Steve, as usual, got right to the point.
"Some of these men need medical attention." He announced with a crisp salute to the grizzled colonel who had come out to meet them, clearly the senior officer of the camp. The weary caravan came to a halt. The colonel raised an eyebrow, but otherwise gave no reaction.
Without waiting for orders, medics began dispersing into the crowd of returning commandos, seeking out the wounded.
Steve took a deep breath. Bucky braced himself. He wasn't really looking forward to getting court-martialed - especially after the shit-storm he'd just survived - but if he had to step in… Well he'd do what he had to do.
"I'd like to surrender myself for disciplinary action."
The colonel looked Steve Rogers up and down, then glanced at the returning men behind him - weary and battered, but alive. That they were fully behind Captain America, both literally and metaphorically, was plain.
Colonel Phillips was a stoic man, for all his sarcasm; but Bucky got the briefest impression he'd be throwing his hands up in defeat, if he were the type for it.
"That won't be necessary…" The colonel informed them with brittle dignity. He turned, pausing to address a gorgeous brunette that was eyeing Steve, a smug smile on her face.
"Faith, huh?"
She smirked just a bit in reply.
The colonel stalked off with the air of someone who's salvaged what authority they can from a situation, and has decided to call a strategic retreat. Bucky breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey!" He barked. Every head in the camp turned to them. "Let's hear it for Captain America!" He flashed a proud grin at Steve, who looked bewildered by the attention, as the soldiers around them burst into raucous cheers.
Bucky let the crowd push him as they swarmed in to congratulate the Captain. His smile was gone.
Steve... what have you gotten yourself into? You're a hero... but you're still just a kid.
I can't protect you out here... Those guys don't want your lunch money, they want you dead… Don't you get that? Why couldn't you just stay in New York where it was safe?
He felt a little like he was about to be sick. The throng pushed him back and he let them, the world reeling a bit around him. He'd hate to ruin Steve's first big moment in the sun by vomiting on his shoes...
A medic noticed him turning green and he was soon quietly herded away with the other wounded, leaving Steve to enjoy his moment alone.