[ he would have scolded him, yes, but he figures out what jim is doing half way through and lets him, a hand squeezing jim's shoulder to let him know that he isn't mad, that it's okay. he needs this, they need this.

( for two agonizing weeks in the future it is him and spock watching over jim as he sleeps on, and even when spock has calmed down under his watch, even when the wounds have been stitched together, they never truly heal until jim opens his eyes for the first time. and then it is bones and spock comforting jim, proving to him that he is alive, saved, and that takes a while, too.

bones has not needed his own comfort, because the only thing he needs is for them to be safe, sound, and alive. ) ]

Listen to Jim, Spock. Focus on him. [ he says, quiet but just as commanding, the doctor's voice. empathetic, knowing, gentle. his fingers trace over the edges of one of Spock's sleeve, gliding over his wrists, careful not to touch his skin. but he sees the droplets of blood on his hands, knows whose they are. what spock to know that he knows it, too. ] And listen to me, alright? Jim's alive here, and Jim will live wherever you came from. I will make sure of it. I have. You need to trust me to do my job, too.