Autor notes: The mission went to hell. But this time its consequences are a much more pleasant experience.
This story would need a betareader like a goat scratching … any volunteers?
oOo
There was no time to waste time.
Sam Wilson entered a combination of numbers, which he had previously quickly written down on the palm of his hand. The keyboard clicked each time he pressed the button. That was a good sign. Nothing happened for a few seconds. Then came a strong crack and the air began to hiss.
Sam jumped inwardly, startled. He had no idea what the defrosting process should look like. His only experience with defrosting (anything) has been with the microwave and food. Hissing and escaping air is never a good sign. And if air escapes from the coffin too quickly and the lid is still not released…
A metallic click and the lock spread open. Sam would have sworn he heard a real stone peel from his heart. He could now stick his fingers in the gap between the lid and the coffin itself. He pulled up. It was like trying to open a frozen freezer.
God, all these comparisons to frozen food made his stomach heave. Perverted scientists and their technology, he thought. He took a breath and pushed the disgusting feelings aside. It was seconds now. And if he succeeds, his feelings will be the last thing that can be solved today. He grabbed the heavy lid once more and pushed it aside.
Fortunately, his previous concern for escaping air had quickly dissolved. Bucky had a respiratory cannula inserted into his nose. His eyes were closed, and apart from the hoarfrost on his beard and eyebrows, he seemed to be just asleep.
Sam touched the soldier's face carefully and then shuddered as his fingers met Bucky's icy skin. Maybe a corpse would be warmer.
"Bucky!"
oOo
The sun's rays fell into the room through the window. They played. They had to be warm. It was always warm in Alabama. The last time he'd been here, he complained of the weary heat. He pulled his hand out from under the duvet and shoved it directly into the sun's rays to make sure the sun was warm. He didn't feel anything. Just cold and biting frost. He closed his eyes and knews it was too early. To this day, he has had so much experience with post-hibernation conditions that he didn't even bother to count them. But what he really appreciated was the fact that now he could just lie down and sleep from it. And even in conditions very luxurious for him.
Previous opportunities were, to put it mildly, rough. He never got a chance to wake up properly and he was already being dragged from the chamber to the chair. Then the doctors came. They performed tests, took blood and injected mixtures of different cocktails of drugs into his body. And then there was a rumble of electricity, and the machine began to fall to his head…. Better to sleep it off.
Sam Wilson quietly opened the door and entered the room, which was too hot and stuffy. The air conditioning was off and the force of the midday sun was felt through the narrowed shutters. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to sneak in quietly, because scaring the sleeping Winter Soldier might be Sam's last and fatal heroic act. But Bucky didn't seem to move and wake under the covers.
Sam waited a moment, then carefully took an empty bag of IV infusion from the bedside rack. He slammed the pass and replaced the bag with a new one. He started the heated fluid into the cannula and waited a moment to verify that it was dripping.
"Thanks." Came from under the duvets.
"I thought you were asleep," Sam said softly, pushing his chair against the bed.
"You're stomping too hard," Bucky whispered, shaking the blanket from his head and squinting at Sam.
The Falcon grinned. So much for his quest to be quiet and unobtrusive.
"I didn't mean to wake you."
"You didn't wake me."
"Does it help?" Sam pointed to a bag of heated solution.
Bucky nodded. "A little. It's like sitting under one of those hot springs in Wakanda. Warm water flows on your back, but it's already cold at your feet. Well, this hot spring, "he nodded toward the infusion," is cold somewhere at my elbow. "
Sam laughed at the comparison and considered the hint.
"Look, you know very well that we can't warm you up too fast."
"A hot bath would be nice," lamented the frail soldier.
"Mayby later. You could have a heart attack. Or too hot water could burn you. "
"It's okay," Bucky sighed, sitting up slowly. He closed his eyes for a second to stop the world from spinning. "Can I have some tea?"
"Sure." Sam poured hot tea from a thermal kettle on the bedside table. He held it until he made sure Bucky's fingers held the mug tightly. "Steve called," Sam changed the subject. "He asked about you."
"Did he call like for the third time today?"
"Five time."
Bucky nodded. "I hope he stays in DC."
"He will stay. The airline refuses to sell him tickets. They said he is too old to take fly and they dont wanna take responsibility for him. "
Bucky looked at Sam suspiciously. "Bullshit." Steve had never had a problem traveling before and was very vital for his age.
"Sure, I'm kidding. I convinced him to stay home. He will be compensated with a control call every two hours. "
Bucky set the empty mug back on the table. "I'll call him." At least he could free Sam from the royal task of making a messenger. But Bucky lay back on the pillows and pulled the electric blanket up to his jaw. He will just close his eyes for a second and then calls Steve.
Sam patted him on the shoulder. "Sure thing." He got up and had to leave. He looked from the door at Bucky, who was fast asleep again. "I can handle a few more control calls, man." He whispered under his breath and left.
END