Lady in Red Pt. 02 Ch. 02

"Worst case scenario? People think you're a stud, Audrey's sleeping with you, that I've been cheated on, and that you've added Asians to the already impressive list that includes, whites, blacks, Europeans, older women, blondes, brunettes and red heads.

"You're the Navy's poster boy, so how would this affect recruiting when people that are thinking about joining the Navy see this?" asked Gwen.

"I can't see how it would hurt," laughed Steve as he stood with Audrey's bosom buried against his abdomen. "I don't think many men or women would mind being in the position we're in right now."

"The longer you two debate this, the closer Audrey's getting to an orgasm," observed Cindy. "Look at her eyes. Her pupils are starting to roll back into her skull. You'd better decide pretty soon!"

"Okay, smile!" coaxed Gwen as she took several pictures. "Audrey, you can let go now. Audrey? Can you hear me?"

"She can hear you, but this is her chance and she's making the most of it," laughed Dakota as she moved in and started tugging Audrey's shirt down over her head. "As soon as we get her covered up, I going to take my shirt off and get a picture or two."

"Girls, I think we're about done with the pictures," stated Steve firmly. "We're going to dinner with family, and then I have to catch a flight back to Washington. You can set something for next time I visit, as long as Gwen's good with it. I won't have any part of anything that doesn't have Gwen's approval. She's my girl."

Ted, Paula, and the family were patiently waiting as Steve and Gwen made their way back to the lobby. The rest of the girls from the floor were following them. They were all giggling as Cindy made a surprisingly accurate impersonation of the sounds coming from Gwen's room.

"Oh, no. Is that what took so long?" asked Kate. "We all know that sound. You really have it down pretty good. Can you do that hiccup thing at the end?"

"No! I can't figure out how she does that, but I'll work on it," replied Cindy with a big smile. "Maybe she'll loan me her boyfriend so I can learn it?"

"Not much chance of that," laughed Kate. "The waiting list is a mile long. It hasn't made it past Gwen yet and it doesn't look like it will in my lifetime."

"Let's go to dinner everyone. Steve has a flight back to Washington to catch this evening," urged a red-faced Gwen as she led Steve toward the door while Jordan and Kate began their own attempts at reproducing Gwen's cries of passion.

After a leisurely dinner, Ted and Paula gave Steve and Gwen a ride to the San Jose airport. Ted shook Steve's hand as he exited the car and Paula gave him a long hug and a quick kiss. Gwen walked with him to the security check area. People were pointing at them in recognition by the time they reached it. Oblivious to onlookers, Steve took Gwen in his arms and gave her a long, smoldering kiss. "I love you, Gwen. You can be sure that the next time I see pictures of you kissing some random guy, I'll be calling you and asking for an explanation."

"And I love you. Be certain that I'll be calling you if I see you smooching some gorgeous woman. I learned a lot this weekend. I'll never do anything to risk losing you. I realize how easy it is to screw up a good thing, and you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Have a good flight and win the rest of your games!"

As Gwen parted from Steve a small crowd of onlookers clapped and cheered. She smiled and waved. Then she turned and walked out to rejoin her parents.

"At least that trip ended well" observed Beatrice Patterson as the Gwen finished her tale. "I was very impressed with the success of the movie. William and I went to see it that weekend. I must say that you and Jordan certainly looked beautiful in those love scenes. I could tell you both loved Steve very much. It came through quite clearly in the movie."

"Ladies! I think you should return to your table," advised Billy's father as he hurried up to the group. "There's hell to pay in San Marcos, Colombia. You need to see what's going on."

"There's where Jason's stationed!" cried Lisa as the group quickly returned to their table as the televisions in the dining room lit up. "He's supposed to be coming home by Memorial Day. The state department has a delegation there and Jason only has a dozen soldiers with him. It was just a temporary assignment."

"Don't get upset," advised Paula. "I'm sure it can't be that bad. Let's see what they report on TV."

The group listened carefully as the cable news reporter excitedly explained the situation. "The American delegation came here to discuss ways to curtail the drug trade to the U.S. They've been here for two weeks and were scheduled to return home the middle of next week. Right now, the forces of the local drug cartel are storming their compound. This is an obvious attempt by the cartel to hurt relations between the United States and Colombia. If these Americans are taken hostage, or worse, there may well be severe repercussions in Washington.

"We are being told by our sources that there are over two hundred armed men attacking the compound, which is being defended by a handful of U.S. Army Rangers. We can easily hear the gunfire from our vantage point. It's mostly small arms with an occasional louder concussion."

"Oh, no!" exclaimed Lisa. "Jason's in trouble. Will the U.S. send in the Army or something? They can't let our soldiers and representatives get killed or captured, can they? Our baby needs her father!"

