the team doctor || bucky barnes (EDITING IN PROGRESS)

3.

Edited 8/26/25

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴏɴɢ: ʙᴀᴅ ɢᴜʏ - ʙɪʟʟɪᴇ ᴇɪʟɪꜱʜ

"𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲! 𝐈'𝐦 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫."
~

"SO THEN WHAT DID SHE SAY?"

Valerie sanitized her hands before picking up her otoscope, the cool metal reassuringly solid in her grip. She raised it carefully to Sam's ear, angling it just so, and peered inside. The soft whir of the device and the faint warmth of his skin reminded her that even small examinations could feel intimate—and she worked to keep her professional focus steady.

He sighed. "I'm still on delivered."

"I do want to say, as your friend, that using Snapchat as a grown man is a bit sad," She spoke nonchalantly as she moved to his other ear.

"Ouch," He replied.

"Did I hurt you?" She pulled her otoscope out quickly.

"Your words did." He feigned sadness.

She chuckled, putting the otoscope down, and removed her gloves. "It's just an ear infection. Antibiotics should clear it up in a few days. In the meantime, no flying. Additional pressure to your ear can cause a rupture."

Sam groaned dramatically, rubbing at his ear.

Valerie leaned casually against the countertop beside him. "So... what's your next move then?"

He shrugged, staring off into the distance. "I dunno, man. I put the ball in her court. Asked if she was free this weekend." He let out a frustrated sigh. "That was... two days ago."

Valerie and Sam had grown closer after she witnessed him crashing and burning with the part-time receptionist in the lobby. She had just returned from grabbing coffee across the street when she spotted him at the desk—slumped posture, awkward gestures, and averted gaze all telling the story before she even entered the elevator with him.

"That looked like it went well," she had teased lightly.

Sam shot her a bewildered look, and for a brief moment, she wondered if she'd misread the situation—or worse, overstepped. Then he burst out laughing, the tension breaking instantly, and she knew she had read him right.

"Give her time. Maybe she's busy," Valerie reasoned. "Or maybe, she hasn't opened Snapchat since she was twenty."

He rolled his eyes, hopping off the table. "Ha, ha."

"Keep me posted on your ear. And remember, no flying!" She called.

He waved her off as he walked away, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Valerie couldn't be sure he'd actually follow her instructions—most of the team rarely did. The number of times she'd prescribed bed rest to Captain America alone was countless, yet he'd actually obeyed... maybe twice. She shook her head, half-amused, half-exasperated. Some things never changed.

Speaking of, the soldier walked into her office just as she was tidying up.

"Steve!" She spoke, startled. "What can I do for ya?"

"I was hoping to just talk a minute if that's alright."

She smiled. "Of course. Take a seat,"

She leaned casually against the counter as he awkwardly hoisted himself onto the metal examination table. She couldn't help but be momentarily surprised that it could support both his frame and his super-soldier strength.

When she first met Steve, she admitted, there had been a tiny spark of attraction. He had been the first to genuinely welcome her, and, let's be honest, he wasn't exactly hard on the eyes.