Chapter 7

After the tension in the waiting room was broken things started to calm down for everyone. As it turned out that was a good thing.

Phillip's heroics at the subway station did not remain a private matter for long. Several news agencies had learned of the incident from their police scanners and had sent crews to investigate. Although the police tried valiantly to keep everything quiet for the sake of those involved, it was almost inevitable that the story would eventually find its way out.

The subway station itself was already swamped with news crews. The old man that Phillip had stopped was found and interviewed by no less than ten different news stations. The station security camera footage was copied by an enterprising young CMT (Chicago Metropolitan Transit) Authority worker who saw dollar signs with the possibly of selling the footage. He was right too, as it was purchased by all the local major TV stations and Newspapers. Already the different news crews saw this as their next big story, but they needed to interview both the victim and her rescuer to make it a real story.

Police sources were duly contacted and gratuities paid. Within an hour of Phillip's surgery most of the major news networks knew both his and Moira's life stories. With the tragic loss of his father, his hard work, and his care of his family, Phillip was the perfect heroic figure for a major story. With the loss of her family, her single parent struggles, and her immigrant background, Moira was by far the perfect damsel in distress. It didn't hurt either that both people were good looking.

The address of the hospital were Phillip had been taken was easy to find and crews were quickly dispatched to locate the two and obtain interviews.

Thankfully the hospital had dealt with the media before and knew how to handle them. One reporter though would not be put off.

Her name was Maria De'Sanchez, and she worked for the second largest news desk in the city. For years she had been struggling to make an anchor spot on her network, but so far she had been unable to impress her bosses enough to get the position. If she could pull off an end-run and get the interviews first, she might just get that promotion.

Shelling out nearly three hundred dollars in brides out of her own pocket no less, she was finally able to get the location of Phillip and Moira, and their conditions. Sneaking a couple of hospital uniforms from a supply closest she finally found one that fit and managed to get herself and her camera man upstairs to the surgical floor unnoticed. Once there, finding the waiting area where she knew Phillip's family would be waiting was quite simple. A quick check of the room showed a small group of young people sitting around either in conversation or reading some of the hospital's out of date magazines. Sitting on the floor playing with a readheaded little girl was a beautiful readhead that Maria recognized from photos as Moira. Yes, her luck was definitely on her side.

Calmly approaching the group Maria coughed to get their attention. When she felt she had it she turned to Moira first. "Miss O'Shannahan, my name is Maria De'Sanchez and I'm a reporter for channel 15 news. I was wondering if I could get an interview with you about the incident at the subway station?"

Immediately the others in the room started to comment or give their opinions, but one steely eyed look from Moira silenced them all. She turned back to Maria and smiled. For her part, Maria was used to interacting with good looking people from her job as a reporter. But when Moira smiled at her she was struck by just how incredibly beautiful this young woman was. She was perfect face material for the news. "I'm not sure if I'm supposed to talk with you Ms. De'Sanchez."

"I can understand your reluctance Miss, but you need to know that what happened to you today has made it big with all the news networks. You're going to be hounded by the press for a while until you and your handsome rescuer are interviewed."

"I understand, but I really would feel more comfortable about talking to you after Phillip said it was okay."

"All right, I can certainly understand that. But let me tell you. By allowing me to do the interviews now and getting them out of the way. My station will share them with the others and it should take some of the stress off you both."

Moira said nothing to that comment, simply chewing her bottom lip in thought. She really could see how doing the interviews now might help ease the press off them later, but she didn't want to agree to anything without Phillip's approval first. It was imperative to her that Phillip approve first. Making up her mind she looked back to Miss De'Sanchez, "Alright, I'll do the interview but I can't make any promises as to whether Phillip will be as agreeable or not."

"Thank you Miss, I'm sure that once your young rescuer learns of your decision, he won't be upset." So saying she directed her cameraman to set up and within minutes she and Moira were discussing the attack.

