Collection of One-Shots

》time after time

The man they lead through the halls and towards the medical bay looked like hell. His shirt was torn, blood was beginning to dry on his face and clung to the stubble of his jaw from the cut on his temple and the busted lip. Hearing the codes and analysis of the patient I immediately turn to begin my work when a hand wraps around my bicep and tugs me away for a moment. The blue eyes that look down at me are instantly recognizable, as is the blonde hair and at having my attention his grip on my arm slackens and then falls away completely. "Take care of him for me, will you?"

I nod, taking it as Captain's Orders in the moment. "Of course, Steve. I know how much Bucky means to you." The muscles in his jaw flare when he grits his teeth, looking past me and into the room where several nurses were waiting to be granted entrance.

"Be careful." His voice is firm and I know that he still worries that something will trigger a memory while we treat Bucky, a memory that would cause him to be volatile. He would harm people without fully realizing he was doing it.

I breathe a heavy sigh that was intended to be some type of pathetic laugh before I look back up at the Captain. "I always am." With those words I leave Steve and head to the room where they had taken him. Several of the nurses look up as I enter the room and they step away from the medical stretcher to allow room for me to step in, "What's the diagnosis?"

Glancing up it is my young assistant that speaks first, her voice is toneless, there is no connection between her and the patient which is how it should be. "GSW to the arm but other than that only minor cuts, he's in shock though." I nod, looking over Bucky for confirmation of what I had just been told. Everything is in order and to my dismay he is in shock, not from trauma or bloodless, but simply because of the experience. It had been his first mission since rehabilitation from what occurred under HYDRA.

"Get him patched up and send him to my room." They all begin to scurry about the room, gathering bandages and sutures. As the wound is not major I step aside and watch as they place an anesthetic injection in his arm and begin the procedure. It takes all of fifteen minutes to complete and soon the stretcher is wheeled into my room at headquarters; an agent and I tug him from the medical bed and into my own.

His eyes are open, but they are empty. He was beginning to retreat further into himself, back to the Winter Soldier. His face is calm but somehow it conceals a storm. I step forward, hesitant to do so as I knew he could react poorly to someone encroaching on his personal space but when he does nothing but stare blankly ahead at the wall I sit at his side. "Bucky."

He doesn't look in my direction, nor does he seem to recognize his own name at first. I take both his hands in mine, no longer am I skittish to touch his metal arm. "Bucky, listen to me." I was going to tell him that everything was going to be alright, that he was safe, that I was taking care of him but he shakes his head and furrows his brows.

At first all I can make out is short mumbles, nothing coherent though part is spoken in Russian. His words then grow clearer with more assurance in what he was speaking, "I don't want to go back. I don't want to forget." I bite my bottom lip, partly in frustration and partly to prevent myself from crying at how he thought he was back with them, that he wasn't safe, that he was only an asset and nothing more.

"Bucky. You're not going to forget. You're safe now." He closes his eyes listening to the words I speak but whether he actually comprehends and believes them is another story. So I begin the routine over again when these moments occur, it had been done time after time. I let go of his hands and his eyes open, watching me with apprehension as I place a hand to either side of his face.

"Your name is James Buchanan Barnes, everyone calls you Bucky. My name is Beth, I'm here to help you. I'm not affiliated with S.H.I.E.L.D. or HYDRA; you're safe Bucky." He nods but soon is asleep, I frown and step out of my room before searching the rooms for Steve as I know he would want to hear of what was happening. I speak quickly of the injuries and what had been done to treat him and with a sad smile Steve nods, understanding that it would be a long time before he had his Bucky back.

Knowing that Bucky's sleep would not last long I head back to my room, he is sitting up on the bed, his eyes wide and full of terror. "You left." I purse my lips at the two words he speaks and sit on the edge of the bed. "Please don't leave me. I don't want to be alone." Stopping my actions is not an option as pull him into my arms. He's almost childlike in moments like this. I hold him close, he doesn't deserve to feel abandoned, I hold him tight to me; he needs to realize that everything will be okay now. I don't let go for the entire night.

A year passes and only on several occasions do I see Bucky, his injuries are always minor but he still manages to end up in my room somehow though it is obvious he is better. I always lay next him, looking at the soldier fondly. He says it helps but I can see the glint of mischief in his eyes, as does Steve. This time when both men come through the doors they're each smiling. Steve has a cut on his leg and cheek, Bucky spots a cut of similar length on his temple and forehead as well as one of his arm. They had grown inseparable once again, but while Steve is tugged away in one direction I pull Bucky in the opposite direction.

"What am I going to do with you Barnes?" I dab an aseptic wipe over the thin cut on his face, wiping away the dried blood before assessing whether it needed any further treatment.

He laughs, it's the first time I've ever heard the sound come from him and it sends a chill down my spine. "Keep me, please? I'll be good." I roll my eyes and turn to pick up another wipe to clean the cut on his arm but his hands are on my waist pulling me to face him. I squint, looking warily at him. He is far too happy to be sitting in my treatment room. Before I can react, his metal hand is curling around my hip and the fleshy skin of his right hand is resting on my cheek.

His lips move over mine hesitant at first, as if he has to remind himself how to kiss properly because within a few seconds the confidence is there when he fully presses his lips against mine. I have to stop myself from sighing into his mouth and focus on returning the kiss. "I'll consider keeping you, Bucky, but you have to behave." My voice has a surprising gruffness to it when I speak but his smile only grows wider.

"Where's the fun in that, doll?" I huff and turn away to gather the rest of the supplies I would need to finish tending to his cuts, knowing that I had a very cocky soldier to deal with now.