Thanks for your kind responses so far! As a warning, the ending of this chapter is a doozy! Let me know what you think at the end!

Chapter Five

Steve opened his eyes, blinking in the darkness. He couldn't hear the rain on the window anymore, so the storm must have finally stopped. Someone was sitting next to him. It took him a moment to recognize his mom.

"Hey sweetie. How are you feeling?" Sarah moved closer to him.

Steve's eyebrows furrowed as he realized that she was sitting on the floor instead of the mattress, but he could feel someone next to him. He slowly turned his head. Bucky was still wrapped in a blanket with his hair a matted mess. It almost looked damp. Steve looked back at his mom. Every part of him hurt as he shifted a little. The pain hadn't abated while he slept. It was cool and he shivered. Sweat clung to his body, covering every inch.

She touched his forehead. "I think your fever finally went down. It's still a little high, but much better than before."

"Mom?" he croaked. Steve coughed to clear his throat. The movements made his chest ache. He pressed his hand to his chest as if trying to keep his heart from escaping.

"Are you feeling better?" She used the corner of the sheet to dry his face.

"A little." He tried to sit up, but the pain caused him to flop back.

Sarah helped him shift and tucked a pillow behind his back. "Is that better?"

Steve nodded. Bucky didn't move next to him and he wondered how long he'd been there and if he'd slept at all. He let out a sigh, blowing a stray piece of hair off of his forehead. Steve prayed he hadn't got Bucky sick.

"Is… Bucky okay?"

Sarah tucked the sheet around him. "My sweet boy, always caring about others before himself. He's just tired. He only fell asleep about half an hour ago. Bucky wanted to be awake if you woke up. He's a very loyal friend." She stood up and headed into the kitchen. Sarah returned with a cup of water and some crackers. "Are you hungry?"

He thought about telling her that his stomach still hurt and the idea of putting food in it, made him nauseous, but he couldn't. Sarah smiled. Steve took one cracker from her and started nibbling on it. He wondered how much he'd need to hide in the folds of the sheet. The few crumbs stayed in his stomach. She gave him a small pill to swallow. Aspirin. Steve sipped the water. Sarah set the cup next to him on the floor when he'd drank enough. Bucky moved a little, but didn't wake up. Steve felt his sides ache as he tried to get more comfortable. He focused his attention on his mom to distract himself from the throbbing in his joints. Sarah had her work clothing on.

"Do you have… to go?" he tried to keep the sorrow from his voice. Steve knew she had to work. His medicines weren't cheap and neither was the rent or good food.

"I can stay."

Steve desperately wanted to ask her to stay, but he couldn't. "Bucky is here with me."

"It's a shorter shift today. I'll be back before you know it. Rest and I'll be home soon."

There was a knock on the door. Bucky let out a gasp and rolled off the bed. Steve covered a smile. His best friend got to his feet and mumbled something about getting the door as he hurried toward it. Sarah and Steve exchanged a confused look. What was Bucky doing? Steve heard a soft familiar voice. Bucky's mom. He listened closely. There was a faint sound of her giving him a kiss, probably on his cheek like normal. The door closed. Steve waited a moment before Bucky rounded the corner. He held a brown paper bag in one arm and a colorful wrapped package in the other.

"My mom brought some food, and I have something special for Steve."

Sarah put a hand over her mouth. "She didn't have to do that."

"She wanted to help. There's some juice, bread, fruits, vegetables, and a little meat. It's not a lot, but it'll help for a bit." Bucky grinned.

She took the bag from him and into the kitchen, leaving the two alone. Bucky took the gift over to him and set it down.

"I got you something. Well, I had my mom pick it up for you last week. I saw you eyeing it when we went to the Museum of Natural History." Bucky pushed it closer. "Come on. Open it."

He tenderly pulled at the paper, trying not to tear it. The colors were very pretty blues and green. Steve opened the gift and grinned. Bucky couldn't stop the smile on his own face as Steve hugged the green and yellow dinosaur against himself. He stroked the top of his new toy.

"Bucky, it's perfect."

"It was gonna be a birthday gift, but I wanted to give it to you now. I can find something more awesome for your birthday."

"I love it. Thank you."

Bucky could see the longing in his eyes. He sighed before reaching over and embraced Steve, making sure not to squeeze him too tight. Steve laughed. They jumped a little when Sarah came up behind them, hugging both boys.

"Thank you so much." Sarah let a tear slide down her cheek. "I'll write a thank you for your mom when I get home from work. Really, she's an angel."

"You're welcome."

She ruffled the hair of both boys. "I will see both of you after work. Get some rest."

Sarah kissed both of the kids before planting a soft kiss on the dinosaur's nose. Bucky looked away as Steve held her hand longer than he needed to. He really didn't want his mom to go. His fever had gone down, so things were getting better. He hoped. Steve finished his water, though Bucky noted he didn't eat any of the crackers. Sarah must have given him more aspirin since he started putting his arm around his stomach like it was cramping. He held the dinosaur in one arm and the other was around his middle. Bucky laid down next to him on the mattress, feeling completely exhausted. Hopefully Sarah wouldn't be long.

"Bucky, down!" Steve shouted as the bullets flew around him. He blocked with his shield, holding it up to protect him and his best friend.

