Bill paused for a moment, blinking, and then, with a monumental effort, gathered himself, smiled at the captain a little sheepishly, and pulled himself up straight.

"I'm fine," he said, breathlessly. "Running in the heat, probably a bad idea. You know." He waved a hand dismissively. "I'm okay, really."

Except for the part where he apparently had not yet let go of the other man's arms. He frowned down at his own hands, even as another surge of that strange heat rolled up his spine. Kirk was looking back at him, eyes narrowed in concern, and wow, those really were blue eyes. Blue as blue as -

He let go abruptly and clenched his fingers into his palms. "What about you?" he asked, going for casual. "I know the trial started today. Is it getting you down?"

It was hard to be smooth when your voice kept emerging a register lower than it should.