Dying Words

Fanfiction
Title:	Dying Words
Author(s):	Emily Adams
Date(s):	1998
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Dying Words is a Kirk/Spock story by Emily Adams.

It was published in the print zine KaleidoScope #8.

Summary

"Kirk is upset when he delivers the dying words of a crewman to a woman the man had never approached while alive, but it makes Kirk decide that he and Spock need to say the words to each other."

Reactions and Reviews

1998

What a fine idea, a perfect aspect of life to bring up, to draw Kirk and Spock together As we always saw in the episodes, Kirk feels deeply over the death of someone under his command. But this wasn't about Kirk's grief and tortured sense of responsibility; the story turned on the aspect of wasted time where love had not been expressed, and then it's too late,,.. This dying crewman had said. Tell Sara I love her. But Sara never knew....

The talks Kirk and Spock have are just wonderful, as they are quietly feeling each other out. They get into a discussion over a period of time about whether one should or shouldn't express feelings one has for someone else. If the other person doesn't feel the same, then it's likely to put a strain on both of them, if they have to work together or socialize.

There's an underlying thing to these discussions that's really fun, where each of them knows he's playing a game-pretending they're having an innocent, theoretical discussion, yet each knowing the/re talking about each other...yet each man thinks he knows that the other is playing the game but that the other doesn't know that he is also playing and also that he knows the other knows he knows...but then again, maybe the other isn't getting the hints, etc., etc...most enjoyable, to them and to us.

Of course I love for the setting of the denouement to be the gym. working out in shorts, yum. Beautiful words by Kirk — his warm and clear declaration that he's found the one for him-and Spock's acknowledgment.

A sweet story, so enjoyable, as Emily's always are. I love how she took this simple yet important slice of life and made it warm and sexy, and such lovely depictions of the Kirk and Spock we know and love. And now I sure can't look at this story without thinking about Emily thinking about dying words...

"Are those your dying words, Jim?” This question was poignant, but hardly stunning, when I first read this story just after Shore Leave. I reread the story this past weekend and the question really hit home. I can't imagine she meant this story to have this meaning, but what a wonderful epitaph in the response "No, Spock. These are my living words. I intend to live by them forever more.” I just wish Janet had been around longer to share more words (and everything else) with us.

This story was short, but beautiful. Kirk facing the death of a crewman and Spock helping him through it. The theme that one should say what is in ones heart before it is too late is a good one. I did like it that she included the caveat that it should be where there is some reason to think the thoughts will not cause harm. The shock Kirk evinces when Spock asks how Kirk would feel if Chekov expressed love for him was truly fun. I could really imagine Kirk's face there with, of course, the perfect counterpoint in Spock's straight face.

Then the author took the story from the serious into the fun by having Kirk and Spock tease each other as they move toward admitting there feelings. There are a few rough spots where I can't quite believe Spock would behave the way he is written, but the notion of Spock 'trying' to look astonished was worth suspending the belief that he would not.

Top this off with a sweet coming together scene and this short story ended the zine on a perfect note. And it didn't need a sex scene to do it!

What a truly fitting last story for Emily Adams to have written. Soft and gentle — filled with love of Kirk and Spock. They finally admit their love for each other with these gorgeous last few lines: “Are those your dying words, Jim?” “No, Spock. Those are my living words. I intend to live by them forever more.” So beautiful and so perfect.