the team doctor || bucky barnes (EDITING IN PROGRESS)

77.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴏɴɢ: ʙᴇ ᴋɪɴᴅ - ᴍᴀʀꜱʜᴍᴇʟʟᴏ ꜰᴛ. ʜᴀʟꜱᴇʏ

"𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧."

~

"WHAT SHOULD I CALL YOU?"

She almost stopped walking. He had broken the silence that lingered ever since she picked him up at his door to go meet the team.

"Are you asking because you can't remember or--"

"I remember your name," He only said.

"What is it, just so I know we're on the same page?"

"Valerie,"

Her insides screamed. Careful not to show any unnecessary tells, she simply nodded. "Dr. Harris is fine--and what would you have me call you?"

"Me?" He waited as she opened the door for the common area. "You can call me James,"

Now this stole the breath from her lungs. Her eyes felt like they were about to fall out of her head from how wide they were. He, on the other hand, simply stared at the teammates who were sat all around the common room, unsure how to proceed. Since she still could't form a single syllable, Sam stepped forward.

"Val, you good?" He muttered.

"Fine," She choked out, waving him off. "Here he is, and here I am, unharmed as promised."

"Why does everyone think I'm going to hurt you," Bucky grumbled. "It was one time,"

"It was two," Sam scoffed. "Do you remember me at all, man?"

"No,"

"I had a feeling that would be the case," Valerie replied. "Does anyone ring a bell?"

"Him,"

She followed his gaze, unsurprisingly, to Steve. He looked relieved that his long-time friend remembered him, however, the look on Bucky's face said it wasn't out of fondness.

"He was the last thing I saw before it all went black,"

"Yes, well, he had to step in after we, you know--"

"--After you kissed her then tried to kill her," Sam gave a shameless, sarcastic grin. "I was there, not sure why you don't remember that, but whatever,"

"Well, if no one has anything to contribute, we'll be in my office!"

Bucky reluctantly followed behind her, glancing once again at the man who'd knocked him out. He took note of his stare, wondering why he looked as if they knew each other well. He chalked it up to another person his other persona must know.

"So," She started as they walked side by side. "When you were in the cell, I was attempting to do psychotherapy with you. We'll talk about some of your experiences, try to uncover your trauma and hopefully integrate you with the other part of yourself you don't remember. Sound good?"

"Sounds fun," He dryly responded.

"Listen, I know it sounds like a lot. What I found to be effective was always being up front with you,"

"That wasn't me, that was him."

"It's a version of you," She gestured for him to walk through the door. "Your brain is attempting self-preservation by keeping the two separate. You've been through a lot, Bu--"

She cleared her throat, stopping herself. She still hadn't managed to call him what he'd requested, it felt too foreign on her tongue. She didn't know James. She knew Bucky, and she was beginning to know the Winter Soldier. If her suspicions were correct, he didn't know him either. Only the name.