Chapter 59: All The Arms Around Me
Summary: Steve re-unites with Bucky. The two friends share some quiet time together before having lunch with Natasha and Dr. Golden. A truth becomes clear and Barnes makes a connection for which he expresses remorse.
Notes: This chapter is dedicated to hazel_morgenstern for your support and the wonderful feedback you left for me. All comments are always appreciated. They feed a writer's soul, so this one is for you. – W6C
Dr. Golden gave Steve some time to get re-acquainted with his friend; choosing for now to just observe the interactions between them. She moved a chair to the other side of the room in order to give them space and Natasha decided to join her. Placing a chair beside Emily's she sat down and smiled when Emily looked at her.
"How are you doing, Natasha? Are you all right?" Dr. Golden asked.
Natasha watched Barnes with Rogers and then nodded. She looked at Emily and smiled again. "I am. I'm good," she said.
"You got to see James again," Emily mentioned, pulling another thoughtful smile from Natasha and she nodded.
"I did."
"Was that moment what you hoped it would be? As brief as it was…" Emily asked.
Natasha nodded. "It was. He remembered me and -," her words trailed off.
"He kissed you," Emily finished.
Natasha nodded and her smile faltered as she held back tears. She had to clear her throat in order to respond, but Emily waited patiently. "He did." She watched James with Steve for a moment then looked at Emily. "He still loves me… and he's not lost. He's still in there. He's safe."
"And that's good enough?" Emily asked her.
Natasha thought for a moment before answering. "It's everything," she told her.
Emily understood from where Natasha's thoughts were coming. Natasha had told her the story of their shared affection for one another and how she was forced to listen to his screams as he was tortured. For so many years she thought that part of him had been erased. She knew that he had endured so much because of her -.
He survived it… and that meant everything to her. It was all she needed to know.
"Are you in any pain?" Emily asked. When Natasha looked at her quizzically, she gestured toward the bruises around her throat and on her face.
"Oh, no… no, I'm fine," she reassured the doctor. "I've survived worse." She sat quietly beside Dr. Golden and observed the two men. They still weren't sure if this emergence was the James Barnes with whom Steve grew up, but Steve would know so they gave him time to evaluate his friend.
Steve comforted Bucky with words as they embraced and, when Bucky finally straightened and Steve loosened his hold, the two men stayed in physical contact. Dr. Golden noticed that when Steve tried to give James a little space, Bucky would reach for him as if afraid he'd suddenly disappear. Captain Rogers seemed to realize this as well and immediately reciprocated by taking his hand or simply resting a hand on Bucky's shoulder; knowing that at least for the moment, Bucky needed the tangible evidence of his existence.
Dr. Golden understood his need for reassurance because he still wasn't sure if he could trust what he was seeing. Steve pulled the blanket from the bed and wrapped it around Bucky's shoulders and gently pulling his friend close to lean against him and Steve wrapped his arms around him. They remained seated on the floor together talking quietly and Dr. Golden briefly wondered what they were saying but she put the thought aside because in the moment it didn't matter. It was obvious that Barnes was dazed and most likely in a level of shock. He was clearly unsure of what was happening and feeling a lot of anxiety and insecurity. It was to be expected - and Steve was being exactly what he needed to be; patient, compassionate and reassuring.
Dr. Banner watched his patient with Steve for a while then decided his skills weren't needed. He touched Emily's shoulder to get her attention and gestured to her that he was going to leave the room. She smiled and nodded, as did Natasha.
When Bruce opened the door, Sam was still waiting in the corridor. He pushed away from the wall and threw a glance inside the room as Bruce opened the door. They spoke quietly as the door closed. Natasha saw Sam nod and turn away to follow Bruce.
About twenty minutes later, Steve got to his feet and helped Bucky to stand. He directed him to sit on the bed while he gathered up some clothes for him to wear. As Steve chose the maroon Henley she personally had purchased for him Natasha smiled softly. He donned the shirt and a pair of jeans. Once he was dressed; complete with socks and sneakers, Natasha excused herself from Dr. Golden and walked over to them.
Barnes looked at her and she smiled at him. His long hair needed a comb and he could use another shave. She mentioned it to them and offered to take care of it if he was okay with that. Bucky looked to Steve and then felt Natasha's hand glide down the length of his hair. He turned to look at her and she smiled at him but said nothing as she waited for him to give her an answer. They didn't try to persuade him; allowing him the time he needed to make up his own mind and then he nodded.
