Playlist
• Unsteady - X Ambassadors
• For Baltimore (Acoustic) - All Time Low
• Staying Up - The Neighbourhood
• All In My Head - Tori Kelly
• Kathleen - Catfish And The Bottlemen
• Lesser Oceans - Fences

Bucky studied his worn hands as Willow spoke. He glanced at the clock and saw there were only ten minutes left.

"What do you want to accomplish by coming to these sessions?" Willow asked.

Bucky raised his eyes to Willow's. He studied her face. Above all things shining through her eyes, he saw trustworthiness, and that sent chills down his spine.

"I don't know how long I'm going to keep coming," he said, looking her dead in the eyes.

"Okay, well, in our short time together, how can I help you?"

Make the voices stop, he thought to himself. But he couldn't tell her that.

"Help me with the memories," he said softly, dropping his eyes once again.

Willow scratched words into her notepad then set it down. "Bucky, I appreciate that you came in today and gave me a chance. I have a method of treatment for trauma victims that helps to desensitize them to their triggers. It's called EMDR, which is short for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. It helps your brain become less reactive to the things you've experienced that cause you to struggle every day."

He chewed on his lip.

"You've gone through a lot, but you're not beyond saving. It takes a certain courage to get out of bed in the morning, and same with coming down to my office," she continued. "I'm proud of you."

Bucky's eyes darted up to hers. Sincerity covered her face. "Th-thank you."

"We're going to start with the set up for EMDR therapy in our next session. That is, if you decide to come back. There is absolutely no pressure for you to come back, but I think we'd be able to accomplish a lot. It won't be a speedy process, but if we do it correctly, you'll be back to who you were before the mental manipulation."

"I hardly remember that man. He died a long, long time ago. Back when Hydra put my brain in a blender."

Willow stood up and helped Bucky to the door. "Our session for today is over, but I hope to see you again, okay?" She placed a hand on his back.

Her hand was warm on his spine, but Bucky simply nodded as he stood. Willow opened the door and led him out to the lobby, where Steve sat reading a magazine.

"Sharon can help you schedule another appointment if you'd like," she smiled and grabbed a card from the desk. "This has my number on it. Call me any time." 

Steve looked at Bucky, who fumbled as he put Willow's business card in his pocket.

"I think I'll make an appointment for next week," Bucky forced a half smile.

Willow smiled softly. "I will see you then." She nodded at Steve then returned to her office as Bucky set the date.

>•<>•<>•<>•<

"Buck, I'm proud of you," Steve said, wrapping his arm around his friend who sat next to him on the couch.

"What for?"

"You wanted to go back."

"She was different" he muttered as he took a sip from his bottle of beer. 

Steve grabbed the television remote and changed the channel. "I'm willing to drive you, so just say the word and you're there."

"Thanks, Steve. Now can we focus on the game?" 

Author's Note

Hey guys!!! I'm sorry this is so short! I needed to write something and I'm like at a writer's block.
I'm gonna work on a better, longer chapter sometime this week!
Xo Emma