Wanted

The flight from Jake's building to the nearest hospital was a very quick one with Tony at the controls. Bucky had laid Anna on the floor of the quinjet and they were airborne before the ramp was all the way up.
He ripped the first aid kit from the wall of the jet, throwing a shock blanket over her and mopping as much blood up from the site of the wound as he could without disturbing it. His shirt from earlier was acting as a good enough tourniquet  for now, and knowing that they were only a few minutes away from help meant that all he had to do was to keep her breathing now that the bleeding was under control.
He pushed the loose hair back from her pale face, his eyes scanning her wounds as rage built within him at those who'd inflicted them. She looked like she'd been through hell, and for a moment he fantasized about what he'd do to her captors, given 5 minutes alone with each... 5 minutes alone for every bruise on her delicate face, time that'd certainly add up quickly...

His hand traveled down to the gunshot wound in her thigh, knowing full well what kind of damage laid underneath the blood-soaked shirt. She was going to have a tough few months ahead of her, but he'd be there to help her through it - whether she liked it or not.

He let out a breath, risking a quick glance up out the windscreen of the jet before his eyes snapped back to her. The shallow breaths and rise and fall of her chest he'd been monitoring had both suddenly stopped without warning.

Bucky held his breath for a moment, watching her like a hawk in hopes that she'd just missed a few beats and would gasp in a lungful of air. He counted the seconds in his head, his ear going to her chest to pick up what was left of a very weak heartbeat , struggling to fight on...

Breathe Anna...
...
...

Tony heard him curse loudly, quickly looking over his shoulder to catch sight of him starting CPR on her.

"Don't you dare lose her!" he threatened, Bucky choosing to ignore him as he worked, methodically giving rescue breaths and compressions in turn.

Come on baby - breathe!!!

More breaths... More compressions...

This is not good... This is not good, Damn it Anna - BREATHE! ...Why the fuck isn't this working!?

He gave two more breaths, counting the compressions in his head as he continued to work, more determined than he'd ever been to keep going...

"HOW MUCH FURTHER!?" Bucky demanded between breaths, feeling himself starting to unravel. Tony had startled at his sudden change in demeanour, feeling a little guilty for snapping at him, now. His eyes glanced to the map on the screen in front of him as he desperately pushed the jet to its limits;

"Couple of minutes, Buck... Hang in there..."



A medical team was equipped and waiting for them when they landed on the roof, four of them running straight onto the jet the second they touched down. Tony rushed from his seat to the back of the jet as soon as it was safe to do so, Bucky still working on her while the rest of the trauma team went through the motions assessing her; some of them stabilizing her leg while the others hooked her up with fluids and adrenaline.

The next few minutes were a blur, Bucky was asked to step back when defibrillator pads were brought out, Tony practically having to hold onto him as things escalated. They both stood with their hearts in their throats as Anna was shocked again and again before someone finally declared she was 'back'...

They collectively let out the breaths they were holding, both Bucky and Tony rushing to be by her side again, only to be asked to stay back so they could rush her straight into theatre.

"Mr Stark I'm sorry to ask, but we need the aircraft moved to keep the helipad clear" came the voice of one of the medical staff as they hurriedly strapped her onto the gurney and lifted it until the legs locked into place.

Bucky and Tony exchanged a glance, both of them overwhelmed and completely bewildered by the last few minutes.

"I've got it" Bucky said, snapping back into reality, "you're her Dad... You go"
"You sure?"
"Yeah"

Tony wasn't in the headspace to argue, giving Bucky a well-meaning pat on the shoulder before running off after the gurney.

Bucky stood and watched, the silence catching him by surprise after the chaos that they'd just endured. The sound of the hospital doors slamming home made him wince a little as he watched the gurney disappear from view through the little round windows.
The aftermath of the night was laid out before him on the floor of the jet - everything from torn clothing to gauze wrappers, and of course plenty of blood. The same blood that was on his hands and smeared up one of his forearms... A lump formed in his throat as he bent to pick up the jacket she'd been wearing, part of him feeling guilty that it hadn't helped keep her safe in some way.
He clenched his jaw, scolding himself for having such an idiotic thought as he used it to wipe the blood off his hands, throwing it against the wall before slamming the button on the wall to close the ramp.