The other patrons in the restaurant were deathly silent as they listened to the anguish in the voice of Lisa Anderson Hunter. She had married Jason Hunter the previous year and was now carrying their first child. Many of those present had seen him enjoy dinner with the Anderson family at this very same restaurant. Now he was in a dangerous situation in a far away land!

"The wall of the compound has been breached by some sort of explosive device. The cartel mercenaries are now concentrating on that area. The gunfire is extremely heavy. There's no telling how much longer the badly outnumbered American forces can hold off the attack."

On the screen, several trucks transported what looked like a ragtag militia to a point near the gaping hole in the wall of the compound. It was readily apparent to those watching on TV that the situation was very bleak, and rapidly getting worse.

"Lisa, you know Jason's one of the bravest, toughest guys on the planet. He'll be okay," promised Gwen with more conviction than she felt as she watched her sister suffer; and felt her pain. "We have to be strong for our men serving in the armed forces. That's just about the only way we can help when they're in battle."

Suddenly the reporter's voice was muffled by a very loud sound. Looking skyward, the man pointed as the camera swung around to catch three helicopters passing overhead. The camera zoomed in to reveal 'US NAVY' stenciled on the side of one of the choppers.

The helicopters circled the compound as the cartel's men began firing at them. The first helicopter suddenly moved over the small enclosure and men in military camouflage appeared at the door briefly before rappelling downward and out of sight. They were followed closely by a dozen more men. The helicopter sped away as the second chopper hovered just past some trees beyond the cartel gunmen. Soon troops were tossing lines from it and dropping to the ground.

These new arrivals rapidly spread out and directed a withering fire at the exposed flanks of the cartel's fighters. The patrons in the restaurant were spellbound as they watched an actual battle rage in real time! In less than a minute, the cartel forces that were still able began fleeing the area where the hole had been punched through the wall.

"Those guys are SEALs!" exclaimed Charlotte as the shooting diminished. "We sent SEALs in to get everyone out safely!"

The SEALs outside the compound took up a defensive position not far from the wall as one of the group trotted down the hill toward the torn section. He easily scampered over the debris and disappeared inside. A few more shots rang out before a period of silence followed.

Suddenly the helicopters were back in sight. One dropped behind the walls of the compound. It was there just over a minute before it rose straight up and headed away. A second chopper dropped behind the walls for an even shorter period of time. As it rose above the walls, the third helicopter landed on the hillside where the SEALs had maintained a cover fire for their comrades. The men quickly boarded the chopper before it rapidly gained altitude and joined the other two as they sped from sight.

"Do you think they got Jason out?" asked a stunned Lisa as the newsman on the scene began filling in the viewers on what had just transpired. "They must have loaded everyone or they wouldn't have left, would they? What do you think, Gwen?"

Everyone turned to face Gwen and to hear her response to her sister's question, only to find Gwen clutching herself with her arms tightly gripping her shoulders as tears made their way down her cheeks.

"That was Steve! I know it was! He was the one that ran down the hill and through the wall. Jason's on one of those choppers. I'll bet everything I have, or ever will have, that Steve made certain that Jason's on his way home."

"I think they were SEALs, but probably not Steve," replied Paula in a calming voice. "You know how he complains that the Navy won't send him on any missions. He's their recruiting spokesman. They wouldn't send him on a mission like this."

"Mom, I know Steve when I see him. He was there! I know that the Navy told him that he wouldn't be used in any dangerous missions, but he was there, and it sure as hell was dangerous! We need to see what we can find out. Lisa, call Brad. He'll know if Jason's okay. I'll call Naomi and see what she can tell me about Steve."

The other patrons watched in wonder as the two Anderson sisters began their quest for information. It now appeared that Sparta had two of its own involved in the bloody battle in a faraway place, and they had watched it all on TV!

"Sis, I bet Steve was there because he knew Jason was in trouble!" surmised Kate. "You know how tight those two guys are. I don't think the President could have stopped Steve from going on that mission once he knew Jason needed help."

"You may have something there," conceded Jordan. "Steve's devoted to his friends and family. We all know that. It did look like Steve when he went through that hole in the wall, but Gwen would know for sure. If she says it was Steve, then I'd bet my bottom dollar it was."

Billy's father brought a pitcher of water and a large serving of bread to the table. "If you ladies want anything to eat, please flag down a waitress. Unless you ask for them, they've been instructed to respect your privacy. We're all praying for your men to stay safe and come home soon."

Lisa had dialed her brother-in-law's number at Gwen's suggestion. "Brad! Did you see that attack on Jason's compound? Have you heard anything? Can you find out? I knew that you would've already made some calls. I'm so worried about Jason and Steve. Please let me know when you hear anything. Gwen swears it was Steve that ran through that hole in the wall, and I wouldn't bet against her being right. You know how Steve feels about you guys finding him in that snow storm, and how important Jason is to me. Yeah, I feel better, too. I just hope they're both okay.

