's
just you and me here. If you want to just wear your underpants, that's fine
too and it doesn't make you a bad boy."

"I love you Daddy," he said as he snuggled into my lap.

I picked him up and brought him into the bathroom and he did need to empty
his bladder. When he was done, we cuddled back in bed and I did manage a few
hours sleep. The next time I awoke it's was 8:30 and my bladder was yelling
demanding relief. After going to the bathroom, I picked up the thermometer
and looked at it before shaking it down. His temp broke 103 and I had to see
if the Tylenol was doing him any good. I quickly shook it down then lubed
and inserted it in Zane's bottom. I felt his body and he was really warm. I
removed the thermometer and read it and he was still up at 102.8.

I got up and fixed Zane a large glass of ginger ale to get some fluids into
his system. I sat on the edge and shook him gently saying, "Wake up son."

He rolled over onto his back then blushed as he covered his little boy
stiffy. I smiled and said, "Nothing to cover son, we all get them. Sit up
and drink this."

He guzzled the liquid down and hurried into the bathroom. I heard him
emptying his bladder then let out a hearty belch followed by a giggle. I
handed him his underwear then fixed him a light breakfast after putting a
call into Dr. Hodges.

Zane was picking at his oatmeal when the phone rang. The voice said, "This
is Dr. Hodges."

"Hi Doctor," I said. "Peter Matthews here, I'm calling about Zane."

"How is he?" She asked.

"Right now he's picking at some oatmeal," I said. "His temp is 102. 8. I
took his temp twice during the night and he stirred only once. His fever
topped out at 103.4 at 4AM. He's had a total of 3 doses of children's
Tylenol."

"I'm at the hospital now and his blood work is done," she said. "He is HIV+
but his T-cell count is pretty good at 600. His CBC was normal so I don't
think he's picked up an infection. I would, however, like to see him. It
sounds like he's picked up a virus."

"I've thought about that," I said. "Other than being tired, he's not really
acting sick."

Zane took off running down the hall and disappeared into the bathroom.
"How's his apatite?" She asked as I got to the bathroom door.

Zane had his head in the toilet as I said, "He was picking at his breakfast
now he's throwing it up."

"OK," she said. "I want you to bring him to the ER and I'll meet you there.
I'll have Zane's chart done so I can see him right away."

"Alright," I said. "As soon as he stops vomiting, I'll be on the way."

I hung up then went to see Zane. I got a glass of water so he could rinse
his mouth out then I wet a washcloth and wiped his mouth and face. "What's
wrong with me Daddy?"

"That's what we're going to find out son," I said as I picked him up and
carried him to his room.

I thought about what to put on him then decided on his pajamas since we were
heading to the hospital. I put a pair socks on him then his slippers then I
got dressed. He was lying on my bed and was nodding off when I picked him up
and we headed to the car. I got on US 1 and 30 minutes later we were pulling
into the staff parking lot.

I carried Zane into the ER and sure enough, his paperwork was ready. Zane
was taken into triage and temp and vital signs were taken. His temp was down
to 102.2 but still not enough to ease my worry. I picked him up and carried
him into the department and saw Dr. Hodges. She motioned me into a treatment
room and I placed him on the exam table. "Get his clothes off Peter," she
said. "I don't like having to do this but with him vomiting, I'm going to
have to give him a Phenergan suppository and 5cc's of children's Motrin."

"I don't want anything in my butt Daddy," Zane said with his puppy dog eyes.

"I know baby," I said. "But this will help ease you throwing up."

Zane rolled onto his side and started throwing up again. Sylvia got a trash
can while I moved him so he could hit his mark. After he stopped vomiting,
we got him cleaned up and a nurse brought in the medication. I lowered his
pajamas got a swab and some lube and inserted the suppository.

I pulled his pants up and he sat on my lap while
Sylvia looked at his ears and throat. I put him back on the table and
stripped him then we covered him with cool towels to get his fever down. The
nurse stayed with Zane while he slept and I talked with Dr. Hodges. "OK Doc,
any ideas on what this is?"

