Bucky rolls his eyes at Sam, and Steve shakes his head and steps forward before the next bombshell - whatever it is - can hit.

"It is nice to meet you, Yelena," he says, as clear and honest as he's ever been. "Thanks for coming. I really appreciate your help. Sharon's a good friend, and she needs us."

Slim chance or not, the choice to talk about Sharon as if she couldn't be anything but alive isn't really a conscious one, and he sees the way it hits his best friend, the quick, grateful look he gives Steve.