"Sam, we need to do something."
"He is gone. I can't do anything."
"He isn't reacting to anything."
"He is going to black out."
"Give that man a drink and everything will be alright."
"Shut up, Tony."
People were talking but all Steve heard was a buzzing in his ears. The world started spinning again and the unconsciousness came and wanted to overpower Steve.
In his state he saw a shadow of a man at the end of the aisle. He couldn't say who it was. "Till the end of the line, pal." the shadow said.
"Bucky?" was all he could say after that he lost his unconsciousness completely and was gone.
"Man, that hit him hard." Sam said and looked at his watch.
Everyone looked at Steve and asked themselves for how long he will be out. From time to time they looked on their watches or phones to check the time.
"Did he say Bucky?" asked Bruce and his voice had a worried tone.
"I guess so." Wanda said and looked down at Steve, his head in her lap. She still couldn't believe that one of her best friends was gone.
Tony looked on his watch. "Guess he is sleeping beauty again."
"I think he just needs time. It has been hell for him the last week. Planning the funeral wasn't easy and the carrying down the coffin... You would faint too." Bruce snapped at Tony. It was rare that he would snap at people but he had enough of Tony's attitude. He knew Tony cared and Bruce was annoyed that Tony didn't show it.
The priest came up and said: "I'm sorry to interrupt but time is limited and soon we have the next funeral."
Tony looked at the priest and gave him a big bundle of cash. "Give that man some time. He lost his best friend."
The priest looked at the cash and then said: "I can't take that."
Tony looked at the priest and raised an eyebrow. "I bet you have kids or grand kids that want to go to college. So, take it and everything is fine."
The priest looked at the money and then took it. "Take all the time you need."
"Thank you."
"Should we lay him somewhere more comfortable?" Wanda asked.
"I think he will wake up soon and since he can't get sick just let him be here. And Wanda, let his head on the ground. Head and heart need to be at the same height so the blood can go back to the head." Bruce said.
Wanda laid Steves head down softly and was worried.
Nat sat beside Steve and hold his hand in hers and softly caressed his hand with her thumb. She looked worried at Steve.
Steve wasn't about to wake up and it was a long time ago since he fainted.
Bruce checked the time and saw that it was five minutes later. "Okay, time for the doctor to step in." he said and went to Steve. Being out for so long was dangerous for the brain since the brain didn't get enough blood. Bruce had no idea how it was with the serum but better be safe than sorry. He kneeled beside him.
Bruce loosened up the tie around Steve's neck and opened the first two buttons of his shirt.
Nat stood up and walked up and down like a lion in the cage. She can't lose him too. Not now... She was about to freak out and tried to calm down.
Tony was very chill on the church bench and watched every movement from Bruce. He looked at Nat and then hold a flask in her face. He could see that she could need it. Nat looked at Tony and for a second thought about shaking her head because Tony has everywhere alcohol but this time it was an excellent idea and she took it and made a big sip from it. She gave it back to him. "Thanks."
Bruce checked for Steve pulse and found one. "Well, he still has a pulse so it isn't that bad. I guess it was just way too much for him. Let him rest and fanning some air would help."
Pepper took a bible and started to fan some air at Steve.
While Steve was out he had some flashbacks about his past life and moments with Bucky. It was like his life was flashing before his eyes like a compilation and every good moment was in it.
Him and Bucky meeting the first time when they were kids. He turned six and school had already started. Steve found out fast that he couldn't just stand there when others were getting bullied. And despite his asthma, his bad spine and his not so good eyesight, which caused him more than once to not land a punch, he always stood up for the little guy. So, he has already made some "friends" in the two weeks. They pushed him around, made fun of his wrong shaped spine and his ragged breathing. From time to time they also took his lunch money. If he had any. Most of the time Steve ate from the soup kitchen or at the nearest church.
Once at the age of 8 he didn't have any money so his bullies decided to kick him to the ground, like every other day. There was a voice behind them. Saying that they should leave the boy alone. Suddenly Bucky was in his life and things got better. His life changed with that.
At the age of 14 Bucky brought Steve his first beer.
At the age of 17 he kissed Bucky for the first time.
At the age of 20 they lived together in a small apartment in Brooklyn together as friends. Officially speaking.
They shared their first time at the age of 22. Steve was nearly dying because of his asthma but they managed.
But they never said the three meaningful words to each other.
