Torn {Bucky Barnes FanFic}

Chapter 11

"How the hell did this happen?"

"Bucky already explained it to you, Tony."

"Well, fucking explain it again!"

"He came about of nowhere. Bucky shot him, but he injected her with something before he got hit." I recognized Steve's calm voice. "He did everything Bruce told him to on the plane, including extracting a bit of whatever he put in her for examination. He says she'll be okay."

I tried to open my eyes, but they felt heavier than lead. After a few difficult moments, I managed to crack them open slightly. I was laying in a hospital bed in what I recognized as the small infirmary unit in Stark Tower. Steve and Tony stood near the foot of it, glaring at each other.

"God," I croaked, "that hurt like a bitch."

Tony rushed to the side of the bed and smiled. "Jesus, Cara, you can't scare me like that."

"Says the one that flies around the city in a deadly tuna can."

"My suits are far more advanced than tuna cans, thank you very much," he teased.

My head pounded like I had a bad hangover, and I rubbed my eyes. "Ugh, how long have I been out?"

"A week," Steve answered quietly.

"A week?! Well, shit, I missed Christmas."

"You didn't miss much," Tony sighed. "It's been very quiet since Bruce came back. He stays alone in his room or in the lab with me. He's avoiding Natasha."

"I'll have to get on that," I smiled slightly. "How long till I can leave?"

"Hold your horses there, Cara," Tony said sternly. "You need to stay in here one more night. We'll see how you're doing tomorrow."

I rolled my eyes. "Alright grandpa Tony. Can you at least bring me some work or something? You know I don't like having nothing to do."

"Fine," he sighed and headed for the door. "I'll be back in a little bit."

I leaned forward to make sure he was gone, then sat back and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from the table next to my bed. Steve furrowed his eyebrows at me as I hid the paper in my lap so he couldn't see what I was scribbling.

12:30 tonight. I need to see you -C

I looked up at Steve and folded it several times. "I need you to do something for me. Can you do that?"

"Depends what it is."

"I need you to take this to Bucky," I slowly handed him the paper. "Do not read it. Do not ask me any questions about it. Don't tell anyone. Please, Steve, just do it."

"Cara-"

"Please, Steve."

He held the paper like it was going to explode and started to leave. But stopped in his tracks and turned back to face me.

"I just want you to know that I know there's something going on with you two," he said quietly. "And it isn't my business, so I'm not going to ask what's going on. But I will tell you one thing."

I swallowed nervously and looked down at my lap.

"Be careful."

"Steve, I-"

"Let me finish, Cara," he stopped me. "If things end badly between you guys, there's gonna be no avoiding it. You'll still have to see each other every day and work together, and I'm not saying you're not capable of that. I'm saying that you need to be prepared for the worst."