What Are You Doing Kid?
Bucky was waiting for them when the Quinjet landed, he watched as they strapped Steve to a stretcher and wheeled him down to the medical center inside the tower. The doctors did not allow anyone into the room as they assessed him, but from the glimpse of his battered body that Bucky did see, Steve did not look good. The rest of the team was thankfully uninjured, but they all looked tired, Bucky promised he would send word to them as soon as he heard anything if they all promised to take a shower and get some rest. Everyone took that offer, besides Sam.
"I'm not making you sit here by yourself", was all he said when Bucky pushed.
While Bucky was waiting for them to get back, he had a million questions he wanted to ask Sam, he thought through everything Steve had said or did in the last month and came to some disturbing conclusions. He had planned on spending the time he would inevitably be waiting on Steve asking Sam if he agreed with him, but the moment that he saw the damage his mind forgot everything. All he could think was that he had just gotten Steve back, he can't loose him now.
"He's going to be okay man", Sam's voice cut through Bucky's building panic. "I know what you are thinking, but you also know how tough Steve is. It will take a lot more than this to get him".
"This time"
"What?"
"It's going to take a lot more than this, this time. What about next time? What happens when he goes off on his own and passes out and know one can find him. What if the next time he charges into a sea of bullets, one lands in his brain instead of his leg". Bucky's voice was rough, he fought to get each word out.
"You know the dangers he faces out there, you are going to loose yourself in the what ifs man"
"No, Sam, that's what we said back in the war. That's how you deal with being a soldier when all of your friends are also soldiers. But this isn't because Steve's a soldier, no, this happened because he was reckless. And, I know, he has always been reckless. Trust me I know. But this is so much worse than anything he has pulled before. I swear its like he..."
Bucky couldn't say it out loud, he wasn't fully convinced that it was true, but the thought tugged in the back of his mind.
"You think he wanted this... to get hurt like this?", Sam inquired further.
"I don't know man, there is just something not right about this. About him".
Sam sighed deeply, running his hands downs his face. He was tired. Sure he was tired from the mission, but he was more tired from worrying about Steve.
"He is really good at pretending, he had me fooled for a little bit. But you right, something is definitely wrong, I just can't figure out what".
"Well, I will. I don't care what he says, I'm not taking 'I'm fine' and an answer anymore".
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Pain.
All he felt was pain and heaviness.
There was bright lights and muffled sounds all around him, but pain filled his senses. He shut his eyes again and slipped back into unconsciousness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Steve woke up again, he knew it was for real this time. As much as he would rather go back to sleep, his mind was forcing him into the present. He kept his eyes closed as long as he could, he knew what he would open them to see, and it was the opposite of what he wanted. Bucky was supposed to be recovering, focusing on himself, not sitting up worrying in Steve's hospital room. Although he knew Bucky sensed he was awake when the chair creaked next to him.
Sighing as gently as he could, Steve slowly opened his eyes into the harsh florescent lights. He tried to sit up as much as he can, hoping to at least not look as pathetic as he felt, but a sharp pain shot through his side, forcing a small grunt out from his lips against his will.
"Hey hey hey, relax punk", Bucky hushed him as he gently pushed him back down.
"I can move the bed up if you want to sit up, but you gotta take it easy"
Steve was still staring at the ceiling in front of him, too scared to turn his gaze and see Bucky's worried look. Bucky just sighed, almost as if he had not expected an answer, and pushed a button to adjust the bed so that Steve was sitting more than laying down. Bucky pulled the chair to the side of him up against the bed, placing a tentative hand on Steve's arm as he sat down.
He wasn't sure how, but Steve felt that he had failed in keeping everything from Bucky, the stare that he was giving him told Steve that Bucky knows something.
"How ya feeling?"
Steve tried to speak, it turned in to a coughing fit, so he opted to shake his head instead. Bucky was quick with bringing a cup of water with a straw over to Steve, but he batted his hands away when he tried to grab it.
"I got it, let me help you", Bucky spoke softly, as if he was talking to a wounded animal. Although Steve was not too far off from a wounded animal in that moment, his pride fought against the indication. He wanted to fight him, but he was too weak and tired to match up. Steve felt relief when the cool water ran down his dry, raw throat.
"There ya go", Bucky gently patted his arm. He pulled the water away when Steve waved him off, setting it back down beside the bed.
Steve decided to try talking again.
"Thank you Bucky, but you do not have to worry about me, I am fine"
"You are not"
"Yes, I am. The serum will do its job, I'll pull through this, probably be good as new by tomorrow"
"Do you even know what you did to yourself?"
"Bucky, come on, a couple of bullet wounds is pretty standard for me. Probably have a few more bruises the usual, but I'm okay"
"3 bullet wounds, 2 broken ribs, and a collapsed lung, that's what you get when a piece of roof falls on you while you are running into the line of fire"
"Oh"
"Yeah, oh"
"Buck-", but Steve was cut off
"Steve, I get that you didn't die. I get that, because of that damn serum, you are going to heal just fine, but you are not always going to be this lucky"
"I know, I am trying to be careful out there, but you know how battles work, there are risks"
Bucky had to laugh, Steve has lied to him in so many ways since he had come back, and he was fooled every time, but there was no way that he just said 'I am trying to be carful' and expected Bucky to believe him.
"See though, that's the thing Steve, you are not being careful, you are actually doing the opposite of being careful"
Steve looked like he was about to argue with him, but the doctor came in just then.
"Oh good, you are awake. How are you feeling Captain?"
"Steve is fine, doc, and I feel fine"
"liar"
"Bucky!"
"Okay boys, calm down. Not to worry though Mr. Barnes, I am well versed in Steve down playing his pain"
"Oh, really? Huh, guess you are not as good of a liar as you thought Steve"
"Will you cut it out Bucky? How long until I can get out of here doc?"
"Well, you should be able to get home later to day, BUT, I need you take it easy. I want you on bed rest for the next two days, limited exercise after that, no heavy lifting or harsh work outs for a week. I'm serious Steve, you may have that serum that will help you heal, but if you don't listen to your body, it's going to take longer and longer for you to heal".
"Thank you doc, I will try to rest"
"Oh, there will be no try Steve. Don't worry doc, I'll make sure that he follows orders", Bucky patted Steve shoulder as he spoke.
"Good, I appreciate that Mr. Barnes, and Steve will too, even if he says he doesn't". The Doctor gave him wink before exiting the room. Steve didn't even wait until the door was fully shut before protesting.
"Bucky, you don't have to babysit me, I'm fine"
"Oh no you don't punk, I'm sticking with you all the way back to the apartment. I'm going to make sure you stick you ass in bed, and I will make sure it stays there for two days. Then I'm going to supervise your workouts so you don't try and lift a bus before your fully healed"
"That's a bit excessive Buck, don't you think? besides what am I supposed to do for two days?"
"Oh, don't worry about that, I know exactly what you are going to do. You are going to talk, because I got some questions for you, and you are not going to lie to me this time".
Steve gulped, this was not going to be a fun next few days.