I would love to hear which chapter has been everyone's favorite so far…let me know in a comment. Enjoy

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Once Steve was sure Brooke was okay, he walked to the kitchen to call Director Fury and let him know about the situation. Bucky mentioned something about a disposal team coming and a doctor to check out both me and Brooke.

"Bucky, are you going to be in trouble? I mean, they aren't going to do anything to you right? It was self-defense…they can't just…" he silenced me with a kiss.

Once he pulled away he said, "Everything will be fine Eden…don't worry. Director Fury was there when we found out Lister had been released on bail. He gave me the okay"

"Lister?" I asked.

Bucky glanced over where the dead man lie, "Deacon Lister" he said, his eyes darkening as he looked at the lifeless body on the floor.

He saw me about to ask more questions but he put his finger to my mouth to silence me, "Later"

He kissed me one last time on the cheek and then followed Steve. Brooke was sitting next to me on the couch with her head back and eyes closed…she kept unconsciously raising a hand to touch the knot on the side of her head and then wincing in pain.

"Stop touching it" I said…my eyes were closed too but I could hear her sharp intake of breath each time her fingers touched the tender spot. She grunted in response.

I shifted on the couch slightly, feeling the discomfort between my legs where he had used the knife to cut along my thigh. I lifted my skirt up to touch around the cut and gasped in pain…it didn't look that deep but it hurt like hell.

"Stop touching it" I heard Brooke say in a mocking tone. I looked over to see she had turned her head in my direction and was smirking at me.

I pushed my skirt back down and heard her chuckle softly when I flipped her off.

"Well aren't we a mess" she said, scooting closer until she could reach out and take my hand.

I looked over at her and smiled, "Yep…sorry you got your head bashed in to a wall"

She shrugged, "Sorry, I dented your wall with my head"

We both busted out laughing but stopped suddenly when we saw Bucky stick his head out of the kitchen to look at us. We both smiled weakly at him until he disappeared back around the corner.

"Don't make me laugh...fucker knocked me into that wall pretty hard, my head is killing me" she groaned, a small smile still on her face.

"Ditto…and I got a punch in the stomach to boot" I said, raising my shirt slightly so she could see the bruise that was forming.

"Jesus Eden" she reached out to touch my stomach with her fingers, causing me to flinch back, "Sorry" she said.

We sat in silence and my eyes wandered to where the dead man's body lay. I closed my eyes and thought about everything that had occurred in the last half hour.

You almost died Eden. Your death? Your funeral?

There was a memory there, deep in my brain that I was desperately trying to recall. I knew something had happened when I hit my head on the floor, but I just couldn't recollect what that was. I remembered a voice….so familiar, but I just couldn't place it.

Bucky entered the room and walked over to the dead body, throwing a sheet over it so I wouldn't have to look at it. I lowered my head and stared at my hands instead, still trying to evoke that memory.

A wedding? A baby? What did I see? What am I forgetting?

Steve's voice shook me back to reality, "A team will be here soon to remove the body and clean up this mess. A SHIELD doctor is being sent too…you both need to be checked out"

He walked over to sit next to Brooke, "Once he checks you out, I'll drive you home, okay? I'll stay at your place tonight…just to keep an eye on you"

She nodded her head and smiled at him before laying her head on his shoulder.

Steve glanced over at me and his eyes widened when he noticed the sticky blood that had flowed down my legs from the cut on my thigh, "Oh God Eden….did he? I mean, we made it in time right?" he said softly.

Bucky looked over at me sharply, finally realizing that he never actually asked me if Lister had managed to assault me…he had seen the cut on my thigh but never looked any further up. If he had, he would have noticed the cut when Lister had stuck his knife into my panties. I remembered the cold edge of the knife as he had slide it underneath the cotton fabric…he must have nicked me when he pulled it away, just like on my neck. I closed my eyes and felt a shiver run down my spine at the memory. When I opened them, three pairs of eyes were boring into me…I shook my head in response to Steve's question but didn't say anything. Brooke and Steve both sighed in relief but Bucky was still staring at me, an unsure look in his eyes.

