Sam and Maria had taken their leave, leaving Natasha sitting out of the way in the corner, Steve by Bucky's bedside, and Scott and Stephen in the room with Bucky.

"Local anaesthetic has been applied to the area, as a general anaesthetic has been refused by the patient and his next of kin," Stephen said.

"Is there a reason for the commentary?" Scott asked. "You know no one is recording this, right? Unless they are. Are they?"

"No," Natasha said.

Stephen rolled his eyes, and continued flicking through the notes. Scott examined the various instruments set up beside him, having little idea as to quite what he'd need until they were able to open Bucky's metal arm.

Bucky lay with his eyes closed. Natasha wasn't sure if he was awake or asleep. She realised that Scott and Stephen had very much been thrown in the deep end, having to remove whatever part from within Bucky's metal arm that held the poison without destroying anything that enabled the arm to work. From what Natasha could understand, the lines which held the poison were closely entwined with those that allowed Bucky to move the arm, and were also very closely attached to the muscles in his shoulder and upper chest.

"Hey," Natasha said quietly, despite the fact that everyone could hear her regardless, "Cap?"

"Mmm?" Steve mumbled, half in his own world.

Natasha uncurled from her seat and went and stood by his side. "Go and shower," she said, "You look like shit, you're wearing the same clothes you were in yesterday morning, and you smell vaguely of vomit."

"Can't leave him," Steve said.

"Hey, he's a super soldier," Natasha said, "Scott and Stephen have got this. Bucky's not going anywhere. Go and shower. You'll be back before they begin proper."

"I hate to admit, but I agree with Agent Romanov," Stephen said.

"You do smell like sick, pal," Scott said.

"I…" Steve began, and sighed desponded, knowing he was outnumbered.

"I'll take your spot," Natasha said.

Steve nodded and stood up. The movement made Bucky open his eyes. "I'll be right back," Steve said, "I'll be ten minutes."

"S'k," Bucky breathed, his lips barely moving.

Steve swallowed heavily and nodded. He let go of Bucky's hand and left the room before he could have time to change his mind.

Natasha took Steve's seat. It was warm from his body heat. "Hey," she said to Bucky and took his hand. She caught Stephen's eye momentarily before looking back at Bucky. He stared at her with his glassy eyes. "You think you can do me a favour?" she asked.

Bucky just stared.

"I know what happened to you. I read you file. All of it. Even the bit Steve hasn't read because I took it out to protect him. And I know you're not big on needles. I reckon they tricked you into the local anaesthetic, but those needles were quick, and now you can't feel what they're doing to you, right?"

Bucky swallowed, his wide eyes staring.

Natasha glanced quickly at Stephen, who nodded. "We're going to give you an IV drip. The medicine will help rehydrate your muscles. That's all it will do. For now, anyway. Afterwards, Dr Strange is probably going to want to give you more medicine to help you. I don't even know if you're understanding this, so please give me something," Natasha said.

Bucky purposefully opened and closed his eyes.

"Ok," Natasha said, "So you trust us? You trust us to help you?"

Bucky's eyes welled with tears. Stephen moved around to the same side of the bed as Natasha.

"Don't you cry on me," Natasha said, "I'm really bad with crying."

"K," Bucky whispered, his eyes flickering to Stephen. Scott stood still and watched.

"Let Stephen take your hand," Natasha said, "But keep your eyes on me." She put her hand on his face. He felt cold and clammy, but she didn't care. He had to take the IV. "Ready?" Natasha said, to Strange as much as to Bucky.

Stephen nodded and turned Bucky's hand over.

"I…" Bucky began, and then yelped as Strange stuck the needle into his hand.

"James," Natasha said. Bucky eye's snapped to hers. Before Natasha could think, she found herself pressing her lips against his. She kissed him for a moment, and then pulled back. His lips were cold and his breath smelt like sick, but Natasha didn't mind.

Bucky stared at her with his mouth open.

Natasha gave an awkward laugh. "Well I think you've now had more action than Steve has for the past seventy years."

"Huh," Bucky said. His teeth chattered and he looked as though he wasn't sure if he wanted to smile or cry.

"It's not so bad, is it?" Natasha asked.

Bucky's eye flickered down to his hand, then back to Natasha. "I…"

Natasha forced a smile. "I'm Natasha, by the way."

"James Barnes…"

"So unorthodox," he Strange muttered and shook his head, back on the other side of the bed, examining the x-rays.

Natasha sat holding Bucky's hand for a few more minutes before Steve reappeared, hair still damp from the shower, smelling of soap and deodorant. "How did you do that?" he asked, noticing the IV in Bucky's hand.

"Just a little old trick I know," Natasha said, standing up and letting go of Bucky's hand.

Steve retook his seat.

"Oldest trick…in the book," Bucky whispered.

"I don't half suppose," Steve said.

Natasha sat down and pulled her legs up to her chest.

"Hey Steve?" Bucky asked, his voice hoarse and raspy.

"Yeah?" Steve said.

"You remember…that Fair? …The future?"

"Yeah," Steve said, almost overcome with the fact that Bucky was speaking with him.

"Yeah," Bucky breathed, "I think… we found… the future…"

"We should have stayed in '43, don't you think?"

"We'da missed…that steak…" the shadow of a smile appeared on Bucky's lips.

"Steak?"

"B - Belgium…"

"Bastogne," Steve said, his eyes widening with recognition, and hope swept rapidly across his features.

"That steak…" Bucky trailed off.

"Is still the best steak I've ever eaten," Steve said, recalling the mouthwatering juices of that rare delicacy they'd enjoyed during a siege in Belgium. It had been the first food they'd had that hadn't been out of a tin for months.

"Best steak… anyone's ever eaten."

Steve laughed. He actually laughed and Natasha smiled. She felt her hopes lift. "Of all the animals in the word, that one cow in Bastogne," Steve said.

"…Military send-off…"

"With full honours," Steve said, "We gave a funeral to the remains of the cow once we'd eaten," Steve explained to Scott and Stephen who were looking on quizzically, "That cow saved the lives of the Howling Commandoes. Helped us win the siege."

"…Good cow…" Bucky breathed.

"Yeah," Steve smiled, "That was one mighty fine steak."

"Steve?"

"Yeah?"

"I… don't think I'm very well,"

"Hey," Steve said, and squeezed Bucky's hand gently, "I've gotten over scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, heart trouble, asthma, severe colds, and, well that was all before penicillin."

"I don't… know what that is…"

"No," Steve said, "But I reckon a good dose of that might fix you right up. Plus we got the doctor here, and Scott, he's an engineer. And there's Sam and Maria and a whole team of others you haven't met yet. They're all here to help, Buck."

"And Natasha," Bucky whispered.

Quite to her surprise, Natasha blushed. She was very glad Matt wasn't there, as he'd no doubt comment on the fact that at Bucky's words her heart skipped at beat.

"Yeah," Steve said and turned to look at Natasha and gave her a small smile. "We wouldn't have got far without Natasha."

"Hey, no getting all soppy on me," Natasha said, and stood up again. "If you boys are going to get all soft, I'm going to go shower."

"Where'd you get the hoodie?" Steve asked.

"Borrowed it off Matt. I don't think he'll notice."

"I'm ready to begin if Mr Lang is," Stephen said.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be," Scott said.

Bucky clenched his jaw. "Steve…"

"I'm not going anywhere," Steve said, "Ten minutes, Nat," he teased, "I'm timing you."

"I'll be back in nine," Natasha said, and slipped from the room.