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Block, grab his hand, turn, twist, break his elbow, and finally, a flying front kick.
Bucky landed on the ground, reloading his metal, he grabs his comes with his other.
“Sam? I got the smuggler, unconscious and ready for transport. East side secured.”
Radio silence. “Sam?”
Bucky turned and headed for Sam’s last known location, trying to not imagine the worst. It was a simple mission, as Sam said. Kick ass and handcuff everyone in The Smuggler’s warehouse meeting room. They had done this a thousand time, Sam pointed out at the time.
Which begs the question, why isn’t he responding?
Bucky arrived at the scene, still nothing. Just a whole lot of dead bodies that didn’t include Sam, Bucky breathed a sigh of relief at that.
Stolen rifle shouldered, he headed towards the containers, silently walking around, turned at every box but still nothing. Bucky tried the comms again, and this, he heard something.
Turning around, Bucky tried tracing the sound, realizing the noise is present only after he speaks.
Sam’s comms lay on the ground, still operational. Bucky sweeped the rest of the area, nothing except blood and more dead bodies.
Wait. Blood. A trial of blood. Bucky follows it on high alert. He could pick up the sound of labored breathing and,
Gun shots.
“Sam!”
“Bucky?”
“Yes! Stop shooting at me!” Bucky advanced and made himself visible.
Sam was half sitting, hidden underneath a large truck. A pool of blood lay beneath. “I know, I know, it looks bad. But it’s just a bullet, shotgun I think.”
“It looks bad? It is bad, Sam. Just hang on.” Bucky’s heart was beating hard, his breathing came quicker, and he spoke fast, “Shit, Sam. Come here,”
“Agh!”
“Sorry, sorry, let me see…” Bucky’s gentle fingers investigated the wound. There was an exit one as well. “It went through you, hence the blood. This is going to hurt, hang on Sam,”
“Fuck! Jesus christ man,”
“Antiseptic isn’t strong enough for this, backup is on its way, 7 mins. How did this happen?” Bucky asked, holding pressure on both ends.
“Mmmm stupid mistake, didn’t see him,”
“Alright, alright, don’t talk. Save your energy, you’re good.”
“Damn right I’m good, and charming and handsome too,” Sam said weakly.
“Good to see your humor is still intact,”
“Let’s hope my organs are too,” he laughed weekly and looked at Bucky. Really looked, noticing the worry lines around his eyes.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have - “
“What? Left me alone? I’m a soldier, this happens,”
Bucky sighed. “I heal faster than average, I’m stronger, sometimes I forget you’re not a…not like me.”
“Well I like a little drama, Buck, now you’re gonna have to nurse me back to health, old man.”
Bucky laughed at that, “yeah, I will. And if you die on me on the ride back, just know I’m waking you up from the afterlife and then killing you.” He gave him that stare which sent laugh chuckling, only to cough up some blood.
“Chopper’s here, hang in there, Sam,” Bucky whispered, and Sam’s eyes closed.
—
“Water, nurse Bucky,”
Bucky smacked him on his good side. A smile was on Sam’s face, and nothing else needed to be said as Bucky handed him his ice chips.