Shadow of the Past (Captain America) // ✔️ //

Chapter 10: Last Resort

Steve sat at Antonia's hospital bed watching her chest move up and down every so slowly, which made his heart beat a little too fast. She had been in a coma for the last few days, and they had no clue of when or if she would wake up. The idea that she might not wake up scared the shit out of him. He didn't know how or when he fell for the rowdy brunette, but he fell hard for her. He didn't know what he would do if she didn't recover.

"Antonia," he begged, "please, wake up." His voice was weak. "I...I..." He wanted to tell her everything, but he couldn't tell her even if she was unconscious and unable to hear him. He didn't want her to reject him, because he wouldn't be able to take it. He couldn't believe she would want him over the handsome funny Barnes, who was missing from her bed side. He closed his eyes as he tried to rid himself of the negative thoughts he was thinking. Bucky was his best friend and he would not turn on him, especially not over a girl, but he should be here. How could he leave her alone? Did he not care?

His mind wandered back to how she had gotten hurt. "I failed to protect you," Steve stated, feeling ashamed of himself. He had promised himself when he first met her that he wouldn't let anything happen to her as he could tell even then that she was special, but he failed her and he felt sick. "I'm so sorry." His hid his face his hands as he tried to stop the tears. It was his fault that she was injured. He was too worried about protecting her than the mission at hand and she got hurt because he was distracted.

"How long have you been here?" Steve asking, sensing someone at the door. His eyes were focused on the glow in her chest, which he just learned about. Did she always have that? He wondered. What is the purpose of that?

Bucky stepped into the room and looked at Antonia. "A few minutes," he stated softly. His eyes were focused on the many wires connected to her. "Maybe, you should get some sleep."

Steve looked up at Bucky, as he tried to hold back his glare, which he was failing at. He had also blamed Bucky for this, even if it really wasn't his fault. He knew Antonia wouldn't blame any of them as injures were common in warfare, and she had agreed to the risks when she went out with them. "I don't sleep much now," he replied bitterly. Ever since he had become a super soldier, many things had changed for him. He couldn't get drunk and he slept less, which was something he was getting used to. "And I'm not going to leave her."

Bucky took a deep breath. "You need to rest," he stated as he folded his arms across his chest.

"I can't rest," he replied with a deep breath.

"She wouldn't want you to worry like this."

Steve was really getting pissed at Bucky. "I'm not going to leave her like you did," he snapped as he stood up.

Bucky took a step back, knowing he couldn't take a pissed off Captain America in a hand to hand fight. "I didn't want to leave her, but there were other lives in danger, who needed me. And besides, she told me to, well more like yelled at me. She's scary when she wants to be." He shook his head. "Why don't you go see Peggy? I know she wants to see you. I can sit with Antonia," he offered.

If it was possible, Buck's offer made him angrier. "Why would I leave her with you?" he asked.

He gave Steve a weird look. "You do know that Antonia and I-" he started.

Again, Bucky was pissing him off. It wasn't anything official and they were only flirting, which annoyed Steve. He saw her first; plus, Bucky didn't even like her at the beginning. "Then where were you the last few days?" he asked. "You left her again! She was here by herself." When Steve arrived at her hospital bed, she was alone.