Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2005 23:54:31 EST
From: Jetjt@aol.com
Subject: Empire Chapter 38

The following is a work of gay fiction. If the subject matter is offensive
to you or you are too young, please exit now. This story is the property of
the author and may not be reproduced without his consent.  JETjt@aol.com


					EMPIRE

				Chapter Thirty-eight

Thursday Morning, 10 AM, Dr. Franklin's office

Upon announcing their arrival to the receptionist, Matt and Ron were
ushered into Dr. Franklin's private office with no delay. Being offered
seats opposite his desk by the ushering nurse, they had just settled in
when the doctor appeared.

"Morning gentleman," the doctor said as he shook their hands before seating
himself behind his desk.

"Good morning doctor," they both responded, rising to shake his hand, then
returning to their chairs.

"I'll get right down to business," the doctor began. "I spent two hours
last night going over the scan negatives and the lab reports on
Douglas. I'm afraid that the news is not good. There are a number of
suspicious dark spots on a couple of the boy's major organs, and from what
we can tell the lymph nodes are affected too. If he were to stay here, I'd
immediately go in for biopsies of those areas to be sure. I've done an
extensive report of my observations for the doctors at M.D. Anderson. It's
all in here," he said handing them an over-size envelope containing
Douglas' photos, lab reports and his own conclusions."

Ron and Matt sat in stunned silence.

"I could be wrong in my conclusions," Franklin offered in hope. "At least
the doctors there will quickly be able to confirm or reject my
observations. It's fortunate that you're going there immediately. If
there's any hope at all it will be due to the earliest treatment possible."

"What about surgery?" Ron asked.

"It's almost certain that surgery will be necessary on the large malignant
growth in Douglas' neck and also the lymph nodes. The other `dark spots'
may be treatable with chemotherapy and/or radiation. I won't speculate on
what the other doctors will recommend."

"What are his chances?" asked Matt, fearing the worst.

"If the other spots are malignant as is likely the case, his chances of
survival are probably less than 20%."

Matt and Ron's eyes glistened with tears at the bomb that had just been
dropped.

"I wouldn't share the news with the youngster," the doctor advised. "He's
in for a tough fight, and he doesn't need further discouragement."

"Alright," Ron agreed.

"That's all I can offer," Dr. Franklin said sadly. "I wish you all the luck
that can be had and my prayers go with you too. I'm sure that if there is a
chance, the doctors in Houston will apply all their knowledge and skill in
seeing that he gets it."

"Thank you again Doctor Franklin," Ron said as he and Matt rose from their
chairs, offering their hands to the physician.

"Goodbye gentlemen," Franklin replied, shaking their hands firmly.

Ron and Matt turned and sadly exited the room the way they had entered.

		* * *

1:55 PM, Clark County Family Court

The whole family and several friends had filed into the courtroom and taken
seats waiting for the judge to call their case. After dispensing the
divorce case that she had heard for the last 30 minutes, the judge made her
ruling granting the action and ruling on the distribution of the common
property. Neither of the parties appeared happy, yet seemed relieved that
it was over. The judge called a recess for 10 minutes stating that the next
case would be the adoption case of Douglas Jones.  The bailiff called for
all to rise as the Judge stood and exited the courtroom.

The attorney representing Ron was a handsome young man named Justin Cause
who had joined the practice of Ron's personal friend and attorney Terry
Cannon. Ron was very pleased with Terry as he and Terry had used every
marker they had in the judicial system to move Douglas` case up to
today. Justin, Ron, Matt and Douglas moved to the plaintiff's table while
the judge was gone.

Exactly ten minutes after she had left the room, the judge re-entered.

"All rise," the bailiff boomed in a loud voice. "The Family Court of Clark
County is now in session, the Honorable Patricia Riley presiding."

The Clerk of the Court spoke as the jurist took her seat. "Case number
78462-05, the petition of adoption by Messers Ronald Turner and Matthew
Davidson of Douglas Jones, a minor child."

"Would the attorney representing the petitioners like to make a statement?"
Judge Riley asked.

