The Dodgers were playing in town and he managed to get him and Steve, Becca tickets to the game. It was May and for a few days Bucky was worried they were going to have to miss the game because Steve had a late spring cold. He rallied though, clearly hell would freeze over first before he missed a Dodgers game. They were good seats too, behind home plate. Becca linked arms with Steve and leaned on him even though she was good two inches taller without her heels on.
"What are you doing?" asked Steve and Becca grinned.
"Having fun," sang Becca.
"Please get her off me," pleaded Steve.
"You are no fun and after I made you chicken soup," protested Becca unlinking herself from Steve. She linked arms with Bucky and he just sighed.
"Why are you this way?" asked Bucky.
"I told you if you dropped her too many she wasn't going to be right in the head," said Steve.
"It's a beautiful day in New York and we're going to a Dodgers game….that Albosta guy is kind of cute. Maybe he'll see me in the stands and…."
"Run screaming once he really gets to know you," said Bucky. Becca stuck her tongue out at him.
"I don't know. Her cooking might make him stay," said Steve grinning.
"That would imply I would let him to the apartment….although it is Albosta. She could be the key for us getting free tickets to all Dodger games," said Bucky. She gave him a playful nudge.
"So I'm not the annoying sister anymore?" asked Becca.
"You're still annoying only now you might be useful for something," said Bucky.
"Well it's nice to know you love me that much," said Becca.
"We love you more than Dodger tickets," said Bucky. Steve rolled his eyes.
"Speak for yourself," said Steve. Becca faked being hurt.
"I was going to set you up with Helena from the bakery. You can just forgot that now," said Becca.
"Helena. She's taller than Bucky," protested Steve.
"But she's really nice," said Becca.
"And she lift more than me," teased Bucky.
"You two are the worst," said Becca. They took their seats and watched the Dodgers soundly beat Philly. Becca got Albosta to come over after the 7th inning and he signed a ball for Steve. She tossed it over to him and he gave her quick kiss on the cheek.
"You are still an annoying little sister," said Steve.
….
"Becca kept the ball and she gave it to me when I got home. Peggy and the rest of the team brought our things to her in Brooklyn. She kept most of them," said Steve. They were listening to the audio of the game from May 1941. The one SHIELD had tried to trick him with. He still couldn't believe they went through all that trouble to set up a fake room from his time and screwed up that detail. It was sloppy and he wondered if anyone had gotten fired because of it.
"Albosta," muttered Bucky. His legs were restrained just in case he slipped back and remembered his 'mission' and not Steve. So far he just seemed to be zoned out.
"Yeah. Ed Albosta. He was our favorite pitcher," said Steve. Is this working? Alison had read to him till about eleven. She had finished the first story and had started The Shadow Over Innsmouth when he told her not so politely to shut up. She suggested they take a break and she left the room. Bucky reached over and started at the book when she left. They got together in the kitchen to switch out.
"Here's a list of what I can remember," said Steve. Alison took the list and skimmed it. Her face broke into a grin.
"Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra,"said Alison.
"We saw them live before Pearl Harbor," said Steve.
"Now I'm almost jealous of you guys," said Alison.
"Why?" asked Steve.
"If you saw Tommy Dorsey live before 1945 you got to see his drummer Buddy Rich and Frank Sinatra before they made it big." Steve gave her a look.
"We did? I didn't know that," said Steve.
"You are killing me Smalls. I'm pretty sure the happiest moment of grandfather's life was seeing Buddy Rich live after he came home," said Alison
"I was more into Glenn Miller," said Steve.
"Oh we never could have worked out," said Alison teasing. She had left to find her old test results and grab a few things Sam forgot.
"Do you like her?" asked Bucky seeming to come around.
"Who?" asked Steve confused.
"Alison...you….there was a dame in the red dress. You liked her...what happened to her?" asked Bucky.
"Her name was Peggy Carter. Agent Carter worked with us-me, you, Howard and the other Howling Commandos. She….well she got married and had two kids. She founded SHIELD. Do you remember any of that?" asked Steve.
"Do you like her?" asked Bucky again.
"I like her because she's trying to help you. She's nice, but she's not my type. She had to learn about us in school...well actually most people here have had to learn about us. It's so weird at times," admitted Steve. Bucky thought about this for a long awhile until something else clicked for him.
"The museum. It had our things, How did they get our things?"