"Yeah," she said. "He has an inner ear infection and it's easily treatable
with a powerful oral antibiotic so we can get this knocked out quickly."

After Sylvia and I talked, I went back in to check on Zane. He was starting
to stir a little so I removed the cool towels and rechecked his temperature.
The cool towels had helped to bring his temperature down to 100.6. "What is
it now?" Sylvia asked standing in the doorway.

"100.6" I replied as I started to get Zane dressed.

"Hang on," she replied heading back into the department.

A few minutes later she returned with a medicine cup and said, "Here Zane,
drink this down. This will help you start to feel better."

Zane took his medicine then we were able to head home. I was feeling better
that it wasn't anything more than an inner ear infection. I was glad they
gave him his first dose there. The Phenergan was still making him sleepy so
I didn't have to rush to get the prescriptions filled.

Zane slept until about mid afternoon when he crawled up on my lap and
announced he was hungry. I fixed him some broth and he finished it wanting
more. I gave his a second bowl and that disappeared just like the first one
did.

Once his hunger pangs had been satisfied, we went out and got his medicines.
On the way home, we stopped at a video store and picked up some movies to
keep him occupied. On the way home Zane asked, "What is going to happen to
me?"

"What do you mean, son," I asked.

"Are you going to always be my Daddy?" He asked in his usual angelic voice.

We pulled into the parking garage and I asked, "Is that what you want?"

I got out and unbelted him then carried him towards the elevator. "I want
you to be my Daddy forever."

He rested his head on my shoulder while I digested his request. There were
several certainties here. First and foremost was the fact I loved this
little boy. The second thing was that I couldn't see my life without him in
it. The last thing was that if I accepted the first two, my career in
medicine was going to be limited because of his needs. When we got into the
condo he looked at me with those hypnotizing eyes of his then I said, "If
that is what you want, I will."

He put his head back on my shoulder so I carried him as I put his medicine
in the fridge then sat on the sofa and just held him. I'd noticed he'd
dropped back off to sleep so I put him on the loveseat and got a blanket to
cover him.

Zane woke a little while later and said, "I'm hungry again Daddy."

He hadn't thrown up since this morning so I fixed him a scrambled egg and a
piece of toast. I also had some applesauce left over so I put some of that
on his plate too. I fixed a microwave dinner then we watched the original
Love Bug.

Zane and I laughed all the way through the movie and when it was over Zane
asked, "Can we get a car like Herbie?"

I laughed at the way he asked the question, "I don't know if we can find a
car that does everything Herbie can."

"Ooooh," he said as the gears in his brain went back to work. "Well I like
the one we have too."

Ah yes, 6 year old logic. I let Zane rest on the couch while I got the
thermometer and his antibiotic. He saw me coming as he started wiggling his
briefs down so I could take his temp. I slipped the thermometer into his
rectum then shook the bottle of liquid antibiotic. I removed the thermometer
and was pleased that he was no longer running a high temperature. Zane
quickly drank the antibiotic then I decided to give him another dose of
children's Motrin in case his fever decided to spike during the night.

The next morning I had just awoke when I had a little bundle of energy land
on me. "Umph," I said as my eyes shot open.

"Hi Daddy," he said staring into my eyes. "I feel much better today."

I felt his forehead when I kissed him and he was back to normal. He had a
good appetite and scarfed down three frozen waffles and a large glass of
milk while I only had two with my morning coffee.

Zane wanted to go swimming but I had to tell him not yet because of his ear
infection. Since it was a nice sunny day in South Florida we decided to just
walk around the shops and just enjoy ourselves.

We'd been out for about an hour when Zane said, "I'm tired Daddy."

"I have an idea son," I replied as I picked him up and set him on my
shoulders.

"Whee" he squealed as I held onto his feet. "I can see everything."

We had a nice lunch and by two, Zane was wiped. We got back to the condo and
now I had a sleeping boy in my arms. My first stop was his room where I
gently deposited him on his bed. I fixed myself a glass of tea then sat out
on the balcony. I sat back and wondered how my life was going to be now that
I had this little bundle of joy in it.

