Two Ghosts

Chapter 8

It is the next day, and Steve has not opened his eyes yet, so Sam and I take turns to be with him. This way maybe I will get to go check on Bucky earlier today. Hayley checks on Steve every hour, she is very professional about it, but always leaves smiling at me or saying something flirty. Should I tell her that I'm not interested? How can I explain her this situation? You know, Hayley, I thought my boyfriend died in World War II, but he didn't, and he is back in my life now but he has been brainwashed by very bad people, so I can't date you or anything because I'm focusing on helping him, plus I am madly in love with him and I have been since 1932, so if I keep flirting with you and making you think this is going somewhere would not be fair to you and to me or to him, right? Or maybe I'll just tell her that it's just not going to happen and avoid the humiliation of explaining how my life functions right now.

-Hayley?-I call her before she leaves after checking on Steve, who doesn't seem very interested on waking up.
-Yeah?-she smiles. I sigh and look down.
-I'm sorry, I don't think I should hold on to this.-I extend the piece of paper with her numer on it. She looks at it and presses her lips together.
-I see.
-I'm really sorry, I'm just not ready to...do this.-I say, skipping all the drama behind this conversation.
-With a woman?-I widen my eyes and shake my head.
-No, no.-I wrinkle my nose.-With anyone.
-I understand.-she smiles honestly and nods.-Thanks for letting me know.
-I'm sorry.-I frown.
-Stop saying that.-she laughs.
-Okay, sorry.-I say on purpose, and she laughs again and rolls her eyes. I smile and she takes the paper from my hand.
-Take care, Jade.
-You, too, Hayley.-she walks away and I see Sam with wide open eyes next to the door as I turn to the room.-Jesus!
-You were hitting on that nurse?-he mocks me as we both enter the room.
-No.
-Yes, you were.-he laughs.
-I was not.
-And with your hundred-year-old boyfriend on the run, that's cold.-he teases pointing at my with his finger.
-Shut up!-I laugh as I check the time.

It's 2 p.m., and it is Sam's turn, so I leave the hospital as fast as I can, because Sam won't stop mocking me for a while, I know it, and I run to the secret place where Bucky is hiding. I look around me before opening the gate: no one's around, so I start climbing down the stairs. I forgot about the missing step, so I fall from the stairs. Again. And again, Bucky's metal arm is there to help me.

-God, this is annoying.-I grunt. I stand up straight and take a deep breath. Just like yesterday, we are standing very close to each other, which makes me a little nervous.-Thank you for that.-I say. He says nothing.-How was last night? Did you manage to...?-I turn around to take a few steps away from him, but my feet stumble against...three dead bodies.-What...?-I recognize them from S.H.I.E.L.D., they used to work with me.
-Intruders.-he tells me with a low voice. My goodness, I forgot how sexy his voice can get. Focus, Jade, there are three dead people here.
-Okay, this...-I point at them.-can't happen, okay? Never.-I look at them again.-He had a wife.-I signal one of them.-They just had another baby, he had a family.-I grumble a little.-And her provided to her mother and sister.-I turn to the last one and nod a little bit.-He was actually kind of an asshole, but still.-I shake my head and look back at Bucky.-No more killing.-he nods slightly.-Okay. Good.-to be fair, I can't be sure they were honest about who they were, after all Hydra poisoned S.H.I.E.L.D., so there's no way to know if they were part of the good guys or the bad guys. I notice that Bucky is standing exactly where he was yesterday, and there are no signs of him being on the bed or near the food. Did he not move at all since I left yesterday?-Did you eat something?-he doesn't answer anything, but his eyes reflect pain. This breaks my heart.-Eat.-I command. He moves quickly to the tiny pantry and takes out some dried fruit.

He doesn't answer to suggestions or questios, only orders. I sigh and try not to lose it. My poor Bucky...

-Hey.-I sit next to him on the bed.-Listen, I have a place where you can stay.-he looks at me and pays real attention to what I say. He doesn't seem scared, but curious.-I have an apartment in Philadelphia, you can lay low there for a while. I'll find somewhere else, probably in another country...
-Are you coming?-he asks, sending shivers down my back.
-Um, I don't know.-I shrug. I didn't think he would like me to be there with him, I thought he would prefer to be alone.-I guess I could stay with you for a few days, but I have to return to Steve so he doesn't suspect.-he moves his head in a nod. I stand up and search around the place for clothes or something as he finishes the dried fruit. I find a plain black shirt, a jacket and jeans.-Here.-I offer him the clothes, and he looks at me strangely.-You can't wear that anymore.-doesn't matter how good you look in it, I think. I really wish reading minds is not something else they added to his new skills.