Scrapes and newly forming bruises were loosely scattered on Steve's visible skin. His arms were the most beat up that Bucky could see, probably from trying to crawl away from his attacker. He was sure there were probably more small wounds hidden by the borrowed clothes but doubted that Steve would let even him try to take care of them or see them at all.

When Bucky had finished patching Steve up as best he could, the uncomfortable silence continued, now with nothing to distract either of them from it's weight in the small room.

Surprisingly, it was Steve who broke it, apparently just noticing the blanket and pillow on the couch.

"You planning on making me spend the night on your couch instead of going home?" There was no anger or humor or anything in his voice. Just... nothing, and it was really starting to freak Bucky out.

"No. I'm planning on making you spend the night in my bed instead of going home. I'll be on the couch." Bucky stood from the couch to return the kit to it's place and when he turned back around Steve was also standing up, arms wrapped around himself and head turned the other way.

"Steve?" Bucky approached his friend, placing a hand on Steve's shoulder when the smaller man didn't seem to acknowledge his call. Steve gave a small jump and Bucky wondered if he had even heard him at all. Steve turned his head to face Bucky without really looking at his face, not really looking at him at all, his eyes blinking in a strangely heavy and fast manner. Bucky realized with a tug at his heart that Steve was trying to stop himself from crying. "Stevie..."

The soft call of the childhood pet name, only ever used by Bucky, only ever allowed to be used by Bucky, caused Steve to regain his focus to the present, finally looking up at Bucky.

"I don't get why I'm so badly affected by this." he said quietly, frustration lacing his voice. "I've been beat up in fights lots of times before and it barely slowed me down."

Bucky's hand dropped off Steve's shoulder, a wave of disbelief and some annoyance washing over him. "This isn't the same Steve and you know it!"

Steve flinched slightly at the small outburst, which wasn't loud but was unexpected by both. A hard stab of regret went through Bucky as his raised tone caused Steve to step away startled but other than the initial surprise, Steve didn't seem too affected by it.

Lowering his eyes to the floor with a small sigh, Steve replied in a voice so soft Bucky wouldn't have been able to hear it at all if he wasn't so focused on him. "I don't know what to do Bucky."

A tone of hopelessness and confusion had replaced the nothingness from before. Bucky almost wanted the blankness to come back but his discomfort at this new situation didn't matter at all right now, least of all to him.

What did he say to that though? He didn't know what to do either. Of all the ways to spend his last night... Oh that's right. He was leaving tomorrow. He had completely forgotten about that small detail. He realized with despair that that left Steve to deal with this on his own after tonight.

Steve seemed to be on the same trail of thought and gave a small smile that barely reached his lips let alone his eyes. "You had your uniform on. You leaving tomorrow?"

Bucky stared wordlessly at Steve. An ill friend may be a good enough excuse to try to get some more time here before being sent off. Maybe if he said it was a relative. Would they check? No matter what he'd probably still be a cause of talk if he tried to do that. He chickened out and tried to avoid going to war everyone would say. He knew enough about folks around here to already know that that would be accepted fact for years to come, even when and if he did finally go. Trying to redeem himself because of his cowardice would be the new addition to the story. What a story his perceived life would make. Would he be able to go through life with those gossiping whispers following him?

Yes. For Steve he would go through anything.

"Maybe."