A/N: I am so sorry this is late. Got caught up in packing for our move across country. Anyways, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel, Disney, or the Avengers. Just Mia.
Grumbling, I woke, finding myself encased in muscular arms. My mind backtracked until I remembered Steve had shown up after my surgery to take me home. It was then I realized why he was back. It meant Bucky was here too.
"Which floor is he on?" I mumbled, noticing Steve's breathing was too normal to be sleep breathing.
"He's on my floor right now. Sam is going to get him talking, even if it is just a few words about what he's feeling." Steve said, holding me tighter to his chest.
"Okay," I mumbled as a furry face jumped onto the bed. Licking my nose, Athena laid beside me, being silly as she stretched.
"Is it just me, or will she interrupting us more often?" Steve said, wondering aloud.
"She's interrupted my sleep a couple times, but she's been pretty good." I said, narrowing my eyes at her playfully.
"As cute as she is, you need to kick her off the bed." Steve said, pressing open mouth kisses up my exposed neck.
"And why is that?" I said, feeling aroused by the slightest touch.
"I'm going to do some things to you and I don't think she should see them." He whispered, to which I said, "Athena, go lie down. In your bed."
As she jumped off the bed, and curled up in her oversized bed, Steve flipped me from my side onto my back and settled in between my legs.
"You're getting bolder," I smirked, remembering how shy he was our first night together.
"What can I say," He said, kissing my collarbone, "You bring out another side of me."
It was only later did we realize how long we had slept in. Athena had taken herself to the artificial turf and back, while DUMMY had fed her. I felt like a horrible owner, when I saw how sad she was that we ignored her.
"I'm going to check on Bucky," Steve said, kissing the back of my head as I played with Athena.
"I'm going to call the hospital. Do you want me to come down later?" I asked, gently.
"I want to make sure its safe for you first." He said, as he gently rubbed one of Athena's ears.
"Just let me know," I said, as he leant in to give me one last lingering kiss.
"Don't get too riled about your patient." He joked, as I picked up my phone.
"Very funny," I laughed, as I dialed the number for Gabby's desk.
"New York Presbeterian, Dr. Stark's office," She answered.
"Gabby, it's Mia."
"Good afternoon! I heard the surgery was a success," She replied.
"It was. Can you possibly find Dr. Harrison and have him call me with an update? Make sure Chief Fisher isn't around, or he'll get mad I'm not resting." I said, as Athena rolled onto her back.
"You got it boss. Dr. Fisher's assistant also dropped by some paperwork. I believe it pertains to you taking over earlier than planned."
"Oh brother," I said as the elevator opened to Tony and Pepper.
"I'll give them a read through and let you know in a few hours," Gabby said as we ended the call. Pepper smiled as I stood up, only to fall back onto the couch.
"I would stand, but my legs feel like spaghetti." I said, patting the space on either side of me.
"So, you got your man back," Tony said scowling, noticing my hair thrown into a messy bun, and the hickeys on my neck.
"Yes," I sighed, a smile appearing as I thought of Steve.
"Congratulations on your surgery. Tony tells me it went smoothly," Pepper said, bumping my shoulder playfully.
"It did, and it didn't. I wanted to place a few more radiation seeds, and there was some unexpected swelling that I handled. All in all, it went well, and I'm beyond exhausted. Steve was nice enough to give me a foot rub before bed." I explained while Tony eyed Athena.
"Has she gotten bigger? She seems huge," he whispered to himself, but Pepper and I smiled.
"Yes, since you got her for me almost two weeks ago, she has grown," I replied, not noticing the way Athena cocked her head to the side.
"She's adorable." Pepper said, letting the puppy lick her fingers.
"Just imagine when I have a real baby,"
"Who said anything about babies?" Tony said, a twitch to his eye.
"No babies here," I said patting my abdomen, "And not for awhile. The Chief is wanting me to take over earlier than planned, so just as I was getting in the groove of surgeries, I'll trade my scalpel and patient, in for a pen and budget reports."
"Well I am proud of you," Pepper said, hugging me to her side. As I was about to respond, my phone rang, and I looked down to see the hospital was calling.
