Amends (Sambucky)

Chapter Sixteen

"No- no! Please! I-I won't-," the man jiggled the doorknob, "I won't tell anyone!"

The winter soldier furrowed his eyebrows and crept closer, the voice ringing familiar. He stepped closer and closer, until he recognized the face.

"Sam?"

"Bucky?" Sam blinked, his heavy breathing beginning to slow, "Oh my god...oh my- I thought you were-,"

Sam gasped for air as his breath was cut off, struggling beneath the metal hand.

"I'm so sorry," the winter soldier spoke with no remorse, "I have to finish it."

"No-," Sam struggled beneath him for a bit of air, "-you don't."

"I do."

"You're.....not him...anymore."

Bucky blinked.

"You're not him," Sam finished, crumbling to the ground as Bucky let go. He gasped for breath, holding his throat, and Bucky stepped backwards.

That wasn't what was supposed to happen.

Bucky gasped, pushing himself up, so he could breathe. His chest rose and fell quickly as he blinked a couple of times to orient himself. He paused for a moment as he felt his left arm move, his eyes falling onto Sam.

Sam had clearly heard Bucky, readjusting himself, but still in deep sleep. Bucky laid as still as he could, trying to gather his thoughts.

Sam had Bucky's arm hugged close, his face resting against it as soft snores escaped his parted lips. Bucky's heart was racing, but his mind was buzzing even more. He reached his other hand to the night table, fumbling around to grab his phone without moving Sam. His eyes squinted beneath the bright light, but he was too excited.

-I just had a dream, a good one. I didn't let the winter soldier win, and I didn't kill anyone.

Bucky patiently waited while staring at the phone, the corners of his lips hinting up. It wasn't ideal, but it was the best dream he'd had in a long time. He needed someone to share his excitement with.

He continued to wait, his gaze flickering to the time as no response appeared. Then he realized, and even began to feel a little guilty: 5:46 a.m.. Bucky began to close his phone out when he saw the bubbles, and he quickly tapped back in.

-Dr. Raynor: Bucky, that's amazing! I'm so glad. Why don't you tell me more about it in a couple of hours? When you've gotten a bit more sleep?

Bucky grinned even wider,

-Yeah, I'll do that. Sorry to text so late, goodnight.

-I'm happy to hear the good news. Get some sleep.

Bucky put his phone back and rolled over, staring at Sam before closing his eyes.

And then he went to sleep.

~~~~~

"This is it?" Sam eyed his surroundings as he pulled into what seemed like the middle of the forest. Bucky had decided not to mention last night, for whatever reason.

Maybe because Sam seemed so down that morning, or because no matter how long Sam had known, Bucky didn't want to overwhelm him. He didn't want to be too much.

He was always too much.

"It's about two miles up, but we'll walk from here to avoid suspicion," Bucky explained, spreading the blueprints across his lap as Sam parked the car, "We'll go in this back door and seek out Coe."