Gwen watched Steve dive into the icy waters without any apparent hesitation. Then, as her dress pooled at her feet, she kicked off her heels and headed for the river. Ashley was calling to her, but Gwen's attention was on the scene in the river.
A man in a suit had climbed out of the helicopter and was trying to swim to shore. Although it was only about a hundred yards, Gwen could tell the man would never make it. He was using only his left arm, and quite awkwardly. Gwen was surprised when she saw Steve swim out around the man and continue toward the rapidly sinking helicopter.
It occurred to Gwen that Steve had somehow determined that there were more people in the aircraft and he was intent on rescuing them. Then she felt the sudden shock as she dove into the frigid waters. Chilled to the bone, she quickly surfaced and swam strongly toward the man that had exited the chopper. By now he was having a very difficult time. He flailed weakly as his head dropped below the surface and then reappeared. This happened several times before Gwen approached him. Then, as she drew near, he went under and did not return to the surface.
Gwen dove and quickly found him. She grabbed his jacket by the collar and pulled him to the surface. By this time, her limbs felt numb and her teeth were chattering, even as she exerted herself tremendously. Taking a deep breath, Gwen began pulling the man back toward shore. As she swam, she saw Steve dive at the point where the helicopter had just submerged.
She knew she had to get back to shore, and soon, or she'd never make it back. Knowing she was unable to help Steve, she prayed that he would manage without her. It became increasingly difficult for Gwen to make her arms respond. They felt like lead weights. Gwen became concerned about getting back to shore as the seconds passed. She was moving slower and with much greater effort.
"Let me take him, Miss," came a strong male voice from behind her just before an arm reached out and grabbed the collar of the man she had been pulling.
Gwen released the man and turned in the water. She saw a policeman standing in chest deep water as he worked his way toward shore, towing the man that she had helped. Gwen tried to stand, but her feet were numb! She knew they were on the bottom, but had difficulty feeling anything. Walking was almost impossible.
Suddenly, strong hands grabbed on one of her arms and guided her back to shore. She hadn't seen the second man until she felt his hands on her arm. She had a chance to quickly study him as he led her from the water. He was very poorly dressed and looked extremely unkempt. His wore a beard and his coat was ragged and torn in several places. Regardless, Gwen was extremely grateful that he was there and helping her.
Once she reached waist deep water, the man released her arm, but remained close, making sure that she was going to be able to escape the frigid waters. For the first time, Gwen noticed dozens, and perhaps hundreds of people standing along the shoreline. Many had their phones in their hands and were videoing her approach to land. When the water was below her knees, several men splashed out to help her climb the river bank. An older man on shore removed his overcoat and wrapped it around her once she was standing on dry land. Then she turned to see if she could locate Steve.
The cold water had jolted Steve when he dove into the river. He forced his body to ignore the shock and began swimming strongly toward the crashed helicopter. Unlike Gwen, he had a very good idea who was inside the stricken craft. He had seen Amber Stahl and Bill Hardy doing interviews outside the Capitol Building after Congress had been adjourned. He also noticed the chopper sitting in a cordoned off grassy area a hundred yards away at the time that Gwen had spoken to her family and promised to join them after meeting her new staff.
As he swam, he saw Bill Hardy plunge into the water before the machine sank from sight. Steve quickly made the decision to circle Hardy and try to find Amber. His reasoning was that Hardy was on the surface and would be easily seen by others that would surely be rushing to render aid. Amber had not exited the chopper and that concerned Steve greatly. The aircraft disappeared from sight just a few yards in front of Steve, so he took a breath and dove down. He quickly reached the chopper as it slowly descended.
One glance told Steve that the pilot was dead. His head was bent at an unnatural angle and blood streamed from his severed throat. Inside he found Amber still held in place in a back seat by her lap belt. Her forehead had some blood seeping from it and she was unresponsive. He quickly unbuckled her and headed upward.
He broke the surface and drew a deep breath as he looked to determine the nearest land. It was immediately apparent that he had to go back toward the parked limo. He held Amber with one arm and began swimming strongly toward the shore. As he swam, he thought about Hell Week and how much he had hated it. Then he almost smiled as he realized how well it was serving him at that very moment.
The water was frigid, but he ignored it. He concentrated on the girl he held in his right arm as he pushed hard for shore. He would glance back after every ten strokes to locate his landing spot and to determine when he was close. He knew when the water was shallow enough to walk and swung Amber into both arms as he felt bottom. He then trudged slowly toward shore. As the water became waist deep, several bystanders approached and offered to take Amber from him. Steve simply shook his head and kept walking.
Steve took in the scene as he stepped out of the water. Gwen was standing just to the side with Ashley. She was soaking wet, but wrapped in a warm trench coat and appeared to be doing well. Bill Hardy was sitting on someone's coat with another coat draped over his shoulders. He was complaining bitterly about how much his arm ached and how long the ambulance was taking to arrive.
A couple of bystanders removed their coats and placed them on the frozen ground. Steve gently placed Amber on the clothing and felt her throat for a pulse. Feeling relief that she had a strong one, he bent down close to her mouth to determine if she was breathing properly. She had spittle and mucous around her nose and mouth, but her breathing was regular. Then the sirens became very loud as ambulances drove along the grassy shoulder of the jammed highway and stopped just yards away.
Soon, two paramedics were at Amber's side, so Steve stepped back to allow them room. They quickly placed her on a backboard and then on the gurney and strapped an oxygen mask over her mouth and nose. Then they moved her toward the ambulance, loaded her, and took off along the grassy shoulder to a point where the ambulance could access the highway.
Steve turned to see another crew treating Bill Hardy. He was uncooperative and still complaining about the pain and the lack of haste demonstrated by the paramedics. Steve didn't even try to conceal his contempt for Hardy as he made his way over to Gwen and Ashley.
Both women were shivering as they watched Steve approach. Suddenly, Ashley turned and raced back to the limo, grabbed Steve's clothes from the trunk and his shoes from the ground and hurried back. She knelt in front of Steve and held his pants open for him to step into.
Steve was a little embarrassed by Ashley's actions. Dozens of cameras were recording his every move. Not knowing what else to do, Steve quickly stepped into his trousers and took the waistband from Ashley's hands as she pulled them up.
"Thanks, Ashley. I appreciate it, but everyone's watching. Just hand me my shirt and I'll slip it on," insisted Steve as gently as he could.
Once Ashley handed Steve his clothes, she went back to the car and returned with Gwen's dress and coat. Steve met her as she approached Gwen.
"Gwen, if you want to put your dress back on, I'll stand in front of you, Ashley, please stand behind her," instructed Steve before speaking to the older man that had obviously loaned his overcoat to Gwen. "Sir, would you mind standing next to Gwen so we don't have a dozen cameras recording her putting her dress back on?"
