Troubled Mind | Bucky Barnes

Part 7

Alexi opened her eyes, blinking away her blurred vision. She was painfully aware of an ache coming from the side of her face spreading throughout her throbbing head. She was lying on a bed, but not her own. She could still feel the silky fabric of her dress but in this cold room, it was especially chilly. 

She looked around to find it was a small room with almost nothing in it but a few pieces of furniture and a door to the left. To the right, along the wall ,was a small table with some scattered items in front of a sofa where Bucky sat. His arms crossed in front of his chest, his legs spread wide, and his head resting on the back of couch, asleep. She could hear him breathing heavily. She tried to move and groaned at the ache in her head. The noise stirred Bucky from his sleep.

"Hi," said Bucky sitting up. Alexi let out a small groan and nodded at him with one eye closed from the pain in the side of her face. She held a hand up to her face and winced. "Here," Bucky said handing her a glass. "Drink some water and take these." 

Alexi slowly sat up taking the glass from him along with two aspirin. She popped the aspirin in her mouth and downed the water in a few gulps as Bucky assessed her face. "You might need this," he said handing her an ice pack gesturing to what she only assumed was a large bruise.

Her breathing was quick and short, her voice still raspy. "What happened?"

"You..." he hesitated.

"I remember dancing, and then..." she trailed off. "Did I fall?" her eyes closed as she searched her memory.

"No. You lost control for a bit."

Confused she said, "Lost contr....Oh my God!" A look of realization spreading across her face. "Did I hurt anyone?"

"No. You didn't get the chance," he was trying to reassure her, but it wasn't working.

"I feel like I got hit with a bat." She looked towards him for an explanation. Bucky looked away with a guilty expression. "This your handy work?" She held the ice pack up to her face inhaling sharply at the cold touch.

"Sorry. There was nothing else I could do," he pleaded.

"Uh-huh...remind me to kick your ass later," she smiled but couldn't muster enough strength to laugh.

"Too bad. I thought maybe I knocked that snarky attitude out of you," he said returning the smile. It made her laugh and then wince at the pain.

A short silence passed until she sighed and muttered under her breath, "Damn it."

"You were fine and then you were losing control. We fought a little. You threw Natasha across the balcony."

"Is she okay?" she almost jumped up but felt a sudden pain in her shoulder when she went to move.

"She's fine. Don't get up just yet," he moved to settle her, but pulled back. "Then I did the only thing I could think of."

"You knocked me out," finishing his thought.

"Sorry. Again."

"Stop apologizing. It's exactly what I would've done. I can't believe I've been unconscious twice in one week. Wait! The man!" she suddenly exclaimed.

"What man?" he thought she must still be confused.

"The man I saw, he was at the party, and then he was on the balcony, when we were dancing. I should've picked up on it. Why didn't I pick up on it?" she was speaking more to herself than to Bucky at that last question.

"It's ok. I'll tell Tony and Steve. Don't worry about it right now. Have some tea," he said handing her a thermos.

She took the thermos from him apprehensively, "You made me tea?"