Lady in Red Ch. 04

"Sure, that'll work for me," agreed Steve gratefully. "I'm really worried about not being allowed to play. Coach is a stickler about not allowing players to risk any unnecessary injuries, or playing hurt. He'll make you swear on a bible, Doctor, that it's okay for me to play. He's tough."

"Now, Steve, could I ask how you managed to stay under water so long and survive?" questioned Laura. "You were down there for a few minutes, and the twins even longer. Was there some air trapped in the car? Did you receive those cuts from the car windows? Tell us how you managed to save those kids."

"It wasn't that big of a deal, really," suggested Steve modestly. "I could hear the kids crying when I swam down to the car and could see an air bubble inside. I broke a window that was below the air space in the car so I wouldn't release all of the oxygen from the vehicle. I swam in, unbuckled the kids, waited until the water was high enough in the car to open the passenger door, and grabbed the babies and pushed for the surface. I don't know where I got these cuts. That's all I remember until I felt Gwen's lips on mine."

"What a way to wake up!" laughed Laura. "You make it sound so simple, but I doubt if many other men could have managed to do what you did, and darn few would have the nerve to attempt it."

"Gwen, you really look like a doctor with those scrubs on. All you need now is a stethoscope around your neck," joked Steve as he changed the subject. "No offense, Dr. Masters, but she'll be the most beautiful doctor I've ever seen."

"Don't worry, Steve," laughed Dr. Masters. "I can usually hold my own in almost any crowd, but Gwen looked like a Victoria's Secret model on the catwalk when she entered the ER in her little red unmentionables. I'm sure the guys that saw it will be talking about it for years.

"Gwen, I was told that your mother and sister are in the waiting room and want to see you. Could you set them at ease and then come back? I've got so much to discuss with you and Steve once his x-rays are completed."

"Sure, Dr. Masters. I should've realized that they'd be concerned and gone out to see them sooner. But I was worried about this guy, and interested in watching you work," confessed Gwen.

Gwen was surprised to see the waiting room packed with people. All eyes turned to her as she entered. Questions flew so fast she couldn't understand most of them. Finally, in frustration, Gwen raised her hands for quiet.

"Let me say a few things that should answer a lot of these questions," began Gwen. "Most importantly, Steve is doing fine, pending anything that the x-rays reveal. He has some nasty lacerations on his chest and abdomen, but Dr. Masters feels that she can dress his injuries temporarily so that he will be able to play in the big game. Steve and I have to thank Billy Marsh for his timely assistance at the river. I don't want to even think what the outcome would have been without his help. He's our hero.

"We're ecstatic that the two infants are doing so well. We've all seen the kids at a couple of the victory celebrations and have come to love them. We're pleased that Glen will be able to have his nephews to enjoy for many years to come.

"I think that we all need to stop and consider what Steve Hammer risked, as well as what he accomplished this afternoon. I've never before seen courage like he displayed. He told me a little about his time in that freezing water as he worked to save those children. He had to break a window and probably received those lacerations as he swam through the opening. There was some air trapped in the car and he and the infants were able to survive because of it. There's a lot more detail, but Steve will have to fill them in for you some time in the future."

"I have a few questions," called Amber Stahl from the side of the room. "Can you tell us how deep the water was where the car went down? Can Steve Hammer play well enough to lead his team to victory after all of this drama? He almost drowned and he was obviously bleeding a lot."

Gwen faced the reporter and saw the cameraman for the first time as she framed her response. "I can't state the depth of the water. I can tell you that Steve will be ready to play, and play very well on Saturday. Just this afternoon, we all had a glimpse of what Steve is capable of doing. Did anyone else attempt to dive in to save those kids? Would anyone else have succeeded, or even survived, if they had tried? Don't bet against Steve Hammer!"

"How about you, Gwen?" asked the reporter. "How do you feel? You were seen on live television saving your boyfriend's life. How is the fame going to change you?"

"I don't know that it'll make much difference, but if it does increase my ability to influence people, I'll be asking for donations to add a children's wing to this hospital. Seeing Steve pull those two darling babies from the water has made me want to work even harder to provide a haven for hurt and ill children in the area. I want the best health care for the children of Sparta, and for all children. That's my goal."

Paula was standing next to Kate, Diane, and Angela Walker as Gwen addressed the room. She marveled at how well Gwen spoke and how much she looked like a doctor in the scrubs she wore. Her command of the situation and her presence in front of people was impressive.

"Paula, your daughter is amazing," stated Angel Walker. "I've never seen her equal. She's the whole package. When she's together with Steve, incredible things happen. Those two kids have some sort of special bond and it's getting stronger all the time. There's no telling what they'll accomplish."

Gwen approached her mother after answering the reporter's questions. "Mom, I'm sorry about letting you wait so long. Dr. Masters is a really good doctor and she's letting me watch and learn. This is definitely what I want to do. Would it be okay if I stayed for awhile? Dr. Masters wants to speak to Steve and me, and I want to sure Steve is okay. Do you believe what he did today? Words fail me."