" I've got to take this," I said groaning as I stood up to walk to my bedroom, "Hello?"
"Stark, I hear you're inquiring about your patient," Dr. Michael Harrison said, "He's doing well. Labs look good, his sats haven't dropped more than a point since he woke up, and he's eating well."
"How do the incision lines look? Have you run a CT?" I asked, wincing as I walked.
"CT showed you had good margins, and the incision site shows no sign of infection. Now rest, I was exhausted just looking at you last night," he laughed.
"I'm trying. It's hard to pull myself away, when-"
"All you do is worry about your patients. I get that. I may have only been certified for 10 years, but I know a great surgeon when I see one. You've done amazing work in the last two months. I've got to be honest; I was hesitant about you running the department, being so young. But you've proved me wrong, and you're going to take this department, and hospital farther than I could have. Have a good weekend Stark."
"You as well, Dr. Harrison," I said, surprised at where that conversation went, when the line went dead. Hanging up myself, I shook my head.
"She's chewing on my foot!" I heard Tony scream. It was a little high pitched, and made me laugh. My phone rang the next second to Steve's ringtone.
"Hey," I smiled as I answered.
"Hey, I think he's okay. I just don't want you getting hurt if he snaps, so in about five minutes?" He said, sounding unsure.
"I've got Tony and Pepper up here, so I'll come down when I can sneak away." I said, walking slowly back to the living room. Tony and Pepper noticed, and tried to hide their amused faces.
"Plus I need to rescue Princess Tony from big bad Athena," I joked, before hanging up on him.
"So, apparently Steve wants me to meet Bucky now." I smiled hesitantly, watching as Athena playfully chased Tony around the couch.
"I think that's great. Has Sam made any progress? I know they brought him in about 2pm yesterday and he's been okay so far." Pepper said, giving me a reassuring smile as Athena grabbed Tony's pant leg.
"Gah, get her off me please." He said, looking disgusted at the thought of the puppy.
"The great Tony Stark, afraid of dogs," I said picking her up.
"Not afraid, just don't like that she's chewing on my pants."
"She doesn't like you apparently," I quipped, as I walked Pepper and Tony to the elevator.
"I'll be back DUMMY," I yelled to the robot.
"She may not like me because of what happened a few days ago,"
"What happened?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Bruce was working on some formula, and a beaker dropped onto the floor. She got a piece of glass in her paw, and we had to get a vet to monitor her."
"What was in the beaker?" I said, snarling at him.
"Well, Bruce wouldn't say what it was."
"Are you sure you removed all the glass from her paws?"
"I didn't think to check the other three," He said, shrugging.
"If you get me a dog and kill her all within a month, I'm putting dead mice in your lab again."
"Please don't," He begged.
"And this time you aren't going to find them for weeks," I threatened, as the doors opened to Tony's floor.
"Don't be dramatic Mia," Pepper said, winking at me, "I'm sure Tony will monitor Athena for you, and Bruce will tell us what was in the beaker."
Speak of the devil, because Bruce stopped in his tracks at my glare.
"I'll just get back to the lab."
"Yeah, do that." I said, looking back at Tony.
"I promise you, I will do it. I will be ruthless," I vowed, as they exited the elevator.
"Jarvis, Steve's floor," I said coldly.
"Right away ma'am." He responded, as the doors closed. Athena barked at the man in the ceiling, and I laughed.
"I wish I knew what was going on with you. You seem…. Quirkier," I said, noticing her fidgeting next to me. The doors opened and she shot out to greet Steve.
"Hey girl," he said.
"Hi," I said, smirking at him.
"How do you feel about eating here tonight? Bucky needs to not be isolated, and I don't think I should leave the Tower in case something happens."
"I understand. How about I bring food to you?" I said, noticing the figure on the couch.
"Sure," he smiled, before taking my hand and leading me towards the living room area.
"Buck?" He asked softly, and I noticed the man look up at the movement in his peripheral vision.
"Bucky, this is Amelia. She's Howard's daughter," he said, gesturing towards me with his free hand. He stared me down, and I didn't flinch as I saw his robotic arm move to push himself off of the couch. He walked toward me slowly, sizing me up and looking haunted as he stared into my eyes.
