They didn't bother with anything but heading straight to see Steve when they arrived at the facility. Sam knew the way. Bucky realised he was in Tony Stark's territory here, but nothing took precedence over seeing for himself that Steve was alright. He hadn't spent half his childhood by Steve's bedside to give up now.

Six feet from the door, they encountered an obstacle. Thor caught Bucky by the arm, forcing him to stop. A hot current buzzed through Bucky as the Asgardian glared down at him.

"Touch him again, for any reason, and I promise this time no one will find you."

Bucky pulled away and stepped into Steve's room undaunted, Sam right behind him.

The sight of Steve in a hospital bed was all too familiar. At least these days Steve was stronger, and the doctors had much better ways to treat him.

Bucky immediately went to his side, taking Steve's hand in his. Screw the alien, this was how it had always been, and Bucky wasn't gonna change that because of a jealous boyfriend.

Steve's eyes slowly opened, a tiny smile forming when he saw Bucky.

"Buck, you came."

"Yeah Stevie. Can't leave you in hospital all alone, can I?"

"I'm not alone anymore."

"Still," Bucky said, "someone's gotta be here to keep you in line and keep the ghosts away."

As a child, that had been a real fear for Steve when he was in hospital, that the uneasy spirits of people who hadn't made it, haunted the corridors at night. Now, it wasn't a literal fear, but the threat of ghosts was still there, so many painful things lay behind them. Steve understood all that without a word and gave him a nod.

"Thanks Buck."

Then he looked up at Sam with a teasing look.

"On your left."

"That still isn't funny. So this is what you go and do when I'm not there to save your ass," Sam joked, but Bucky could see how worried he was underneath.

"It's not how I planned it," Steve admitted.

"How are you?" Bucky asked.

"I'll live." As if just to spite him, a coughing fit seized Steve, rattling his lungs like the asthma used to. Bucky fell back into the old role without a thought, rubbing Steve's back as he doubled over, wheezing and struggling to catch his breath.

"Just breathe, Steve. In, two, three. Out, two, three. That's it."

Steve gripped his hand and gave him a grateful look. They'd both lost track of the times they'd been in this situation.

When Steve got his breathing under control, he managed a little smile, not because he was happy about the situation, but because enough of their bond remained to allow this moment. Bucky felt the gravity of that too.

"Never thought... we'd be here... like this again."

"Let's make it a one off, yeah?"

"Yeah," Steve agreed with a wince, hand clamping around Bucky's as a wave of pain rolled through him.

"You need more painkillers?"

"You know... they don't really... help."

"Thought you might be luckier. Erskine's serum was better."

This time when Steve squeezed his hand it was in acknowledgement of the very different paths they'd each walked to end up at this point in time, but whatever the differences, the important thing was that they'd made it.

When the door swung open, static energy crackled over them and Steve pulled his hand away.

Bucky surprised himself when he didn't fight it. Somewhere along the line he must've accepted that he wasn't the most important person in Steve's life anymore. The idea didn't hurt like it used to.

Thor glared down at him and Bucky surrendered. Steve didn't need a brawl breaking out.

"Okay, I'm going."

He'd been in his fair share of bedside arguments in the past, he didn't need another. Sarah Rogers had never been very impressed with him for 'encouraging a frail boy like Steve to think he could do the same things as normal people'. Bucky had never agreed because the alternative, that Steve was abnormal, was ridiculous. Though maybe in hindsight, she'd been right. The suits were pretty special and he was dating an alien.

"We'll come see you later," Sam offered, then they both headed outside, leaving Steve and Thor alone.

Outside, Sam turned to him with an impressed look.

"I have to say I expected that to be a bit rougher."

"No point arguing with Steve when he's made up his mind."

It was the easy answer but maybe not the most honest one. Looking at Sam, Bucky was pretty sure he knew the real reason why he hadn't put up a fight. It was a strange yet uplifting thought.

"What?" Sam said with a quizzical smile.

"Nothing," Bucky shook his head. "Wanna see what they've got to eat in this place?"

Sam's smile widened.

"Sure. Maybe we'll even find some plums."