Redemption ||Bucky Barnes||

30. Pressure Point

(Danielle's POV)

I remember water crushing me. I remember the panic, the fleeting thought that I was going to die. I remember the blank hazel eyes staring up at me as the body sunk deeper into the river.

What a deep river.

My leg is throbbing. I remember the initial pain hitting me. It's dull compared to what I had felt before, but it still hurt.

Whatever I'm lying on, it's far from comfortable. I'm breathing normally, I feel heavy with sleep. But I need to know where I am. I need to know he's okay. I remember being conscious for a few seconds, long enough to see Bucky before going out cold again. I know I didn't dream him, he wouldn't have looked almost drowned. He would have looked how he had when we had been at the cottage.

The cottage. The explosion. The fire. Shouts. Gunfire.

My head pounds, my hands go straight to it, as though they'll kill the pain. A pair of hands—one warm, one cold—pry my arms away from my face. I squint against the light, but he soon covers the majority of it. His blue eyes are full of worry and relief.

"Hey," I greet him weakly.

"Hey yourself."

This gets a small smile out of me. He carefully helps me sit up, kneeling beside me. I hug him, burrow my head into his shoulder. I don't let go, because I'm afraid if I do, something bad will happen. "What happened?" I pull back just enough so I can meet his eyes.

"Do you want the short version or the full story?"

"Your preference."

"Short version: we're fucked." He smiles somberly.

I sigh heavily. "Did they hurt you?"

He shakes his head. "Just you. They took care of your leg before they put you in here with me."

I take a moment to take in our cage. The walls are brick and gray, so plain to where I'm almost deranged by looking at them. The cot I'm on feels more like a metal table: the most uncomfortable piece of furniture I have ever laid on. On the plus side, there's a small door in our cage that, I assume, leads to a bathroom.

I guess it's not so bad. It could be a lot worse.

"We haven't been here even a day, Dani," Bucky answers my next question before I can get the words out. "I don't know what they'll do about food and whatnot for us."

"God only knows." I finger his stringy hair. "I'm glad to be here with you, Buck."

He laughs nervously. "Okay, did you get hit on the head again?"

I roll my eyes teasingly at him. "I'm serious. I'm not alone in this." I rest my forehead against his. "I'm glad for that." I look down to see my clothes aren't changed. No wonder I'm chilled to the bone. "They better give us new clothes."

"I know what they'll try to give us," he mutters.

I do too. Hydra uniforms.

I shudder. I don't want to don one of those ever again. Hydra may have what they set out for, but they don't have what they want just yet. They won't break us.

"Want to help me out, Bucky?"

"With what?"

"I need to make it to the bathroom."