Notes: Just a heads up for anyone who hasn't already checked it out, I posted a one-shot yesterday. It is a Danny Phantom/X-Men: Evolution crossover, so if you're interested in that then knock yourself out. Hope you enjoy the chapter!

~SoN~

Chapter 23-All Said and Done

Beni:

My vision was slightly blurry when I woke up. Where was I? I felt the crisp sheets on top of me that kind of sucked at keeping out the cold. I lifted my head and instantly felt kind of dizzy, but it left as quick as it came. Oh, that's right. I was in the hospital because of my new leg.

I looked down at my bottom half, and instead of seeing one leg and one half-leg, I saw two. Two very real legs.

In excitement I threw off my covers. I was wearing shorts (thank goodness-I hated hospital gowns) and a hospital shirt. But I wasn't interested at my clothing. I never was and never will be. I was more interested in my new leg.

It looked almost exactly like my real leg, with all the same measurements and everything. Every muscle of my left leg was copied down to my right leg. I put my hand on my new knee and wiggled my toes. I was relieved when it actually worked. But my favorite part about the new leg (other than walking) was no more phantom limb or phantom pain. That has always been the worst part of a missing limb, because you can still feel your lost limb and you tell it to respond but it never works because it's not there anymore.

I smiled and laid back down, pulling the covers up because it was cold as hell. Sometime lizard blood was a bitch.

A few minutes later there was a soft knock, and I tried sitting up. It was the doctor being followed by Tony, who had a grin on his face.

"Looking good," he said, giving me a thumbs up. I smiled and returned the gesture, and he walked over to the right side of the bed.

"Can I look?" he asked. I nodded and took the covers off of my right side, showing him the shiny gray metal.

"Can you move any part of it?" he asked, grazing his hand over the knee-my knee. I nodded and wiggle my toes again. He grinned.

"Bend your knee."

I did so, but much slower than my real leg would have been able to do. Which was normal. I wasn't expecting to be able to walk immediately after the procedure. It would take a lot of physical therapy to build up the muscle and get proper motor control. And despite how much I was loathing the physical therapy, it was so worth it.

"How do you feel?" the doctor asked. I shrugged.

"I feel fine, my stump is just really hurting."

'How would you rate your pain?"

"Nine," I shrugged. The doctor's eyes widened at how casual I was being when my leg hurt like hell, but I didn't care. It wasn't like I just lost the damned thing. Now that had been an eleven. The doctor guffawed (You don't get to use that word very often, but this was one of those times where it was acceptable) and handed me some pills he got out.

"Pain killers?" I asked. He nodded and went to go get me a glass of water so I could take them, but by the time he got back they were gone. He handed me the glass of water anyway, and I downed that too.

"Well, motor functions are working well," Stark said, "So I'll leave you to heal in peace, though knowing Steve, that's not going to last long. That guy can be a really big buzzkill sometimes. Get well soon, Beni," He waved and walked out the door, and the doctor raised an eyebrow.

"You know him on a first name basis?" he asked. I nodded and laughed slightly.

"Yeah, I work for him. In the herpetology department."

"Cool. Well, I'll come back later to check on you while more visitors come and go. Okay?"

I gave him a two finger salute and he smiled and left.

I lifted my head from the book I brought as there was a heavy knock on the door. It couldn't be Steve, he was to much of a ballerina. Sam was just to polite to knock that heavily, and Tony already visited. No one at work knew I was getting a new leg (I purposely hadn't told them just so I could see the looks on their faces when I got back), so that left one person, who was already entering.

"Hey, Beni," Bucky said nervously as he walked in. I smiled, a bit shocked that he showed up so quickly considering the conversation we had before I left, but I was really happy he did. He had his hands behind his back, and was using his movements to hide whatever was behind his back. I raised an eyebrow with a smile and set my book down.

"Hey, Rupunzel," I greeted. "How are you holding up?"

"I could ask you the same question."

"Yeah, I know. My leg hurts but other than that I'm fine. I can actually move the new one, so that's good."

"That's good to hear. I mean, that it moves, not it hurting..."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," I chuckled. "So what's behind your back?"

"Impatient much?" He asked with a smirk as he brought out flowers and a get well card. The flowers themselves were beautiful, and full of vibrant color. They were a dark blue-my second favorite color-with white spots, and they were absolutely magnificent. He handed me the card and placed the vase of flowers on the shelf by the window. I was laughing as I read the card out loud.

