Prologue

Disclaimer: I don't own Captain America it belongs to Marvel or Criminal Minds which belongs to CBS. Love the characters and like to write about them.

Sitting in the hospital chair and wishing it was him Bucky watched Steve's chest rise and fall. He was scared for his best friend. Bucky was already halfway through his old brainwashing when he got the call that Steve had been in an accident.

Bucky heard the door open to find Clint Barton aka Hawkeye standing in the doorway. He watched him swallow thickly; then tilt his head toward outside into the hallway.

Bucky nodded his head. "Steve, I'm going to be out in the hallway. I'll be right back."

They both noticed Steve's heart rate go up and they both would be booted out if they didn't bring it down.

Clint put his had on Steve's ankle, "Cap, I know you want to know what's been going on. I need you to calm down. I'll explain everything in the next five to ten minutes. Trust me Cap it's good news. So, I need you to calm down. I'll send in Sam, ok?"

Bucky and Clint watched as Cap's vitals evened out. Clint patted Cap's ankle before Bucky and Clint walked out into the hallway.

"They're F.B.I. agents here to question Steve but I don't think he's ready for that."

"No, he's not. His vitals are erratic if we leave."

Clint made a noise in the back of his throat that he was agreeing with Bucky.

"I hear a 'but' in there Hawkeye." Bucky didn't like Clint's hesitation. It told him that something else was going on.

Clint took a deep breath and then looked at Bucky in the eye, "The F.B.I. are here to question you too."

Bucky opened his mouth to object.

Clint held his hand up, "I know that you only have half your memories. They're going to ask about just the accident not what happened in Hydra."

Bucky slightly deflated, then asked the only question that would hopefully make him relax, "Does anyone on the team have military experience? I trust Sam Clint, I need someone who'll not make it difficult for me."

Clint smiled in reassurance, "Yeah, there is and there is also someone who was on the bomb squad while on the police force."

Bucky's body physically relaxed a bit more. He still hated the fact that he tensed every time someone asked for a SITREP. The "conditioning" brainwashing more like still had him skittish around people. "When will they be here?"

Clint winced a little inside and felt awful about dropping this all over Bucky's already fragile lap, when he knew Bucky was desperately trying to hold onto what little sanity he had left, "They are in the waiting room outside of the I.C.U."

Bucky gave Clint the same look he would give Steve when he called him "Punk", especially when he was exasperated with Steve. Then Bucky's mind switched to Steve; how was he going to explain to Steve, that he had to give an account of what happened at the accident sight. Then Bucky's brow furrowed in thought, "What happened to the kid that Steve saved?"

Clint smiled with happiness, "She's going to be okay. Minor bumps and bruises but otherwise she is going to be just fine. Her dad is with her."

"And what of her mom?"

Clint's face went from happy to disgusted in a manner of seconds, "She was the cause of this whole mess in the first place." Clint wanted to put an arrow through her heart, but knew that, that wasn't the way; it still bugged him though, "She's in custody. The F.B.I. can explain it better." Changing the subject he asked Bucky, "Do you want Sam to go with you?"

Bucky had listened to Clint and couldn't believe a mother would try to hurt her own child. That alone made the situation just sad. Bucky looked up at Clint's question, "Yeah that would be good. We also need to let Steve know about the kid and how she is faring."

Clint nodded his head and lead them back into the hospital room.

Sam watched as the two men entered the room. He watched Bucky for any signs of distress, he saw a little but the 'I'm-going-to-kill-you-with-my-bare-hands' was not there. Sam glanced over at Clint and saw his facial expression, "Bad news first, get it over with." Sam already knew there was good news but he wanted Steve to know after he woke and that they were all there for him for what ever was yet to come.

Clint put his hand on Cap's ankle while Bucky had his metal left hand on Steve's left arm, "Bucky has to be interviewed by the F.B.I." They felt Steve's pulse quicken.

"Knock it off Punk"

"Cap, man, settle down"

Both Bucky and Sam said at the same time.

Clint looked at Sam as he squeezed Steve's ankle, "I'm having Sam go with Buck."

They all felt Steve physically relax.

Sam looked at Clint. Clint shrugged his shoulders and looked at Bucky. Sam nodded his head. He understood now why Clint mentioned his name.

Bucky put his flesh hand on Steve's brow, "I trust Sam. Clint said there are two people who know and understand PTSD. To tell you the truth I'm a little scared," Bucky squeezed his arm again when he felt Steve move just slightly in agitation, his voice becoming harsher than he intended "Punk knock it off you're going to get us thrown out," then he softened his voice, "Sam has my back, you get to healing and then we will have that conversation about you not wearing your helmet."

Sam and Bucky let go of Steve's arms to head out the door. Clint still had a hold of Steve's ankle when he felt a slight twitch, "Cap, knock it off. They'll be back. As for what Bucky said, I agree with him. As your teammate I'm exasperated that you didn't call us as for the other the parent in me knows, that you deserve that conversation with Buck." Clint felt Steve shrink down in the mattress and smiled. His friend was getting better if he could get his body to snuggle in the mattress. Clint also knew with Steve moving that he would be leaving the I.C.U sooner that expected.