Chapter Text
Location: Washington DC, 2014
"I want to thank you all for sticking through. We go where we are needed and last night you all were needed in the Emergency Department"
It is why most of us were still wearing scrubs and not our formal workwear. Dr. Keenan looks like a fresh cucumber because he left before yesterday afternoon's shitshow began.
"News travels and the rumors are true, Captain Steve Rogers is a patient at this hospital"
Nurse Practitioner Gina begins to hand out the patient charts to the interns.
I smile as Gina hands me a patient chart.
"Yes, he is on this floor. Unless you are the doctor covering for me, no you may not meet him. If I see one of you on the news, you are out of the program. That means you, Dr. Erickson"
"Those who did not get a chart, make your way to the ED. The interns were nice enough to take the rough shift, we're just clean up. Interns, finish up and wait for the next shift to relieve you. Don't let me down"
The second the elevator door closes with him inside, the chart I am holding is yanked out of my hold. Taking a deep breath, I turn to my pain in my ass co-worker, Dr. Kyle Anderson.
"Give it back, Kyle"
I receive nothing but a smirk. He looks at the chart and frowns,
"Here, have mine instead"
He rolls his eyes when NP Gina clears her throat,
"Dr. Anderson, please hand Dr. Castaneda back her chart"
He pushes his chart against my chest, hard, making me stumble back.
"Her chart, not yours. Don't make me ask twice because I do not think Dr. Keenan will appreciate it if he has to come up to deal with you...again"
He glares at me as he hands me back my chart.
"You know he's married"
Of course, I knew Dr. Keenan was married. All the residents had met his wife and three kids because they hosted a two-day dinner back in July when we all started the program.
"You know, just because you have yet to meet your soulmate doesn't mean you should ruin relationships "
Was he serious?
"That's enough, Dr. Anderson"
I take the chart and glance at it to see the room number before walking away from him. It is as I am walking down the hallway that I understand Kyle's little scene. I approach the security detail and down the rest of my coffee before tossing it in the trash. They see me coming, and one opens the door whereas the other steps to the side.
"Go right on ahead, Dr. Castaneda"
I nod and walk inside.
"You're not Dr. Keenan"
I glance up from the chart and nod at my patient's guest.
"I am not, he is downstairs helping with the influx of people in the Emergency Department"
I continue reading the medical chart to get an understanding of the injuries. Dr. Resnik, write better because your chicken scratch is so hard to read.
"You seem awfully unprepared"
I bite the inside of my cheek and look at the man who shrinks at my hard stare,
"Seeing as I received the chart a couple of minutes ago, I'd say I am pretty prepared"
I set the chart on the overbed table and for the first time, I look at my patient.
"You would not be the first to question why I'm here today, Mr. Wilson"
Once the bed is lowered a bit, I slightly hover over Captain Rogers as I check his pupils.
"Dr. Resnik said he was stable, so why has he not woken up yet?"
I check his vitals and write them down in the chart. Well, you see...your friend was beaten to a pulp of near-death yesterday afternoon.
"He's heavily sedated to keep him comfortable. The injuries he sustained although no longer life-threatening are incredibly painful"
I reach for my stethoscope that was around my neck and placed the earpieces in my ears.
"I'm going to check for any fluids in his abdomen and see how his lungs are doing,"
I unclasp the two buttons on each shoulder and pull the gown down to the navel area. He might be unconscious, but I still rub the diaphragm against my hand warming it up before placing it over the largest of three bruises on his stomach. After I check his other two bruises, I move to his lungs and finally his heart.
"His lungs are clear, there are no fluids in his stomach and his heartbeat is strong and quick"
"How do you know my name?"
I glance up from the chart,
"Your face along with the Black Widow's and Steve Rogers' were plastered everywhere the last couple of days"
He hums,
"I see"
I decide to stay in the room while I update the chart simply because I do not want my co-workers hovering over me.
"Are you from around here?"
I shake my head,
"I am far from home"
"How far?"
"Los Angeles, California, far"
He whistles,
"Why DC?"
"I got matched here for my residency"
"Soulmate waiting for you back home?"
I shake my head,
"I have not found him yet"
I had hoped he'd be on this side of the Coast, but so far nothing these past four years.
"From what I'm reading, your friend is doing much better. I will leave a note for the nurse to pass off to Dr. Keenan in regards to possibly lowering his dosage"
I pick up the now updated patient chart.
"If you will excuse me, I'm exhausted and really want to go home"
He nods,
"Thank you, Dr. Castaneda"
I smile,
"And I apologize for doubting you"
I wave him off,
"You have had a long day"
He hums,
"It's been a long week"
I laugh and tuck the chart against my chest,
"If you will excuse me"
Once I hand the chart over to Gina, I rush to the locker rooms where I change into some casual clothing. I did not drive to work last night, I literally jogged to work after I got a call asking me to come in a whole five hours before my shift started. Something was occurring near the Potomac River at S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters and all hands on deck were needed. A lot of idiot civilians who wanted to see what was happening ended up getting hurt as did news reporters who were hovering over the area. All the caused a sick traffic jam across D.C. so I do not think any of my co-workers drove. Luckily, I lived a short 15-minute walk from the hospital and I had my walking shoes on.
