Welcome back everyone! Thanks for tuning in! Some exciting things happen in this chapter *smirk* so please let me know what you think!

A/N: I don't own Bucky :'(

Chapter Eight

"You'll see soon enough, Castle," he laughed, giving my broken arm a relentless tug, drawing me into his arms and over his shoulders.

Suddenly, bright orange sparks light up in the center of the sidewalk, as though someone were trying to start an enormous lighter. They sparked and sputtered until they slowly began to move in one direction. Around and around in a circle, faster and faster until something appeared in the center of them. My vision blurred and I found myself falling weightlessly from the man's grasp; my world went black before I hit the ground.

Muffled voices drew me back to consciousness and the pain hit me like a ton of bricks. Groaning loudly, I barely acknowledged the voices falling silent and the bed I was laying on dip down at my side. With a sneer, I peeled my eyes open, dropping them to my burning arm; my wound was bandaged somewhat sloppily, specks of red bleeding through the itchy white fabric. My opposite hand and forearm were splinted and even a simple twitch of the fingers sent screaming agony up my arm and into my soul.

"Fuckin' shit," I moaned, my body aching as I attempted to shimmy back against the pillows and make myself even an iota more comfortable.

"That was my professional diagnosis, too."

Already aggravated by the sheer amounts of pain slamming through my body, I glowered up at the tall, lean man before me. He had dark hair, two wings of white at his temples. A goatee adorned his pointed chin and he had an amused set of light green eyes on him. He wore odd, blue robes and a high-collared, burgundy cape, and I recognized him instantly, though I'd never met him personally.

"Kindly shut the fuck up, Dr. Strange."

"Steven, please," he replied easily, glancing down at Natasha, who I was steadfastly ignoring at my bedside, "I'm going to go check on the soldier."

"Bucky?" I queried, forcing myself upright, kicking out at Nat with an impatient foot to get her out of the way, "is he okay? Is he alive? Where is he? I want to see him."

"You need bedrest, Charlie," Strange answered calmly, treating me as he would any other mildly hysterical patient from his surgical days, "he's alive. Unconscious, but alive. He's worse off than you, and that's saying something. You've broken seven bones in your hand and your ulna is fractured in two places. The bullet in your arm went in and out; it was lodged in the soldier's side. That's been removed and the one through his neck was a graze. It was just a flesh wound, just skimmed beneath the surface. His other injuries have been treated. He'll be alright; he's got a similar serum in him to Rogers running through him. His body will have healed itself before yours even gets started. Any more questions or can I be excused?"

I ignored the sarcasm solely for the fact that he had actually filled me in on Bucky's condition and grudgingly thanked him.

He smirked, tipping his head toward Nat, "Don't thank me. She's the one who patched you both up, shoddy as it was."

I glanced at my redheaded friend, who was currently flipping off the Sorcerer Supreme, a scowl on her pale face. She rounded on me as he left the room, lips pursed in a thin, frustrated line.

Neither of us spoke for a moment, until she grumbled, "Shoddy is a little extreme, don't you think?"

"I can't currently see it, but I'd say yes," I replied somewhat tersely, "he's just jealous he couldn't get his hands dirty himself."

The smallest of smirks slipped past her defenses before she fell silent once again, glowering incessantly at me. Before I could ask her if Bucky was locked up in some dungeon in Strange's manor, the assassin queried calmly, "Do you know what he calls you? Bucky?"

"Charlie."

"No, the other name," she persisted, her tone even, her expression made of stone, "he called you Frumuseţe; I heard him on the phone this morning. Do you know what that means in Romanian?"

"Do you?" I retorted, willing my pale face to keep from flushing; it was a useless wish, though. I was paler than the moon and I was known to go beet red on occasion. This was one of those times.

"I'm fluent in five languages, Char," she deadpanned, one bright red brow lifting as she pinned me with a knowing glance, "and you can speak at least four, so don't give me that shit. Do you know what he called you?"

