Guarantees

Fanfiction
Title:	Guarantees
Author(s):	A.T. Bush
Date(s):	2003
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Guarantees is a K/S story by A.T. Bush.

It was published in the print zine Beyond Dreams #6.

Summary

"Once back on board and free of his link to T'Pring, Spock is cornered into accepting Kirk for his unresolved pon farr when both he and his captain are confronted by McCoy."

Reactions and Reviews

This is really a story in two interconnected parts. The first takes place en route to Altair after events on Vulcan. Surprisingly enough, in this particular case, it is McCoy who realises that Spock is still suffering from pon farr and must still mate with someone or suffer the consequences, so he acts as an intermediary, and sits them both down and suggests that Kirk should be the one to “help” Spock through the ordeal. The embarrassment both Kirk and Spock feel at this is very realistic, as is Kirk’s unhesitating agreement. Even though he does not really enjoy what follows, his determination to be there for Spock and do whatever is necessary to save his life shines through the pages.

The second part commences some time later after Kirk’s entrapment in Janice Lester’s body and we learn that in the mindmeld with Spock, he uses an unusual method to convince Spock he really was Kirk, because this was something no –one else could have known. Kirk’s embarrassment when he realises that Spock now knows that he didn’t enjoy their first lovemaking as a result of this meld is very well described, as is Spock’s determination later on that he will do whatever it takes to convince Jim that they can have enjoyable sex in spite of their first encounter being less than perfect.

During the intervening period they have both been acting as though nothing in their relationship has changed until an accidental meeting on shore leave in the rain leads to their second (much more pleasant) encounter which is wonderfully described as is their realisation that they are both now ready for the next step in their relationship. This leads to Spock’s revelation that since then, in his desire to please Kirk, he has been indulging in some discrete practice on various shore leaves! Kirk’s realisation that Spock is not as disinterested in sex as he thought is very well portrayed, as is the resulting and inevitable conclusion to their shore leave encounter.

This was a well written portrayal of both Kirk’s determination to make sure Spock survives his pon farr no matter what sacrifices this will entail, and also of Spock’s own realisation that he wants to repeat the experience with Kirk, only in more relaxed and enjoyable circumstances.

Oh, parts of this story had me laughing out loud. I'm not sure that was the author's intention, but I did. I love the whole idea of Kirk and Spock being coerced into alleviating Spock's pon farr by McCoy. He's a mean doctor sometimes! Whether the author meant to write this story as tongue in cheek and humorous or not, it struck me as hilarious in some aspects. Even parts of the sex scene in the end had me laughing. Kirk's eagerness and his reaction when finding out that Spock had been out 'practising' struck me as funny. I enjoyed this read a whole lot, and it made me smile. I'm glad to see A.T. Bush writing for Beyond Dreams, and I hope I'll see many more new stories by this author.

This story made me laugh, more than once. Not bad for a pon farr story! I especially liked Kirk thinking the sex was the worst he’d ever had, and his dismay when he realizes Spock found this out in a meld! In her review of this story, kira-nerys wondered if the author meant to write this story as tongue in cheek and humorous. Well, based on reading the author’s many and varied K/S stories written over the last 25 years, I’d guess that yes, she did mean to write the story that way. And she succeeded!