Lady in Red Pt. 02 Ch. 09

"They're riding to pay their respects? They think Steve is dead?" questioned Gwen, before pulling her cell out and hitting a button. "Larry? Larry Carson? Yes, it's really me. I'm wondering where you are at the moment. I thought so! Look up and to your left. That's our group in the choppers. No! Steve didn't die.

"We brought him home from Iraq! He's hurt pretty badly. So are Charlie and Chip, but we're expecting them to recover. Yes, you heard right. No, it isn't a secret any longer. Tell everyone that Steve's alive and coming home to the hospital in Sparta. I'll feel a lot safer with you and your group in town. You're our friends and that means a lot to us!"

Gwen turned off her phone and watched as the bikers began waving to the helicopters as they roared past the procession. She knew that Larry would spread the word to his fellow riders. They would turn a solemn procession into a celebration. With that thought, Gwen dialed Ashley.

"Ashley, we're coming home! He's hurt pretty badly, but he should get better with the care he'll be receiving. Chip's with us. We expect him to recover as well. Charlie was knocked out by a bullet that bounced off his head, but Laura thinks he should be okay. They're all badly injured, but they're already looking better than they did when we first found them.

"We'll catch up on all of that later. Right now I wanted to tell you that thousands of bikers and motorists are headed for Sparta. Originally, they were coming to pay their respects, but now it's going to be a celebration of sorts. We're going to need vendors to supply free food and drinks for everyone. You've already arranged it? Ashley, you're the best! Make sure that we have enough. From the air, I see a lot of vehicles turning off the interstate at the Sparta exit. This is going to be big!"

Word spread quickly through Sparta that Gwen and friends had gone to Iraq, found Steve alive, and were bringing him back to the hospital! Hordes of reporters, photographers, and citizens began gathering in front of the hospital, not far from the pad designed for helicopters to land. A shout went up as the two choppers came into view, circled the area once, and then the first chopper landed on the pad.

Hospital staff immediately pushed gurneys out to the waiting helicopter as passengers began stepping out. Everyone recognized Billy and Jared as they gently swung a body on a stretcher from the helicopter and placed it on the waiting gurney. Kate Anderson rushed over to accompany it as it was carefully guided toward the entrance to the hospital as a second gurney replaced it by the helicopter. Billy and Jared carefully lifted a second stretcher and placed it on a gurney as Gwen Anderson watched closely. She accompanied that gurney as it was pushed toward the hospital. As she drew closer to the large crowd, people began to loudly cheer and clap. She had brought Steve home when the government and media were suggesting that he was probably dead!

The helicopter quickly took off and the second one landed. Another gurney was pushed along side as Billy and Jared helped passengers off before once again lifting someone on a stretcher onto the waiting gurney. Jordan Quick accompanied that gurney as it made the short journey to the hospital. Once again the crowd roared its approval. Everyone realized that Charlie must have been injured if Jordan was hanging so close.

The remaining friends started down the walkway to the hospital. Cheers and whistles continued as locals expressed their approval, and pride, in the actions of the young friends of Steve and Gwen. Reporters called to them to answer questions, but the group simply waved and continued into the hospital.