"Some things were remade. Some things were given to the museum by the grand kids of the Howling Commandos and Becca passed on some photos and other odds and ends. She wanted people to know us. They gave her your medals-You got a Purple Heart and a Distinguished Service Medal. She kept those…" Bucky shook his head.
"I don't know if I like her," said Bucky more to himself than to Steve. He couldn't seem to keep one train of thought for too long, but at least he was talking. It's good if he's asking questions or if he's expressing himself encourage it, said Alison before she left.
"Do you know why?" asked Steve.
"I remember...I remember too much when she talks sometimes. I thought they looked alike at first….she was blonde though, light green eyes...she's was nice too," muttered Bucky.
"Who?" asked Steve and Bucky shook his head again.
"I don't want to talk about it," snapped Bucky and Steve sighed defeated. It had been going so well.
"We got to see another game that summer...on my birthday. Becca and I got sick from the hot dogs."
He sat with a cold rag to her head and tried to ignore Steve getting sick behind him.
"I feel horrible," whined Becca.
"I raise you a horrible and see you a…." Steve started throwing up again.
"I can't take you two anywhere." said Bucky.
….
The file had her psych evaluation and her resignation letter to the nursing home sat on the table between them and was ignored. Alison sipped her tea and Louna sat her cup down.
"Well I did say meeting new people would be good for you. This is a rather extreme version of it though," said Louna. Alison spilled everything that had happened and how she was now the caretaker of a ninety six year old man in the body of twenty something year old war hero turned Hydra operative. She hadn't signed a nondisclosure agreement yet so she figured talking to her shrink would be okay. Alison also felt she owed Louna a reason for why she was leaving. This woman had stuck her neck out and without it Alison wouldn't have gotten the nursing home gig. Not to mention I need someone not neck deep in this to talk too.
"It's been a little overwhelming," admitted Alison.
"You could still back out. I haven't given this letter to the home yet. Technically you aren't certified to treat him in psychiatric sense," said Louna.
"They have a teaching program I can get into to so I can become certified," said Alison.
"I know it was a huge disappointment that they wouldn't let you back into the other program even after you cleared the psych evaluation," said Louna.
"Well it was probably for the best. He's still teaching after all," said Alison barely holding back the bitterness. A deal had been made, the school wouldn't press charges for her attacking him if she kept her mouth shut about the harassment. If she had gone to jail for the assault it would have meant the losing of her RN status. Instead you ended up a mental hospital and you really did need the help. It still doesn't change how unfair the whole situation was.
"You have to love the he said/she said and how quick people are to side with what 'he said'," said Louna. Alison shrugged.
"I'll get to be near Sam again so that's a plus," said Alison and Louna studied her.
"What are you avoiding?" Alison gathered her thoughts.
"I know somethings are private and I don't have to tell anyone anything I don't want too, but I sort see a little of myself in James and it makes me question my professionalism," admitted Alison.
"Go on," said Louna.
"He lost his life seventy years ago. Everything he wanted and planned for was taken away and he had no say in it. Now he has to try to find the focus and meaning for his life again and it's not easy. It really sucks," said Alison.
"You found your purpose again though," said Louna.
"I nearly lost everything before I found it again," admitted Alison.
"I think what he needs more than a medical professional is a friend. Other than Steve Rogers he has no one to talk too on a personal level. I think you would serve him better as a friend. Someone who's gone down a very similar road and can relate. From what you told me he does need a great deal of help, but I think the boundaries that are supposed to be between a patient and caregiver won't help him. I'm not saying you have to roll out everything that's happened to you, but show him you can come back. You came back, started over and have found a purpose for your life again. Help him find something. A purpose, peace of mind, a hobby...anything. He has to be here for a reason too," said Louna.
"Thanks for the second opinion."
"It's why I'm here. I expect you to call in Fridays. I don't care if you have to sign a NDA I consider you more friend than patient at this point. If things had gone differently you would have been a welcome addition to my staff." Louna stood up and shook Alison's hand before giving her hug. Alison took the file and headed out. Our prime purpose in life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them, thought Louna. It was what Alison had told her when she had been discharged. That she remembered what she wanted her purpose to be.
….
She came back into the room just as the game was finishing up. She handed Steve a file and he sat it aside. Alison took the seat opposite of Steve and listened. The Dodgers won and Bucky could vaguely remember being happy about it.
"It's a shame you didn't get to see the Brooklyn Dodgers. I think finding out they became the L.A Dodgers was one of the hardest things I had to come to terms with," said Steve.
