Worth The Wait

Part 7, The Next Step~

10pm

Annabelle was making her final rounds, checking on the rest of the injured soldiers. She was in between Bucky's and Dugan's beds, her back to Bucky, reading through Dugan's chart. She can feel Bucky's eyes on her so she quietly says.

"Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes, go to sleep." Annabelle

"I am asleep." Bucky 

Annabelle turns around and chuckles as Bucky opened one eye to peek up at her again.

"Stop watching me work and rest. You need as much rest as you can get, Bucky. Please, you really need it." Annabelle

Annabelle sat on the end of his cot and took his hand in hers, Bucky holding it tightly.

"I'll sleep if you stay with me. The other nurse said your rounds finished over an hour ago." Bucky

Annabelle smiles and shakes her head at him in disbelief. How did he know her schedule? He must have asked one of the nurses, of course. Why did she expect anything different from him?

"You asked the nurses about my schedule?" Annabelle

"You've been working ever since I got here. I was curious, nobody works that much, even in a war." Bucky

Bucky opens his arms and Annabelle lays next to him as he wrapped her into his strong, comforting, loving embrace. It then hits him that he still hadn't explained why she didn't receive his letter and he was quick to explain.

"I did write a letter. I didn't send it but-" Bucky

Annabelle interrupts him by kissing him lightly. She then repeats his own words.

"I'm yours, love, until the end of the line." Annabelle

Bucky then catches on that she must have read his letter, how he didn't know but she did because that's exactly what the last thing on his last letter had said, only instead of love it was Doll. They then hear a low whistle coming from Dugan's cot next to them. They immediately look over to him, shocked that he was even awake, they both thought everyone was asleep apart from them. Dugan laughs when he sees their shocked expressions.

"Now that is some cute shit, sergeant but kindly be quiet so I can get some sleep." Dugan

"Sorry, Dugan. We'll be quiet." Bucky 

"Thank you." Dugan

Dugan turns back around and goes to sleep. Annabelle then snuggles closer to Bucky and they soon fall asleep themselves in each other's arms. Bucky had never slept better in his life, I guess having his girl in his arms really did help, especially since he knew that she was safe. She was safe and she was with him, that was all that mattered to him. Annabelle was usually a restless sleeper but she slept like a baby while in her soldiers arms. She felt safe and protected and she knew that Bucky wouldn't let any harm come to her, not if he could prevent it. It was the best nights sleep she'd had probably in her whole life.

2 weeks later

The past two weeks had passed very quickly. Bucky and most of the other soldiers had completely healed, there were only a few that still needed monitoring. The four of them (Bucky, Steve, Peggy and Annabelle) had all been called into the Colonels tent to 'talk'. Annabelle was a little anxious as she was rarely ever brought in to speak to the Colonel as she was only a nurse and usually when she was called in it was bad news. She was praying that they weren't sending her away, or sending Bucky to a different regiment. The other three thought nothing of going to see the Colonel, it was normal for them more so for Steve and Peggy but Bucky was growing accustomed to it, himself. Though they were slightly confused as to why the Colonel wanted Annabelle there as she never did go to see the Colonel. Well up until recently.