I decided to share this chapter early because I LOOOVED writing it. Elsa is such a breath of fresh air, especially since most of the themes in this story are rather depressing. This chapter provides a little relief from that, while also giving a cute little look at the friendship Lucy and Elsa are forming. Let's give a big round of applause for close female friendships everyone!


Chapter XVII

After Charles left Lucy laid in her cot more confused than ever. It was almost time for her to be discharged since she was fine and the bed needed to be freed up for soldiers who needed it more. As she laid there staring into nothing, her hand kept grasping the Star of David pendant around her neck. Biting her lip so hard until she could taste blood, she was frustrated at the way she was feeling.

Lucy could barely describe it. When Elsa had told her of the handsome Sergeant who had come to visit her, Lucy felt— dare she say hopeful? Yes, she felt hopeful.

Not because of the attraction she had for him, which there was no point in denying anymore. But because she didn't like unnecessarily fighting with anyone. She would much rather have a friend than an enemy.

Plus, she liked the way he looked. If she was being honest, she wouldn't mind just having him around just to stare at once in a while.

He was remarkably good looking , and Lucy found herself blushing just thinking about the way he had smirked at her the other day. As he did it, there had been a deep sinking feeling that landed in her lower stomach, and she felt herself become flushed under his gaze. His deep voice mesmerized her, and Lucy felt a pit well inside of her as she thought of its husky tone with a distinctly New York drawl.

Lucy felt the unmistakable feeling of desire. Which she found silly, as he was a stranger. And, he was a total ass, if she was being honest.

She hadn't felt that way about a man since… Well, she couldn't necessarily remember exactly when she last felt that way. She was a little hazy on the specifics, but Lucy remembered the voice of Margaret Whiting playing in the background. Her heart pounded the same way as when Bucky looked at her. She remembered the warmth of a stranger, the stickiness of a New York summer, and the rushing of cars driving by. A drunken haze clouded her memory though, and Lucy felt robbed of a night she was sure she would have wished she could remember.

As she tried to angle herself upright in the cot, she flinched at the shooting pain in her side. It felt as though someone had stuck her with a hot iron rod, and her body burned as though she had caught a fever.

Elsa, the ever busy-bee she was, rushed around taking care of her other patients. She chatted with the other nurses and flirted with the soldiers to keep them in high spirits. Lucy found she liked watching her work and was surprised by just how much effort the nurses put in. Lucy believed they didn't get nearly as much credit for what they did, but none of them seemed to mind anyway.

As another nurse said something into Elsa's ear and she nodded in understanding. She looked to Lucy and flashed a smile before coming over to her bedside. She looked exhausted and worn out, but that didn't keep her from being her normal, cheery self.

"I just was relieved of duty. Which is good because we need to talk," She sat on the side of the bed and then yawned, "Scoot over," She giggled before Lucy looked at her with a cocked eyebrow. Elsa only gave her a pressing look before ordering again, "Scoot!"

Lucy winced as she moved over on the bed as far as she could. Elsa laid down beside her, "Thank you, my back was killing me and I was on my feet for a minute longer I think I might have just collapsed," Elsa turned her face so she was looking directly at Lucy. Their faces were so close that she could feel her breath on skin and Lucy widened her eyes at how near they were to one another. Clearly, Elsa had never heard of such a thing as boundaries. "Comfy?" She asked as she snuggled closer to Lucy. Lucy found herself moving her face further back, feeling as though they were close enough to kiss and getting slightly uncomfortable.

"Not really," Lucy admitted hesitantly, raising an eyebrow.

"Huh, well too bad!" Elsa just brushed it off before laughing. She was slightly crazy, Lucy realized. But having someone who was so upbeat even when dead tired and happy was a welcomed change considering they were in a war and happiness was not a luxury most people were entitled to.

"What are you even doing?" Lucy asked her, still a little uncomfortable with their proximity.

"We're having girl talk! It's just like a sleepover!" Elsa giggled before yawning one more time and pulling the pillow Lucy was using a little closer to her.