"Beautiful," I admitted, staring at the ceiling with a long-suffering sigh, "I know that, but that's what he calls me when I'm Toto." It was a stupid codename and not all that clever, but once Tony Stark labels you as something, that's what sticks. "That's his name for me when I'm that form. A vendor called me that in front of him; he picked it up."

"So why is he calling you that?" she inquired, the accusation laying on thick; I knew her follow-up question before she asked and interrupted her quickly, "He saw me change; he saw me as the dog. He just… he usually calls me Charlie, Nat. Don't read into it."

Her lip curled, disbelief etched across her face, before she released a huffing laugh, "Of course I'm gonna read into it. I highly doubt the Winter Soldier is going to go around giving women nicknames, especially not ones that he's kidnapped for God knows what reason."

"So you believe me, then?"

She rolled her eyes skyward and shrugged her shoulders, "Why do you think I came looking for you? And I suppose I'm gonna have to; you'll go on a warpath if I don't."

"Damn right I will," I grumbled, lifting my splinted arm and wincing as a rush of pain shot up my arm, "he's a good guy, Nat. You'll see. How did you find us, though? Last I knew Strange was magical, not omniscient."

"Yeah, he can bend time and space and shit," she replied, lifting a shoulder, "but it was actually Professor X. I went to him when you so rudely hung up on me this morning. He didn't want to tell me where you were, but then he saw you and him getting shot at; you're lucky I was already here and Strange owed me a favor."

"Everyone owes you a favor, Nat," I rolled my eyes, but some of the fear drained from my blood and I relaxed somewhat against pillows, "but thank you. I mean it. I don't know what those guys want with us, but they would have-"

"Us?" she echoed, confusion pulling at her features, her brows furrowed low over her eyes, "what do you mean? I thought they were just looking for you."

"No," I shook my head, which was more of just a short, sharp jerk that sent a jolt of pain down my spine, "they said whoever their boss is has been trying to get the Winter Soldier. The Winter Soldier, too. They wanted him, but he's not why they were looking for me. And I don't even know if I'm why they're looking for me."

"I think the drugs are kicking in, Toto," Nat retorted teasingly, folding her arms across her chest, "just take a nap; I'll check on your lover boy."

"Nat-"

A wild, feral yell burst through the house and I flung upright, sending Nat to the floor in my haste to stand. She was quick to stand, sending a disconcerted glance my way, but I wouldn't be dissuaded. That was Bucky and if he was restrained in any way… I had seen enough of his nightmares to know he would be pissed and panicked and if Strange was on the receiving end, his powers might not be enough to protect him.

Hobbling my way out into the hall, I looked this way and that, before I heard the sound of a scuffle and broken glass to my right; limping as quickly as I could, I sought out the soldier in the labyrinth of corridors. Nat caught up with me easily, hooking an arm around my back and aiding me get to him quicker.

"You sure you're right about him?" she queried, alarm coloring her tone as she shot me a worried frown.

I didn't answer; I didn't need to. Bucky was a good man and I refused to doubt him.

I just hoped he didn't accidentally kill Strange before I got there.

"-calm down; if you'd just-"

"Where is she?!"

His voice was furious, panicked and pained, and I couldn't help but call out his name; the struggling seemed to cease and he questioned frantically, "Frumuseţe?!"

I saw Nat turn to me out of the corner of my eye, but ignored her as diligently as I could, willing the flush threatening to rise away, "I'm coming, Bucky; hang on."

There was another bout of scuffling and Strange grumbled in agitation, "She said she'd be right here. Give her a second; she's more fragile than you."

"I can still kick your ass, Steven," I growled, though in the state I was in - and with his mastery over the mystical arts - it was a serious longshot.

Approaching another open, sweeping room, I peered around the corner and gaped at the sight before me. Bucky was being restrained, a foot or so off the ground, by two flickering orange ropes, ropes that were currently curled into Strange's fists. They shook, and not because of the condition of his hands, but because the super soldier was straining so terribly against them. He was upright and poised in mid-run, muscles straining, as though he had just leapt from the bed and made a break from the room. The doctor had a busted lip, blood trickling down his chin, and even from the doorway I could see a sheen of sweat across his brow as he struggled to maintain hold of the powerful Winter Soldier.

