[ WWII AU ] a ghost story

[from_the_outside]

It's been almost two years since she's been home, and little by little, the grief has gotten easier to live with.

It hasn't gone away. But she's able to focus on her job, watch movies, chat with friends, sleep most nights. She still dreams about him, but the dreams are tinged with wistful longing and only sometimes does she wake up with tears on her cheeks. She can't have his picture out in this apartment, Kate's apartment, but it's safe in the mountain house, along with his last letter to her, and she has a scan on her phone to look at when the long day is over and she's in bed, the stars from the lamp he'd given her filling her dark room.

Steve has helped, more than she could ever explain, and she hopes she's helped him in return. Aside from a few deeply classified missions here and there, they haven't worked together all that much, but she still sees him almost every day. In the halls, she's undercover as his mild-mannered neighbor, Kate, but in her secure apartment they can talk over anything, everything.

And it works. Every day is a little easier. They lean on each other when they need to, and they spend hours remembering and reminiscing about Bucky, talking shop, chatting about how Steve's fitting into the future. It's nice. She still misses Bucky, an ache that never really goes away, but they can both breathe through it, work through it, live through it.

She's on her way up from the basement laundry machines when she hears a familiar step in the hall, and has to smile to herself – first her own, then Kate's sweeter, more open one. "Hey, neighbor."

Comments

[marvel_npc]

"No problem. Y'all are always welcome," Sam tells them. Steve huffs a wry breath. "I know. But like she said, thanks."

[from_the_outside]

"Captain Rogers?"

Sharon turns to see a white-coated doctor coming towards them, and steps back as the man approaches Steve. "I hear you're feeling better."

[marvel_npc]

"Much," Steve confirms. "Thank you for taking such good care of me. But I'm afraid I need to get on the road."

[from_the_outside]

"Glad to hear it, Captain." The doctor tips his head down the hall. "Let me just check you over, and I'll be happy to release you."

Sharon glances at Steve, eyebrows lifting minutely.

[marvel_npc]

Steve gives the doctor a level look, then visibly decides it'll be faster to go along with the request.

"I'll be right back," he tells the others, and follows Fine to the room.

[from_the_outside]

She hides a small smile and crosses her arms as she settles in to wait with the others, before glancing over at Sam.

"Any visitors come by last night?"

[marvel_npc]

Sam shakes his head. "Looks like we were able to keep it pretty quiet that he was here."

[from_the_outside]

She meets Nat's glance for a second, then smiles at Sam. "Good. Thanks for staying with him, Sam."

[marvel_npc]

"Sure, no problem," he says, easily, but his gaze openly tracks that exchange of looks. "Something I need to know?"

[from_the_outside]

"Not right now."

And not here, where nurses and doctors and staff and security can hear them. "I'm glad it was a quiet night."

[marvel_npc]

Sam eyes her for a second before he nods. "You can fill me in at the house."

He glances down the hall, where Steve's coming back out of the room, and raises his eyebrows. "That was fast."

[from_the_outside]

"Well, I heal fast," Steve tells him. He slows, but doesn't break stride, and Sharon falls in next to him, amused and relieved in equal measure.

"Time to invade Sam's place again," she comments. "Remind me to leave you grocery money."

[marvel_npc]

"You really don't need to," Sam insists. "My TT would snatch me bald-headed if I took you up on that."

[from_the_outside]

"My great-aunt would do worse to me if she knew I didn't," Sharon counters. "Believe me."

[marvel_npc]

"I've met her," Steve puts in, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth for what feels like the first time in a while. "Sharon's right."

[from_the_outside]

Sam gives them both a dubious glance, but shakes his head.

No one else gives them any trouble getting out of the hospital, although the security team accompanies them to the door and waits with them while Nat brings the car around, which is helpful more for their ability to keep back the clusters of enthusiastic reporters who are trying to get a scoop.

But they're gone, finally, the city sliding by, emergency vehicles still running down every street, trying to get to the Triskelion and the Potomac.

[marvel_npc]

"Should we swing by the apartment to pick up a few things?" he asks, honestly uncertain. "Clothes and such. It's okay if not."

[from_the_outside]

"Let's head to Sam's, first, unless there's anything you need," Sharon says. "We can stop by before we head out of town."

[marvel_npc]

"Probably better that way," Nat puts in. "People are going to start looking for you soon, Cap. Let's not give them the advantage."

Steve sighs at that and slumps down in his seat.

[from_the_outside]

Sam and Nat keep the conversation going as they head through the city, until they turn off and onto Sam's street. Any chatter stops abruptly as they approach Sam's house, and each of them stare at the motorcycle now parked at the side of the drive.

"I didn't do that," Sharon murmurs.

[marvel_npc]

"That's my bike," Steve realizes, and in the next instant he's out of the car almost before Sam's brought it to a stop, running for the house, hope wild inside him.

He doesn't have a key, he realizes, barely in time, and scrambles around the side to the back so he can try to pry the glass sliding door open without damaging Sam's property.

[from_the_outside]

She's not sure she thinks he's inside the house, but she follows Steve anyway, coming up on him just as he manages to get the back door open.

But the house is quiet and empty. There's no evidence that anyone aside from her and Nat has been here since yesterday.

[marvel_npc]

He looks over his shoulder at Sharon as she catches up with him and gives her a rueful, pained flicker of a smile. "I thought, maybe-- never mind." Steve starts for the front door, opening it with a shake of his head for Sam, who's coming up the walk with Nat beside him.

"No one's here. Let's see why he brought it."

[from_the_outside]

She sets a hand at the small of Steve's back, trying to comfort him and herself in equal measure. It hadn't been likely that Bucky would be inside, so why is she so disappointed?

Following Steve to the bike, she starts examining it, then flips open a saddlebag. There's a small wrapped parcel inside that she takes out and uncovers, only to find her phone, the one Bucky had stolen.

[marvel_npc]

"This guy's really starting to get on my nerves," Sam mutters under his breath, as they watch Steve and Sharon search the bike. "Why's he jerking them around like this?"

Nat loops her arm through his and leans against him for a moment. "You're a good man," she says, lightly. "If it helps, I doubt he's trying to do that. He's a little confused right now."

Her gaze sharpens as Sharon unwraps her phone. "Isn't that the one you had before?"