Archive of Our Own ^beta

"Good morning!" Sam said cheerfully as he wandered into the kitchen.

Bucky looked up from the paper, his eyes finding Sam as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Good morning." Bucky replied, as Sam took his mug and walked towards him.

He felt Sam's hand slid across his shoulders before Bucky tilted his head to accept the gentle kiss Sam placed on his cheek.

"What are you reading?" Sam asked as he pulled out the stool next to Bucky and sat down.

"Something about a virus." Bucky replied, turning his head to glance at his partner.

"Great. That's exactly what we need right now." Sam huffed out before taking a sip of his coffee.

"They're saying to wear face masks everywhere and to keep a few metres apart." Bucky added before closing the newspaper.

Sam made a disgruntled noise before lowering his mug and lifting his free hand to tug on Bucky's belt loop.

"You stay right there, hot stuff." He said with a smile.

Bucky smiled back before leaning in and touching the tip of his nose to Sam's.

"As if I could resist." Bucky murmured back before pecking Sam's lips lovingly.

"But in all seriousness, they'll probably call you in to do press and the whole "make sure you're following the rules" spiel." Bucky said, pulling away.

"True. But I'll stay away from them, so you don't have to stay away from me. Deal?" Sam asked.

"Deal." Bucky replied.

"I'm gonna go take a shower." Bucky added as he reached out to grab Sam's free hand.

He raised Sam's knuckles to his lips, kissing each one separately before letting go and hopping off the chair.

"Have fun but not too much fun." Bucky's chuckle left Sam feeling warm.

It was almost like a curse, the ring tone of Sam's mobile filled the air and he looked quickly over to the charging port. With a frown, Sam slid off the stool and walked over to it quickly.

"Sam Wilson speaking." Sam answered swiftly.

"Sam! Hey! It's me, Joaquin! Sorry for the no caller id, I got a new phone. Uh Senetor Brandt called me and told me that he needed you and Sergeant James in by nine for a meeting. Something about the new virus going around." Joaquin Torres's voice replied back.

Sam sighed, his eyes sliding to the clock on the wall.

"Okay. Give us an hour. We'll be there." Sam replied, before starting for the stairs.

"You got it, boss." Torres replied before hanging up.

Sam slid his phone into his back pocket before walking up the stairs to their room. He pushed the door open and made quickly for the joint bathroom.

"Hey, babe!" Sam called out.

"Yeah?" Bucky's voice called back over the shower.

"We've been called in. Got room?" Sam asked, as he peeled off his shirt.

"For you? Always!"

It was almost an hour and a half later by the time Sam and Bucky pulled up to the big Government office and into the secure parking lot.

They were in their uniforms, in case they needed to go straight on camera. People looked at them as they walked the halls, the sea of Officials parting for Sam & Bucky quickly.

The doors to the crisis room was pushed open by the time they reached it and the meeting began.

Bucky had been right. They expected Sam to tell the American public to do the right thing, to listen to the Government and that they were handling it. Sam knew it was a lie but of course, saying anything would cause a panic and that was much worse.

Once the telecast was done, Bucky took Sam's hand to lead him back inside, squeezing gently to reassure him that he'd done the right thing. Sam wasn't so sure.

Joaquin met them in the hallway, a grim smile on his face.

"Hey guys." He said, not his usual cheerfulness

"Hey. What's going on?" Sam asked as they began to notice that a few officials ran past them.

"There was an attack on the White House. Someone claiming to be the Winter Soldier." Joaquin replied, his eyes sliding to Bucky's.

Bucky stepped back, his hand dropping from Sam's.

"What?" Sam asked as Bucky looked over at the people who were staring at him.

"There are people on it. They know it wasn't you, Bucky. Because you're here. But of course, begs the question why would someone do something in your name if you're in public?" Torres asked with a shrug.

"Because we weren't supposed to be. We were called in." Bucky replied before he moved over to the hallway wall and placed a hand on it to steady himself.

"Bucky? Babe? Are you okay?" Sam asked, frowning and moving forward.

"I'm fine." Bucky replied curtly.

"Captain America!" A voice called out.

Sam lifted his head up to spot the Senator walking towards him, his hand still outstretched for Bucky.

"I'm afraid there's not much I can do." The Senator admitted before two guards flanked him.

Both Joaquin and Sam stepped in front of Bucky to shield him.

"He had no part of whatever the fuck is happening, Senator. You have to believe me!" Sam announced quickly.

"I know that. This is purely cautiousness." The Senator replied.

"You are not leashing my boyfriend, Senator. If you do, you will regret it." Sam warned.

"Is that a threat, Captain?" Senator Brandt asked carefully.

"A promise." Sam replied, narrowing his eyes.

Brandt's eyes slid to Bucky who was leaning against the wall.

"What's wrong with him?"

Sam whirled around while Torres still watched the Senator carefully.

Bucky's eyes slid up to meet Sam's.

