"No News"

The last time they'd heard from the rest of the team was eleven hours ago. Phil tried to ignore any significance which could be attached to the number. Steve promised to check in as soon as they could, and not to worry for six hours. Clearly he'd been optimistic, leaving Bucky – still not cleared for fieldwork – and Phil waiting for contact. Nothing yet, and when they'd informed SHIELD some newbie had the effrontery to say that 'no news was good news'. Phil put him on report.

"Any minute now," he said softly. Bucky didn't say anything; only stood up and strode to the window. He technically wasn't supposed to have left headquarters, but Phil had smuggled him out in case they needed backup. Also, Bucky was going stir crazy, and… now Phil was grateful for the company.

Another few hours passed, and he still couldn't get the Avengers on the comms. It would be nearly impossible to pinpoint their location, and definitely impossible to effect a rescue between only the two of them. It was the worst kind of waiting game, and Phil nearly jumped through the roof when the radio crackled to life. Bucky was sitting beside him in an instant, and Natasha's voice came through, patchy but real.

"…shelter, don't worry… treat us when we get there… nearly conscious…" He didn't dare fiddle with the controls to get better clarity, in case they lost the connection, and he hoped that Bucky could hear whatever he missed. "…eve took a fall, and we're all exhausted… have to preserve battery… make contact in ten hours…"

"Natasha, are you going to make contact, or are we supposed to?" Phil said loudly, hoping the radio was working both ways.

"…wait for us… go now…"

Then the crackling stopped. One-way radio, then. Phil set his phone for nine hours and fifty-seven minutes, in case the Avengers really did turn their comms off for ten hours, and expected Bucky and Phil to initiate contact then.

"`Least we know they're okay," Bucky said after a few minutes of silence. "Didn't sound pre-recorded."

"Or coerced," Phil said. He didn't realise his hands had been shaking until Bucky covered them with his. "Thank God."

"Come here," Bucky murmured, pulling Phil into his arms. Phil felt ridiculous, that he had to be comforted when he was usually the strong one they all came to. Even Steve and Thor came to him when life got too much. And here, one of the most damaged people he knew was crooning softly to him, cradling him, pulling him down to lie on the sofa, holding him so much closer…

When Phil's phone went off, it was morning, and he didn't want to move. He pieced together what had happened, why his alarm was on, why he was in a state of undress, what had led to it… oh.

"Shit," he hissed, and he nearly fell off the sofa – what, was he a teenage boy again? – as he reached for his cell phone. He turned off the alarm, and made sure that the comm. channel was open. He looked up from his place on the floor, and saw Bucky observing him with a blank face.

"Only a minute left," he said.

"Yeah," Phil said. "Uh, Bucky… last night…"

"It was just for comfort," Bucky said. "That's all."

"I know. Always a mistake. I promise, it won't happen again. As soon as I can arrange it, I'll make sure you're on the team for future missions."

"Thank you," Bucky said, his tone still as stiff as his body. Phil grabbed the few things of his on the floor and tugged them on, before nearly leaping out of his skin when the radio crackled to life again.

"Who's there?" he asked, hoping it was two-way again.

"Good to hear you, Phil," Steve said. "Bucky there with you?"

"Yes," Bucky said, and Phil tried not to tense at how close he was.

"In the same position as before?"

"Yes," Phil said.

"Tony says we'll be there in half an hour. I think he's being optimistic—"

"I'll get ready for a… a debriefing," Phil said, looking at the mess around him.

"Someone will contact you when we're nearly there. Over and out."

"Roger that. Over and out." Now more confident, Phil switched off the microphone from their end, and gradually got to his feet, feeling his age more than usual in the creaking of muscles which rarely got that kind of workout.

Just for comfort, he reminded himself, not looking at Bucky.

Little bit of angst for No News Is Good News Day. If I haven't said it before now, if anyone wants to continue any of these stories then PLEASE DO. I'm sick and tired of being one of the few people writing this ship.

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