"Yes, your honor," Justin said as he picked up his notes. "As you see from
the information before you, the petitioners are licensed by the State
Childcare Agency and are experienced and knowledgeable in the rearing of
children. They are financially stable, being businessmen of some note in
the community and benefactors of numerous charities, having both served on
the Board of Directors of the Thornton Center for Boys here in Las
Vegas. Both men are of sound moral character, as the letters of
recommendation provided to you will attest. We have also brought several
witnesses to testify in their behalf."

"Thank you Councilor," Judge Riley said with a smile. "I'm very familiar
with the reputation of the petitioners and will dispense with the calling
of witnesses, stipulating that the evidence already presented is sufficient
to attest to their character. At this time I'd like to ask the adoptee,
Douglas Jones, to accompany me to my chambers. Those in the courtroom may
remain seated," she said as she rose, beckoning Douglas toward the doorway
in the back of the courtroom."

Douglas looked at Ron and Matt who nodded. Douglas stood and crossed the
front of the courtroom, following the Judge into her chambers.

Douglas looked around the large paneled office as the Judge removed her
robe, hanging it on a coat tree, asking Douglas to be seated at her desk,
then circling it, sat down in the large leather-covered executive chair.

"Douglas," she began with a smile, "please don't be nervous. I have 3
children and 5 grandchildren. I assure you I don't bite."

"Okay," Douglas answered simply.

"I guess the most important question I'll ask first," Judge Riley
stated. "Do you want to be adopted and become the son of Ron Turner and
Matt Davidson."

"Yes your Judgeship," Douglas answered causing the woman to smile. "I want
to be their son more than anything in this world."

"How long have you lived with them?" She asked.

"Since the summer, ever since I crawled into their office crippled,
exhausted and dirty."

"Would you tell me about that?" the Judge requested.

"Sure.... I never knew my parents. They had left me for dead. I was born
crippled and spent the time before I came to Las Vegas in orphanages and a
couple of times in hospitals. I finally ran away when things got really bad
with the money a nice doctor had given me. He had operated on me before
then to make me better."

"A doctor gave you money to run away?" she asked.

"No, he had given me $200 to begin saving up for a trip to meet a Mr. Ron
Turner who had a charity in Las Vegas. He told me that Mr. Turner was rich
and that he gave money to kids who needed it. I needed it bad because I had
no money to have the kind of operations that would fix me up right. The
doctor died before I could save up enough, so I ran away and took a bus
here. When I got here I limped the 6 miles from the bus station to the
Turner office because I didn't have any money left. When I got there
Mr. Turner wasn't there, but Mr. Davidson was. To make a long story short
they brought me to their home and gave me everything I needed including the
operations. You can see that I can walk good now and you would have a hard
time believing that at one time it was impossible for me to even walk at
all."

"I can see why you're grateful to them," the Judge declared.

"I would be grateful to them even if I was still crippled. They taught me
about acceptance and love and that those things are more important than how
we look or what we can do.  They made me part of their family. Now, before
I die, I want to be their boy for real, not just because they treat me that
way."

"You're going to die?" Judge Riley asked in astonishment.

"Probably. I have a cancer in my neck. We're leaving tonight to go to Texas
to try to fix it. I don't think it will work, but we have to try. I know
that they had planned to adopt me, but it was going to take a long time. I
made them promise me that they would make me their boy before we went. They
never break their promises.  I love Ron, Matt, and the other guys at
home. I also have a special friend too that I want to stay around for."

"I've heard more than enough. I think we're done here," the Judge declared
with a tear in her eye.

"Uh.... Can I ask something?" Doug requested as the Jurist moved her chair
away from her desk.

Halting her motion then moving her chair again under her desk, she
consented.

"Ask away, Douglas."

"Can I change my name?"

"I don't see the request in the petition paperwork," she said looking
through the papers in the file folder, "but it's not that important. What
name do you want?"

"Ya see," he explained.  "The name Jones was just the name they gave me at
the orphanage. It doesn't mean anything. I want to be called, Douglas
Matthew Turner," Doug announced proudly.

"I'll take it under advisement," Judge Riley said with a wink. "Now let's
go back into the courtroom."

They both stood and Douglas ran to the coat tree and retrieved the Judge's
robe, holding it for her as she put it on.

"Thank you son," she said smiling, then after closing the Velcro bindings,
walked toward the courtroom door which Douglas had run to hold open for
her.

"After you," she said, reaching for the door so that Douglas could proceed
first. "You may go back with Messers Turner and Davidson now."