Lucy had never had a sleepover before, and if she was being honest, she wasn't sure she ever wanted one after that moment. "Umm… about ?"

Elsa frowned as Lucy spoke and wrinkled her nose "Don't take this the wrong way," She said hesitantly, wondering how she could put her next words in the most delicate way possible, "But I really think you need to brush your teeth."

Lucy frowned again and then asked, "Is that what you wanted to talk about?" She was sure Elsa was right. After all, she had been in that bed for three days and her breath likely smelled as though something had died in her mouth.

"No, that was just a friendly suggestion." Elsa shrugged happily before growing quieter, "What I wanted to talk to you about was your assistant."

"Charles? What about him?" Lucy asked skeptically, wondering what could have possibly happened. What was so important about Charles that Elsa needed to speak to her?

Elsa pursed her lips and hesitated before finally opening her mouth, "I believe he genuinely cares for you. That much was obvious by the fact he barely left your side as you slept. I think that he has your best interest at heart. But, that being said, he wasn't being totally truthful to you. And, I feel as your best friend—,"

"You're not my best—,"

"Oh hush, don't ruin this." Elsa snapped and Lucy shut her mouth immediately, a little intimidated by the nurse. "As I was saying," She continued, licking her lips before she began talking again, "He wasn't being completely honest with you about that very handsome Sergeant."

Lucy blinked a couple of times before her heart began to race a little faster, "Wait, what? About Bucky?"

"Awee," Elsa sighed heavily, practically cooing, "His name is Bucky? That's so cute!" Elsa squealed again before giggling softly.

The girl absolutely bonkers, as it turned out. But Lucy found herself enjoying the whole situation, smiling slightly at Elsa's excitement. Lucy cracked a smile and blushed, and Elsa smirked,

"See, you're enjoying girl talk," She chuckled, "I knew this would lift your spirits!" Her expression then turned serious before she began with a no-nonsense tone, "But getting back to Sergent Handsome." Lucy was shocked by Elsa's insistence on discussing the matter, she had never seen the girl serious about anything. Apparently, the topic of boys was a no joking matter when it came to the ever-baffling Elsa Hardy.

Lucy wanted to roll her eyes at her ridiculous behaviour, but instead, she found herself grinning ever so slightly. A lightly blush appeared on her cheeks as Elsa mentioned Bucky again, and the familiar sensation of excitement that Lucy had felt when Elsa first informed her that he had come to visit returned.

"Charles wasn't being very honest with you when he told you about how he was only here for a brief moment. He came specifically to see you. And he sat with you for quite some time, talking to you and even once I saw him brush some hair out of your face."

"He did not!"' That got Lucy's attention. She shot back in an accusing tone, not believing Elsa for even a second. "Alright, now I know we are not talking about the same person!"

Elsa held both hands up and quickly spoke, "Cross my heart!" She swore, "And he had dark brown hair, light blue eyes, was fairly tall, nicely built. And I could just tell he has a body underneath that uniform that almost makes me wish I wasn't engaged. I mean honestly, I'd be having to confess at church for all the things I'd want to do to him because he is positively sinfully good-looking." Elsa said crassly, making Lucy blush even more.

Lucy sighed, her mind naughtily understanding exactly what Elsa was talking about. Even as they were bickering in the caverns under the church, Lucy hadn't failed to notice the broadness of his shoulders and the way his uniform snuggly fit along his chest. "Sounds like him," She admitted. Although she was still in disbelief that he would do something so sweet and intimate as to gently brush hair out of her face. Elsa must have just been so exhausted that she was seeing things.

"It was! And he's definitely sweet on you. Never mind anything that Charles said to you. They got into a little spat right before Sergeant Handsome left and I think Charles' nose was just out of joint. I know what I saw, and believe me when I say that he was very sweet, and dotting, and he was looking like he was about to be worried sick that you wouldn't get better! It was very romantic." Elsa grasped Lucy's hand tightly as she grinned widely.