As I begin to walk home, an uneasy feeling sets. I feel even more anxious when I realize that there are not many people outside. It's about halfway home that I realize that I'm being followed. I dig my hand into the pocket of my jacket and just as I try to pull out my phone, a hand covers my mouth and I'm pulled into an alleyway.
Well...I lived a nice life...saved some lives too.
Wait! No!
I do not know what it is, but my blood boils and I yank the hand off my mouth earning a hiss from my assailant.
"Dude, I've had a shit day and only have $20 on me. You can have them, and kindly fuck off"
The man says nothing and instead proceeds to press a cold (and sharp) knife against my neck.
Well...guess today is the day I die.
"Tell me about Steve Rogers"
My eyes narrow and he asks once more.
"Steve Rogers. You're his doctor. Is he okay?"
The knife presses closer and I gasp as it actually breaks my skin. What in the actual fuck?
"You press that any further, I won't be able to tell you anything"
The knife stays pressed against my neck, just not with as much pressure.
"Dr. Anderson put you up to this, didn't he?" I'm fuming at this point, "I'm not losing my job simply so you could have your five minutes of fame"
My eyes widen when I finally make eye contact with the guy.
"Holy shit"
What in the actual fuck is going on? He tilts his head to the side as I quietly mutter,
"Bucky Barnes?"
His brows furrow.
"Who the hell is Bucky?" he continues, "The guy...Steve...he called me that too"
You...you are Bucky, my dude. Does...he not know who he is? The crazy eyes lead me to believe he does not in fact know that is him...or is it?
"James Buchanan Barnes, best friend of Captain America. There's a whole section dedicated to him in the Howling Commandos section at the Smithsonian Institution. He's in history books too, everyone learns about him when they learn about World War II"
How the fuck is that possible? Wait, why am I even questioning this? Aliens exist! Of course, there's a way to bring back people from the dead. Maybe he's a clone? robot?
"Steve, he's a bit bruised and battered up but he's okay"
He stares,
"He'll live?"
"Yes"
He steps back, turns around, and begins to walk away.
"Wait"
He glances over his shoulder as he stops walking.
"You're hurt"
His right arm...is positioned awkwardly.
"I'm okay"
I frown,
"Please, I know it hurts. I can fix it. I am a doctor, remember?"
A dislocated shoulder was no joke.
He looks at me, and that's when I notice the gash on his right cheekbone and brow.
"Okay"
I slip my backpack off,
"Let me close up those wounds on your face"
"No needles"
I nod and pull out a first aid kit.
"Hold this"
Wait...is his left hand made of metal? Nope, we're not going there.
"This is going to sting"
He nods and stares straight ahead as I wipe the dried blood from his cheekbone and brow. Since I'm already overstepping, I clean the dirt off his face as best I can.
"Don't want those cuts to get an infection"
I apply the butterfly stitches and close the first-aid kit.
"Take them off in four days"
He nods,
"Can you take off your jacket?"
He slowly hesitates but does as I ask.
"Your shirt too, but only your right arm"
He does as told and I gently touch his shoulder assessing it before taking my coat off,
"What are you doing?"
I have him hold my coat with his left arm.
"I need more movement"
He nods
"Okay"
I take a hold of his forearm and gently push him against the wall.
"Deep breath"
He flinches and grunts as I turn his arm and set it in place in one quick movement since I give him no time to think of what's coming.
"Better?"
I move my arms away from his arm and watch as rotates it. While he does that, I slip my coat back on.
"Yeah"
As he puts on his shirt once more, I can't help but notice the scars that plague his body.
"Thank you"
While he slowly puts on his jacket, I pick up the first-aid kit.
"Here, have it"
He takes the box and looks at me.
"Clean the cuts with the red wipes"
He nods and I dig through my backpack.
"Here, your jacket does nothing for this weather"
His brows furrow in confusion as he takes the scarf.
"Thank you...and sorry"
I smile,
"It's fine"
He leaves and it's not until I'm having dinner later that night that I find out that HYDRA, the Scientific Branch of the Nazis, that was said to have been defeated in '45 by Captain America, rebuilt inside SHIELD and has technically been 'alive' this whole time.
Information of SHIELD and HYDRA secrets are released, including files of someone who had been considered a ghost story, the Winter Soldier. The files describe him, there are no photographs, but what gets my attention is the detail about a prosthetic titanium left arm. Apparently, those who encountered him never lived to tell the tale.
Meet Mariana
Mexican Telenovela Actress Claudia Martin.