Douglas entered the courtroom and stepped down from the raised platform
before crossing the floor with a smile to rejoin his would-be dads.

"How'd it go?" Ron whispered in Doug's ear.

Douglas responded by closing his index finger to his thumb, making a big
`O', then grinning like he had eaten the Cheshire cat.

"Court is now back in session," the Judge declared as she banged her gavel
on the small block of wood in front of her."

"The court has only one question of the petitioners. Do you, Mr. Davidson
and Mr. Turner wish to adopt one Douglas Jones, a minor child?"

"Yes we do, your honor," both men said together.

"Hmmm that's too bad," she said shaking her head.

Ron and Matt were openmouthed with shock.

"It's too bad because my first order will be to change the name of the
minor child in question per his request. His new name is now declared to be
Douglas Matthew Turner."

The men's surprise was expressed first as shock once again, then as huge
smiles.

She banged her gavel, and said. "So ordered."

"Now Mr. Davidson and Mr. Turner, let's try again. Do you wish to adopt one
Douglas Matthew Turner a minor child, as your son?"

"We certainly do your honor," they both said beaming with pride.

"So ordered," Judge Riley declared with a smile. "Congratulations."

"Can I say something?" the elated Douglas requested, raising his hand for
the Judge to see.

"Yes you may Mr. Turner," the Judge agreed.

Douglas got a strange look on his face and looked at Ron. Then slapping
himself on the side of the head for his thick headedness, he blushed as he
said, "Thank you your Judgeship. Sorry I was so slow in answering. It's
just that I was never called that before," he said grinning before
continuing. "I just wanted to say thank you for making me the happiest boy
in this whole dam...uh ... darned town. I love you."

"You're most welcome, Douglas," the judge said trying but failing to keep a
sense of decorum due to the grin showing on her face stretching from ear to
ear. "I love you too son."

Regaining her composure she looked down at her desk and closed Douglas'
folder.  "Next case," she said, still with the hint of a smile and a far
off look in her eyes as she handed Douglas' folder to the clerk and took
another in its place."

Half the courtroom stood and headed for the exits to start the celebration
that was to follow.

		* * *

Three hours later, Ron and Matt's home, "The Ratt's Nest"

The party was in full swing after the luncheon for all those who had
attended the adoption ceremony. During the afternoon, more people appeared,
including boys from the Thornton Center and Douglas' school and friends of
the family who had had to work.  The boys were in and out of the pool, even
though the weather had cooled from the raging heat of the summer. Parker
made sure that the pool heater kept the water temperature a bit higher than
would have been normal for an out-of-doors pool at this time of year.

The adults who wished to be outside, congregated near the pool where a bar
had been set up for the occasion. Other adults remained in the family
room. Douglas, mindful that the party was for him, made certain that he
greeted each new guest, even though it precluded his participation in the
game of pool volleyball, a game that he had come to love after he healed
from his operations.

Douglas had asked Eddie to stay with him as he greeted and conversed with
the guests. By 4:30 Ron suggested that Doug and Eddie join the other
youngsters, and that he and Matt would greet any latecomers. Jumping at the
suggestion, the pair made the rounds of the younger guests, then slipped
quietly into the house to have a little time together in Douglas' room
before dinner. Upon entering, they saw Parker just closing two suitcases
that had been placed on the bed.

"Come in," Parker beckoned. "I'm just finishing with your packing."

"Gosh, I forgot about my stuff," Eddie said. "How am I going to get more
clothes from Thornton?"

"All taken care of young sir," Parker replied. "I called your house parents
and they sent up your clothing with the boys from the Center."

"You think of everything," Douglas complimented the older man.

"That's why I'm here," responded the older man, "to see that your life goes
smoothly."

"Thanks Parker," Eddie gratefully said.

"It's my pleasure sir. Now if I may be excused, I'll leave you young men to
yourselves. Mary will be after me soon to help with the serving of dinner."

"When are we going to eat?" Doug asked.

"At 5:30. The party will end at 6:30 and you will be leaving for the
airport at 7:00. If `Grandma' and I don't get a proper chance to say
goodbye and good luck, I'll say it now for the both of us. We love you," he
said with eyes glistening with tears.

