Lady in Red Pt. 02 Ch. 05

Gwen's reverie was suddenly broken and she was jolted back to the present when Mr. and Mrs. Thompson approached her. "I had no idea you were coming to Sparta! Are you going to attend the hospital ceremonies and the concert tomorrow?" asked Gwen as she embraced the couple.

"We had to do something," replied Mrs. Thompson. "The waiting and wondering is taking its toll. When we landed, we saw reports that the cartel has Steve Hammer pinned down in the mountains and the fighting was intense. How long can he hold off an army, and what about our girls?"

Gwen realized that she wasn't the only person suffering as she listened to the cries of a very worried mother. She knew that the Thompson's would take their lead from her reaction to the situation.

"That was the worst thing those idiots could have done," stated Gwen flatly and with conviction. "You heard that there are a lot of casualties? Steve's fighting for his life, and for your daughters' lives. He's a very dangerous man on a good day. Right now, he's their worst nightmare. Your girls will be okay. I guarantee it."

After a fitful night, Gwen was up early to listen for any news from Colombia. With nothing new to report, the cable news channels were looping the same stories over and over. Gwen went with her family for an early breakfast at Marsh's Landing. Laura, Ashley, Charlotte, Becky, Jordan and Charlie were there waiting for them. Gwen's grandparents as well as Steve's joined them shortly after they arrived. The Thompsons were also guests at the table.

Ms. Walker came into the dining area and was invited to join them. "This is the day we've worked for. I wish Steve could be here, but I have no doubt that he'll get back as soon as possible. I'm filled with pride and humility at this accomplishment. I never dreamed it would turn out so well, and it's largely because of the effort s of Lady in Red Productions. Thank you, everyone!"

As they ate, it became apparent that Gwen was becoming agitated. She was pushing her food around and constantly looking around the room. Laura noticed it and tried to calm her.

"Gwen, would you like me to prescribe something to help you relax? I know you're under a great deal of stress. You look tired and anxious."

"No, I'm fine. I just feel out of sorts. Something feels different. I'll be fine as..."

"Look!" shouted Kate as she pointed to the TV playing across the room. "They're dead! Not Steve and the kids, but that fat bastard Flores and his son! I knew it! They pushed Steve until he got mad. They're saying they don't know exactly how the two died, but it might have been some stray gunfire. Ha! I bet they both have bullets through the heart!"

Just then, Laura's phone chimed. "It's the hospital. I have to take this."

Laura listened for a few minutes and then disconnected. "There's a helicopter bringing in some injured people. It isn't even a trauma chopper, just a regular privately owned helicopter, which is unusual. Well, we're open for business and our new landing pad will see its first use. And there are a lot of people in town to see it."

Gwen suddenly pushed her chair back. As she stood, she cried out. "It's Steve!"

"Sweetheart, it can't be," responded Paula with concern for her daughter's odd behavior. "He's in Colombia. Please sit down and..."

"Mom! I know it's Steve!" insisted Gwen as she turned and ran from the restaurant.

"Mom, she's acting really weird," worried Kate as she stood. "I'll go with her."

Gwen left the building and looked for her car before realizing that she had ridden with her family. She turned toward the hospital and began to run up the sidewalk. When Kate emerged form the restaurant, Gwen was already a couple hundred feet up the street. Kate put her head down and took out after her sister.

That was when Kate realized how hard Gwen was running. Kate had all she could do to gradually catch her. She heard the loud drone of the helicopter overhead as they came within sight of the landing pad. By this time two cars loaded with Gwen's family and friends pulled into the parking lot. Laura pulled into her reserved parking spot and parked. She raced to intercept Gwen before she reached the landing pad. She just made it.

"Gwen! Stop! Even if it was Steve, it isn't safe to get any closer! Wait here with me and we'll see who's on board. I have to warn you that there's no reason whatsoever to think it might be Steve," insisted Laura forcefully as she held Gwen's arm.

A large number of people had seen Gwen running up the street, with Kate hot in pursuit. Word had spread through the town that Gwen Anderson was running toward the hospital and now a helicopter was settling down on the landing pad. People were hurrying up the street toward the hospital.

Gwen's hair blew behind her as she watched the helicopter slowly descend. Her anxiety was at an extremely high level as she strained to see who was in the machine.

Paula had tears running down her cheeks as she stood with Ted, her parents, and Steve's grandparents watching the scene unfold. "She's so upset about Steve; she thinks he'll show up any second. I don't know what to do for her. When she sees he isn't on this chopper, it'll crush her," sobbed Paula.

The chopper landed and slowly a door swung open. A heavy boot hit the pavement, followed by another. Then a pair of smaller feet attached to very brown legs gently hit the pavement next to the larger ones. They stepped away from the chopper and Mrs. Thompson gasped loudly.

"It's Roxie! And there's Sam!" sobbed the woman as a second girl was carried into sight by a darkly tanned man with no shirt, and red stains smeared across his shoulder, arm, pants, and face.

Gwen broke free from a stunned Laura and raced to the trio. The man gently placed the smaller girl on the ground and enveloped Gwen in a fierce hug as the girls trotted toward their sobbing mother.

"Dear God!" cried Paula as she watched her daughter in the man's arms. "It's Steve!"

By this time, Kate was next to her mother and asked the question on everyone's mind. "How did Gwen know that Steve was on that chopper? That's not even possible!"

Gwen was appalled at Steve's appearance. His shoulder was enflamed and crusted with blood that had run the length of his arm. His face was a series of scratches with blood clotted around them. He was unshaven, sweaty, dirty, and tanned beyond anything she thought possible. As he stepped to take her into his arms, he limped noticeably.

Without hesitation, Gwen threw her arms around him and hugged him as hard as she could. They were like that for almost a minute when Gwen felt Steve shake and then heard a sob catch in his throat. She suddenly realized that he was crying into her neck as he clutched her desperately. Gwen patted his back and ran her hand through his hair as she whispered soothingly to him. She began to realize the toll the past week had taken on him and marveled at his strength and determination to make it back to her.

Gwen heard Laura speak after she and Steve had shared the embrace for a very long time. "Gwen, he needs to be examined. Let's get him inside and take care of him. I see some bullet wounds and numerous scratches. He's dehydrated, exhausted, and extremely emotional. Let's put him on a gurney and get him into the emergency room."

"I'll walk, Laura," replied Steve as he wiped his cheeks and straightened up. "It's only a few scratches. I don't know what happened there. The last few hours have been like a bad dream. We switched planes a couple times and then the helicopter. I just lost it for a minute. I'm sorry about that."

Gwen slid her arm around his waist as Steve placed his good arm over her shoulder. Together they slowly made their way inside the hospital. Meanwhile, the Thompsons were enjoying a reunion of their own. After lots of kisses and hugs, the girls were ushered into the children's wing for evaluation, accompanied by their parents. Right behind them was a gurney with a small boy followed closely by his worried mother.

The crowd that had witnessed the scene was buzzing. Phones were out as folks called friends and relatives to give them the news. Steve Hammer had survived and made it home! Channel 5 had a camera man on site for the dedication later in the day. He had recorded the entire scene.

William Patterson and his wife turned to face Paula and her family. "I can't believe what just happened. Our grandson was in a gun battle with dozens of cartel men in Colombia just a few hours ago. Now he's back in Sparta, and in Gwen's arms. It's exactly where he belongs."