Bucky is buttoning his jacket back up in silence, looking half smug, half just tired. Dum Dum is torn between wanting to hug the poor kid and wanting to smack him. Jones clears his throat, grabbing their attention.
"Look... Barnes, just because I didn't find anything, that doesn't mean nothing's wrong with you. I got the bare bones for equipment, couple'a candles, and a shitty tent; you need somebody with a degree and the right tools for this… If these episodes of yours are as bad as what you're describing, you need to go see a real doctor and-"
"No." Bucky interrupts flatly. "Already got the complete poke 'n' prod routine back before we shipped out again, an' they didn't find anything. Said I'm great. Better'n great. You didn't find anythin' cause there's nothin' to find."
Gabe glances over at Dugan and catches his eye. They're both thinking the same thing.
"... You're sure about not telling Steve?" Jones asks, returning his gaze to Bucky as he leans back against the edge of his little exam table, crossing his arms. "Guy's your best friend…"
"I'm sure." Sarge studies his fingers with sudden interest. His brow crinkles like he's some volatile mixture of frustrated and scared and just… fed up with everything. "Kid's got enough to worry about, and what's he gonna do? Yell at it 'till it's all better?"
They look at each other again. Gabe shrugs and starts packing up his medical supplies. What else can he say? They both know Barnes isn't really listening. It's either humor him or force his ass onto a transport headed state-side. And they both know what a kicking, screaming, frothing mess that'd be.
Dugan sighs.
"I said I'd keep it quiet an' I will... but I think it's a mistake, Buck."
"I know." Barnes mumbles, not looking at him.
"What if it happens in a scrape?" Dum Dum asks quietly. It's the question they've all been avoiding. "What're you gonna do then?"
Bucky blanches just slightly, but he doesn't back down. "I'll handle it."
"You'll handle it…" Dugan repeats, incredulous.
Bucky stands up sharply and stalks to the tent flap.
"I said I'll fuckin' handle it." He seems to run out of steam there and his shoulders slump. He hesitates, but doesn't turn around. "Just… leave it alone, would ya?"
Barnes leaves without looking back.
"They're a matched set, those two idiots." Gabe remarks, shaking his head. "Cap 'n' Sarge. Neither one of 'em's got the sense to ask for help, and they sure as hell don't know when to quit…"
"I'll keep an eye on 'im." Dum Dum says distantly. "Can't get the stubborn little bastard to listen to sense, 'least I can watch his back."
Jones hesitates then nods, clapping a hand on Dugan's bulky shoulder as he gathers up his tool bag. Guy's no stranger to how protective Dum Dum is with Bucky. None of the Commandos are, really. How protective he's been since Azzano. Since long before then.
Ever since Sergeant Bucky Stubborn-Fucker Barnes got under his skin and became his honorary kid-brother; commanding officer or not.
Gabe sighs. He knows this is going to be trouble, but they're men of their word. He won't say anything to Cap unless he has to.
"Ugh." He tosses a roll of gauze back into the bag with a little more force than necessary, then hangs his head and rolls his eyes skyward. "God save us from these stubborn martyr wanna-bes." Jones mutters, glancing sidelong at Dugan. "Barnes's gonna need a lot of help with this, whether he wants it or not."
Dum Dum drags a scuffed up flask out of his jacket and takes a long pull.
"Don't I know it." he mutters, offering Gabe a swig. "Kid's a fuckin' trouble-magnet."