Alchemy Jones → Bucky Barnes [1]

10|TAKE NOTES

Not as if it came as a surprise, but Ally never did find Bucky the next day. A soldier had suddenly fallen extremely ill and she was the one who knew the human body the best. His name was Quincy Taker, everyone called him Quaker since his name sounded that way. He was a young man, a few years younger than Ally. He was rather handsome in ways you wouldn't expect. Here and there, Ally found herself admiring the small features that made Quaker so appealing to the eyes. He was a load of fun too, always cracking up jokes whenever he found enough energy to speak.

Ally declared it was just the common flu but to keep him isolated from the other men aboard the ship. She recommended lots of water and promised to check up on him around the clock. She stayed true to that promise but not the one she made Bucky. Sometimes they'd pass by each other on the deck but it was never awkward. Bucky was always the first one to smile, his beautifully sculpted lips quirking up into a special grin that was just for Ally. In return, she always tucked a lock of her hazel hair behind her ear and nodded before returning her gaze to what was ahead.

When the old steamship finally made it to England, it was darker than dusk and Ally was escorted to a private tent alongside her sister and brother-in-law. It was much colder in England than it was in Brooklyn and Ally had found herself wishing she was alongside Bucky, but he had a position to play in this war too and it wasn't to be her personal bodyguard.

Invicta Base was located outside of Warrington, England. Most men had to walk by foot to the uphill base in the middle of the night while some higher ranked soldiers got to ride in the howling jeeps. Ally found herself in one as well. Even though it was the dead of night, Invicta was alive and filled with a nauseating dimmed light. Despite wanting to nuzzle up in a cot and sleep, Ally had to start her research right away.

—

Even on the best of days, sickness swept the barracks and Ally had to stop her research to help the nurses. It was especially worse when a leave had been granted to visit the neighbouring town for a day. The soldiers would go out sick or not, and return with some kind of sickness regardless. It was usually a vicious cough that swelled the tonsils of the throat and would eventually make it hard to breathe. Even if someone didn't have it, the coughing startled sleeping men nearby and affected their desperate need for sleep.

Five thirty in the morning was wake up, cots made and everything was clean and tidy before breakfast, which consisted of overcooked eggs and burnt toast. Bucky usually drank his black coffee as if he was trying to get drunk off of it. The pipping hot liquid hit the back of his throat before he even had a chance to blow the rising steam. Everyday he was reminded that the 107th Infantry would be trudging into enemy territory soon and Colonel Austin Moriarty wanted his men to be prepared for the nightmare they were walking into. This was routine for the last two weeks and a half, the only highlight for him was catching a glimpse of Ally stumbling around with a silly little journal.

Ally sighed miserably as she watched another patient lean over to puke his lunch out. The training day ahead promised rain and cold mud, and tomorrow was more of the same. They'd be sweating in the cold and more than often, they'd come down with a fever if not treated correctly. She took a sip of the horribly made coffee and wrote down her patients diagnoses.

Homesick.

It was that simple. The nerves and anxiety in the man's brain had pumped enough adrenaline and fear to cause him to vomit and break down in a cold shiver. There was no cure for being homesick except for the gentle kiss of a wife or the warmth of a mother's touch. She couldn't give that to him, and she felt bad. Dr. Erskine would be impressed with the knowledge she was receiving but she wasn't impressed with the weight on her shoulders that was getting heavier with each patient.

Quaker stopped by every now and then, bringing Ally leftover eggs or the last piece of bacon. She didn't mind his company, he was entertaining when Bucky wasn't around. Bucky was a Sergeant, his role was so much more important than Quaker's or Peter's or even her own. She was just there for research.

Her days usually went on like that. Wake up, treat patients, forget to eat breakfast, try to catch a glimpse of Bucky running the field, have Quaker come visit, take notes, treat more patients and then fall asleep.

As Ally finished wiping down her makeshift desk area, a certain blue-eyed boy caught her attention. She knew he was in the room since all the nurses turned their heads and giggled frantically. Bucky had that effect on a lot of women, Ally included.

"There's my girl!" Bucky chanted, his smile made from the gods above. "It's been awhile."

"Here for a checkup Sergeant?" she questioned, glancing up from her work quickly. "I'm not sure I have room."

"What a shame," he sighed. "I'm not surprised, you've got men lined up around the base to get five seconds with you."

"Don't flatter me Barnes, I have patients I need to attend to."

He thought for a second, a devious look painted on his face. Before Ally could register what he was doing, Bucky began to lightly cough, holding his chest. "I'm a patient now ma'am," he played. "Attend to me."

She rolled her eyes while standing up from the desk and pulled out her black stethoscope. "I need you to take off your shirt Sergeant Barnes." she told him with the ghost of a smile. "I need access to your chest."

Bucky unbuttoned his uniform, taking his time with each button until his sweat-glistening chest was fully out. Ally was utterly gobsmacked. Her jaw tightened as she tried to move her eyes away from the absolute gift in front of her.

"I need you to –" she become rather distracted. "– to um, breathe in for me." He did as told, watching Ally place the metal stethoscope on his back.  The cold metal sent a shiver down his spine and he tensed at the feeling of her hands on his back. He took a breath in and Ally watched as his muscles relaxed. "Again."

"Anything wrong with me Doctor Jones?"

"No Sergeant Barnes, there isn't a thing wrong."

"Good," he nodded, reaching for his uniform shirt. "So I can go dancing tomorrow night before we move towards enemy territory?"

Ally bit her lip, still trying to wrap her head around what he was saying. "Yes, you can."

"Will you be accompanying me?"

"I've got patients."

His heart was pounding. "You've got a date now, wear something pretty."

Before she could object or say something witty, he saluted her goodbye and walked away. What she didn't know was that he was grinning like a complete idiot. He had finally scored himself a date with Alchemy Jones, even if he had practiced what he was going to say to her the night beforehand.

—

He thought for a second, a devious look painted on his face. Before Ally could register what he was doing, Bucky began to lightly cough, holding his chest. "I'm a patient now ma'am," he played. "Attend to me."