Chapter eleven

The waiting room was quiet. It wasn't full, but it wasn't empty. Looking every which way, Bucky could see people with the same worried face he, Steve, Sharon, and Barry had. Children were running around, asking parents for snacks from some boxes against the wall (he made a mental note to ask Steve about those later). The kids were innocent, they didn't know better. They didn't know why they were at a hospital. However, there were one or two who had tear stained faces. They obviously knew.

Bucky's leg bounced up and down as they waited. His eyes flickered every which way, straining them. He could hear the buzzing from the fluorescent lights and the cars driving by on the street outside. He turned his gaze to Barry. He was leaning on his knees, staring at the wall in front of them. His face was set, jaw clenched, and leg bouncing as well. Bucky's face grew worried. Would Barry hate him? He just stabbed his twin sister! He looked at Steve and Sharon. Just like himself and Barry they were silent and staring off into space in worry. He took a deep breath.

"Barry…"

Barry's head turned to him. Bucky could now see the bruise that was forming on one side of his head thanks to the hit he took. Barry was thankfully discharged with only a small gash on the head and a few bruises. No concussion, no broken bones. Bucky was relieved to hear that. He had been a SHIELD agent, Bucky figured he probably had worse than an ex-HYDRA agent smashing him into a wall with a metal arm.

"I'm…I'm sorry…" He could feel tears welilng in his eyes and his chest constricting. He didn't mean to. God, he sure as hell didn't mean to hurt Tracey. "I'm sorry for hurting you. I-I'm sorry for hurting Tracey. I-I-I didn't mean to! I'm sorry!"

Barry shook his head, wincing a bit as he did. "Bucky, it's fine. I know you didn't mean to. I understand. You're recovering and it's not expected of you to be completely back to normal. I'm sure…" he swallowed. "I'm sure Tracey's fine."

"She's going to be," Steve said, putting a hand on Barry's back. "It's Tracey. She's stubborn. She'll fight."

"Thanks, Steve…" Barry said with a weak smile.

Steve patted Bucky's knee, keeping it still from bouncing any further. "Buck," he started, "everything is going to be okay."

Barry groaned and stood up. "I can't sit here anymore. I'm going up there."

Steve raised a brow as he watched the brunet man walk up to the front desk. The remaining three watched as the nurse talked to him, Barry nodding his head every so often. A minute later they saw him being led to the back.

Sharon looked to Steve and Bucky. "I'm guessing she's able to have visitors."

"Yeah…" Bucky sighed. He put his head in his hands, running them through his hair. He needed to know she was alright. He felt his stomach churning at the thought of her being hurt because of him. Or worse.

"Bucky, calm down," Steve said. "Everything is okay. Just give it a few minutes. They'll let us see her after Barry."

"But what if she's not okay, Steve?" Bucky burst out. A few tears slipped down his cheeks. "What if she's not okay and it's all my fault? I've already done so much, I don't want to go down that road again! I thought I was doing better. Who knows how many more times I'll relapse! I don't want to be him again…"

Steve's heart fell as he listened to his best friend. He quickly wrapped his arms around him. "It's not your fault. Tracey's going to be okay and she'll even tell you it's not your fault. What you did in the past as the Winter Soldier was never your fault. It doesn't define you. You've been doing great so far and if you relapse again, I'll be here to help you. We all will. Everyone is here to help, Buck. Everything is going to be okay."

Bucky breathed deeply, his body shaking as he tried to hold the rest of the tears back. "…Thanks, Steve."

ooOOoo

White light flooded Tracey's eyes as she woke up. Blinking through it she began to sit up only to wince in pain. She ended up laying back down. Looking from side to side she noticed she was in a hospital room. She closed her eyes sighing. She remembered now. Bucky had relapsed.

"Hey, Trace…"

Tracey turned her head to her right and saw Barry smiling down at her from beside her bed. She smiled weakly in return.

"Hey."

"How are feeling?" he asked, taking her hand in his.

"Like crap," she said, trying to sit up again.

"Take it easy," Barry warned, helping her up. "The doctor said you're alright. No organs were damaged. Just some muscles. You'll be sore for a while."

"I figured," she chuckled lightly. She paused. "Where's everyone else? I know Steve and Sharon showed up."

"They're in the waiting room," he answered. "They're pretty worried about you."

She smiled lightly. "I bet. Where's Bucky? Is he alright?"

"Bucky's with Steve and Sharon. He's alright, but he's kind of a wreck. He's worried about you. Do you want me to send them in?"

"Can you?"

