𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘

༻ ❁ ༺

  
  
September 24th, 1943

          THE CAMP WAS normally a relaxed place. Today it was like an overturned ant hill. They were moving out.

Not the controlled packing up and moving Alice was used to when they were advancing. This was a retreat. A frantic one.

Hydra had broken their line.

With the help of the rest of the medical team, the nurses were loading all of the patients into marked ambulances. Each red cross-emblazoned van had one nurse in charge of as many wounded soldiers as they could fit inside.

The end of the stretcher slipped out of Alice's hand, her feet slipping in the mud.

A strong arm wrapped around her waist, a second reaching down to grab the stretcher.

She looked up into Bucky's face. His jaw was set and serious. A fierce, protective light filled his eyes. "I got ya."

He was able to get her moving again. He supported the end of the stretcher she was supposed to be carrying while keeping her upright. They stumbled together to the ambulance waiting line.

Bucky grabbed Alice's waist and boosted her into the back of the ambulance. "Hop up, Ally. This is your carriage."

Alice shook her head and made to get out of the ambulance. "No, I'm in the next one. Gwen is in this one."

Bucky set a hand on her shoulder, pushing her back. "Gwen is taking the next one with the doctor. They still haven't got Braddock stable."

Up next to Alice, one of the medics assisted a man with a fractured arm. Everything was still in chaos around them.

"What about you? And Lawrence? Gwen will want to know -- "

Bucky cut her off. "Don't worry about the rest of us. We'll be right behind the ambulances."

That was true, Alice knew. How many times had she gone over the process for an emergency evacuation? There was a period when she was relieved that the nurses and their patients were among the first to leave.

"I know, but..."

Bucky held the sides of her head just under the rim of her helmet, his fingers getting lost in her hair as it slid free of its pins.

He had wanted this to be a soft thing when it happened. 

It was the kind of thing that made a lady swoon. Made all her friends sigh when she told them. It was more important that it happened now. Just in case he needed it to happen now.

Alice could feel his uneven breathing against her lips, and she could tell he was flustered. It was almost as if he did not know what to do. They were engulfed in a never-ending game of cat and mouse, and she had no idea whose character she was playing. She drew closer to him, her nose brushing up against his.

"Alice," she leaned forward as soon as her name left his lips, to close the distance between them. Taken by surprise, for a moment, Bucky's body calmed; Alice felt tense, also. Her own audacity surprised her.

He pulled her face closer to his, pressing their lips firmly together. As they stood flushed against one other, his lips were gentle against hers. It wasn't his best kiss, but it would have to do as a first effort. The next one would be better.

He had to believe in the next one.

"I'll see you soon, okay?" Bucky whispered. The sound was just loud enough to reach her over the din around them.

He didn't wait for a response. He slammed the door shut behind her, pushing her farther into the back of the truck. Two sharp raps with his knuckles sent the driver off. Bucky prayed silently as he watched the ambulance move away. That one, in his opinion, carried the most precious cargo.

"Barnes! You're covering the rear. Get back there. Orders are to fire at will for the sharp shooters." Bucky's captain bellowed from his position loading the transport trucks.

Bucky snapped a salute. "Yes sir."

He jogged away, evading the approaching stretcher, where Gwen knelt on the injured man's chest. One hand was used to hold an IV in place, the other bloody well past the wrist. On the opposite side of the stretcher, the doctor jogged, similarly gore spattered.

Looked like it was going to be a long night for everyone.

༻ ❁ ༺

September 29th, 1943

Bucky had been waiting for the better part of an hour outside the hospital tent. He needed to speak with Alice, but he didn't have much time.

Finally, he spotted her. Walking back towards the hospital with an arm full of clean sheets.

"Hey, Ally."

She turned, her face lighting up when she saw him. "Bucky!" 

Damn it Alice, we talked about this, keep it together. Do not lose yourself in those eyes again.

Bucky took the sheets from her and handed them to a passing medic. That ought to buy him at least a minute. "I've missed you the last few days."

"I've been busy. Setting up the hospital is always a lot of work." Especially seeing as they had to quickly dismantle the prior set-up and retreat. They'd be busy for weeks just keeping up with the inventory. Everything has to be disinfected.

"Yeah?" Bucky shoved his hands into his pockets. He hated feeling like he was on the wrong foot with a girl. "Kinda felt like you were avoiding me."

"N--no." Alice stuttered. She wouldn't say avoiding.

She wasn't going out looking for him or spending much time at the mess, and she had rushed to and from her barracks so she wasn't out for long. "Why would I do that?"

"You'd have to tell me, doll." Bucky shrugged.

"I just..." Alice studied her feet intently. She didn't know how to answer him without lying.

I think I'm falling in love with you and I've never given anyone enough of my heart that they could hurt me before.

She couldn't just say that. Saying it would make it real.

Bucky tucked a finger under her chin and tipped her face up. "I can't fix it if you don't tell me what's wrong."

"I'm scared," Alice whispered, shaking with nerves at the confession.

"Of me? That won't fly." He slipped an arm around her, pulling her close.

Alice shook her head, still refusing to meet his gaze. "No, not of you. Never of you." But wasn't it true all the same?

Bucky tucked her hair behind her ear. Not scared of him, that was good. But she was definitely scared of something. There was only one other thing she could be scared of that would lead to her avoiding him. She was scared of them.

"I don't want to put any pressure on you, doll. We'll slow down as soon as you say the word. I'll be willing to simply be your friend. Does that sound better? My pal, Bucky. He's the sweet one who takes me dancing."

"My Bucky." Alice breathed the words with a small and content smile on her lips. Not the ones he'd prompted her to say, the ones in her heart.

Bucky gently held her against him. That sounded so good coming from her. "But I'm going to be one of those overprotective big brothers. None of the other schmucks will be good enough for you."

Alice turned her face into his chest. "I missed you too."

"Ahh, now I feel bad." Bucky rubbed the back of her wimple covered head. "I'm heading out for a bit. Nothing to worry about. Just routine. I wanted to clear the air between us before I went."

Alice's hands tightened around fistfuls of his shirt as if the act of doing so could keep him from leaving. "Bucky."

"I'll be back in a few days." Bucky pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. "Don't be scared, Ally."

He gently freed himself from her grip. Before he let her go, he kissed her fingertips. In that moment, walking away was one of the most difficult things he'd ever done, but he did it.

"Wait." Alice hurried after him. She didn't want to be his friend. Or she did, but she also wanted more.

Before she could second-guess herself, she wrapped her arms around him. She tilted her face up to him, thinking he'd get the point. She was absolutely scandalized at what she was doing. There were people. They could see them. Might as well just wear his jacket like a love sick school girl.

Bucky cupped her face in his palms, his thumbs stroking over her cheeks in admiration. He gave her a gentle kiss. Carefully. He didn't want to scare her away once again.

"Barnes!" There was no mistaking an officer's bellow.

Bucky grinned and pressed his forehead against hers. "Sorry, Ally. I really do have to go. We'll pick this up when I get back."

And he'd take her dancing. Even if it was just the two of them in a field, and he had to hum every song.

For a moment she clung to him, revelling in his warm, solid presence. It was always hard to say goodbye to him. Today's farewell was the hardest yet.

"Be careful."

"Always."