Recovery
CH 10
Sargent Barnes was back in the medical lab, laying at a reclined angle with his metal arm in restraints, his right hand clasped in Steve’s who stood at his side. Around them was a small regime of doctors who all watched with fascination tempered with uncertainty as they monitored the completely uncharted medical procedure about to take place. Thor walked up to Bucky’s left side with the bottle in his hand and a question in his eyes. Bucky looked out the nearest window at the setting sun, the last rays of light glinting off the buildings. With a deep breath he turned toward Thor and nodded, his expression calm and prepared to face his on coming ordeal. Nearby Dr. Banner stood with Tony as they hovered around machines that monitored Bucky’s vital signs and nervous system.
The Thunder God held the bottle toward The Sargent and then opened the top a few inches from his parted lips.
“Breath in Sargent, and may you keep your strength through this torment.” Thor spoke as Bucky took a deep breath. Steve watched in horrified fascination as the glowing energy drifted from the bottle and into Bucky’s mouth and noise. Thor pulled the bottle back after only a few seconds, replacing the cap on the still mostly full bottle. He watched with the Captain as Bucky’s breath hitched and he made a sudden gasping noise, his back arching as his blue eyes became large and dilated, flashing a bright orange color then turning almost purple as he began to shake, collapsing back into the bead with a contorted grimace on his face. Steve’s jaw locked as his eyes watched in helpless fear as Bucky began to seizure, his whole body shaking and a cold sweat breaking out over his bare torso that had monitors stuck to his chest and ribs.
Bucky began choking and sputtering, teeth gritted as growls of agony escaped his throat, his eyes slamming shut, hand clenching Steve’s so hard he felt the bones fracturing. The Captain did not pull away but stayed with the pain, in some ways feeling like he should share in his friend’s suffering.
“His heart rate is through the roof!” Stark muttered to Bruce with concern as Banner looked at his own monitor with a swallow.
“His entire nervous system is sending pain singles to his brain,…… it’s like the connections are being fused back together.” Bruce watched the read out with fascination.
“It’s okay Buck,…… I got you!” Steve let out a choked promise as Bucky convulsed in unrelenting agony, crying out uncontrollably through his strained throat and locked jaw. Tears poured down his face from eyes that were squeezed shut.
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Hours past with many doctors and nurses leaving as they felt overwhelmed by their penitent’s continuous suffering that they could do nothing to stop. Steve sat next to Bucky, his hand bruised and broken in a wrap after Thor forced him to let go of his friend’s crushing grip. The Thunder God had taken his leave but was coming back shortly and in his place Sam stood behind Steve with a hand on his shoulder, both men watching as Barnes continued to gasp and cry in excruciating distress. Natasha and Clint had been there for some time but eventually Clint bolted, reliving the horror of watching the Sargent restrained and screaming in pain. Similarly, the Scarlet Witch and Vision had come to support their teammates but Wanda became physically ill by his mental agony that she could not help but feel.
Bruce and Steve were the two constants and while the Captain remained stead fast and committed by his friend’s side, Bruce lingered in the back by his monitors, evaluating the progress and taking notes. He looked up with a solemn nod of recognition as Tony walked in holding two mugs of coffee, one for himself and one for the good Doctor who accepted it with a small smile.
They stood in silence as the music of 1940’s jazz played softly from the speakers. Early on in the recovery process when Steve had first brought the half crazed and tragically lost Winter Soldier to the Tower, they had discovered the power of music on calming the volatile Soldier and on triggering positive memories. It was a comfort to both time lost super soldiers and Steve had expressed his thanks many times over, amazed how Tony’s speakers even captured the sound of vinyl.
Stark let out a deep sigh and shook his head when Bucky’s body arched again as a particularly haggard cry ripped through him and Steve hung his head, shoulder’s shaking.
“This is insanity!......Why did we okay this Bruce?” Stark asked with a dishearten groan.
“Because it wasn’t our call Tony.” Bruce shrugged as together they watched their fellow teammate and friend go through hell.
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It was just before dawn when Bucky’s torment finally seemed to ease, his body still shaking but not with violent convulsions and his harsh, desperate cries were replaced by deep quivering breaths and moans. Steve accepted a clean washcloth from Natasha and gently wiped the tears and sweat from his friends face and chest. Bruce stood on the other side unlocking the restraint from his metal arm as Stark used a scanner to evaluate his current condition.
“His heart rate has decreased but is still not at resting level……. However his nervous system seems to have finally settle down and the activity in his brain is more fluid and less rapid fire……. I think it’s safe to say Barns is over the worst of it,…. Finally!” Tony sighed, rubbing his own weary eyes .
