Pairing: RV/BF   

Pairing: RV/BF 

Rated G 

~~~HEART'S BLOOD ~~~ 

by Acer canadensis 

Ray Vecchio gathered his coat from the rack. "Amazing. The case is solved,
it's only 3:30, and we have the whole afternoon to do whatever we want.
You got any plans?" 

"I don't believe so, Ray," Ben answered, settling his Stetson on his head
and falling into step with his friend. A flash of white caught his eye,
and he stopped at an open door where something was obviously going on.
"Did something happen in the cafeteria, Ray?" 

"Huh? Oh, that's just the precinct blood drive. They do one every coupla
months. You wanna go shoot some hoops or something?" 

"Blood drive? I believe it has been more than the requisite 56 days since
I last donated. What about you?" 

"Huh?" 

"When was the last time you donated blood?" 

"The last time you got me shot." 

"That was almost 8 months ago. You'll be fine." Ben turned and walked into
the cafeteria, shrugging off his jacket and hanging it on a hook. Ray
followed reluctantly. 

"Hey, Benny, I just remembered I gotta pick something up for Ma, so I
can't stay." 

Ben looked surprised. "But just a moment ago you were preparing to go play
basketball." 

"Yeah, well, I forgot." 

"Oh. Well, in that case, you go ahead. I can walk home." 

"After giving blood? Benny, are you nuts? You could faint in the middle of
the street or something." 

"Oh, don't be silly, Ray. Giving blood never affects me. Go on. I'll be
fine." 

"No way. I'll stay and wait for you." 

"What about your mother?" 

"Oh, Ma'll wait. Just hurry up." 

"Ray, since you're staying, why don't you donate too?" 

"Me? Um... I have to drive home." 

"Oh. All right. Could you hand me one of those questionnaires?" 

Ray picked up a clipboard from a nearby table and handed it over. "Here.
And I'm not donating." 

"All right, Ray." 

"No, I'm serious. I'm not donating." 

"That's fine, Ray." 

"Oh, for God's sake... give me one of those things." 

***** 

Twenty minutes later, the friendly nurse who had taken his blood sample
and helped him fill out the paperwork led Ray into the donation area. Ben
was already hooked up, and his bag was half-full. He smiled welcomingly at
Ray, and waved his free arm in the direction of the empty chair beside
him. Collecting his bag, Ray walked slowly over to join him. 

The technician looked up from clipping off another donor's tube and
inclined her head towards the empty chair. "Have a seat, and I'll be right
with you." 

"Ray, are you all right?" Ben asked. "You're looking a bit pale." 

"Yeah. I'm just a bit nervous, I guess." 

"Nervous? You have donated blood before, haven't you?" Ray shook his head,
biting his lower lip. "Oh. Well, I assure you, you have absolutely nothing
to be worried about. It doesn't hurt a bit." 

Ray grimaced. "Tell that to my arm." 

"Just don't think about it. Imagine yourself somewhere peaceful... out on
an ice floe... or on the beach if you prefer. And just let your mind
wander." 

Just then, the technician came over and checked Ben's bag. "All finished.
You know the drill, Benton." She removed the needle from his arm and taped
the tiny wound, then left to label the blood as Ben automatically pressed
on the bandage and raised his arm above his head. 

"Is she ever going to get to me, or am I just hanging around here for
fun?" Ray asked, just as she returned with a blood pressure cuff. 

"Right arm or left?" 

Ray tried to swallow, but his mouth had gone dry. "Left," he managed.  

She placed the cuff around his left bicep and tightened it, then began
probing the inside of his elbow for a vein. Finding one, she marked it
with a pen, then swabbed the area with iodine. "Let that dry a minute,
then I'll be right back." 

Ray looked over at Ben, who had put his arm back down and was smiling at
him encouragingly. He managed a sickly smile in return. Ben's eyes
softened in sympathy.  

"It's all right, Ray." 

"I know that! Don't you think I know that?" 

Ben got out of his chair and walked around to Ray's left side. Placing a
small plastic cylinder in Ray's hand, he carefully folded his fingers
around it. "Here. After they insert the needle, squeeze this every five to
fifteen seconds." 

"Thanks." Neither of them seemed to notice that Ben hadn't let go. 

When the technician came back, Ben moved around to the other side, placing
a hand on Ray's shoulder and talking to him to distract him as the needle
was slipped in. Then they were alone again, and after a moment he said,
"Squeeze, Ray." 

"Huh?" 

"Your hand. Squeeze the cylinder. Like this," he demonstrated, taking
Ray's right hand in his own and applying a brief pressure, then relaxing.
He counted to ten, then squeezed it again. "That's it." He smiled at Ray,
who met his eyes and smiled back. He sat quietly on the edge of the donor
chair he had just vacated, gazing into Ray's eyes and counting the beats
of his heart, squeezing his hand gently on every tenth beat. 

Neither of them was fully aware of the passage of time until the
technician returned and checked the bag. "You're done! Congratulations!"
She began the process of removing the needle and bandaging, and Ben's hand
slipped out of his unnoticed. A glass of juice and a raspberry donut
later, they were ready to resume their interrupted afternoon off. 

Putting his arm with its proud white bandage around Ben's shoulders, Ray
commented, "That wasn't so bad. When's the next one?" 

~~~End~~~