the team doctor || bucky barnes

10.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴏɴɢ: ᴡᴏᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰ*ᴄᴋ ᴜᴘ - ᴊᴏɴ ʙᴇʟʟɪᴏɴ

~

SHE WAS IN SHOCK.

Valerie was very surprised Bucky had actually followed through on what he was ordered to do. She nodded and quickly fumbled through her instruments to find the receptors. He laid back in the chair, still not bothering to utilize the blankets she had brought him.

"Will you actually stay in your chair tonight?" She rose an eyebrow.

He rose his hand mockingly as if to give 'scout's honor.' She pursed her lips and walked over to him to place the receptors on his forehead. She calibrated the machine and was satisfied when she saw his brain waves and heart rate on the monitor.

She turned around to get something out of her cabinet, reaching on her toes. Because she was turned around, she did not see Bucky's heart rate change when her skirt began to move. He quickly tore his eyes away, growing frustrated from the thoughts running rampant in his mind.

"I'll dim the lights a little for you," She spoke as she did so.

He closed his eyes. It was mostly silent except for the soft whirring of a few machines in the laboratory, which were honestly more comforting than they were distracting. He was able to sleep within minutes.

She cleaned some of her vials from earlier tests with Bruce and looked over at Bucky. His lips were slightly parted due to slipping into sleep, making her falter. She blinked and went back to her task at hand. She began to feel a tad awkward at the fact that he was sleeping--just six feet away from her.

After about an hour, she got settled on her table. She crossed her arms over her chest to create warmth within her thick cardigan and let her eyes flutter shut.

At around 4 am, she heard the beeping of the monitor, indicating there was an increase in brain activity. She jolted up, quickly denoting the areas she observed as well as his heart rate. She then had no idea what to do next. Should she let him just ride it out? Or should she wake him?

Her conflict was interrupted by his screams. He writhed around as if he were in pain, scratching at his skin profusely.

"Let me go!" He cried.

She ran over to his chair, trying to shake him awake. He was sweating, though his skin was ice cold. She noticed his heart rate increasing rapidly and tried shaking him even harder.

"Bucky," She tried.

Somehow, his dream conflicted with reality and he sprung up from his chair. With dead eyes, he grabbed both of her arms and tackled her backward as if by muscle memory. She was thrown violently against the metal table, trapped by his grasp.

"Bucky!" She yelled. "Wake up!"

After her voice reached his ears, he abruptly regained consciousness. He was panting heavily, looking around furiously as if to gain his surroundings.

"Hey, you're okay," She softly spoke.

Bucky looked back down at her, realizing he had her arms in his hands. He dropped them as if they were 1000 degrees, stepping back from her. She rubbed her arms that ached from the strong grip and waited for him to say something.

He gulped. "Fuck,"

"Are you okay?" She questioned.

"Yeah," He groggily replied. "Just a nightmare,"

"That's what your nightmares are like?" She asked. "Bucky, that's not normal,"

"Yeah, thanks, Doc."

She almost chuckled at the new term of endearment he chose. She fetched a water bottle and offered it to him. Surprisingly, he took it.

"Do you want to talk about your nightmare?" She tried.

"Not really."

"It might help fix--"

"I don't," He snapped. "Need any fucking fixing."

"I didn't mean--"

He laughed humorlessly. "Yes, you did. Bucky Barnes, damaged beyond repair. A broken toy for the doctor to repair so he can be used again. You think I don't know how you view me?"

Her heart sank. "I don't view you like that,"

"I'm not an idiot, Harris. You think you can figure me out. I'm just another little project to you. All these attempts to be nice to me are fucking pathetic," He spat.

Her chest rose heavily as she looked at him with contempt. "You don't know a single thing about me, Barnes. Or else you wouldn't believe that. If you took one fucking second, you'd know that wasn't the truth."

His eyes pierced hers in a dance for control of the argument. His stomach did a flip at her raising her voice at him and he despised it.

"I can't believe I ever gave you the benefit of the doubt." She finally said.

Her words struck him like a bolt of lightning.

Bucky observed her lip slightly quiver as she said it, knowing she was using all her strength to remain confident. A wave of guilt washed over his body as he replayed every interaction they had in his head. He suddenly became fearful of losing her belief in him. Now, she viewed him like everybody else did. And it was his fault.

"I got all I need for tonight." She stated dismissively, transferring the data on the monitor to her laptop.

He said nothing as he walked out, quickening his pace so he didn't have to hear her begin to cry.

<>

He lay awake in his bed that night, the black sheets in disarray due to his tossing and turning. His mind was completely all over the place. Valerie's face when he snapped at her was a motion picture that was on replay in his brain.

She got under his skin in a way no one else ever had. Her doe eyes, her pursed lips, her tight little skirts that hugged her thighs.

And her fucking cardigans.

He wanted to rip them apart, thread by thread.

He knew she thought he was pathetic. A man who could not get over his trauma if his life depended on it. Recently, it seemed that was the case. He was so ashamed that she witnessed his most vulnerable state that night that he defensively spewed words he knew would push her away. If she hated him, she wouldn't expect more from him.

If she didn't expect more from him, she wouldn't be let down.

Hours crept by until it was time for the weekly team meeting to run through logistics and tasks. The team members slowly poured into the glass room, taking seats in the leather swivel chairs. Bucky sat next to Steve, running a hand through his messy hair. He anxiously awaited Valerie's arrival, too lost in thought to notice when she actually did walk in.

Unfortunately, the only open seat was across from Bucky.

She took her seat without saying anything, not bothering to look in his direction. His eyes remained on her for a moment before Tony began the meeting.

It droned on, everybody growing tired of the numerous tasks that had to be delegated. It wasn't until Tony announced he had a surprise that the members started paying attention.

"We are going to be throwing a little soiree," He excitedly announced. "Here at the tower. Investors and contacts will be attending, so I want everybody on their best behavior and in their best cocktail attire. This is a good opportunity to create buzz and meet some important figures."

Bruce rose his hand. "Is it mandatory?"

Tony scowled. "Yes, Bruce. All my employees will be attending. Tech and IT included."

They exchanged unsure glances with each other, Bucky still trying to make eye contact with Valerie.

"It'll be fun. You're going to have fun, damn it!"

~