Chapter 22-The Big Day

Third Person:

It was only a few days after Tony and Steve had dropped the news about her getting her new leg, and Tony had already called her and told her that everything was set up with the best of the best putting the leg on. But none of that stopped Beni from being nervous. What if something went wrong? What if the leg didn't work amd became dead weight that they weren't able to tale off? Not only that but she had yet to tell Bucky.

Beni paled.

She still had to tell Bucky. She had been so excited and it was kinda normal when he had gotten home from the store because he didn't get everything on the list so they had to go back, and that was a good hour at most. She sighed, guessing now would be a better time than never.

"Hey, Bucky?" she said as she made it into the living room where Bucky was reading. He looked up and put his book down, not bothering with any type of bookmark.

"What's up?" he asked, leaning forward slightly.

"Can you give me a ride?"

Beni had a car. It's what the old friend who brought the boxes from her storage unit used to get everything over to her house, and she usually kept it around for emergencies or something. This was more of an or something.

"Yeah, where to?"

"The hospital."

"What?" Bucky was on his feet now, and crossing the room. "Why? What happened?"

"Nothing happened. I'm just... I'm getting a new leg."

"...I thought you couldn't regrow your limbs."

"My boss made a specifically made prosthetic for me, and everything is all set up. I have plenty of money to last. I've paid all of the recent bills so you don't need to worry about that. He came by the other day while you were at the grocery store and I forgot to tell you because we had to go back."

Bucky, much to her surprise, actually grinned. He honest to god grinned. She had never seen him smile like that before, and before she knew it, she was swept off of her foot and was spinning through the air, Bucky laughing as he caused all of this.

"I'm happy for you, if you can't tell," he said as he set her down, laughing as he did so. "I'll go get the keys and after everything is said and done I'll actually go into the hospital and visit, okay?"

He ran out of the room and came back a second aster with the keys.

Beni was laughing at how excited he seemed. He really looked happy, and he never looked happy. He looked like he was always faking it. The smile that wide suited him.

"Bucky, before you run outside in a fit of joy, go put some pants on."

Bucky had his hand on the door, and he was suddenly glad he hadn't opened it as he looked down at his Captain America boxers.

"Yeah, give me a sec."

"So you nervous?" Bucky asked, glancing at Beni before turning his attention back to the road. She shrugged and looked out the window.

"Yeah. I'm just bad at showing it. Like, my stomach is turning, I'm so nervous. But Stark is a certified genius who built the Iron Man armor and my new leg, so that's really helpful. He also told me that he has the best of he best who are putting the damned thing on."

"Well if you trust you're in good hands then I'm not gonna worry as much. Just... I'm sorry Beni but I can't walk inside with you."

"Not that I mind because that's your choice and I don't need anyone to hold my hand, but why?"

"I'm... It's hard to explain. I don't like hospitals because of some shit that happened a long time ago."

Beni noticed how his grip on the tearing wheel tightened, and he rolled his neck, as if to loosen the muscles that weren't there anymore. She understood why he didn't like hospitals, but she had lied. She kind of wanted someone to hold her hand inside. Because sometimes you just needed to hold somebody's hand just to prove you were alive, and another human being was there to testify that fact. Bucky was that person that kept her grounded because she could still barely believe that she was going to be able to walk again, and she was on her way right now.

Bucky knew how nervous Beni was even if she didn't show it. She kept telling him whenever she drew that the only part of the body that showed the most emotion were the eyes, and when he looked into her grass-colored eyes, all he saw was nervousness and fear. But he also saw hope, and a bit of happiness. So he was going to try and ease the nervousness as much as he could. But she was rubbing her thigh so much he thought she was gonna burn herself with friction. He took one hand off the steering wheel and used it to hold Beni's hand like the comforting friend he always tried to be. She smiled at him and sighed, mind of relieved.

"Thanks, Buck. I really appreciate how much You've helped out, and I know I don't say it often, but I wouldn't be able to do half the things I'm even able to do without you helping out.'

"And that goes both ways, so don't worry about it. You're like, my only friend, it's the least I could do."

They stayed silent the rest of the way there, Bucky driving and rubbing comforting circles with his thumb on the back of Beni's hand. It wasn't long before Beni had to actually get out of the car, but before she did, Bucky stopped her my gripping her hand a little tighter.

"We might," he started, "We might be scared, but that's what makes us stronger. You can make it. You always do."

Beni nodded, a nervous smile on her face. She leaned over and gave Bucky a hug, and he awkwardly returned it.

Then she got out and made her way inside the hospital.