Chapter 12 - Wake-up Call
"Knock, knock," Heather says in a sing song voice as she enters Bucky's room with a tray of breakfast.
"Mornin'. What time is it?" Steve asks as he rubs sleep from his eyes.
"About 8 am. Want some breakfast?" she asks as she sets the tray on the side table.
Steve stands up and stretches then lifts the lid on the tray to see eggs, sausage, and a biscuit as well as a glass of apple juice. "This is for me?"
"Yup," Heather says as she copies more information into the computer, "How'd you sleep?"
"Uh, well," Steve shrugs, "not terrible. I kept waking up thinking I'd heard something."
"Why don't you step outside with me for a moment and then I'll leave alone to eat your breakfast."
"Alright," Steve follows her out of the room and twists to pop his back as he waits for her to put the computer away.
Heather walks back over and smiles, "He's improved a lot since last night. I honestly think that it won't be long before he wakes up."
"That's good news," Steve says, grinning from ear to ear, "Thank you!"
"I'm not making any promises and I'm not positive you know, right?" she asks, trying to remind him that it could still be a while.
"I know. I just really needed to hear that this morning. Also, thank you for bringing in my sketchbook last night."
"No problem," Heather says as Steve heads back into Bucky's room.
He sits back down in the reclining chair and opens his sketchbook to a blank page. "Hmm what do you think I should draw, Bucko?" Steve ponders. "I think I'll work on a good sketch of you while you aren't moving all around. Maybe I can do a few," Steve reaches to pull out his pencil and sees the note stuck in the case.
'Steve,' it reads, 'Know that you don't have to handle this by yourself, we are here for you, both of you. At least some of us will be by in the morning. Natasha (and everyone else too).'
"We are going to have visitors this mornin', Buck," Steve says as he pulls out his H pencil and starts outlining Bucky's face.
A few hours later, as Steve was trying to get the shading on his nose just right, he hears a knock then the door opens.
"Hey Steve," Clint says as he walks in, "how are you?"
"Oh hey guys. I'm fine, you?" Steve says without looking up.
Natasha walks over and peers over his shoulder at his sketch, "Wow, that's good."
"Not really," Steve says and shuts his sketchbook. "So, what have you all been doing?"
"Eh," Sam shrugs, "not much. You?"
"Oh, nothing really interesting," Steve puts his sketchbook on the bedside table and grabs his cup of water, "Bucky and I have just been talking about things we used to do." He turns and looks at Bucky, "Right, ya jerk?"
"Well," Natasha says to change the subject, "did you se..."
Tony interrupts her as he walks in the room, "So when will Sleeping Beauty wake up?"
"As soon as the prince kisses me," they hear a raspy voice say from behind them.
"Bucky!?" Natasha, Clint, and Sam say at the same time. Steve chokes on his water and turns to see his friend grinning at him.
"Hey, so did you bring me a prince?" Bucky asks, enjoying the startled looks on everyone's faces.
"Bucky!" Steve finally manages to choke out between coughs.
Tony marches over and leans on the foot of the bed, "Here I am, Prince Charming," he runs a hand through his hair.
Clint pretends to gag and Tony smirks while everyone else laughs.
"Buck, are you alright? You're ok?" Steve asks as soon as he swallows the water he choked on.
"As right as rain," Bucky rasps, "I could use some water though."
"I'll be right back," Steve says as he rushes from the room. He runs straight into Heather and grabs her in a big hug, startling them both, "You were right, you were right!" he says, "Bucky's awake! I need to get him water."
"Oh! That's amazing! I'll get him a glass of water and be in there in a moment with the doctor," Heather exclaims.
Steve nods, grins, and rushes back into the room, "Heather is going to get you some water."
"Heather? Who's she?" Natasha asks.
"The nurse that's been taking care of Bucky," Steve says then after a moment of thought he adds, "And me."
"Oh, I see," Natasha nods.
Heather enters the room with a cup of water, the computer, and the doctor. She ushers everyone from the room. "We will call you all back in once we've done some tests."
"Ok," Steve says as he follows the others from the cramped little room.
When they get into the hallway Clint raises his hands and exclaims, "Glory Hallelujah!"