Lisa laid her phone on the table and spoke to her family. "Brad said he's already made some calls. He has some friends in high places and he said they promised to get back to him with information on Jason. He didn't know Steve was on that mission, but it didn't surprise him. He said he felt better about Jason's chances with Steve there. Those guys really respect each other."

Gwen listened to Lisa's report before pulling her phone out. "Hello, Naomi? Gwen here. I was watching the news and I just saw the SEALs go into that compound that was under siege by those drug cartel thugs. I'm sure Steve was there. I saw him on TV. I know what the policy is, but Lisa's husband was one of the Rangers caught in that tight spot. Yeah, that's what I think. Jason saved Steve's bacon a few years ago. Steve feels that he owes him, plus Lisa's pregnant. He wants her little girl to have her father around for years to come. Thanks! I'll be waiting.

"Naomi knew about the raid, but had no idea Steve was involved. She was a little skeptical at first, but when I explained that Lisa's husband was one of the Rangers under attack, she began to rethink her position. She said that she'll call in a few favors, find out what she can, and get back to me," concluded Gwen.

"We saw the helicopters fly away from that fight. Rangers and SEALs do not leave men behind. We all know that. Certainly, Steve and Jason would not leave anyone behind, especially each other. That leads me to conclude that your hunks are at least half way back to some ship in the Caribbean Sea," reasoned Kate. "They'll be here for the Memorial Day concert you guys always have. I'm sure of it!

"Kate has a good point," agreed Paula. "Let's order a light lunch while we wait to hear more from Brad and Naomi. You girls have two very remarkable, capable men. Have patience and faith in them."

Shortly after the group was served, Lisa's phone rang. The noise level in the dining room dropped to nothing as Lisa answered her phone. "Brad! What did you find out? No! How many times? Are the wounds serious? Where was he hit? Will he recover? Where and when will I be able to see him? Thanks so much!"

Lisa again placed her phone on the table and slowly gathered her wits. "Jason was hit three times! He lost a lot of blood, but he's been stabilized on a Navy ship. He'll be transported to a hospital in the States in a day or two. He was hit in the left leg, left arm, and low on the left side."

"How about Steve? Did Brad hear anything about how Steve is?" prodded Gwen as she patted her sister's back.

"He couldn't find out anything about Steve. He said his contacts only knew about the Rangers' injuries. Two are in critical condition. The rest of them have some injuries, but should recover. Brad said those SEALs made it there just in time. Another few minutes and they would have been too late."

"Well, I'd say that we need to look on the bright side. We were worried about Jason and now we know he's been hurt, but will recover. We saw Steve moving around very well a short time ago. He's probably taking a shower and relaxing on that ship right now," suggested Paula. "Considering the situation an hour ago, things are looking up."

Chatter once again picked up in the dining room as diners discussed the events of the day. They had been privy to seeing firsthand, just how the Anderson family responded to a very stressful situation. Lisa's husband had been wounded, but he was out of harm's way and was expected to recover. Gwen's boyfriend was Steve Hammer. They had total confidence in his abilities. The mood in the room lightened up considerably.

Gwen had just finished her salad when her phone chimed. Anxiously, she answered it. "Hello, Naomi. Thanks for calling back. It was him? I knew it. Is he alright? I don't understand. What do you mean he was okay the last time they saw him? Still there? No! They'd never leave him behind! SEALs and Rangers just don't do that. He had to be on one of those helicopters.

"Oh, no! Two kids? Why alone? What's the Navy going to do? Why can't they go back in? Who cares about Colombia? That's some policy! I'll call President Hanson and insist he send in more SEALs or something. I don't care about congress or Colombia. Steve needs help! You're probably right. He wouldn't want me to make a big stink about this, but I'm worried to death. Call me if you hear anything new. Thanks. I owe you."

Now it was Gwen's turn to calm her nerves. The room was deathly silent. Everyone at Gwen's table, and throughout the dining area sat quietly, waiting for her explanation.

Looking at her family, Gwen began. "Steve stayed behind. One of the delegates actually had his wife and two kids there with him. When they realized the cartel was going to attack the compound, the parents sent the kids out with a trusted local employee. She was going to hide them. The parents feared that they'd be killed or tortured, if they were captured. The mother begged Steve to save her kids. He had the chopper drop him off a couple miles from the battle. He's trying to find the kids and get them safely out of that hellhole!

"The U.S. didn't have any sort of clearance or permission from Colombia to stage that rescue, and now Colombia's kicking up a stink. They insist that we do not place any combat troops of any kind, for any reason, on their soil. Congress is already questioning the President's actions since he never informed them beforehand of the mission to rescue the Americans. What it all boils down to is this; Steve and those two kids are on their own!"