Finding the Way

Fanfiction
Title:	Finding the Way
Author(s):	Anne Elliot
Date(s):	2003
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
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Finding the Way is a Kirk/Spock story by Anne Elliot.

It was published in the print zine Prophets in the Wilderness.

Summary

"Sabotage on board the Enterprise, a bomb is timed to go off. Spock lies close to death in sickbay and Kirk must find a way to locate the device, even if it means his total humiliation."

Reactions and Reviews

... my type of story. Hurt-comfort with a heart-stopping plot, Kirk being brave, solving the problem with his usual flare, agonising over Spock's injuries and bringing him out of the healing trance in a gripping romantic scene. Strong plot, strong characterizations (thank you!) angst and love. Wonderful.

This was my favorite story in the zine, and made my top three in its category in the Philon awards voting for this year. (And the short stories category in the Philons is usually the toughest because it has the most stories. There were at least 6 or 7 stories in this category that I wanted to vote for, but “Finding the Way“ made the final three.)

We don't see as much of this type of story as I'd like; that of an established relationship story set on the Enterprise during the first five year mission. There’s no angst between Kirk and Spock and no first time worries or concerns; just the portrayal of a loving and comfortable relationship in an excellent plot driven story with some good hurt/comfort. The hurt/comfort scenes are wonderful, both the initial horrifying incident in which Spock gets hurt, and then the aftermath where Kirk comforts Spock in sickbay. The characterizations of Kirk and Spock are perfect, both in their roles as Captain and First Officer, and in their relationship with each other. The dialogue sounds just like them, and I love seeing the boys in action on the Enterprise. I thoroughly enjoy reading mysteries, so always appreciate a well done K/S plot that involves a bit of a mystery. In “Finding the Way”, a series of accidents and problems has been plaguing the Enterprise for over a week. In fact, the story opens with Kirk and Spock waking up to find themselves floating near the ceiling in their cabin since the Enterprise just lost gravity. The incidents grow increasingly serious, people are starting to get injured, and Kirk and his senior crew come to the unmistakable conclusion that it must be sabotage. Spock is then badly injured by the saboteur, and just when you think the main part of the plot is finished, Anne increases the tension with yet another life or death plot twist. Kirk then saves the day with his trade mark intuition, risk taking, and flare for the dramatic. In the early part of the story we see the love and devotion between Kirk and Spock expressed in subtle ways. Spock admires his naked Captain’s body floating in the air, and they indulge in quiet and comforting love making right after the gravity is restored, since Kirk is too wound up to sleep. Or, Spock coaxes Kirk into taking a nap during a lull between crises, and when Kirk awakes, he reveals a dream he had of Spock watching over him. I loved this strong, supporting and caring Spock, who may not say out loud to Kirk that he loves him, but reveals it every day with his actions and behavior. I like this part right after the lovemaking: “I love you”, Kirk breathed into the silence and Spock answered “I know”, so softly, Kirk would have had to strain to hear if he had not already known what the reply would be. It was their own beloved and oft repeated ritual. Spock always said “I know” and Kirk always heard “I love you too.” The intensity of their relationship is described in the scenes after Spock is injured as Anne shows us Kirk’s utter despair over Spock’s injuries, and his deep need for him. I loved this part : “This last year had brought such overwhelming contentment to Kirk that he looked back on the long lonely days before Spock with something akin to horror. Spock had embedded himself firmly into Kirk’s being, and the thought of the emptiness he would have left behind made Kirk’s heart contract.“ There’s a great scene between Kirk and McCoy, too, as a horrified McCoy realizes that he let his at times acrimonious relationship with Spock get in the way of his duty as CMO, and dismissed and discounted Spock’s concern about the crewman who turned out to be responsible for all the incidents. I could really see this happening the way the author wrote this, especially given the animosity towards Spock expressed at times in TOS by McCoy.

There’s some lovely scenes between Kirk and Spock in sickbay, and a very intense, emotional part where Kirk succeeds where the doctors failed, and is able to bring Spock out of a deep healing trance. A beautifully written love scene where Spock for the first time verbally tells Kirk that he loves him ends this wonderful story. I thoroughly enjoyed “Finding the Way” and highly recommend it.