A/N Another update! Let me know what you think.
With my eyes and attention too absorbed on the bloodied scene, I barely heard the bedroom the door as it slammed wide open. The Soldier immediately called my name as he came rushing to my side. Shaking as I clutched the sheets in a white knuckled grip, I felt a heavy weight on my chest as hot tears began to drip down my cheeks. I don't understand.
Turning my head, the Soldier had tugged my arm to make me look at him. Clutching the sides of my face, he tried to talk to me but I can barely focus "Look at me" he said "Come on, look at me"
I glanced up into those grey eyes of his and that's all it took for me to burst into a fit of tears. I can still see the Soldier in my head; the dream. I can still hear the echo of that awful song bouncing around in my ears. Prying my fingers from the tightly clutched sheets, I looked away as he took in the smudges and pooling of deep red.
"What did you do Katya?" he asked worriedly.
The pain throbbed once again and I whimpered as a flush of warmth trickled down my legs. The Soldier immediately sprung to action as he pulled the covers the rest of the way off. Pulling me toward him, he picked me up off the bed to hold me in his arms. Wrapping my own around the Soldiers neck, he quickly carried me out of the apartment.
Rushing down the hallway, my head lolled to rest on his shoulder. I can smell the familiar stench of blood. It's sticking to my fingers and probably everywhere else. Heading toward the medical bay, a door swung open wide and before he began to talk, but the Soldiers voice quickly faded as I grew too tired to stay awake any longer.
An hour had passed since Bucky had taken Katya to the medical ward. It happened to be a mix of luck and firm knowledge of the doctors' time schedule that he was able to locate Cho at such a late hour. Standing outside in the corridor, Bucky leant against the wall with a blank face and crossed arms. From the moment he stepped into her room he knew what had happened. Bucky only hoped that he was in time and everything would be alright.
Looking up from his gaze on the floor, Bucky stood straight when Cho approached him; dressed in her usual outfit and pinned hair "She's fine"
"Are you sure?" replied Bucky with uncertainty. After what he saw, there's a part of him that didn't agree. There was so much blood.
Cho nodded her head with a weak smile "Yes, I'm sure. Both of them are perfectly alright"
"The baby's okay" Bucky breathed a sigh of relief and tried to hold his composure in front of the woman.
"They're very lucky" she replied "If it had been anyone else then I'm not sure either of them would have survived"
Rubbing a hand down his face, he asked "What happened exactly?" things like this don't occur for no reason at all.
"It's can be common during gestation. I would say it's most likely from stress or harsh activity. I recommend Katya stay in the ward for a couple of days for observation. After that she's free to leave" replied Cho before adding "Please make sure she cuts down on anything excessive, including exercise. Katya has a high metabolism so she'll need to eat more healthy and frequently. I think it might have been one of the causes. She wasn't getting enough nutrition to replace the energy she was burning off. She is eating for two now"
"Alright" Bucky nodded his head in understanding and memorised every word that left the doctors' lips. But he can't help but wonder if this is partially his fault. Bucky and Katya didn't exactly part on good terms before this whole scenario had happened.
"You should get some rest. You look tired" said Cho as she looked the exhausted man up and down.
Taking another glance through the glass screen, Bucky took in the site of the unconscious girl as she lay asleep. Katya isn't in any danger now, hopefully. Taking a solid breath, Bucky nodded his head and started to make his way back to the apartment. Closing the door behind him, he leant back against the wooden surface before glancing down at his blood stained shirt and hands.
Making his way to Katya's room he peered in to see the tussled red soaked sheets. Bucky immediately searched the house for some cleaning supplies. Filling a bucket with soapy water, he collected a few tea towels, some bleach and cleaning rags. Making his way back into the room, the soldier went to work and started to strip the bed of its sheets. He could hear the footsteps before they fell silent by the door of the bedroom.
"I heard what happened" spoke Steve as Bucky continued to scrub at a blotch of red on the carpet.
"Yeah well, she's fine now. They're both okay" he grumbled with a sigh. Scrubbing harder, he eventually managed to get the stain out.
"Buck, you need to get some rest. I can find someone to care of this for you" replied Steve but his friend simply ignored the offer and continued to clean "Just, please don't beat yourself up over it"
"I shouldn't have left her" the soldier suddenly admitted. Squeezing the cloth in his hand, Bucky glanced around the room "Katya's right. I'm always leaving. I was supposed to look after her and I didn't. No she's in there" there's guilt in his voice.
