I Got a Sick Brother at Home

by chibiMuffin999

Steve is sick, just this side of dying, and he needs someone to take care of him. Bucky's the only one he's got, but he's already got his hands full trying to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. He does what he has to do to get them through. (Bucky's POV, non-slash.) -Basically Bucky taking care of Steve, because I've written a lot of Steve taking care of Bucky-

2. Chapter 2

"I ain't comin' in, I said." Bucky repeats. The old lady downstairs has a phone, and she's willing to let him use it now and again if he asks real nice and calls her 'ma'am' with all the sweetness and charm he's got in him. She's in the next room muttering to herself about how dreadful it is, poor sweet little thing like the Rogers boy always suffering like this. Never complains that one.
He tunes her out.

"You gotta come to work, Barnes." The foreman says flatly. "How'm I s'posed to cover you in a couple'a hours? I got work that needs done."

"Look, I'm sorry, I know it's short notice, but I can't leave him alone right now." Bucky answers impatiently. Steve's much worse this morning. He's not leaving. "He's real sick."

"He was sick last month too." The foreman reminds him.

"Look, he's…" Bucky wracks his brain. It's only sort of a lie. "He's my kid brother. I'm all he's got in the world and if I ain't takin' care of him, nobody is. He could die, Vic."

There's a long-suffering sigh on the other end of the line. He braces himself to get fired. It wouldn't be the first time, but he's been working his ass off for this job, and he's tried his best to earn his keep.

"Goddammit Barnes, this is the last time." Vic sighs. It's the same thing he said the last time Bucky called him two hours before his shift, begging to be let off for Steve's sake. Bucky's never told Steve about it, and he's damned well not going to start now. "Take care of the little rat and then get your ass back here." Bucky lets himself breathe again. "-lucky you're a good worker, you big pain in my ass…" Vic is grumbling, but underneath it all, he's a good guy. He cares. Bucky makes a mental note that he owes the guy for this, big time.

"You're the absolute best, Vic. I mean it. You got no idea."

"Oh I got plenty of idea." Vic mutters. "You got three days to get him all better, Barnes. Then you get your ass in here or I replace you. You got that?"

"Yessir." Bucky just stops himself from saluting. Vic can't see him, he remembers. "Thank you. Honestly. The best."

"Yeah, yeah." Vic hangs up on him. Bucky lets out a sigh of relief and lays on the thanks extra thick to their neighbor, who insists on sending him upstairs with a couple of cookies from the tin she keeps in her cupboard. Bucky saves them both for Steve.