He lifts his head at the words and takes a... a moment, just a moment, to focus on his surroundings and the fact that he's not alone in the lab. Had Sam been there when he came in? You're slipping, Barnes he thinks in a voice that is too much his own for comfort, wrapped in an accent they burned out of him decades ago.

"Sam Wilson." he says after a moment, "I know who you are."

His eyes slide away again, focusing on a point past Sam, consumed by his own thoughts and continuing to ignore the pains of his body. Damage always repairs itself eventually and pain was a distraction, distractions were not allowed, so pain must not be allowed. He would work through it the way he was supposed to.

When he winces it's from the thought of the conditioning and not the physical injuries he has.