Summer's End - Bucky and Mel Universe 1

The Past Can Trap Us

Bucky's research found some things about her. She was abandoned on the front steps a bloody mess apparently at the age of 13 and unconscious. Police and hospital reports confirmed she had been raped and that her uterus was removed. Her back was shredded and she had a scar over her left eye that trailed down her cheek. More news stories said she didn't talk for a year. He kept looking for more information. He found out that she was adopted by a wealthy couple. Apparently, she was really smart and was taking college courses at the age of 15 when she was adopted. She had her masters and was working on a doctorate when she was almost 17. On her 18th birthday, she and her adopted parents were in a terrible car accident. Both of her parents die immediately, she walked away unscathed.
Fast forward several years, he found information on her doing various research in different fields of biology, working for the military in labs and such. Then he came past a restraining order on a captain at the lab she worked at. There was a break in at her apartment and the place was trashed. There were several boyfriends who appeared toxic, that needed restraining orders or were arrested soon after dating her. She left research and decided to teach art. Then he found a society article about an Eric Pourchat. He worked as the premiere portrait artist in the state of New York. They were seen together at various art openings and such. It seemed like they had it all and the relationship was going great. Then he was diagnosed with cancer. His cancer took over his body quickly. They had a death bed marriage and as he lay dying, the snap happened. She had a funeral for him a year later. When he came back from the snap, he was still in his bed, dying. She rushed to the hospital to be with him one last time. She buried him again and said her goodbyes when other friends and family wouldn't. Since then, other then articles about her school and being an artist, she lived a quiet life.
How does one go from working in government labs to working as an artist and a teacher? He checked her degrees and she had multiple degrees, one in art as well as ones in the various sciences. Masters, and two doctorates. She didn't push being called doctor. Most doctors did regardless of what it was in. She didn't seem to come across as over the top super smart either, rubbing in her intelligence. More common sense than anything. Gentle, appreciative, human, humane.
So now that Bucky felt like the biggest jerk the world has ever seen, he pulled out his phone and started typing. "I'm sorry, I was an ass. Forgive me." Not a question of forgive me? Like please forgive me. Just forgive me. A statement which implied he more understood why he needed to apologize.
The fact that she did not answer right away meant a couple of things. She was asleep or she wrote him off. Or still upset. There was the time difference to think about as well. Yet, when he would walk past her apartment, he was would see the lights on at all hours and her working in her window on a sketch pad or at the piano playing. She played with her eyes closed when he saw her play, there was never music on the stand. Or she read, rarely sleeping. He knew from personal experience, PTSD and sleep rarely were friends. He had to do something, he just didn't know how to go about doing it. How to not be a hero and still be heroic.
On their flight back, Sam noticed Bucky's condition. "Look, it seems you thought a lot about what I said. Talk to her. Communication is key, don't go all terminator on her shutting her down and out. If she wants to be friends, start with that and build on that, if she wants more, then that's great. Any step in this would be a positive step in the right direction for you."
"It's just she's been through a lot."
"What do you mean."
"Well, I looked up stuff using our databases..."
"Whoa, whoa, you reconned a woman you're interested in."
"Well, yeah, I had to know what I was getting into.."
"Don't you think she might have wanted to tell her story herself?"
"Not if she won't talk to me."
"Just stop, text her, see what happens, work from there."