Breathe, Barnes... You've done everything you could...

He swallowed hard as he made his way to the pilots seat, flipping the switches overhead and buckling himself in as the jet came to life. He looked down at his hand on the controls, seeing it tremble for the first time since he could remember.
Bucky frowned, shaking his head and ordering himself to hold it together despite feeling a sting in his eyes, something he hadn't felt since sometime back in the forties...

Jesus Christ... I almost lost her...



The operation itself went textbook perfect. There'd been a fracture to the femur from where the bullet had gone in, which they'd decided to pin. After cleaning the area, they'd stitched her up, given a big I.V dose of antibiotics, and cleaned and dressed her assortment of other wounds. 
Dr Helen Cho had been in contact with the hospital and had liaised with the surgeon who happened to be an old friend of hers, and Pepper had taken care of any legal red tape - non-disclosure agreements and the like.

The surgeon who'd performed Anna's operation had been great to deal with. He'd sent Helen a full diagnostic report including scans, X-rays, and blood work to go on with, as well as a signed form authorizing her to be moved to medical unit on base as soon as she was stable enough.
Steve had called to check-in in the meantime, Tony telling him what little he knew of Anna's condition as they hadn't been allowed to see her yet. He'd had his hands full with Nester and his last remaining thugs, flying them back to the base where they were locked in a set of holding cells. Luckily Sam and some of the others had been there to help and it'd been fairly uneventful, all things considered.



"Mr Stark?" came the voice of a nurse as she stepped into the room Bucky and Tony were silently waiting in,
"Yeah? How is she?" Tony said, jumping up from his seat a little flustered
"She's fine, everything went well and she's in recovery"
"Can we see her?" Tony asked, gesturing between Bucky and himself
"Yeah I'll take you through, she's just waking up but she'll be very groggy..." she warned, gesturing for them to follow her as she stepped back through the door.

It was confronting seeing her in a hospital bed, tubes coming from her arms, and her leg in full length brace. She was so frail looking, her face pale with dark circles under her eyes which were still closed, and an oxygen tube sitting under her nose. The low florescent lighting only highlighted the dark shadows of the swelling and bruises from where it was quite obvious she'd been beaten up.
Tony and Bucky approached her carefully, Bucky pulling her gown up to protect her modesty in case she woke and went to sit up.

Tony's hand went to her forehead, hesitating for a moment, almost afraid to touch her...
"I'll kill them..." he mumbled, pain in his expression as he inspected what he could see of her injuries, "look what they've done to her..."
"I'd help you, but death's too kind..." Bucky said darkly, the two of them exchanging a solemn glance.

Tony let out a breath and composed himself, going from 'I'm going to torture and kill people with the Winter Soldier' back to 'Caring Dad' in an instant.

"Anna?" he said softly, taking her hand as he spoke, "Wake up honey, it's Dad..."

They watched as she drew in a sharp breath, letting it out slowly as her eyelids crinkled. The machine beside her lit up, Tony peering at the screen to see her heart rate had increased a little. He continued to reassure her quietly as he rubbed the back of her hand with his free one, Anna screwing up her face as she fought the sleep.

"Hey..." Bucky smiled, his voice low and gentle, her other hand tightening around his metal one as her eyes creaked open, "you're in the hospital, you're safe" he added, answering her unasked question as she furrowed her brows, lost in confusion for a few moments.

She mumbled something that neither of them understood, Tony and Bucky exchanging a glance before Tony spoke up,
"You got shot in the leg, and they had to operate on it" he explained, Anna turning to face him as he spoke, "it went well, and you'll be on your feet again in no time" he said, "they even promised to discharge you early so you can recover at home"
"Bucky?..." she mumbled, her brows creasing as though she was fighting tears.
"Shhh, you're okay..." he soothed, leaning down and kissing the back of her cold hand he was still holding in his metal one. Tony didn't react at all to his show of affection, or to how it seemed to placate her.

"She's cold" Bucky said quietly, looking up at Tony who got straight onto flagging down the nearest person to go fetch her another blanket.

