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4 days later
As in every hour of these last days, Bucky sat in the beige wing chair next to Daria's bed.
Natalia had come especially to bring him new clothes and to inform him about the news concerning the Widows.
As he had already guessed, only about 50 Widows would leave the estate and start a new life, the other 100 Widows would stay with them for now.
"Have the doctors said anything new yet?"
"No, everything is still the same. She's stable so far but only time will tell what's real."
Bucky stroked a scattered strand from Daria's face with his hand and Nat could see in his gentle gaze, the desperation he felt inside.
"Come on James. You need to get out of this room for once. Let's get some coffee and walk around in the fresh air." Said Nat as she got up from the visitor's chair, which was far more uncomfortable than the wing chair, and threw her denim jacket over her shoulder.
"Only 15 minutes." She added as she saw Bucky hesitate.
"What if something happens in exactly those 15 minutes?"
"James -- " she put her hand on his right shoulder, " -- we're in a hospital with doctors. If something is going to be, which I don't think it will be, they'll know right away. Give yourself a break for once, for her sake."
Bucky rested his head on the back of Nat's hand and took a deep breath in and out.
She was right, he knew, and even though he would love to sit next to Daria every second to protect her, he had to admit to himself that he desperately needed a break.
After he had breathed a kiss on the back of Daria's hand, he slipped into his black leather jacket and left the hospital room together with Natalia.
First the two got themselves a coffee and a sandwich in the hospital cafeteria to turn afterwards a small round around the hospital.
Bucky had to admit that the fresh air and the distance did him good. He could sort out his thoughts and for a few moments forget the dilemma with Daria.
Natalia did her best to distract her best friend.
She dug up old stories from her memories, told them to him and also managed to make Bucky laugh a time or two.
His favorite story was how they met in the RedRoom.
✾
He had still been the Winter Soldier and had been sent to the RedRoom by Hydra to train the Widows.
Natalia, without really wanting to, immediately connected with him and managed to break through the brainwashing.
From that day on, their friendship built daily and together they secretly plotted how to escape it all.