"I'll be right back," Barry said, standing up and walking out the door in search of a nurse or doctor.

A few minutes later the room was filled with the remaining three people. Sharon walked over, greeting Tracey with a smile.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Fine. Just a little sore," Tracey replied. She frowned when she saw Bucky standing off to the side behind Steve and Barry.

"That's good to hear," the other blonde said. "The doctor said everything's fine, just some muscle damage."

"Well it's better than anything else," Tracey chuckled.

Bucky slowly stepped forward, eyes cast down at the floor. "Tracey…I'm so, so sorry…"

The blonde tech shook her head. "Bucky, it's not your fault. Don't worry. I promise you I'm not mad."

The super soldier looked at her with wide, sad eyes. "Y-you're not?"

"Why would I? I've told you before that it's not your fault and it's still not your fault. I wasn't mad at you when you attacked me at Steve's apartment."

"What happened at Steve's apartment?" Barry spoke up.

Tracey shushed him, waving her hand dismissively. "You're a good person, Bucky. I know you didn't mean to do it." She smiled at him which eventually got him to smile back.

He nodded his head. "I'm sorry either way…"

Steve stepped up then. "I talked with the doctor. He said that you can leave tonight and go back home or stay one more night here. It's your choice"

"I'm leaving," Tracey stated. "Get me out of here, I hate hospitals."

"Yes, ma'am," Steve chuckled as he left the room.

ooOOoo

As soon as the group reached the top floor, supporting Tracey as they went, they were greeted with Tony and Pepper.

Pepper rushed over to Tracey, giving her a hug, and helping her over to the living room. "JARVIS told us what happened. Are you okay?" she asked, looking from Tracey to Barry. She turned to look at Bucky as well, she smiled in relief when he nodded in reply.

"I'm fine, nothing serious," Tracey waved it off. "I just can't move around a lot. Doctor's orders."

"Well," Tony began, walking over to them with a glass of water. "Your floor is still open. You can stay here so you won't have to go from your place to the tower every day." He handed her the glass.

Tracey nodded. "Yeah I might take that offer," she said with a small laugh. "I just need to get Dexter and some clothes."

"I'll drop by your place to get them," Barry offered.

"Thanks."

"Oh no, I am not having an animal running around my tower," Tony stated, glaring over at the blonde.

"Pepper gets to keep you though," Tracey countered, making the others stifle their laughter. Pepper smirked up at her boyfriend.

"She gets stabbed and she's still able to sass me," Tony said throwing his hands in the air exasperatedly. "Fine," he said in defeat.

"Do you need anythi-" Pepper began only to be interrupted as a certain AI spoke up.

"Pardon the interruption, Miss Potts, but Miss Madison, Mr. Anderson is coming up on the elevator," JARVIS announced.

Just as soon as the AI gave out the news the elevator doors opened to reveal Dave storming over to the living room.

"Great, Romeo's here. I need a drink," Tony moaned, pinching the bridge of his nose as he turned to go to the bar. "Jackass," he mumbled under his breath.

"What the hell happened? I stopped by earlier and was told you were at the hospital and when I get there they say you were released?" Dave practically yelled as he walked over to Tracey where she sat on the couch.

"I uh…" Tracey began, but Dave kept going.

"I'm your boyfriend! How am I now getting to see you? What the fuck happened?" His brow furrowed and he turned his glare at Bucky who sat at the other end of the sofa. He pointed a finger at him. "It was you wasn't it?"

Bucky went wide eyed as Dave glared at him. He looked to Steve, worry all over his face.

"First you attack me now you're trying to kill Tracey? What the fuck is wrong with you?" he roared.

"Leave him alone, Dave!" Tracey yelled.

"What you're defending him?"

"He didn't mean to do it."

"So he did do it! What the fuck is your deal?" Dave said, whipping back around to face Bucky. The super soldier remained silent, unsure of what to say at the enraged man. Dave scoffed. "Whatever." He turned back to Tracey. "Look I need your help cleaning up my apartment, Jason's coming over."

"It's not like Jason's going to care," Tracey said, rolling her eyes. "You never clean your apartment anyways."

"Jason is coming over with Veronica. Which I need you there as well."

"You know I can't stand her," Tracey said in disgust. She sat up, groaning as she clutched her left side.

"Babe, I get it that you're hurt, but I need my girlfriend there so it doesn't look like you're abandoning me."

Tracey scoffed, making a face as she looked up at her boyfriend. "I'm abandoning you?"

"Just come on."

"Dave, I wish I could help, but I can't move," she said, eyes pleading.

