Beyond Saving Bucky

"Dont you dare wake up until I get back, crazy girl"

Steve's POV:

Nat's voice cut through the heavy silence of the room, bringing my attention back to the present. "Okay, I'm finished with her nails," she said, tightening the lid on the nail polish bottle. She stood up with a purposeful stretch. "I'm running out to get pizzas for dinner. Get up, Steve. You're coming with me."

I looked at her, hesitating. "Nat, I don't really want to..." I trailed off, the thought of leaving Liv, even for a few minutes, sitting heavy on my chest.

But Nat didn't give me a chance to finish. "No. You have been in this room for the better part of three days. You only leave to take a shower." Her tone was firm but softened with concern as she continued, "Now, the night nurse is here, she needs to do Liv's feed and bed bath. She's fine. You heard her giggle in her sleep! Come on. Let's go."

Despite myself, a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Nat was right. Cassandra, the night nurse, was here, and Liv laughing in her sleep had to be a good sign. Maybe I could use a little fresh air after all.

"Okay, fine," I conceded, rising from my chair. "But quickly. I want to be here when she wakes up." My voice was more determined now, as if convincing myself. "Thirty minutes tops."

Nat's stern expression softened into a smile as she nodded in agreement. I leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to Liv's forehead, my lips lingering for a moment against her now warm skin. "I'll be right back. Don't you dare wake up until I get back, crazy girl," I whispered, my voice filled with both affection and a hint of playfulness.

As I straightened, I took one last look at her peaceful face before following Nat out of the room.

Bruce's POV:

I knocked lightly on the doorframe of Tony's lab before peeking my head in. The room was cluttered with various projects, a chaotic mess that only Tony could truly understand. The hum of machinery and the faint glow of holographic screens filled the space, but what caught my attention was the look on Tony's face—an intense focus, laced with underlying concern.

"Hey, Tony," I called out, breaking through the ambient noise. Tony looked up immediately, his eyes searching my face for any hint of bad news. "Dr. Lachlan called. He's on his way over."

Tony's brow furrowed, the concern he'd been trying to keep at bay now fully visible. "Okay, is everything okay?" His voice was steady, but I could hear the slight tremor of worry underneath.

"Yes," I reassured him, stepping fully into the room. "He's been looking over her vitals and the notes from the night nurse. He wants to talk next steps."

Tony nodded, processing the information. He exhaled slowly, as if trying to release some of the tension that had been building up inside him. "Okay then, let's go," he said, pushing himself up from his desk. He moved with purpose, but I noticed the slight hesitation in his steps, the way Tony's eyes flicked to the side as if he was still considering a dozen other possibilities.

As we entered Olivia's room, the familiar sounds of the machines monitoring her filled the space—a soft, rhythmic beeping that had become almost comforting in its consistency.

Caleb, Dr. Lachlan, was seated next to Olivia, his tablet in hand, eyes focused on the screen for a moment before he looked up. His expression was light, calm, and when he saw us, he offered a warm smile. "Bruce, Mr. Stark. Thanks for coming," he said, rising from his chair and extending a hand first to me, then to Tony.

I shook his hand, feeling a sense of relief wash over me at Caleb's demeanor. I've worked with Caleb long enough to know that his calmness was a good sign. Tony was more reserved, shaking Caleb's hand with a brief nod before crossing his arms over his chest, his eyes flickering over to Olivia. She lay still, as she had for days, but I could see the subtle signs of improvement—her color was better, her breathing more even.

"So, Banner says you want to talk about next steps?" Tony asked, his tone measured, though I could hear the underlying hope in his voice.

"Yes," Caleb replied, his smile widening slightly. "I think it's time to lift the sedation."

"Really? That's great!" I couldn't contain my excitement. It felt like we had been holding our breath for days, waiting for this moment.

Caleb nodded, glancing down at his tablet. "Yeah, Cassandra drew some repeat labs for me this morning before she left. All her numbers look good, her vitals are stable. Heart rate's been consistently in the 80s for the last day and a half. It dipped at first with the sedation, but the dehydration made it spike after that. But with the fluids, it's leveled out. I think it's time."

Tony glanced over at me, a flicker of a smile on his lips. "That's... that's good news."

"It is," Caleb agreed, his voice full of quiet confidence. "I'll reduce the sedation. She will need to be monitored closely, of course, but she's ready ."

I felt a warmth in my chest as I looked at Olivia, imagining her eyes fluttering open, her voice—no matter how weak—finally breaking the silence that had weighed us down. We had all lost so much. Olivia had come into our lives with nothing but Bucky by her side. She didn't know any of us back then, didn't have any ties to this world we lived in. Her parents were gone, and she was alone—no friends, no family here. It was heartbreaking, the kind of loneliness that could crush a person. But somehow, despite everything, she had become a part of our family. She might not realize it, but she meant so much to all of us now.

My gaze drifted to Tony, who was standing on the other side of the bed, his hand resting gently on Olivia's. Tony didn't say it often—if ever—but I knew that Olivia was like a daughter to him. Just like Nat, just like Wanda. Tony had been hard on Olivia the other day, pushing her, challenging her, and it was clear why. He cared for her deeply, probably more than he ever let on. It was his way of protecting her, of showing that she mattered to him in a world that often felt cold and unforgiving.

And then there was Steve. I have known Steve for years, had seen him go through so much—loss, pain, the burden of carrying the world on his shoulders. But I have never seen Steve feel so deeply for someone like he does for Olivia. Not in this way. It was a different kind of connection, something almost sacred. I could see it in the way Steve looked at her, the way he sat by her side for hours, never leaving, as if his presence alone could will her back to health.

I know that having Olivia back, having her wake up and smile again, would mean the world to Steve. Steve missed Bucky terribly—everyone knew that. Bucky had been more than a friend to him, more than a brother. And in a strange way, Olivia had become a piece of Bucky, a living link to the man we all missed so much. She had a way of grounding Steve, of bringing out the parts of him that Bucky had once nurtured—the warmth, the loyalty, the deep, unwavering care for those he loved.

I sighed, my heart heavy but hopeful. We had all lost so much, but in Olivia, we had found something precious, something worth fighting for. She had become a part of our family, whether she knew it or not.

"We're ready, Caleb," I said, my voice steady. "Let's do this."