Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 18:30:30 +0000
From: Ben nobody <ben_sc@hotmail.com>
Subject: Ben's Gift-beginnings-chapter 6

Ben's Gift

By Ben

Chapter Six


	Ben quickly returned to the waiting room and picked up the
phone. "Hello?"  He heard his name. "Yes. Speaking."

	"Could you please come down to recovery room just past operating
room # 4?  He's asking for you."

	"Berto? Is he okay?"

	"Please come right away."

	"Be right there." Ben threw the phone onto the cradle and rushed
down the hall.  Initially he passed the room the backtracked until he found
it. He tentatively pushed the door open and looked inside.

	A nurse looked up from the bed asked, "Are you Ben?"

	Ben nodded, and the nurse waved him in. "I'll leave you two alone."
As she passed him on her way out the door she whispered. "He's very weak,
but he insisted on speaking to you."

	Worried, Ben walked to the bed and looked down into the pale, drawn
face of Padre Umberto. "Padre? You wanted to see me?"

	In a weak, raspy voice the Padre replied. "Si, Ben. I wanted to
tell you something."

Ben got down on his knees so he could be closer and hear better. "Padre,
can't this wait?  You just came out of surgery."

	"No, it must be now. I know that the surgery did not go well for
me..."

	"What do you mean? You're going to be just fine. You just need rest
and time to recover..."

	"No, please just listen to me..."

Ben did as the Padre asked. As he listened to the slow, labored words tears
began to well up in his eyes and overflowed down his cheeks. It seemed to
take a long time, but it could not have been more than a few minutes until
the priest finished his say and then visibly relaxed.

The heart monitor alarmed and Ben ran for the door.  A medical team rushed
to save the Padre but their efforts proved futile. He was pronounced dead a
short time later.  Ben walked slowly to the hospital chapel and sat
motionless for a long time.

So many thoughts ran through his head. Berto was still in surgery. It
seemed to be taking an eternity. He had prayed over and over for his young
lover's recovery. He wanted to be back in their bed in Santa Rosalia with
the sun streaming through the windows and the sea breeze gently blowing the
curtains. Things would be fine then.

He would nurse Berto back to full health, supply his every need, and hold
his slender body close to his own. In time, they would begin to make love
again, each giving the other all of themselves. His arms felt so empty and
helpless, but all he could do was pray and wait.

He knew also, that he now had much to tell Berto. The padre had revealed
much to him. He would wait until Berto was ready to comprehend it all and
understand why he had not been told the truth earlier.

He rose from his kneeling position and headed back to the waiting
room. Jose sat alone and looked up as been entered. "Ben what is it? Is
Berto alright?"

"Yes, well, I don't know..."

"Tell me, mi amigo. Que pasa?"

"It's the Padre. He's gone. He died."

"Oh no, Ben! What happened?"

"I don't really know, but apparently he had a lot of bleeding and they were
running short of blood and had to decide whether to save it for Berto or
use it for the Padre. He died shortly after they closed him back up and
before more blood could be brought to him."

Jose stood and took Ben into a tender hug. "Oh, Ben. I am so sorry. Berto
will be very upset. This is a terrible thing."

The door swung open, barely missing them. The surgeon came into the waiting
room and asked them both to be seated. Ben was filled with an overwhelming
sense of dread. He sat and held Jose's strong hand and waited for the
doctor to speak.

"First of all, Berto's surgery went very well. I am so sorry we lost the
padre, but we were able to remove his second kidney and transplant that one
to Berto as well. This will double Berto's chances for recovery and a
normal life. That's what took us so much longer."

Ben nodded mutely. He didn't know what to say. The doctor continued. "
Berto will be leaving the Operating Room shortly and will be taken to
recovery, then the Intensive Care Unit. After we are sure that the kidneys
are functioning properly he'll be move to a regular room. We should know
something in the next forty-eight to seventy- two hours. So far he's doing
well, resting well under the lasting effects of the anesthesia."

"When can I see him?" Ben asked anxiously.

"Let the O.R. staff get him cleaned up a bit, remove the unnecessary tubes,
etc and move him to recovery. I'll page you and let you know. Oh, I hear
there is cause for celebration! Miguel returned at the end of the procedure
all smiles at being a proud papa!  And twins, a double blessing. Have you
seen the new arrivals yet?"

Ben shook his head, but Jose said, "Si. They are beautiful, so fat and
healthy."

"Why don't you take Ben up to see them until I page?" The doctor suggested.

Ben was torn. He wanted to be with Berto as soon as possible, but he DID
want to see Carla's new babies too. He allowed Jose to lead him by the hand
to the elevators. On the way up, Jose hugged him once again and whispered
in his ear. "It will be okay. It is a new life for Berto and for the new
ninos. All will be well. You will see."

They walked to the nursery windows and looked inside. There were a few
babies, but no newborn Latino ones to be seen. Jose led him down the hall
to Carla's large private room. They knocked softly at the door and entered.

Carla sat in the bed, looking exhausted, yet radiant at he same time. In
her arms she held a small bundle. "Look who is here to see you. It is your
Tio Ben.  Meet Miguel, Jr." She held out her son to Ben and he took the
tiny infant.

