Business as Usual

Fanfiction
Title:	Business as Usual
Author(s):	JackHawksmoor
Date(s):	2009
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	Business as Usual
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Business as Usual is a K/S story by JackHawksmoor.

Reactions and Reviews

This author was recommended to me and I read a few stories before finding “Business As Usual”. While I wasn't completely impressed with the first few stories I read, this one stunned me with its honesty, beautiful characterizations, interesting plot and moving sexual components.

This story takes place some time after “Requiem for Methuselah” when, through a series of events, Kirk becomes aware of the fact that Spock took something from his mind. At first, Kirk is incensed by the fact that Spock took the liberty to alter his memory, so incensed that he can barely stand to look at his first officer. But things quickly turn around when circumstances throw Kirk and Spock together into a meld of unexpected depth and meaning. Their relationship takes a drastic and dynamic turn, bringing two disparate personalities together to create something beyond their singular selves. Jack Hawksmoor captures a Kirk who is deep of thought and quick of temper, equally quick in reigning himself in when he does lose perspective; he is a self-aware human of great integrity and compassion, displayed here with skillful writing and masterful story telling. The author captures an equally intricate Spock, one of high morals and deep regrets, a being who is nearly crushed by an act of compassion that seems to have gone horribly wrong. Spock can neither defend or excuse himself for taking Kirk's memory, neither can he apologize for the act. “Business As Usual” is a lovely, deeply moving read. It is lengthy but never too long. Every scene, every moment is filled with insightful characterization of all the crewmembers; McCoy, Uhura and Scotty in particular. This is not just a story in search of a sex scene. It is a story that incorporates a complex state of sexual awareness easily and naturally.

A very satisfying read.

This is one of my favorite “after Requiem for Methuselah” stories. Spock confesses to Kirk about making him “forget” It’s wonderfully written and all the characters are just right. The story has everything, plot, action, episode-related angst, betrayal, hurt/comfort and romance.

Kirk is not pleased when he finds out what Spock has done and they go through a period where Spock is “in the doghouse”. The author handles all of this perfectly; Spock’s, Kirk’s, and McCoy’s reactions are very believable. It’s McCoy who finally makes Kirk see Spock’s motivation for his action: “Dammit, Jim, don't you see what's going on here?” McCoy asked, leaning forward. “You want an explanation from Spock about his behavior, but he can't explain it to you.” McCoy scoffed quietly. “He can't even explain it to himself, because what he did wasn't logical.” . . . “What Spock did for you was an act of good, old-fashioned, human feeling.” He stood up, shoving his chair away from the table. “And if you push him away now, he's going to crawl so far down a logical, unemotional hole that we'll never see the real Spock again. He'll run back to Vulcan and shove his head inside a computer for the rest of his life.” Kirk eventually tells Spock to return his memory and Spock’s reply is so Spock: “When I spoke to you about altering your memory,” Spock said slowly, “I did not mean to imply that I uprooted it and took it away with me.” He seemed vaguely embarrassed, as if Kirk had said something that required him to explain that water was wet. Spock spread his hands as if to show they were empty. “I cannot return what I do not have. The experience is gone. It can't be retrieved.” So Kirk asks if Spock can “show me what you remember about it?” Spock complies with very interesting results.

I love the way this was resolved! It’s always amazing to see a good writer take a situation that’s been written about again and again and do something absolutely unexpected with it.