"Okay! Now I know you're lying because Sergeant Handsome isn't interested in me. And if there are two things he is not, it's 'sweet' and 'dotting'. Last week the man couldn't even be in the area general area as me, let alone be 'brushing my hair romantically' and watching over me as I slept!"

"Lucy, Lucy Lucy," Elsa chanted and tsked as she shook her head disapprovingly, "Do you know why little boys pull little girl's pigtails in the schoolyard?"

Lucy rolled her eyes and Elsa's tone, knowing where the conversation "Because they're little pricks?"

"No! Err, well... yes. That too. But it's because they like them!" Elsa pinched Lucy's side, making her wince in pain. "And because men's brains are small and tiny and they have caveman mentalities, they continue to treat women they're fond of poorly because they're just too stupid to express themselves in any other way!" Elsa explained as though it were the most simple thing in the entire world.

"You are absolutely delusional!" Lucy exclaimed, but still blushed at the mere thought of Bucky harboring some sort of secret feelings for her. She could feel heat gather in her cheeks, and her pale skin turned a light shade of pink. "Bucky isn't sweet on me."

"But you wish he was," Elsa wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, biting her lip to stifle a laugh, "I mean just look at you, you're blushing like a tomato!"

I—" Lucy stuttered and blushed more before stubbornly insisting, "I am not!" She could feel her face growing redder by the minute. "Besides," She began to argue; "Even if by some chance he didn't still hate me and was..." She rolled her eyes, forcing herself to spit out the world, "Fond of me, there's no way I could act on it."

Elsa's mouth dropped open in shock, "Well why not? If you don't want him I'll take him!" She was flabbergasted by the fact that Lucy would pass up such an opportunity, "You have looked at the man, right?"

"I just lost Daniel," Lucy explained quietly, her heart dropping into her stomach as she said his name. Elsa's face fell and she gave her a sympathetic squeeze, "I don't think I'm ever going to be capable of feeling that way for someone ever again. And this? It's stupid because we're in a war. And the reality that lies in that is that people die. I just don't think I can go through that again."

Elsa pursed her lips and said gently, "I don't think he'd want you to be alone forever. Obviously, you don't have to act on any of this. I just thought I'd tell you these things so you'd know the truth. But Lucy, you have to move on eventually. Loving ghosts is too painful."

Quietly, just above a whisper, Lucy replied, "I know." She felt tears prick her eyes at the thought. She wasn't ready to move on from Daniel. In fact, Lucy was already positive that she would never love anyone like that ever again. Even though they had problems, he was still the person she was planning on spending the rest of her life with. Lucy barely even had any time to grieve over him, since immediately after finding out she joined the army. Deep down, she knew it was too soon to move on. Let alone with Bucky Barnes.

"Just promise me you won't deny yourself happiness," Elsa asked her.

Lucy nodded and quietly murmured that she promised. That seemed to appease Elsa, who once again gained another huge smile on her face, "This has been so fun! We should do this more often!" Elsa squealed happily before snuggling closer to Lucy, who stiffened more at the close physical contact.

Their faces were way too close, and Lucy stared with her with nervous, largely open eyes. Elsa didn't seem to mind the proximity though. Both of them looked up as a soldier approached the tent.

The two women looked up at the newcomer with a start. Both parties stared at one another, eyebrows raised.

The soldier looked at them curiously, then his eyes widened at the sight of the two women on the bed. Their faces were close together and practically on top of one another. A large smile appeared on his face as he beamed happily, exclaiming, "Alright! Now that's what I'm talkin' about!"

Elsa only giggled as Lucy rolled her eyes. She'd never understand the workings of men's brains.


Bucky didn't realize how mad he was until he reached the rest of his infantry.

The conversation he had with Lucy's assistant was fresh in his brain, and just thinking about it made him clench his fists. He was more than angry at the events that went down earlier that day, and the more he thought about it, the worse it got. He tried to cool down, to let it slide, but Bucky couldn't.

