Lady in Red Ch. 17

"I decided to check out his chest area for any injuries or punctures. His chest, stomach, and back were all covered with horrible long black bruises. It's pretty apparent that the guy must have beaten Steve with some sort of club!"

Cries and moans filled the room at Brad's statement. He waited for the ladies to collect themselves. "He also had shrapnel buried in his back, buttocks, and legs. One large fragment and several smaller ones appeared to be infected. He's quite ill. I have no idea what sort of internal injuries he may have suffered from the beating and the wreck. His face is badly swollen, with one eye totally closed. There you have it as far as I can report. Obviously, the doctors will have much better idea of the extent of his health problems."

No one had expected to hear that Steve had been badly beaten before crashing and then enduring several days in a blizzard. Everyone wore shocked expressions and tears flowed freely. Paula hugged Gwen and cooed into her ear much as she had done when Gwen was a small child. Lisa cried into Jason's chest while Stephanie and Kate held each other with tears streaking their cheeks. Then Steve's uncle stepped through the doorway and took a seat.

"I heard everything, so don't worry about repeating it. It's a hell of a thing, but I'm looking at the bright side. Steve's alive and in good hands. That's a lot better than he was a few hours ago!"

It was almost three hours later that a grim Laura entered the waiting room. She looked at the people gathered and nodded to them. "I guess there's no sense trying to speak to one or two of you, so I'm going to tell all of you how Steve's doing.

"He's in intensive care. We're treating him for pneumonia and a very nasty infection in his buttocks and back. We removed a large piece of metal and numerous smaller ones. Several of those pieces of shrapnel had caused infections. X-rays show several cracked ribs, apparently the result of being bound and then beaten. He has many bruises on his torso and face. He has one eye swollen shut and the other is pretty puffy. He's dehydrated and exhausted.

"All of that said, he's in remarkably good health for what he's been through. His face should heal completely, so his good looks will return. His bruises will eventually heal. We feel that we've got a good start on his treatment for the pneumonia and the infections. If he keeps responding as he has been the last few hours, he'll be out of intensive care within a couple days.

"One thing I cannot determine is his mental state. This young man has had a very traumatic year. He lost his father while defending civilians, and Steve killed three men at that time. He came within a whisker of drowning in November. A couple weeks ago he engaged in a shootout with terrorists, in which he killed five men and lost several friends. Then he was abducted, bound, and tortured before being in a crash and explosion. Badly injured, he struggled to survive through a couple of hellacious snowstorms. Can you see why I'm worried about him?

"He'll need a lot of patience and understanding, as well as old fashioned love. He may be fine, but my feeling was that he was worried or depressed when I just spoke with him. That could hinder the healing process. As I said, he was conscious just now and he's asked to see Lisa. Would you come with me, please?"

Lisa looked to Gwen in surprise and quickly stood and followed Laura out of the room. Gwen felt everyone in the room look at her as she struggled to determine the meaning in this turn of events. Unable to reach a logical conclusion, she decided to simply keep her faith in Steve and wait.

"Steve, it's my fault that you've been hurt so bad!" cried Lisa as she neared the bed and saw Steve's bandaged face.

"That's why I wanted to see you, Lisa," croaked Steve. "I need you to help me get well. Will you do that for me?"

"Of course, Steve! What can I do to help?"

"I'm trying to get that bastard out of my head. He tried to take something from us, and I'm worried that he may have succeeded. I heard Jason and Brad talking on the chopper ride back. They didn't know I was conscious. I heard that you're wracked with guilt and now I see it's true.

"Lisa, you know that I love you, but I doubt that you know how much. We'll never be lovers, but that just makes what we have even better. We are joined in other ways. I need you to know that I never blamed you for texting me that day. I am honored that you had the faith in me to respond in your time of need. I would give my life for you. If I'm ever called on to do that, I want you to know that I did it because I love you and want you to be safe and well. I want to hold your children, to love your kids and play with them. I want you to feel that I'll give my life for them and I want you to be proud of me for doing it.

