the team doctor || bucky barnes

47.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴏɴɢ: ɴᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ - ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴛʟᴇꜱ

~

VALERIE FROZE. 

"Um," She murmured. "You don't.."

She took one glance at the confused look on his face and almost broke down in tears in that room. Steve immediately noticed this, clearing his throat. 

"Why don't you leave me with Bucky for a second," Steve spoke, nodding assuringly to her. 

She mustered up a performative smile before pushing out of the room. She wiped the single tear that had fallen away, closing her eyes. She thought of how many nights she played this moment over and over in her mind. She pictured him running to her, picking her up, and swinging her around. She knew that wasn't like him, though. Maybe if this were some romance book, he would do that. Instead, she'd see it in his eyes. She'd see them soften. Take all of her in as if they were about to cease existing. Then, they'd slightly crease. 

Valerie never knew eyes could smile until she saw his do it.  

Through the glass, she watched Steve sit Bucky down and explain something to him. She frowned as she saw Bucky shake his head confusedly. Her eyes fell to the floor as Steve approached the door, stepping out. 

"Valerie," Steve whispered, closing the door. "He doesn't remember anything before joining the team," 

Her brows furrowed. "What?" 

"He knows who he is, and who I am, but he's talking as if he just returned from his previous solo mission," 

Valerie's lips twitched as she felt more tears coming on. This was the exact opposite of what she expected to happen. She simply nodded, though, trying to remain professional. "Like right before I got here?" 

"Yes,"

Valerie's head swirled with confusion. She couldn't wrap her head around the words Steve was telling her. Bucky's mind somehow reset to right before Valerie joined the team as if the last few months never even existed for him. 

Her head began nodding as if it was doing it by itself. "Alright." 

Steve scrunched his face in confusion. "Alright?"

"I've seen cases like this before in my practicum before getting my degree. It's only a matter of time until he remembers." She was still nodding. 

He held his hand out as if to steady her, but she didn't think she was falling. "Are you okay?" 

"Not really," Valerie chuckled. "But what's another obstacle for us to overcome?" 

"I'm so sorry," 

She opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by meeting Bucky's eyes through the glass. For a split second, she wondered if maybe he just needed a minute to wake up. Like once his eyes met hers, some cosmic shift would happen and all his memories would come flooding back. But he only stared at her blankly. Her heart sank as she remembered those types of things only happened in the movies. 

She stepped into the room, putting her best smile on before walking toward the bed. 

"Hi," She spoke. "I get this may be weird for you. My name is Valerie. Or, Dr. Harris. Whichever feels more comfortable," 

He nodded, offering the smallest smile that stuck a knife through her heart. It was as if she was starting all over again, finding herself at step one of getting him to simply talk to her. Although every ounce of her screamed to grab him, shake him, kiss him--she maintained her smile. "Come see me anytime,"