"You know I've lived in New York almost my whole life and I don't think I've ever seen a baseball game. My grandfather was more a football guy. He took me to games until I was about ten. Than he got a life long ban for fighting," said Alison. Steve was going to say something when Bucky spoke up.
"Do you always talk so much?" asked Bucky looking at her. Steve had been quiet until she came back into the room. It has been nothing but chatter since you've come into my life. I missed hearing another voice. It's been so long since we've heard a voice that wasn't abusive. Not ordering. It's too much though
"Sometimes," said Alison. Bucky looked up the ceiling. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to feel about her. She saved his life and had stopped at least the physical pain he had been in. However she was currently a great source of mental pain. I remember too much when you're here. He knew he shouldn't blame her, she didn't know what he was remembering and he wasn't telling her what she did. He looked at her hand and noticed she was wearing the ring. It was on the chain. He rubbed the dog tags and waited for her to take them away and she didn't. He looked at the ring and remembered you wore a ring like that when you got married. How does your husband put up with you?
"Are you married?" She shook her head.
"I was supposed to be," said Alison. He wanted to not care, but he wanted know.
"He died," said Bucky without emotion.
"There was an accident and he didn't make it. I got lucky or at least that's what everyone told me," said Alison. Lucky...lucky...he said I was lucky.
Bucky woke up and a man with salt and pepper hair, dark eyes in a very official looking suit was watching him sleep.
"Well you aren't creepy at all," said Bucky and the man's smile sent chills down his spine.
"Zola said you were a feisty one. I do like it when they fight in them. It's more fun when you break," said the man and he shook his head. "Ah where my manners. My name is General Vasily Karpov. You should feel lucky, I normally don't meet with the product until it's finished, you though...I would like to watch you though, maybe even work on breaking you in. To make sure my product in working order. I've had bad luck in the past when I haven't been involved. You have to be sure about these things." Bucky felt that chill go even deeper and he hid it.
"Oversight huh. If you want something done right do it yourself?" asked Bucky and the General grinned.
"I'm glad we can be on the same page. Like I said you should feel lucky. Not only am I taking a personal hand in this, but you are going to be part of an amazing event. A force of change for the world. You are going to be part of history in ways you have never imagined. You. A little boy from Brooklyn. The side kick of Captain America. You will outshine him beyond your wildest dreams," said Karpov and Bucky started to laugh trying to hide the creeping fear.
"Yeah. Me the one armed man! You are a riot," said Bucky. Karpov frowned at Bucky.
"Oh we're going to make you a better man...a weapon like the world has never seen. You have killed before haven't you?" asked Karpov.
"In the war and it wasn't by choice," said Bucky.
"The people think the war is over, but it continues. No one see it though and that is where you will come in. You will have to learn your place though," said Karpov standing up. The door opened and Georgina came in with Zola and two guards. The guards grabbed him and they all went back down the hall to the room with the chair. Bucky felt his knees get weak and he was pushed in the chair. The guards had guns and he wasn't in a position to take them on with Georgina in front of him. They could shoot her to get through him. She tightened his straps and didn't say anything, her eyes said everything though. She was scared and clearly wanted him to be careful. He couldn't do what they wanted him to do. He wasn't going to give these people the satisfaction of taking his name. They had taken his freedom and his arm. He wasn't going to give them his name.
"What is your name?" asked Zola.
"James Bu…." the shock went through him and it lasted longer and had more power in it than the one from yesterday.
"You have no name. What is your name?" asked Zola.
"Jame…." The shock again and he was sure he had wet himself like a child. He started crying, he couldn't help it.
"You have no name! What is your name?"
"Ja..." he started screaming "Georgina..." the shock turned off and everyone looked at her. He hadn't meant to say her name it just came out. Karpov looked at her with that twisted smile that had greeted him this morning. Her face went white and she looked at him with pleading eyes as he came over to her.
"How does he know your name darling?" he said it softly and Georgina let out a whimper. He grabbed her hair and pulled up on it. "Did you tell him your name?"
"It was an accident," she said looking at the ground. He grabbed her face and made her look at him.
"You know you're aren't supposed to be telling our guests who you are because you are nobody. Remember. But...you like the American don't you," he said it so sweetly it could have been a father talking to a daughter. Georgina shook her head no but he went on. "Oh that's what this is about. You think he's going to save you and you'll get a happy ever after?"
