Chapter Text
Steve didn’t remember the explosion. It was perfectly natural for that to happen, the doctor in Munich - a kind old man named Erskine - reassured him.
What wasn’t natural was the vivid dream he’d had before he’d awakened in the military hospital.
A man he hadn’t seen since childhood, his old imaginary friend Bucky, had stopped him before he was able to step into an elevator.
“No, buddy, it’s not your time yet.”
Steve had stopped and looked at his old friend, confused. “But…”
“I know it’s painful, but you have to go back. Don’t worry, Stevie-boy. I won’t be leaving you again.” Bucky had grinned that devil-may-care grin that Steve had never quite been able to forget, even after he outgrew his invisible playmate some ten or fifteen years ago.
“I have to get on--” Steve had insisted, pushing at Bucky’s hand. “Everyone else already went up--”
And then the doors had opened, and there were the rest of his teammates, his platoon, the Howling Commandos. They were all looking sadly at him from the inside of the elevator.
“Steve…” Peggy had said, and she looked like she was crying. “I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Steve answered dumbly. “I’m coming with you.”
“No, I’m tellin’ you you’re not!” Bucky had interrupted. “You’ve still got stuff to do.”
“I--”
And then his mother had pushed through the crowd. She hadn’t gotten off the elevator, she just stood right within the doors. She shook her head.
“Stevie,” she’d whispered. “Steve, I’m so proud of you. I’m sorry, but James is right. It’s not your time yet.”
Steve had begun to protest, and Bucky had manhandled him away as the doors closed and the elevator began to rise…
He woke up, and was unsurprised to find out that he was the sole survivor of the ambush that had befallen his platoon. It didn’t make the ache go away.
With the heavy dosage of painkillers and tranqs in his system, he dozed off again. When the drugs wore off once more, he found he wasn’t alone in his hospital room.
Hey, buddy. Long time no see.
Steve had panicked for a second, enough that the nurses had rushed in to check on him. From the way they acted, he knew they couldn’t see the tall, dark-haired figure sitting in the chair next to his bed.
Don’t freak out, Steve, Bucky had said. You’re gonna scare these nice nurses.
And Steve had allowed them to check him over and try to feed him some ice chips to soothe his throat - up until the previous day, they said, there had been a breathing tube in - and once he’d reassured them that the heightened heart rate was due to his sudden waking up again. They’d left him in peace, telling him to get more rest and let himself heal more.
He didn’t sleep, however. He instead managed to have a chat with his imaginary friend.
...who turned out to not be imaginary at all.