Maria listened with rapt attention to Moira as the young woman described Phillip's heroic leap across the tracks, his seeming ease in taking down two armed thugs, even while wounded himself, and his comfort and care of Moira and Kathleen after the attack. To Maria the story was, to put it mildly, PERFECT. The story was bound to make all the headlines, and with headlines came recognition. And Maria knew she was gonna get recognized for being the first to get the coveted interviews. Her career was sure to rocket ahead with this scoop.

After Moira was done with her tale, she did her best to answer all the nice reporter's questions. She only hoped that Phillip would approve. She kept glancing around out of the corner of her eye, and seeing all the nods from the others she thought they approved.

When this part of the interview was complete, Maria was extremely pleased with herself. Now all she had to do was get this Phillip guy to agree to the interview. As she was helping her cameraman take apart his gear she heard the tall athletic girl speak to Moira. "That was really good Moira, you made my brother out to be a real hero. Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me Mandy, I was only telling the truth. Phillip IS a hero."

Her curiosity bump throbbed, and Maria turned to the good looking girl she heard called Mandy. "Your Phillip Cambridge's sister?"

"His twin sister actually. And these are our best friends Oscar and Lana. We grew up with them."

"Interesting, would any of you like to give a small interview about Phillip?" Maria couldn't stop herself from asking. Interviews with his family would help give the story some additional character.

Both Mandy and Lana blushed as they looked at each other before nodding. Oscar simply said sure. Having to set up all the camera equipment again was a pain but she knew it would be worth it. As she settled in and began the interviews with the three young people, she was blown away by all they had to say about Phillip. They made the kid out to be a regular superhero and Don Juan. It was simply perfect. She couldn't have asked for better.

When all was said and done Maria once again helped her cameraman dismantle his gear. Just as they finished a nurse came to the waiting room. "I'm sorry to bother y'all but Mister Cambridge is being moved to his room now. If you would like to meet him and his mother there, they're going to be in room 2117." having said her bit she turned to leave and noticed that the two nurses already in the room weren't anyone she recognized. After having worked at the hospital nearly twenty years she knew everyone who worked there. These two definitely didn't belong here. "Excuse me, but who are you?"

By this point Maria knew she was busted but hoped she could talk her way out of it. Luckily she didn't have to as Moira spoke up first. "They're friends of the family thank you."

Still suspicious but willing to trust the young woman the nurse walked off and left them alone.

"Why?" It was all Maria could think to ask.

"Because you said this could help Phillip and that's all that matters."

Not knowing what else to say or do Maria simply kept her mouth shut. Everyone was getting up to leave, even the grumpy-looking guy in the corner, when Moira picked up little Kathleen and asked, "Are you ready to go see your daddy again?"

Maria was a bit shocked by this, as none of the information she had mentioned that Moira and Phillip had ever known each other, let alone produced a child. Moira noticed the shocked look on her face and laughed. "Don't worry Miss De'Sanchez, I'll explain in the elevator."

Not knowing what else to do she simply followed everyone as they filed out of the waiting room. Once in the elevator, Moira explained about Kathleen's strange remark. By the time they made it to Phillip's room she understood the whole story much better. Hesitant to follow the others as they made their way into the room, Maria let her reporter facade slide into place and strode confidently in with the others.

Phillip had yet to make it to the room so she helped her cameraman set up his equipment as they waited. Luckily they didn't have to wait long, and shortly after they finished he was being wheeled in.

One look at the handsome young man on the gurney and Maria was in full blown lust. He was simply ... well simply, gorgeous!

Although he was still unconscious, Maria took her time perusing the perfect piece of man before her.

Like all reporters, Maria lived a pretty public life, which meant keeping few secrets. But she did have one big secret. And boy was it a whopper. Maria was what was more commonly referred to as a submissive. In her case she was a VERY submissive woman. She even belonged to a sorority known as the Order of the Collared Concubines. Wearing attractive metal lace collars around their necks, they proudly displayed the small charms that dangled there, displaying to all who their master's were. With her job as a reporter, she often kept hers hidden below the neckline of her blouses. She also did this now even when not on camera for what she felt was her private shame.

She kept hers hidden all the time now, because she was masterless.