She took his hand and led him around the bed toward the bathroom. He looked at Steve as he passed by and Steve smiled in support. As Natasha stepped into the bathroom she felt a tug on her hand. Instinctively she tightened her grip and turned to see a look of panic on his face. He began to back away pulling her out of the small room.
"It's okay," she tried to reassure him, but her tightening grip only served to propel him toward an all out flight response.
Steve saw the sudden change in his behavior and stepped up behind him, gripping his arms lightly. "Hey, it's okay, Buck… you're okay," he said.
Natasha released his hand and Bucky spun around as if wanting to escape but Steve was in his way. Dr. Golden sat up straighter, but didn't interfere.
"Hey," Steve said to get his attention and brought a hand up to his cheek, directing Bucky's focus toward him. "It's okay… you're safe." Barnes stared at him; his eyes wide and panting for air. "You're safe," Steve repeated softly until the fear that had overtaken him subsided.
Once he could see the panic had lessened, Steve redirected Bucky's attention to the foot of the bed and had him sit there. He looked at Natasha but didn't say anything. It took her a moment to realize what had happened; recalling what Clint had told her about the scuffle in that very bathroom.
Dr. Golden watched the entire scene from her chair. She was proud of Steve and Natasha for being able to handle the situation without needing her to intervene and they did so with great care and compassion. However, his panicked response made it clear to her that the horrors Barnes had experienced at the hands of Hydra had created a sense of terror so strong that it was able to permeate and cross over the psychological barriers created by Hydra's scientists. It was a terror equally shared by the different layers of surviving personalities.
Natasha decided to retrieve only a comb from the bathroom and returned with it. When James looked over at her she showed it to him. She didn't move or say anything as he looked at the implement in her hand. She and Steve watched him, concerned, and then he nodded.
Natasha hadn't realized she was holding her breath until she let it out. She opted to forego the shave for now as she didn't want to overwhelm him again. Steve took a step back to let her pass and, as she did, Barnes watched her closely. She didn't realize that he was focused on the bruising on her throat.
Steve pulled a chair over to sit in front of Bucky so he could see him at all times. He watched as before as Barnes sat quietly staring at the floor as Natasha carefully combed the tangles out of his hair. His back was to Dr. Golden so she couldn't see that he would shift his gaze now and again to look at Steve, but she could see Steve reach out to pat his knee in support.
When she finished detangling his hair, Natasha ran her hand down the length of it a couple of times and Steve watched as her soft touch caused Bucky's eyes to close. He'd endured so many decades without human companionship and the only touch he was allowed was hurtful, demeaning and often agonizing. Natasha's gentle caress drew him into a soothed state as Steve watched. He smiled softly as Natasha continued to stroke Bucky's hair, letting her fingertips lightly graze his scalp. When Bucky opened his eyes and looked at him, Steve smiled softly.
Natasha's fingers combed through the dark strands a couple more times and then she tucked a length of hair behind his ear. As her fingers grazed the rim of his ear Bucky's gaze shifted to look at her over his shoulder. She smiled at him and then stepped away. She place the comb on the tray nearby and waited there as Steve stood up.
Bucky studied Steve's face and realized he didn't look exactly the same as the last time they saw each other. "You look… older," he said, unsure if it was true or if he was remembering wrong.
"Yeah," Steve nodded, knowingly. "You don't. You haven't aged a day."
Bucky didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say to that.
"Okay, maybe a day or two," Steve corrected with a grin which made Bucky grin too. "There you go," Steve said, pleased to see his friend smile even briefly.
As his smile disappeared, Barnes became quiet and lowered his head. Steve watched his eyes take on that thousand yard stare. He hated that blank, empty stare. It scared him to his bones. A minute later Bucky closed his eyes and shortly after that his body began to sway slightly. The swaying slowly increased until it became the distinct action of rocking back and forth. Steve glanced to Dr. Golden who was still observing closely. Steve looked back at his friend and watched him without saying a word. A few minutes later, his body went still and Bucky's eyes opened. He blinked a few times as if clearing out the fog in his head and then his gaze shifted to look at him. Steve considered him for a moment then reached for the chair that Banner usually sat in. He pulled it from under the desk and set it next to his.
