A Night Without the Past
Steve woke up with the morning light, which was strange. Normally, he would wake up in the middle of the night and help Bucky calm down after his nightmares. However, there had been no alert, no knocks at his door. Bucky had either died in the night or he had been fine. It was the first night he hadn’t been haunted by his past. Steve was so excited by the idea that his friend had been okay, that this could be a sign that Bucky could get better.
He left his room, picked up a coffee, and went to Bucky's door. But the room was empty, and Steve's heart sank. Yeah, he supposed it was more likely that Bucky had just stayed up all night instead of sleeping. That probably explained it.
Then he remembered what Nat had said—how Avery had been distressed by the videos, and that Bucky had gone back to check if Avery was okay. Steve turned and looked at Avery's door, then at the handle. He almost reached for it, but instead, he called out to Friday.
"FRIDAY? Can you tell me where Bucky is?"
"Good morning, Captain. Sergeant Barnes went to the new agent’s room last night and hasn’t left yet."
Perfect. Steve thought. He liked Avery and thought it would be good for James to have someone other than him. The rest of the team was great, but they had families and partners. They just never got close with Bucky. Avery had stopped Bucky’s nightmares. It was beyond anything Steve could have hoped for.
"Hey, Steve! I was just looking for you. Is Bucky up yet?" Sam had just arrived at his side, smiling as always.
"No, he’s sleeping for once," Steve replied, walking with Sam into the kitchen.
"I’d be sleeping good too if I had a pretty girl in my arms." How did Sam find that out before Steve? Steve gave him a confused look, and Sam said, "I went on a run this morning. I don’t think anyone’s told her how the blinds work in her room yet."
"I’m sure Bucky can tell her before we see something we aren’t supposed to see." Steve and Sam laughed in the kitchen, like this was the best news they’d had all month.
To be fair, it was. Avery had helped them break through a dead end in the mission, and she’d given Bucky a night without his past. She was worth her weight in gold. There was no way they were giving her back to Stark anytime soon.