Unforgettable

Part 3 - Silent Truths

Steve woke with a start in the chair next to Bucky. He had been stuck in the hospital for the last 24 hours now waiting for Bucky to wake up.

The doctors had assured him that it wouldn't be much longer but at some point, the sounds eminating from the machines must've lulled him into a deep sleep.

Steve stretched out his arms in the hopes of relieving some of the pain that is now being inflicted on him from falling asleep at such an awkward angle.

After freshening up in the bathroom he returned to his spot in the chair 'Come on buddy. It's time to wake up. Willow needs you. We all need you'

Of course there was no response but Steve hated the silence and therefore filled the void with his thoughts

'Do you remember when you first introduced me to Willow. She was so loud and overly confident that I took an immediate dislike to her'

Steve chuckles thinking about that moment 'You were so happy though. I think the words you used to describe the moment you first saw Willow were 'electric'

'You said from that moment on, you knew she was the one for you. After all those years of suffering you had to endure, it was the first time since before the war that I had heard you talk about someone with so much warmth and love'

'It wasn't until I started going on missions with her that I really got to see the woman behind all of that bravado. She was so skilled and precise but always looked out for everyone else'

'I then started to watch how you two interacted with each other. Without either of you realising it, you naturally gravitated towards each other. She would do small things for you like have your cereal ready whilst you were taking a shower, rubbed soothing lines with her thumb on your hand whenever you started to get anxious and looked at you like there was no one else in the room'

'That was when I knew that she truly loved you as much as you loved her. You are literally two halves of the same soul and one won't work without the other'

Steve stared at Bucky but still there wasn't any movement being detected 'You've gotta wake up man. I honestly think that you're the only one who can awaken her from the nightmare she's now in. Willow needs you Buck so you need to fight to get well now. You hear me or I will kick your ass myself'

Nat smiles in the doorway where she has been watching Steve pour his heart out to Bucky. Nat knew how much it would effect them all if Willow didn't make it out of this. Bucky wouldn't survive without her and that thought alone scared her to her core.

'Hey there Cap. You know that they say the first sign of madness is talking to yourself. Well that and old age' Nat smiles led at Steve as she made her way over to the other side of the bed

Steve lightly shook his head at Nat's words, smiling at her attempt to make him smile 'Well I am over 100 years old. It really could be either of those'

Nat let out a laugh, the first proper laugh she'd let out since hearing of the awful accident 'I found him... the driver. He died on impact from what I could hear. Watching his wife and daughter crumple to the floor screaming when the doctors told them he was gone was enough to make me realise that there were no winners in this situation'

'Such  a waste of life because of a stupid mistake he made to get behind the wheel after he'd been drinking. Willow would never have forgiven me if I had caused that family anymore pain'

Steve smiled sadly at Nat 'I'm glad you're back and you're right. There are no winners in this situation only losers.

'Any news on Willow' Nat enquired

Steve sighed 'Not since I last asked. They were concerned about some internal bleeding but they've managed to stem that for the moment. But they're mostly concerned with her head injury.'

Nat frowned 'How bad do they think the head injury actually is?'

'They don't know yet. The doctor said that with the impact in which Willow had been thrown through the windscreen there are bound to be some lingering injuries with it. They won't know how bad it is though until she wakes up'

Nat wiped a solo tear from her cheek 'She needs to come back to us Steve. She needs to be the same as before'

Steve reached across the bed to grab Nat's hand 'I know. We all pray for that'

'Hey'

Steve and Nat both turned to where the voice was coming from to see Bucky was awake

'Hey buddy. Don't move ok. I'm going to get the doctor and let them know that you're awake'

Nat stopped Steve in his tracks 'I'll do it. You stay with him ok. I'll be back in a minute'

Bucky looked at Steve confused 'What happened'