GUYS SAD IS BACK, ELLIE IS STRUGGLING IN THIS CHAP GUYS

ALSO WHY ELLIE'S THERAPIST IS SO STRAIGHTFORWARD WILL MAKE SENSE SOON

6 YEARS AGO

ELLIE'S HEART POUNDED IN HER CHEST as she huddled in the cold, dimly lit room. She was only eight years old, and she had never been so scared in her life.

The room was stark and empty, the walls bare and the floor concrete. A single flickering light bulb hung from the ceiling, casting eerie shadows. Ellie's small frame shook with fear and cold. She clutched her knees to her chest, trying to make herself as small as possible.

The door creaked open, and a man in a lab coat stepped inside, flanked by two stern-looking guards. The man's expression was neutral, almost clinical, as he approached her. Ellie shrank back, her wide eyes filled with terror.

"Hello, Ellie," the man said in a calm, detached voice. "Do you know where you are?"

Ellie shook her head, her voice caught in her throat. She wanted to scream, to run, but her body felt frozen with fear.

"You're in a very special place," the man continued, crouching down to her level. "We're going to take care of you here. But first, we need you to be brave."

Ellie's eyes filled with tears. "I want my dad," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please, let me go home. I want my dad."

The man's expression remained unchanged. "I'm afraid you can't go home right now, Ellie. But if you cooperate, everything will be much easier for you."

Ellie's tears spilled over, and she hugged her knees tighter. "Please, I just want my dad," she sobbed. "He'll come for me. He'll save me."

The man sighed, standing up and signaling to the guards. "Take her to the holding area. We'll begin the process soon."

The guards grabbed Ellie's arms, lifting her to her feet. She struggled against their grip, her cries echoing through the cold, empty corridors as they dragged her away. "No! Please, let me go!"

Her cries faded into the distance as they took her deeper into the facility. They brought her to another room, this one filled with strange machines and equipment. Ellie's terror grew as they strapped her to a metal table, her small body pinned down by cold, unyielding restraints.

ELLIE WENT TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY
pissed off. She used to think the only emotions she could feel were sadness and happiness, but oh boy did she find that was wrong really quickly.

I mean, therapy? What the hell? Did he think she was crazy? Obviously not...but seriously?

"I'll see you when you get home, Ellie-"

She scoffed. "Don't care!" She said, walking out the door.

She was still mad at her dad.

Her first therapy session was today, after school. Now she was pushing out the rest of the day before she had to go talk to some woman she didn't know.

The morning passed in a blur of lectures and assignments. Ellie couldn't focus on anything, her mind constantly drifting back to the dreaded therapy session. What was she supposed to say? How was she supposed to talk about everything she'd been through? The thought made her feel queasy.

At lunch, she sat alone at her usual spot, picking at her food. Her friend, Kamala, noticed her from across the cafeteria and made her way over.

"Hey, Ellie," Kamala said cheerfully, plopping down beside her. "You look like you've seen better days. What's up?"

"My dad's an asshole." Ellie muttered.

"Is that all?" Kamala pressed.

Ellie sighed, not really in the mood to talk but knowing Kamala wouldn't let it go until she did. "I've got therapy," she muttered. "First session. Not exactly excited about it."

Kamala's expression softened with understanding. "Oh, I get it. Therapy can be tough. But it might help, you know? Talking to someone who's there just to listen."

"Yeah, maybe," Ellie replied, unconvinced.

"Hey, why don't we hang out after school?" Kamala suggested brightly. "We could go to that new arcade that just opened up. It'll be fun!"

Ellie felt a pang of disappointment. She really did want to hang out with Kamala, but she knew she couldn't bail on the therapy session. "I can't," she said reluctantly. "I've got to go to this therapy thing."

"Oh? Afterschool, you have it?"

"Yeah."

Kamala gave her a sympathetic smile. "Okay, but if you change your mind, you know where to find me. And hey, I'll be here to hang out whenever you need it, okay?"

Ellie managed a small smile. "Thanks, Kamala. I appreciate it."

The rest of the day dragged on. Every tick of the clock seemed to echo her dread. Finally, the last bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Ellie packed up her things slowly, trying to delay the inevitable.

As she walked through the crowded hallway, lost in her thoughts, someone grabbed her shoulder. It was just a casual touch, probably meant to get her attention, but Ellie's reaction was instant and intense.

