A Stucky Story

The Asset and The Fever

Steve could instantly tell something was wrong with Bucky the moment he woke up. He was wheezing in his sleep and he was sweating. All his blankets were on the floor but he was curled up in ball.

"Bucky, baby, wake up." Steve touched his shoulder. Bucky woke up and rubbed his face.

"Daddy."

"Good morning, you don't look too good. You feeling okay?"

"Hot." Bucky sneezed twice.

"Yeah, let's go take a quick bath and I'll fix your favorite breakfast. Bless you." Steve brought him in the bath tub and let Bucky sit in the cool water. Steve went in their bedroom again and got a lighter pair of pajamas and a diaper. He saw that Bucky had sweated through the sheets, so he threw those in the washer machine. He went back in the bathroom and sat with Bucky.

"You look better. Probably just got a little overheated during the night." Steve dried him off and changed him and clothed him. They went in the living room, Bucky sat on the couch and sucked his thumb. Steve finished preparing his milk and gave him his eggs.

Bucky didn't eat, but he was drinking a little. That was red flag number one. Bucky loved eggs, anytime they were fixed he would've cleaned his plate. It was weird that he suddenly didn't have an appetite.

Things started to get a little more worrisome when Bucky was sleeping before and after his nap time. Steve let him sleep in the living room while he worked on a few reports. Bucky was sweating again and mumbling Russian. Steve let him be for a while until his mumbling turned into growling.

"Bucky bear, wake up." Steve touched his shoulder, Bucky gasped and grabbed his hand.

"It's okay, it's just daddy." Bucky whined and slid onto the floor.

"Oh bud." That was red flag number two. Steve kissed his head, Bucky relaxed under his touch a little.

"Hey can I make a call right quick?" Bucky somewhat nodded. Steve got up and called Bruce.

"Hey, Steve, what's going on?"

"I think Bucky has a fever."

"Well in a two year old case, I would say don't worry about it too much. But in Bucky's case, I would be concerned. Is he doing anything unusual?"

"He's sweating and sleeping a lot. And I can't get him to eat."

"But is he drinking?"

"He's only had a cup of milk all day."

"Okay, so him sleeping and sweating a lot is the fever sort of burning itself out. Has he complained of his head hurting?"

"No he hasn't said anything about that but then again he hasn't talked much today."

"Okay if you have liquid ibuprofen, give that to him and see if it settles him a bit."

"You don't think this could be serious?"

"I would be more concerned if his head was hurting or if he was having seizures. But right now, it sounds like a simple fever. He should be okay. Just monitor him and keep him comfortable, he'll be fine." Steve sighed and hung up. Bucky was awake and was sucking his thumb. Steve sat in front of him and took his thumb out of his mouth.

"I'm sorry you feel so bad, do you want something?" Bucky sat up and crawled onto Steve's lap.

"I guess I could spoil you today. Alright, look I'll fix you some chicken noddle soup, I'll go get Lamby and we can watch a few movies sound good?" Bucky nodded. Steve sat him on the couch and went to the kitchen to start the soup. He went in their room and got his Lamby. He went in the living room and gave Bucky his lamb but now Bucky wanted to be picked up.