Bucky's bright blue eyes were trained on me, relief filling them before anger and remorse crossed his features. He made as to take a step forward but Steven was relentless with the bonds and the soldier tossed a dark glower over his shoulder. He turned his attention to me once more and muttered softly, brokenly, "Charlie."

"Let him down, Strange," Natasha said suddenly, sharply, from my side, "but don't let him go yet."

Positioning herself between us, she postured, a hand to the pistol at her side as Strange lowered him to his feet but tightened the reigns when the assassin approached, "Charlie trusts you, Barnes, and that's the only reason you're not locked up in some jail cell right now. Don't think I won't shoot you if you're playing us all. You hear me? I will put a bullet between those pretty eyes."

"I don't blame you," he admitted evenly, eyes flitting over her shoulder and meeting mine, his tone turning somewhat pleading, "but you won't have to. Just let me go."

Strange's eyes flitted to Natasha as she nodded once and stepped out of my path. The minute Bucky was free from his restraints, he crossed the room in three quick strides and gathered me up in a crushing hug. Lifted from my feet, I wrapped my wounded arms around his neck, burying my blushing face in the crook of his neck, muttering, "I'm alright, Bucky. Really."

The soldier's breathing was heavy, his chest heaving against mine; his metal arm whirred suddenly and I saw the other two in the room tense. Lifting a finger behind Bucky's back, I stalled them, begging them silently to trust the soldier. And they shouldn't have worried; his arm simply tightened across my back, locking me tightly against him.

He sighed against my cheek, his breath warm, his voice soft, "I thought you died. Or they'd taken you. You weren't here; I couldn't find you. Can I put you on your feet? Can you stand alright on your own?"

Grinning, I fought the tremor that ran through me at his concern and tapped lightly on one broad shoulder, "Yeah, well enough. It's my arms that are the real issue."

He tensed once more and eased me to my feet, crouching to duck out from under my arms without hurting them. He caught the elbow of my broken hand, examining the splint carefully.

"For God's sake, I know how to fix a damn hand," Natasha hissed, throwing her hands in the air as Steven hummed in a questionable sort of way, "shut up. I'm gonna go call Steve and-"

"No, Nat, not yet," I protested tiredly, "we need to talk first."

"You need to rest first," Strange rebuffed easily, folding his arms across his chest and staring down at me in a condescending-doctor sort of manner. Which, in all honesty, he was, though I did have to admit, I liked the guy and owed him one. When I wasn't all battered and tired and grumpy, that was. "You can talk later. I'll make sure she doesn't call the Captain while you're out. I'd offer to escort you back to your room, but I don't think your bodyguard would like it."

"Nah, I'm a biter, so don't go near him," I joked weakly, pulling a face when no one but Bucky cracked a smile, "alright, I need sleep. I'm serious, Nat; I'll cut you if you call him."

"Not if I cut you first," she retorted swiftly, shaking her head and offering me a smile despite her reservations, "let us know if you need anything, alright?"

"Sure thing," I glanced up at Bucky, who seemed completely unfazed by the bandages adorning his own body, one hand resting on the small of my back, "my room is back that way. Are you gonna stay here, or-"

"No, c'mon."

With one long, final glance at the others, he guided me from the room, querying softly, "Which way?"

"Over here," I attempted to sound chipper, but failed, his hold constricting slightly around me. If it were up to him, I had the feeling he'd rather just sweep me up into his arms and carry me to bed. A rush of desire swept through me and I shook myself quickly.

Nope, I'm sleeping. I'm going to bed, not taking him to bed. Not that that wouldn't be- something I should not be thinking about. Bed time.

Shuffling back into my room, I led the soldier to my bed, trying desperately not to think of what that might entail if it wasn't purely innocent. Dropping gingerly onto the edge, I threw my head back and exhaled heavily, eyes screwed shut. The bed dipped deeply beside me and I cracked an eye open, glancing over at the soldier, who was regarding me intently, apprehensively.

