With You

Waiting

The day had started out very hard, like usual.
I was struggling to stay alive and I sure as hell knew it, and so did everyone around me.
I have been sick for almost two weeks now.
Lying in bed, all I'm doing is sitting here, coughing, praying, and waiting.
Waiting for Bucky.
I wait for him to get back to our one bedroom apartment, that we rent for dirt cheap.
Bucky's out working all day long, five 'till five, he's out on the pier loading ships.
It's the middle of fall, and I'm cold, I'm always cold, but Bucky comes home covered head to toe in sweat,from lifting boxes all day.
I just wish I was well enough to be out there with him, by his side where I should be.
He tells me he likes his job 'cos it gives him time to think.
This day and age he's got lots to think about.
Maybe he thinks about women.
Maybe joining the army.
We're gonna do it one day.
One day I'm gonna feel better and we're gonna enlist together.
As it should be.
As it'll always be: together.
Steve and Bucky, Bucky and Steve.
I hear the door handle jiggling, the sound of keys jangling.
I hear Buck curse, like he does every time, "Christ, I can't get this godamned door open!" Then it flings open wide with a single long creak.
Buck always says he'll get to oiling it one day, but he's always to busy worrying about me to get around to it.
"Hey Buck." I say starting to sit up.
That starts another bough of the dreaded coughing.
"Ah, jeez Stevie," he says dropping his stuff and walking over to me.
The coughing is deep and it rakes through my body in shakes.
"Stevie.." He whispers, as he jogs over to the bed.
"Hush, I gotcha.." He tells me as he gets over to me, and pulls me up onto his lap, and wraps his arms around me.
"I gotcha Stevie." He tells me over and over as the coughing continues.
He leans against the wall now, and opens his legs, my back to his stomach.
I rest comfortably between his legs as my coughing subsides.
When I can speak it comes out in rasps, but I force out, I feel like...," I cough once more. "I feel like a dame Buck.." I say starting to laugh softly, as to not start up the coughing again.
I pat his right leg, "I think Im good now Buck..." I say thankfully without another bought of coughs.
"Gotta keep ya safe punk..." He murmurs.
"You tired Buck?" I ask him.
"Yeah.." He says voice ridden with tiredness. "Double shipment today." He tells me.
"You can sleep if you want.." I tell him, finding myself thoroughly awake with Bucky's strong arms holding me.
"Ahh..." He says. "Maybe I will..."
He leans into me so our cheeks touch. "But you," he says accusingly, "gotta wake me if you start to coughin' again."
"Buck," I tell him. "I think if I start coughin' again, you'll wake up."
He pulls back and my cheek feels cool where his was moments ago.
"I'm with you Stevie.." He says sleepily.
"'Till the end of the line." I finish.
I feel him start to go slack, sleep taking him over.
"Buck?" I whisper to make sure he's asleep.
When he doesn't reply I wrap my hand into his and lean my head back onto his chest.
I feel sleep try to pull on me too, but I stay awake as long as I can just looking at our now interlaced fingers.
"'Till the end of the line Buck.."