He started to make his way over to me but stopped when he heard the knock at the door. He frowned but turned to leave the room and answer the door. He returned to the living room and had several people following behind him. I recognized only one of them, Clint Barton. I had not seen him since the night I had picked up Bucky after the failed mission…at the time, I didn't know who he was…it was only later when Bucky told me in more detail about what happened that I realized who the man with the bow across his back had been.

Bucky didn't bother introducing the two men who silently went over to the dead man and began rolling out a body bag. He shook the hand of an older gentleman and then guided him over to the couch to me and Brooke.

"This is Dr. Foster. He is going to check both of you and make sure you're okay" he said.

Clint suddenly stepped forward to stand beside the doctor, "I need to talk to each of you as well….separately"

Steve stood up from the couch and stood beside Bucky, "Can't that wait until tomorrow…they've both had a long night Clint" he said.

Clint shook his head, "Sorry Steve. Director Fury's orders…you know the drill. They are civilians and they need to be debriefed. Fury was kind enough to send me to do it and not bring them in to headquarters" he said and then turned to Bucky, "I'll make it quick and painless, I promise"

Bucky nodded his head and Clint turned to me and Brooke, "Who wants to go first?" he asked in a gentle voice.

I looked over at Brooke, remembering how hard Lister had slammed her head against the wall. The memory of her sliding down the wall into unconsciousness still fresh in my mind, "I'll go first…Brooke's head needs to be looked at by the doctor...she was knocked out" I said quietly.

Clint looked down at me and noticed the blood on my legs, "Ma'am, maybe you should see Dr. Foster first"

I shook my head, "No, her first" I said, looking up at the doctor, a determined look on my face.

Clint nodded and turned to Bucky, "Is there somewhere I can speak to her in private?"

"Our bedroom" Bucky replied.

I slowly stood up from the couch, wincing at the pain between my legs. Once I was on my feet, my hands went to my stomach where I had been punched….the spot was tender and a moan escaped from my lips before I could stop it. Bucky stepped forward, reaching for my shirt to see what was causing me so much pain. I slapped his hand away and wrapped my arms around my stomach protectively so he couldn't raise my shirt, "Don't" I said, looking up at him. A look of anger crossed his face and I instantly regretted slapping his hand away, "Not here…please" I said, looking around at the strangers in my living room.

The anger left his face just as quickly as it had appeared, "I'm sorry, do you want me to carry you?" he asked.

I gave him a small smile and nodded.

He lifted me carefully into his arms, trying to be as gentle as possible. I bit my tongue hard in an attempt to not let the pain I was feeling show on my face.

Breathe Eden. Don't let him see how much pain you're in right now.

When we reached our bedroom, he laid me down on the bed as gently as he could. I could see Clint had followed him and was now rolling my computer chair over to my bedside so he could talk to me.

He looked up at Bucky, "I need to talk to her alone" he said.

Bucky shook his head and started to argue but I interjected, "It's okay Bucky"

I could see the muscle in his jaw clench but he nodded his head and turned to leave the room, "I'll be right outside" he said before closing the door.

I turned to Clint and finally took a good long look at him.

Geez, why does everybody that works for SHIELD have to be so damn good looking? Look at his arms!

Clint's intense blue eyes were full of kindness as he looked down at me, "Ma'am, I know you've been through a lot tonight so I promise, I'll make this quick and painless"

"You can call me Eden" I said quietly. I felt myself getting nervous at the thought of talking about what happened and suddenly wished Bucky had been able to stay after all.

Clint must have noticed my anxiety and I was surprised when he gently took my hand in his…the smile he gave me eased some of my tension, "Well Eden…can you tell me what happened?"

