[COMPLETE/EDITING]Be My Hero

Seven

Sharp pains pinched my back, and my head swam as I came to to see I was lying nearly flat on my stomach. Nausea overwhelmed me and I didn't want to move for fear of passing out again. My body was heavy and stiff, and I felt as if I didn't have any muscles. "Bucky?" It was Steve. He placed his hand over mine, and as I opened my eyes, I came face to face with him. "Hurts," I managed to say. My voice sounded alien and cracked and my throat was extremely sore. My suit had been stripped off of me, and now I wore nothing but sweatpants and a loose shirt.

"I know. They're about to give you some painkillers now that you're awake. Don't move yet, okay? Just wait and I'll help you in a second." I nodded and closed my eyes. I didn't want to get up. I wanted to go back to sleep. But I was more than happy to be alive. I still desperately wanted to know what had happened to me. I needed an explanation. "What did you see?" I asked very quietly. Considering Steve didn't answer me, I assumed that he just didn't hear me.

"Bucky? We have to move you so you can sit up. I'll be on your left," Steve said gently. I nodded and opened my eyes again. After a moment, he transfered to my left side and a doctor took my right. "Brace yourself, Barnes," the doctor demanded. I carefully placed my hands on the bed and as the doctor counted down, I attempted to raise myself up. Electric jolts of pain shot through my right shoulder and I nearly collapsed again. I had the sudden urge to cry out, but I grit my teeth and pushed through it. With the help of Steve and the other man, I was able to sit up properly, but the effects of the activity left me breathless and more nauseous than before. I kept my mouth shut tight, not wanting to speak or move any more than was necessary.

"We're going to give you medicine for both pain and nausea through your IV," the doctor said clearly. "My name is Dr Flynn. What you got shot with was no normal bullet." My heart sunk and I stared up at the ceiling, dreading what was coming next. "You got hit with a 50 caliber bullet. We managed to remove it, but there is some damage to your shoulder. Extensive damage. The bullet is being sent to our lab right now for testing. When it went into your shoulder, it released a toxin. We are still unsure what the toxin is composed of, and it was very difficult to get most of it out. We did the best we could. We're about to change your bandages, so you'll be able to see the damage for yourself."

Oh no... I knew this was going to hurt, whether I was receiving medicine or not. Steve was still standing beside me, staring at his hands. Flynn set a metal tray down on my lap, displaying ointments and fresh, new bandages. As he began to unwrap the old ones, I cringed. Every little brush against my shoulder stung and sent a lance of pain through my arm. "I understand that your shoulder is extremely tender. It may remain like this for a few days. Even fabric will irritate your skin right now, and I apologize," Flynn said. I could hear the guilt in his tone, but I blamed him for nothing.

As the last of the bandages were carefully removed, I was handed a mirror. I didn't look at my shoulder right away. I was too nervous. Surely it couldn't look that bad?

But when I held up the mirror... My heart shattered in two.

My shoulder was so much more damaged than I thought. Where the bullet went through was a large black bruise. Almost every one of my veins were deeply discolored and branched off from the black mass, leaving my skin looking pale and sickly. The sight made my stomach turn and I held out the mirror until someone took it away. "I'm sorry," Flynn said as he very gently applied medicine to the wound. It hurt, but not so much that I needed to say anything. "Your shoulder should return to normal in a few weeks." I nodded and sat there as my shoulder was once again wrapped up. Once that was done and I had recieved the medicine administered to me, I was free to walk around the facility. Steve followed me around until he stepped in front of me and stared at me. The look was so intense that my stomach knotted with dread.