After a while Steve came around again and he opened his blue eyes and looked around. He was confused. Why was he on the floor and why were all the people around him?
He could feel that he had a headache and the bright light was too much so he closed his eyes again. After some time, he wanted to stay up but Bruce pushed him down again.
"You better sit for the next 15 minutes." Bruce said.
"Why? What happened?" Steve asked.
"You fainted and you hit your head on the floor. The priest called you to say some words you stood up and collapsed." Bruce explained.
Steve looked confused. He didn't even remember standing up. He looked at all the faces and one was missing. Steve looked around and couldn't find the face he was looking for. He still was in a bit of a haze and couldn't think straight. He wanted Bucky here too so he asked for him.
"Where is Bucky?"
Sometimes he would forget that Bucky was gone now. He was so used that Bucky was always there for him. And now where he needed him the most he wasn't.
Some people looked shocked after the questions, other turned around so they don't have to answer and some of the didn't dare to look Steve in the eye.
"Someone hit the floor hard with his head. How can you forg-"
"Please, shut up, Tony." Sam said and then looked at Steve. He was worried about his best friend. He wanted to tell him gently where he was.
Bruce looked at Steve. "Steve, please remember where we are." Bruce stepped out of Steve's line of sight and gave the sight free to Bucky's picture.
"Oh." That was all that Steve could say. Of course, ... How could he forget that...
Even though there weren't a lot of people Steve started to feel claustrophobic in this church and just wanted to get out of here. That is all he wanted. To be away from here. To be with Bucky.
He swallowed hard and then sat up a bit. His head was still hurting but he guessed that was from the unplanned meeting between his head and the floor.
Pepper came and had a glass of water in her hands and gave it to Steve. Steve just pushed her hand away. He didn't care. All he wanted that this right here was over soon.
He ignored Bruce's warning and the advice that he still should sit down. He stood up and tried to be solid as a rock and straighten his back.
He looked at Bucky picture and went in front of it and bowed his head before it and softly said to himself: "I love you, Buck. I love you and now you can't hear it… Now it is too late..."
He laid a hand on the coffin and he could feel how the tears came up again and he started to shake again because of all the sobs. He couldn't hold it back and started to cry.
His tears dropped down on the wooden coffin and created a little lake of sadness, grief and depression. He put a hand into his left pocket of his suit and took out Bucky dogs tags. Steve looked at them and they meant so much to him. Bucky's dog tags that Bucky gave to him to keep them safe. To have them. Bucky said it was because Steve should have something to remember him. By that time Steve didn't understand what Bucky meant. Bucky was off missions and he was recovering pretty well. Or so Steve thought because now he did understand and it hit him hard. Bucky told him what he was going to do.
He couldn't stand any longer and kneeled beside the coffin. The dog tags laid on the casket and looked like they didn't belong here. Like they were out of place and out of time.
Natasha wanted to stay up and walk to Steve but Sam held her back. "He needs to do this on his own."
After some time Steve calmed down and stood up again. He turned to the crowd and looked around the church.
They decided for a small church because Steve knew that not many people would come anyways. So, it looked like a lot of people were there because the benches were mostly full. Only some empty spaces left.
He sat with Nat and Sam in the first row of the benches because for Bucky they were the closest thing he had to a family. He noticed that Stark was in the last row. In between the first and the last row he saw a lot of familiar faces. Shuri and T'Challa came from Wakanda. The king had his sister in his arms. Rhodey sat besides of Tony, Steve guessed that Rhodes were support for Tony. Clint was sitting behind Nat and had a hand on her shoulder.
But some faces he didn't know and he asked himself who they were any why they were here. He looked back at the casket and it was closed. Steve looked at the dark stained cherry wood coffin. It had no lining inside or any cushions. It was a simple one. No golden handles or anything remotely fancy. Steve looked thru a lot of options but everytime he would hear Bucky's voice in his head. Taunting him that it was too fancy, too expensive and for what? So it can rot and decay? So yeah, Steve decided for a very simple one. On the coffin was a simple flower wreath just like in the 40s.
The coffin was closed. Why would it be open? After what happened. It would just be a sad sight into an empty coffin. Steve just wished he could see Bucky one last time. Just one last look at his best friend. Maybe it would have been easier with a body to look at.
Steve looked down on the stone floor and wanted to say something but nothing came out of his mouth. What was he supposed to say? Only the good times? The bad ones too? Could he say what he wanted to say even though Natasha was there?