“Let me do that,” Jim says, gently nudging his first officer aside to tend to the fire.
Spock’s face is flushed green from the bitter wind and his hands are shaking. But he still protests, “I assure you, I am fully capable—”
“I know you are,” Jim assures him with a smile. He runs a palm down Spock’s back, leaving it to rest at the base of his spine. "I just want to help.“
Spock relents, probably because he has experience dealing with Jim’s own brand of stubbornness when it comes to Spock’s well-being. He stays close to the fledging flames, his hands clasped tightly together now, in an effort to conserve warmth.
As he concentrates on the fire, Jim berates himself for bringing Spock along on this particular mission. Of course, he couldn’t have known they would be separated from the rest of the landing party—or that their communicators would be rendered useless for reasons they still haven’t discovered.
But he did know that this planet was considerably cooler than Spock could tolerate for long periods. And even though he hadn’t expected to be planetside for more than a few hours, he should have left Spock onboard anyway.
“Recriminations are illogical,” Spock’s says quietly, breaking into Jim’s thoughts and bringing his attention from the fire. Firelight dances in Spock’s brown eyes, shadows playing over the angles in his face and Jim can’t help but reach for him, to draw his fingers down Spock’s jaw.
“You’re cold,” he murmurs, although he means to say something else. The corner of Spock’s mouth lifts a fraction.
Jim smiles, slides his thumb over his bondmate’s bottom lip. The fire is crackling between them now. Spock’s still shivering though. ”Come on,” Jim says, letting his hand fall away. “Let’s get you warmed up.”
Spock’s eyebrow arches at that, and Jim laughs softly. ”Not an innuendo this time,” he chuckles.
They have supplies, thankfully, insisted upon by Bones before they left. Thermal blankets and rations. The ground is rocky beneath them, but it doesn’t matter once they’re tangled together, the blankets wrapped tightly around them, the fire hot at their backs.
Spock’s face is nestled in Jim’s neck. His nose is cold, but Jim just pulls him closer. Spock exhales softly, his gratitude fully felt through their bond.
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