𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 || 𝐁. 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒 ||

26

"What do you think it is Doctor?" Bucky asks, sitting on a chair, next to Rebecca's hospital bed.

Yesterday, Bucky got a call from BHC telling him to come down there, since Rebecca had been admitted. He was scared out of his mind, but when you got there, she was still alive, which was a good sign.

"It was a heart attack." The doctor concludes, closing his folder.

"Bull." Rebecca says. "I'm the healthiest 94 year old in Brooklyn. I exercise when I can, I eat healthy–"

"Your diet isn't the prime factor, Mrs Barnes. The fact that you're 94 was the cause. Your heart has simply grown weak."

"Is she going to be okay?" You ask.

"I'm afraid not." The doctor sighs sadly. "You've got under a week."

Even though you've only known Rebecca for 2 weeks, she's grown on you. You've been visiting her with Bucky almost everyday, and the both of you have bonded tremendously. This news is hitting you hard, and you can't even imagine how Bucky feels right now.

"Could you let me say goodbye to my brother and my friend?" Rebecca asks rudely, shooing the doctor out of the room.

"We don't have to say goodbye right now." Bucky holds her hand. "You've got a few days left."

"You're not going to be here in a few days, Buck."

"Yes we are." He says firmly. "We'll be here every day."

"I mean, you physically can't. Visitation is closed for the rest of the week after today."

"What?" You ask, outraged. "Why would they do that?"

"TB outbreak." She sighs. "They don't want any outsiders to contract it from the patients."

"You haven't got it, have you?" Bucky moves his chair back slightly.

"No, I just got here, you knucklehead." She jokes. "Y/N, take care of him, will you?"

"I always do." You nod, smiling her sadly.

"And Bucky, put a ring on her finger already!"

Bucky hesitates for a second before answering. "Maybe I will."

"It was lovely to meet you, honey." Rebecca kisses your cheek. "Don't go forgetting me, now."

"How could we?" Bucky stands up and puts his arm around your shoulder. "I'll miss you."

"I'll be in a better place. Or maybe not. I'm not exactly a saint, you know."

"Love you." Bucky kisses her hand.

"Love you too." She smiles. "Do me a favour and get a girl to dress me up when I die. I don't want any old geezer seeing me in my unmentionables."

"Sure thing." Bucky chuckles.

The two of you reluctantly leave the hospital in silence until you get to the car, where you take a minute to calm down before you start driving.

"You okay?" You ask Bucky, who's staring out of the window.

"I'm fine. I'm a lot happier than I thought I'd be."

"Why are you happy?"

"I got to say goodbye to her this time. Of course it hurts but I'm handling this a lot better than I thought I would."

"Good for you." You praise, kissing his cheek. "You wanna get going?"

"Yeah." He starts the ignition.