Hello Sergeant (Bucky Barnes)

adjustments

James' POV

"I hear you are looking after Bucky and helping him adjust to his new life," Peggy remarked, looking at me with a smile.

"I am. It's been an interesting experience so far." Sarah gave Peggy a huge smile and Peggy laughed, squeezing my hand. A nurse walked into the room, taking a look around at at all of us.

"Ms Carter needs her rest now, so if y'all would be so good as to wrap your visit up, you can return another day to see her." We all nodded at the nurse in acknowledgment. "I'll be back in ten minutes, Ms Carter."

"All right, Sally," Peggy said, nodding at the woman before looking back up at Sarah. "I'm sure it has. We have much to talk about, Sarah. You will come to see me again soon." There was a hint of steel in her voice, and I recognized an order when I heard it.

"I will, Peggy. I have a lot of questions for you."

"I'd be disappointed if you didn't."

The rest all said their goodbyes, but I hung back to get a moment alone with Peggy. Sarah waited at the doorway for me and I lowered my voice to ask a question. "Peggy?"

"Yes, Bucky?"

"Back then, did I ever tell you how much you meant to me?"

Her eyes filled up with tears and she shook her head slowly. "Not in so many words, but I always knew. I'm sorry we never had the chance to make good on our promises, Bucky, but you have the chance to start over again, with Steve and Sarah."

"I'm not a good person, Peggy. I've killed a lot of people."

"Darling, you're still a good person. Flawed, like all of us, but you've been on Hydra's mission for so long that you think that's who you are when that couldn't be further from the truth. Does she think you're evil?" Peggy gestured to Sarah, who shook her head. She crooked her finger at Sarah, who started to walk back over to us.

"No, not even after I shot her."

Peggy fought a smile. "I suggest that you refrain from repeating that behavior, Bucky, but consider this for a moment. When Sarah found you, she wasn't required to seek you out, or talk to you; she could have just walked away, leaving you in Russia when she realized you didn't know who you were. Even then, she saw something in you worth saving."

I looked at Peggy's earnest eyes before glancing back over to Sarah, who nodded. "You could have attacked me when I first met you, Bucky, but you didn't. You tried to walk away, but I wouldn't let you. You may have been an assassin while they kept you wiped, but the only time I've seen you attack is when you thought Hydra was coming to get you. Not when we were sparring, not when we were unarmed – only that once. Does that fit with the man you knew, Peggy?"

"Yes. You never started the fight, Bucky, but you would finish it if you had to, to protect others. I used to believe you were afraid of your considerable capacity for violence."

"Were you ever afraid of me?" I asked her, watching her face.

"No, never for an instant." She smiled gently at me, and I leaned down to kiss her forehead, gently stroking her cheek. "Come back to visit, Bucky. It was good to see you today."

"It was good to see you again too, Peggy. I've missed you so much." We turned to leave, but Peggy caught Sarah's hand in her gnarled one, keeping her from walking away.

"I'll be along in a minute, Bucky." Sarah said, smiling up at me. "Okay?"

I nodded and walked to the door. Looking back, it was strange to see Peggy and Sarah together. It was like my mind was playing tricks on me, seeing her both young and old at the same time.