In Another Universe

TWENTY SIX

Steve spent the better half of an hour pleading with Anastasia to wait until she heals to confront Bucky. Fortunately for her, Bruce stood by her side and helped ease his friends' nerves.

Anastasia believes talking to Bucky while the guilt is fresh on his mind will be for the better, That his conscious may finally be the thing to  outweigh his resentment for Steve.

Hopefully.

The compromise they came up with was, Doctor Lavigne has to be present. And she is.

Anastasia sits with her hospital gown covered-back against the loveseat, and an IV attached to a roller at her side. And Doctor Lavigne sits with her notebook and pen waiting, in a similarly upholstered chair by the window of the neutral hospital room.

The blinds are drawn shut in effort to block out the evening lights flooding in from the city billboards. Allowing the white fluorescent celling lights to fill the spacious — and sparsely decorated — room instead.

Anastasia already shared her hopes for this talk with Doctor Lavigne when she arrived. She isn't angry with Bucky, She just wants to help him see reason.

She truly believes he didn't meant to hurt her back at the scene. The fear in his eyes told her that better than words ever could. Everything was happening so fast. He couldn't have even known she was there.

Right?

A few minutes after settling into the room, they hear three firm knocks on the door to which Doctor Lavigne calls outs a firm 'Come in.'

Doctor Raynor enters first, Offering an emotionless glance to Anastasia before approaching Doctor Lavigne with her frail hand extended. Her shoulder length brown hair is swept back into a low ponytail that takes root right above her coat collar.

Bucky gains Anastasia's attention as he shuffles in quietly behind his therapist. His head dipped low as he avoids both her and Doctor Lavignes eyes while he takes a seat on the couch across the room. His therapist sits two cushions down from him once she and Doctor Lavigne finish their formal introductions.

Doctor Raynor was meeting with Bucky when they asked to speak with him, And both doctors agreed it would be in their patients best interest for neither party to feel outnumbered.

Silence swiftly sweeps over the room as Doctor Raynor pulls her notebook and pen free from her large purse.

The air filling the room is suffocatingly thick for Anastasia as Bucky stares down at his bandaged hands in his lap. And she can't pry her eyes away.

There's not a single spot on his face without a bruise or bandage. He looks like... well, he looks like he got his ass handed to him by the Hulk.

Which he did.

"Alright," Doctor Raynor speaks, gaining the other three's attention. "Who would like to begin?"

Bucky and Anastasia's eyes lock and within a beat, Words are spilling from both their mouths as they do.

"Are you okay?" Anastasia's face scrunches

"I'm so sorry." Bucky breaks into a sob as he speaks.

"No I'm the one who's sorry!" Anastasia and Bucky continue to talk over one another

"Am I okay? Are you okay?"

"James, perhaps you should speak first." Doctor Raynor interrupts, annoyance written clearly on her face as she glances between them.

Anastasia flashes a look to Doctor Lavigne who rubs her middle finger through the crease on her forehead. It's no secret that Doctor Raynor has never been the biggest fan of Anastasia and Bucky's relationship. But admittedly, Doctor Lavigne believed Anastasia had been exaggerating all these years.