There was a visible hesitation in his eyes, and he said nothing for a long moment. There wasn't anything strong he could say to this, no past heroics that would prove he would take a lethal hit for him (though he would, no mistake). This thing, this trust between them, was built on faith and one unrepeatable galactic adventure.

Then, quietly, "I have not fled from you, or wiped the memory of this encounter from your mind, though both would be comparatively easier than this." He was standing here against the wall, trapped between it and his captain, going through the painfully slow demise of his career second by second--for Jim. The anger, the annoyance, the betrayal--it needed to get out, and Spock would rather take all of it than let it taint any other aspect of this ship.