"Thanks Parker," Douglas replied. Seeing the tears in the older man's eyes,
he walked over to where Parker was standing near the door and gave him a
hug. "I'll be okay," he asserted in a loud whisper in the man's ear.

"I know you will Doug," Parker said smiling. "Have a successful
trip. Goodbye."

"Bye Parker."

After a too short lovemaking session, the two boys quickly showered, donned
their clothing and rejoined the guests only ten minutes before dinner was
served. Heaps of grilled burgers, chicken, small steaks and hot dogs were
the centerpiece of the buffet table Mary had prepared. In addition to the
garnishes for the meat dishes, two potato salads, two huge bowls of green
salads, iced shrimp cocktail, cut up fruit and several desserts framed both
ends of the serving surface. Disposable plastic plates and utensils would
make clean-up easier.

Once everyone was served and seated, Ron stood. In a moment everyone's
voices were stilled.

"Thank you," he began proudly, "for coming to this celebration of the
formal adoption of Douglas Matthew Turner into our family. Many of you know
Douglas well, and others only know him as a member of our happy group. It's
hard to describe the pride Matt and I feel in having Doug as our son. He
occupies a place in our hearts that is permanent. Now he will be returning
to the hospital for some more work. I hope you will keep him in your
prayers as he will be in ours."

Ron sat down and Douglas who was seated at Ron's side, stood.

"I'd like to thank you for coming, too" Douglas said. "This is the best day
in my life and I'm glad you could come to share it with me. I'm the
luckiest boy in the world. I have the best parents a guy could dream of,
and a wonderful family of brothers, uncles and cousins that I love. I have
friends too. All of you here fit in one of those categories. It isn't often
that we get to have a gathering like this where you can thank all who have
made your life wonderful, so now I'll say it. Thank you. I love you."

"I present, Douglas Matthew Turner," Matt said rising and lifting his
glass. "Hip, hip, hurrah!" he began with the other adults quickly chiming
in. By the third hurrah, even the youngest friend there was holding their
glass in the air and shouting."

Through a huge grin, Douglas blushed a bright red.

		* * *

7 PM

The white Escalade pulled away and started down the drive. Tyler was at the
wheel accompanied in the front seat by Dan. They would bring the SUV back
home after delivering the travelers to McCarran Airport. In the second seat
Ron and Matt took a final look at the family well-wishers waving their
goodbyes from the bridge in front of the impressive mansion. In the back
seat Douglas and Eddie waved back at the family they were leaving behind
until the winding drive took them out of sight.

8 PM McCarran Airport

The large corporate jet's wheels left the concrete runway and within
seconds had retracted behind the aluminum skin of the aircraft as it
climbed steeply into the night sky. Inside Matt and Ron sat across a small
folding table from Douglas and Eddie who watched the lights of the city as
the aircraft made its angled assent. When the city disappeared behind them
and the plane had leveled to a more horizontal climb the boys turned back
to Doug's new fathers.

"It was a nice party," Matt remarked.

"It was more than nice," Douglas said appreciatively. "Thank you and not
just for the party either."

Both men smiled, knowing how much they all meant to each other.

"The judge sure gave us a scare when she said that it was too bad we
couldn't adopt Douglas Jones," Ron laughed.

"She surprised me too," Doug agreed, "but I was sure, after talking to her
that I was going to be your son."

"We haven't told you yet, but your choosing our names for your own made us
very proud and grateful," declared Ron.

"I was hoping you wouldn't be mad or think I was presumptuous or
something," admitted Douglas. "Anyway, I figured I'd get away with it, with
the judge's help," he laughed and winked at the two older men.

"We couldn't be happier," Matt responded as Ron nodded in agreement.

Douglas' face showed pleasure at his fathers' acceptance but then lines of
worry appeared as the smile faded.

"Worried about the hospital?" Ron asked in concern.

"Yes...some," admitted their new son. "I've been in hospitals a lot and I
hate it, but I have to admit now that it was worth it. This is something
different," he said as he coughed. "I've spent as much time as I could on
the internet reading up about cancer, and I know that there have been
miraculous cures, especially in the last 20 years or so. I know too, that
even so, the chances of being completely cured are not good and I might
die. It all seems unfair, but I've accepted that what will be, will be. I
meant it tonight when I said I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. The
three of you here are mostly to blame for that," he said with a sad
smile. "I just hate the thought of leaving you. I don't care how rotten I
feel with the treatment, I want to stick around."

