"Sam's a smart guy," Steve admits softly, trusting that input, because Sam's been here, and Steve hasn't. And Sam, he knows, better than some court-mandated therapist who's probably fine, but he can't be sure. Maybe he's learned to be a little wary, after SHIELD turned out to be half-rotted from the inside out, and not even Nick Fury had caught on.

But, "Is... being of service to people what you want to do?" He knows there's duty, and responsibility, and if Bucky feels responsible, then maybe that's what he needs to do. Hell, if Bucky feels lost -

"When I, uh." Steve glances away, ends up jiggling one leg a little, then stops. "When I woke up. And I didn't have anything. Or know anybody. I wanted to still be of service."

Hell, he'd jumped at the opportunity, whether it had meant fighting aliens or making (horrible, cringe-worthy) PSAs. It had been something to do. It had been some good he could still do.

Hell. He'd done the same thing after the snap, hadn't he.

Maybe he's just trying to say that he gets it. Sometimes that's what you need, when you have nothing left.

But Bucky doesn't have nothing left, anymore.