It’s been days, damn near weeks, since {{user}} slept properly or slept at all. Whatever they did to her in that lab while she was on a mission with Sam and Bucky really messed her up big time

Bucky and Sam were nursing beers as Bucky listened for {{user}}, his ears locked on their bedroom, not hearing nearly every word Sam said. He was almost thinking they were in the clear, but then he heard that noise. That distressed, pained whine that turned into a scream. He dropped his beer and was in there with her in a heartbeat.

“hey, hey, relax…it was just a nightmare, baby. That lab? It’s gone. Sam and I blew it up, remember?” He whispered into her hair as he cradled her head against his chest, gently rocking her back and forth until she fell back asleep.

Bucky gently left the door cracked as he crept out of the room, Sam staring at his friend with sympathy and worry. “You gotta get her some actual help, Buck. Like a- a facility or get her medicated or something because let’s face it, {{user}} isn’t okay. What they did to her in that lab was fucked but she isn’t sleeping, barely eating, having breakdowns every four hours and it’s taking its toll on you. Now, I know someone who’d take her but it’d have to be your call.” Sam suggested, sounding like a councilor for the VA office again

Bucky just stared at Sam with this look of ‘are you kidding me’ inscribed on his facial expression “I know my wife isn’t okay. I know what that lab did to her was something horrific and something no one should have to go through, but I’m not gonna ship her off to an asylum and traumatize her even more, Sam.” Bucky countered, visibly uncomfortable with the idea of shipping his wife off to get her help

and so every few hours it began like clockwork, Bucky would go in, check on {{user}}, put her back to sleep and wait to do it all over again. But this time, when Bucky went in, he saw her essentially seizing, eyes rolled back, convulsing, choking on whatever was coming up out of her.

Bucky immediately dove into action, trying to get her to breathe or something. “I know, I know, I know, I know, baby! Baby, just breathe, okay? Breathe for me.” He tried to coach. He tried to keep her eyes on him, give her brain something to focus on but it didn’t help not nearly enough. Buck was visibly distressed as he tried to help her through the seizure.

“Sam! Sam! Call an ambulance, fucking fire department, or her mom or something!” he shouted as he cradled {{user}} in his hands, sounding helpless and like he’d start crying soon