It was growing light as Berto awoke after a fitful nights sleep. Ben had brought him here and stayed with him until the nurses made him leave the night before. As he looked around the sanitary hospital room, he began reflecting upon the surgery he would be undergoing in a few short hours, and his life in general. His earliest memories were of sun-filled days in his childhood home in the small town of Santa Rosalia. As a small child he lived with his Mama in the house of his Tia Rosa.

"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.

Ben found his friends in the small waiting room. They were sipping coffee from large Styrofoam cups and talking quietly. When they saw him come into the room, Jose handed him a cup of his own and Ricky motioned for him to sit between them on the couch. "You must not worry, Ben." Ricky reassured him. "Miguel is watching out for him, and the surgeon is the very finest. Berto will be just fine." Ben received a comforting hug from his handsome friend.

Its funny how you can sleep in a car, if you are exhausted, through almost anything, but as the car slows down to make its final turn into a driveway, you wake up. Thats what happened to Ben. He awoke as Nathan pulled the big sedan into the driveway of the house he shared with Jake. The double door lifted automatically and the Jag came to a smooth stop inside the garage. Ben had never been to this house. Nathan and Jake had recently had it built.

I have to talk to you about something. Your surgery went well, much better than expected, but..." "Que? What is it? Ben, please tell me!" Ben could see Berto was becoming excited and rested his hands on the young mans shoulders to prevent him from moving too much. "Shhh, please be still, Mi Corazon. I will tell you. It is the Padre. The surgery did not go well for him. Im afraid... well...

Evening rays of sunshine spilled through the hospital chapels 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.

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 ? Hes 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. "Ill leave you two alone." As she passed him on her way out the door she whispered.

"When are you going to get out of that bed and stop lounging around like a crowned prince?" Joked Jose. "Believe me I cannot wait for that to happen. I just wish we would get started so it will be over with." Said Berto. Ben bent to kiss his forehead. "It will not be long now. Try to be patient, okay?" Berto reached up and pulled Bens face down so that their lips touched and gave him a