Hockey Rules (Bucky Barnes AU x NHL)

C'mon On, Punk, C'mon

*~* Steve *~*

You could hear a pin drop inside the TD Gardens. "Bucky!" I screamed from the box. "Bucky!" Watching Rumlow, come at Bucky directly, hitting the cross-check as Bucky rounded the goal, looking up at the last second. He never really saw it coming and then he flipped from the hit, hitting the ground, head and neck first. He wasn't moving. "Bucky!"

And then I heard it. The scream from somewhere up high. I looked up and saw Emma screaming as well.

Ryan was on his knees by Bucky, calling for a trainer. The arena was so still. I saw the refs take away Rumlow to his locker room. I looked over at Alex and he had a smirk on his face. He set up Bucky but didn't do it himself that sick bastard. Bucky is still down, and he has a neck brace on. I can't see if he is moving. The minutes ticked by and it felt like it was eternity.

"C'mon Punk," I muttered to myself. "C'mon, move, do something."

I pleaded with the box official. "Please, that is my best friend. I need to make sure he's ok. Please."

"Sorry, Rogers, I can't let you out."

I watched the stretcher come out and they load Bucky up. He raises a hand to let everyone know he's awake and the crowd claps. I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing he's awake. One of the refs comes over.

"Ducks want you to go to the hospital with Barnes, you and Emma Niedermeyer are his emergency contacts. Lindholm is taking your place in the box."

"Thank you, sir." Lindholm pats my back as he takes my place. I skate over to our bench, throwing a dirty look at Pierce. Ryan stops me before I head back.

"He's awake and asking for Emma. You need to keep her calm when you get there. I heard her on the ice." He and I look up and sees that she is being gathered by an official. "He can move Steve but just be ready."

"Thanks Ryan. See you over there later." I head in to change as fast as possible. The ambulance is waiting on me to leave. I run over and I see Emma waiting outside.

"Honey, why haven't you climbed in yet?"

"Steve, I didn't wave to him before the game. Alex, he sent me a message and I got so scared. It's my fault. It's all my fault."

"Emma, no, it's not. We'll figure out what's going on. But right now, you need to be strong ok. He needs you." I give her a hug, knowing it won't do anything at the moment other than to let her know that I'm there for her. I help her into the rig.

"Emma." I hear Bucky say. "Doll, I'm sorry for scaring you." He tries to turn his head, but his brace isn't letting him. "Steve? Are you there?"

"I'm here, pal. Just relax and let's get you to the hospital."

The ride to the hospital was quiet if you ignored the sirens. I held Emma's hand as she held Bucky's. I know she was doing everything she could to not cry. When we got to the emergency room, they took him back for tests and I guided Emma to the waiting room. They had closed off the room for us so the press wouldn't get to us.

I called Bucky's mom and told her that he was awake and responsive, but we didn't know what the damage was or when he would be able to go home. It broke my heart to hear her cry and not knowing when she would be able to see her son.

After an hour, Ryan, Clint, Emma's dad and the rest of the team filtered into the waiting room. Emma wouldn't let go of my hand and Ryan gripped her by the shoulders. She still hadn't cried since the arena and really not moved unless I had moved her.

A doctor walked in. "For James Barnes?"

"Yes," I said and stood up pulling Emma with me.

"He's doing good. He had a concussion and a fractured wrist. I would say he will be out at least four weeks. He'll be able to fly in a couple of days. I'm going to keep him overnight and then he will need to be monitored for the next 48 hours after."

"Thank you so much," I said, shaking his hand. "Can we see him?"

"Sure, two at a time. He's being moved upstairs. Room 407."

I pulled Emma with me, Ryan following just to make sure I can get her to the room. We get to the door, and I take a moment before we go in.

*~* Bucky *~*

I woke up with Ryan and the trainers looking down at me. I can't really form words, but I can feel the pain in my head and my wrist. I can hear screaming coming from somewhere. I manage to croak out, "Emma."

Ryan hears me. "James, can you hear me?"

I can't move. My head won't turn. "Emma." I say again.

"James, there is a brace on your neck. It's a precaution. Can you try and move your fingers?" The trainer asks.

I move them and the trainer says, "Good. Good. Ok. Try moving your legs." I move them. "Ok. This is good. We are going to put you on the stretcher and take you to the hospital. You were unconscious for a few minutes, so we need to make sure you're ok."

"Emma? Steve?" I ask.

Ryan looks at me. "Emma's in her suite and Steve's still in the penalty box. I'm going to ask the officials if they can go with you."

"Actually, Cap, they are his emergency contacts. We need them to go with him since they are here," one of the assistant coaches say.

"Ok, Barnes, I'm going to send them over to the ambulance. Just hang tight and we'll see you at the hospital."

"Ok, Cap." They lift me up on the stretcher and start moving me. I raise my hand to wave.

We get across the ice and the team doctors are looking me over more closely. "James, can you feel anything?"

"My wrist, left wrist, hurts."

"Ok, we are going to shoot some x-rays here and then send you to the hospital. Emma and Steve will be waiting for you."

"Sure, doc. What happened?"

"What do you remember?"

"Just being on the penalty kill."

"You were cross checked directly by Rumlow and you went headfirst into the ice. The way he hit you, you're lucky it wasn't worse."

"I guess so but I don't remember."

They shoot the x-rays and get me to the ambulance. They load me up, but I still didn't see Emma or Steve. After few minutes, I see Emma's beautiful green eyes. "Emma."

"Hi baby." She says softly.

"Doll, I'm sorry for scaring you." I tried to turn my head, but the brace isn't letting me. "Steve? Are you there?"

"I'm here, pal. Just relax and let's get you to the hospital."

We get to the hospital and the staff take me for a CT scan and another set of x-rays. They start an IV to give me fluids and pain meds. The doctor comes in. "Hello Mr. Barnes? How are you feeling?"

"In pain, Doc."

"Yeah, I can imagine. You have a concussion, grade 3. You also have a slight fracture to your left wrist."

"How long am I out?"

"At least 4 weeks. I'm going to cast this and then send you up to a room. You'll be here overnight and then you can fly home in a few days. Is there anyone who can stay with you?"

"My girlfriend and my best friend live with me. I'm sure it would be ok."

"Ok, I'll check on you in the morning. I'm going to talk to," he checks his papers, "Mr. Rogers and Miss Niedermeyer."

"That's my best friend and girlfriend. Can I see them?"

"As soon as you get into your room."

"Thanks Doc."