He spends several minutes more talking with Steve, catching up on what he and Wilson and Natasha have been up to in pursuit of the group that's taken gunrunning to new heights with Chitauri tech.

At least where they are right now, the time zone's not an issue.

In return, he narrates the adventures of goat-keeping in as dry a tone as he can manage, and it's all worth it when Steve laughs.

The guilt grinds at him, threatening to take him apart down to his bones. He should be there. He should be there, he should be at Steve's side in the fight, but he can't. Not until his mind is whole again; not until he's his own person again in a way that can't be taken from him. He struggles against it anyway, struggles even harder to keep it from showing - he and Steve have talked about this, more than once. He suspects his friend can tell, but is kind enough not to mention it, not today.

It's just as well. With what Sharon had told him earlier, he's not sure he could take it, as her confession's added another share of guilt. At least he can do something about that. He's not going to be the one to break his best friend's heart.

(Although he couldn't help but notice that Steve hadn't-- no. He shuts his thoughts off from that path as fast as he can and turns his attention back to the conversation.)

"... Nat swears she's going to get me to like spycraft eventually," Steve is saying, and Bucky can't help but laugh. "Everyone's got to have a dream."

"Too true," Steve agrees, and shifts a little, stretching. "I'm glad you called. Keep it up, you hear me, Barnes?"

"I hear you, Rogers. Take care of yourself."

"You too."

The holographic image vanishes, and Bucky sits in silence for another minute or two, gathering himself, before he gets up and returns to the lab.