I don't think this is your problem.

To say that Sam is shocked is an understatement. He just went out to get some dinner, came back to his motel room, only to find the fucking Winter Soldier bleeding onto the floor. He was just there when Sam opened the door, and now Sam just stares at him for a few seconds, trying to wrap his mind around what’s happening.

“What the hell?” he finally asks, quickly closing the door behind him. “Barnes?”

“I need some help.” he grunts out. He’s kneeling on the floor, hunched over, hand pressed to his side, where the blood is pouring out. Sam is confused, and he probably should be scared, or at least call Steve, he is here looking for the guy after all. But instead he rushes over to get the first-aid kid, then kneels down in front of Barnes. He tries to get him to lie down, but he refuses, and in the end he ends up sitting back against the bed.

“What happened?” Sam inquires, as he gets Barnes’ hand away, and is met with ripped clothes and a gushing stab wound. He gets to work on instinct, he knows what to do.

“I don’t think this is your problem.” he answers through his teeth, clearly in a lot of pain, but his eyes stay firmly on Sam’s hands trying to stop the bleeding. 

“Well, you’re on my floor, bleeding out on the carpet. You made it my problem.” Sam says with a hint of annoyance.

“It’s not really your floor, though.” Barnes remarks, and Sam fights the urge to roll his eyes. 

“I’ll still have to pay for it. Besides, you have to tell me what happened if you want my help.” he adds, because there’s nothing in the wound, no weapon or object that might have been used, Sam has no idea how long he’s been bleeding, whether any vital organs were wounded, or how different this type of thing is for supersoldiers, who heal much faster. 

“Ugh.” he groans, and Sam sees his right hand form a fist, his nails digging into his skin. “Fine. What do you need to know?”

Much later, after Barnes has been more or less patched up, Sam gets him to sit down on the bed, back against the wall. He still refuses to lay down and rest, staying distrustful and vigilant. Sam asked a lot of questions, and got answers to some of them, only the ones pertaining directly to the injury. He helped as much as he could, but with no more information, and Barnes refusing to see a doctor, there’s only so much Sam can do. Still, he has one more question.

“Why did you come here? You know I’ve been trying to find you.” he asks, sitting at the table, keeping his distance now. He’s not afraid, like a sane person probably would be in one room with the Winter Soldier, but Sam’s just respectful. He can see that Barnes is uncomfortable, not only because of the pain, but just being there. He listens to Sam’s instructions to rest, though, so that’s a start.

“I needed help, had nowhere else to turn.” his voice is quiet, almost emotionless, but it still wavers here and there, as he’s still in pain. His eyes don’t leave Sam for a second. “I knew where to find you. I’m keeping an eye on you wherever you follow me.” he smirks weakly. “You didn’t think you could actually catch up to me, did you?”

“No, I didn’t.” Sam admits. “I was hoping I’d get close enough, though. Steve’s looking for you.” he adds carefully.

“I know.” he swallows audibly, then tries to get up and groans in pain again.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Sam sighs, getting up and walking over to him, almost putting his hand on Barnes’ shoulder to keep him down, but thinks better of it. Even weak and in pain, the supersoldier could easily break his arm, and he does not want to deal with another medical emergency tonight. “You’re hurt.”

“I heal quickly.” he grunts.

“Well, not quickly enough. You’re staying here. You take the bed, I’ll manage.” he says sternly, having no idea where this even came from. Again, what sane person would talk like that to the Winter Soldier? “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. Not even Steve. You’ll get better, and then you can leave.” Sam knows he should call Steve. That’s the whole damn reason he’s even there, to find Bucky for him. He also knows that Barnes is still dangerous, even in this condition. He doesn’t care, though. He needs to make sure he’s fine before letting him go. He’s not sure why, but it feels right.

Barnes looks him in the eyes for a long minute, before sighing and leaning back against the wall.

“Fine.” he grumbles. “But as soon as I’m better, I’m out of here.”

Bucky ends up staying with him for weeks after he’s recovered. At some point he starts opening up, and they start talking and getting to know each other, then traveling together… They develop a relationship that progresses beyond what Sam would ever expect. But that’s a whole other story.