Sasha tried to get out of bed without waking Bucky, but his arm snaked around her waist and he pulled her back into his embrace and kissed her neck.

"Bucky, I have to go to work."

"I wanna repeat last night."

Sasha groaned, but extended her neck to give him better access.

"We can... tonight."

"Now."

Bucky flipped her onto her back and pinned down her wrists while he kissed her. She moaned into his mouth, but smiled. He was confident, unlike the night before. He was using his metal arm to hold her down. That surprised her considering his fears. She didn't resist, even to be playful. He had to know that she felt safe with him.

"You're going to make me late."

"How about you call in sick?"

"I can't do that, Bucky."

His metal fingers squeezed her wrist a little, and the thought of being completely at the mercy of this man triggered something in her. She stared at him, seeing him a little differently than before. This tender, caring man had the strength and ability to take complete control of her.

She swallowed hard and cleared her throat.

"Bucky... I have an early session. I can't be late."

"You're mine tonight?"

"I'm yours every night."

Bucky groaned, pressed his lips to hers, then moved to her side to let her up.

"You mind if I go back to sleep?"

"Not at all."

The knock on the door surprised her. She pulled on her robe and checked through the peep hole. Her partner from the hospital stood there, so she opened the door.

"Mark, it's a bit early for a visit. What's wrong?"

"Look, I put it off as long as I could. You're a great doctor, and I didn't want to believe that you-"

"Babe, is that Steve?"

Bucky walked into the room in his boxers, and Mark's face fell.

"It's true. You're sleeping with a patient?"

"Hang on." Sasha rubbed her forehead. "First of all, he's not officially my patient anymore. He was discharged."

"You still schedule sessions with him, Sasha! I've seen your appointment book. I have to report this."

"We haven't been sleeping together."

"Oh, come on. The man is in his underwear."

"He has nightmares. I've been monitoring his sleep."

"He called you 'babe'... Look me in the eye and tell me you've never been intimate."

Sasha opened her mouth to lie, but she couldn't do it. She looked at Bucky, and his eyes were full of questions. She could only assume he took her words to heart about monitoring his sleep as the only reason he was there. She couldn't hurt him, not even to protect her career.

"I can't," she said.

He shook his head. "I have to suspend you."

Sasha nodded.

"Wait," Bucky said, "you're not gonna fight this?"

"Bucky, I told you back when this was just flirting that my career would be on the line. I decided to take the risk. I have to face the consequences."

"You can't overrule him? You're the head of the hospital."

"Not anymore," she said. "I had a session in half an hour. Will you be able to take it? The patient is familiar with you."

"I'll take it," Mark said. "I'm really sorry. I hate to do this, but-"

"I know. I broke the rules," she said with a shrug. "I knew what I was doing."

He glanced at Bucky. "I hope it was worth it."

Sasha smiled. "I think so, yeah."

As soon as they were alone again, Bucky took Sasha's face in his hands.

"You should have fought it."

She put her hands over his. "I can't. He saw us with his own eyes. There was no getting out of it."

"You could have lied."

"I could have... Didn't want to. Might as well let everyone know I'm in love, right?"

Bucky pressed his lips to hers, then pulled her into his arms, her head tucked beneath his chin.

"I don't deserve you," he whispered.

Sasha took his face in her hands. "You deserve everything good. You're so good, Bucky." She kissed him. "You're so good, and so sweet."

She pressed kisses to his lips and face until he captured her lips with his, and he lifted her into his arms. He carried her back to bed, but they didn't make love. They held each other for a while until they were hungry enough to have to face the rest of the day.

Tony showed up at Sasha's door that afternoon.

"I got your voicemail," he said. "Sounded like it might be bad news."

She motioned to the couch. "You didn't have to come over."

"I prefer bad news in person. So, give it to me."

"Ok. I won't be able to have sessions with you anymore."

"Why not? Something I said?"

"No. It's... I've been suspended pending an investigation, which won't take long. I'm losing my license, Tony."

"Is it about Barnes?"

"In a way."

"Shit."

"What?"

"It's my fault. I did it."

"You did what?"

"It was right after you told me about my parents. The next morning I called the hospital and ratted the two of you out."

"It was you? How did you even know?"

"Any idiot could see you two had a thing. I didn't know how far it went, but I was so pissed, and I wanted to hurt Barnes. After a few of our sessions I was wishing I hadn't done it, but I never got any feedback. I thought they ignored it, so I let it go."

Sasha balled her fists as tears filled her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Sasha."

"No... It's not really your fault. I did what you reported. But now you have to find someone else if you want to keep going with therapy."

"Says who?"

"Tony, I have no license."

"What if I hire you as a consultant for Stark Industries?"

"Are you kidding me? What could I possibly consult on?"

"Mental health? Look, I wasn't really interested in this stuff at first, even after our first sessions, before finding out about Barnes. Fact is, you're good, and it feels good to get some of that stuff out. I think all of us could use that."

"Us?"

"The Avengers."

"You want to hire me as the unofficial shrink for the Avengers?"

"Why not? They would fight it at first, especially Romanoff, but I think it's a good idea. I could pay you triple what you're making now."

Sasha sat staring at him, trying to process some kind of reply.

"Hey, babe, they didn't have the-"

Bucky froze, take out bag in hand, when he saw Tony.

"Shit," he mumbled under his breath.

Tony stood. "I didn't realize Barnes would be here."

"He lives here."

"Wow, you two really were..."

"I told you that you weren't wrong. Well, you were when you reported it, but not now."

"Stark is the one who got you fired?"

Sasha stood as Bucky moved toward Tony.

"I'll explain later, but no. I made the choice to risk my career. No matter what else has happened, I wouldn't have lost my job if I hadn't gotten involved with a patient."

Bucky stared at her for a moment.

"It's not your fault, either," she said. "I made the choice. I don't regret it."

Bucky tried to hide a grin, but Sasha saw his eyes brighten just a bit before he turned to Tony.

"What are you doing here?"

"Offering her a job."

"Tony feels bad about what happened. He thinks I should be on the Avengers team."

"Officially under Stark Industries," Tony said. "You could actually move into the tower to be nearby when the others come in."

"That wouldn't be necessary."

"Well... you'd have a room if needed."

"And would Bucky be allowed to stay there, too?"

Stark eyed Bucky and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Sure."

Sasha nodded. "It is a generous offer."

"Think it over. If you accept, I'll have the paperwork drawn up."

Tony left without another word. Bucky brought the food into the kitchen before returning to the living room.

"You're going to accept?"

Sasha sat with a huff, and Bucky sat next to her.

"It is a great offer," she said.

"You wouldn't need that offer if he hadn't said anything."

"Bucky... let it go. It's done."

"He reported you because it was me, right? It was my fault."

Sasha straddled his lap and took his face in her hands.

"None of this is your fault. None of it."

"Sure feels like it."

She kissed him, then rested her forehead against his, and his hands rested on her hips.

"Take the job," he said.

"You think I should?"

"Might as well take it while Stark feels guilty enough to offer."

Sasha chuckled. "When did you get so intuitive?"

Bucky shrugged.

"Nah... you've always been intuitive. I've seen it from the beginning."