"Why don't you sit with me?" Steve suggested, gesturing toward the chair.
He watched Bucky closely as he considered the request. It took him a minute or so to make a decision; as if his thought processes had slowed significantly in the time it had taken to clean him up. He finally slid off the bed to move to the chair and Steve stayed standing in case he was needed. Once he was settled on the chair, Steve sat down again and they looked at each other.
"What's going on, Buck?" Steve asked. Bucky looked at him as if confused then looked around the room before back to Steve. "Do you need anything?" Bucky shrugged and shook his head. "Is there anything I can get you?" Bucky shook his head again still looking lost and distracted. "Is there something I can do for you?" Steve asked. Bucky straightened a little and nodded. "What can I do for you, Buck?" Steve asked.
"Answer questions?" Bucky asked in return.
Steve sat up a little straighter, realizing Bucky's requests weren't going to be earth-shattering or impossible tasks. Of course, he must have dozens of questions. Steve hoped he could provide the answers. "Sure, Buck. I'll try to answer any questions you have," he said, putting his hand on his friend's shoulder. "What do you need to know?"
Barnes looked over at the woman sitting across the room then back to Steve. "Where are we?" he asked.
Steve was taken aback, realizing also that Bucky's questions weren't going to be sophisticated or extremely complicated to answer; at least not in the beginning. Starting with the basics was certainly the way to go and then they could ease into the more complicated issues later.
"We're in New York," Steve told him.
Bucky blinked and straightened slightly, "Brooklyn?"
"No, Buck, not Brooklyn," he told him and Barnes deflated a little. Steve clearly understood that Bucky wanted to go home. How was he going to explain that their home in Brooklyn no longer existed? "We're a little further upstate from there… but not far. We can go to Brooklyn when you're ready."
"Now?" he asked, shifting in his seat as if Steve was going to say 'sure' and they'd be off.
Steve reached for Bucky's hand to stop him from getting too excited. He lowered his head as he thought about how this could go then shook his head slowly before looking at his friend. "No, Buck, not now," he told him. "It'll be a while before we can go out." When he saw the disappointment on Bucky's face he corrected his statement. "I mean, we can go outside. We just need to stay close to the compound right now." Bucky stared at him with a doubting expression. Steve got the sense that Bucky had to be wondering if he was still a prisoner. Steve sighed then decided to come right out and tell him some of the truth he needed. "You've been injured… and we need you to take some time to heal… and recover from those injuries."
Bucky sat quietly, thinking about Steve's explanation. "I… I don't have a clear memory of… whatever… happened to me," he confided to Steve, "but I feel like… I mean, I have a strong… sense… that it was… really bad." He stopped there and looked at Steve. He could tell by his friend's expression that he was right.
Steve took a moment then nodded. "Yeah, Buck… it was really bad."
"Can you tell me?" he asked.
Steve looked at his friend with compassion, but he wasn't sure how much he should tell him. He felt it was too soon to reveal details. Dr. Golden had explained to the team previously that it would be best if they took their cues from Barnes.
"What happened to me?" Bucky asked.
"Do you remember anything?" Steve asked, hoping Barnes could give him a place from which to start.
Bucky shook his head, "Nothing real clear, just feelings mostly. Bad feelings," he continued, "really, really bad feelings… like dread or… a sense of doom."
"Well, we're going to help you through all of it, okay?" Steve told him. "We're going to help you to remember and we'll help you deal with whatever you do remember… all of it," Steve assured him.
Bucky frowned slightly. "How long?" he asked and Steve looked at him unsure of the question. "How long was I gone?"
So that question let them know that Bucky had a strong sense that he'd been missing for a while and it was right there on the surface. Steve didn't want to lie to him but needed to ease into the truths that Barnes would need to know in the hours and days to come. "A long time," Steve told him.
Barnes nodded. He understood what Steve was doing and he was grateful that Rogers was trying to be gentle with the truth. They'd been friends since kindergarten and they could read each other's signals even when others couldn't even see that there were signals being given, but he needed to know.
"How long… exactly?"
"Seventy years," Steve told him and watched him closely. At first Bucky just looked at him as if the information didn't compute. Then he blinked and looked away. Steve could almost see the dozens of thoughts and questions tumbling over each other inside Bucky's head. Steve shifted his chair a little closer to Barnes so he could offer whatever support he'd need.
