Loving The Captain

Chapter 24

A/N :Credit to the artist for this picture. I couldn't find who made it while on my phone. Please comment and let me know what you think! Thanks everyone!

Steve came awake with a start. His breathing labored, covered in a cold sweat and shaking so hard, it felt as though he was going to fall apart. He blinked several times, something was wrong with his vision.

Everything was cast in a dull, lifeless grey scale. He could see hints of blue but his greens and reds, and the colors between were gone. Frowning, he held his right hand up in front of his face. His hand was smaller than it should be. His fingers, thin and long. An artist's hands. The hands he had once had before the serum.

Glancing down, Steve smiled despite himself. Cora had wound her way around him. One leg was hefted up over his hips, draped languidly over him. Her head rested against his chest, her blond curls were splayed out behind her. She was beautiful, even if Steve couldn't see the colors of her hair, the natural red to her lips and cheeks. His vision had gone back to what it had been, and he couldn't even make out her freckles.

Sighing, Steve pressed his head back into his pillow. It felt strange having Cora draped over him like this. Like his body was too small for it. Instead of tucking her tightly into his embrace, he now fit into hers with room to spare.

Feeling shaky, Steve gently pulled away from Cora's grip. It was a bit more difficult, now that she could actually wrap her entire body around him, but he managed. Going out into the living room, he quietly closed the bedroom door behind him.

"Hey Punk." Bucky pointed with a thumb to the dining table. "Made breakfast. You need to eat. Your blood sugar is probably low. Especially considering you didn't eat last night and threw up everything before that."

Steve swallowed. Bucky was right of course, even if Steve didn't want to admit it. As he took his seat, Bucky followed him and sat at the table as well.

Leaning back and crossing his arms, Bucky eyed him carefully. "How you feeling?" He automatically spoke up, angling towards Steve's good ear.

Steve picked up his fork and began to eat the pancakes. Bucky must've just finished making them, as they were still hot. He thought for a moment. "I don't really know. I guess I've been worse..." He glanced to the bedroom door, his thoughts momentarily drifting to Cora's sleeping form in the bed. "What the hell happened, Buck? I don't remember anything after..." He paused. "I got out of the shower. Got sick. Felt like I was going to have an episode."

Bucky nodded. "You did. A bad one too. When it ended you," Bucky waved his hand up and down, indicating Steve. "You changed back to your old self."

"Any idea why?" Steve had trouble swallowing. What if this was permanent?

Bucky shook his head. "Stark and Banner said that one of the HYDRA goons must've shot you with a bio weapon. They're still doing tests on your blood, and the bullet."

Steve shivered, feeling as though a cold breeze had blown down the back of his neck. "Bucky, what am I gonna do? I can barely lift my shield, much less use it. What if word gets out?"

"Stark already took care of all that. They released something to the press about 'Captain America being undercover' or some shit. Use this time as a break. Banner thinks whatever it is they used on you is temporary. So it should wear off...eventually."

Steve shook his head. "What about Cora?"

"What about her?" Bucky frowned.

"You remember how dames used to be around me. What if..." Steve sighed. "What I'm not...what Cora wants anymore? I'm sick Bucky. Just like old times. I can feel it. I cant hear worth a damn. The tightness in my chest, my heart hurts. Hell even my back was sore when I got up. Cora deserves someone who can look after her. Not someone she's going to have to take care of."