"Your face is red," he mused, pressing the cool palm of his hand against my flushed skin, "are you sure you're alright?"

"Not as alright as you," I laughed awkwardly, leaning into cold metal and willing my thoughts away, "did those heal already?"

Though it hurt to lift my arm, I prodded curiously at the bandage on the underside of his jaw; he covered my hand with his own, his fingers feeling the wound through its covering. He nodded, pulling my hand away and setting it in my lap, his fingers curling around mine.

"It's my fault you got hurt."

The pain in his voice was raw, ragged, and I stared at him in surprise. He refused to meet my gaze, staring at our interlocked fingers hard, a hint of desperation flashing through his downcast eyes.

"Yeah, no; I'm pretty sure that was all me," I replied slowly, turning my body toward him and dipping my head, forcing him to meet my gaze, "and the lack of super soldier serum in my blood. I'm bound to get bloodier than you in these messes."

The thought didn't soothe him, but he couldn't argue; instead, he glanced around him curiously, "What is this place?"

"It's called the Sanctum Sanctorum," I replied with a heavy sigh, shifting slightly and scooting toward him. He didn't move, didn't breathe, as I leaned my weary body against the soldier's. He bore the weight easily, if not a bit sheepishly, carefully maneuvering his arms to pull me back against his chest. He didn't seem to know where to put them, so I used my good hand to wrap his around my waist, just as I had done to him on the motorcycle. "Strange is the master here. He's a sorcerer."

"A sorcerer? That was magic, then?"

There was a hint of skepticism in his tone, though he couldn't dispute the fact that something had been detaining him and it sure as hell wasn't anything he had ever seen before. I doubted he had been in the area when Loki invaded of New York with a shit-ton of aliens.

"Mmhmm, and that's how he got us back to New York so quick," I nodded, peering up at him. His face, his mouth, was close to mine, a bewildered frown tugging a his lips and a throaty, tired chuckle escaped.

"We're not in Romania?" he clarified, his confusion growing as I shook my head, "we're not in Europe? How-"

"He can bend time and space and shit," I mimicked Natasha's earlier words, "here one second, there the next. If you don't believe me, just look out the window."

He didn't move, though, and cautiously rested his chin atop my shoulder. When I didn't move, or fling him off with a yell, he settled in deeper and queried, "Will they know that's where he brought you?"

"Maybe," I admitted, tilting my head and allowing my forehead to rest lightly against his chin, "there are three sanctums that are run by sorcerers around the world. If they know who he is - and not a lot of people do, they'll probably know he's here. If not, they may check one of the other locations, or even just Kamar-Taj, in Kathmandu where the other sorcerers are. Or they might not have any idea what the hell they saw and will go running back to Mr. W, freaking out. He might've bought us some time to look into this."

"I'll have to thank him, then," Bucky replied, though he didn't sound overly enthused about it. The scruff on his jaw tickled my forehead and I fought back a ticklish laugh. "And Natasha, for taking care of you."

My eyes drifted shut, a soft hum escaping me, far too comfortable to pay attention to his words, let alone worry about Mr. W and his pesky band of kidnappers.

"Sleep, Charlie," Bucky muttered, shifting slightly to press a lingering kiss to my temple. He gently eased me off of him and cupped the back of my neck with one hand, the other on my shoulder. He moved out from behind me and lowered me back onto the mattress so I didn't have to put any weight onto my arms. That done, he lifted my feet onto the bed.

He rose and made for the door, but I hummed in displeasure, cracking a heavy eye in his direction. I patted the space beside me; it was a large bed, though not quite as big as the one at the hotel and I wasn't sure he would agree, but I asked anyway. "Will you stay with me? I don't know if you're tired, but-"

He didn't argue, nor did he hesitate, kicking off his shoes and slipping beneath the sheets next to me. Our brush with death - or mine, as he was already in the process of healing - and our snuggle fest pushed away any discomfort he felt in being so close anymore. Though he laid on his back, a respectable distance from me, he found my undamaged hand beneath the covers and wrapped his fingers around my own.

