Say something

Chapter 1

Steve hadn't known Bucky was sick, or he would've insisted adamantly that he get help. He had been with Bucky the day everything had spiraled out of control. He'd stood up from their table at the restaurant and before Steve had even had time to react Bucky was on the ground unconscious. 911 had been called and the pair had been whisked away, that was the day Steve's world fell apart, the day he learned Bucky was dying. Steve should've known something was wrong. Bucky had gotten sick more times that year than he had in the last five before that.

10 hours earlier

"I'm fine Steve," Bucky assures although he knew he wasn't.

"Are you sure? You look pale." Steve says, straightening Bucky's tie.

"Fine babe." He promises, resting a hand on his arm. Steve sighs and steals a quick kiss.

"Okay." Steve hums. Bucky smiles and interlocks their fingers. He was going to tell Steve, he wouldn't back down the way he had all those other times. He follows Steve to the car and slides into the drivers seat. If Steve noticed how tightly he gripped the steering wheel he didn't say anything. Bucky tosses Steve the keys and gets out. He circles the car and pulls the door open Steve smiles and steps out. Thanking him with a kiss. Bucky smiles but his stomach was twisting into knots. He leads Steve to their table and pulls out the chair. He pulls out his own chair and sits down, he coughs multiple times into the crook of his arm.

"Are you sure you're okay? Your cough sounds worse today." Steve frowns.

"I'm good Steve." He sighs, he'd known for almost a year and felt sick lying to Steve all the time... But he hasn't told anyone. Only he and his doctor know.

"Okay." Steve nods, still frowning. The waitress comes over and takes their order. Bucky knew Steve was trying to make sure he was eating enough, he'd lost a lot of weight in the past year and Steve had been concerned. Bucky had simply told him it was a lack of appetite... Another lie.

The waitress returns a while later with their food, but suddenly Bucky didn't feel hungry. He felt sick he gets up feeling dizzy and like he was going to throw up. He doesn't remember falling, or allowing the darkness to consume him.

Steve is up in an instant. He carefully lifts Bucky up into a sort of sitting position, chewing on his lip anxiously as Bucky's head falls back limply. Was he really that sick? Or is it something else? Steve thinks in a panic. He was focused on Bucky and soon paramedics are taking him away and lifting him onto a stretcher. Steve follows behind them in their car, he uses the Bluetooth hook up in his car to call Sam.

"What's up Rogers?" Sam asks casually, Steve felt sick. He swallows around the growing lump in his throat.

"Bucky collapsed. I'm following behind the ambulance." Steve says meekly, paling with the growing fear gnawing at his insides. Sam curses.

"Okay. I'll meet you at the hospital." Sam says along with other things Steve doesn't really recall. He calls Nat next.

"Steve?" She hums. "Or is this Bucky? If it is are you really that lazy?" She teases, Bucky had a habit of just grabbing the nearest phone when he wanted to call someone.

"Its uh me... Uh Steve." He says shakily.

"Steve, darling, what happened?" She says gently.

"It's Bucky. He collapsed. We're nearly at the hospital now." Steve explains, he loses sight of the ambulance when he parks. He doesn't hear what Nat says. "I... I gotta go." He stutters before pulling the keys from the ignition. Steve throws open the door then shuts it and takes off running. He skids to a stop in front of the desk.

"Rogers-Barnes, uh... James Rogers-Barnes. He was just brought in." He says frantically, the nurse taps somethings into her keyboard. She looks up at him sadly.

"He's here, I'm sorry but that's all I know. You can have a seat in our waiting room for now." She says gently, gesturing to the waiting area. Steve nods numbly and shuffles towards it. He drops into one of the worn chairs, maybe it was supposed to be soft, comfortable maybe? He wondered, trying his best not to let his panic consume him. Steve doesn't remember Sam taking a seat beside him. He twists his ring around his finger anxiously. Nat soon arrives with Clint, her hair was a mess and she looked tired and as anxious as Steve felt. After what feels like forever Steve is allowed to see Bucky. Nat, Clint, and Sam wait outside while Steve goes in, Bucky was awake, but barely. He offers Steve a small smile but Steve's heart clenches, running from both nostrils and meeting somewhere at the back of his head was a breathing tube.

Steve collapses in the chair beside him. "What aren't you telling me?" He says angrily. Bucky swallows and looks away for a while. "Bucky." Steve pleads, and Bucky turns to meet him, tears in his eyes.

"I'm dying." Bucky whispers and with those two words Steve's entire world shatters.