This was definitely something Jim was not going to let go. For better or worse, he wanted to know what was so bad that left Bones in this state, and to be perfectly honest, he doubted anything at all Bones could tell him would make him want to draw away. He knew the doctor well enough to know that whatever was weighing on his mind would never be enough for him to want to put any kind of distance between them.

But it was jarring in a whole different way to realize what the reason behind all this was. That he was the reason, he was the cause. That if anything or anyone at all was to blame for this, then it was him. And suddenly his look of confusion opened into an aching awareness, something that didn't quite shine with the light of this new knowledge, but felt like a dark gaping wound being torn open in his chest.

"Bones—" his voice faltered despite himself, but at least he managed not to let it crumble altogether. Taking a slow breath, his hands curled a little, fingertips pressing into Bones's palms. "Never... I never thought that. You've always done so much for me, more than you could possibly know. Every day, I'm so happy, so blessed that you're part of my life. There's no unit of measurement for just how much you mean to me."

Breathing in, he realized he shared a lot more than he intended to, but... hell, in for a penny, in for a pound, as they said. He swallowed down the knot in his throat and went on.

"No one can or will ever mean more to me than you do. No one. But I am sorry if— if I've ever made you feel that way. I thought you knew, so I never said it," which was his bad, he was well aware by now. "Thank you. Thank you for everything you've ever done for me. For all the times you saved my ass. For when you brought me back from the dead. For every moment you didn't just walk away, for just... being there. Being part of my life. Thank you."