"You have to be the Lisa I've known and loved if I'm going to be able to get over the pain that guy inflicted. I have to know that he lost, and you and I won. Don't look for blame. Look for the pride and honor I felt that you would allow me to help you. I fear that in the future you will allow yourself injury or harm rather than seek my help. I can't live with that. Guys like Jason, Brad, and me have a purpose in life. That purpose is to help good people, and hold bad people accountable. You have a purpose, too. Lisa, you bring joy to men like us with your smile, your humor, and your selfless love of family. Please tell me that I won't lose that Lisa, the one I've fallen for so deeply. Tell me that you'll always be willing to lean on me in times of trouble and allow me the pleasure and honor of helping you any way I can."

Tears streamed down Lisa's cheeks as she listened to Steve speak. "Oh, Steve! I do love you like no other. I promise I'll always look to you for help in times of trouble. We do have a special kind of love and we'll have it even if we're both married and have a dozen kids between us. Gwen will understand. She already does. If Jason turns out to be the guy for me, he'll understand, too."

"That's the Lisa I know and love! Now do me one more favor. Express to Jason and Brad how much I appreciate their efforts to rescue me. Put some feeling in it for me, if you would."

"I think I can do that! I know it isn't manly to get all weepy and soft, so I'll take care of that little task for you. Then I'll tell them how proud I am that they'd think enough of you, and Gwen and me, to go to such extremes to save you. I think I'll like feeling loved and pampered a lot more than frightened and guilty. You're amazing and we really do have a very special and different type of love affair going, don't we?"

"I'd say it's one of the best possible and I hope it lasts another sixty years. I hope we're always close and you're always teasing me. I expect your daughters to be just like you, and I'll love them, too."

Lisa bent over and quickly kissed Steve's bruised lips. "We'll always be in love. Now get well. I promise that I'll do my best to tease you mercilessly, so plan on it!"

All eyes were on Lisa when she returned to the waiting room. Lisa looked at Gwen to judge her temperament. She knew it had to sting when Steve asked to speak to her first. Gwen seemed curious, but not angry. Lisa hurried over to her.

"Gwen, that boyfriend of yours was worried about me! Can you believe that? It seems that on the helicopter ride to the hospital he overheard a couple of Rangers discussing how pathetic a certain blonde was behaving. For some reason, Steve thought that they were referring to me, so he just gave me a pep talk. He's been beaten, blasted, and blown around by a blizzard. He's got pneumonia and cracked ribs, can only see out of one eye, and he's worried that I'm unhappy! Can you believe it?"

"So that's what that was all about? I was a little curious, but I knew there'd be a good reason. He heard that you were down in the dumps and wanted to correct that problem right away? He really does love you, Lisa. It just makes me so proud of him! How did he look?"

"Honestly, Sis? He looks like hell. He's battered and bruised to beat the band, but I think I cured his depression, and I didn't even have to take my clothes off," joked Lisa.

Paula and the others had been listening to Lisa's conversation with Gwen. When Lisa made her joke, Paula knew that she'd be fine. Steve's talk with her had freed Lisa of her guilt about texting him that horrible day. Paula made a mental note to thank Steve and to add yet another reason to the long list of ways Steve had come through for her family.

Gwen was relieved to hear Lisa joke and laugh. She had been concerned about her attitude and had hoped that Steve's rescue would jolt her out of her melancholy. While his return didn't exactly have that effect, it seemed obvious that their little tete-a-tete had restored Lisa's good humor.

"There's one other thing. Steve asked that I personally thank these two Rangers for roaming the north woods for a few days to find him and bring him back. He specifically asked me to put some feeling in it. That's what I'm going to do. Forgive me, Amber, but this is for Steve."

Lisa walked up to Brad and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him long and hard on the lips. Once she released Brad, she moved over to Jason. He was ready for her and pulled her tight to his chest and leaned down to meet her lips with his. They held that position until Kate started yelling for them to get a room.

Paula and her mother were laughing at Lisa's forward behavior. Amber had moved into her fiancé's arms, while Gwen moved behind Lisa with a smile on her face.

"I owe these guys some thanks, too! Let go of that big lug so I can express myself properly," insisted Gwen.

"No, Gwen. That's why Steve asked me to thank these guys. He didn't want his girlfriend whisked away by some handsome, rugged Ranger. I'm the sacrificial lamb here. It's a dirty job, but it's mine to do."