She remembered. The hands grabbing her and pulling her around like she was some sort of doll.

Her vision blurred, and she felt a rush of cold panic wash over her. The hallway transformed into a dark, confined space, memories of Hydra's torture rooms flashing before her eyes. She couldn't breathe, her heart pounding wildly. She jerked away, stumbling back, and then bolted down the hall, her mind screaming at her to escape.

Ellie didn't stop running until she reached the nurse's office. She burst through the door, gasping for breath, tears streaming down her face. The school nurse, Mrs. Reynolds, looked up in surprise.

"Miss Barnes! What happened?" Mrs. Reynolds asked, rushing over to her.

"I... I need my dad," Ellie managed to choke out between sobs. "Can I call him? I need him to come get me."

Mrs. Reynolds nodded, her expression serious. "Of course, sweetheart. Just sit down and try to breathe, call your father.

"Please, please, pick up," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.

After what felt like an eternity, Bucky's voice came through the line. "Ellie? What's wrong?"

"Dad," she choked out, her voice barely a whisper. "I need you. I can't... I can't breathe. Please, come get me."

"Ellie, where are you?" Bucky's voice was urgent, filled with worry.

"I'm at school... in the nurse. I... I had a panic attack, I think. Please, Dad, hurry."

"I'm on my way," he said, his voice steady and reassuring. "Stay where you are. I'll be there as fast as I can."

Ellie nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Okay. Please hurry."

Ellie nodded, her mind still reeling. She tried to focus on her breathing, just like her dad had taught her, but it was hard. The fear and panic were still so raw, so immediate.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Bucky burst through the door, his face etched with worry. "Oh, Ellie..."

She looked up, relief flooding through her. "Dad..."

Bucky rushed over and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "I'm here, Ellie. I'm here."

Ellie clung to him, her tears soaking into his shirt. "I...I didn't know what to do," she whispered. "Someone grabbed my shoulder, and I just... I freaked out."

Bucky held her even tighter, his voice soft and soothing. "It's okay, Ellie. You're safe now. I've got you."

Mrs. Reynolds stood by, watching with concern. "She had quite a scare," she said gently. "Maybe it would be best to take her home for the rest of the day."

Bucky nodded, his focus entirely on Ellie. "Absolutely. Thank you."

He helped Ellie to her feet, keeping a protective arm around her as they left the nurse's office. They walked in silence to the car, Ellie leaning against him for support. Once they were inside, Bucky turned to her, his eyes filled with worry.

Ellie wiped her eyes, her voice small. "I feel so stupid, Dad. I couldn't even handle someone touching my shoulder."

Bucky shook his head, his expression fierce. "You're not stupid, Ellie. You've been through so much. It's okay to have these reactions. It doesn't make you weak."

Ellie sniffled, looking down at her hands. "I just hate feeling like this. Like I'm always on edge."

Bucky reached over and took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "That's why we're doing this, Ellie. Therapy might seem scary now, but it's going to help you. And I'll be with you every step of the way."

Ellie nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay. I'll give it a try."

THE THERAPY OFFICE WAS A WARM, inviting space, with soft lighting and comfortable chairs arranged around a small coffee table. Despite the cozy atmosphere, Ellie sat stiffly in her seat, her arms crossed over her chest and her gaze fixed on a spot on the floor. Bucky sat beside her, his presence a silent pillar of support.

Dr. Christina Evans, the therapist, observed them both with a calm, empathetic expression. She was a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a gentle demeanor, experienced in dealing with trauma and emotional distress. She knew that gaining Ellie's trust would take time, especially considering the ordeal she had been through.

"Hi, Elenore. I'm Dr. Evans," she began softly. "It's nice to meet you. I know this might be uncomfortable, but I want you to know that this is a safe space. We can talk about anything, and nothing you say here will leave this room unless you want it to."

"Ellie." She corrected the therapist, her eyes still fixed on the floor. Bucky glanced at her, then back at Dr. Evans, giving her a small nod of encouragement.

Bucky sighed, "she likes to be called Ellie better."

Dr. Evans continued, her voice steady and soothing. "Sorry, Ellie. I understand that you've been through a lot recently. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been. I'm here to help you process everything that's happened and to support you in any way I can."

Ellie shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her silence speaking volumes about her reluctance. Dr. Evans took a gentle approach, not wanting to push too hard too soon.

