Invisible, Not Invincible

Chapter 18: Puzzle Piece

The biggest grin grew on my face.

To my own surprise, I started to giggle?

Bucky chuckled in response, shaking his head.

We both knew this was silly, but, at the same time, it wasn't.

"It's nice to see you.."

He said while putting a hand over mine, continuing to give me a big goofy smile.

I laughed and rolled my eyes.

"Thank you, for this..." I used my other hand to hold up the eyemask.

He nodded his head.

"And, thank you for, well... everything else."

He shook his head,

"I– I got you shot." He said sadly, looking down at his hand on mine.

"Hey–"

I said, once again, bringing my hand up to move a piece of hair out of his face.

His eyes darted up to meet mine,

"I got myself shot."

I let my hand linger a little longer next to his face, just smiling at him.

Dropping my hand, bringing it to rest on Buckys.

Nervously, I started playing with the sleeve of his shirt.

"Did Sam give you the thing?"

My gaze fixed on our overlapping hands.

Bucky got to his feet, not removing his hand from on top of, and below my hands.

He stood a little closer to me, doing what I had done to him,

Brushing a strand of hair away from my eyes.

But instead of moving his hand, he put it on the side of my face, forcing me to look at him.

He gave me a small smile.

"He did."

Bucky said as he stroked my cheek with his thumb.

He slowly brought his forehead to mine. We both closed our eyes.

He let out a breath.

"Thank you."

Rewind:

No Pov:

You had just gotten out of surgery, and they had just wheeled you into a hospital room.

They told Bucky that he needed to wait until they finished setting you up before he could go in.

He paced in the hallway, waiting to be allowed entry. Anxiously waiting to be closer to you.

"Hey, man."

Bucky turned around to find Sam walking towards him.

"I got your text.' He said, taking his backpack off of his shoulder, unzipping it.

"Is this what you wanted?"

Sam said as he pulled out a sleep mask.

"Yeah, thanks," Bucky said as he took the mask that Sam was holding out to him.

Sam just gave Bucky a confused look but said nothing.

Sam has learned not to question the things Bucky did, but specifically, anything that had to do with you.

About to begin pacing again, the boys were interrupted by the door to your room opening, a few nurses walking out, and then the doctor.

The doctor looked at the men, then slightly turned to use the hand-sanitizer on the wall.

"So?" Bucky said, slightly irritated.

"She's doing well. We don't know when she will wake up, but she's alright for now." The doctor said.

"You can go in now." The doctor said as she walked between the boys and down the hallway.

Bucky nodded at Sam, reaching for the door handle.

He didn't need to be told twice.

"Wait," Sam said.

Bucky let out a dramatic sigh, turning to face Sam again.

"What?"

"Y/n, she found this." He said while reaching into his bag.

"She wanted me to keep it safe and make sure you got it," Sam said as he pulled out the book Bucky knew all too well. The Winter Soldier book.

Bucky's expression faltered for a split second, his breath getting caught in his throat.

Bucky slowly reached his hands out, taking the book from Sam.

"I don't know why, but she really cares about you," Sam said, shaking his head, and zipping his bag up.

Bucky just stared at the book in his hands.

Sam threw his backpack over his shoulder, patting Bucky's shoulder as he passed, heading down the hall.

Bucky finally came back to his body, blinking a few times.

He opened the door to your room.

When he pulled back the curtain, he tried his best to not look at your figure just laying there.

It was like a fairytale. When the prince sees sleeping beauty for the first time. Laying there, waiting for her knight in shining armor to save her.

But you, you didn't need a knight in shining armor. You didn't need anyone to come save you, you were stronger and braver than any knight ever could be.

He grabbed the chair from the corner of the room, bringing it to your bedside.

He sat down, looking at the book in his lap.

You got this. For him.

Yeah, the trigger words didn't work anymore.

But his book, it meant more than that.

This was one of the final pieces.

He couldn't explain it, but he knew, staring down at the book, that it was.

He was free.

He has been free for a while, but this.

This was like a breath of fresh air.

He was truly free now.

This was it.

He had his freedom back.

There was no 'Winter Soldier' anymore.

Just James 'Bucky' Barnes.

It felt like a weight was off of his shoulders. A weight he didn't know was there.

He never tried to find the book after the trigger words were removed from his head.

He told himself he didn't care. That it wasn't important.

But, having it in his hand.

That.

That felt like freedom.

Like one of the last puzzle pieces had fallen into place.

As he stared at the book, he realized something.

He knew what the last puzzle piece was.

He let out a small laugh.

Taking the facemask, covering his eyes.

Bucky turned to you, putting his hand on top of yours.

He just smiled at you.

His last puzzle piece.