Steve knew he shouldn't leave Tony alone at a time like this but while his husband was sleeping, as peacefully as he could under the influence of sleeping pills, the serum's effect on his own metabolism meant he could not take part in the same uneasy peace. The sun was just rising and he knew that sleep would evade him until he received any answers to his questions so he decided to check on Carter; he just wanted to make sure she hadn't disappeared during the night. Not that he mistrusted his friends, "Well, maybe Bucky…" he shook his head the minute the thought entered his mind but it wouldn't be dislodged so easily.
Steve knew he was being stupid, he knew that Bucky would always be with him until the end of line but he couldn't stop the irrational jealousy that surged through him when he thought of how relaxed Carter had been with his best friend. "And how she tensed up around you," supplied the same little voice in his head prodding at his self-esteem and his anger. Then Bucky's voice pierced through his inner monologue and Steve realized that he had arrived at the room they had put Carter in, Phil had left the door cracked for air and light when he had left. Steve leaned next to the door listening, despite his morals and his mother's words about eavesdropping being the Devil's work, he listened to them talk.
Bucky conceded her point with a tip of his head then did a double take at the young woman next to him who had pushed herself into a sitting position that mirrored his own. "How did you know what I was thinking about?" he queried and then followed up with a concerned look at her face, "How are you feeling?"
"I've been awake since Phil left," she stated in an off-hand manner, "And I'll be fine. I've had worse," both Bucky and Steve inhaled silently and angrily, "Don't even go there," she growled lightly, "I'm not talking about anything if you won't listen."
Bucky relaxed slightly, pulling her closer, "Okay."
"I still haven't figured out how this memory thing is able to manifest physical evidence on my body, it's some advanced tech/magic stuff that's flowing around in my body," she winced a touch as she readjusted her position, "As for what you were thinking of – I'm not psychic or anything – yes, I can see those wheels turning in your head. I did however grow up around a variety of super spies who have trained me to observe people since I was younger than five. So to clarify, you were trying to get to know Dad back then?"
"Yeah. It wasn't that I didn't like your dad I just wanted to make sure…" he trailed off when Carter picked up his sentence, "Make sure he loved Pops more than the sun and the moon?"
"Something like that," said Bucky smiling, "It threw Steve for a loop though."
"He's angry," responded Carter, her voice quiet, wavering slightly, "He doesn't understand." Steve closed his eyes at the tone of Carter's voice and slid silently down to a sitting position beside the open door, head in his hands.
"To be honest Carter, I don't fully understand why you're so comfortable with me," the sound of feet hitting the floor reached Steve's ears along with a small gasp of pain. He deduced that Carter had moved from Bucky's embrace and part of him rejoiced in her obvious yet sudden discomfort in the presence of his friend. The other part of him strained to hear his daughter's words.
The sound of running water brought him back to his mind and then the same feet padded back into the room, "Sorry," said Carter, "I just needed to freshen up – the bruise isn't as bad as I thought it would be," she continued speaking as if she was talking to herself. "I trust you because I told you, only you, in my timeline," she declared suddenly, "I haven't seen anyone from our family in 10 months. After I told you I left."
"Why me?" asked Bucky, his voice tight and Steve felt his heart clench at the pain in his friend's voice.
"I didn't intend to, believe me. My plans were already in place to leave too by the way so that's not your fault…you found me after an attack, about two months before I left, and it's not exactly easy to hide the evidence of one all the time," huffed Carter in a frustrated tone, "I think you thought I was in an abusive relationship or something. I slipped up and I told you. I'm sorry for everything that happened last night; I didn't think."
Another pair of feet padded across the floor, the step heavier and slower as if Bucky was trying not to scare her off, "It's okay. I mean it's not okay to lie to your parents or your family. However, I'm honoured that you trust me. I'll be here for you in this time too."
"Don't make promises you can't keep Barnes," whispered Carter, "You should go. I'll be down in a few minutes." Her tone was closed off, hard like Tony's used to get when he would lock himself in his workshop and drink scotch after scotch.
"Carter," started Bucky, not wanting to let the girl off so easily, but she stopped him cold, "Go." A door closed and water started up again, Steve could only assume that Carter had gone to take a shower. He could hear Bucky sigh, defeated sounding and his heart went out to his best friend. Steve pushed himself up off the ground to stand just as Bucky exited Carter's room. Despite the worry and pain etched on his face Bucky tossed him an unsurprised smile and cocked his head to the elevator, "We should wait for her downstairs." Steve nodded, trying to catch Bucky's eye as they walked down the hallway together.
Once they stepped into the elevator and it had begun to move Bucky spoke, "Jarvis can you stop us for a minute?"
"Certainly Sergeant Barnes," replied the AI and the elevator stopped on the floor between Carter's room and the main living area for the team. Bucky turned to Steve and fixed him with a look that said 'I know you were listening – have out with it' while Steve cleared his throat to dispel the guilt rising up in his throat.
"I just wanted," he began, "I know you just wanted to check on her Steve but you also wanted to know what she would tell me. It bugs you – admit it and then we can move on," stated Bucky.