"I'm sorry...I just..." He let go of her long enough to backhand her. Bucky tried to get out of the chair and realized he was making things worse for her as Karpov grabbed her by her hair and pulled her towards the door
"When you finish bring him to my room so we can all have a chat," said Karpov and he calmly dragged Georgina out the room. Bucky wasn't sure who was screaming as the next shock went through him-was he screaming or was it Georgina?
"James are you ok?" asked Alison.
"I...I don't want to talk about it," he said softly and Alison nodded.
"I think we all need a little rest. I'm going to go down the hall for a nap and you can do whatever you want until dinner," said Alison.
"I just want some quiet," he said. He wanted to scream at her so bad. Hand around her throat, choke her till she stops breathing and I won't remember anymore. I don't want to remember her anything but her.
"Alright," she left the room and Steve stood up looking nervous.
"I'll see you later," said Steve and he left the room. Bucky looked down at the tags. I don't know what to do? She and Steve came came back a few hours later with dinner. It was meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans. Did I like meatloaf? She turned on a movie, Fantasia while they had dinner.
"Did you go and see this when it was on Broadway?" asked Alison.
"Stop talking," said Bucky. She sighed and they watched the movie in silence.
….
Bucky telling Alison to shut up was becoming the bedrock of their relationship or at least that was what Steve was noting. When Steve was with him it was silence, Bucky never said anything. With Alison it was varying forms of 'shut up' and sometimes a profanity tossed in for good measure.
She would get up and have his breakfast ready before he got up. She had started giving him mini history lessons while they ate which Steve thought he was ignoring until she brought up Kennedy and Bucky asked about the woman in pink and Alison didn't bat an eye while telling him what became of Jackie Kennedy. She would read to him either his old Lovecraft stories or Harry Potter. (Just to change it up and introduce him to something new-Steve had been meaning to read Harry Potter for some time now) until he told her to shut up and she handed Bucky over to him so she could take a break. She came back for lunch which she would simply turn on music and not talk to him. It seemed to suit Bucky just fine.
Dinner would be the three of them since Sam had gone to San Francisco on a lead for his Ant Man. Alison would try to talk to him again, nothing serious just idle chatter and Steve would chime in until Bucky would look at her and once again tell her to shut up. She had a cot brought in so she could sleep in here in case he woke up from a nightmare. They still restrained him for sleep just in case. It was Tuesday night and Alison was telling Bucky how their old neighborhood had changed since the 40's.
"Если бы я мог задушить вас, чтобы вы перестать говорить я бы сделал это," muttered Bucky and Steve understood 'stop' and 'talking'. Oh good he's taken to telling her to shut up in Russian.
"I don't understand. Was that Russian?" asked Alison looking at Steve. Friday decided to be helpful.
" It was Russian and the exact translation is-If I could choke you to make you stop talking I would do it is the exact translation," chimed Friday. Steve was slightly horrified. It was one thing for Bucky to want to hurt him, afterall he had been programmed too, but she hadn't done anything to him. She didn't leave him behind.
"Do you want to take a break?" asked Alison calmly gathering up their dinner dishes. Did you not understand what he just said, thought Steve.
"Just go away," Bucky grounded out those three words and Alison nodded.
"Alright we'll take a break for now and I'll come back before lights out," said Alison. She picked up the trays and left the room. Steve looked at Bucky who was sitting there looking torn between amusement and confusion.
"I'll go talk to her," said Steve defeated. She was waiting for the elevator when he caught up to her.
"Alison. I'm really sorry and…" she cut him off.
"Steve. He doesn't like me and that's alright," said Alison.
"What?" asked Steve and she leaned on the wall.
"Before I narrowed down to psych care I worked in general care. ER and free care clinic settings. I have been shoved, hit, yelled at, spit on, peed on, thrown up on and on one memorable Halloween a woman threatened her with a voodoo doll because I wouldn't give her the pain killers she asked for. I will admit strangling is a new one. He's mad and I'm an easy target to be nasty with,"said Alison.
"He's not nasty with me though," said Steve. I'm the one who let him fall, thought Steve.
"He knows you. Even when he was at his peak of his programing some part of him remembered you and held back. Me? I'm just coffee lady in his face all the time. He might not ever like me. At least he's honest about it," said Alison. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell Steve what a 'See you next Tuesday' she was to some of her doctors when she was first committed. Well I was after the second day when drugs wore off and realized where I was.