"You're safe here?" he inquired quietly; a small, charming grin crossed his face when I squeezed his hand and corrected, "We both are."

/

I didn't realize I fell asleep until I awoke with a start, the bed shifting and my broken hand aching. Bucky's back was to me as he threw his legs off the bed, his hands curled so tightly around the edge that I worried he would break the ornate, oak frame.

"Bucky-"

His coiled shoulders stiffened even more and I regarded him groggily, confusedly, "Are you okay?"

"Fine," he replied tersely, though he sounded anything but, "I should go back to my room. Will you be okay without me?"

He must have woken up to find us in yet another compromising position; though I doubted he intended to hurt my arm, in his haste to separate us, he must have pushed me away or slipped out from under me and I landed on it.

Drawing my lips to one side, I weighed my options.

I was attracted to him. There was no use arguing with myself about that anymore; it was a fact and I couldn't deny it. I had tried; I doubted anyone would really approve of a relationship between the two of us - except Steve Rogers - and it was a danger to us both, especially with us being on the run.

But I wanted him.

He was loyal and sweet, strong and lost, with a beautiful set of blue eyes and a body sculpted by the gods.

Who wouldn't want him?

And whether he wanted me or not, he needed to know that I didn't mind a little intimacy between us; spooning was not the worst thing that could happen between a man and a woman and the sooner he accepted that, the sooner he could get a good night's sleep.

Though I didn't have a lot to go off of, he hadn't had a single nightmare in the hotel, compared to the nightly ones he suffered in his apartment.

That could have just been a comfy bed, though, and not my glorious presence. More research would be required.

"You can, if you want," I replied, rolling myself onto my knees and shuffling slowly across the bed to his side. I kneeled, watching him for a moment, before touching his scruffy jaw with coaxing fingers. Turning his face toward me, I took a steeling breath and stole a quick, chaste kiss. "But I'd rather you didn't."

My exit would have been far more elegant if I hadn't just woken up and wasn't a bruised mess. I tried to get up as gracefully as I could, but my back still screamed from my painful landing and I caught the nightstand with one hand and hissed until the pain subsided.

Real smooth, Charlie…

Stiff as a board, I took two steps before a cold, metal hand curled gently around my hip, stilling me in my shitty escape attempt. I heard him rise and chanced a glance over my shoulder. An array of conflicted emotions danced across his face, but he turned me toward him and cupped my chin with a thumb and forefinger.

"I'm probably the worst person for you, Charlie," Bucky sighed, nostrils flaring and a grimace twisting his mouth. Still, his eyes fell to my lips and my toes curled into the carpet, anticipating his next words. "I don't remember most of my past and what I do remember isn't something you want to be a part of. You know; you've seen it. You can't want someone who's done those things. Who's killed all of those people."

There's a but; I feel a but…

His lip twitched upward, though, and he studied my face, stroking my cheek with his thumb. Fondness filled his gaze and he met my eyes somewhat shyly, "But I know you don't see any of that when you look at me. And you don't know how much that means to me. I-I don't think I ever met a gal quite like you, Charlie."

"And that's a good thing?" I laughed jokingly, though my heart stuttered when he offered me a genuine smile, a laugh escaping his lips and that dangerous sparkle in his eyes, "That it is, doll."

His metal fingers slid up along my jaw and into my short, shaggy locks, his other arm wrapping around my waist and pulling me flush against his chest, mindful of my injuries. He ducked his head, staring intently at my lips; his gaze lifted to meet mine, smoldering but questioning, "Can I-"

"Never ask," I replied with a laugh, closing the distance between us and capturing his mouth in a kiss. He was stiff at first, his body coiled, his lips cautious, but I was nothing if not patient. And determined.