"Seventy years?" Bucky asked under his breath. "How is that possible?"
"It's a long story," Steve told him. "I can explain it -."
"What?" Barnes interrupted him. "How can that be? You'd be... older. I'd be older." He raised his hands in front of him to see that his hands hadn't aged, but wait… he turned over the metal hand and dozens of images flashed through his head. The sudden flashes made him gasp and Steve reached over to try to ground him again.
"It's okay," Steve told him. "I have a lot to tell you… and I will. Okay? In time, I'll tell you everything that I know. For now, I want you to focus on this fact… you're alive and you're safe."
Barnes took a few deep breaths; trying to will away the anxiety.
"You're safe," Steve repeated.
When the sensation of panic lessened to a controllable level Barnes nodded; willing to put his trust in Steve – as he always had.
"Are you okay?" Steve asked and Bucky nodded. "Are you hungry? You haven't eaten since last night." Barnes thought about the question and it took him some time before he nodded. "Okay, good," Steve replied, "we'll get you something to eat." He looked across the room to see the wheelchair was still tucked away in the corner. "I'll be right back."
He walked past Natasha and Dr. Golden to grab the wheelchair. He unfolded it, set the foot rests and returned to Bucky's side. Barnes looked at it but didn't make any attempt to move. Steve reached out to touch Bucky's arm, signaling him to stand up, which he did.
His movements were slow and a little awkward; as if he was feeling dazed and had to put all of his focus toward making his body move. Even with that though, he showed no evidence of the twitching or muscle spasms he'd been afflicted with the previous evening before the sudden emergence of the Winter Soldier.
Steve guided him to take a seat in the chair and told him to put his feet on the foot rests. Once he was situated, Steve unlocked the brakes and backed out of the corner. He spun the chair around toward the door and Bucky saw Natalia now sitting with the doctor. Natasha smiled softly at him. He didn't smile back because he was more concerned about the bruises coloring her face and neck. He locked eyes with her and, as he was pushed closer, he raised his hand toward her. She and Emily stood up as they passed by and Nat laid her hand upon his until he was pushed past her.
Steve smiled at her which she returned. As the men left the room, Emily placed her hand on Natasha's back, lending her support before following them out of the room.
He steered the wheelchair down the hall and the ladies joined him near the elevator. As the friends conversed behind him, Bucky slowly took in the sights around him. There was an elevator door in front of him and to his left a long wide corridor that was brightly lit toward the far end. The corridor curved slightly to the right so he couldn't see all the way down its length and he leaned back a little, craning his neck trying to see what was down there. Natasha noticed his attention was drawn away and she nudged Steve and he looked down.
"You want to see what's down there?" he asked. Bucky didn't respond to him so Steve shifted his position to the side of the chair and crouched down to his level. When Bucky looked at him, Steve asked again. Barnes thought about it but seemed hesitant. "It's safe. I promise. There's no danger here." Barnes considered Steve's assurance and then nodded.
Dr. Golden took that time to observe Barnes as they waited for the elevator and decided on a different course of action. "Why don't we bring him to the conference room down the hall," she suggested instead. Steve looked at her with a knitted brow. "I think it'd be more beneficial for him to be in a quiet room instead of a common area right now," she explained.
"I'll head up and put a lunch together," Natasha told them. "You can stay with them."
Emily liked that suggestion. "Okay. Just something light," she suggested. Both Natasha and Steve nodded.
"Change of plans, pal. I'll give you a tour later, okay?" He mentioned and Bucky nodded so Steve turned the chair around, steering it to a room nearby. It was close and quiet and had enough space around the table for any of the team members who might choose to join them.
Emily continued to observe him as Steve escorted him to the conference room. He spoke softly to his friend, asking questions to which Barnes would nod yes or shook his head for no. Only when Steve repeated a question did James offer a verbal reply and when he did it was brief and softly spoken as if afraid he'd be overheard. She paused at the door and observed Sgt. Barnes from a distance as Capt. Rogers got him situated at the long table.
Steve pulled a chair away in order to push the wheelchair up close and set the brakes. Emily excused herself and closed the door; giving them a few minutes to get settled before joining them and waited in the corridor for Natasha to return. Her decision to wait in the corridor was a twofold decision; one, it gave Steve time to get James settled and accustomed to the new surroundings in private and; two, when Natasha returned with lunch she wouldn't need to knock on the door. Dr. Golden wanted to ensure the least amount of disturbances, giving James a chance to feel at ease.
