[ His grip on Bones' hand is unrelenting, hardly even given a thought when it clasps automatically and goes on its own personal lockdown until mid-way through the explanation of Khan's blood. It's more than a little sickening to think there's a part of that psychopath inside of him but Jim isn't going to look a gift-horse in the mouth, not when Bones is a certified genius and Jim very literally owes him every waking second he'll have from now on. For his part, Spock reels through the facts in a way that Jim doesn't feel qualified to interrupt, even if he'd give up everything all over again to save these men; this isn't as new to him as it is to his First, insisting over and over how well they work together and how good a team they are. He's still astonished every time Spock shifts gears and stalls on how to be his friend, the idiot does it all the time.

Jim laughs low and a little sad, ducking his head to rub at his eyes and keep the dampness there from overwhelming him when he looks back up to meet a steadier, surer gaze. Knowing Bones' is on them both too, any attempt at hiding how raw Jim's terror was in the decontamination chamber is going to be a futile exercise, so beyond stubbornly refusing to cry there's little that can be done. He doesn't try to pretend it was okay. ]

I was so scared and you stayed with me. You hunted that bastard down and saved my life. Why are you apologizing? [ Jim raises his chin in a similarly curt nod and bites his lower lip for a moment, expression easing on a somewhat familiar, exasperated sigh. ] Your conduct was exemplary, Spock.