In the middle of smoothing one final bandage over Bucky's arm, Sokka's hand pauses. "With what?" he asks, because that single word doesn't give him enough information. Maybe the doctor wanted Bucky to comply with whatever he did to him, when he restrained him — or maybe the doctor expected him to do something that Bucky refused and that's what led to all of this. But even as he asks the question, the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, because Sokka thinks about that Christmas party, and the locals acting like there was nothing to be concerned about, reminding him of a certain city in his world — and a certain woman who smiled as she asserted that everything was fine.

He finishes with the bandage but doesn't hurry to release Bucky's hand. Whether it's thinking about facing the doctor, dealing with the locals, or the trying to get back home, Sokka feels ill-equipped for this place, being that he's alone. If his sister and their friends were here with him, then they could surely take down whoever is responsible for this together, but — Sokka can't bend. He isn't the Avatar, or a master of anything, except for his boomerang. He can think and he can plan, and he can fight off all the mannequins and salespeople this place throws at him, but can he really do anything to fix a creepy yet powerful town that's essentially holding him captive, if he doesn't have the others to help?

But it isn't a matter of can or can't. He has to, and he needs all the help he can get. Allies, like during the invasion. He needs to think of next steps. He needs Bucky to tell him more. Hence the light squeeze to his hand, encouraging him to speak again.