Heartbeat (Completed)

Chapter: Four

Steve didn't know what had happened, he didn't know what he did wrong, but whatever it was mist have been bad. Bucky didn't show up to school for three days. Steve wanted to see him, but Mrs. Barnes said he was sick, and should rest instead.

Steve was overjoyed to see him when he went back to school, until he caught sight of his face. Something happened, and Steve didn't know what it was. To make matters worse, Bucky refused to look at him, much less talk.

Steve was troubled and uncertain. Bucky always shrugged his troubles off, finding a way around the problem, or at the very least, making a joke out of it.

"Bucky, what's going on?" Steve asked, laying a hand on his arm.

Bucky only shrugged his hand off, wilting further in his seat. Steve barely caught sight of a bruise on his collarbone. That sparked his interest, but he knew he needed to be careful of how to mention it.

"Buck, man, talk to me."

Bucky simply dove into his arms, putting his head on top of them so he wouldn't have to face his friend. Bucky was shutting Steve out, and it wasn't fair; Steve told Bucky everything. It was only right for Bucky to do the same.

This continued for an entire week. Some days Bucky would order Steve to leave him alone, but Steve was stubborn, and refused. One day at lunch, when Bucky was sitting by himself and thought nobody was watching, his whole face twisted into a pained, tortured look.

Steve tried to get advice from his Mother, but she never said anything. She was tired, Steve knew, but this was important...this was his best friend since he was eight years old! He was practically a member of the Rogers family, and she wasn't fighting for him.

Steve became more and more frustrated as time went on. He was lonelier than he'd ever been in his life, with nobody to listen to his pathetic rants, or walk home with or play ball...

Steve began to do his art as a form of escapism. Most of them were memories - memories of him and Bucky. He found himself drawing Bucky more and more.

They were playing a game of catch. Curled up on the couch, Steve with his sketch pad, Bucky with a book. Them doing homework. Walking to school. Having a snowball fight. Splashing in a puddle. Petting a dog. Bucky swinging Robbie around in the air.

~

Sarah couldn't stand it anymore. Steve was a train wreck without Bucky. He was listless, frustrated, and depressed. He would only talk about the brother he'd adopted, hoping for advice on how to get him back.

Sarah missed him too. His bright smile and eager eyes always cheered her up. Everywhere she looked reminded her of the twelve year old.

Steve was so sad without him...she could only imagine what Bucky felt. Guilt would hit her at times, making her second guess herself.

Was loving Steve wrong? How could it be wrong to love someone? Love was pure and sweet. Nobody said that it was wrong for her to love Bucky like a son. Nobody batted an eye when a girl of 20 married a 40 year old man.

When she thought about it, she couldn't think of anyone else who could possibly love Steve better than Bucky. Bucky had always been there for Steve. It wasn't like Bucky had set out to fall in love with a boy. Maybe this was a good thing...Bucky was sweet. He wouldn't let anything happen to her boy. He was dedicated to making him happy.

She buried her head in her hands. Had she made a mistake?

~

Sarah knew it was late, but she couldn't stand it anymore. She had to go to the Barnes'.