so bad guys can't see me bleed

•tape forty•

"Sam. Cher. I've hear a lot about the two of you. I'm Dr. Raynor. I'm James's therapist," Dr. Raynor says, stopping in front of Sam and I as we sit next to each other and play a crossword in a magazine in the police station.

We put the magazine and pen down before standing up. Sam shakes her hand, then I do the same.

"So nice to meet you," Sam says.

"Thanks for getting him out," I tell her.

She shakes her head. "That was not me."

"Christina!"

I groan out loud and put my head back. "I swear, he's like a cockroach. He never goes away."

"It's great to see you again!"

"You gotta be kidding me," Sam says as the three of us look over at Walker taking pictures with people. "You know him?"

"Yeah," Raynor says, "we did some field ops back in the day."

"I heard you were working with Bucky, so I had to step in," Walker says, coming over to us. "Bucky's not gonna be following a strict schedule any longer."

Raynor shakes her head. "We haven't finished our work. Who authorized this?"

"Um," Walker points to himself.

"Sam, stab me. I'm begging you," I say, turning to him as a door buzzes and opens.

"He's too valuable of an asset to have tied up," Walker says as Bucky walks out with two officers. "So just do whatever you got to do with him, then send him off to me."

"Hey, Stripe boy," I say to Walker, "you wanna know who you sound like? HYDRA."

"Oh, that's cold," Sam says to me.

Walker chuckles awkwardly. "We have some unfinished business, him and I. You too, Wilson. And other Wilson that is entirely not related. I'll be outside!"

Raynor walks over to Bucky. "James, condition of your release, session now. You too, Sam. And after him, you too, Cher."

"No, that's okay," Sam says. "I'll just wait out here with Cher—"

"That wasn't a request." She points to one of the officers, then to me. "Make sure she doesn't leave."

I huff and sit down, crossing my arms. "Have fun, Samie boy."

—

"So, who would like to start?" Raynor asks as Buck and I sit as far away from each other as possible in an interrogation room. She moves the pen around in her fingers.

"I already did this," Bucky says. "Why do I have to do it again?"

"Because I said so," she says. "Now, who would like to start?"

I sigh. "Look, Doc, I went through this kind of shit in high school with the counselor when they thought I was suicidal. Newsflash, I'm not suicidal and the call to my parents made them laugh out loud. I don't see the reason of why I can't leave and go back to my daily life before dipshit over here decided to call me the other day."

"You said if I needed you, you'd be there."

"I'm also still pissed at you."

Raynor sighs. "Look, it's my job to make sure that you're both okay, and that your relationship is still healthy. So, this might be slightly unprofessional. But this is going to be the only way that I can see the two of you getting over whatever is eating at you."

"This is stupid," I say. "Our relationship is perfectly fine, all things considered."

"See, that's something I can agree with," Bucky says.