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“Gentlemen, this really is unnecessary.” The protest came out weaker than Kirk would have liked. “I don’t need a sponge bath.”
“It’s a prescription sponge bath,” McCoy said, pouring water into a basin. “Spock, get him out of that uniform.”
Spock, for once, wasn’t bickering with McCoy. He looked almost as worried, too, although most people probably couldn’t see it.
They’d all been partners for long enough that Kirk could see it. So, he let Spock strip him out of the uniform and down to his underwear.
“Your skin is alarmingly warm, Jim.” Spock brushed his cool fingers against Kirk’s face. “Doctor, are you certain that a sponge bath is all he needs? Will he be all right?”
“He’ll be fine, Spock.” McCoy passed one massive sponge to Spock and picked up another himself. “He’s just a little overheated, that’s all. We’ll get him cooled down.”
They set about their task with determination, both starting at his head and neck, then slowly working their way down. Kirk closed his eyes, trying to relax while they fussed over him.
He was more than a little overheated, although he didn’t like to admit it. He’d spent hours standing in the heat of twin suns while negotiating a treaty, and by the time he beamed back to the Enterprise, his head had been spinning.
The sponge bath helped with that, and with the sweat that had dried uncomfortably all over his body. McCoy and Spock continued sponging him, cool water applied to his back and chest now.
“Maybe I did need a sponge bath,” Kirk admitted, reaching for the cup of cool water that McCoy had ordered him to drink. “I do feel better now.”
Spock and McCoy exchanged smug looks, and Kirk smiled. It seemed all three of them were enjoying themselves.