One Step at a Time
Ch. 8
Steve sat in the common room quietly sketching Natasha as she sat relaxed on the couch reading a book of advanced code breaking, her brow creased in concentration. Steve smirked when she glanced his way with a questioning look realizing she was the subject of his drawling. With a small smile she got up and walked over toward the Captain to get a look at his work.
“Well I wasn’t finished yet!” Steve grumbled as she leaned over and nodded in approval.
“Not bad Rodgers,……but are my eyebrows really that intense?” She smirked and he rolled his eyes.
“Well you were concentrating.” He shrugged and she hummed in response.
“Hey kids!.......Wanna see something incredibly Amazing!” Stark strolled into the common area and received the attention of Steve and Natasha as well as Clint who was in the kitchen and Wanda and Vision who were relaxed near by watching a documentary on Ancient Greece.
Tony cleared his throat and stepped aside as slowly Bruce and Sam appeared in the door way, each helping to support Bucky who was in the middle wearing knee length blue gym shorts and a gray t-shirt, brown tuff of hair mostly grown back and messy . Both the Doctor and Councilor were offering patient and encouraging expressions as Sargent Barnes glanced nervously up at Steve and then away with a shy, anxious smile.
“Hey Buck!” Steve grinned as he stood up and headed toward them but Stark held up a hand to stop him with a smirk and knowing expression.
“You ready Sargent?” Sam asked softly as he continued to provide support to Bucky’s right side. The recovering man let out an unsteady breath, then nodded hesitantly as a tremor of adrenaline ran through him. Slowly he stood up straighter fixing his blue eyes on Steve with a determined look and a set jaw. He took a step forward, and then another, body moving with stiff, awkward movements until he stepped away completely from both Dr. Banner and Wilson, finally able to take independent steps, a task he had been working toward in physical therapy for the past five weeks since he had regained conscious awareness.
He had been in a wheel chair for the first two weeks after he was able to get out of the medical bed and had worked hard at his physical therapy, at times pushing himself out of the chair in an attempt to force himself to walk. It had been a frustrating and humiliating process for the fiercely independent Sargent who still fell into fits of resentment and anger followed by grief and shame as his brain continued to rewire and connect it’s self-back together. The Doctors were astounded by his escalating healing and recovery and yet for Bucky it was agonizingly slow and tremendously frustrating to struggle with the simplest motor functions as well as verbal communication, his movements clumsily and spastic, speech slurred and stuttered.
Steve watched with genuine excitement and a huge grin as Bucky took one small shuffled step after another, his white ankle socks hardly leaving the carpet, muscles flexing as a look of intense focus and stubborn determination masked his face, hands off to the side and out to help him balance. He had been working on walking with the help of others and therapy mechanisms for almost three weeks, pushing himself harder then the doctors recommended but proving his will power was as strong as ever. Steve felt his heart swell in pride as the others watched with the same sincerity and supportive nods. On his ninth step his foot caught and he stumbled, Steve instantly wanting to step forward but Bucky caught himself and shook his head, eyes locked on his friend as he balanced himself. His shoulders were hunched and he swallowed as he took a breath.
“You got this Buck!” Steve nodded as he spoke with solid conviction, fighting the impulse to close distance. Bucky flashed him a small smirk and nod then took another step forward, and another until he had walked almost all the way to the couch and it wasn’t until he let out a slightly exhausted breath, tense muscles shaking with the effort and eyes dropping that Steve took the two large steps forward so that his friend could collapse against him, once more held up and supported.
There was a shared call of celebration, clapping and cheering as Steve wrapped his arms around his friend who was shaking but grinning, eyes shinning in relief and joy that he could once again stand and walk on his own. Steve held him tight and rubbed his back with a look of gratitude in his eyes as he smiled at Sam, Bruce and Tony who hung back with smiles of their own.
“You did it Bucky!...... God I am so Proud of you!...... You are incredible you know that you stubborn Jerk!” Steve laughed as Bucky hid his face, forehead on Steve’s collar bone as he smiled shyly.