"You have legs, use them."

"Seriously, Dave. I'm too tired."

"Look, babe, I need your help, you can rest after tonight. Now, come on." He grabbed her arm causing the blonde to hiss in pain as he tried to pull her up off the couch.

"Please, Dave."

Dave opened his mouth only to shut it as a hand was placed on his shoulder. He turned around to meet the glare of Bucky.

"Let her be."

Dave eyed the metal hand that was on his shoulder and glared at him. "Back off, tin man?" He shrugged Bucky's hand off. "This doesn't concern you. Especially since you're the one who hurt her. Just run along and get some oil or something?"

Bucky's eyes grew dark as he clenched his hands, ready to punch the man in front of him to the ground. Dave was beyond what he had originally heard. Some boyfriend he was, not even caring about his girlfriend's wellbeing. The man was unbelievable! Bucky was about to lift an arm when this time a hand was on his shoulder.

"Look son, just let Tracey rest. She needs it," Steve said.

"You're not her dad, so back off."

Tracey furrowed her brow and huffed as she glared up at her boyfriend. Slowly and painfully, she stood up, wrenching her arm out of Dave's grip. "Look!" she rounded on him. "I could care less if your friend and his bimbo girlfriend is coming over to your apartment," she said, her voice getting dangerously louder with each word. "I am tired and am supposed to be recovering after getting stabbed," she continued, taking a step closer to him and jabbing a finger at his chest. "And yes Bucky did do it, but it wasn't his fault. I don't care if you think it is, it's not! You weren't fucking there, you don't know what happened!" she yelled. Tony's and everyone else's eyebrows shot up. It wasn't every day you heard Tracey Madison curse and it was basically a bad sign when she did. "And if you were a decent boyfriend you wouldn't be forcing me to clean your mess in your fucking apartment, you'd be caring about me and how I'm feeling! If you had the decency to care you'd let me rest! So no! I will not help you clean your apartment and entertain your stupid ass friends! I want to sleep!"

Dave narrowed his eyes. He stepped closer to her, towering over the short blonde woman as she glared up at him. "I'd watch it if I were you."

"What are you going to do? Hit me? I'm surprised you haven't done it before," Tracey sneered.

"Don't make me…" Dave said, narrowing his eyes at his girlfriend.

"I'd like to see you try. If you even laid a hand on me, my brother and friends wouldn't even hesitate to throw you out the window."

"Tracey, you better watch it," Dave warned.

"Okay you know what," Tony interjected. "I've had enough." He stepped out from behind the bar. "Get out of my tower," he said, pointing a finger at the elevator.

Dave glared at him and the other men in the room. "Fine." He turned to Tracey, pointing a finger at her. "We'll talk later."

The men watched as Tony escorted the dark haired male to the elevator before turning to Tracey with looks that ranged from concern, sympathy, and pride (from Tony).

"I don't think I've heard you curse that much in one sitting, Mona Lisa," the billionaire said with a smirk. Tracey groaned and flopped back onto the couch.

"You okay, Trace?" Barry asked, getting up and sitting down on the edge of the couch next to her.

"Yeah," she sighed.

"You did the right thing standing up for yourself," Steve said.

"Then why do I feel like the bad guy?" she asked, putting an arm over her eyes.

"You're not," Bucky spoke up, making Tracey peek out from under her arm at him. "He's an asshole. Like Steve said, you did the right thing standing up for yourself."

Tracey laughed a small, breathy laugh, the corner of her lips twitching upward. "Thanks, guys. But I'm not kidding, I'm tired as hell."

Sharon laughed as she got up from the arm chair he was in. "Well after what you've been through and then yelling at that boyfriend of yours, I would be too." She turned to Tony, Pepper, Barry, Steve, and Bucky. "Lets give Tracey some peace and quiet?"

"You mean peace and quiet from Tony over there?" Barry asked, laughing.

"Yeah, I think that's good," Sharon laughed.

"Oh shut it, Thing 2," Tony said as the group made their way out.

Steve lagged behind and turned to Tracey, Bucky standing behind him. "Do you need anything before we go?"

"Nah, I'm good. Thanks," she said, smiling at him.

He nodded. "Get some rest okay?"

Tracey nodded as they turned around. "Bucky," she called out, making said super soldier turned around, staring at her with a questioning look. "Can I talk to you?"

Bucky turned to Steve, who smiled and patted his shoulder.

"I'll see you in a few," Steve said, walking over to the elevator.

"Just go hang out with your dame," Bucky said, nodding his head at Sharon, who was giving the men a smile.

