Reb - 4

Reb's POV 

Reb had trouble finding the tree stand after they left. She knew she had it somewhere she just wasn't sure where.

She was in the garage when the pain hit. She had it before just not this bad. Her muscles had slowly been deteriorating and now it would seem she could no longer support herself. 

Her legs gave out, sending her onto the cold hard cement floor. Black spot danced across her vision and she could only pray she didn't pass out. Breathing shifted her spine hurting her doing anything hurt so bad. She didn't even know she was crying until she tasted salt.

 Part of her hoped her guests didn't come back to find her like this. The idea mortified her yet she knew she couldn't function right now without someone to help it the next five minutes or she'd pass out. It was like she was underwater so far away from the warmth of her house and the music. This would scare them and she hated to scare them.

She heard the door open and commotion as they pulled that promised tree in. A tree she hadn't had one of those in a long time.

 She could hear Steve calling for her. The longer she didn't answer the more the calls became slightly more worried. She tried to call back but breathing made the pain so much it came out as tears and an awful sound. She could hear them coming, footsteps quiet and checking each corner and door.

 "Found her," Steve called coming to her side.

 He put his hand on her back and she just about screamed. Her tears and lack of breath stopped it. The strangled sound that came out was enough for him to get the picture and pull his hand away.

 "What the heck happened?" Bucky gasp horrified. It was the most he'd said in her presence so far.
 How she hated being unable to do anything herself.

 Steve leaned closer, "Your illness?"

 Reb nodded just a bit so she didn't jostle her back.

 "Okay I'm gonna pick you up this is gonna hurt." He warned. He slid his arms under her knees and shoulders before she could protest.

The pain made her scream that time. She felt bad making them both flinch since she practically screamed in both their ears but the pain distracted her from her guilt. Steve was careful to not shift her too much as he stood. They got out to the hall and Bucky closed the garage door behind them.

 "Bed or couch?" He ask in her ear.

 "Couch." She gagged out.

 Buck moved the box still sitting there for Steve to set her down. The jolt made her cry out again. Bucky offered a box of tissues sheepishly. Reb took them. Goodness, she probably looked like a disaster.

 Steve came back holding her electric blanket with the cord. She nodded to his unasked question. He plugged it in before putting it behind her and turning it in high. The pain made her face screw up at moving but it was better than being on the floor.

 Bucky came over with another blanket she accepted with a nod. When she was finally taken care of to their standards they both stopped in front of her Steve with his arms crossed and Bucky with his head tilted ever so slightly in a questioning way.

 "So we leave for what thirty minutes and you get hurt," Steve stated.

 Reb glared, "Yeah right I totally planned this Einstein."

Bucky coughed back a chuckle earning a glare from Steve.

 "So did you get the tree?" She asked, changing the subject away from her inability to live on her own.

 Steve opened his mouth to bring it back to his concern as Bucky simply reached behind her and pulled out the perfect tree. She grinned at the sight of it.
 Steve gave an exasperated sigh but let it go. Bucky moved it so she could admire the whole tree.

 "I haven't had a tree in years. I was looking for the tree stand earlier. It's probably up in the attic now that I think about it." Reb said fingering he needles on the tree.

 "Alright, I'll see if I can't find it." Steve decided, heading for the stairs.

 "And the box of decorations," Reb called as he headed upstairs.

 Bucky leaned the tree against the door again and walked out of her line of sight.
 She sighed heavily just what she needed to get coddled by two of the most wanted fugitives in the world. It was humorous but if they kept her cooped up too long she'd go crazy. She had a suspicion that Bucky would be much easier to persuade than Steve.

 As if on cue the functioning mute held out a cup of coffee mixed with cocoa the way she liked it. Reb smiled, accepting. The man was scary good at retaining information even as some mundane things in everyday life he didn't seem to know.
She had overheard him and Steve talking. He had very little conception of what ALS was. That shocked her, considering, what she could tell, he enjoyed science.

 She caught him thumbing through her collection of old science books from around the world. He had jumped a little being caught red-handed in her extensive library but she'd waved him off finishing her decorating. He'd helped her before going back to her books. Science in one pile and modern world history in another. All in a wide range of languages. Reb had watched him for a moment as he skimmed at a ridiculous rate.

She looked finally over at him as he now sat on the floor back to the couch yet another book in his lap. Medical this time. "Did you learn anything in your reading?" Reb ask causally.

 He looked up at her a little, "Some."

 She nodded, draining her cup. Setting it on the side table she stretched her back carefully. Finding it no longer screamed in pain she stretched it out some more. All that was left now was a dull ache in her back that would be her constant reminder that the ALS was there. She grimaced at that pain before settling back down.

 Reb looked up and Bucky was frowning slightly at her. He had obviously been put on babysitting duty when it came to her.
 "You can ask me about it, you know. I'm not as opposed to the topic as Steve thinks I am." She granted quietly.

His frown deepened, "What is it?"

 Reb sighed considering, "It’s hard to explain. In simple terms, it's a terminal illness that will kill me very slowly. But that's probably evident. It's called ALS. My nerve cells are dying and with them, I'm losing control of function. Things like motor control and walking are going, slowly. Eventually, I'll die."

  Bucky looked at her quietly in thought.
She was betting he was smart enough to figure it out without her assistance.
He nodded deep in thought, she was left waiting.

Please tell me what you think!

Follow if you like it!

No hate, please! I know I got at least some things wrong.