It took him a while to find the particular members of the 107th he was looking for. But when he found them, they were ducked in a foxhole, playing cards with some other guys from the 104th to pass the time.

Gilbert Whitney, the smug bastard, was there laughing as though everything was just peachy.

"Ah, hey there Sarg!" Simon Pym smiled up at him. The odd man seemed to be cleaning everyone out in their game of poker, reveling in his winnings. Bucky had to remember to never play a game with him unless he wanted to be out a couple of bucks. "How was the visit to the medical tent? You were gone for a long while."

"Swell," Bucky replied shortly, his jaw clenched. It was obvious he was pissed, which got just about everyone's attention.

Simon sank in his spot a little more and cringed, making a face that reflected worry for the person who was about the be on the other end of Bucky's tongue lashing.

Dum Dum puffed some smoke from a cigar that was hanging out of his mouth, watching quietly at the scene that was about to take place.

With an amused expression on his face, Gilbert Whitney sucked on the end of his cigarette, waiting to see what exactly Bucky was there for.

"Whitney, can I have a word?" Bucky asked, trying to keep his composure. He wasn't even sure exactly why he was so mad. After all, he had even Whitney the okay to go for Lucy a few weeks ago. But something about making a bet out of her didn't sit right with him.

"What about?" Whitney asked, his expression taunting him even more.

Bucky just gestured with his head to get up and leave so they could speak in private. He was too angry to use his words, and the more Whitney smirked the more Bucky's blood boiled.

"Anything you have to say to me you can say to all of us, ain't that right fellas?" Whitney taunted him, taking another drag from his cigarette.

Bucky's teeth clenched together, and there was nothing he wanted to do more than knock that stupid grin right off of Whitney's smug face.

"Alright then," If he wanted to play dirty, Bucky could play dirty, "Remember how Dr. Lucy Heinrich rejected your sorry ass and you acted like a blubbering baby about it?"

Whitney's eyes reflected anger as the other men laughed. Simon stifled a chuckle and Dum Dum just shook his head and smirked, covering his expression with his hand so Whitney couldn't see his amusement.

"I recall it going a little differently. You sure your memory is alright there, Sarg?" Bucky could practically see the vein in his forehead about to burst. The man was angered by the fact Bucky had called out his inability to get her attention in front of his comrades.

"My memory's perfectly fine, thanks for the concern. Yours seems to be pretty shit though considering I explicitly gave your orders afterward that you weren't to continue harassing her." Bucky remembered when they were cleaning the latrines how he had ordered Whitney not to bother her anymore.

Bucky had originally told him to go for it, so Whitney did. She said no, and Bucky expected the harassment to stop. Not only was she a superior officer, but she was also a professional and being hounded on by guys just trying to get a little action was likely hindering her for getting more work done.

Whitney only raised his hands and shrugged, that stupid smirk still on his face. "Don't know what you're talking about, haven't even seen the broad since then."

"Then why did her assistant just give me shit for hearing my men discussing a bet that was taking place involving her?" Bucky demanded with a harsh tone,

Whitney onto rose his eyebrows, puffed a cloud of smoke, and then casually stated, "Couldn't tell ya."

Meanwhile, Simon looked like he was about to burst with something he had to say. The men from the 104th looked around, confused as to what exactly was going on.

Bucky's eyes narrowed at Simon, who looked flustered and uncomfortable, "Spit it out, Pym."

"Okay, there is a bet!" He said hastily, unable to keep the secret any longer. He looked at Whitney with a sorry expression. Bucky knew he would crack though since the man had often stated his crippling fear of authoritative figures.

"Goddamn it, Pym!" Whitney yelled frustratedly and threw his cards down, "What was the one thing I said not to do if you took place in the bet?!"

Simon looked down shamefully; "Not to tell Sergeant Barn—"

"Not to tell Sergeant Barnes, exactly!" Whitney exclaimed, cutting the young man off. "You had one thing you had to do, Pym!"

Bucky was practically fuming, and he looked at Dum Dum accusingly, "Did you know about this?" He couldn't believe the blatant disrespect going on regarding Lucy. It angered him to his very core, and it made his blood boil with rage. She deserved better than to be discussed in such a manner.