"Just get out of the way," laughed Gwen as she moved close to Jason and kissed him soundly on the lips. "You saved my guy, Jason. You'll always be a brother to me, and maybe more if Lisa does have her head removed from that dark place. I'll always love you for all you've done for Steve and me."

Then Gwen moved over to Brad and pulled Amber out of his arms. "I gave you permission to kiss my boyfriend once. Would it be okay if I kissed yours right now?"

"Just don't do a job on him like Lisa did! He's getting older now and his heart isn't what it used to be. Two Anderson sisters are enough to kill most men, so go easy and if he starts to go down, catch him."

"There won't be anything going down when I get this guy in my arms!" replied Gwen as she kissed Brad long and hard. "You're tops in my book, Brad. Amber is a very lucky woman. You and Jason are the brothers I never had. My sisters have Steve for a brother figure, but I sure don't want him to be act like a brother with me!"

Laura had entered the room in time to see and hear Lisa and Gwen thank the Hunter brothers. She admired their easy sexuality and humor under a stressful situation. She found herself smiling along with the others in the room.

"I was going to ask you if you wanted to see Steve now, but if you're too busy with these brothers, maybe Paula will have the time to cheer up Steve a little. I told you I was worried about Steve getting depressed. Having his girl stolen by a couple of Army Rangers will crush him."

Gwen rushed over to Laura and followed her out of the room. Steve was covered in bandages and once again had an IV plugged into his left arm. Gwen walked up to his bed and took his hand and smiled. Steve tried to smile back and groaned as his split lip reminded him of his ordeal.

"Steve, you know what this means, don't you?" asked Gwen. "I'm going to have to wash your back in the shower again. You know I'm going to make you stay with us and I'm going to smother you in love. I just hope you're healthy enough to survive it because it's going to be constant and intense. Think you can stand it?"

"That's all I could think about when I was lying under that damn rock ledge! I knew if I could just hang on, you'd be rubbing your naked breasts against me again, washing my back and allowing me to wash your front. I had to time to think about my love for you, Gwen. I'll never love another woman the way I love you. I know that."

"Oh, Steve! My heart was breaking when you were taken away, but I never stopped believing that you'd come back to me. My heart told me that you were alive. I'm your girl to love forever. That'll never change."

Gwen and Steve talked about his harrowing ordeal until Laura returned and ushered Gwen out and ordered Steve to get some sleep. When Gwen returned to the waiting room, several reporters were setting up their video equipment. One of the networks had their weekend anchor reporting from Sparta since Monday. He was checking his hair in a small mirror as his cameraman set up.

"Would you like to do an interview now, Gwen?" asked Amber Stahl. "I feel a little intimidated here by these network big shots, but I'll do my best."

"You've no reason to apologize or explain, Amber," replied Gwen. "I have an axe to grind with that pompous ass over there, but you've been great."

About that time, the reporters noticed Gwen had returned and swung their cameras toward her and began asking questions. The network guy was in front of the others and obviously expected his questions would be answered first.

"Let's do this in an orderly manner," stated Gwen calmly. "Let's start with Amber Stahl. What is your question?"

Gwen easily fielded questions about Steve's condition and how he survived the crash, the explosion, and the blizzard.

Gwen seized her opportunity when the network anchor asked about Steve's reaction to first seeing his two rescuers. "That's an odd question for you to be asking, Mr. Hardy. Just last night I saw you report that Steve could not have survived the accident, the blast, and the weather. You stated that what was once a search and rescue mission had become a recovery effort. That was a clear statement to your audience that Steve was no longer alive. Now you are asking how he reacted to a situation that occurred after you told us he had died.

"That means you have zero credibility and no right to ask any questions. You don't report news, you try to create it, or guess it. That is a very unprofessional, cruel thing to do. I will not entertain any questions from you. Amber, do you have any further questions?"

Gwen's treatment of the flustered anchor made almost as much news as Steve's miraculous survival. Steve's story made the headlines, but Gwen's handling of Bill Hardy also garnered a lot of attention, especially on internet blogs. Public sentiment was strongly behind Gwen, but Bill Hardy was not one to forgive and forget.

