Finding Love in France (Alternate Version)

Part 12: Confusion

Back in the house, Steve was in the bathroom trying to wash the cherry stains from his hands. "Hey, Dr. Abrams? Would you mind if I grabbed a shower before we turn in?"

Mila appeared at the door. "Why would I mind? Truthfully, I am thrilled that you can bathe yourself so I don't have to wash your ass for you! Let me see if I can find something else for you to wear from the previous tenants." She walked off.

Upon return, she noticed he was wincing trying to get his shirt off, as some blood had seeped through the bandages on his upper arm and dried on the shirt, essentially gluing it to him. "Here, Captain Rogers, let me help you with that before you rip your stitches out and I have to redo them." She wet a towel and held it to the area to loosen the spot, then eased his arm out of the sleeve. He was still gritting his teeth, but relaxed once the shirt was off. "Better? Off you go. I will be in the kitchen if you run into any trouble." She took the soiled shirt and closed the door on her way out.

He felt good after washing days worth of dirt and dried blood off. The cold water didn't bother him, but the soap stung more than expected. While he was drying off, the wound on his hip started to bleed. "Uh, Dr. Abrams?..."

She ran in to find him standing in the tub, trying to stay covered with one of the small towels that came with the house, while holding another one over his hip, the red stain growing under his hand. "Apply more pressure while I get some supplies, okay?" She returned with her medical bag and had him sit on the edge of the tub. She removed the towel he was holding and assessed his left hip. "The wound is intact, just seeping. No signs of infection, probably just reopened something internally. Let's watch it for a minute before we go removing your sutures and making it worse, can you do that?"

"Yes." He was suddenly nervous to have this woman's hands so close to his groin. What the hell was going on? Must be the bump on the head. She was really nice to him, though...and funny...and pretty, what?! She's his doctor, jeez! He really had to get a hold of himself. What about Peggy? He grit his teeth again.

"Is the pain getting bad? We can try some morphine, though I fear it would be like pissing on an inferno..." she mused.

He started to laugh. "Where'd you learn to talk like that?"

"Why, medical school, of course!" She joked. "Sorry, was that too much? I figured you enlisted men were used to harsh language, no?"

"No, Doctor, it's just unexpected from a lady like yourself." As he laughed, his confusion grew. He was really enjoying kidding around with her. It reminded him of being with Bucky. Damn, she was his favorite parts of his best girl and his best friend. He was screwed.