Minutes later a cheerful male nurse hurried around the corner with one, Bucky and Tony stepping back as he efficiently spread it over her before checking her vitals again.
"Okay..." he said, talking to himself as he glanced at his watch before making another note in her chart, "this young lady needs to rest, the doctor will be in shortly to check her pain levels... Aaaand you guys are welcome to come back first thing in the morning-"

"-Not gonna happen"
"-I don't think so"

Bucky and Tony cut him off simultaneously, the expression on the shocked nurse absolutely priceless as he tried to figure out what to say next.
"We'll be staying here with her" Tony clarified to the deer in front of him, blinking in the headlights...

"Uuuhh... I'll just ask if that's possible..." he mumbled nervously.
"-We're not leaving" Bucky told him flatly without looking up.



The hours following were quiet, Tony staying by Anna's bedside as Bucky was taken to have his wounds tended to - much to his disgust. In the end it'd come down to 'our code of ethics prevents us from letting you sit there, bleeding on our furniture without treatment.'
He'd rolled his eyes as he'd relented, letting a young doctor take him to the room down the hall to have bullets removed, wounds cleaned and stitched, and he'd even been offered the privacy to take a shower. Bucky was grateful that they'd thought to pack a change of clothes in the jet, so after a quick run to the roof to grab both his and Tony's bags, he showered, changed, and sent Tony to take one.

Doctors and nurses came in throughout the night to take Anna's vitals, Bucky watching from his chair beside her bed. He'd tried to shut his eyes, but the occasional beeping from the machine behind him, and the blood pressure cuff inflating every half an hour or so wasn't helping. Nor was the overwhelming urge to watch over her, to protect her like he felt he should have done at the party...

Tony was the first to wake that following morning. His eyes creaked open to see Bucky still in the chair beside her, his head slumped on her bed, and his flesh arm draped over her body like a dog possessively guarding a bone.
He let out a breath, not sure if he felt defeated or relieved at the sight of them. Certainly relieved that she was safe under his watch, but the arm over her, and her free hand holding onto it stirred something within him that he wasn't ready to deal with just yet...

Tony pretended he hadn't been staring at them when Anna stirred, Bucky's tired eyes snapping open before he sat himself upright. He turned his head and scanned over the numbers on the machine before checking her I.V. He let out a yawn, stretching his back and neck, the bones cracking from being stuck in one position all night.
"Morning..." he mumbled hoarsely, giving Tony a nod and a genuine smile.
"Hey"
"Get any sleep?"
"A little, you?"
"I tried" Bucky shrugged, both men exchanging a light chuckle.

Anna's eyes had opened slowly, and she suppressed the whimper that threatened to escape when she tried to sit up. She clenched her jaw and jammed her eyes shut, letting out a breath to steady herself before opening them.
"I'll go get someone" Bucky said quietly, Tony nodding before he disappeared.

"You okay honey?" he asked, Anna nodding and letting out a very unconvincing 'yep', Tony letting out a sigh as he shook his head, "you don't have to do the tough-girl thing, y'know?... Unless you like pain, I guess?" he joked, keeping his voice soft.

Anna managed a smile, pausing for a moment to gather herself up.

"Okay fine... It hurts..." she managed to get out, still feeling hazy.
"Yeah, I know..." Tony said, giving her forehead a single stroke, "Buck's gone to get someone to help"

She smiled weakly, mouthing a 'thank you' before Tony sat down and started fiddling with the T.V remote. He'd flicked through every channel three times before Bucky entered the room, alongside a very intimidated looking doctor who clearly didn't trust him...

"Hi Anna, I'm Dr Knight" came the smiling face of the attractive middle-aged man in the white coat, "I was the guy who put you back together when you came in last night"
"Hi... Uh, thank you..." she said as politely as she could
"My pleasure, mind if I sit you up a little?" he asked, Anna nodding, "I'll give you something for the pain, don't worry, I just want to check your vitals first..." he explained as he pressed the button on the side of the bed.

Anna grit her teeth, wincing as the bed propped her up into an almost-sitting position, Dr Knight apologizing as he reassured her.
"You had a lot of sedative in your system last night, and it'll be in there for a good few hours yet so we've had to be a little bit careful with your painkillers..." he explained, "better to err on the side of caution in cases like this..."