Smoking some more of his cigar, he stated, "Don't look at me." Dum Dum shrugged casually, "I ain't know nothing about some bet." He clicked his teeth before asking curiously, "What kind of bet are we takin' here?"

"Well," Whitney explained with a sideways, a devilish grin, "The volatile Dr. Heinrich seems to be immune to my charms. Which, if I'm being honest, is a first for me-"

"Doubtful," Bucky scoffed under his breath and crossed his arms. The man was a menace, and every time Bucky interacted with him he ended up hating him even more.

"—So, we decided to make a game out of it. Whichever one of us manages to get the furthest with the bitch wins. Certain amounts of money are given out for each action. $20 if anyone who manages to get under that dress of her's— err, pants? I guess?" He frowned, unable to remember if he had ever even seen her in anything but a man's uniform. "Either way," Whitney said with a cocked eyebrow, looking directly at Bucky, "Whoever gets between those pretty little thighs wins."

Bucky had never heard anything so despicable in his life. And the fact that Charles had thought he was the one to organize it disgusted him to his core. Although, he really hadn't treated Lucy kindly enough to make anyone think he wouldn't be taking part.

"And you're in on this too?" Bucky shot a threatening look to Simon, who cringed, "Why? You're a virgin!"

"She's pretty." He said meekly before shrugging, but then quickly defended himself "And, technically," Simon rose a finger up to explain hastily. He noticed the angered look in Bucky's eyes and justified his actions to avoid his wrath, "I am apart of said bet, but I will not be an active participant."

Bucky shook his head in disbelief, giving Simon a disapproving look, "How many others are involved in this bet?"

"Six, and I'm sure more are interested." Whitney assured with an evil grin, "Hey, who knows? Maybe you want a shot too, Sarg?" He sucked on his cigarette as he had a look in his eye which made Bucky want to punch his lights out. "You can't tell me you've never looked at that fine broad and wondered how she tastes. Or what that pretty mouth sounds like moaning."

Bucky's fists clenched more and anger bubbled in his stomach. His jaw clenched, and he never wanted to hit anyone more than he wanted to hit Gilbert Whitney at that moment. "I won't condone anymore of this behaviour. If I hear anything more of this bet, even the slightest whisper, everyone involved will be punished. She is a superior officer, and you will treat her as such."

Whitney just raised his eyebrows and gave a look to Simon, "Told ya he was sweet on her. He wants her for himself." Simon looked as though he would really rather not be involved.

"Not sweet on her," Bucky answered quickly, "I just have more respect for her after I found out she told you off."

Dum Dum laughed again at Bucky comment, which also earned a few chuckles from the other men gathered around. Whitney looked irritated at that fact Bucky kept bringing up the fact that Lucy had rejected him.

"With all due respect, Sarg." Whitney tosses his finished cigarette into the ground, extinguishing its light. "And to be frank, there's very little respect to be due… You can't tell me shit about what to do on my own free time. And I'm gonna do what I want. And what I want, is Lucy Heinrich."

Bucky only pursed his lips together, and then gave a short nod. "We'll see about that," He stated confidently before beginning to walk away.

He felt the man glare daggers into his back. Bucky smirked as he felt he gained the upper hand yet again while facing off with Whitney. Although, he was sure he would likely be sorry for it later. However, today he was pretty confident in his victory.

"And just for the record," Bucky added, turning around to Whitney again to state one more smart-ass comment. "It's Doctor Lucy Heinrich to you."


Woo Hooo! Go Bucky! Ugh, I know Whitney is a prick but I just love writing him. Why is it the worst characters are always the most fun?

Anyway, this chapter was shorter than most of the other ones, but I promise the next one will be longer. Plus, it includes some *PRIME* Lucy/Bucky interaction which I am very excited to share with you all ;)

If you review, follow and favourite, I'll try to post the chapter faster.

Thanks for reading!

-A