"This field is empty. It is the field of fucks I give. But see that, there? That is the only one I give, and it's for you."

Bucky was smiling as I began to laugh harder because instead of signing his usual nickname, he signed it as Chewbacca.

"You're so sweet," I said, still laughing a little bit. He smiled and coughed awkwardly before looking out the window.

"I can probably name three people off the top of my head that would say otherwise," he said, eyes distant. "But I'm glad I could make you smile. You know, when it's one of those rare times when you're not."

"Half the time I don't even mean to, I just get stuck like this."

"I highly doubt that. Is...Is it okay if I leave a little earlier than planned I'll bring some real food later, okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine. I understand," my voice was light and loose, but a part of me inside was tight. But he was going to come back later, so it was okay. And I shouldn't be so selfish. Not after everything he's done for me, and he had this about hospitals, so I was going to let him have his bit of freedom and not think about myself for once.

"Thanks. What are you in the mood for?" he asked. I shrugged and gave him a really real smile.

"Surprise me."

"You got it."

He gave me a quick goodbye hug before leaving.

"Knock knock!"

I tore my eyes away from the TV (and surprisingly edible hospital food) as Sam walked in with Steve behind him. I swallowed whatever was I my mouth and pushed my tray away. I noticed how Sam was starring at the flowers with narrowed eyes for about half a second before he flicked is eyes back to me.

"Jealous, much?" I asked in a teasing tone.

"Ha, ha. No, just curious. Especially since you're like a sister to me. Now who are they form?"

"My housemate, Chewbacca. And really? Not a 'how are you?' 'Is your leg working fine?' Jeesh, you need manners."

"Well excuse me for looking out for your well being," he pulled out a pair of socks and I whooped.

"The hospital never seems to think about socks, do they?" I asked as I undid the ball and put one of them on. He chuckled slightly and read the card, which made him laugh his head off. He showed Steve, who cocked his head to the side before chuckling slightly.

"Who's Chewbacca?" Sam asked. "And don't give me any nicknames. I want his real name."

"His name is James, if you must know-"

"-Which we have already established that I must-"

"-And he is my best friend. You are the big brother, and Steve is big bother's boy toy. I've got my little family all planned out in my head."

"Why does everyone keep thinking he's my boy toy, or I'm his?" Steve asked, shaking his head.

"Probably because you're two, single grown men who hang out on a daily basis," I answered.

"But we're not. We're just friends who don't have very many other friends."

"Well, you do," Sam said with a smirk. "He's got himself a nice red head named Natasha."

"Ooh, tell me more," I said, sitting cross legged. man, it felt good to do that again.

"Just coworkers," Steve said firmly, getting fifty shades of red.

"Who are friends," I said with a smirk. "Have you asked her out yet?"

"I'm not into her like that. We're just friends."

"Who's his crush?" I asked Sam.

"A chick named Sharon, former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who lived right next to him so she could protect him, but then shit happened and he lives next door to me now."

"I wanna know what shit happened," I whined.

"It's classified," Steve said, almost an edge to his voice. I shrugged.

"Whatever. But just know that now that I have a new leg, you will be pranked mercilessly. Deal?"

Sam was shaking his head furiously at Steve as he paled, and Steve shrugged. Sam face palmed.

"Man, what have you done?" He asked.

"He sealed his fate," I replied for Steve, giving the boy's my creepiest grin ever. Steve visibly shuddered, and Sam paled even more. I chuckled maliciously and rubbed my hands together for effect.

"If I were you," Sam put his hand on Steve's shoulder, "Then I would fire proof your underwear."

"That was one time!" I protested.

"And the drill sergeant wasn't able to sit right for a month!" Sam said.

"I told you already! I wasn't trying to prank him, I was trying to prank Leslie!"

"By setting his underpants on fire?" Steve asked, hands going to his waist protectively.

"It was itching powder, I did nothing with the fire. But now I always remember to buy non flammable itching powder."

"That's not very helpful," Sam said. I gave another shrug.

"I still wasn't the one to set them on fire. But it was still funny as hell."

"Does James know about the pranks yet?" Sam asked. I shook my head, a mischievous glint in my eye.

"No. Not yet anyways."

"I feel sorry for the poor guy."

Before anyone could say anything else, there was a soft knock on the door and a nurse came in.

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave now. The doctor wants to make schedule for her physical therapy."