"He needs privacy. An empty meeting room? Where?" Sam asked quickly.

"Two doors down." Torres replied back quickly.

Sam leaned forward and grabbed Bucky's arm, looping it around his shoulders.

They made it to the door and through it, with Sam locking it behind them. Bucky breathed heavily.

"Why me?" Sam heard him mutter.

"Hey, its okay. They'll get to the bottom of it."

Bucky staggered and Sam was quick to step forward and reach out.

"Why me." Bucky began to mutter.

"Bucky? Bucky, can you hear me?"

His vision swam, like looking up from the deep end of the pool. It clutched at his sight, claws digging into his cornea, and burning it from the inside. His ears rang loudly, the Church bell of Petersglocke had nothing of the sound that vibrated through his head.

He could barely stand, his vibranium fingers clutching for purpose as his vision tipped and knees collapsed. Sam's hands immediately went to grab the Soldier but was thrown off by the sudden weight and they toppled down to the ground together.

Sam could feel the stickiness of Bucky's skin, as the Soldier began to sweat like he was running through the Lut Desert.

Panic swelled up in Sam in a way he had never felt before, his medical training kicking in as Bucky heaved under him. His breath coming in short pants and Sam's fingers pressed to Bucky's neck, confirming that Bucky's heart was racing faster than one hundred and eighty beats per minute.

"Bucky!" Sam immediately called out, his fingers making quick work of Bucky's tight uniform.

He needed to give Bucky some air, some relaxation on the chest. He needed Bucky to breath naturally, and calm his heart rate down.

"Come on, Bucky. Breathe for me, okay? Breathe, God damn it!" Sam exclaimed loudly.

Bucky's eyes shifted from the ceiling to focus on Sam's panicked gaze and immediately Sam knew that it wasn't helping.

He swore loudly and pulled at his own uniform, undoing it to bare his chest. Sam quickly reached over and grabbed Bucky's right hand, pulling it towards him and resting it right over where his heart would be.

"Focus on it, Bucky." It came out in a plea.

Bucky could feel the rise and fall of Sam's chest, like a wave brushing against the shore. He closed his eyes, just focusing on the rise and fall. Slowly, Bucky matched his breathing, moving in sync with Sam and just allowing himself to feel as though they were one.

He felt soft fingers touch his neck and could hear the sigh of relief as Bucky's heart rate slowed right back to his normal beat.

"I've got you, Bucky. I've got you." Sam whispered, his fingers brushing at Bucky's forehead.

His vibranium fingers flexed and Sam closed his eyes.

"Thank you." Bucky's soft voice said from underneath him.

"Don't do that to me again and we'll call it even." Sam replied, opening his eyes again.

Tilting his head, Sam peered down at Bucky.

"Are you feeling a little better? Think you can stand?" Sam asked gently.

Bucky nodded and Sam shifted back, before getting to his feet and holding out his hands as support.

Bucky took them and slowly got to his feet, gripping Sam tightly.

A knock sounded at the door and Sam turned at the sound.

"I'm okay." Bucky said softly.

Sam nodded and walked over to the door, unlocking it and opening it to reveal Torres.

"What?" Sam asked, jumpy.

"They caught the culprit, fleeing the scene. He's under arrest. Apparently a Hydra sympathiser, won't know until they interrogate him." Torres replied, with a shrug.

"Thanks Joaquin."

"Is Bucky okay?" The First Lieutenant asked kindly.

"Yeah. Just- a lot of demons." Sam replied before giving Joaquin a nod.

He stepped back and closed the door, turning to face Bucky who leaned on the desk, looking exhausted.

"Was that your first panic attack?" Sam asked, moving forward.

Bucky shook his head.

"Just the first one you've seen." Bucky replied, reaching out for Sam.

Sam went willingly into Bucky's arms. Feeling Bucky wrao his arms around him, he relaxed into the hug.

"I'm okay now, I promise." Bucky whispered.

"You should have told me about them." Sam said, a little annoyed.

"I thought they were over. Guess hearing those two words were just as much of a trigger as the ten words that commanded him." Bucky replied softly.

"I love you, you know that. From now on, we share everything. Okay?" Sam asked, pulling back in Bucky's grip to look at him.

"Okay. I love you too." Bucky replied, before looking at the door.

"Everyone saw the great Bucky Barnes reduced to a whimpering weakling. They'll never be scared of me now." Bucky said, sounding upset about it.

"You've got me as your boyfriend, they should be very afraid." Sam replied, lifting his hand to run his thumb across Bucky's chin.

"I definitely am." Bucky replied before leaning in to press a gentle kiss to Sam's lips.

"Come on. Let's go home." Sam offered as he held out his hand.

Bucky took it, and let Sam guide him from the room. They didn't stop, despite the Senator calling out to them. They kept going until they were on their way home.

Even them, Sam had one hand on the steering wheel and the other firmly clasped in Bucky's. They only ever needed each other, even if the world falls to pieces.