"Look he needs a break from me and it's fine. I'll stay in the building. Just come get me when he's ready for bed. Well ask him if he wants me to sleep in his room tonight. He might even prefer to spend tomorrow with you instead of me until he cools off," said Alison The elevator doors opened and she got on.
"He's had a really bad day for the last seventy plus years. He's gonna be cranky, hostile and short tempered for awhile. He just needs to work through it," said Alison. The doors shut and Steve headed back to Bucky's room. The amusement look had faded and was replaced with confusion.
"She left," said Bucky puzzled.
"Yeah."
"Why?" Bucky looked like a kid that knew he had done something wrong and couldn't figure it out.
Steve sat down in the chair and gathered his thoughts. A large part of him wanted to hit something until it felt as bad as he did. The whole situation pissed him off. His best friend was a shell of himself and went between stone cold silence and stone cold rages. Sometimes though there was a brief glimmer of the man he knew and that was what hurt the most. Knowing Bucky was in there and not knowing how to get him out for good.
Steve was having second thoughts about having Alison here. She meant well and she was trying. Most people would have ran screaming by now. At the end of the day though she was a civilian and if Bucky really wanted to hurt her he could do it in a second. He wasn't sure how any of them would move past that. Why didn't you think this all the way though? Because it's Bucky and you never really think everything through when it's him. Sam wouldn't forgive him. Kicking him off the helicarrier in the heat of battle is one thing. Maiming his best friend is a whole another level. Even with Sam's past dealing with Vets I couldn't in all fairness ask him to trust Bucky. I know you're in there Bucky. I know you wouldn't hurt someone on purpose. The Soldier though...he even scares me, thought Steve.
"Well you needed a break and she's giving you one," said Steve. Bucky looked so confused it made Steve hurt even more on the inside.
"I don't like being this way," said Bucky softly and his hand worked the dog tags the way Bucky's mom would work her rosary. Are you in there Bucky?
…
She left and he got her to leave. He got the endless source of chatter away and he didn't feel good about it a second later. Steve looked upset before getting up.
"I'll go talk to her," said Steve and he left the room. Bucky sat there and his thoughts started slamming into each other. Why did Steve look like that? Because you said something really rude. Rude and uncalled for. I said something I shouldn't have said. Steve came back a few moments later and she wasn't with him.
"She left," said Bucky. You wanted her leave and she left. She tends to do something when I ask. You didn't ask though, not really. Not the way you should ask a lady to do something.
"Yeah," said Steve looking very tired.
"Why?" asked Bucky. Why did you say that? It shut her up and got her leave. I hope she doesn't come back. I miss other people. She's not like the others. She kept her promise. No one is hurting us, thought Bucky. Bucky watched Steve sit down and close his eyes like he was counting to ten before going on.
"Well you needed a break and she's giving you one," said Steve. If your mother was still alive she would smack you. She didn't raise you to act this way. Bully. You're a bully like the people who picked on Steve and how your father picked on your mother. Shame hit him like a wave and he started working the dog tags in his hand. She hasn't done a damn thing to you.
He could remember other medical staff from his past and how they never cared about him. They didn't care if what they did hurt him or what he wanted. He almost wished she was like the medical staff from his past at least then he would know where he stood. Instead he was stuck with a person who never seemed to run out of things to say,didn't blink when he threatened her and had been nice to him despite his temper. You've only said it outloud once. You've thought about it a bunch though, thought Bucky.
"I don't like being this way," said Bucky more to himself than to Steve. I wasn't always this way. Steve looked at him and Bucky looked down at the blankets again. I almost killed you. I wanted you dead so it would stop hurting. Bully.
"I don't want to be mean. I know she's trying and sometimes I remember good things when she talks...we took Becca to Coney Island and you threw up on the roller coaster. Sometimes though I don't wanna remember and she's here, she's talking and I don't...they hurt sometimes. The memories," admitted Bucky. I almost want to forget again, thought Bucky.
"You have to tell her that. And not just by telling her to shut up. She's like a head doctor and she can't make things better unless she knows what's going on," said Steve patiently.
"What if it doesn't get better?" asked Bucky. Am I still Bucky Barnes or just the Asset?
"We just have to try," said Steve. His phone rang.. "I'll be right back." Steve got up and left the room to take the call. Bucky got out of bed and thought for a second. That voice that tells them stuff or when they ask for stuff.