I told him everything…every single thing that had occurred from the time I arrived the apartment until the time Bucky and Steve showed up. He nodded his head and listened, squeezing my hand when the tears started to fall as I described what he had done with that knife. I saw the anger in his eyes as I gave him all the terrible details. He didn't try to push me when I got upset; he just waited patiently for me to gather the courage to continue.

When I was finished he released my hand sat back in the chair, "You're a very brave woman Eden. I can see why he likes you so much" he said, glancing at the closed door. He stood up and placed his hand on my shoulder, "I'm going to see if the doctor is done with your friend…do you want me to send Bucky back in?"

I nodded my head, "Yes please"

He started to walk away and I called out to him, "Clint.." he turned back around to face me, "Thank you…for making it painless"

He smiled and nodded his head before heading out the door…I heard him talking in a low voice and I assumed it was to Bucky. I laid my head back on the pillow and let out a deep breath. A few minutes went by before the door opened again. I looked up to see Dr. Foster walking in…and Bucky following closing behind him.

I had to remove my skirt in order for Dr. Foster to examine the cut on my thigh. The doctor was very kind but it was still uncomfortable having a stranger examine me while I was half naked, I kept flinching away from his touch as he cleaned the cut.

Bucky noticed how jumpy I was and sat down in the computer chair next to the bed to hold my hand. As the doctor worked his way up higher on my thigh, I got more and more upset and eventually tears started falling down my cheeks. I felt fingertips wipe the tears from my face and I opened my eyes and turned my face to Bucky, "Just keep your eyes on me baby…just look at me" he said, running his fingers through my hair.

I kept my eyes on Bucky the entire time Dr. Foster bandaged my cut. Once the doctor was done, he cleared his throat, "Eden, I'm sorry…I know this is uncomfortable enough for you but I can see some blood on your underwear…is it okay if I take a look? You don't have to remove them; I just need to make sure there isn't another cut there" he said.

Shit!

The look in Bucky's eyes went cold, "Is that necessary?"

I squeezed his hand and he looked at me, "It's okay Bucky" I turned to the doctor, "There is a cut there...he slid….he slid the knife down…down there" I stammered out.

"Son of a bitch" Bucky muttered.

The doctor nodded and gently pulled my panties down just a bit to examine the cut…he said it wasn't deep like the other one and just cleaned it and applied antiseptic to it…the same went for the small cut on my neck. He then moved on to the knot on my head but didn't seem to concerned about it.

"Eden, did he hurt you anywhere else?" the doctor asked gently, glancing quickly at Bucky before turning back to me. I bit my lip and looked at Bucky.

"Answer him Eden" he demanded, his eyes glancing at my stomach and then back up to my face.

I used my hand to slowly raise my shirt so Dr. Foster could see where I had been punched. Bucky inhaled sharply and jerked his hand from mine when he saw the ugly bruise that was forming. He stood up and angrily walked across the room to slam his fist down on the dresser. He gripped the wooden dresser tightly and hunched over it, breathing deeply to get control of himself.

Seeing him so upset just made the tears fall again and I laid my head back on the pillow. The doctor used his fingers around the bruise checking for tenderness. I let out a yelp when he got too close which caused Bucky to snap out of his rage and rush back over to me and take my hand once again.

Once the doctor finished checking the bruise, he lowered my shirt, "I think you're going to be fine Eden…it will be tender for a few days but there are no broken ribs…I'm going to leave some pills for you, for the pain" he said, standing up and gathering his equipment. "Sergeant Barnes, can I see you outside?" he asked.

"I'll be right back Eden" Bucky said, following the doctor out.

I lay there alone in my bed, eyes closed…half naked, cut up, and bruised.

But you're alive Eden! Bucky got there just in time.

A soft knock at the door made me open my eyes up, "Eden, it's me, can I come in?" I heard Brooke ask.

"Yes" I called out to her, not even bothering to cover myself.

