New Era

Super Soldier

   When we got back to the States, Bucky wanted Sam and me to meet someone from his past as the Winter Soldier. The man was Isaiah Bradley,  a fellow super soldier and someone that Bucky met in 1951. Let's just say meeting the meeting didn't go well, and Sam was angry, and to top it all off, the police arrested Bucky for missing his court-mandated therapy session. I was about to get a migraine..."This is ridiculous," I told Sam as we went to the prison to get my husband out. "You're telling me," Sam agreed. We reached the prison, and to my delight, Bucky was already out. "Bucky!" I practically ran to him, and he ran to me and kissed me. I kissed him as if I hadn't seen him in years, "You alright?" I asked concerned, let's just say losing each other in the Blip made us scared of things like that. "I'm alright, honey," he kissed my forehead. "We're here to bail you out," Sam told him. "He's already been bailed out," a lady in a dark-colored business suit came up to us. "Who bailed me out?" asked Bucky. "I did!" John Walker said proudly. He was still donning his Captain America uniform, shield, and all. Something about Walker didn't sit right with me. "Do you ever say hello before you start talking?" I asked annoyed. "Hello," he said pompously with a wink. Was he really trying to flirt?! I held up my left hand to show him my wedding ring, "I'm married! Back off!" I couldn't believe he had the audacity to do that. "Man, don't flirt with married women," Hoskins was trying not to laugh. Walker turned redder than the stripes on his uniform. Bucky smiled proudly at me, and kissed me on the forehead.

"Good to see you, John," the lady shook his hand. "And you too, Christina," he shook her hand gallantly. "How do you know each other?" Sam asked.
"We did some work in the force," Dr. Raynor replied. "I'm Dr. Raynor, James's therapist," she introduced herself. "Nice to meet you; I'm Sadie Barnes, his wife," I introduced myself. She smiled, "James has told me all about you. How long have you been married?" "We just celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary," Bucky put his arm around me. "Congratulations," Dr. Raynor replied with a smile. "I'm Sam Wilson," Sam shook her hand. "Nice to meet you. James has told me all about you as well," she shook his hand and then looked at Bucky. "James, for the condition of your release we need to conduct a session now," she started to escort all three of us back to the interrogation room. "We don't need a session," Sam told her. "Yeah, we'll just wait out here," I told her. "No, you're needed in this session. That's an order, not a request, and I want to see how Mrs. Barnes works," she must have heard of my reputation. She was very commanding in her tone; it was almost intimidating. "Okay," Sam said defeated and we were escorted into the interrogation room.

Bucky and Sam were seated at the table, and Dr. Raynor and I sat across from them, and I made sure I sat across from Bucky. "Now, James," Dr. Raynor began, "What is it about Sam that aggravates you?" she asked. "Where do I start?" Bucky said annoyed. "Babe," I soothed him by touching his hand. "Look Dr. Raynor, I get it why you want me to talk to Freaky Magoo over here, but honestly I'm 100 % fine," Sam protested. I glared at Sam and then turned my gaze to Dr. Raynor. "Are you sure this is ethical?" "I agree with Sadie," Bucky was still holding my hand. "You'd be right, Sadie, this is rather unprofessional, but this will help your husband get over what's eating at him," she explained. I nodded, and Dr. Raynor resumed the session. "This is ridiculous," Sam sighed annoyed. "Yeah. I agree," Bucky added. "See, you're making some progress," I commended them. Bucky gave my hand a gentle squeeze and smiled. "I'm gonna let Dr. Barnes conduct this part of the session," she turned it over to me. "Okay," I said. I was more than willing to help my husband and my friend. "Okay, have you guys heard of the miracle question?" I started. The men shook their heads. "It basically means this, when you're sleeping, a miracle occurs. When you wake up, what's something you would like to see that will make your life better?" I challenged. I had a feeling they were going to give me interesting responses. "My life is already better because of you, Sadie," Bucky informed me with his cute smile. I smiled back, "Awww, Bucky," I squeezed his hand. "But in my miracle he would talk less," he glared at Sam. "Exactly what I was going to say, how ironic?" Sam declared. "Guys, come on," I said irritated. I've had clients who would argue in between responses, but it was rarely ever to this degree!
Luckily, Dr. Raynor came to my aid, "Okay, you've left me no choice. It's time for the soul gazing exercise," she warned them. "Oh, he's gonna love this, it's right up his alley," Sam retorted. "Yeah, I'm ready," said Bucky. "Guys, turn and face each other," I told them. Thankfully, they listened to me. "Now scoot closer," Dr. Raynor advised. "This is a good exercise, thanks Doc," Sam disapproved sarcastically. "Now look each other in the eyes," I said. They resisted, "Sam, Bucky, please!" I said irritated, then they finally listened. Their childish behavior was getting old. "There, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Dr. Raynor approved.

Much to our dismay, the two men seemed to be in a staring contest. I put my head in my hand annoyed, "Seriously?" "What are you doing? Are you having a staring contest? Dr. Raynor was just as annoyed as I was. The staring contest was getting more and more intense. "Just blink!" she said angrily. The men ignored her, and I was getting angry. "Bucky, I didn't marry you to be your mother! Or Sam's mother for that matter!" Bucky never made me angry before. Dr. Raynor snapped her fingers to get them to blink. "You guys need to act your age," she scolded. "Exactly what I told them," I said under my breath. "Like Dr. Raynor asked, what is about Sam that aggravates you? Don't say anything childish," I told Bucky. "Why did you give up that shield?" Bucky interrogated Sam. "Why are you making a big deal out of something that doesn't have anything to do with you?" Sam snapped. "Steve believed in you, he trusted you, and he gave you that shield. That was everything he stood for, and you threw it away like it was nothing," he shot. "Shut up," Sam snapped again. "So maybe he was wrong about you, and if he was wrong about you he was wrong about me," his voice cracked like he was about to cry. "Bucky?" I reached for his hand and thankfully he took it. "You finished?" Sam asked. None of us really knew what to say after all that. "Yeah," my husband sighed. "Good, maybe you and Steve could understand that I did what I thought was right," Sam was extremely annoyed. "You know what, Doc? I don't have time for this, we have some serious stuff going on right now. What if I squashed this right now? We can deal with this, and when we're done we'll go on separate vacations and never see each other again!" "I like that," Bucky snapped. "Guys, please stop!" I begged. "Great, let's get to work, thanks Doc more making it weird, I'll meet you guys outside," Sam walked away leaving me and Bucky with Dr. Raynor.
"Babe, I didn't know you were feeling that way. I'm sorry," I got up from the table and walked to my husband and hugged him. He held onto me like I was about to slip away from him, "You really are the one thing that makes my life better," his voice broke. I looked up at him, "Bucky," I kissed him on the lips. Touching my face, he lovingly kissed me back. We had almost forgotten that Dr. Raynor was still there. She smiled pleased, "Well James, it looks like your wife is the best person to help you through whatever your struggling with," "I'm very lucky, Doc," he said kissing me. "So am I," I leaned my head on his shoulder. "That's a good healthy marriage I see," she said approvingly. Suddenly, Bucky looked as if something scared him. "I know that look, what's wrong James?" Dr. Raynor asked. "What's rule number two again?" he asked. "Don't hurt anyone," she said. "Goodbye Doc," Bucky and I walked out to meet up with Sam.