"Friday?" he asked and that chirpy voice answered.
"Yes." Bucky took a deep breath and asked where he could find Alison.
….
Sam had given her a tour before he had left for San Francisco, just the basics-kitchen, living room and sleeping areas. He had promised to be back by Saturday though. She was dreading Saturday a bit. Saturday would be the three year mark and she was going to visit Matt's grave. She had been in a coma when they held the funeral and she had only gone out there once since. Sorry I haven't been out there more.
She had forgotten though which floor the living room was in, it was either the sixth floor or the ninth and she had opted for the sixth floor and was wrong.Wait was it sixteen. Too many floors in this place. She was turned around on the floor she was on and was about to ask Friday where she was when she walked past a room. It was some sort of music room. It had a piano, cello, and guitars lined the wall. Off to one side was the most beautiful set of drums she had laid her eyes on. It was a Pearl set, something most drummers would kill for. Her own battle tested Tama drum set was in the basement of the apartment. There hadn't been room in her and Matt's apartment, so her grandfather had kept them.
"I bought those at auction to spite Steve Jobs." said Tony and she jumped a bit to see Tony and Pepper standing there in formal wear.
"I am so sorry. I got my floors mixed up," said Alison.
"I still get lost sometimes," admitted Pepper.
"Do you play? You look like you actually understood why I spent...well a very indecent amount of money on the set," said Tony.
"It was a rather stupid amount for something that's collecting dust," said Pepper sounding a bit annoyed.
"I used to play. Orchestra from fifth grade and up. When I was in high school and college I was in a band, drums and backup vocals. We did so many weddings and random bar nights," said Alison touching the cymbals.
"Why did you stop?" asked Tony.
"I just sort of lost the feeling for it," said Alison.
"It happens," said Tony. Pepper grinned.
"I wanna hear you play," said Pepper.
"What?" asked Alison.
"Oh Jobs would roll over in his grave to know I let someone play them," said Tony. He found the drumsticks and handed them over. Alison felt her hands go numb, but she adjusted the set to her height and took a seat. Relax...
"I take requests."
"I just want to see if they're any good after all this time," said Pepper.
"It's not like fruit on the counter. Drums don't go bad," countered Tony.
"Actually if you don't maintain them they...I might be a little rusty," said Alison noticing the look Tony was giving her. Don't piss him off, he's been nice the last few days, thought Alison.
She took a deep breath and adjusted her grip on the sticks. She started off playing basic rudiments before slipping into U2. It was like riding a bike only easier somehow. She always liked warming up to U2 before getting on stage. Matt had been more into Clapton for his warm up numbers when he played guitar.
I believe in the Kingdom come.
Then all the colors will bleed into one.
Bleed into one.
But yes I'm still running
You broke the bonds and you
You loosened the chains
You carried the cross
Of my shame
Oh my shame
You know I believe it
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
"I didn't know girls played drums." Alison looked over and Bucky standing there.
"Nice to see you up Tin Man. Oh I got it. You are the Tin Man and she's Dorothy," said Tony pointing back and forth at Bucky and Alison.
"Honey. No," said Pepper seeing Bucky give him a look that wasn't completely murderous, but pretty close. "We're going to give you a minute." Pepper took Tony by the arm and pulled him away.
"But's it's my tower," they heard him protesting down the hall. Alison wiped her hands on her jeans and stood up. James was working the dog tags in his fist and she could see he was trying to work something out.
"I...I...you don't talk to a lady that way," said James looking down at the floor.
"It's okay. I do talk a lot," said Alison coming over to him. She saw him clenching the tags in his hand tightly and his hand was shaking. "I'm not mad at you and you aren't in trouble alright," said Alison. He kept looking at the ground biting the inside of his check so hard she was worried he was going to draw blood.
"Do you want to wear those?" asked Alison pointing to the dog tags and it seemed to snap him out of whatever trance he was in.
"They took mine. I don't know where they went," said James. Alison took his hand and took the tags. His hand was red and marked from how tight he had been holding on them. She stood up on her toes and put them on over his head.
"Now you don't have to worry about losing them," said Alison. She looked up at him and for a brief second she thought she saw a hint of a smile. They stood there and neither one of them could figure out what to say.
"There you are. You scared me," said Steve looking back and forth at them.
"Everything's fine. He just wanted to talk," said Alison. For a change he wanted to talk.
….
