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Chapter 20

Jo stepped into the bathroom, the shower was giant, two showerheads on either side of the wall and the glass doors were frosted over with an intricate teal tile design on the floor. She turned, seeing the claw foot tub in the corner. She glanced between the two before ultimately deciding on a long bath instead.

She flipped the water on, finding the right temperature before allowing the tub to fill, pouring some of the bubble bath that was set on the shelf nearby. Jo stripped out of her clothes, stretching out her arms and back, letting her muscles pull in the best ways and joints pop. She climbed into the tub, sinking herself down under the water, pushing the bubbles around to cover herself. Jo submerged herself under the water for a few seconds before coming back up, wiping the bubbles from off her face as she laid her head back against the edge, staring up at the ceiling. Flashes of her dream flickering through her mind, taking her back to the bookstore. Bucky's charming smile as he flirted with her. All to be stripped away from the image of her brother drowning his grief.

Josephine squeezed her eyes closed, trying to get rid of the images. Hearing a small tap on the bathroom door, her eyes popped open once more looking over to the door. "Jo?" Bucky's voice came from the other side.

"Come in." She said watching as he peaked his head into the room, glancing over to the tub. His eyes went wide for a moment, examining her knee slightly poking up out of the water and bubbles barely covering her.

He cleared his throat before stepping halfway through the door, "I can come back..."

"Bucky, it's okay."

He nodded, shutting the door behind him as one hand rubbed the back of his neck. She smiled softly at him before pointing to the vanity stool that sat at the counter. Bucky picked it up, setting it down next to the tub as she watched him.

"What's on your mind?" She asked watching him try to avoid lowering his eyes any further past her chin.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Today has been... rough. I know it's been a while since you have been in any situation like this and I just—" He was cut off by her shifting, the water sloshing gently as she rested her chin on the edge of the tub. "I just wanted to check in." His hand rested on the tub as he leaned forwards.

"I'm okay, Bucky. This is just... a lot. It's nothing I can't manage though." She said trying to reassure him though the pit of nervousness in her stomach seemed to take up a permanent residency today.

"Do you want to talk about your dream?" His voice trailed off as she let out a sigh.

"I don't know if I should." She brought her bottom lip between her teeth softly as he nodded, looking defeated. "It's from before," Jo gestured to his left arm.

"I can handle it." He said puffing his chest slightly. She watched him for a moment, smiling at his obvious display of courage.

Jo nodded softly, taking a deep breath, and letting it out slowly. "It was right after you fell..." She began, watching his face twinge, his eyes darting to the floor before coming back to hers. "I had found Stevie at our old pub we would go to in England. It had been destroyed and the bar was basically the only thing left standing. He was broken up about you, tried drowning himself in whiskey even though he couldn't get drunk." She laughed softly shaking her head as he continued to listen, his hands beginning to wring together. "Steve was blaming himself and I was trying anything to get him out of it. I had mentioned something you had said to me a few days before which made him laugh. It wasn't his full laugh, but a laugh none the less." Bucky smiled softly as she looked at him, "I just remember thinking that if I could get him to smile, everything was going to be okay. Because I was not."