He shone a pen light in and out of both eyes, checking her reflexes before going back to her left eye again.

"What's wrong?" Bucky asked, concerned.
"Little bit of trauma there still, but I expected as much due to the bruising around the cheek and temple-"
"-Which means what?" Bucky cut him off flatly, wanting a straight answer.
"Which means there's a bit of swelling behind there, as per the scans we took... Medication will help, as will rest" the doctor answered, diplomatically exchanging eye contact with the three of them before turning back to his patient. 

He listened to her chest and took her blood pressure again, making notes of all the readings before he carefully lifted her sheet to examine her leg.
"Looking good so far - a bit swollen which is completely normal, and the wounds look great. Helen's got a pretty good bag of tricks in her lab, so she should be able to give something to help minimise the scarring" he smiled, picking up a handheld device and sending a message, "I've got some meds on their way, and I've just ordered my best physiotherapist to come get you up on your feet by this afternoon"
"That's pretty quick?" Tony said, sounding slightly concerned.

Bucky's eyes were still firmly on the doctor who was doing his best to avoid looking back at him. Up until a few moments ago the doctor was really selling the illusion of confidence, something that was obviously a challenge in the presence of Tony Stark and a super powered ex-assassin... If Anna wasn't so secretly amused by the dynamics in the room, she'd feel sorry for him...

"Yeah, they don't waste a second with injuries like this if it can be helped" he said with a nod before turning back to Anna, "You won't be running marathons, but we'll get you baring a little weight for short periods every day. Today might just be standing, tomorrow you might take a few steps, the next day a few more, and so forth"

Anna didn't say anything, instead sitting there looking at the Dr like he was completely insane, prompting him to elaborate further.

"Now that we've stabilized the bone, it's important we get your leg moving. Baring a little weight every day along with your physio work will help keep those muscles strong. It'll also prevent clots forming, gets your circulation going, and helps everything in there heal" he smiled, Anna nodding as she took it all in.
"You'll have a set of crutches to help you get around on which we'll send you home with, and in between all that you'll have a bit of down-time on your hands... I'm sure this guy has a pretty impressive movie collection?" he added, glancing over at Tony who was trying to remain upbeat after catching the worried expression on Anna's face.
"Sure do!" Tony beamed, "and when you're not slackin' off in front of the TV, I'll need your help in the lab again as soon as you're up for it"

"How long?" Anna asked, looking over at the doctor again, "...until I'm back to normal?"
"It can take a while..." came his honest answer, "sometimes there are complications, and I've seen major ones last a good couple of years... BUT, I've also had athletes training again after just three months of rehab with your injury, so anything's possible."

She looked up at Bucky with an apologetic look on her face, now worried that he'd be stuck with a needy cripple for an extended amount of time... Stuck with her and hating every minute of it...



The physio visit wasn't as terrible as she'd envisioned. Getting upright hurt like hell, but she grit her teeth and pushed through it. Tony and Bucky had both cheered her on, the pair of them proud that she was trying so hard, despite how clearly difficult it was.

The following morning she was given the all-clear to be sent home, or 'transferred to another medical establishment' as it appeared on the paperwork. By then, Tony had rigged one of the quinjet seats so she could safely travel with her feet up, and Pepper had sent fresh clothes for all three of them.

The flight back to the base was uneventful, Anna sleeping through most of it, still exhausted from her ordeal. Bucky sat in the seat beside her for a while before throwing a blanket over her and deciding to join Tony up front. Surprisingly, the two tolerated each other enough to chat back and forth, even sharing a laugh at the expense of some of those particularly nervous hospital staff.
"I oughtta hire you out for Halloween" Tony had quipped, Bucky smirking with amusement at the thought, too tired to be offended.
The rest of the flight back had been fairly quiet. The chatter had continued in brief spurts between longer periods of somewhat awkward silence. Bucky had sensed an effort was being made so he did his best to reciprocate as best he could, grateful that the conversation never headed into the 'danger zone' regarding his relationship with Anna...



