She tossed the remains in a trash can as Steve attempted to cover himself with his hands. “I’m Dr. Laura Masters and I’ll do everything in my power to get you back in the game, literally, Mr. Hammer. Let’s check your vital signs. Ms. Anderson, I understand that you expect to become a doctor and practice here, after you raise enough money to expand this hospital and add a children’s wing. Why don’t you wash up over there while a nurse finds a set of scrubs for you to wear? Then I want you join me, and we’ll take care of our hero together. I’ve wanted with speak with you for some time.”
Dr. Masters saw Gwen blush as she tossed Steve’s underwear away. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to embarrass either of you. If you’re going to be a doctor, you’ll see everything. I’ve seen and heard so much about Gwen Anderson and Steve Hammer the past month or two that I assumed you two were very close, if you know what I mean.”
Dr. Masters interviewed and examined Steve closely. Satisfied that Steve showed no obvious neurological problems, Laura ordered x-rays, and then spoke to Gwen and Steve. “As soon as we can be sure that Steve has no broken bones or spine issues, which I doubt, we can allow him to move around safely. It looked like he’ll need some stitches to close some of those cuts, but then he wouldn’t be able to play football and he’s got a pretty big game coming up Saturday. From what I’ve seen, the team will never stand a chance without him. I think we can dress those cuts well enough so he can play in the big game. I can stitch him up the next day.”
“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.”