The rest of the Howling Commandos worked around them. Another soldier fired his weapon at Bucky. Steve threw his shield, taking out the guy. As he turned, hot metal tore through his flesh, entering beneath his ribs and causing damage as it dug in deeper. The second round went in a bit lower than the first. Steve pressed his hand against one of the wounds and quickly regretted it. The pain throbbed, but he continued fighting. The mission came first. This Hydra encampment had to be taken down. They were getting closer to the Schmidt every time they did and closer to the end of the war. Steve ignored the blood on his glove as he fought.

When the battle finished, Steve relaxed his shoulders. He turned his attention to the wounded, but not himself.

Bucky wiped dirt from his forehead as he walked over to him. "Thanks for the warning. You gotta stop saving my life."

"I'm pretty sure I owe you for the number of times you saved me as a kid."

He shrugged. "You're right."

Steve tried to hide a grimace, but he couldn't. He pressed his hand to his side. His fingers came away with more blood. Bucky grabbed his arm and steadied him. He leaned in close to see the two bullet holes in his best friend's side. There was one exit wound on his back, but the other bullet hadn't come through. It was still inside of Steve.

"Steve!" Bucky grabbed his arms and manhandled him across the smoldering compound to a waiting jeep. "What happened?"

"I'm fine. It doesn't even hurt that bad." Steve grunted a little.

Bucky forced him to lay down in the backseat of the vehicle. He forced Steve's uniform out of the way and got a good look at the holes. With each pulse of his heart, more blood seeped from the wound and stained Bucky's hands. He touched the upper one, noting it was the one where the bullet hadn't come out.

"It'll heal. I was shot right after I changed. It hurt, but it healed very quickly." Steve grimaced. "It's gonna be fine."

"You were shot. I can't see that as okay." In his mind, all he could see was the little Steve lying in bed with a fever and in terrible pain. He had to save him

"Bucky, I'm gonna be okay."

The next part of the unit came in. Howard Stark got out of the jeep. Bucky saw him out of the corner of his eye and yelled for him to come over. He'd been there. He had to know something about Steve's serum and how to help him.

"Crap." Howard put a hand over his face and looked away. His skin turned a little pale. "Is there still a bullet inside him?"

Bucky gritted his teeth. "Yes."

"His body heals fast, so we need to get it out."

"Do you have any tweezers or plyers?"

Steve leaned his head back, breathing deeply to keep calm. Howard checked in his tool kit and pulled out some dirty plyers. Bucky dug around in the jeep until he found a bottle of bourbon. He poured the liquid over the end of the plyers to sterilize them. It would have to do.

"This is gonna hurt." Bucky paused, not sure if he could do it.

"I trust you. Always have and always will." Steve smiled before focusing on his breathing. "Do it."

For a brief moment, Bucky felt like throwing up. He wanted to disappear. Steve didn't make a sound as Bucky used the plyers to search the wound for the bullet. Howard stepped away and threw up. Bucky breathed through his nose in an attempt not to get sick himself. Finally, he got it. The plyers grasped the bullet and he slowly removed it. Bucky dropped it as soon as he got it free. He poured more of the alcohol on the wounds to clean them, making sure to get the exit wound too. Steve cried out a little. Bucky applied pressure to stop the bleeding.

"Always being my nurse," Steve murmured. "I'm gonna be okay. I promise. The serum helps me heal really fast."

Bucky realized his hands were shaking. "You sure?"

"Yeah. I'm not a little kid anymore." Steve stood up and put a hand on Bucky's shoulder. He squeezed it. "Thanks."

Bucky wasn't sure if it was his asthma or the pain in his joints, but Steve was curled up in a ball on the bed. His breathing came in short puffs. He groaned again. Bucky sat up and looked at him. His eyes were closed, but Bucky knew he wasn't asleep. No way. His fever had shot back up in the last two hours. Bucky stayed close to him, not daring to leave him alone. Steve rolled onto his back. His hand was wrapped in the front of his t-shirt.

"My… chest hurts." Steve whimpered and rubbed his hand against his chest.

"Is it hard to breathe? Do you need some of your asthma medicine?"

Steve shook his head and coughed. "I need… my mom." Tears ran unchecked down his cheeks and he didn't try to brush him away. He wheezed, before it migrated into his vocal cords and it came out as a cry.

Bucky started to say something, but froze as Steve pushed up in the bed and threw up over the side. He cried in pain. A sick sound came from his mouth, half wheezing and gurgling. Something was very wrong. He teetered and almost fell out of the bed. Bucky grabbed him, feeling the heat and sweat beneath his hands. He coughed hard. Bucky saw something in the corner of his mouth. Pink tinged foam. Bucky put his ear to Steve's chest. It sounded like water being shaken, rattling around in his lungs. It had to be Steve's heart. Or something due to the stupid rheumatic fever.

"Bucky?" Steve's eyes rolled back into his head, but didn't close all the way.

No! Bucky promised not to let anything happen to him. "I'm taking you to the hospital now," he said, not caring that Steve didn't respond.

No bothering to clean up the mess, he bundled up Steve in the blanket to keep him covered. Bucky shoved his feet into his shoes and grabbed the apartment key from the counter. Steve opened his eyes as more tears fell. He couldn't let him die! There was no time to call for help. Steve's head hung back as he ran down the stairs and toward the nearest bus stop. It didn't matter what anyone said. He was taking Steve to the hospital, to his mom, and he was gonna be okay. He had to be.