Steve chuckled, a hint of pink on his cheeks. "Thanks."

Once the elevator left Bucky hesitantly approached the couch. He looked at Tracey with a look of worry and confusion. She smiled at him, patting the seat next to her.

"About what Dave said," she began once he sat down. She fidgeted with her hands, wringing them a bit. "Ignore him. He's a jerk."

"Yeah," he scoffed. "More like an asshole."

"You're right…" Tracey sighed, looking down at the ground.

Bucky stared at her, his brow furrowing in concern. "Tracey…why are you dating him?"

She shook her head, throwing her hands up a little before settling them on her legs again. "I…I don't know. I'm just scared."

"What are you scared of?"

"It's just…that after my dad died I got scared. Especially when I learned about Barry being in SHIELD." She squeezed her eyes shut, her hands flexing into fists before relaxing again. "After the battle with the Chitauri here, I found out Barry was an agent for SHIELD. I was wandering around after the attack and out of nowhere he came running up to me dressed in this blue uniform. I questioned him and he explained everything to me eventually. Since then whenever I hear he's out on a mission I get scared he's going to come home injured or dead." A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it off before continuing. "When I first met Dave he was working at a car dealership as a mechanic and was helping me with my car. He was sweet and had asked me out. After a few months…I-I don't know what happened. He seemed meaner than what he was like when I first met him. I thought he'd change, but I was wrong. We've broken up a few times, but clearly we've gotten back together. I kept going back because I was afraid of losing someone I cared about…"

Bucky listened to every word she said. He stared at her with a concern expression as he reached out and grabbed her hand. She actually did care about Dave and yet it didn't seem like Dave cared about her. Bucky squeezed her hand.

She took a deep breath, her face scrunched up as she tried to hold it in. She shook her head. The tears came. "I'm scared of losing someone. I lost my dad and I'm scared to death I'm going to lose Barry! I'm still with Dave because I just hate the thought of losing someone else and I know he doesn't feel the same way about me. I can just tell. I'm an idiot for always going back to him. I'm sorry I'm dumping all this on you," she sniffed.

Bucky squeezed her hand once more. In his time with the Avengers he had never seen Tracey anything but happy and smiling. It hurt to see her crying. "You're not an idiot. You're this amazing person that he doesn't even realize he has. You're smart, beautiful, and funny. Tracey, you're anything but an idiot. You've done so much to help me with my recovery and look at what you've done with getting all the SHIELD files back. That's amazing."

Tracey stared up at him, her eyes red from crying and unshed tears brimming them. "But that's all I do. I'm nothing like you guys. I can't fight. I couldn't do anything any of you guys can do. I just sit back here and work on my computer. I'm the girl in the background. I'm nothing special…"

Bucky shook his head. "You don't need to fight. What you do is enough. You've helped us out by just getting files back and breaking into HYDRA's systems. None of us could do what you do. And I've never met anyone as strong as you. You care about people. You don't just give up on them, you stand by their side and help them through their troubles. You've done that with me. Even after all that I've done you're still here just like Steve and everyone else. You care and you don't let people walk all over you. You don't take anyone's shit and you speak your mind. I've never met anyone like you. You're an amazing person, Tracey."

"Do you really think I'm that amazing?" she sniffed, blinking away tears.

"Yes. And if anyone can't see that then they're crazy," he said, smiling down at her.

Tracey smiled a teary smile and flung her arms around his neck. "Thank you, Bucky."

Bucky was taken aback by the sudden action. He blinked, arms in the air by Tracey's side. He soon relaxed and smiled as he wrapped his arms around her. "Anytime."

Holy crap! I actually got another chapter done a lot quicker than I thought it would take. How about that!

Anyways I really hope you liked this. I really enjoyed this chapter because I finally got to write the part where Tracey tells Dave off. I've had that bit written out and had to edit it around for this chapter, but I finally did it and I'm happy. I know a lot of you have been saying they can't wait for Tracey and Dave to break up so I hope this is good enough for now. Don't worry the break up will be happening very soon ;)

As always I have a tumblr blog for this story where you can ask Tracey and Barry and the Avengers anything you'd like! Just look me up under

winter-is-ending

I hope you liked this chapter and I will try my best to get the next one out. I can't guarantee when that will be. I have the idea in my head, but I am now going into my second week of classes so who knows how busy I will be now that school has started. But I hope you can stick around!

I LOVE hearing your guys' thoughts so please leave a review. They literally make my day and I honestly reread them and they always make me smile.

I hope you have a great day!