I traced my tongue along his lower lip, a quick, triumphant thrill running through me when he opened his mouth with a groan. Nipping at his lower lip, I hummed in delight as melded into the kiss, the tension draining from his form as he curled his fingers in my hair. I slipped my tongue into his mouth, enjoying the way he inhaled sharply and met me halfway. After a moment, he began to vie for control, easily giving way when I wanted, taking over when I didn't. If I had better control of my hands, I would've burrowed them in his thick, dark locks; I had to settle for resting them on his broad chest, the fingers on my good hand clutching at his shirt.

Lightheaded, I pulled away from him, beaming when he followed, intent on carrying on as though neither of us needed to breathe. His lovely blue eyes cracked open, glazed over as a dazed grin spread lazily across his face, "I missed that."

"Never tell a girl you're thinking about other girls after kissin' her," I warned with a laugh, pressing my lips to his dimpled, scruffy chin.

"No," he changed a smile, resting his forehead against mine, eyes drifting shut and contentment painting his face, "you make me feel like me again."

"Well, anytime you need a reminder…," I noted leadingly, accepting another eager kiss from the super soldier.

"A-hem."

Bucky leapt away from me, nearly sending me toppling over; he realized his mistake before I could fall and caught me in his arms once more. His deer-in-the-headlights look caused a snort to escape me and I rounded on Strange with a halfhearted glare, "You coulda knocked."

"Coulda," he repeated, brows high on his forehead, a smirk tugging at his lips. He was leaning against the threshold, one booted ankle crossed over the other, as he watched on in knowing amusement. "But it's my Sanctorum. And just be glad it was me and not Natasha; she's a viper, that one."

Though he wasn't wrong, I found myself more than a little hopeful that he was just stopping by to see how I was. The sooner he was gone, the sooner Bucky and I could resume our activities. It didn't seem like an option, though, the longer the doctor stood there, that smug grin on his face.

"So… what did you need?" I inquired, awkwardly disentangling myself from Bucky despite his reluctance to release me, "did Natasha want to-"

"Actually, I wanted to try something on your injuries," he replied, pushing off from the doorway and entering the room. Bucky stiffened slightly at my side and I shot him a warning glance; I couldn't be sure whether he just still didn't trust Strange or didn't want him near me.

Hadn't he just said he wanted to thank him? He didn't seem quite so appreciative now.

Still, the soldier met my gaze evenly and stepped back, gesturing toward the bed for me to sit, though he didn't allow the doctor out of his sights. I perched at the edge of the bed with a winded huff, resting my arms gingerly on my thighs.

Strange swept his robe back with a flourish and knelt before me, performing a spell that sent a gauntlet of green energy up his wrist. He pointed at my left hand first, his light green eyes flitting up to meet mine, "This may hurt."

"What are you even- fucking hell!"

My shriek was enough for the Winter Soldier to grab the doctor by his shoulder and yank him back, sending him skidding across the hardwood floor. Strange's… cape?... shoved him up off of the ground and with a few flicks of his wrist, he created a shield of orange in each hand and fell into a defensive stance.

And Bucky had fallen into soldier mode. His metal arm whirred and he raised it, holding it out in front of him and preparing for a fight, a sneer on his face and fire in his eyes.

Oh, balls.

/

Please review everyone! I would really appreciate it! Reviews are my life! :D

DarylDixon'sLover: Sorry, they got away but not from Natasha!

AvengersPrincess15: I am the queen of cliffhangers! Lol sorry; I'm glad you liked it though! And what did you think? Was it worthy of #BuckyLoversAnonymous? There's much more to come between them hehe, this was just the beginning!

Verrokami: haha I had to throw a little more action in there! And a little romance today ;)

Karina001: I know, I'm sorry! I had to cut it off somewhere haha. But I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Aandm20: hehehe! I don't know how much I will be; it was super convenient for where I'm headed with it but I had to bring Strange into it! I don't think I did his character justice though.

Lady-Finwe: thank you! I hope you like this chapter too!

Gamerchic: Aw thank you! :D I'm glad you like her! Haha you're the only one who mentioned that part! It was one of my favorites to write in that chapter haha. Haha I couldn't leave him hurt! He's pretty damn tough lol.