When Fate Steps In

4.)

I blinked at the harsh lights, before reaching over, trying to rip the IV out of my arm only for a strong grip to wrap around my wrist effectively stopping me.

"I don't think so."

My eyes flew, and my head turned to the left to see Bucky sitting there before looking to the right to see Steve standing over me with an exasperated expression.

Bucky's hand was holding my free hand, as Steve leaned over me and pried my fingers from the catheter.

"How long was I out?" I asked, softly.

"Three weeks. Banner had to induce you into a coma to get the brain swelling down. He only just stopped administering the medication a week ago." Steve said.

I frowned, "That didn't feel like three weeks." I mumbled.

Bucky smiled, "I bet it didn't. How are you feeling, peaches?" He asked me.

I scrunched up my nose, "Just peachy." I replied dryly.

He laughed as he looked at Steve. "I thought you said she was sweet, jerk?" He asked him.

Steve laughed and shook his head, "No, I believe I said she can be sweet but she is mainly stubborn, sassy, and sarcastic." He replied.

Bucky smiled and shook his head, "My girl truly is something." He said as he smiled at me.

I smiled back at his words, "So, when can your girl get out of this bed?" I asked, amused.

"When Dr. B says it's alright," Bucky said immediately, giving me a challenging look.

I narrowed my eyes at him as a smile spread.

I quickly wondered what my chances were if I tried to make it out the door before one of these brutes got to me.

I looked back to see Bucky staring at me amused.

"Go on, try it." He challenged.

I sighed, "I wasn't going to do anything." I mumbled pouting.

He raised a brow, "Your words can lie to me but your eyes and thoughts can't, kitten." He told me amused.

I rolled my eyes, "Great, just great, more nicknames." I grumbled.

He raised a brow at me, keeping my hand in his, "You're lying again." He pointed out.

I rolled my eyes at him, "So, what if I am?" I challenged him.

The gleam grew brighter in his eye, before he blinked and turned to Steve, "You want to tell her what happens when I get challenged?" He told him.

Steve smirked, "Trust me. You won't like it." He told me, shaking his head as he huffed.

I smiled as he subtly moved his head from side to side once.

Interesting.

"You, obviously, think that scares me. It doesn't. In fact, it's had quite the opposite effect, Sergeant Barnes." I told him as I licked my lips.

His eyes grew darker as he licked his lips in response.

Before any of us could say anything the door opened.

**

My brother stormed into the room with a file in his hand.

"Barnes, get the hell away from my sister." He growled.

I sat up ignoring Steve and Bucky as they stood up.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?" I asked.

"I was just going through the files you managed to get at Strucker's castle. He killed our parents. Get away from him." He growled.

"Have you seen all of the files?" I asked.

He shook his head.

"Look at them. All of them. When you are done, come back and talk like an adult. Until you do, you're not allowed to say anything." I told him.

"He killed our parents." He argued.

I shook my head, " If you don't look at those files, you'll never understand what happened. Leave." I told him calmly.

He looked at me before narrowing his eyes at us and storming out of the room.

From the corner of my eyes I saw Bucky's shoulders sag in defeat.

"He's not going to forgive me." He whispered, sadly.

"He is pigheaded but he'll come around,"  I told him.

Bucky shook his head, "He won't allow this." He sighed, as he rubbed a hand over his head and face.

That was the moment I realized he cut his hair. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a black long-sleeved T-shirt.

I gapped at his new appearance, wondering when this happened before I realized I was gawking.

I blinked twice before sighing, "He doesn't have the authority or power to stop this. No one does." I told him firmly.

"Doll face, he's your family. I would never come between you two." He told me as he reached over and squeezed my hand.

"You're my family now too. My mate, remember?" I told him.

He sighed, "We'll talk about this when you get out of here, huh." He told me as he reached over and patted my cheek.

I frowned, "You're not in charge of me. I want to talk about it now." I told him.

He shook his head, "I'm not saying that I am, I just don't want you passing out on me again." He told me.

"I am fine. I feel fine. See?" I told him, waving my arms in the air, exaggeratedly.

"You had a head injury, not a body injury." He pointed out.

"The head controls the body," I told him, in the same tone he used on me.

"Yes, and said head is injured, so stay put and stop arguing." He told me.

"I will not. I do have the ability to know when something is wrong with me. So, I am going to keep talking about this." I argued.

"You're so annoying." He said, exasperated.

"It's a talent." I retorted, smiling angelically as he narrowed his eyes at me.

"Do you really want to keep pressing your luck, peaches?" He asked me with narrowed eyes.

I was about to retort something in response when my brother walked in.

"What do you want?" I asked, with a sigh.

"I came to apologize." He told me.

I frowned, lifting a brow.

How much time had passed?

My eyes looked around until it fell on something. The clock on the far wall said it had been an hour since he stormed in here.

He sighed again, "I realized I might have jumped the gun." He admitted, shamefully.

I sat back, wincing as my head began to hurt a little. "Why is that?" I asked.

"Because of what you two have clearly been through. I didn't realize both of you were put through so much. I now know that what you and Barnes went through was horrible. I saw the tapes, and read the notes in the files. I found that you are still suffering the consequences of what happened. I— I am truly sorry for how I acted— not just with you but with Barnes as well." He told me.

I looked at Bucky, who looked surprised.

"I've been acting like an ass since both of you came here. And I want to apologize. I shouldn't have been acting like that. " He told us. "So, what do you say? Can you forgive me?" He asked.

"We'll need time to think it over. Can you please ask Banner to let me out of here? This bed is hurting my back." I mumbled frowning.

"I'll see what I can do. As for… I truly am sorry. I hope you all can forgive me." He said before he turned and left.