A lump stuck in Ron's throat as he thought of words of encouragement. After
a moment he responded.

"We love you Doug. We want you around more than anything. There's nothing
we wouldn't do to keep you with us."

"I know that's true dads," responded Doug. "I guess it's just up to me, the
Docs and God, if there is one."

"You don't believe in God?" Ron asked.

"I guess I believe in a supreme being of some kind, but how do you know
which religion is right?" Douglas asked.

"You can't know," Ron replied. "You just have to believe and have faith."

"But what should I believe?" Douglas asked.

Ron thought a moment before he responded.

"I can't tell you what to believe," answered Ron. "I can only tell you what
I believe."

"Alright, tell me," Douglas said listening carefully.

"First, I believe that there is a God and only one God, and even though he
is all powerful, all knowing and present everywhere, he has one attribute
that is even more astounding than that. The Bible says that God is
Love. That means that he loves us, his children here on earth. I believe he
loves all of us even though we might believe different things about him. I
believe he loves even those who don't believe in him."

"Do you believe what that Bible says?" queried Doug.

"Yes, but not necessarily literally," Ron answered. "For example, I believe
that God created heaven and earth, but not necessarily the way it's
described in the book of Genesis. Whether it took 7 days or 7 Billion years
is immaterial. The important thing is that God was involved. The Bible was
written by man. It may be the inspired word of God, but I don't believe
that he dictated every word to the writer, nor did he necessarily `bless'
every word of every translation. I'm not putting the Bible down, nor the
scholarship or belief of the writers and translators, it's just that some
errors or misunderstandings are bound to appear, even if it's just a change
in context because of the passage of time or because of difficulties in
expressing in one language what's written in another."

"What else do you believe?"

"I believe that God was made known to us by the people of Israel. In the
Old Testament days, men atoned for their sins by sacrificing animals to
God. Then God sent his son Jesus to teach us God's love and
forgiveness. Jesus gave his own life on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice
so that man could be forgiven without further sacrifices. All He asked us
to do was to believe in Him. His commandment for living was only two
things; love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. That's my belief son,
and all the rest is frosting."

"Do you believe in Hell?" Douglas asked with fear showing in his eyes.

"I believe that if we ask God to forgive our sins he will forgive us and we
will live with him after we die. I don't know what that's like, nor do I
really know what the other place is like. All I know is that if the best
thing is to live in God's presence then the worst thing would be to live
outside of it. What either place is like I really don't know and neither
does anyone else. Jesus came back after he died, and we can only read what
he said in the Bible."

"How do we ask God to forgive us?"

"We pray and ask him in our own words."

"Do you pray dad?"

"Yes, I do," Ron answered. "Right now I'm praying that you'll be healed."

"Does God answer prayer?"

"Yes, I believe he does son. Sometimes he answers `yes', sometimes he
answers `no, and sometimes he says, `wait.'  I do believe in miracles from
God, but I don't believe that God will perform those miracles just because
we ask him. All of us will ultimately die. That will never change no matter
how much we ask. He only promises us life in the hereafter. I don't know
whether God will heal you or not, even though we all want that. All we can
do is ask, and hope that in his ultimate wisdom he says yes."

"I think I understand," stated Douglas. "Would you guys excuse me for a
little while. I want to go back by myself and talk with God some."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Eddie asked.

"Not just now love," Douglas replied. "This is something I have to do
alone."

"I'll be here for you when you're done," Eddie promised.

"Thanks Eddie and thanks for talking to me about God dad."

"What are dads for?" Ron said smiling.

Douglas unbuckled his seat belt, then turned and walked to the rear of the
plane. A moment later, Ron, who was seated on the aisle, noticed his son on
his knees with his hands folded and his eyes closed.

			* * *

The following day, 9 AM, M. D. Anderson Hospital, Houston, Texas

"Good morning gentlemen," the older man in the white coat said in
greeting. "I'm Doctor Hankhammer and I'll be your primary physician. You're
Douglas Jones I presume," he said offering his handshake to Douglas.

"Yes sir, I used to be. My name now is Douglas Matthew Turner," Douglas
answered proudly. "These are my two new dads for real, Ron Turner, and Matt
Davidson. This cute guy here is my boyfriend Edgar Rice Burroughs the
fourth, otherwise known as Eddie."