“His recovery is remarkable! The progress he makes each day takes most Brain Trauma patients weeks Steve,…. Some months!.......The other Doctors and astounded!” Bruce confirmed walking closer as did the others. Steve carefully supported Bucky as he lowered them both down onto the couch and helped position Bucky’s body so he was sitting up but reclined comfortably, Natasha sliding a pillow behind his back to prop him up easier. The Sargent wore a tight smile beneath eyes that communicated the strain he had just endured and the ever constant headache he had grown use to. Steve stroked his short hair and Bucky closed his eyes briefly leaning against Steve’s hand before opening his exhausted eyes and met his gaze with a tired but self satisfied smile.
“You hear that Buck,…… You keep blowing the specialists away!...... The Docs have never seen anyone recover as fast!” Steve grinned and Bucky huffed a laugh and then opened his mouth to speak, his words slow and slurred as he focused with deliberate effort, eyes locked with Steve.
“Soooonnn…..I….Wwwilllll….beeee …… D… Dan…..cing …….. awwwllllll …… ah…round!” Bucky smiled but his eyes betrayed his frustration that his speech was still distorted. It was the one area of recover Bucky was not eager to push himself as he felt embarrassed at the way he sounded, becoming self conscious whenever he spoke aloud.
“Yhea I know it pal!........ You are doing so great Buck!” Steve’s eyes shown bright with admiration and love. He chuckled as Bucky huffed and rolled his eyes before stiffly falling sideways into Steve, his head leaning against his friend as he sighed, breathing still slightly elevated and clearly worn out. “Time for a break?..... Wanna watch some baseball?” Steve asked amused that Bucky had clearly indicated that Steve was to be his pillow. Bucky nodded against Steve’s arm, eyes half open and gaze fixed on the table. Steve moved his arm to wrap around Bucky’s shoulders and Sam leaned over the couch to help move Bucky’s body so he was comfortably reclining against his friend, slightly repositioning the pillow Natasha had slipped behind him.
“You good Sargent?” Sam asked with a soft smile once Bucky’s tense body was shifted into what looked most comfortable. Bucky nodded and then opened his mouth to speak, once more struggling with his words, fists clenched at his side, a sign he was agitated by his inability but was trying to control his emotional reaction.
“Thhhirrr…..sssty.” He swallowed and licked his lips, eyes asking with an apologetic smirk, still feeling uncomfortable with asking for help.
“Sure thing,…… you want water?...... Juice?...... Gatorade?” Sam asked as he stood up strait hands on his hips. Bucky’s brow crumpled and he shook his head that was leaned against Steve’s right side, the captain’s arm wrapped around his right shoulder, hand gently scratching through his short brown hair.
“Whhhhiii…ssskyyy!” Bucky stammered with a determined frown and demanding expression, already expecting the answer no. He was answered by a surprised laugh as Sam covered his mouth and shook his head. Clint and Tony nodded with amusement and Bruce sighed with a smile.
“Bucky….” Steve’s tone was plaintive and Bucky shifted to glare side ways up at him in challenge.
“What?..... He wants to celebrate!...... God knows he’s earned it!” Clint chimed in as he walked into Bucky’s view with an affirming nod that he supported the request.
“I second that notion and suggest we all share a toast?!” Tony chimed in already heading for the liquor cabinet.
“What do you think Doc?” Sam asked with a shrug as he deferred to Bruce who was still smiling as he rubbed his face.
“Well,…. given the circumstances,…… I am sure that one,….. SMALL drink,…. Wouldn’t do any harm.” Banner relented with a sigh. He shook his head and exchanged looks with Sam and Steve as Natasha and Clint helped hand out the glasses of Whiskey on ice, Bucky’s with a straw. Natasha sat on the arm of the couch with a sly smile as she helped Bucky’s hand grip the glass, supporting his hand as he brought the drink toward him and opened his mouth. Steve had a drink in one hand and used his other that was wrapped around Bucky to guide the straw into his mouth as Stark raised his glass, the others gathered around.
“A toast to Sargent James Buchannan Barnes,…. One of the most stubborn and determined OLD men I have had the pleasure to put up with!.........Here’s to the ultimate come back Kid!” Tony grinned and the others chuckled as they took their drinks, Bucky making a pleased sigh as he sucked on the bitter but smooth liquor, Natasha’s hand interlaced with his on the glass as she gave him a warm smile and nod, drinking her own glass. Recovery was slow and painful but Bucky was grateful to have his friends, his family there to help him heal and celebrate his resilience.