Ben took the baby carefully. Some things one never forgets, and Ben well
remembered how to hold a newborn, having had sons of his own. He peered
down at the round face as the baby opened his big, black eyes and
yawned. He looked intently at Ben and decided he was in good hands. His
eyes flickered shut again and he slept, breathing softly.

Ben returned him to his mother. "And where is his sister?"

Carla nodded toward the rocking chair where Ricky was softly singing to
another bundle in a blanket. "Enrique is being very selfish with little
Manuella. He only gives her up to me when it is time for her to eat."

Ricky looked up and flashed his most charming smile. "She would not get her
then if she were not breast feeding." He teased.

"Well, do I at least get to look at her?" Ben asked.

Ricky pulled the blanket away from her face and held her up. Her chubby
cheeks did, indeed, remind him of Berto's plump mother. Carla had named her
well.  She slept soundly in the arms of her devoted tio.

Ben returned the baby boy to his mother and bent to kiss her
forehead. "They are beautiful, Carla. Just Like their Mama."

Carla beamed proudly at the compliment. "Gracias, Ben. What news do you
have of Berto?" She saw a clouded expression come across Ben's face and
became alarmed.  "What is it Ben? Tell he is alright!"

Be touched her smooth tanned cheek. "Yes, he's fine. The surgery went well.
At least for Berto."

Carla searched his eyes. "And the Padre?"

Ben's eyes filled with tears. "He...he didn't make it..."

"Oh no!" She exclaimed. "Enrique, did you hear? The Padre has died! Ben,
what happened, do you know?"

Ben explained to them what the doctor had told him. They were all silent
for a long time, then Ben went on. "They are taking Berto to recovery and I
will be able to see him soon. The doctor will page me when I can."

Carla took his hand and squeezed it gently. "Please give him a hug and kiss
from his hermana and tell him I will be to see him as soon as I am able."

Little Manuella began to fuss softly. "She is hungry again, Enrique. Please
bring her to me." Carla said. "Jose will you take Miguel?"

Jose looked apprehensive and reached for the baby boy. He held him as if he
was glass. Carla asked him to check his diaper and Jose grew wide-eyed.

Ben laughed. "C'mon Jose. With all of those little brothers and sisters,
you never changed a diaper before?"

Jose shook his head. "No, Mama always had enough girls to do that. The boys
were always busy helping Papa on the boat."

"Well, I'll help you out, then. This should be interesting." Ben laughed.

Jose gently lay the baby down in the nursery crib next to Carla's bed and
looked up as if to ask, "What's next?"

"It's usually a good idea to have the new diaper ready first. Especially
for little boys. Newborns aren't so bad, but later they can become little
fountains."

Jose held up the tiny diaper and was clearly lost. Ben showed him what to
do.  When the wet diaper was removed, Jose said, "Ayee! Look at that! His
pinga is muy grande!"

They all laughed at his outburst. "He'll grow into it Jose. They always
look big on newborns." Ben explained.

Jose smiled and said, "Well Enrique never grew into his, then. Perhaps it
runs in the family."

Ricky blushed and said, "Jose! Mi hermana is right here in the room with
us!"

They laughed at his embarrassment and teased him. As things quieted down
and the diaper change was completed, Ben felt the pager vibrate again.

'Whoops. Gotta go." Ben said. "I can go and see Berto now."

He fairly ran from the room and down the hall to the elevator. Impatiently
he pressed the buttons on all the elevators and paced and muttered while he
waited. He entered the first available and began his descent.

He shot out of the elevator and raced down to the recovery room. It was the
same room in which he had last seen the Padre, but all thoughts were of
Berto at that moment.  The same nurse motioned him over and cautioned him
that Berto should not reach up his arms yet. She then left the room.

Ben hurried to the beside and looked into the face of his beloved. His eyes
were closed, the long black lashes resting peacefully. His color was good
and he was breathing softly. Ben reached his hand down and tenderly
caressed Berto's forehead and cheek.

Berto's eyes flickered, then opened. He looked around until he saw Ben's
anxious face. He smiled sleepily. This always melted Ben's heart. He bent
to kiss the sweet lips and could feel Berto stir.

"Shhhh. Lie still. I will hug you, but you will have to wait for awhile to
hug me back, okay?"

Berto nodded and smiled again. Ben wanted to take him fully into his arms
and hug him tightly, but he didn't want to hurt him. Instead he gently
placed his chest next to Berto's chest and held him ever so gently for a
long time. He inhaled and smelled Berto's young masculine scent, mixed with
the clean smell of the sheets and whatever was used to clean Berto up from
his surgery. "Oh Berto, I love you so much." Tears ran onto Berto's
shoulder.

When Ben stood upright, he saw that Berto, too, as crying. "I love you too,
Ben."  he whispered.

"The doctor says you are going to be fine. They will be putting you into
the intensive care unit until they know that your kidneys are functioning
properly."

Berto nodded his understanding, then his forehead wrinkled in a confused
expression. "Kidneys?" He questioned. Ben knew he had said too much. He
hadn't wanted to tell Berto about the Padre until he was feeling a bit
stronger.


I appreciate the patience of my readers. I also appreciate your loyalty. I
was determined to get this chapter completed before Christmas, as sort of a
small gift to you all. Have a great holiday. Be safe, be happy and I will
write again soon.  ben_sc@hotmail.com