Summer's End - Bucky and Mel Universe 1

A Sinking Feeling

Mel sprinted home. She had a ton of things to do and so little time to do it in. Peeling off her clothes towards the shower, she set out her dress, gloves, shoes, and stockings for the evening. She also found a matching handbag and wrap. She quickly showered and wrapped her hair in a towel to absorb some of the water. She gathered some clothes for tomorrow in an overnight bag, with something lacy and soft for evening. Toothbrush, toothpaste, extra brush, etc. She walked and put it by the door so she wouldn't forget.
She then set about getting dressed for the evening. She then, carefully applied some make up, blow dried her hair, and started pinning it up. She rolled her stockings on and stepped into her shoes. She would really have liked to have a glass of wine for her nerves, but couldn't with the chaperoning she would have to do.
The bell rang nearly causing her to jump. She took a deep breath before taking one more glance in the mirror and putter her long gloves on. She slowed her pace deliberately. Took a deep, cleansing breath, then opened the door.
"Hello," she said.
"Helll..... woooowwwww," James said.
"Is there something wrong?" Mel asked.
"You're, you're...."
"I'm what? You don't like it?" Mel feigning disappointment.
"Breathtaking, I'm speechless and a little underdressed." James said while he sweated his hands over himself. He was wearing a jacket, dress pants, and tie.
"You look very handsome."
"Shall we," James stated as he held out his arm for her.
"Let's shall." Mel began. "So what was all that Bucky stuff with Sam the other day."
"Just a nickname."
"Oh really, how did you get it?" She asked, he kept stealing glances at her as they walked.
"My middle name is Buchanan. So Bucky came out of that."
"Oooh, Buchanan, sounds posh," she teased.
At the back of his mind, James was worried, he was worried he didn't look nice enough for her. She could sense it and brought his hand up to her lips and kissed it. She rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb.
"Would you like me to call you Bucky?" She asked coyly.
"I don't know. I like that you call me James, not Jim or Jimmy, but James. Should I call you Mel or Melinda?" He asked.
"You know, everyone calls me Mel, I would like you to have something special. Could you call me Melinda, please?" She looked up through her lashes, her green eyes glittering in the setting sun.
"I couldn't have asked for anything more than you...."
"I like you, too."
When they got to the school, she treated the families as they entered and told them how to register their costumes. There were games and a DJ, the winners would be announced closer to 9 PM. James excused himself to answer his phone, he said he would have to leave but would be back in a few minutes. To say she was disappointed wasn't the half of it. She was really looking forward to perhaps having a dance with him.
The night wore on, then she saw him across the room. He went and had changed into a tux. He swaggered up to her, her eyes clearly popping out of her head, mouth agape.
"Careful, I'll find something to fill that mouth," he whispered into her hear. She blushed and her mouth promptly shut. "Double O Barnes, at your service." She kissed his cheek and rubbed the red lipstick off. "Come on, let's have a dance." Luckily it was a slow one. When the kids noticed they all started whispering and giggling.
"Hey, hey, eyes on me. Make me your world. Don't mind them, they are just kids and they can be cruel."
"That's not it, they say you look like a princess."
"Yes, and you are my prince. Thank you for making the night magical for me. Good thing I don't have to be home before midnight." She rested her head on his chest.
"I plan on having you before that," he murmured, her inhalation was sharp and fast.
The winners of the costume contest were announced for each category and age group.
"I don't have to stay for the last child to go, we could leave right after." He grabbed her ass and she swatted his hand.
On the way back, they talked about the different costumes and she talked about how proud she was about several of the students and how hard they worked on them. They had dinner at a cozy little restaurant, some wine. It wasn't the wine that was going to her head, it was the anticipation that was.
On the way back to her apartment. She stopped dead in her tracks.
"What's wrong?" James asked.
"I don't know, something is...." She trailed off as a car hit a curb and went over the guardrail into the water. The car started sinking.
"There are kids in that car."
"Stay here." James said. He started running towards the water and dived in. If he had waited a second, he would have seen Mel kicker her shoes off and tear two slits into her dress before diving in.
She swam down. If James had ripped the door off, the water would fill up too quickly and the kids would drown. She indicated for him to punch the window out on the passenger front seat. He did and the water started to go in slowly.
"Hey kids, my name is Mel," she said as she was unhooking their child seats. On the count of three I want you to take the biggest breath you ever could take and hold it. "Ready.... One, two, three". She nodded to James and he ripped the door to the driver off. Mel had the kids and swam to the surface with them. James was behind them with their father. They got to shore but the father was not breathing. Mel grabbed her purse and called 911 relaying the information needed. James was doing one handed compressions, he was afraid of hurting the man, she passed the phone to him and began CPR herself.
She continued CPR, she wasn't getting anything in response from him. She stared at James between giving air, and shook her head. "Get the kids away. Now." She was demanding it, but understood the order. She didn't want them to see their father die.
"Is he?" James asked.
"Yes," she said.
He started to console the two children who were under six. Mel bent over the man. She closed his eyes, murmured something, then placed her hand on his head and another over his chest. Lights the size of fireflies started to swirl around her hands and into his chest and head. She closed her eyes and they took on a golden glow. The man screamed and Mel relaxed back onto her heels.
"Daddy!" One of the children screamed. By then the ambulance had arrived. The man and the kids were taken to the hospital. The medics had wrapped James and Mel into those foil blankets. Statements were taken, James talked to the police but asked them not to include their names in the report.
"Come one let's get a cab and get you home. You must be freezing."
"A bit."
She was right behind him while he was waving a cab down. As soon as the cab was there, she collapsed to the ground. Her eyes started rolling into the back of her head. James fan to her, she was gasping like she couldn't breathe.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"No hospitals.... Call Matt..... no hosp .... Call Ma...." And with that, she was unconscious.