"If Angela would give Kate, Diane, and me a ride home, I'll give you my car keys, Sweetheart," responded Paula as she hugged her daughter. "I'm so proud of you, Gwen. Stay as late as you want, but call and let me know what's going on if it gets too late. Not that you need them, but Kate will give you the clothes you stripped off, on live TV."

"Gwen, I need to speak to the doctor," insisted Coach Watkins as Paula stepped back from her daughter. "I'm going to have to be convinced that Steve can play football Saturday. I saw the whole thing today. He almost died on the banks of that river. He was bleeding like a stuck hog! How can he be approved to play the day after tomorrow?"

"Coach, I'll let Doc Masters know that you want to see her. Be ready to be convinced," promised Gwen. "She's very capable and extremely persuasive. You'll see."

Charlotte and Billy had stayed in the background until Gwen had assured everyone that she and Steve would be fine, and the crowd began to leave. Gwen turned away from Coach Watkins and hurried over to greet her friends.

"Billy! I'm so grateful you were there to get Steve out of the water! I know how strong you are and how you still struggled to do it. I would never have made it without you. Thanks for being there when we needed you," stated Gwen with a great deal of emotion as she wrapped her arms around Billy and hugged him as hard as she could. "Charlotte, this is one great guy! Treat him right."

"You've embarrassed him, Gwen. Look at him blush! He sure did come through, didn't he?" agreed Charlotte as she handed Steve's clothes to Gwen. "Billy and I are going to go get something to eat, but we'll talk tomorrow in school. I'm so proud to be friends with you and Steve and Billy. Mom called me and told me that she watched it all on TV. She said my friends are absolutely welcome in her home any time of the day or night. She was crying when she said it, and Mom isn't that emotional. You were great, Gwen!"

Gwen made her way back to the E.R. and explained to Dr. Masters how Coach Watkins insisted on seeing her and why. Dr. Masters excused herself and headed for the waiting room and a discussion with Steve's coach.

Once his x-rays were completed and read, Steve was wheeled back to the ER. Gwen pulled back the curtain and stepped alongside his bed.

"Gwen, I'm not sure how to say this. I owe you my life," began Steve as Gwen stood near his bed and listened. "I'll always be available for you. If you ever need anything I have, or anything I can do for you, just let me know. I'm serious as a heart attack. I feel a tremendous debt to you and I'll spend the rest of my life trying to repay it."

"That's hardly necessary, Steve. I'm just glad that I was in the right place at the right time. I have no idea how you dared dive into that water and then go into that submerged car. Weren't you afraid?" asked Gwen.

"I was terrified, Gwen. But I was more afraid of how I'd never be able to look in a mirror again if I didn't do my best for Glen's nephews. I'm an exceptional swimmer and I knew that the job fell on me. Besides, there are worse things than dying. Living in shame is one of them."

"Okay, kids," interrupted Dr. Masters. "Coach Watkins and I had quite a discussion. He's a stubborn man. Long story short, I promised that I'd dress your injuries right before the game and be prepared to provide medical assistance during and after the game. I guess I'm like the team doctor now," laughed Laura Masters. "I've gone to some of your games, but now I'll have a better seat, near the bench. Is your coach single, by any chance?"

"Yeah! He's single! He has a house on Parker Street. His sister and her two kids live with him. He dotes on the kids. Coach is a good guy," assured Steve. "You could do worse!"

"Don't tell him that I asked, okay? Now I have to bandage you up. The bleeding has stopped and I can see several places that require stitches. As I said earlier, you wouldn't be allowed to play with new stitches in your chest and abdomen. They'd never last through a grueling game of football, especially if Windsor's defense is as tough as their fans think. Let's see how we can get you bound up so you can throw a football without bleeding all over the field. You'll help me, won't you, Gwen? We'll step out so you can pull your jeans on, Steve, but it looks like you'll have to go Commando the rest of the day," grinned Dr. Masters. "The x-rays turned out fine. I see no need to keep Steve once we get him bandaged."

It only took a minute for Steve to don his jeans. Soon Dr. Masters was showing Gwen how she wanted to treat Steve's lacerations. "Gwen, most patients will be a bit easier to treat. This guy seems to have an awfully broad chest and shoulders. Plus these muscles really make it difficult for a female doctor! I'll need your help before the game, and I'd like you to sit with me during it. I have a couple reasons to ask that.

"First, I may require your help working on Steve. Secondly, you want to raise money for a wing for the hospital. You really should enlist the help of the staff here at the hospital. When we first heard about your project, we were pretty skeptical, but you two are bringing people around. I graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and thought that I'd do my residency in this little jerkwater town and then go back to Philly. Like most of my plans, that one went south. I like it here. If it expands and supplies the area with better health care, I want to be part of it. I want in," declared Dr. Masters. "I can use the publicity of being seen with you two, and you'll gain some credibility by being with me. I think it's a win-win situation."

"We never even thought to ask the hospital staff to help with our project! That's pretty embarrassing, really. I'd love to hang with a real doctor when I can. I can see where it could help the project. Let's plan on riding to the game together Saturday morning, Dr. Masters," suggested Gwen.

"Okay, but only if you both call me Laura," replied the young doctor. "That, and find ways to get your coach to notice me. He seems pretty stubborn, but he's genuinely interested in his players' welfare. That's a good trait in a man."