Bun in the Oven - Sequel to Cooking with Bucky

Chapter 19 -- SHIELD

When we woke up in the morning, we had our usual breakfast, got ready for his appointment and packed some reading material when he has his arm attached to the charging machine. That's when it takes a good while. James is still reading The Count of Monte Cristo. Looks like he's more than halfway through. He can read really fast when he wants to. He started the book last week! We heard a knock on the door, we knew it was Freddie. James answered the door and let Freddie inside.

"Good morning, you two! Are you ready for your arm appointment or maintenance?" Freddie asked.

"Yes I am. Ready as I can be!" James said as they stood near the door. Soon, I joined them and then we were on our way to Scott's lab on the third floor. When we arrived, Scott greeted us with cheerfulness and let us in his lab.

"So nice to see you again, Bucky!" Scott said overjoyed. "Same with you, Christina! I see you're having a baby! Congrats to the two of you on becoming parents. When is the baby due?" Scott asked as we found seats in his laboratory.

"We're due in mid-December." I said as I sat down.

"Oh, wow! Looks like a Christmas baby for you guys! Well at least a week before Christmas! Anything else new with you two?" Scott asked as he busied himself with preparations for Bucky's arm repairs.

"Uh. We recently got a house and will be moving in the new year after the baby's born." I said offering information to Scott.

"Where are you moving to?" He asked with interest.

"We're moving to Lake Tahoe. More like towards the west side of Tahoe." James said as he got comfortable in his seat.

"Wow! You're in luck, I'm from Tahoe and have family still there. What city?" Scott asked.

"Um. We're going to Tahoe City." Bucky and I said in unison.

"That's where I'm from! Tahoe City. I went to college at Sierra Nevada College and then off to UNLV." Scott said as he started tending to Bucky.

"I try to go back once a year to see my brother and sister. They're married and have their own families now. My parents are dead now." Scott said as he further got into Bucky's arm, trying to dismantle it to see if it needs attention from the inside this time.

"What about you, are you married with kids now?" I asked him.

"Oh, I'm not at the stage right now. I just have a girlfriend. She's a lawyer and works for some company in D.C. I'm just lucky to have her. When we're done here, I'll have to show you her picture." Scott said as he gently tried to get James's arm off.

"Ah, Christina, can you help some? His arm is a little tough getting off. The last time it was easy but this time I need some help." Scott explained to me.

"OK. Where do you want me? Over here?" I asked while I got up and stood behind Bucky/James. Scott looked at where I was.

"Yes, that's perfect. You just need to put your hands on his upper shoulder and kind of twist while I get my working set of plyers to remove that part of his arm. It's in two sections. The one part covering his injured upper shoulder and the second part being the arm itself that hinges onto that part. I don't want to bore you with all the scientific detail to the arm. Just please wait for me and then we'll be in business." Scott said as I held onto James's upper arm.

"Don't worry. I'll be gentle. I never done this before." I warned him.

"You're very lucky to be this close to my phantom arm. I don't think we've done this before, the two of us." He observed quietly. I smiled at him and tried to keep him at ease.