Possibility of Tomorrow - 7

Cont...

 Bucky took a moment to process what she had just said, "There's more of you?" 

The Girl seems terrified of him but nods, "Yes. Once they hook you on the drug, you're theirs. If you try and rebel, they let you withdraw. Everyone who has died."

 He can tell by her voice she's seen it happen before. He thinks back to her condition the last week and could see how easily it could happen, especially without someone to help them through it. "If it helps your conscious, you almost died too." Bucky offered. 

The Girl huffed out a chuckle mirthlessly, "It doesn't." 

Bucky sighed; if it were him, it wouldn't either. Changing courses, he looked her over, "How do you feel?" 

The Girl thought for a moment, "Fine." 

Bucky snorted, "Try again."

 She subconsciously curled up smaller when he said that, "Thirsty, sore, sticky." 

Bucky nodded, "How's your arm?" 

She gave him a quizzical look before looking down to find her right arm in a splint. Confusion laced her features as she looked down at her broken arm like she was trying to remember how that had gotten there. "You broke my arm?" Her voice was shocked and slightly terrified. 

"In my defense, you were trying to stab me, again," Bucky said softly. He knew she was terrified of him, and he could get that. He'd broken her arm, for crying out loud.

She blinked, staring down at the splint before slowly looking up at him, "You didn't kill me." She sounded surprised, and that stung more than it should have.

 "I said it wouldn't." 

The Girl looked at him with a look that said she didn't understand why he'd do that. The same look he'd given Steve. I'm not sure I'm worth all this. Now he was standing in Steve's shoes. Part of him got it now. 

Realization flooded her face, "What- What about the others?" She looked genuinely concerned, frightened even. 

"They're fine. Nat's complaining from her sore ribs, and Steve won't sit still long enough to let us check his healed-up wounds, so I'd say pretty good all things considered." Bucky said nonchalantly. 

The Girl nodded, looking relieved, "What happens now?" 

Her soft question was loaded, and while Bucky was pretty sure he knew what she was asking, he wanted to be sure, "What do you mean?"

 "You've done your duty. I’m alive. Now, what will you do? Lock me in a storage closet since we're on a boat? Or just toss me overboard and be done with it?" The Girl asked both questions like they were completely plausible possibilities. 

Bucky frowned; he understood the mindset, but seeing it reflect back at him by someone so young no less was unnerving, "If we had wanted to kill you, why would we have nursed you back to health?"

"To toy with me." Her answer was followed with a flash of fear that told Bucky exactly what she was thinking about. Leaning back against the bunk, he sighed; of course, it came back to this.

 "Your fever was so high you were desperate for anything cold. I took a walk topside, and when I came back, you latched onto my arm and didn't let go. I was tired, and you were asleep, so I just put you on top of me so you could sleep and left you be." 

The Girl subconsciously ran her left hand over herself as he explained, checking to see if the story matched. Bucky sat so she could see he was fully clothed too. He should have figured that was where her mind would go first. 

She finally seemed satisfied his story was legit as she finally scooted closer rather than farther, "So what now?" 

"Well, how about I check your stitches to make sure you didn't pull them on your tumble off the bed?" Bucky offered. 

The Girl considered before nodding as she tried to scoot closer, "Okay." 

Her muscles were still weak, so Bucky had to half pick her up to help her onto the bed. 

"I'm gonna lift your shirt just a little to check your stitches now, okay?" He waited until she nodded before pulling the shirt up just enough to look at the stitches. She hadn't pulled them; in fact, they were almost healed. They were an agitated red, though. Gently he laid the shirt back over it, "You didn't pull them, but they are agitated. I'd suggest you be careful with them until it's fully healed, okay?" 

The Girl nodded, "Okay."

 "Can I see your arm?" Bucky asked next. 

She held out her right arm to him. 

Bucky carefully unwrapped the splint and ran his hand over where the break had been. He wasn't Sam, but he could have sworn it felt like it hadn't been broken at all. One week to heal a broken arm was impossible unless you were supercharged. He wasn't sure she even realized that "Any pain?"

The Girl shook her head, "Not really, it just feels like I bruised it to the bone."

 Bucky kept his face calm, "That's good. I'm gonna re-wrap it. Let me know if there's any pain." 