There was a small welcoming party when they landed back on base; Steve, Helen, and much to Tony's delight - Pepper had unexpectedly made it home.
Anna startled awake as the jet touched down, Bucky reassuring her when she seemed confused as to where she was - thanks to a deep sleep and a generous dose of painkillers. Helen had wheelchair waiting which she wheeled in, Bucky effortlessly and very carefully lifting Anna onto it before stepping back and letting Tony wheel her down the ramp.

Anna was taken straight to the infirmary where Helen got to work making her comfortable and examining her, and shortly thereafter, Bucky's wounds were checked as well.
"It never ceases to amaze me how fast you guys heal..." She'd said in awe after peeling back the gauze on Bucky's shoulder, "how's your pain?"
"There's none" Bucky answered with a shrug,
"Great, and is this the only wound?" she asked, cleaning the rest of adhesive off his skin from the gauze pad as she spoke.
"No, there were others, but they're gone now"
"Bullets or just general scrapes?"
"Well, scrapes from bullets"
"How many?"
"I dunno, 5? Maybe 6 including the one that went in?" he pondered as though it was the most casual thing ever, "I had bigger problems that counting nicks in the moment..."
"Fair enough!" Helen nodded, tossing the gauze pad, swabs and her gloves in the nearby bin, "from memory you're not at risk of developing infection are you?"
"No ma'am"
"Fantastic! Well then, you can put your shirt back on, and I'll stop with the questions" she said with a smile, Bucky letting out a chuckle as he reached for his shirt and pulled it on.

Bucky thanked her on his way out, pausing at the door and turning to face her with a thoughtful look on his face.
"Quick question..." he started, Helen's face lighting up as she gestured for him to go on, "is Anna gonna be okay? ...Like, really?"

Helen smiled, letting out a breath as she nodded.

"She'll be fine" she said kindly, "and I'll have her back to herself in half the time they suggested in L.A - I've got a few things in my lab that civilian doctors haven't even dreamed of yet"
"...I thought you might"



The following morning Bucky was at the infirmary before the sun had even come up. He'd spent the afternoon before with Anna, and respectfully said goodbye to leave her in Tony and Helen's care. He'd had a restless night's sleep, relieved that she was home and safe, but selfishly a little agitated that they were apart for another night. He'd gone walking a few times, peering through the window in the corridor to catch a glimpse of her asleep, and only then was he appeased enough to go back to his room before the next inevitable trek.

Peering through the window in the corridor now, he felt relieved that Stark had remained by her side throughout the night. He was still asleep in the recliner next to her bed and by the look of it, someone, probably Pepper, had thrown a blanket over him at some stage.
Bucky decided to wait in the corridor on the big grey couch against the wall, deciding it'd be better to wait than risk waking either of them. He was shortly joined by Steve who he stood up to greet with a hug and a well-meaning slap on the back, Bucky agreeing to Steve's offer to go find a source of caffeine to kill some time.



"Get any sleep?" Steve asked, taking a long sip from his coffee mug.
"Nope" Bucky answered with a tired chuckle as his eyes scanned the cafeteria for the umpteenth time,
"She's in good hands, Buck"
"Yeah I know... It's just hard stepping back, I guess..."
"I get it" Steve said with a smile, "it's the right thing to do - letting Tony take care of her... Well, until you guys 'come out' so to speak"
"I'm sure he's figured it out by now"
"You're probably right"
"He's a smart guy... But I promised her I'd shut my mouth till she was ready" he said with a shrug, taking another mouthful from his mug, the two staying silent while they sat and 'woke up'.

"What's the deal with Nester?" Bucky finally asked, taking a couple of seconds to brace himself before making eye contact with Steve again.
"He's uh, here..." Steve said carefully, watching Bucky stiffen in his seat, "and no, we're not going to go pay him a visit"

Bucky paused as if gathering himself up.

"What's the plan for him, then?" he asked, "shall I go blunt a machete, or maybe-
"-No" Steve Said quickly, "nobody's torturing anyone"
"Come on Stevie... It'll be fun" Bucky said darkly, a sinister smile crossing his face that made Steve's blood run a little cold.