"None of this is anyone's fault" replied Steve "I spoke with the doctor and I know you heard the same thing. No one could have prevented it. And if you think you did something wrong, then fix it – be with her. Look after her. She needs you now more than ever" giving one last look at his friend, Steve left knowing Bucky needs time to himself.
After hearing the front door close with a thud, Bucky threw the rag into the pink coloured water sitting in the bucket. Everything in the room is perfect. It's as if nothing had ever happened. It's a skill the soldier still has.
Resting for three days straight, I'd only just managed to keep myself awake for more than an hour. Watching the television situated on the wall, I feel somewhat different now. No matter what I do, whether it be eating or going to the bathroom, I feel more alert than ever. I'm too petrified that any sort of contact might hurt the baby inside of me.
"Are you ready?" asked the Soldier as he walked into the room whilst pushing the wheelchair. It wasn't too long ago that the doctor had cleared me to leave. Apart of me is afraid of going back. I don't want to see that room. I don't want to sleep in that bed. I'm not ready, but I nodded my head anyway. Sometimes you just have to move on even if you don't want to.
Turning off the television, I sat up slowly with a little groan; the ache still present in my groin. Swinging my legs over the edge, the Soldier helped me get down to sit on the chair. Hugging the soft warm robe closer to my body, I'm still dressed in the standard clinical white top and pants. Wheeling me out of the room and down the corridor, we headed to the apartment and he opened the front door before pushing me inside.
"I don't want to go back in there" I said quickly as he started moving me down the hallway.
"The doctor said you need to rest for another week" he replied
"Then I'll rest on the couch"
"You're not sleeping on the couch Katya" he said with a slight sigh before stepping around me and opening up his bedroom door "You can stay in here"
Pushing me in, the Soldier stopped at the side of the bed. Unlike the house, his mattress sits on a proper bedframe. I think he's starting to get used to everything now. Using the palm of my hands, I got up from the seat while he pulled back the covers. Shrugging off my robe, I crawled into the bed and laid down. Pulling up the covers again, the Soldier then wheeled the chair into the corner.
"I'll be outside if you need me" he said, to which I nodded. Getting comfortable, he flicked off the lights before leaving. Closing my eyes, I eventually drifted off to sleep as I heard the faint echo of the television down the hall.
A brief blank moment later, I woke up to a warm hand rubbing up and down my arm. Fluttering my eyes open, I immediately smelt the freshly cooked meal. The scent made my insides twist. Sitting up in the bed, the ceiling light had been turned on and the Soldier held out a plate containing a small steak and vegetables. Grimacing at the site, he sat the dish down on my lap before handing me a knife and fork.
"You need to get some iron" he said.
Wrinkling my nose, I stared down at the meal. Although I've had this plenty of times before, it smells putrid; as if it's rotten. Turning my head, I saw the Soldier standing by my bedside looking at me like a hawk "Are you going to watch me eat?" I asked.
"I need to make sure you don't flush it down the toilet, like last time" he replied "It's either this or supplements"
Grimacing, the Soldier exaggerated the scenario. I only did that once and it was because he gave me this exact same thing. I politely told him not to make it again and now here it is. Hesitantly slicing a piece of meat, I had to stop myself from gagging as I placed it into my mouth. It doesn't taste any better than it smells.
Pushing the plate away, I shook my head. I can't do this. Getting up from the bed, I rushed out and into the bathroom before spitting out the chunk of chewed up meat "It's disgusting"
The Soldier followed me to lean against the door frame as I washed my mouth "I can't do anything about the taste or smell, you're just going to have to eat it"
"I'm not eating it" I replied firmly.
He can't make me and I'm not willingly doing it. I tried and I failed. Attempting to ignore my senses, the lingering stench of the meat is making me want to throw up. Clutching my stomach, I leant against the sink basin and closed my eyes. I can't keep being sick like this. I just have to take my mind off of it.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
I nodded while keeping my mouth tightly closed. Opening my eyes a moment later, I stood up straight and took a step forward. As soon as I breathed in the smell hit me again and I couldn't hold it in any longer. Falling to my knees, the contents of my stomach rushed up to empty into the ceramic bowl. I can feel the Soldier as he rubbed my back and held back the loose strands of hair.
These last few days, have been a living hell.