Everything about the future seemed to be more advanced. The technology would always astound me. The food tasted 10 times better, though I was raised on army rations and anything better than them, so I'm probably easily impressed in that area. Medicine seemed like something from another planet (which was funny as aliens do already exist, and Dugan so owes me a chocolate bar for that).

However, apparently, they still haven't figured out a cure for the common cold, or more importantly, how to stop flu season.

Shawnen got it first, but the symptoms were barely noticeable. He complained about a headache for about two days, and had a very mild running nose. However, it only lasted two days. Apparently, his immune system was just as fast as the rest of him, making quick work of the infection.

Sable was next, her illness was much more noticeable; Fever, headache, runny nose, and muscle cramps. However, no one was worried too much. Christin made us all wash our hand more often, and wear medical masks. I had been worried about this, but everyone was so casual with it was that I figured this was normal when anyone got sick. Christin assured me all of these measures were just to keep it from spreading, as with so many people in the house it was easy for it to infect everyone.

And with all of these measures, along with the fact that Sable's room wasn't even on the same floor as mine, I didn't think I'd be next.

It started in the middle of the night. I woke up suddenly, feeling like I was on fire, yet shaking like I was still in the ice. I knew right away that I was going to spew. Thank God the bathroom was just across the hall. My stomach was still churning even after the urge to gag had faded. I hate throwing up.

I don't remember who found me, but I know someone did, as I passed out on the bathroom floor and woke up in my bed. For a second, I thought I saw Steve standing over me, but the blue eyes and blond hair faded to green and black after a moment.

"How are you feeling?" Taiga said.

I went to talk, but only ended up in coughing fit.

"Never mind, you don't need to answer that," Taiga said helping me sit up, so I didn't choke on my own snot.

"What…Happened?" I said through wheezes.

"You caught the bug going around. Don't worry, too much though. Flu isn't nearly as deadly as it was in your time. Though, you will most likely have a harder time with it then the others, as your immune system isn't protected from the new variants that have evolved over the decades."

"Great," I groaned.

Memories started flooding back, and my heart jumped into my throat. Black Sheep had crawled into my bed earlier in the night! What he alright?

"Black Sheep?" I mumbled.

"He's currently with Arrow, and hasn't shown any symptoms yet."

I sighed, nearly falling back asleep.

"I'll be sticking around for the next few days, just in case. Do you need anything? Water? Something to eat?"

"No," the thought of food made something twist inside of me.

Taiga nodded, "When you think your able to eat something I can give you something for the fever, in the meantime though you should rest."

I passed out again after that.

Consciousness, came in short bursts for the next few days. Some times I couldn't tell what was real or what was a fever dream. As sometimes either Taiga, Christin, or maybe Kate was there with me in my room, while other times I would wake up in a tent, with Steve standing over me. A calm and comforting smile would be on my brother's face, and I could feel him running his fingers through my hair, like how he always did when I got sick during the war. It was crushing every time the fever lighted enough that the tent faded away, and realty sunk in again.

Apparently, the dreams weren't just visual either. I learned later that I would often talk to Steve, in my fever haze. It was bad enough that one time I woke up and saw my room, and not the tent, I started crying.

To be honest I wished I had been shocked at that. It had been nearly 6 months, but I still missed him. These dreams weren't just from the fever. I dreamed of the missions we went on, and every time it hurt to wake up. I didn't let myself show it, as Black Sheep was usually curled up next to me and I didn't want to wake him up. I didn't want to disturb his new found peace after living in the system. However, I couldn't enjoy my peace after the war. It felt wrong. Sometimes I just asked why?

Why was I spared? Why did I get to survive? Steve had certainly deserved to live more than I did. I was the one who took lives, so Steve didn't have to. So, that Captain America could keep his hands clean. Steve had been a better person then I ever was, so why did he have to die? Sometimes I blamed myself for what happened on that rocket. Sometimes I wondered if I hadn't kicked him off, or if I had just listened to him and stayed at the castle, maybe he would be still around. Either in my place or he would've washed up on the same shore that I did.

And the fever made it worse, as I had no control as to how I reacted to the pain. I don't remember much of what happened, but I know that at least once, Christin cradled me when I woke up crying. It was hard.

Thankfully by week's end my fever broke, and the nausea stopped. Taiga still wanted me to stay in bed, though, which was did annoy me, but I wasn't about to fight my friend on it. He did let Black Sheep come and see me again once he was sure that I wasn't contagious. The smile on my little brother's face when he ran toward me almost made the fever worth it.

"Bucky!" He screeched happily, jumping into my arm.

"Hey Buddy!" I said, gladly excepting the hug.

Taiga and Arrow (she had been caring for Black Sheep while I was out) left us alone.

"You okay," Black Sheep said.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You weren't okay."

"Yeah, but I'm better now. Don't worry."

"Scary."

"Yeah, it was scary."

"Not again."

I chuckled, "I'll try my hardest."

We entered another long warm hug.

"Bucky?"

"Yeah?"

"Who Steve?"

I froze, "How do you know about him?"

"You talked about him. When you sick. I asked Awow, but she said ask you."

I swallowed, knowing that Black Sheep would learn about this eventually. I shifted him in my lap, and reached over to my nightstand. From inside the upper drawer, I pulled out a framed photograph, and showed it to Black sheep, "This was Steve."

"With the star?"

"Yeah. He was wearing a star," I mumbled, silently thanking Arrow for all the time she spent going through the internet to find this photo, "He was my brother. My Baco."

"Your Baco?"

"Yeah, I had one too. Steve found me when I was bigger than you, but we stuck together like we do. He taught me things, told me stories, and helped me with nightmares."

"Would Steve be my Baco too?"

I smiled, I knew the answer to this, no hesitation in my mind, and hugged him again, "He would've have loved to have been your brother."

It was true, I knew it would've been. Steve would've loved Black Sheep. The little boy, when in a place he was comfortable with, was a happy child and though he was mostly quiet, he loved to laugh. And his laughter was usually contagious. Not mention the small child was also a budding artist. Some times while I watched him play with his crayons, I could see Steve's ghost laying on the ground next him, drawing with him.

"Why isn't Steve here?"

That question gutted me and I tried not to cry, "He can't be here Buddy. If he, could I'm sure he would have done everything to be here with us, but he can't."

"Why?"

"Because, uhm… You know how Arrow goes on missions?"

Black Sheep nodded.

"Well, Steve went on a mission and he didn't come back."

"Why not?"

"Black Sheep," I swallowed, "Steve died."

"Can we call him on the phone?"

"Uhm no, buddy, when someone dies their body doesn't work anymore. They can't talk, can't eat, can't talk on the phone. Steve died."

Black Sheep looked down, "I can't see him."

"No Buddy. I'm sorry. Do you have any questions?"

Black Sheep paused for moment, "Bucky?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we draw?"

I just chuckled and nodded, "Yeah, we can draw. Go get your crayons."

Yeah, Steve, you would've loved him.


A/N:

Churning these out as fast as we can, so we can get to the action.