"I guess congratulations are in order. It's a pleasure to meet you
gentlemen," the Doctor said as he exchanged more handshakes.

"I have the adoption paperwork and the file from our doctor in Las Vegas,"
Ron said handing a large envelope and a smaller one to the Doctor."

"Are you all checked in?" the doctor asked.

"Yes," Ron replied. "We checked in a few minutes ago. Most of the paperwork
was sent ahead electronically by my office. We only had to sign a few
documents."

"I see that you're assigned to room B-312," Hankhammer said, looking at a
chart. "I'd like you to go to your room, Douglas and remove your clothing
and put on a gown that you'll find there. I'll be up shortly."

"Is it alright for us to go with Douglas?" Matt asked.

"Yes, you may go with him and stay until I arrive in about 15 minutes or
so. Today we're going to spend the next few hours with tests. Even though
I'm sure you'll want to stay, there's no point in the three others of you
to remain now. Douglas will be in and out of tests and examinations
continuously for the next few hours. When possible we try to do the testing
with small groups of youngsters. That way they can talk and entertain each
other while waiting. It makes the time go faster for them and they can make
a few friends here. Fortunately there are two others that will be going
through today with Douglas. They're near his age too. I'd suggest that
after we start the tests, the three of you leave to do whatever you want
until around 2:30. Douglas should be back in his room by then. Around 3:00
or so, I'd like to meet with the two of you older men. We should have a
pretty good idea of what we're looking at by then. Do you have directions
to Doug's room?"

"Yes we do," Ron answered.

"Good! Then I'll see you in about 15 minutes."

"Thank you doctor," Ron and Matt said.

"You're most welcome," Dr. Hankhammer replied.

The doctor then turned and after stopping at the check-in counter, added a
paper to his clipboard and went off in search of his next patient. Ron
picked up Douglas' small overnight bag, then looking at the map of the
hospital, said. "It's this way."

Leading the group to the bank of elevators off to one side of the large
waiting room, they waited until a pair of stainless steel doors slid open
and stepped inside the elevator.

10 minutes later, M.D. Anderson Hospital, room B-312.

Douglas sat on the bed with his legs dangling over the side, dressed in the
patient gown the floor nurse had given him upon his arrival. Next to him
Eddie sat holding his hand in a gesture of support and love.

"You've been awfully quiet since our talk on the plane yesterday," Ron
remarked. He and Matt were in the two chairs they had found in the room on
arrival.

"Yes. I've had a lot to think about," Douglas revealed. "I didn't say
anything on the plane, but while I was praying I felt something wonderful
happen to me and I was no longer afraid. It's like God just filled me up
and took my fear away."

"I think you've found God," Matt said. "He won't leave you and will comfort
you if you ask him."

"Thank you again Ron for talking to me. I told Eddie about it in our room
last night and we both prayed together."

"I felt God too," Eddie said. "I know that Douglas is in safe hands now."

Ron and Matt both smiled, believing in Eddie's statement.

"I'm pleased for you both," Ron said. "My own prayer has been answered."

The door opened and the doctor appeared with a cute orderly who was pushing
a wheelchair.

"Well, it's time," Hankhammer said. "Hop in the chair Douglas. Today you
have your own chauffeur. This handsome brute hanging onto the handles is
Dave Farnsworth. He'll see you get to where you need to go."

Douglas slid off the bed, and placing a quick kiss on Eddie's lips stepped
over to the chair and sat down in it. Dave wheeled the chair in a tight
circle and headed for the door.

"We'll see you at 3 o'clock," the doctor said as he followed the chair
toward the door.

"We'll be here at 2:30 Doug," Matt said. "Good luck."

"Thanks guys. See you then," he responded with a wave as the chair, orderly
and doctor were blocked out of sight by the closing door.

"Let's go get some coffee and doughnuts," Matt suggested. "Afterward, we'll
take Eddie for a quick tour of the city, then have a late lunch. By then it
should be about time to return here."

"Sounds like a plan," Ron said as he draped his arm around Eddie. "Ready
son?" he asked the youth.

"Sure I guess so." Eddie replied. It was evident he had other things on his
mind.

		*	*	*	*	*