Familiarity

Chapter 20

"How are you doing?"

Ask me again, I dare you. "How do you think I'm doing?"

"I have to ask," Nick Fury stated scowling at the woman. "I like the fainting, it is a good way to get out of unwanted press conferences," he commented leaning back in a chair.

Emilia rolled her head from her right shoulder to her left to see the door, hoping for Bucky to walk through it. She didn't expect it to happen anytime soon though since she treated him like God knows what, "How long have I been here?"

"A couple days," he muttered, looking out the room's window. "Why did you faint? Surely it was more than the idea of the press conference," Fury wondered watching the woman closely.

"Well it's been a rough couple of months," Emilia mumbled rolling her head back to look at the man. "I may have cut back my diet," she continued talking quietly, "and limited my hours of sleep."

"Well, this is your fault then," Fury stated standing up heading for the door. "Don't be stupid Hate."

He left the room without looking back. Emilia sighed looking back over to the empty chair wishing Bucky was there. I'm always being stupid.

"What did you say to piss Fury off?" Natasha asked striding into the room.

"Not much," she mumbled in response looking up at her. "Can I leave yet?"

"Uh well technically you're supposed to stay here overnight just to make sure you are okay but SHIELD has reason to believe HYDRA still wants you dead and it's hard to watch you here so I am able to get you out of here."

"Really? Well let's get going," Emilia said sitting up, groaning slightly as pain shot up her torso.

"Are you good?"

"Yeah," she nodded still trying to get out of bed.

"Slow down, we need a doctor to unhook you from all of, that," she said pointing at the tubes sticking out of her arm.

**

"So where are we going if you aren't taking me to my apartment?" Emilia questioned raising an eyebrow at Natasha as they drove past her building.

"Headquarters, quite a few people want to talk with you."

"Great," she groaned turning her head back to focus on the road.

When they pulled up to the building Emilia's eyes immediately found Bucky. "No, Natasha I can't."

"Sure you can. You're not the one who has to apologize, you were just in the hospital. Come on," she said getting out of the car.

Emilia took a slow breath before opening her door and climbing out of the car slowly. She followed Natasha up the stairs to the main door, her heart racing. Natasha passed him, barely nodding an acknowledgment at him, as she entered the building leaving Emilia behind with Bucky. The two stared at each other for a second not sure what the other was going to say.

"Emilia," Bucky started but she was quick to cut him off.

"I'm sorry," she blurted clasping her hands behind her back trying to ignore Natasha telling her she was the one who didn't have to apologize.

"I thought you would be," he smirked.

Emilia rolled her eyes at him, a small smiling breaking across her face, "Whatever," she said walking past him into the building.

"How are you doing anyway?"

"Fine, I guess," she shrugged looking over at him as he kept his strides short to walk at her pace. "So what are you doing here anyway?" She knew he came here with Steve sometimes to hang out or maybe pick up a quick mission with him, but Steve was no where near by.