My Little Soldier

Chapter 8

The rest of the week went about as Sam feared. Bucky's anxiety was becoming too much for his little body to handle and he did end up throwing up that Thursday. Sam left for an hour then he got a call from Ms. Lilian that Bucky had thrown up. He immediately went home, Ms. Lilian had Bucky sitting in the bath. She explained that after Sam left, Bucky screamed and cried then threw up what little milk he drank. So speech therapy was a no go today.

At this point, Sam was unsure. He called Bucky's doctor and he stated that if he wanted to, there was medicine he can prescribe to Bucky. But he truly didn't want to give Bucky more medicine on top of his antibiotics, supplements and sleeping aid. If it became persistent then they would speak on it again but it wasn't something to get into now especially with his age and history. So this lead to Sam finding Bucky a way to calm down after he left. However that was going to happen.

But there was good news. Bucky's foster mother was finally behind bars. For life, no probation or bond. She was charged with child abuse, first degree murder and abuse of a corpse. The judge was nice enough to drop the case of her not giving the kids up but the woman had a life sentence and that was enough for Sam.

But there was still evidence there was another individual. And Sam would not stop until everyone involved was put away.

Saturday began with Sam and Bucky going on an early morning stroll. Well Sam walked and he pushed Bucky in his stroller. Steve met them along the way and talked about old cases and Bucky's progress.

After the walk, they laid on the couch, watched home remodeling shows and sleeping. Bucky slept, Sam was filing out Bucky's adoption profile. He was required to do it but a lot of it he couldn't fill out such as personality, yeah Bucky was curious, shy, a bit fearful but Bucky really didn't have much of a personality yet. Plus his disability list was starting to increase. And Sam knew kids with disabilities got adopted slower but babies and toddlers kind of adopted faster so that was a plus.

"I wonder what your life was like before this." Sam rubbed his back until Bucky whined and started shaking. Another nightmare. "Hey, Bucky." Sam whispered. Suddenly Bucky started screaming, he was awake but it didn't seem like he was mentally here. "Bucky! James!" Sam yelled. He probably shouldn't have yelled at him but this wasn't good.

Then there was a knock. Of all times for someone to be here.

"Wait a minute." Sam said. He rubbed Bucky's back, his wrist and chest to try to get him out of this state. It wasn't working. Another knock. "Wait a damn minute." Sam picked him up and went to the door, he opened it a woman, at least late middle age. "Whoever you are, please speak fast."

"I am Carol Mansfield, I was assigned to be his trauma therapist. May I come in and help?" She asked. Sam nodded. "Okay first thing, chest to chest. He needs to breathe and so do you." Sam nodded and held a screaming Bucky to his chest, breathing deeply and slowly as the woman instructed. Bucky's screaming came down to a whimper and then nothing.

"Bucky?" Sam rubbed his back. He had passed out. He had turned to the woman. "I'm sorry for that."

"Do not apologize. Was that the first that has happened?"

"Well, no, but he wasn't struggling this bad. He was asleep both times then he wakes up, he's not seeing me."

"Dissociation after a nightmare." Sam laid Bucky down on the couch and covered him in the blanket and plush dogs. "To formal meet, I am Carol Mansfield, the agency assigned me to be his trauma therapist."

"I had one lined up but I guess that saves me a call. You, honestly, couldn't have come at a better time. Thank you."

"No problem. From what I have read in his file and just saw, he has severe PTSD and severe anxiety." Sam could have told her that Bucky had anxiety but PTSD hadn't crossed his mind. "What behaviors are you seeing out of him?"