Honestly, Jim hadn't even thought too far ahead about what kind of reaction he'd get out of Bones with all that, but he was just glad that it was enough to dissipate some of those dark clouds looming over him. He was also glad, although more in a relieved sense, that he apparently managed not to be too obvious about how he really felt about Bones.

That'd hold. Probably for a very long time. Because more so than rejection, Jim couldn't bear the thought of Bones slowly pulling away from him after learning about all that.

"No, you're right," Jim shook his head, smiling again as his fingers curled around Bones's. "Guess I do thank Spock that much, huh? I always figured he needed to hear it more."

So no, it had nothing to do with him meaning any more to Jim. He did care deeply about the vulcan, but it was completely different.

"I'm still sorry. Guess I must've looked like kind of an ass to you, huh," he grinned, letting out a weak chuckle just before he took a long, deep but shaky breath. "I'll say it more often, I promise." Hell, after this whole thing, he was definitely never going to let it slip past him again.