He would. Without regret or a goddamn smidgeon of shame, he would- because he needed Jim to keep on living the way he needed to. To keep fighting, to keep exploring. To be Jim Kirk.

It was possible without him, he knew that much. It had to be- thinking anything else was more than he could manage. Right now all he did, all he focused on was holding Jim tight to his chest and breathing through the tremors that rocked them both. This greedy, angry thing coiled in his veins would be the end of him. But not before he made certain Jim would truly live. Survive? Get by? Those were unacceptable. A star this bright needed to burn.

Jim needed to be a beacon. "You won't be alone. There's our family, the Crew- they'll be there for you. Every step of the way."