I literally sneezed once, and got inspired for this one. Even though I should be asleep.

DarylDixon'sLover: She'd definitely back them, though I'm not sure how much fighting she'd be doing...

xxDreamWalkerxx: Aww thanks! Glad you like it!

Lesliezin: I have the same problem. I have a hard time stopping once I start reading something. And if I try to, I end up going back to it. But I'm glad you found some hope in the darkness.

CJ/Oddball: I hope Tony can get over it and forgive Bucky for doing something out of his control. My reviews are back and working, and I can see all of the ones from before now...I hope that's the case for everyone else. Maybe they finally got through the five hundred emails I sent them...

Tiphanie: You are so sweet! I feel like this is my favorite so far as well. I don't know what it is, I just love writing this story. I'm loving it more than Angel right now (if you haven't noticed). But things aren't going to be smooth sailing for them. You know me better than that. But I literally screamed a little when I saw Bucky was in Romania. I'm telling you, the Russo's are geniuses. I want them to direct the Black Widow movie. I love you too, sweetheart! I'm slowly working my way towards better. If I could get off this stupid medication, I'd probably feel a whole lot better, but I have to take it.

Kings-Woman: Aww thanks! I'm glad you like it! I take complete responsibility.

Enjoy!

Were were a day from docking in Italy when a storm hit out of nowhere. The temperature dropped several degrees, the seas getting rough, and the rain started pouring. I had moved outside our cabin, watching the thousand tons of steel being tossed on the waves, while getting soaked by the rain. My skin was stinging it was so cold, but I couldn't look away. There was something ethereal about standing on something so seemingly indestructible and stable, and watching it get tossed around.

Until a hand grabbed my hood and yanked me back into the cabin.

"You're soaked." James said, throwing a towel at me. "Stay inside."

I was shivering as I climbed in the shower, trying to warm myself up in the lukewarm spray. But it didn't really help. There was a bite to the air, and we were approaching nightfall. I changed into dirty clothes, after having long run out of clean ones, but at least they were dry. James was sitting on the chair, taking up his usual nightly spot. I laid down on the bed, really feeling the rocking of the ship now.

"I don't think I can sleep." I groaned, turning on my side, but that didn't help.

"Just try." James said, slouching in the chair.

I did eventually fall asleep, the ship's rocking slowly getting smoother as we passed through the storm. I wasn't sure how long I slept, but it didn't feel like much. I felt awful. My head hurt and I was achy as I left the cabin, land a lot closer than I had thought it would be. James was standing, leaning against the railing, his back to me.

"We'll have to be sneaky about this." He said, his back still to me. "They're going to check everything. We need to get off the ship without anyone noticing. Get some breakfast and say goodbye now. We'll have to time this just right."

I did just that, bidding the crew farewell as I gagged through breakfast. I wasn't sure when our next meal would be, so I ate, even though I wasn't hungry.

Lorenzo bid me a teary goodbye, wishing me luck on my journey. I thanked him, taking my bag from James as Lorenzo said something to him in Italian. It sounded like a threat, but the idea of James feeling threatened by anyone was absurd.

We snuck off the ship, James dragging me behind him as we rushed off the pier, making our way into town. My nose started running as I kept my head down, my sniffles obviously annoying James.

"I'm sorry." I whispered as we stood at a crosswalk. "I can't help it. My nose is runny."

"Just keep up and stay quiet." He said, leading me further into town.

It was still early, not many people up and around yet. Meaning it was all that much easier for James to steal a car.

I curled up in the passenger seat, pulling my knees to my chest as I leaned my head against the window. My headache had only gotten bigger, and I was exhausted. Sixteen days on a ship. Who wouldn't be. James drove from the city, my eyes quickly drooping closed as we sped away to our new life.

James wasn't sure what was wrong. She'd fallen asleep fairly quickly; he was expecting that. But she wasn't waking up. She swatted weakly at his hand as he tried to shake her, groaning and shifting slightly before she was out again. He'd found an abandoned farmhouse in the middle of the Italian countryside for them to stay in for a couple days. Only he hadn't counted on there being a problem like this. He shook her again, rougher this time, but she only moved limply, not even frowning. He cupped her face with his hands, feeling her temperature with the bionic limb. The heat of her face slipping through the sensors in the metal. She was warm. Too warm.

Her face was flushed, nose red. The only reason he even knew she was still alive was the ragged breaths that came from her chest. He vaguely remembered something like this before. But it was nothing more than a feeling. Absolutely no help to him.

He lifted her in his arms, carrying her into the house. She curled against him, and then he knew something was seriously wrong. She would never had done that if she were okay. He doubted she would let him pick her up, unless she had no other choice. She shivered, a shaky inhale through her mouth quickly turning into a cough. It was ugly, deep and wet sounding. She whined a little, curling up tighter in his arms as he carried her up the stairs and into one of the empty bedrooms. He'd pulled one of the mattresses in there, knowing he probably wouldn't sleep until they made it to Romania. But now with this unforeseen complication, it was making things a little more difficult.

He felt something inside him clench again as she curled up on the mattress, shaking slightly. She looked hot, but when he tried to pull her jacket off, she only gripped it tighter. He decided to leave her be for the moment while he unpacked the rest of their stuff. He'd hit a few stores on their way, grabbing some necessary items: food, matches, propane, batteries, a flashlight. There were pots and pans in the kitchen, old, rusted, but still usable. He boiled water in them, getting them as clean as possible before carrying one of the large pots upstairs.

She was still in the same position, shaking. Her brow was furrowed, and her temperature had gone up. His brow creased with worry he didn't know he was capable of feeling. This wasn't supposed to happen. And now he didn't know what to do. He hadn't dragged her this far just to lose her. That wasn't part of the plan either.

So he loaded her back up in the stolen car, driving back to the nearest town. He found a pharmacy, conversing with the worker, trying to figure out what was wrong with her. The old woman confirmed it was a cold with one look at her through the car window. He'd been a little hesitant to allow it, but the woman was old, and showed no sign of danger, or a threat. She gave him medication, telling him to keep her hydrated and make sure she ate something, even if it was just broth.

She fought the fever through the night, sleeping restlessly. James had sat across the room from her, in front of the door, watching her carefully. Every shift, every cough, every shaky inhale had him on edge. He'd hung her clothes, as well as his to dry after he'd washed them, along the wall. She'd soaked through her shirt and sweatshirt, her body covered in a layer of sweat as she fought the cold. He gave her water every few minutes, making sure she was comfortable, wishing he could do more.

A hospital was out of the question. Doctors asked too much, and it left them in the open. All he could do was pray that she made it through the night, and this hadn't all been in vain after all.