Bucky sat dejectedly on his bed, hands clasped in his lap, head hung low. Dark, unkempt hair fell around a face that had once been hardened and fierce, but was now simply sad. Bucky knew he ought to be getting to bed. Steve would not approve of him sitting up to this hour after a full day of work that was rigorous both physically and mentally. Tomorrow was also likely to be busy. Wait, it already was tomorrow. He frowned at his innocent clock, who dutifully stated the time to be 12:37am.

Bucky closed his eyes, and allowed his mind to wander. Suddenly a memory appeared, fierce and mercilessly vivid. He gasped and his eyes flew open. Groaning, he closed them again, and rubbed his eyes and forehead with both hands, trying to completely clear the horrible scene from his troubled mind. However, the pleading cries of his victim still echoed. He moaned softly, switched the lamp on, and picked up his phone. He should have known better than to let his mind wander freely.

Smart phones were very useful in distracting one from unpleasant thoughts. Depending on where one went on one's phone, that is. Bucky browsed through his few pictures, stopping to grin half heartedly at a goofy selfie he had taken with Steve. How the annoying fellow had gotten him to make such a face he still couldn't quite figure out. He must have had a rare fit of extreme cheerfulness.

Bucky had soon looked through his few pictures, and since the nasty memories didn't seem to be too threatening, he decided to try to sleep. He switched off the lamp and lay down, pulling the soft covers up to his chin. He closed his eyes, and thought back to the time when Steve had rescued him and the remainder of the 107th from HYDRA. The journey back had been painful, but the relief and comradeship they all felt made it pleasant. Bucky smiled ruefully. He had actually sort of had it easy back then.

Suddenly a wave of sorrow and loneliness swept over him. He missed the friendship of his fellow soldiers. At least he had Steve. However, he knew that his buddy was probably enjoying some well earned rest, and he had no intention whatsoever of waking him, and he definitely was not going to confess that deep down inside, he just wanted to cry on his shoulder.

Moaning softly, Bucky sat up, throwing the covers aside. He switched on the lamp, and sat with his head hung low again, thinking gloomy thoughts. Some of his nightmarish memories started trying to creep up again, but he only fought them off half heartedly. He knew that by being gloomy and thinking on his past he was allowing HYDRA to continue to affect his life, but at the moment, he didn't care. He was too tired and miserable.

Suddenly he heard a soft knock at his door. He looked up quickly. "Come in."

The door opened a little, and Steve stuck his head in. "I was getting a drink and noticed that your light was on." He looked keenly at Bucky. "You aren't feeling good, are you."

"It isn't too bad," Bucky mumbled.

"Mind if I come in?"

Bucky didn't reply, so Steve stepped slowly into the room, closing the door softly behind him. He walked over to one of the windows, pulled the curtain aside a little, and peered out.

"It's raining. You ought to open your window and enjoy it. The sound helped me fall asleep." He looked up at the rain coming down, lit up a little by the street lights, and sighed softly. "Smells really good too. Mind if I open a window, or would that bother you?"

"No. I didn't know it was raining." Bucky got up and opened the other window, then looked out at the quiet street below.

Steve watched him quietly. After a while Bucky sighed and sat down on the small couch right below the window. Steve came over and sat beside him.

"Is it the work, weather, or just memories?"

"All three, probably."

"It's tough when they all combine, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

Suddenly the captain had an idea, and stood up. "Just a minute."

In much less than a minute, he was back, carrying something in one hand. "It's a speaker. A modern one. You don't have to plug it into your phone or the wall."

Bucky watched with interest as his friend went about finding a song from one of his play lists on YouTube, and turned on the speaker. Soon the calming strains of Evacuating London filled the room. Steve sighed contentedly, and flopped his head back. Immediately he let out a loud yell and leaped to his feet, clutching the back of his head. Bucky started violently and jumped up, glanced at his friend with grimly controlled fear in his eyes, then turned quickly to the window and flung the curtains aside. No one was there. That is, no one but an evil looking cactus with long spines.

Thanks for reading guys! Hope y'all enjoyed that! I'll try to upload the next chapter soon!

I have a blond haired blue eyed little brother that looks a little like pre serum Cap, and he happens to be a cactus magnet. He actually sat on one twice, poor guy. Anyway, that's where I got the cactus idea from. :)

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