Once I was more calm, Steve and I made our way through the double doors and into a waiting room. Steve led me to a unoccupied chair and told me to stay there while he went to see what he could find out. I didn't argue with him. I knew I needed to calm down….I already felt myself losing control, slipping back into a bad place. I was also being realistic; I knew the nurses and doctors would be more likely to talk to Captain America rather than an angry looking monster with a metal arm. The longer I sat there, the more nervous I got.

It's taking too long. Where is Steve?

I stood up and paced around the waiting room, completely oblivious to the nervous looks I was getting from others. Hospitals always made me uncomfortable; they reminded me of my days as the Winter Soldier. The white walls and the antiseptic smell seemed all too familiar. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to stay calm.

Eden will be fine.

I kept repeating it over and over again in my head, wanting to believe it to be the truth. If she died, I knew that it would be the end of me. I couldn't Bucky Barnes without Eden. She made me feel things that I had never felt as the Winter Soldier…without her, I knew he would return. I looked at the clock; Steve had been gone too long.

Where is he?!

I was just about to start searching for Steve, when he came around the corner. I started to walk over to him but he put his hands out and motioned for me to sit down, "Bucky…."

I interrupted him before he could finish, "Steve is she….is she…" I couldn't finish my sentence, scared that if I spoke the words, somehow it would be true.

"She's alive Bucky. They are working on her right now. One of the nurses recognized me and was nice enough to step in and check" he said, patting me on the back.

I slumped back down in the chair with a sigh of relief.

She's alive!

"The nurse told me she would have the doctor come and speak to us just as soon as they knew something."

I nodded my head. An older gentlemen entered the waiting room…it was one of the paramedic's that had wheeled Eden out of the ambulance. He was about to exit through the double doors but when he glanced my way he stopped. He seemed to be thinking hard about something; he then turned my direction and walked to where Steve and I were sitting.

He stuck out his hand, "Bucky?"

I nodded and stood up to shake his hand, "My name is Jim. I rode with your friend in the ambulance."

The man's grip was firm and I felt a surge of respect for him when I looked into his eyes…there was no fear…no hesitation.

He pulled his hand away and stepped back, "That lady cares a great deal about you young man. I hope you realize that."

How does he know how Eden feels about me?

I must have had a confused look on my face. He leaned in again and whispered in my ear, "I've been doing this job for a long time son…trust me" he patted me reassuringly on the back and then stepped away again.

He nodded in Steve's direction and then exited through the doors.

We sat in the uncomfortable waiting room chairs for over an hour before a doctor finally came out. He made his way over to where Steve and I were standing, "Captain Rogers" he said, shaking Steve's hand. He turned my way and I stuck my hand out to shake his, "Sergeant James Barnes" I said, assuming he would be more forthcoming with information if he thought I worked alongside Captain America. I saw Steve look at me out of the corner of his eye, a small smile forming on his lips at hearing me use my old rank and name. My assumption was correct and the doctor smiled and nodded his head, looking somewhat more impressed.

"How is she?" I asked impatiently, done with the niceties.

"Well she did suffer from tachycardia when she was brought in, which sometimes happens after a vehicular accident. The tachycardia is what caused her breathing problems. We have that under control now. She sustained minor lacerations to her left arm and a more serious laceration to her left temple…there was a lot of blood loss; we are giving her a blood transfusion now. She has a concussion and some bruising on her chest from the seatbelt. She's going to be sore for a few days but there will be no permanent damage. I do want to keep her here at least a couple of days for observation."

She's going to be okay!

"When can I see her?"

"The nurses are trying to get her cleaned up right now. I'll have one of them come and get you when they are finished. I'll give you five minutes. I still want to run a CT scan just to double check for any internal injuries. Once the CT scan is done, we will move her to her room and you can visit with her for as long as you like."

I nodded my head, shaking his hand and telling him thank you.

Steve and I sat down to play the waiting game once again.

"Did you mean what you said Buck?" he asked out of nowhere.

I looked over at him, confused.

"What you said in the car…did you mean it?"

I realized suddenly what he was asking…he wanted to know if I meant it when I said I loved Eden in the car. I didn't even have to think about it….I didn't even hesitate to answer him.

"Yes"

A large grin appeared on his face, "I never thought I would hear Bucky Barnes say those words about anyone"

I repeated the words out loud again with a small smile on my face.