[Virginia AU] we rose up from the falling waters

[nerves_of_ice]

A little over a week goes by, and as it does Bucky falls into a pattern, slow but sure. He wakes with Sharon in the mornings, shares coffee and something that suffices for breakfast, then works a little on searches and checking contacts and sources from other time zones and locations. Mid-morning finds him at the Task Force offices with Riley and his team. Early afternoon finds him meeting with Ross, if there's any reason to; mid-afternoon he checks in with Steve, with Tony, or with Natasha before he goes back to tracing rumors and hints.

Today's different, though. Today is Sharon's first day back at work after her suspension, and Bucky's determined not to do a single damn thing that might possibly make it difficult for her.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

"Good," she says, and smiles over at him. Ross, meanwhile, shoves his phone into a pocket and stalks back toward them.

"Stevens was honorably discharged last year," he says, looking like he's sucking on a lemon. "Which isn't to say someone back home isn't using him to play both ends against the middle, but there's nothing official. I'll do more digging. The last thing we need is for this to turn out to be some kind of power play by the States."

[nerves_of_ice]

"We've got a few hours, at least," Bucky observes. "Tony'd get here faster, but I somehow doubt he's dragging them through the air in his hands."

He considers that. "Although with him I guess anything's possible."

[from_the_outside]

"I wouldn't be against it," Ross says. "As long as he's in decent enough shape to question once he gets here. In the meantime, I'll pass on our new intel."

He fixes Sharon with a gimlet gaze. "And you should go rest."

"I'm sitting down," Sharon protests. "That's resting."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky raises his eyebrows at her in obvious disbelief, even as Ross counters, "No, it's sitting. Don't think I can't see your busy mind working."

[from_the_outside]

"I will if you both will," she says, by way of compromise. "I've been unconscious the better part of a day. I'm willing to bet neither of you did anything more than doze."

She glances back and forth between them. "Like you said, we won't know anything for a few hours, anyway."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky trades a look with Ross, and tries, "I can stand guard while you both rest. I'm good for a long while yet."

[from_the_outside]

"So am I," Sharon says, mulish, and settles herself a little more comfortably into the corner of the couch.

Ross scrubs his hand over his face and says, tiredly, "Carter, don't be so damn stubborn."

"Me?" Sharon gives him an incredulous glance. "I am being the least stubborn about this of all of us right now."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky lets out a long, slow sigh.

"I'll rest if you will," he counters. "Fair?"

[from_the_outside]

"Sounds fair to me," Sharon says, sweetly. Ross sighs.

"Fine," he says, with poor grace. "We'd better all be as sharp as possible once Stark gets to the border, so... rest it is."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky gets up and goes to open the door to the middle bedroom for Sharon. "I'll take this side," he says, and looks to Ross. "Other side okay with you?"

[from_the_outside]

"Fine," Ross says. Sharon doubts he'd notice the difference between any of them right now, and is also reasonably sure he'd be fine napping on the couch. He aims an exasperated glance at Sharon, who gets up, hands in the air to signify surrender.

"Have a good rest," she tells him, and heads into the room, closing the door behind her.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky looks at Ross. "Six hours," he suggests. "I can leave some of the surveillance gear out here to give us warning in case of any attempted intrusions."

Ross gives a sharp nod. "Meet back here then." As he goes into the other room, Bucky sets up a few silent sensors and alarms before going into his room and shutting the door behind him.

[from_the_outside]

Sitting down on the bed is enough to let her know that if she lies down, she'll be asleep in minutes, so she doesn't let herself, not yet.

Instead, she waits and listens to Bucky and Ross and their soft words, then waits longer until she hears first one, then a second door close. Slipping her borrowed sandals off her feet, she pushes up off the bed and pads through the adjoining bathroom, then taps quietly with one finger on the door to the next room.

[nerves_of_ice]

He'd promised himself he wouldn't disturb her if she didn't want him to, sworn to himself that he wouldn't hover over her just to watch her breathe, but here she is and the swell of relief that washes over him threatens to knock him from his feet.

Bucky opens the bathroom door and without a word reaches to pull her into his arms.

[from_the_outside]

She wraps her arms around his middle and presses into his chest, breathing him in, letting some of the determination that's been keeping her relaxed and upright bleed out until she's trembling lightly in his arms.

"Don't let go," she murmurs.

[nerves_of_ice]

"I won't," he promises. Bucky tightens one arm around her and shifts just enough to pick her up, then carries her to the bed and sits down with her on his lap.

"I've got you, baby. Hold on to me."

[from_the_outside]

She lets herself lightly grip the back of his shirt, presses her forehead into the crook of his neck, closes her eyes and opens them again because she's not ready to not be seeing him, yet.

She came so close to never seeing him again. "How do you feel?" she asks, quietly.

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'm okay now." Soft and as certain as he can make it. Bucky feels her weight in his arms - alive and moving and not limp and near death - listens to the sound of her breath and her voice, and holds her a little closer.

"How about you?"

[from_the_outside]

"Same," she murmurs. He holds her a little closer and she shifts to put her arms around his neck, lifting her head to nudge her forehead against his temple. "But I don't want to let go of you."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Then don't." He tips his head against hers and tilts it enough to catch her mouth in a slow, gentle kiss. "Stay right here."

[from_the_outside]

She kisses him back and shivers, then reaches up one hand to run lightly over his hair. "Okay."

And, honestly, she'd be surprised as hell if he wanted to let go of her. "Lie down with me?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Believe me, I'm not going anywhere," he murmurs. "Stretch out, baby. Let me get rid of the boots and armor, and I'll be right beside you."

[from_the_outside]

She nods and kisses him lightly once more, then sets her feet on the floor to lever herself up and off his lap. Crawling onto the bed, she settles down on the side she's started to think of as hers, slipping her arm beneath the pillow as she sets her head down. Her eyes stay open, watching him.

[nerves_of_ice]

He tucks his boots under the bed and strips down to t-shirt and shorts, draping the armor over a nearby chair, then circles the bed to give her a light kiss before he heads into the bathroom for a quick wash. He's back in under three minutes and slides into bed beside her.

"Come here, baby."

[from_the_outside]

She shifts beneath the sheets and tugs them up over them both, then presses against his side, her body a long warm line against his.

Sharon drops a soft kiss onto his shoulder and puts an arm over his middle. "Try to relax baby," she murmurs. "We made it."