Steve responded to the antibiotics quickly and was out of intensive care by Sunday. His face was still swollen, but he had complete vision in his right eye and his left eye was beginning to open. His pneumonia was improving rapidly. The cracked ribs were extremely tender, making any extension of his arms or sudden movement painful.

Paula was not surprised that Gwen insisted that Steve stay with them again. Gwen and Kate spent Saturday switching rooms. Gwen intended to stay with Steve and neither Ted nor Paula voiced an objection. After school on the following Wednesday, Gwen and Charlotte drove to the hospital to pick up Steve. Once again, Steve was wheeled down the hall with staff wishing him well and joking that he try to stay away a little longer this time.

Steve's arrival at the Anderson home was a festive occasion. Gwen's grandparents, along with Lisa, Will and Stephanie were waiting for him in the living room when Ted and Paula once again helped him into their home. By this time, Steve's face was almost normal in shape but still contained many shades of yellow, blue, and purple. He still kept his arms close to his sides to ease the pain in his ribs. His infections and pneumonia were pretty much defeated, although he was required to take antibiotics for another ten days.

Steve was surprised at the emotion Paula's mother, Caroline, showed when he slowly entered the house. "Young man, I'm so happy to see you walk into this house under your own power. What you've accomplished for this community, and this family is incredible. I don't blame Gwen for moving you into her room. If I were forty years younger..."

"Mom, you're not forty years younger, and I'm not twenty years younger, but Gwen is. Look how you've made the poor boy blush. Gwen, did you mention to him that he was staying in your room, with you as his personal nurse?"

"That was going to be a surprise! I can't believe my own grandmother is trying to put moves on my boyfriend. I suppose I should look at the bright side. You must approve of him."

"Are you kidding? All my friends are asking me if I know him and what's he really like. They asked me if I ever heard him sing, and I haven't. I'm pretty upset about that! As soon as he feels better, I want him to sing that Elvis song for me, except now it's a Steve Hammer song. Have you ever heard a song played so much in a couple weeks time?

"I brag about how much he loves my granddaughter, aka 'The Lady in Red', how you two saved the school, have hit songs and how you're nursing him back to health in your room."

"Grandma! You don't have to tell anyone that Steve's staying in my room. That's personal."

"I'm sure it's going to be, Dear! I was just teasing. I think your dad would have a coronary if I told anyone about that arrangement. I still don't know how you ever convinced him to allow it."

"I think Steve did the convincing when he saved this whole family a few times. It made a very persuasive argument for Gwen's cause," observed Paula. "A few months ago, I would have told you that Ted would have never allowed it in a million years. Of course, Gwen did promise that they would not be having sex. That helped soothe Ted a little."

"You promised what?" asked a surprised Caroline. "You're going to be spending nights with this incredible young man and you're not going to have sex? You've got to be kidding me!"

"Well thanks for that vote of confidence, Mom! If Ted wasn't worried enough about that before your outburst, he will be now. Gwen's mature enough to be trusted and she's promised that she won't be doing anything that could get her pregnant. She just started on the pill and it takes some time to start working."

"Okay, that explains it," laughed Caroline. "There are a lot of fun things a young couple can do without getting anyone pregnant. Treat that boy right, Gwen. He's a keeper and he's head over heels in love with you."

"Grandma, do you have any suggestions for Gwen?" asked Kate with a straight face. "Any tricks you remember that might keep him interested?"

"With a figure and a face like Gwen's, she can keep a dead man interested. She doesn't need any tips from her old Grandma," assured Caroline with a wink.

"Once again, I feel the need to tell you ladies that I'm standing right in front of you and I can hear everything you're saying. I'm quite certain that proper etiquette requires that you wait until I leave the room before you talk about me."

"Steve hasn't seen the video where he sang to Gwen at Macy's that Saturday. Let's make some popcorn and watch it with him," suggested Kate as she gently tugged Steve toward the couch. "He may be the only person in the entire country that hasn't seen it."

Steve was surprised at how well his song turned out. Gwen looked stunning as she sat next to him at the piano. Her surprise at his song selection caused him to smile as he watched.

"That's the way to romance a girl!" declared Gwen's grandmother after the song finished. "Sing her a love song on live television with who knows how many people watching. I was all choked up that morning when I watched it on TV."