The Girl nodded as he got back to wrapping it. He worked in silence for a long time before she spoke, "Aren't you going to ask?" 

Bucky looked up at her, curious, "Ask what?" 

"All those questions you want the answers to. I can tell you have them." The Girl was causal as she basically asked when she was getting interrogated. 

Bucky shook his head, going back to wrapping her arm, "I'm not the only one, so I'm gonna wait till everyone can get their answers at once. That way, you don't have to answer the same question over and over." 

Before the Girl could comment, the door opened. Wanda poked her head in, "I thought I heard you up. Lunch is ready." 

Bucky hummed in response as he finished wrapping her arm, "Thanks, Wanda." 

Wanda stepped into the room, seeing the Girl, "I didn't realize you were up." 

When the Girl didn't answer, Bucky stepped in, "Yeah, her fever broke this morning. Say, you have any clothes she could change into?" 

"Sure." Wanda pulled her bag out.

 "I'd let you take a shower, but our medic needs to take a better look at your stitches before you get the green light. Sound good?" Bucky addressed the Girl. She nodded, watching Wanda rifle through her bag. 

"Here." Wanda leaned over with some clothes, "They're a little small on me, but I hadn't had the time to get rid of them; they should fit you better." 

The Girl shyly took them, "Thank you."

 Wanda practically beamed, "You're welcome." 

Bucky stood and ignored the way the Girl automatically cowered, "We're gonna step outside so you can change. If you need help with your arm, just ask Wanda, okay?" The Girl nodded. The two adults stepped outside, leaving the Girl to have her privacy.

She's so shy! Wanda's comment rang through. 

Bucky's head.  He gave her a disapproving look, More like out of her depth and uncomfortable. 

Okay, that makes sense. You get anything? 

No, I told her I'd wait till we could all get our questions answered at once. 

Smart. 

That means you too, you know.  

He got an epic sigh that rattled in his head for a sec.

Fine. 

Bucky couldn't help but roll his eyes at the young woman. She acted so maturely that he forgot her age sometimes. That was always when he would get reminded in the oddest ways.

 The door opened before he could point that out. The Girl was in one of Wanda's dresses with a jacket over the top to cover any indecency. 

"Better?" Bucky asked. The Girl nodded, still seeming shy. 

"Let's head to the kitchen for food before Sam eats it all," Wanda suggested, lightly leading the way. 

"Sam? I'd be more worried about Steve with the appetite he has." Bucky responded, naturally falling into step next to the Girl. 

"Forget Steve. I'd be more worried about Nat if they try and eat it all." Wanda countered.

 "Touché," Bucky admitted. They went up the stairs to the working rooms. They passed some of the crew, but no one paid them any mind. The halls were significantly colder than below decks, and the Girl was curling her shoulders in the jacket.  They entered the lounge attached to the kitchen and were hit with warm air and good smells. Steve had his hands full as he inhaled a bowl of soup. Sam was berating him for not sitting still as he tried to examine Steve's wounds. Nat sat across from them, a steaming bowl of her own in front of her, watching the two squabble, amused. 

"What's for lunch?" Bucky asked, announcing their presence. 

"Clam chowder." Nat looked over, barely batting an eye when she saw the Girl, "Get it while it's hot." 

"Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence," Sam muttered sarcastically. 

"Hilarious, Wilson. I'll have you know I was outside yesterday." Bucky retorted, stepping behind the counter and scooped two bowls. 

"Are you done yet?" Steve asked, annoyed.

 Sam huffed back as he leaned across Steve to finished checking the wounds, "Ask that again, and I'll take longer. Yes, I'm done."

 "Thank goodness," Steve grumbled, yanking his shirt back on, almost smacking Bucky as he came out of the kitchen. 

"Hey! Watch it!" Bucky snapped, putting the two steaming bowls down. 

"Someone's grouchy," Wanda observed.

 "More like hangry. You slept through breakfast, man. What's up with that?" Sam settled. 

"It's called mind your own business, Wilson." Bucky retorted, coming back with spoons for the soup.

 They settled into a familiar rhythm of their odd little group easily, teasing, threats, and whining all in the same breath. Family.

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