In the Arms of Justice

Chapter Nineteen

Previously:

He paused, then realizing that you and he now had wounds on the same side of your lower back: him with a previous gunshot wound and you from a knife. He chuckled briefly.

"Well, that's not the kind of bonding I thought would occur this early in a relationship, but..."

You wrapped your arms around his neck, resuming the kiss. Just then, the hospital door opened and you two broke apart.

But it was too late. There was a witness to your loving embrace.

______________________

"Oh, geez! You guys are lucky it was me and not another officer," Steve reprimanded you both. "You've both gotta keep it in your pants a while longer til things are settled, alright?"

You and Bucky both gawked at him.

"How did you.."

"You're not surprised, Steve?" Bucky asked his partner.

The blond detective scoffed. "Oh, please. Like I can't tell when my best friend is falling for a girl? Besides, you two were not subtle, I mean, that glow you had the other morning? I knew it right then and there," he declared as he approached your bedside.

Bucky slugged him in the arm playfully.

"Ow! I mean, not that there's been a lot of girls he fell for cause there haven't but I've just known him a long time and when he was younger, he just couldn't help himself, I..."

It was then that Bucky clamped a hand over his best friend mouth. "Shut up, punk."

Steve pulled the hand from his mouth, laughing as you joined in. "Alright, alright! We've got to get down to business, though. I'm here for your statement, Y/N. If you're feeling up to it?"

"Can I have some water?" you asked, attempting to sit up yourself. Bucky stopped you and pressed the button to raise the head of the bed for you. Steve poured you some water and you accepted it gratefully. Once settled, you took a deep breath and nodded.

Steve took your statement while Bucky stepped back, pacing as he heard your story. He fumed at how Rumlow got into the building and the threats he used on you. The cleaning staff of the law firm's building would be brought into question and possibly charged as an accessory. Natasha had already been questioned and she was shocked with everything you had been through the past few days. She felt guilty for calling you into work and playing into Rumlow's hands, but you called and let her know you didn't blame her in the slightest. She told you to take all the time off you needed and you were grateful.

Once you finished speaking, Steve tapped his notebook and flipped it closed. "Alright. I'll give you kids five minutes, then I'm taking Barnes home for decent sleep and then back to the station. He still needs to fill out paperwork and follow procedure for firing his weapon," he spoke sternly, raising an eyebrow at his partner, who smiled sheepishly.

It was you who responded. "Okay. Thank you, Detective. For...everything," you said with a smile, eyes flickering toward Bucky.

"Not a problem, Y/N, and please, call me Steve. Thank YOU for being an excellent witness. Rumlow's going away forever, if we have any say," he assured, then offered a reminder. "Five minutes."

As the door closed behind Steve, Bucky returned to your side.

"Had you been here the whole time?" you asked, clutching his hand in awe.

He let out a tired sigh. "Most of it," he confessed. "I needed to be here when you woke up."

You pulled him toward you, pressing a lingering kiss to his lips. "You didn't have to do that, but thank you. I'm, uh...I'm kind of nuts about you, Detective," you offered with a bashful smile.