He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat.

"The walls have ears, Buck... Remember?" he said, giving a warning look across the table before going on, "Tony'll run some background checks, and checks for any of Nester's colleagues still out there... Then when he's satisfied with the information he'll turn him over to the authorities"
"No beat down?"
"No beat down. Technically we're committing a crime just holding him here"
"So that's it?" Bucky asked, annoyed "what about justice for Anna?"
"...I dunno, Buck" Steve said, genuinely lost for words, "if it was up to me things'd be different, but it's not"
"Well, if it was up to ME..." Bucky started, quickly stopping himself short...

He clenched his jaw as his eyes darted around the room again, remembering the conditions of his own freedom after the Winter Soldier trials...

"Walls and ears..." he said aloud, letting out a breath as he looked down into his steaming mug again.

"That's it, Buck..." Steve encouraged gently, "Anna's justice is knowing she can step outside and be safe."
"It's not enough" Bucky mumbled.
"I agree"
"He had footage of me, Steve" Bucky said, making eye contact again, "CCTV footage and whatever they could get their hands on, projected onto her wall."
"Christ..."
"As if it all wasn't bad enough, they had an almost life-sized, constant loop of me murdering people projected onto her wall."
"They tried to brainwash her..." Steve said, shaking his head.
"They're goddamned lucky it didn't work..."
"Scumbags..." Steve muttered, shaking his head, Bucky letting out a sigh.
"...We should go back down, she'll be up soon" Bucky finally said, breaking the silence between them.
"Good idea" Steve nodded, glancing at his watch before gulping the rest of his coffee down like a shot.

"Oh, and Buck?" Steve started, leaning in and lowering his voice, "If it makes any difference, we weren't gentle with Nester when we locked him up last night"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm saying that just between you and I, he didn't get off scot-free. I'll leave it at that..."

Bucky cracked a smile, the two exchanging an amused knowing look before a mutual chuckle broke out between them.

"Come on, let's get a move on..."



A young woman with a digital tablet was leaving Anna's room as Steve and Bucky walked in. Bucky exchanged eye contact with Anna who was sat on the edge of the bed with a pained look on her face, Tony looking like he was trying to reassure her.
"Hey..." Bucky said, partially to greet everyone, and partially to break the obvious tension in the room, "how's it going?" he asked Anna, leaning down to leave a kiss on her forehead, not caring if it looked platonic or not.
"I walked to the bathroom door and back again - 7 steps in total" she said with breathy tiredness.
"Wow, well done!" He beamed, "that was quick, we were just here fifteen minutes ago..." he added.
"They woke us up" Tony muttered, unimpressed.
"At least it's over and done with?" Steve offered, the rest of them agreeing, begrudgingly.

"So are you alright? Feeling okay?" Bucky pressed, Anna nodding
"Yeah as okay as I can be, pretty sore and tired after that..." she said honestly, "But good news - I'm going home today!"
"Back to your old room?"
"Yeah, that was the deal - walk to the bathroom and back, and you're allowed to leave the ward."
"That's awesome!" Bucky grinned, Anna's face lighting up at the same time.
"I can't wait" she smiled, "they'll still be in to do their checks, but I get to sleep in my own bed, so that'll be nice..."
"So when's the move?"
"In few hours. The physio lady's coming back with some crutches, and the nurse is going to help me take a shower, but after that they'll take me down"

"We've put a couple of hand-rails up in your bathroom to help you take care of yourself" Tony smiled, Anna thanking him whilst giving her best 'grateful smile' despite feeling more like a cripple now than ever, "they're just temporary, so relax..." he added, as if reading her like a book.
"Do you need anything?" Bucky offered, pretending he didn't see Tony roll his eyes.
"Fridge is stocked, clothes and linen have been washed, the room's clean, and there's a welcome home basket on the table" Tony said, turning to shoot Bucky a bored look, "everything's been taken care of"
"Obviously" Bucky said, returning the same look.

Tony snorted with amusement, turning to pick his phone up which gave Bucky time to sneak Anna a quick wink. Anna giggled, Tony hearing it and whipping back around to make sure he hadn't been make the butt of a joke.
"I'm watching you, Barnes..." he said mock-stern, narrowing his eyes.

