Loyalty

K/S Fanfiction
Title:	Loyalty
Author(s):	Anna Parrish
Date(s):	1990
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
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You may be looking for the trope Loyalty Kink.

Loyalty is a Kirk/Spock story by Anna Parrish.

It was published in Charisma #9.

Summary

"Medical technology in the 23rd century is still not perfect enough to cure Kirk of a massive stroke. While he recovers in painful therapeutic sessions, Spock remains by his side through the bad times, until Kirk's agonizing recovery is complete."

Reactions and Reviews

1990

This is one of the most intelligent stories I've ever read in K/S concerning one of our heroes recovering from a major disability. It had a very authentic feel, and I came away with a lot more sympathy for individuals who hcive suffered a stroke than I'd previously had, as well as a profound hope that it never happens to me. This is easily the best story I've ever read by the author. It was tight and concise and didn't drag like so many 'recovery' stories do. The aspect I admired most was the way Kirk's speech was depicted with his paralyzed facial muscles. In fact, the author was so consistent with the pattern that I felt it unnecessary to include interpretations after the first ten pages or so of Kirk attempting to speak. Another thing about this story that I admire is that the question of love between the characters was introduced very gradually and not spoken of until Kirk was virtually recovered. It was more refreshing and meaningful than the usual scenario that has one salivating over the other, despite (or because of) the other's vulnerability. Spock was a true friend — patient, yet firm — and their relationship was all the stronger for the lack of sexual feelings while Kirk was recovering. Also, I was impressed that when Spock made his decision to leave Starfleet to take care of Kirk, I was able to believe that he really wanted to because of his quiet insistence, rather than making some kind of elaborate, false-sounding speech. If this story had any flaws, I found them to only be that 1) It's unlikely that, in the 23rd century, medicine hasn't advanced enough to help patients recover more quickly from strokes; and 2) it seemed unlikely that Starfleet would be so quick to write Kirk off. They didn't offer him any support or encouragement whatsoever. Surely, they would have taken an interest in caring for their own. I admire any story that teaches while it entertains, and this one was so powerful that I doubt I'll ever forget it.

I enjoyed this story of Kirk's recovery from stroke. I was confused, however, by the differences between the parts the author treated in loving detail and those she sort of whisked through. From Kirk and Spock's declaration of love through their first time in bed went too quickly for my taste. Kirk comes to Spock and Spock raises the blanket for him to get in. In a movie, there would be a lot of silent camera work. You'd see Kirk, and then Spock, and then Kirk... Focus on their eyes. And then, finally the blanket is lifted, and we breathe again. In a story (and this is something I have a lot of trouble with myself, so I know), you really have to work to slow those parts down. Because, really a few words say it all. But if the writer uses only a few words, the scene seems less important than other parts of the story that take longer to tell. Some way needs to be found to make those parts seem longer — more explanation, more white space, difference sentence structure...or something.

I also would have liked a little more detail about Kirk's almost miraculous recovery of speech. Is there some 23rd century medicine involved? Or did Spock help? A mindmeld could be a great tool for mind repair or rerouting of pathways. The vulture image was good. And the device of transliterating Kirk's slurred speech, with explanations in parentheses, worked well. It was rather irritating and frustrating to read, which gave the reader a hint of what Kirk and his caregivers were feeling. In fact, the explanations would even have been left out more frequently than they were, leaving us to get the gist of what Kirk said from Spock's answers.

1991

"Loyalty" was very engrossing. I can believe that is how they both would act in that situation. All of it rang true -- Kirk's belief that he was immune from such common things as a stroke, his despair and depression and shame... all quite human and natural. Spock, too -- his loyalty to and love for Kirk are so strong I have no doubt but that he would take care of him forever if need be. Good story.

1992

This is a well-realized story about Kirk's recovery from a stroke. Anna seems to understand the process of recovery, and its psychology very well. There are a few odd word choices that I found jarring here and there, such as calling a cock "a club of life". A club implies violence and death to me, not life. I also have a pet peeve about waking someone else up to have sex. It seems inconsiderate to me. I would tend to think that if someone has just been woken up. his sexual responses would be sluggish. This means that it would be an inferior sexual experience for both partners.