A/N: Such a terrible pun for a title name! No it's not the legit Great Depression although I do believe it was in the 30's... I forget... Enjoy :')

1937

The Great Depression

I did end up moving out of that dump two years later. I moved into another dump but it wasn't as bad. It had two bedrooms, a working toilet in an actual bathroom, a separate kitchen and living room unlike the other place. Not so many bugs and rodents, still a few bugs every few days but whatever, can't bug proof the world. It actually looked bright and there was no 'right in your face' problems with water or mold. Plus there was only 4 homes in this apartment. I was hoping Connie would move in with me but she had to take care of her sister because she didn't trust her on her own, but they were the same age. Connie practically lived with me as much as I had lived with Steve, only leaving at night when I wasn't working.

Steve and I still hung out everyday. We would eat his mom's apple pies and talk about Steve's job at the News Paper place. One day his mom fell really sick, she already had a cold but it seemed to have gotten worse. I took a few days off work to help Steve take care of her. She began coughing really bad. She has chills too, we just assumed a chest cold. 3 days later things weren't getting better, but worse. We called the hospital and they took her in. Turns out she has something called 'Pneumonia'. It's pretty serious.

I had to go back to work, I felt bad for leaving my best friend and his mom that has been so generous to me, but I needed to pay my rent. As soon as I got off, I was at the hospital. She didn't look like she was getting better. Steve had fallen asleep one night but I found it too awkward to sleep in a hospital. When his mom woke up, she motioned me over with a shaky, sweaty finger.
"Keep him out of trouble for me." A gave her a weak smile.
"I promise."
"You stay out of trouble too..."
"Can't promise that!" I laughed quietly and she attempted to laugh but ended up her coughing. Steve woke up to the sudden noise and we calmed her chest down so she wouldn't be in as much pain.

Around noon the next day at my job I got a message from the front desk. Steve's mom past away an hour ago. I bolted out of work and straight to the hospital for my friend.
"I came as soon as I heard..." It was true, but it seems to be a commonly used saying. Steve's face was red a puffy from crying. I pulled him in for a hug, he never returned it but at least he had someone. Connie came rushing in and stopped a few feet away, keeping her distance. Steve just needed a friend, and Bucky was there for him.

Two days later. They buried Sarah Rogers right beside her husband Joseph. Everyone was in black. Steve's family related to Sarah showed up. Sarah's friends were there, and Bucky and Connie were there. Connie was like another friend to Steve but she only came around if Bucky was there, so he wasn't sure how to take it. When everyone stood in silence, excluding some quiet sobbing, Steve walked away. No one noticed he left, but as people began saying good bye and leaving, Bucky was looking around for his best friend, the one most affected by this tragic lost. After everyone left, Steve was still no where's to be seen.

I drove Connie home and went looking for Steve. I assumed he would go home, and that's where I saw him. I jogged up beside him. I didn't say anything until we were going up the stairs to his apartment.

"We looked for you after, my folks wanted to give you a ride at the cemetery."
"I know... I'm sorry... I just kinda wanted to be alone..." It was the most depressed voice I've ever heard from Steve before.
"How was it?" Why did I ask that, his mother just died.
"S'okay, she's next to dad."
"I was gonna ask..."
"I know what you're gonna say Buck, it's just..." He paused.
"We can put the couch cushions on the floor like when we were kids... I'll be fun, all you got to do is shine my shoes, maybe take out the trash." He started searching for his house key which he couldn't find. I kicked aside a brick which had their spare under it. I handed him the key hoping he would lighten up a tad. "Come on..."
"Thank you Buck... but I can get by on my own."
"The thing is, you don't have too..." I placed my hand on his shoulder in a reassuring gesture. "I'm with you til the end of the line pal."

The next few days I never heard from nor saw Steve. He secluded himself in his house. It was expected but it's not good for him. I went to drop off food on day 2. He didn't answer the door, but I didn't want to disturb him although I was beginning to worry. On day 5 when I knocked to drop off food I heard something move. At least there is some form of life in there. Steve answered the door, but unlike scrawny Steve who just looked weak if you didn't know of his problem, this Steve looked like he was on death's bed. His face was sweaty, had black circles under his eyes, his nose was red from crying I'm assuming and he was probably wearing the same clothes for 5 days. I looked above him to see the house was a mess and it was dark, no lights, curtains are closed, it was sad to see my best friend in such a depressing state of mind.

"Brought you some food... I'm assuming you haven't eaten much." I said with a light smile. Steve just turned and walked into the house, curling up on the couch where I'm assuming he's been this whole time. I set the food on the table and started picking papers and whatever else was on the floor that wasn't suppose to be there. "Come on pal, look at how you're living. You've really put yourself in the ditch this time." He just looked up at me with his tired eyes. If it wasn't Steve I wouldn't have cleaned the house with no help but he needed it. After everything was washed down and looking like a new place I went to the curtains.

"Get ready, here comes the burning sensation of life." I ripped the curtains open and I saw Steve shove his face under the blanket he was wrapped up in, he was making dying cat noises the whole time though. I opened the window to let some fresh air in. "Steve, go clean up cause I am not bathing you, no matter how close of friends we are." I laughed. He stuck his face out from under the blanket.
"Fine." Was all he said when he got up and walked towards the bathroom. He sort of reminded me of a kid being sick after a sugar rush.

When he got out he looked much better, still sickly in his face but at least he didn't smell it anymore. He thanked me for what I've done for him, like cleaning up and getting him out of that rut. The next few days I forced him to go outside, it was difficult but he managed. He wasn't his normal self from that day forward but he got as close to normal as I could imagine.

A/N: I *cough* illegally *cough* *cough* watched the Winter Soldier so many times I had to put one of the best scenes in! Quoted it the best I could hear it... Obviously I've thrown a bit of foreshadowing into every few chapters like "costing an ARM and a leg" or "Something I'll never FORGET" Just stuff like that XD I'm an ass

I also had to do research on Phenomena. I heard about it but wasn't sure about the signs or how they treated it in the 20's... I love researching stuff for Fan Fictions cause I feel like I actually google something useful for once.

Ummm review, tell me if I'm giving you guys feelz cause yeah... I know my friend who has been dying to read this will be all teary eyed, she's so over dramatic *devilish grin*