"It's nice to meet you," I said holding out my left hand, purposefully. He noticed what hand I was asking for and looked surprised.
"Hi," He said, in a low, gravely voice.
"You can call me Mia. What should I call you?" I asked, remembering my days in med school, memorizing every psych textbook I could get my hands on. It was something I really wanted to be certified in, but it wasn't in the cards during my double residency.
"Um, Bucky?" He said, questioning himself.
"Okay. Is there another name you go by?" I asked gently.
"Yasha," He answered immediately.
"Russian for James," I smiled. He nodded, gesturing for us to sit. Finding a spot on the couch, an appropriate distance from Bucky, I turned my knees towards him and kept my hands in my lap.
"Yasha," I said, testing out the name with him, "I don't know how much you remember of 1991, but I want you to know I do not blame you for my parents. I blame the people that took you and made you do those things. They weren't your actions."
"I was following orders."
"You weren't yourself. From what Steve tells me about your childhood, and the way you fought in the War, you would have never willingly done anything for Hydra."
"They shocked me," He said, fist clenching. Steve leaned forward in my peripheral vision, and I held up a hand to signal that I was fine.
"If you are ready to talk about it, I'm more than willing to listen. But if you don't want to yet, you can let us know when you feel comfortable."
"I've had 6 months out of the freezer they kept me in. I can remember everything. Every kill, every bullet, every time they tried to put me back in that freezer. I don't want to be cold anymore," He said, pleading with me.
"I know what it's like to fear, to be so afraid of something that you will avoid it at all costs. My fear is flying. I was in a plane crash when I was 10 years old," I said, making Steve sit up in surprise.
"Out of the five people on board, I was the only one that survived. My brother has sent me to a boarding school, and had sent for me, to be picked up for a weekend getaway. He was originally supposed to come as well, but got caught up at work. I was in the woods for four days on my own." I said, remembering the sounds.
"That sucks," he said, unsure of if he said the right thing.
"It did. So I barely get in planes now. Only when it is the last option," I said, giving him a reassuring smile.
"What would make you feel safer here?" I asked, as Steve posture changed again.
"I don't know." He said, as Athena jumped onto the couch between us. He jumped back in fear, but I said, "She isn't attacking. Well, she is, but she just wants you to pet her."
"A dog. You got a dog, punk?" Bucky said, looking at Steve.
"Mia did." He smiled softly.
"Why do you call him punk?" I asked softly. He sat back, tension leaving his back as he said, "Was what I always called him."
"When did you start to remember your life before the War?" I asked, knowing the signs of amnesia he was suffering from.
"About a month ago. I went back to DC because it was the last place I saw Steve. Figured he'd still be in the city. I wanted to find him again," He said, looking up with scared and confused eyes.
"Do you know that I'm a doctor?"
"Yes, they had me follow you once. They deemed you were a threat," He said, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Steve's fists clenched, and I let out a breath.
"I have a feeling I was one target of those Helicarriers," I said, looking at Steve. He nodded, in agreement, setting his jaw and looking out the window.
"You work on brains, right?" He asked, curious.
"Yes. I just worked on one yesterday. It's the trickiest organ in your body," I said, giving him a reassuring smile.
"Will you have to work on mine?" He asked, confused.
"No, I hope not." I said, giving a quick chuckle.
"What about my arm?" He asked.
"Tony may want to see how it works, may even ask to upgrade it for you. I would like to know a couple things about it, but I would rather wait until you feel comfortable enough around me, before I ask you to trust me. Everything is going to go at your pace Buc-Yasha," I said, gently touching his knee. He looked down at my hand as I withdrew it, and said, "Bucky."
"Bucky," I echoed, sighing internally.
"What's her name?" He asked, reaching out slowly to let pet the dog resting her head in his lap.
"Athena, like the Greek Goddess of wisdom and Battle Strategy," I commented, as she looked at me, wagging her tail.
"I'll be back with dinner, you two should talk. Let him vent if he's comfortable with it."
"I will," Steve said, kissing my temple before I walked into the elevator.