She came over to me leaned down to hug me, "Doc says I'm going to be fine…apparently I'm just as hard headed as my mom always said…just a mild concussion. Steve is going to take me home and stay with me tonight" She laughed suddenly, "Maybe I can talk him into sleeping in the bed with me…just to be safe" I couldn't help but chuckle when I saw hers sly smile. "Everyone's gone now, they took the body away and cleaned up the mess. Agent Barton was the last to leave…he's….nice" she says, giving me a wink.

I shake my head and laugh, "Nicer than Steve?"

She scoffs, "I don't think anyone can be nicer than Steve" she says honestly.

We sit there for a moment in silence before I finally speak up, "I don't know what to say Brooke. I'm sorry you got hurt because of me"

"I'm just glad I showed up when I did….if anything had happened to you Eden…I don't know what I would do…" she said quietly.

A sudden image of a grave stone popped into my head: Brooke Lynn Donovan

What the hell was that?

"Go home and get some sleep Brooke" I tell her.

"You too Eden…I love you" she says.

"I love you too Brooke"

As soon as the door closes, I pull myself up off of the bed. All I want to do is get out of these clothes and go to bed. Once I get to my feet, I stand still for a moment, judging how bad the pain feels. It's bearable so I shuffle into the bathroom to wash up. Bending down to use the toilet brings a groan of pain from me. Once I wash my face and teeth, I step back into the bedroom to find it still empty. I was just about to start digging in my dresser for night clothes when the bedroom door opens and Bucky steps through.

"What the hell are you doing out of bed?" he asks angrily, walking over to me.

"I wanted to get cleaned up and change clothes" I said, reaching down to open my drawer in search of clothes. A sharp pain in my stomach brought another gasp of pain from my lips and I felt my knees buckle. Bucky reached out and caught me before I fell over, scooping me up in his arms and walking me over to the bed so I can sit on the edge of it.

"I'll get your clothes and help you change" he says, walking back over to my dresser to pull out a pair of underwear, shorts, and a tank top for me.

When he finally sits down beside me, I do the one thing I have been craving to do since this whole ordeal started...I reach up and wrap my arms around his neck, burying my face in his chest.

"I knew you would come" I murmured.

"I'm sorry it was almost too late. I don't want to ever lose you Eden…if anything had happened to you….I don't know….I don't think I could live without you…"he whispered in my ear.

A sudden flash of his 9 millimeter popped in my head…but I shake my head, not understanding why I suddenly thought of it.

"I can't live without you either….Bucky, I love you so much" I lean up to kiss him on the lips, desperate to be close to him…to wipe away every bad memory that had happened tonight.

I slide my hands down his neck until I reach his chest, finding the buttons of his shirt and struggling to undo them. I feel him hesitate and pull away from the kiss, "No Eden, you've been through too much tonight…this isn't what you want…and you're hurt" he whispers in my ear.

He has no idea how much I want this…but he's right, I can feel the tenderness between my legs and the ache in my stomach so I settle for the next best thing, "Will you hold me, please?"

"I'd hold you for the rest of your life if you'd let me" he replied, standing up to look down at me.

I smile up at him, "I'd be okay with that"

"Good…now, let's get your out of those clothes and into something more comfortable" he says reaching down to help me life off my shirt, his eyes darkening when he sees the bruise again.

As he helped me put on my clean clothes I looked up at him, "I know you were on the phone Bucky…listening while he…I just want you to know, I wasn't going to go out without a fight"

"I know baby, I heard you" he says, leaning down to kiss me. He helps me get into the bed and then strips down to his boxers and turns off the light before walking over to the bed. Once he lies down beside me, I snuggle up to his chest and feel his arm wrap tightly around me.

"Eden?" I hear him whisper.

"Yes Bucky?"

"I was scared I wasn't going to make it" he finally admits.

"But you did….and that's all that matters" I said, kissing his chest softly.

His body is warm against mine and I start to feel myself finally start to relax. In his arms, I always feel protected…always feel loved. It didn't take long to drift off into a peaceful sleep.