Bucky feigned innocence and then fear, pointing to himself in a 'who me?' gesture, Anna laughing again.
"Smartass..."



It was strange for Anna to be back home in her apartment. Tony had hung around until she'd practically shoved him out the door, and Helen wouldn't be back again for several more hours. Anna's phone and handbag were waiting on the dining table for her, Anna making a mental note to thank Sharon for taking them home the night of the party, and keeping them safe. She'd even thought to charge it up, so it'd been a relief for Anna to have her little 'piece of freedom' back.

She'd sent Bucky a text as soon as she was alone, and her phone had lit up ringing almost immediately with his photo displayed on the screen - one that he hated, and she loved.

'I look like an idiot'
'Shut up, you have a gorgeous smile'
'Are you flirting with me, Pierce?'
'Always!'

He'd been out with Steve and was only a few minutes away from home, which had given Anna a huge sense of relief. It was the first time she'd been alone since her ordeal, and although she'd put a brave front up for Tony, she sure as hell wasn't feeling it.

Anna was in the kitchen when she heard the knock at her door, a smile spreading over her face as she awkwardly hobbled out far enough so she could see him. He stepped in, bunch of flowers in one hand and a shopping bag in the other, the two of them exchanging a smile before he nudged the door shut and made his way over to her.
He set the shopping bag down on the counter top before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in tight. Anna let her crutches fall to the floor as she snuggled into his chest, it crossing her mind that this was the first time they'd been alone since he'd found her in the building.
They stayed like that for a while, neither wanting to let the other go until it became obvious that Anna was uncomfortable...

"Sorry to spoil the moment, but I think I've gotta sit down..." She said regretfully,
"I could feel you were getting a little shaky" he admitted, "bit of pain?"
"Yeah..." she nodded, "and dizzy, and my balance sucks being on one foot"
"I won't let you fall, I promise" he smiled, Anna looking up at him
"My hero" she whispered
"Always..."

His hand reached down, tucking her hair behind her ear as his lips found hers. Like a craving that'd been satisfied, there was as much relief in the moment as there was hungry desire... Desire that had to be slower and gentler than either of them would like due to Anna's fragile condition.
The two were smiling when they pulled apart, Anna going in for another quick peck, or a  'top up' as she often liked to call it, much to his endeared amusement.

"Oh - these are for you" he said, almost forgetting the flowers he was still holding in his metal hand.
"Aw Buck, they're beautiful..." she smiled, taking them before looking up at him, "thank you so much"
"You're welcome..." he said, kissing her quickly again, "Here, I'll help you to the couch and then I'll find that vase...
"There's one in the cupboard above the stove, here-" she started, turning as though she was about to stroll on over there,
"No, you need to sit down-" Bucky said putting his hand out to stop her.

Anna winced as his palm caught her side, Bucky yanking his hand away, absolutely mortified with himself.
"Shit, I'm so sorry!" he said, his face full of worry as he helped hold her up by her arm, "are you okay!?"
"It's fine, it's fine..." she said a little breathless, "not your fault, you didn't know..."
"Know what?" he asked, still holding onto her as she straightened up "you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just tender..." She said, straightening up, "It's just a bruise"
"Just a bruise?" he repeated, Anna gesturing for him to roll the hem of her top up and see for himself, "...Jesus CHRIST..."
"He did a good job on me, huh..." she said, pulling her top back down as she clenched her jaw, a lump forming in her throat,
"I'll fucking kill him..." Bucky muttered, "And the rest of 'em..."
"Well..." Anna started, her voice shakier than she wanted it to be, "they're all downstairs apparently... Just a measly couple of floors away..."

Anna swallowed hard and looked away, doing a terrible job at trying to appear braver than she felt. Bucky frowned, feeling genuinely awful for her, but at the same time not wanting to set her off if she was trying to keep it together.

Screw it...

"Come here..." he said softly as he pulled her very carefully into a hug, unable to stand watching her struggle another second. Just as he'd suspected, a couple of deep breaths later her grip on him tightened and she let a sob out, burying her face into his chest as the floodgates opened.
Anna was vaguely aware of being picked up and carried to the couch, Bucky reclining it back so he could hold her while they lay together. He rubbed her back, soothing her as she let it all out...

