A Soldier's Journey

Part 12: The Mission Continues

I've been waiting around for another four hours, holding her hand and wishing that she'll wake up soon. I watch as her eyes slowly open, revealing her beautiful hazel orbs behind. I smile at her as she slowly makes eye contact with me. She doesn't say anything, just squeezes my hand with a smile. I lean forward and gently kiss her forehead. She closes her eyes and falls asleep again. Sam texts me and says to meet at Fury's grave, so I change into some clean clothes and walk down to the cemetary.

Lauren's POV:

After going back to sleep, I wake up again a little while later. Steve isn't in my room anymore, but a doctor is. "I'm glad to see you're awake Ms. Hart." The doctor says. "Well, everything hurt a lot less while I was asleep." I say with a smile. "Let's get you some pain meds to make being awake a bit more enjoyable." The doctor says. I smile at her. She gives me a shot and some pain meds. I thank her, then she leaves the room. I look out the window and get a good view of the Potomac. The water is completely calm. Dozens of people are out cleaning up around the water, the fallen helicarriers made quite the mess. I hear a knock at the door that gets my attention. I turn my head and see Steve standing in the doorway. "Feeling better?" He asks. "Yeah, the doctor filled me up with drugs." I say. Steve chuckles and sits in the chair next to my bed again. He hands me a file. I look at it in confusion, then when I open it, I see Bucky in the ice chamber. I inhale sharply, then continue looking at the file with leads on where he might be. "You don't have to come with me." Steve says. "You haven't been able to keep me away so far." I say with a smile. "We'll find him." I say encouragingly. I reach my hand out and Steve takes it. "You really scared me. Disappearing like that." Steve says. "Next time I'll give you a warning." I say. "How about just no more scaring the hell out of me." He says. "That's a deal." I say. "How did you survive?" Steve asks. "I must have fallen into the water and my powers allowed me to breath. When I woke up, I got to the surface and passed out again." I say. "I'm starting to love your powers more and more." He says, making me smile. Silence fills the room and I look in Steve's eyes and can see that he's biting his tongue. "Steve?" I ask. "Yeah?" He responds. "You don't have to walk on eggshells around me. You can talk about Bucky." I say. "It's not just Bucky. It's Hydra, Camp Lehigh, everything that's happened to you. You've been through so much." Steve says. I smile gently at him. "I have been through a lot, but I made it through, and so did you. And now we get to be here, together. And we'll find Bucky together too." I say. Steve smiles and kisses me passionately. I deepen the kiss, but pull away quickly when I hear Sam. "Lauren! I'm happy you're awake...." Sam says before I interrupt him. "Sam, I swear to god, if you don't get your ass out that door, I will shove Steve's shield so far up your ass that we'll be able to see the star out of your mouth." I threaten. Without another word, Sam turns around and walks out of the room. Steve chuckles and kisses me again. "That was hot." Steve says, making me chuckle. "His timing never ceases to amaze me." I say.

~~~

It's been a couple of days and my powers have completely healed me and I can finally leave this damn hospital. I hate hospitals and I think I made it pretty clear over my time staying here. Steve and Sam both had to listen to my constant complaining about hospitals. I am grateful though that they helped me, despite my sarcastic comments. Steve brought me some clean clothes and I quickly change, dying to get out of this hospital. Steve and I decided that it was probably best to get a new apartment, because Hydra now knows where we live. We drive back to the apartment and immediately start packing up our things. Steve starts off in the bedroom and I start in the kitchen.

After packing all day, most of the apartment is packed. We still have a few things, but we can leave those for tomorrow. I make us dinner, then we go to bed. Steve wraps his arm around my shoulders and I lay my head on his arm. "Steve?" I ask. "Yeah?" He answers. "I love you." I say. "I love you too." He responds. "No Steve, I'm in love with you." I say. He gently lays on top of me, pressing a deep kiss on my lips. "I know what you meant and I meant it too." He says. I can't help but smile and we both fall asleep.