Something had changed. Again. He and Bucky had gotten to a good place, Sam would've gone as far as to even say they had become friends. It was certainly different to how their relationship had begun, but now Bucky was putting distance between them again, and Sam didn't like it. He knew it couldn't be his fault, they hadn't argued or anything, which meant that something else had happened. Bucky was suddenly more focused, almost like he was preparing for a mission. It worried Sam, because as unlikely as it was, he cared about Bucky, maybe a lot more than he should, and he couldn't change that now. There was no way he could just turn his feelings off.

"Bucky?" he ventured. "You know I'm here for you, right?"

He felt like he'd already made that point very clear, but for some reason he also felt like he needed to remind Bucky of it.

"Sure," Bucky agreed, but it didn't really sound like his heart was in it, he was too distracted by whatever else he had going on.

Sam wasn't sure what to make of it, or what to do. It wasn't like he had any claim over Bucky, he was a support provider, and Bucky knew he was here for him. Beyond that, now that Bucky was doing better, it wasn't up to him how Bucky spent his time.

But maybe that was it. Maybe Bucky had reached a point where he didn't need Sam anymore. Sam knew he should be glad, but he also couldn't deny that the thought of losing this closeness with Bucky bothered him. He liked Bucky and hoped Bucky might feel something for him too. He was just wondering if the time had finally come to say something, to put himself out there and see if Bucky might return his feelings, when Bruce showed up.

"We're ready," the scientist informed Bucky.

Sam wanted to ask what for, he hated being out of the loop where Bucky was concerned, but technically it wasn't his business, and before he could say anything Steve showed up too.

"Sam," Steve said. "Can I borrow you for while?"

Immediately, Sam looked at Bucky, to make sure he didn't need him, hoping that Bucky might ask him to stay, but he didn't.

"I'm all good," Bucky stated, following Bruce out of the room. Maybe he just had to let go. As disappointing as it was, maybe his time with Bucky was up.

Sam took a steadying breath and looked back at Steve. Even though it was hard sometimes, he wanted to be here for all of his friends.

"Sure thing, Steve. How can I help?"

xxx

"Thor didn't wanna be here for this?" Sam questioned.

"He worries too much," Steve answered. It was his first time back in the gym since he'd been injured. He just wanted to work the bag a little and test out how fit he was now. Thor was often busy with his renewed search for Loki anyway, so there was no point bothering him with this. Besides, it had been ages since he'd had any one-on-one time with Sam.

As he worked out, he discovered his strength was pretty good, it was his stamina that was the problem, and it didn't take long before he felt out of breath. Not wanting to push too far, still a little jittery about asthma-like symptoms which reminded him too much of when he was small and sick, he sat down to catch his breath. Sam took a seat beside him, handing him a bottle of water.

"Here."

"Thanks."

Steve swallowed a mouthful and then waited for his breathing to even out. It still hurt a bit when his lungs fully expanded, but at least it was much better than it had been.

Beside him, Sam was being uncharacteristically quiet, but Steve had a suspicion he knew the reason why.

"So you and Buck, huh?"

"No..." Sam shook his head adamantly. "No."

"Care to rephrase that?" Steve grinned, obviously having hit the nail on the head.

"There's nothing going on," Sam insisted, but it sounded like a case of the Falcon doth protest too much.

"Now we're getting somewhere..." Steve pressed.

"Not really," Sam sighed, scrubbing his hands over his face, shoulders slumping. He seemed down, so Steve reined it in a bit and tried to offer some encouragement instead.

"Don't sell yourself short, Sam. He's so much better than the last time I saw him and that's thanks to you."

"I just did my job."

"I don't believe that. You do like him, don't you?"

Sam looked over at him, so conflicted, then he leaned forward and sighed again.

"Like isn't the word I'd use."

Steve couldn't help the smile that lit up his face. He loved the idea of his two best friends finding happiness with each other.

"So what are you waiting for?"

"I don't wanna push him into anything he's not ready for. Or worse, doesn't want." That was typical of Sam, always putting others before himself, always ready to take the hit so no one else had to. He was a good man and deserved to have what he wanted as much as anyone Steve had ever known.

"We are talking about the same Bucky Barnes, right? You think he's gonna do anything he doesn't wanna do?"

Sam conceded the point with a little smile.

"No, I guess not."

"Then go for it, Sam. Tell him how you feel. You both deserve to be happy."

AN: I reckon this story has about 4 or 5 chapters to go. I've got most of it written, bashing it into shape is another matter. I'll keep working on it. Thanks for reading :)