Chapter Text
You strip an old bed of dirty sheets and finish tucking the pristine white sheet onto the matress. The off white sheets of the last patient lay in a mound on the floor. You try to pick up all the sheets, but they tower over you to block your view when bundled together; some parts drag on the floor.
"Always on work huh?" Bucky, a soldier you met just a few weeks ago, questions you.
"Just the best for our soldiers." You say, looking around the sheets to see Bucky. He smiles and relieves you of a little over half your load.
"No thank you?" He questions proudly. You roll your eyes at the man. Ever since you kissed him on the cheek two days ago as a thank you, he has been waiting for a special thank you every time he helps you out of a bind. He use to rescue you without a word, never needing a reward or praise, just the right to tease you about it here or there.
"Sorry Bucky, kisses are only for helping with very important tasks."
"Hmm..I wonder what a real kiss would cost then?" Buck purposely thinks a loud. You try to hold back your laugh, but fail to do so. He is getting more brave with his flirting towards you. Before he was still a little nervous, shy even.
"You would have to help me with something extraordinarily big for that mister."
"What if I save up my rewards for one? Cash all of them in at once?" You ignore his teasing and instead give him a normal thank you to replace the one he is looking for.
"Thanks." You mumble. Naturally you would not accept help with the things you do from other soldiers. You are independent and strong. When you would get help, the men would label you as another helpless dame and nothing got on your nerves quicker. You could never work that false label off.
It was different with Bucky though. He never made fun of you to be mean. He might tease you, but you always find it cute.
"So how has your week been here so far?"
"We have been getting less wounded soldiers and they are healing quicker. I cannot help, but note the number of soldier here are dwindling." You drop your sheets in a laundry basket and Bucky does the same. Following your example.
"Don't tell anyone I told you this, but I think they are being captured by enemy troops." You grimace at his words.
"Nazis or the new threat? Hydra?"
"You know about them?" Bucky questions in surprise. No one is suppose to know about them. Especially the nurses. "I am not blind Buck. I put two and two together from tidbits of stories from the wounded. More than half of our soldiers have gone to the Hydra base and all of them have been labeled under MIA or KIA."
Bucky is quiet before he continues the heavy conversation. "That's what I came here to talk to you about. I have been assigned the job of getting rid of a Hydra strong hold with the Howling Commandos."
"I understand." You say, as you swallow the lump that has just formed in your throat. You cannot lose him. You never needed someone before, but you admit it; you do not know what you will do without him by your side. He pulls you aside and puts his hands on your shoulders.
"I have to do this." You nod at him, trying to figure out what to say. Trying to be strong for him.
"You will be back, ok." You say those words more as a reassurance to yourself than a promise to him. He kisses you on the cheek before walking off to the caravan with other soldiers. You watch him climb in and you both wave to each other. You do not leave until the dust his car kicked up has faded and he is gone.