"Nothing's gonna happen to you while I'm here. Got it?" he said quietly, feeling her nod against his chest as the trembles and sobs died down. His hand found the back of hers, his fingers interlocking with it as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
"I'm so sorry..." she said, hoarse and almost whispering, "I feel like such an idiot"
"You're not an idiot, it's a perfectly justified response to what you've been through... If all this was over a broken nail we might have to talk, though" he joked, hearing what sounded like a single 'heh' come from her in between sniffs.
"Have you seen him?" she asked, clearly still worried, "Jake, I mean..."
"Steve wouldn't let me go down there..." he admitted, "They need the guy alive, and I don't know if I could promise that"
"Fair enough..."
"He's very locked up though " Bucky answered honestly, " in a cell designed for someone like me..."

Anna let out a ragged breath, clearing her throat as she reminded herself not to lose the plot again... She sat herself up, Bucky doing the same so he could pass her a couple of tissues from the box on the coffee table.
"Thanks" she smiled, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose.

She turned to face him, her face red and blotchy from crying, on top of being swollen and bruised from being attacked.

"Sorry about all this" she said, gesturing at her face and letting out another chuckle, shaking her head at herself, "this is not a good look for me"
"I've seen worse" He smiled, the mood lightening a little.

"Thanks for getting me outta there, Buck..." she said, her hand finding his as she looked up at him again, "Dad... Well, Tony said you were amazing"
"He did, huh?"
"Yep" she nodded quietly, her thumb rubbing the metal grooves on the back of his hand "He said you did everything you could to keep me alive in the jet... You breathed the life back into me" she trailed off, Bucky's expression humble.
"Yeah, well..." He started with a shrug, "I'm kinda attached to ya"
"I'm kinda attached to you, too" she admitted, the pair exchanging a smile.

Bucky leaned over and kissed her again, reaching up to tuck her loose strands behind her ear when they pulled apart. The two paused, staying close to each other for a moment before Anna spoke up again,

"I meant it, you know..." Anna said, frowning a little as though the words were hard to get out, "on the phone that night..."
"What's that?" he prompted softly
"I really do love you, Buck... And I don't even care if it's awkward, or too soon, or-"

He shut her up with another kiss, the desperate, passionate kind that made her heart flutter, his hand going to her cheek and staying there when they parted. His eyes stayed locked on hers with an intensity that almost made her nervous.

"Not awkward or too soon" he smiled reassuringly, "...Because I meant it, too"
"I'm going to cry again..."
"Don't you dare" he smiled, putting his arms around her, "who thought in a million years I'd ever fall for a girl, huh?"

Anna let out a giggle, feeling his lips plant a kiss on her temple
"What are you doing to me, Pierce?"
"I have noooo idea..."

Bucky snorted with amusement before nodding over to the shopping bag on the counter top, Anna intrigued...

"I grabbed us a few things for tonight" he said, answering her unasked question.
"What's happening tonight?" she asked,
"Well, I've decided I'm staying with you for a while-"
"You are?"
"Yep" he nodded matter-of-factly, "so I got us the most epic junk-food haul ever so we can binge watch lots of movies... And I'll go back to my room later and grab some overnight stuff for myself"

Anna nodded thoughtfully, the two of them going quiet for a few moments, Bucky fairly sure what she was thinking before she even opened her mouth;

"There's probably not much point in hiding it anymore... Is there?" she asked, Bucky letting out a breath as he shook his head,
"Well, Steve guessed it the night of the party... He came up and congratulated me after you guys danced" he admitted
"You didn't tell him?"
"No - I thought you did!" he chuckled, Anna joining in, "Tony's a smart guy, I haven't heard him say a word about it, but surely he's figured it out..." he added.
"It's probably disrespectful at this point not to be honest?" Anna suggested, Bucky agreeing, "...I'm terrified"
"Want me to hang around?"
"No, I'll face the music like a big girl..."


"Tomorrow morning he's coming to have breakfast with me... I'll do it then"