Natasha returned in record time with a tray filled with sandwiches, assorted bags of chips, and drinks; both hot and cold. She explained to Emily that Wanda, Bruce and Sam happened to be there and helped put the tray together quickly. Emily smiled and opened the door for her.
As Dr. Golden entered behind her and closed the door quietly, she observed again his non-verbal responses to Steve's questions. He appeared stunned and distracted; which was to be expected. She watched him briefly, taking note of his body rocking and lowered gaze. Natasha set the tray on the table and let Steve take it from there. He placed a small plate in front of Bucky and put half a sandwich on it. Barnes looked down at it then followed Steve's movements as he chose a bottle of water and snapped open the cap, twisting it off and setting it down in front of him. He watched as Steve then did the same for himself.
When Steve was all set and had his own lunch in front of him, he looked up to see Bucky looking between the two plates. "Everything okay, Buck?"
Barnes blinked a few times as if he'd been lost in thought and then nodded. Natasha chose to sit beside James and he looked at her briefly before dropping his gaze again. Emily took a seat next to Steve so she would have an unobstructed view of Barnes as they interacted.
"Go ahead," Steve told him, gesturing toward his plate. "You still like ham and cheese, right?" Bucky looked at him with a serious expression. He then glanced at Dr. Golden before nodding. "I gave you half a sandwich for now, but if you finish it and want more, there's plenty to choose from. Okay?" Steve told him, repositioning the tray so Bucky would know he could take whatever he liked.
As Barnes studied all the items on the tray, Natasha smiled and picked up a small plate for herself and placed half a sandwich on it. She chose a drink and a bag of chips as James followed her movements. He watched her pinch each side of the bag of chips and pull it open then she set it down before twisting the cap off an iced tea. She then reached over to open his bag of chips and shook some of its contents onto his plate. His gaze followed her every move.
"Buck?" Steve said, trying to get his attention. Barnes didn't seem to hear him though. "Bucky." Barnes started slightly and looked at him. "Go ahead and eat."
Bucky reached for the sandwich on his plate with his right hand, while his left hand remained resting on his lap. He took a bite and chewed slowly as he looked at the pictures on the walls and then seemed to study the wood grain pattern in the tabletop.
At one point, he raised his left hand to reach for the water bottle in front of him but as soon as he saw the shiny metal hand he quickly tucked it back under the table; opting instead to put his sandwich down and then reach for it with his right hand.
"Everything okay, Buck?" Steve asked and Barnes nodded.
Dr. Golden leaned closer to Captain Rogers to get his attention. Steve noticed and leaned toward her to close the distance. "Try asking him open-ended questions instead of 'yes' or 'no' questions. I'd like him to respond using his voice so I can better evaluate his mental state." She informed him, watching as Barnes began to rock side to side.
Steve understood and nodded, but when he opened his mouth he he paused, realizing his next question was going to lead to a 'yes' or 'no' response. Natasha grinned at him and Steve closed his mouth so she decided to assist.
"We have some hot beverages here as well," she told him and Barnes looked at the covered cups on the tray. "Would you like one?" she asked and James nodded. "Would you like coffee or hot chocolate?" she asked.
Barnes nodded again and Dr. Golden noted that he misunderstood how the question had been asked. Natasha picked up on that as well so she repeated the question. "Do you want coffee? Or hot chocolate?" Barnes nodded again. "Sweetie," Nat said gently, "which one do you want?"
"Oh," Bucky remarked, shaking himself visibly to try to focus. "Umm… hot chocolate… please," he told her and took the final bite of his sandwich.
Natasha smiled and chose a white mug from the tray and carefully removed the lid before setting it down in front of him. He watched the steam rise from the liquid and then wrapped his hand around the mug to feel its warmth. The smell of chocolate permeated his senses and he raised the cup to his mouth. He could feel the heat coming from it so he was careful with his first sip. He held the liquid on his tongue as the taste of it triggered images to flash across his mind's eye. He closed his eyes and set the cup down; trying to concentrate hard enough to grab onto one of the images; to find a little clarity in something so achingly familiar.