Later that night Bucky looked over at Alison asleep on the cot and thought to himself about escaping again. Steve had told him Tony Howard was finished with his arm and wanted to test it out tomorrow. Once he had his arm he could go back into the world and become a ghost again. You'll hurt Steve. Really you think Steve is happy having your rude, hostile, mean tempered ass here? Sadly yes...but he'll get over it. She can go back to her life and if she has any brains she won't miss me.
Bucky watched as she started twitching and muttering something he couldn't make out. God she talks in her sleep too. A few moments later she sat bolt right up and started screaming in terror. Damn. She looked around puzzled trying to remember where she was. Bucky stared at her, he thought he was only one here who did that. She looked over at him and her face turned red.
"Sorry. Bad dream. I didn't mean to wake you up," she muttered and she went to settle back into her bed when he spoke up.
"I couldn't sleep anyway," said Bucky. She nodded and for the first time he found himself wishing she would talk. She looked so pale and shaken it pulled at him. Be nice...just for a little bit. "You think we leave any bad dreams for anybody else?" asked Bucky and she let out a nervous sort of laugh.
"I went almost four weeks without one. Some nights are better than others. It will get better for you too someday," said Alison.
"What do you dream about?" asked Bucky and she sat up and pulled her knees up to her chest.
"I was in the 'accident' that killed my fiancee and that's what I have nightmares about," said Alison and something in her tone seemed off. She wasn't telling the whole truth, but he wasn't sure he had the right to press her for the truth right now.
"We're you and Steve on a date that night I came in?" asked Bucky. It made vague sense in his head. They were both too nice for their own good and single. She got the biggest smile on her face and she turned a little red.
"No. It was supposed to be a dinner to meet what Sam assured me was just a friend and he brought Steve. People were trying to push a date and neither one of us wanted it," said Alison.
"You're too cute for him anyway," said Bucky and he was surprised. You almost sound like your old self. Alison shook her head.
"It's like he's Photoshopped," said Alison and Bucky was confused.
"Photoshop?"
"I'll explain later. So...um the music we listen to at lunch it's what you like right?" asked Alison.
"It feels familiar," admitted Bucky. He was dancing with a girl and she told him he looked good in his uniform. "Do you like it?" asked Bucky.
"Yeah. It's what I listened too when I was learning to play the drums," said Alison.
"What were you playing this evening? It was new. I think I liked it," said Bucky.
"They're a band called U2. They're Irish too. If you want we can start listening to some newer music at lunch," said Alison.
"We can try," said Bucky. Alison nodded.
"We should try to get back to sleep," said Alison. Bucky nodded and they both settled back into sleep. I was nice...for a good ten minutes and she's not that bad when I'm nice, thought Bucky. Alison closed her eyes and it was first time she dropped back to sleep quickly after one of her dreams...well it was more a memory than a dream.
"So I was thinking...if we were to get pregnant in October I could stay home with the baby in summer," said Alison and Matt looked at her.
"You leave nothing to chance do you," said Matt grinning.
"I just like having a plan," teased Alison. Matt shook his head.
"What happens if I knock you up before October?"
"That just ruins everything," said Alison. Matt sat back and looked at the traffic.
"You really wanna have kids with me?"
"Well I am marrying you so it would be the easiest option," said Alison.
"Oh yeah," he paused and looked out the window. "Yeah. Yeah let's do it. I'll try to not knock you up before October." She laughed and shifted in the seat. They hadn't gone anywhere in the last ten minutes and that second iced tea she had before leaving work was now a huge mistake.
Matt looked over from the driver seat and grinned.
"You gonna make it?' he asked and Alison grinned back.
"I really need to pee," she joked.
"Can you wait another twenty minutes. Traffic sucks today," muttered Matt. Alison looked out her window and saw what looked like lights coming down from the sky.
"What in the world?" she asked. Five cars in front of them blew up without warning.
"Holy shit!" screamed Matt and fear crawled in her stomach. All those people, she thought. She was about to get out the car to see if anything could be done when their car was blown back and flipped over
Ed Albosta was a pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers back in 41. I always did wonder if anyone got fired for not fact checking what was playing in Cap's room when he woke up.
Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra in 41- /KfrULWkXgOc
Tommy Dorsey with Buddy Rich in /nbyO5rkepWY
Fantasia was released in 1940 like a roadshow, it played on Broadway for 49 weeks.
My personal favorite Buddy Rich /VJh9W3Gcpmo