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