"Can you tell me a little about how you're feeling today?" Dr. Evans asked. "It's okay if you don't want to talk much. Just a few words, if you can."

Ellie finally lifted her gaze, her eyes meeting the therapist's. "I don't know," she mumbled, her voice barely audible. "I'm fine, I guess."

Dr. Evans nodded, her expression understanding. "It's okay to feel unsure. Sometimes it can be hard to put our feelings into words, especially when we've been through something traumatic. Can you tell me a bit about how you've been coping since everything happened with HYDRA?"

At the mention of HYDRA, Ellie tensed up, her hands gripping the armrests of the chair. Bucky noticed the change in her posture and reached out to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Ellie's breathing began to quicken, a clear sign of her rising anxiety. Dr. Evans noticed it too and spoke in a calming tone. "Ellie, if talking about HYDRA is too much right now, we can talk about something else. What's important is that you're feeling heard and supported."

Ellie shrugged, her eyes darting around the room, never meeting Dr. Evans gaze. "I don't know. I don't want to talk about this."

Bucky leaned in slightly, his voice soft. "Ellie, it's okay. Dr. Evans is here to help. You don't have to go through this alone."

Ellie's frustration boiled over, and she snapped, "I said I'm fine! I don't need help!"

"Ellie..." Bucky said, trying to keep her calm.

Dr. Evans remained calm, her voice gentle but firm. "It's alright, Ellie. It's okay to feel like you don't want to talk. But just know that whatever you're feeling is valid, and it's important to address it so it doesn't keep hurting you."

Ellie struggled to find an answer, her mind racing. She could feel the panic beginning to rise, her chest tightening and her vision blurring slightly. Bucky noticed her distress and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"It's okay, Ellie," he murmured. "Just breathe. Take it one step at a time."

Ellie's breaths came in shallow, rapid gasps, the room seeming to close in around her. Dr. Evans saw the signs of a panic attack and leaned forward slightly, her voice steady and grounding.

"Ellie, try to focus on your breathing," she instructed softly. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. You're safe here."

But Ellie couldn't control the rising wave of panic. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she felt like she couldn't get enough air. She clutched at Bucky's arm, her eyes wide with fear.

"Ellie, we're going to step outside for a moment," Bucky said gently but firmly, his concern evident in his voice. He stood up, helping Ellie to her feet and guiding her towards the door.

Dr. Evans stood as well, her expression calm and supportive. "Take all the time you need," she said softly. "We can continue when you're ready."

Bucky led Ellie out of the office and into the quiet hallway. He found a small bench and sat her down, crouching in front of her so that their eyes were level.

"Ellie, look at me," he said, his voice low and steady. "Breathe with me, okay? In through your nose, out through your mouth."

Ellie's breaths were still ragged, but she tried to follow his lead, focusing on the rhythm of his breathing. Bucky kept his eyes on her, his hands holding hers firmly but gently.

"That's it, Ellie," he said, his tone soothing. "You're doing great. Just keep breathing with me."

Bucky's heart ached for her. He's been through this, and still is, but for his child to be having to hurt him.

Slowly, Ellie's breathing began to even out, the tightness in her chest easing as she concentrated on her father's calm presence. She could feel the panic receding, replaced by a sense of safety and grounding.

"You're safe, Ellie," Bucky reassured her. "I'm right here. No one can hurt you."

Ellie nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry, Dad," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I didn't mean to..."

"Shh, it's okay," Bucky said, wiping her tears with his thumb. "You have nothing to be sorry for. You're so strong, Ellie. We're going to get through this together, one step at a time."

After a few more minutes, Ellie's breathing was steady again, and she felt more grounded. Bucky leaned back slightly, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked softly.

Ellie took a deep breath, her voice steadier. "Better. I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't mean to freak out."

"You didn't freak out," Bucky said gently. "You had a perfectly understandable reaction to a very tough situation. And you handled it really well."

Ellie gave a small, hesitant smile. "Thanks, Dad."

Bucky smiled back. "Do you want to go back in and try again, or do you need more time?"

Ellie thought for a moment, then nodded. "I think I'm ready."

Bucky squeezed her hand, standing up and helping her to her feet. "Okay. Remember, we're doing this together. You're not alone."

They walked back into Dr. Evans office, where the therapist greeted them with a warm, understanding smile.

"Welcome back," she said softly. "You did really well, Ellie. Thank you for coming back."