A/N: Hello everybody! So return with a new chapter worthy to the gods! *sends chapter to Thor and Loki*
Either way, enjoy!
Bucky's POV
Bucky watched as the girl slipped and fell. She just plainly let go. The man, whom he had now pinned, exclaimed a loud scream of "Charlotte!" and his mind was pacing with whether he recognised the name or not.
The man turned to him. "You're my friend."
This angered the Winter Soldier. He didn't even remember this man, and here he is, telling him that he's his friend.
"You're my mission!" He screamed loudly, lunging at the man. He threw several punches at his face.
"You're. My. Mission!" He barked it, his metal arm making contact with the man's face over and over again.
The man coughed, his face bloody.
"Then finish it," he said weakly. "'Cause I'm with you till the end of the line."
Suddenly, it all clicked. The man, he was.. he was his friend. Steve. He said that to Steve around 70 years ago.
The horror sunk in as he realised he was bashing his best friend. He should throw another punch, but- he couldn't.
All of a sudden, the floor gave way and the man - Steve - fell, just like 'Charlotte' did. He, on the other hand, hung on for a while, but then, he let go and swam to rescue his long-lost friend and his friend's friend.
As he lay them down, he saw features in the girl's face he recognised a long time ago. She looked so... different now. He shook the feeling off, and trudged away.
Steve's POV
Steve suddenly woke up to the sound of music playing. He checked his surroundings, deducing he must be in a hospital. His enhanced senses could tell there was someone sitting next to him, of course none other than Sam.
Quietly, he mumbled,"On your left."
This, of course, got Sam's attention, and he smiled as he saw his friend awaken. "Hey! How ya doin'?"
Steve shrugged. "Okay I guess. Could be better."
Sam laughed lightheartedly and looked at Steve.
In a flash, Steve's gut dropped. How could he forget about that?!
His smile faded quickly as he glanced over at Sam. "Where's Charlotte?"
Obviously, Steve had hit the nail on the head, because Sam shifted uncomfortably now. "She's- she's here, yeah, and-"
"Sam," Steve said, suddenly feeling angry. Why didn't he protect her? "Where is she?"
Sam's gaze dropped. "In room 879. She's sorta... worse off than you."
Steve felt a pang of dread in his chest. No... she isn't dead.. is she? Only one way to find out.
He suddenly sat up on the hospital bed, ignoring the pain going through his head and abdomen, and then managed to get on his feet. Falcon was quick by his side. "Whoa, there," he reprimanded. "Don't wanna go too fast."
Through gritted teeth, Steve replied,"I have to."
Then, he flew out of his hospital room, clearly stunning some nurses, but he didn't ponder on it. He rushed down the sterile hallways, counting the numbers as he sped past them.
877, 878...
879.
Steve practically threw the door open, running in to see an unconscious Charlotte lying on the bed. A doctor was there as well, Steve's sudden appearance shaking him out of his note-taking.
"Sir," the doctor approached him calmly. "This lady isn't in form to have any visitors, and-"
"I'm Steve Rogers," he replied stubbornly.
This seemed to click with the doctor. "Oh. Oh! Of course, Mr Rogers, let me show you to a seat, sir."
The doctor clumsily stumbled towards his notepad, and then hastily guided Steve to the spare chair, Charlotte not stirring.
As the doctor straightened out his white medical coat, Steve asked a pressing question. "How is she?"
The doctor frowned, flipping through his several pages of notes. "Well," he began quickly. "She's better than when she was brought in."
"When was she brought in?" Steve had his elbows resting on his knees, gazing at Charlotte with concern.
"A few hours after you, sir," the doctor replied breathlessly. "But she was in far worse condition then."
Steve nodded mutely. "Will she wake up soon?"
The doctor frowned again, flipping through that little notepad of his again. He glanced up at Steve for a moment, before digging through his notes a bit more.
"Hmm," the doctor murmured. "So far, her serum has been helping. But she's been out for days. Others are suspecting it's a coma, but I'm keeping my hopes up, sir."
Steve nodded silently again. He almost wanted to cry. Charlotte looked so... peaceful. Like she was dead. The thought of Charlotte dying and leaving him again made Steve sick to the bones.
Finally, he said,"I'll stay here."
The doctor nodded hurriedly, jotting this down. "Very well, sir," he breathed. "Make yourself comfortable."
Back to Charlotte's POV
When I began stirring, I noticed several things. One, I was definitely not in the Potomac river or dead. Two, I seemed to be lying in a bed. And three, everything hurt like hell.
I cringed for a bit, trying to peel my eyes open. I heard and felt something move beside me, and recognised Steve's voice. "Charlotte!"
I almost wanted to cry from joy that Steve was alive and okay.
"Ow."
I heard a laugh next to me, and when I had pried my eyes open, I saw Steve, just wearing his civilian clothes, along with Sam, clad in normal stuff as well.
"Hey, kid."
I smirked weakly, trying to remember what had happened. The fall. Steve. Bucky...
"How long was I out for?" My voice sounded raspy and weak, as if I've been out for decades. Kind of like the cryostasis I was forced to stay in when I was with HYDRA.
"A week."
"Ah man," I replied cockily. "I hope I didn't miss out on too much technology."
Sam replied with a snort, and Steve grinned at me.
"I'm so glad you're awake."
"You're telling me. Everything hurts."
"How bad?" Sam had barged into our conversation.
"Not too bad, thanks to the serum," I admitted. "But still, hurts."
Then, I turned my head to see a doctor. I almost wanted to lash out at him, but considering my two friends over there hadn't yet, I decided against it.
"Miss Jaines," the doctor informed me professionally. "Your body seems to be recovering well. So you should be discharged in a few days."
I internally cheered, happy to know that I won't spend too long here. I was so terrified that HYDRA had found me, but turns out that I shouldn't be bothered.
But then something was on my mind.
"Where's... Bucky?"
Steve sighed, his smile fading a little.
"I- well- He fished us out of the Potomac. Now we've been trying to track him down somehow. We'll be going on a mission soon."
"Then I'm joining," I firmly decided.
"Hold up," Steve said. "No you're not."
"Why not?"
"Because- Charlotte, how could you be thinking about coming at a time like this? You barely made it out of our last mission alive, and you wanna join again?"
I hesitated for a few seconds. "...Yes."
Steve rolled his eyes and I had to restrain my urge to punch him. Hey, I'm Bucky's friend too! Like it or not, I'm joining!
He had somehow caught onto my train of thought, because he sighed deeply. "Alright.. fine. But only if we need you. This time I'm serious, you're not getting hurt again."
I grinned at him.
"Well then," I said joyfully. "When do we begin?"
Sam smirked. "Once you get outta that bed, kid, we'll talk about starting off."
Ohhh so we have gotten to.. basically the end of CA:TWS! From now on, it's just me, myself and my imagination!
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