I got Zane over this illness without further incident and our life settled
into a fairly simple routine. Well, it was as simple as it could be with a
six year old.

I got Zane enrolled into a nice private school. I drove him in the morning
and made arrangements for him to be dropped of at the hospital in the
afternoon. Either I or someone from security would meet Zane at the bus then
he would go to our daycare center until I got off.

I had arranged it so I could work from 8 in the morning until 3 in the
afternoon. Zane would arrive about 3:15 then most days we would just go on
home but there were times that I was busy. The staff in the center loved
Zane. He was a bright child that loved to play with all the children.

On this day, I was running late so Zane was in the center finger painting.
When I went in to pick him up, he wasn't in the room. "Where's Zane?" I
asked.

"He might be in the bathroom," the worker said.

I went to the bathroom door and knocked on it in case my boy wasn't in
there. Not hearing anything I opened it a little and saw his shirt then bare
butt at the toilet. He turned around and the front of his groin was a mix of
reds, yellows, blues and greens. "Hi Daddy, I've been finger painting," he
said pulling his shorts up.

"I see son," I said hoping this was water based paint. "You've also painted
your peepee and shorts."

"Oooo," he said softly.

They had some soap to wash his hands with then told me to soak him in the
tub and the rest would come off. Ahhh, never a dull moment with him, but I
loved it.

As Zane got older, I let him visit his mother in jail. When he was eight, I
had sat down with him and explained to him why his mother was still there.
It didn't seem to bother him much and after about a year of seeing her, he
wasn't enjoying the visits.

When he was ten, I got a phone call at work from my friend Judge Hector
Martinez. He called to inform me that Zane's mother had passed away from
pneumonia. "Peter, are you still interested in adopting him," he asked.

I was stunned at the news and it took me a moment to digest his question.
"Ah yeah Hector," I said. "I am but I'll have to talk with Zane. I'll get
back to you."

That evening after supper I called Zane over and said, "Son, I got a phone
call today and I have some bad news."

My now not so little ten year old was trying to figure out what bad news I
had to tell him. "What is it Daddy?" He asked as I could see his mind was
still working.

I pulled him close to me then said, "Your Mother died today son."

I could tell he wasn't expecting that. After it sank in he asked, "You're
still gonna be my Daddy aren't you?"

"Of course I am son," I answered kissing the top of his head. Judge Martinez
asked if I still wanted to adopt you and I said I was but I needed to know
if that is want you still want."

He looked up at me and grinned from ear to ear. That gave me all the answer
I needed. "I love you Daddy and now I can stay with you forever."

The next day I called the judge back and told him of Zane's answer and he
said he would take care of everything.

When Zane was 12, I was watching him grow from a scared little boy into a
budding young man, starting to enter puberty. Shortly after he had turned
12, I sat down with him and told him about the disease his mother had given
him and how it was spread. It was during this talk he asked, "Daddy, there
is a boy here I like a whole lot and I need to know something."

I wasn't sure what he was going to ask so I replied, "Alright son, what is
it you want to know?"

"What would you say if I wanted him for a boyfriend?" He asked.

"Boys have friends all the time," I replied being careful of what I said.

"That's not what I meant Dad," he said. "I'm not a little kid anymore. I
know you're gay Dad. I see you and that doctor at work."

I'd tried to shelter him from it while he was younger and got comfortable
with it that he was seeing things. "Alright son," I said. "I thought I could
keep if from you but I was wrong for not talking with you. Are you saying
you want him for a boyfriend?"

"Yes Dad," Zane said. "I know I'm positive and that's not an issue. Now I
haven't said anything to him about that yet, but I do love him."

My boy is growing up. We sat and talked for the rest of the evening about
how this could change things with some of his friends if word got out. What
Zane said he likes about it was Cal lived in the building and they could
keep things away from school. So goes life. Zane now has a boyfriend and my
life is still being enriched every day every since I found that boy that had
fallen through the cracks.

The End