"Eww," Sam said, pushing Steve out the door. "By Beni!" He waved, and he was soon gone.

I flopped back on my pillow, raising my legs into the air, wiggling my toes. I finished my book. There was nothing good on TV. I had no food to eat. So now I was practicing doing stuff with my new leg before physical therapy stated next week (The reason it isn't sooner is because he wants my stump to heal a little more before I started doing anything to extreme like walking, which was a strange thought. Walking being extreme. Who knew?)

And then there was a knock on the door, and I was really thankful it wasn't the doctor (He was just going to be called Doctor Who because I forgot his name) or another random nurse. I quickly sat up straight again and greeted Bucky with a smile. He greeted me with a container of still steaming food. My mouth watered.

"You're a fucking life saver," I said as I took the food and silverware from him.

"Not really," he mumbled.

"What was that?" I asked. I didn't understand what he had said, which was weird since he usually spoke clearly all the time.

"Nothing, don't worry about it. Nice leg by the way."

"I know, right. We can be twinsies now."

That made Bucky laugh slightly. He was acting weird, even for Bucky. His eyes kept glancing towards the door and window, like they were escape routes (I had done the same thing, but only once. Not four times). He seemed on edge, and alert for any possible threat. I raised an eyebrow as I dug into the macaroni and cheese. He wasn't kidding when he said he didn't like hospitals, and being in one twice in one day probably set him a little more than off his game.

"Soo..." he said a little awkwardly, sitting on the edge of my bed. "Does it work okay?"

I nodded since my mouth was full, and when I swallowed the cheesy goodness he made, I said,

"Yeah, so far. I haven't tried walking yet, though. I'm going to do that next week."

"That's going to be rough. I wish you luck."

"Thanks. This stuff is really good," I put another fork full into my mouth and he smiled.

"Thanks. I'm glad you like it. I forgot the recipe so don't ask."

"Then how did you make it?" I asked.

"I don't know, I just sort of...Did. Like muscle memory."

"Then video tape yourself next time, because this is golden."

He nodded, but didn't say anything as I finished the food. I placed the container and fork on the tray attached to the bed and scooted closer. He didn't scoot away, but he didn't meet my eyes either. His right hand went for his left shoulder, but stopped half way and went back to his side.

I internally sighed and moved behind him, grabbing the extra ponytail off of my wrist and putting it in between my teeth.

"Talk to me," I said somewhat clearly as I began to pull his hair back. He sighed and leaned back slightly.

"Getting a new arm...Hurt. A lot," he started a few minutes later. "I don't even...It was never in a good place like this. It was in a lab, and I woke up with it..."

My fingers faltered slightly, but my hands were moving his head around so much that I doubt he noticed.

"So you were a prisoner of war?" I asked, choosing my words a slowly and carefully. He shrugged and gripped his left shoulder.

"Yeah...Something like that."

I finished the ponytail faster than I wanted to and let my hands rest in my lap. I scooted to his side, and he scooted back on the bed so he wasn't on the edge.

"Well, I can relate, so if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here for you. Okay?" He nodded but gave no verbal reply. Then he turned his head away from me, and a minute later I herd a small, nearly inaudible sniffle. My heart clenched.

If there was one thing I learned it was that Buck Barnes didn't cry. Not unless he wanted to. And I knew it wasn't because he would be embarrassed or anything. It was because he didn't know who he could cry around. I turned him around so that he was facing me and gave him a hug. He, surprisingly, hugged me back, digging his fingers into my back. He gave a shuddering breath and let out a sob-like sound. I started to rub his back in big, soothing motions, not caring if he was getting snot on my shoulder or causing bruises with his metal hand. I was here to help him like I wasn't able to help my old girlfriend.

I began to rock us back in forth slightly, humming an old song that I don't even remember the name to. I just remembered the tune. We stayed like that for a while, just rocking back and forth with him silently crying into my shoulder. And then he pulled away and wiped his eyes and nose. The only signs that he had been crying was his red cheeks and puffy eyes.

"You're not with them anymore. Okay?" I said, rubbing his back. "You'll never have to go back, not while I'm still kicking. I'll make sure of that. Swearsies."

He looked at me, a little surprised, a little sadly. He gave me a thankful smile and nodded, wiping his nose with the back of his hand again.

"Yeah, okay. And the same goes for you. Okay?"

I smiled and nodded.

"Okay."