Love On The Frontlines

(1) Two Weeks Before

"Barnes..you look like shit." Sam said as Bucky came into the doctor's lounge.

"Thanks Sam.." Bucky said as he took off his coat.

"Did you have a date last night?" Steve said

"No why?" He said as he put his badge on his scrub pocket.

Clint tapped his neck where there was a hickey. Bucky looked down. "Okay fine I slept with Nikki again.." Bucky said

"Buck she is your ex wife ex as in you two are no longer married. You two haven't been married for the last three years. And you not only have a 5 year old daughter but now you have a six month old with her." Steve said

"I know how old my kids are. And yes I know how long ago we signed the papers." He said as they started to walk out.

As they approached the ICU/CCU floor.

"Why can't you date someone Buck? Look at your floor for godsakes. You have all kinds of pretty nurses.." Sam said

"Sam.." Bucky said

"Or the girls could set you up with a nurse that they know." Steve said

"Seriously stop. I made a rule to myself that I would not get involved with someone I work with. That would cause all kinds of problems if it didn't work out. And I don't date because I know that I have to think of my girls and they have to accept them and my job. So why don't you all shove it up your ass and leave me alone. It's my life..I have a surgery." Bucky said as he finished his coffee and left them.

"Do you think Peggy would sign off on getting his head checked?" Sam said

"You think this has something to do with his head?" Clint said

"It's gotta be something Barton. Maybe he suffered some brain damage while he was in the military." Sam said

"We were with him Sam I'm pretty sure we would know if something happened to him." Steve said

"I'm just saying." Sam said as they started to walk off.

Later that day during lunch Bucky was sitting with his friends. Sam was looking around when he seen a nurse that he saw working Bucky's floor earlier.

"Barnes what about her? She is cute..and she works on your floor I seen her earlier." Sam said as he pointed to a blonde.

Bucky threw a fry at him. "I said to stop. God you are getting on my nerves." Bucky said

"I'm just trying to help Barnes. If you still love her then why did you ask for the divorce." Sam said as he walked off.

Bucky shook his head as he looked down. He grabbed his tray and went back to check on his post opts. Peggy looked at Steve.

"Okay obviously..we have missed something. What's going on love?" Peggy said

"He slept with Nikki again last night. So Sam thinks he needs his head checked." Steve said

"Oh my god. Seriously..he needs help." Wanda said

"Ditto." Natasha said

The blonde that Sam pointed out was Brooklyn Dallas she finished her food and headed back upstairs. She checked vitals of the CCU patients while Bucky was checking in on ICU patients.

As she was filling out a chart Bucky was coming down the hall. He seen her he shook his head.

"Ms Dallas..any updates on Mrs Taylor?" He said

"No but her vitals are looking better. She just hasn't made any progress of waking up or motor skills." She said

"Okay thanks." he said as he took the chart with him.

When their shifts were over Bucky headed over to ex wife's house. He tucked in his 5 year old daughter Vanessa Blake in bed after she showed him all she did in Kindergarten that day. When she was finally asleep he kissed her forehead and quietly snuck out.

He found Nikki feeding their six month old daughter Zara Danielle. He sat beside her he leaned in her. "Next time baby don't leave bite marks where people can see them." He whispered

She smiled at him. "Sorry.." she whispered.

Once Zara was fed changed and asleep he put her down. Nikki walked him out "Goodnight James.." she said

"Goodnight Nikki. In two weeks I'll have my next weekend off so I will be able to take them. Let Vannie know she will get to see grandma and grandpa soon..they miss them." Bucky said

"Okay." She said

"See you soon.." he said as he got in his car.

Meanwhile Brooklyn was sitting in her loft apartment. She was drinking a glass of wine with her sister Peyton on the phone.

"You ready for your vacation? I mean it's not much but..".Peyton said

"Oh baby sis..I'm beyond excited to meet the baby. I can't wait to help you bring her into the world! I've got my bags packed and ready to come to Denver." Brooklyn said

"Joey is nervous. Should I be more nervous?" She said

"No you both are going to be just fine P. Britney is going to have two amazing parents!." Brooklyn said

"Okay I believe you have had enough wine B." Peyton said

"Shut up." Brooklyn said

"I'm glad you are home now Peyton. I was so scared the whole time you were gone in the military." Peyton said

"It was scary. The most scariest thing I've ever had to deal with. Nothing has compared to the death I had to face over there." She said as she started to lock up her apartment and turn off lights.

"Well I'll let you go big sis. I know it's late in New York." Peyton said

"Goodnight P I love you. Give my annoying brother in law a kiss and hug." She said

"I will love you too. See you in two weeks." Peyton said as they hung up.

Brooklyn climbed in her bed and went to sleep. The next morning Bucky showed up thirty minutes early. Sam and Steve sent him text messages saying they were bringing him breakfast.

Peggy came into the doctor's lounge. "Hey Buck come with me?" She said

"Morning to you too Pegs. Have you seen your husband or Sam they told me that they had breakfast for me." He said

"I know come with me." She said as she made him come with her.

They finally got to the scan room. "Get up there.." she said

"What?" Bucky said

"Buck please.." she said as she pointed to the plexiglass. He saw Sam and Steve in the other room.

"What the hell is going on?" He said

"Just get you get up there.." she said

"Fine I'll play along.." he said as he sat up on the bed.

They began the CT scan.

"Anything Peg?" Steve said

"No..just the normal former football player damage. No tumors no cysts..no brain.." Peggy said but was cut off.

"No brain damage. I'm not a fucking idiot." Bucky said

"Buck we were worried." Steve said

"I was with Nikki from 16 till 29. She gets me she knows me better than anyone. And she also knows that she is allowed to tell me if she has met someone. This isn't us getting back together so what if we sleep together from time to time." Bucky said

"Buck it isn't that we don't get that she meant a lot to you. It's the fact that you have yet to move on. You won't try to move on so she can move on." Sam said

"And I told you that dating for me is hard. So it's just easier that I call her up when I'm feeling lonely and need some company. I didn't know that was such a crime." He said as he walked off.