The others sat silently, watching him. A few minutes passed before he opened his eyes and sighed. It was clear that whatever images he'd been trying to grasp onto didn't come to him. Steve deflated slightly, feeling sorrowful for his friend. Bucky seemed lost and forlorn and he wanted nothing more than to help him through this confusing time. When Bucky looked over at him, Steve managed a smile and Barnes tried to return it but it was fleeting.
Instead he looked to the beautiful redhead sitting beside him. His expression shifted slightly but it was clear that his attention was now directed outward. At first he'd been stunned by her appearance but now he only felt remorse. Her bruises were not as dark and as angry-looking as Steve's, but they were still easily visible. He seemed to be studying her face. More aptly he was studying the fingerprint marks on her face and the discolored ring around her throat. His expression shifted again. He looked from Natasha to Steve and then lowered his gaze, becoming more guarded and wary.
"Buck?" Steve asked.
Barnes looked up at him. "I did that… didn't I?" he asked. Steve and Nat exchanged glances. "I'm sorry, I… I… don't have any… memory of -."
"Buck, it's okay," Steve interjected.
"No, it's not okay, I just… I don't… I can't -."
"Bucky, stop... It's okay," Steve told him. "We understand. We're going to do everything we can to help you. Okay?" Barnes took a few breaths trying to quell the anxiety tightening his chest. "Understand? We're going to help you through this. All of us."
Bucky's expression tightened as if he was forcing himself to not cry. He nodded. Natasha reached over and rested her hand on his shoulder. He turned his face toward her but kept his eyes down. "I'm sorry," he managed, his voice barely a whisper. She squeezed his shoulder lightly then moved her hand to lay it gently on his head. She stroked his hair and he leaned toward her. "I'm sorry," he repeated and turned slightly toward her. Natasha wrapped her arm around his back and he leaned closer, surrendering himself to whatever retaliation she thought he deserved. Instead of striking out at him, she wrapped her other arm around him and held him close. It took him a few moments more to realize he wouldn't be harmed for his previous actions. He fell against her, unable to comprehend her kindness… her forgiveness.
Steve reached out to him then stood up. He moved around the table to kneel behind them. He dropped a heartfelt kiss to the top of his friend's head and pulled them both into a tight embrace.
Dr. Golden watched them; keeping to herself her own thoughts and smiled softly.
The three friends held onto each other for quite some time. For Natasha and Steve, nothing else was as important in the moment than James Barnes and for Bucky there was nothing being demanded of him. He couldn't remember the last time he'd hugged someone or, for that matter, the last time he'd received one - a lifetime ago, perhaps.
He leaned into his friends' embrace until he was drained; emotionally and physically. Both Steve and Natasha felt the moment he lost all strength when they realized they were supporting his weight. Steve carefully shifted him back into an upright position in the chair and he opened his eyes. Natasha smiled softly at him; hiding her concern at how exhausted he suddenly looked and how quickly it overcame him. Steve kept his composure as well and made sure he was safely seated before attempting to move him.
"I think he could use some rest," Steve mentioned casually. "I'd like to take him to my place, if that's all right."
Dr. Golden smiled and nodded. "I think that's a wonderful idea, Captain. Will you need assistance?" she asked, standing up.
"No, I'm sure we'll be fine," he told her.
"Very well," she said, walking to the door. She opened it and held it open as Steve steered the chair into the corridor. Natasha followed him out and Dr. Golden brought up the rear.
They rode the elevator together until it stopped on Steve's floor. When the doors opened, he maneuvered the chair out but Natasha remained inside the car with Dr. Golden.
"We'll let Dr. Banner know that he's with you. I'll check in on you both in a few hours," Emily told him. "If you need me before then, do not hesitate to contact me."
"Thank you, Doctor."
The elevator door remained open until he disappeared down the hall. It wasn't a long walk to his apartment and they waited to be sure he wouldn't need assistance. He unlocked the door and steered the chair inside; only when they heard him close the door behind him did they allow the elevator door to close.
As the elevator descended again they rode it in silence. Emily looked at Natasha and Nat grinned. Emily furrowed her brow in question.
"I need a belt," Nat told her matter-of-factly and Emily laughed.
"My office," she replied, pushing the button for her floor. "I'm buying."
"It's a little early, isn't it?" Natasha asked, crossing her arms she grinned at the doctor.
"Hey… it was your idea. Besides…. it's four o'clock, somewhere…"