As if in response the unconscious man let out a whimpered moan, brow creased as a few more tears trickled from his closed eyes. His head rolling on the pillow as his hands clenched the sheets of his bed.
“Shhh,…..it’s okay,……. I got ya Buck. Your gonna be fine.” Steve spoke softly as he wiped Bucky’s face and then ran a hand through his sweaty mess of hair.
“He will rest now as the sun breaks the horizon,…… as should you Captain.” Thor spoke with compassion and was seconded by Natasha.
“I wanna be here when he wakes up.” Steve stated simply leaning back in his chair and wiping his tired face before crossing his arms.
“Yea I figured you say that Spangles!........ Common, Sleepy by time!” Stark spoke as he wheeled over another medical med next to Bucky, while Bruce pulled away Steve’s chair and Natasha dragged him to his feet taking his coat and gently pushing him backwards onto the bed before unlacing his boots. Steve smirked and tried to protest but Natasha told him to hush. The other Avenger’s excited and Tony put a dark tint on the window as the sun sparkled over the New York city sky scrapers.
Steve lay on his side, eyes blinking and heavy with sleep as he watched the slowly evening breaths of his best friend, Bucky’s face was at last softening into a peaceful expression, the tremors becoming less and the tears drying on his cheeks. He looked more relaxed then he had in months and Steve let out an exhausted sigh, finally succumbing to sleep.
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Steve opened his groggy eyes in the midafternoon light, the tint on the large window lifted. He blinked and then looked up startled as James Buchanan Barnes smiled down at him, sitting opposite on his own bed a few feet away. Bucky’s eyes were shining bright, pale blue over an easy smile. There was no tension in his shoulders, no tremors in his hands and his expression soften more when he saw the look of desperate relief reflected back at him from Steve’s astounded expression.
“Hey there Stevie,…….Glad you got some shut eye ya stubborn Jerk!” Bucky smirked and Steve let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding.
“Bucky!” Steve exhaled and instantly was off his bed and grabbing his oldest friend in a crushing hug. Bucky let out a startled laugh as he retuned the embrace, scooting off the bed so they were both standing.
“How are you feeling Buck?.... Are you okay?..... What do you need?” Steve stepped back, both hands on Bucky’s shoulders as his eyes searched his friend and looked him up and down.
“I am fine Steve,…… I am okay,…… That magic potion or whatever it was,……. It did the trick.” Bucky confirmed with an easy, reassuring smile as Steve brought his hand up to the side of his friend’s face, both making eye contact that expressed their gratefulness and relief.
“Awwww, So glade we got to see this touching Kodak moment!” The two Super Soldiers turned toward the sound of chuckles as Stark sauntered into the lab followed by Natasha who walked right up to Barnes and wrapped him in a gentle hug. No words were needed as he smiled and nodded and she stroked his face.
“Amazing!.......... I mean,……. I don’t……….” Banner had appeared off to the side looking over his monitors before crossing the room to take a good look at Bucky up and down who rolled his eyes and shifted slightly uncomfortable with the attention. “We need to evaluated your reflexes and hand eye coordination and auditory abilities with visual analysis to make sure……”
“Easy Doc,……. Why don’t we let Barnes get some food in him first?..........Clint made a special Kentucky Bourbon pulled pork that he has been bragging about all morning.” Sam had appeared and was walking toward them with a casual smile. He stuck out his hand and Bucky grinned as he took it. “That is if you feel like eating?” Sam asked. Bucky let out a soft laugh and nodded, then ran his hand through his hair with a grimace.
“Yhea,….. but first I need to Shower,……..I smell like I have been running a marathon.” Bucky joked and Steve rubbed his back.
“Seriously though Buck,…… You were in so much pain last night,……..how are you feeling?..... Be honest!” Steve demanded with protective concern. Bucky looked up at Steve with a subdued smile and looked away for a moment.
“It wasn’t that bad Steve……” Bucky shrugged, his eyes off to the side, voice mumbled. “I’ve been through worse.” He looked back up with an apologetic expression as Steve’s eyes looked grief stricken, mouth in a deep frown.
“Oh Buck!” Steve exhaled as he reached forward and pulled his best friend into another hug, reassuring himself that his friend was safe and no longer in pain. “I am so sorry,…… sorry for everything!” Steve sighed and Bucky pulled away and shook his head with a small smile wresting a hand on the Captain’s shoulder.
“Stevie….. Common! If it wasn’t for you and this team of weridos you call family,…… I wouldn’t be here Cap,…… Now let me go wash off this stink cuze I am gonna eat everything in that kitchen!” Bucky grinned and Steve smiled back the others nodding with looks of relief. No matter how bad things got they knew they had each other and the strength to recover.
The End.