One of my favorite things about Journey to Babel is how you get to see such a subtle but raw insight into Spock and Jim’s personal relationship. Jim refuses to “let Spock commit patricide,” not because he really gives a damn about Sarek, (someone who was obviously rather abusive to Spock throughout his lifetime) and not because he thinks Spock choosing his duty to Starfleet over Sarek’s health is wrong per se. Jim refuses to let Spock do it because he knows that it’s a decision that will haunt Spock for the rest of his life, regardless of the outcome. Jim couldn’t let Spock carry that kind of weight on his shoulders.
He doesn’t force Spock to donate his blood, he doesn’t pull rank or make it an order, he doesn’t threaten Spock into saving Sarek’s life. He simply takes one of Spock’s options away. Jim more or less convinces Spock that he’s fit for command, granting Spock the freedom to do what he can for Sarek. Jim being fit for command is not even remotely true, considering how he was nearly stabbed to death just a few short hours earlier, but he was still willing to lie, put himself in unnecessary pain/danger, and possibly get himself killed, just to make sure that Spock didn’t have to make a decision that would bring him guilt (or even shame in the eyes of his Vulcan father) afterwards.
Now try and tell me that’s not love.
winterfireice