As soon as he was close enough, Liz shifted closer to him, though she didn't latch on. She just curled her fingers around his wrist, the metal one, tight enough that she felt secure but loose enough that he could still get free if he needed to. She let out a quiet sigh and settled back into sleep.

Bucky moved a bit closer when she relaxed again, almost unconsciously. He didn't sleep, though, instead just keeping watch.

It took Liz another day to feel better, good enough to be moving around. And then she got up carefully, ignoring his protests, and swayed a little but stayed upright.

Bucky didn't immediately protest. He knew she was tired of being out of commission, and she wanted to be up and moving again.

"Don't reopen anything," he said.

Liz snorted quietly. "Sure thing, Sarge," she said, unable to help the little tease. Even though she knew very well he was more Barnes than Bucky still, and likely would be until she'd healed.

"Just be careful," Bucky said as he kept an eye on her.

Liz nodded and made her way into the bathroom. She even managed to wash off with a washcloth, and then she made her way back to the couch. Her lips were in a thin line from pain, but she made it back under her own power, which was an improvement.

Bucky just wordlessly pointed to the couch again. She'd had her walk around, it was time for her to settle in again to keep healing.

Liz snorted at him but settled back onto the couch, getting comfortable.

"I don't think I've ever been mothered so much in my life," she grumbled.

Bucky snorted softly.

"Shoulda seen when Stevie and I were kids," he murmured. "Had to fish him out of every dumpster in Brooklyn at least once and patch him back up."

"I'm not surprised. Seen the pictures of him pre-serum." Liz yawned briefly. "You'd make a good mother." She grinned.

Bucky snorted.

"Not any more," he said, shaking his head a bit. He resettled himself a bit in his little self-imposed watch spot.

"Sure about that? 'Cause you're sure mothering me." Liz managed a grin. "Come sit."

"I'm standing guard," Bucky reminded her. "Until you're healed and it's safe to take you back to the tower with me, I'm going to stand guard."

Liz made a disgruntled noise. "Not necessary," she reminded him, not pouting. Absolutely not pouting. At all.

"Entirely necessary," Bucky argued. "Considering exactly what put you on that couch to begin with, it's completely necessary."

"Not the first time someone's taken a shot at me, won't be the last," Liz said with a shrug. "Besides, he's dead, and they'll be a bit more cautious this time."

"We have to be even more cautious," Bucky replied. He looked at her. "At least until you're healed."

Liz huffed. "Another day or two and I'll be fine. Really." She was even telling the truth about that, so long as she rested and ate.

"Then we'll be here for another day or two," Bucky replied. They had a rough timeframe now, that was good. He liked that.

Liz rolled her eyes. "What did Widow bring us this time?" Because she hadn't been introduced to the rest of the team, and she was not yet comfortable with calling her Natasha. But she knew the Widow had been by, probably while she was showering.

"Food," Bucky replied, not at all surprised that she knew Nat had come by. "Enough to last another couple of days."

"Good." Liz settled down again, stretching out carefully. She grimaced when her hip twinged at her, but it wasn't bad, so she ignored it.

"Just settle back in," Bucky said. He sat on the arm of the couch, so he could stay close to her.

Elsewhere, Hillary had managed to get most of her old skin off, and was packing a bag so she could leave with Steve as soon as she was able to change back.

Liz was quiet for a few moments before she looked at him.

"So what's the plan for after I'm mobile again?" she asked, because she knew he had one.

Steve had kept an eye on things the past few days, and he was rather relieved that he'd be able to take her to the tower soon. The apartment had been secure so far, but he wanted her somewhere he knew without a doubt was safe.