Parallel Courses

Fanfiction
Title:	Parallel Courses
Author(s):	Jenna Sinclair
Date(s):	January 1994
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	online here
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Parallel Courses is a Star Trek: TOS Kirk/Spock story by Jenna Sinclair.

It was published in the print zine No Greater Love.

This story won a 1994 STIFfie Award.

Series

• Sharing the Sunlight
• Reflections on a Lunar Landscape
• Pursuing Hyacinths
• Heart's Delight
• Primal Scream
• Parallel Courses
• Double Trouble
• Son of Sarek
• Promises to Keep
• Setting Course
• Jagged Edges
• Manna
• Journey’s End
• One Night
• In the Shade

Summary

"Kirk wants to do something special to show Spock that he is trying to work past his doubts regarding their relationship. Prequel: Primal Scream. Sequel: Double Trouble, part of the Sharing the Sunlight series), later reprinted in Setting Course."

Reactions and Reviews

1994

A story divided into 3 parts-1 -Kirk, 2-Spock. 3-Convergence- Nicely structured, but tor the most part, the surrounding story is slightly dull and a little too nice. However, I can understand that this was really just a small, intimate study of their relationship. But what made up for any slowness, and more, was the section of Spock's thoughts of what having sex with Kirk meant to him. This just about blew me away. It is written so viscera!! It is so pared down to the essentials and is positively stunning. The way Spock realizes what it all means to him was beautifully done.

Especially powerful is the last line, one that I won't soon forget- "Knowing with a secret defiant thrill that the sexual organ did not belong inside his body, knowing that it did belong there, in an elemental way. like the way that Spock belonged by Jim's side and Jim belonged in Spock's mind." What a fabulous way to explain why Spock wants to carry their relationship beyond ordinary platonic friendship. That the need to have Kirk in his mind and his body is great and that one might think it not necessary for K and S to join physically, but it's as important as their joining of minds or their positions as captain and first officer.

The way Jenna then goes on to describe their sexual encounter is beautifully done in a strong, unblinking manner. Each description is basic, almost stripped bare and therein lies its power. The Spock part is cleverly structured as Spock teaches a class and observes a couple in love which starts him thinking about his now relationship with Kirk. It is a lengthy memory, but only took a few seconds to recall. The part where Kirk becomes Spock's penis was less successful. It was a bit awkward and forced.

A mention of the double beds from the next story was cute. I'm sorry-a "hickey"? I don't mind them being playful with one another, but...

Why is a doctor asking a captain about some food on the menu? And "real steak?"

I really enjoyed Spock's kiss in the astrophysics lab office. (Hey. that sounds like Spock kissed me. Oh well...) I liked that it was behind closed doors as I subscribe to the belief that neither would act improperly on duty. It was a lovely, tender moment in which Spock decides to let down.

A well-thought out piece, revealing more intimate details in Jenna's vision of our guys.

Nice, nice.

The first part is in Kirk POV. He is so happy, life is good. (After shore leave to the ruins—a previous story of JS's; that was a good one too.)

They stil] haven't told Bones! If I could I would tell him myself! JS, I'm going to keep bugging you about this until they do. Life is too close on the ship to keep something like this hidden.

I love that to Kirk, Spock in orgasm is "the most heart-stopping, soul-filling event he'd ever witnessed." Yes, yes, yes. Kirk's thoughts of how he feels about Spock are written so very beautifully.

Very lovely sex. And the sex-meld is exquisite (heart-stopping, soul-filling).

Kirk is still having trouble dealing with having fallen so deeply in love with a man? Other than this mention, he had been sounding so perfectly happy and realized; so this mention of "doubts that had come to plague him" seemed out of place.

Then, Spock POV. I love that Spock (and others?) hold continuing education classes aboard the Enterprise. While students are having a discussion, Spock allows himself a reverie, about last night.... So wonderfully sweet, the little casual intimacies that he loves so much in the relationship, things he'd never had before.

In Spock's reveries, the sex —very nice. Kirk has gotten very verbal, and Spock tries to be also. I like Spock's "defiant thrill that the sexual organ did not belong inside his body." Yet he knew it did belong, in the same way he and Kirk belong together. I love that Spock loves "Being wanton. Being sexual. Becoming a lover." This is simply beautiful. Subtle (and not so subtle) ways this new life would be so fulfilling for Spock.

Lovely: on duty, but behind locked office doors, Spock shocks Kirk by kissing him. They'd always been so constrained about on-duty affection. Spock wants to loosen up a little, to please Kirk, and for himself also, to become more affectionate. Kirk has his own surprise: double beds for both of them (and CMO and Scott too), even though it may lead to speculation.

So.... Another chapter—always getting closer to each other (and closer to being "out" with McCoy). Very sweet, warm story.

1996

This is the SHARING THE SUNLIGHT story that I consider most successful. The story's structure with the Kirk viewpoint section, the Spock viewpoint section and the joint viewpoint section works very well as a narrative progression, I also liked the way this story deals credibility with the relationship issue of PDA and resolves it in a way that is comfortable for both Kirk and Spock. It illustrates how compromise can work effectively. I was also fascinated to learn that Vulcans had learned how to alter the perception of times passage through meditation, since Vulcans have a very keen time sense, this technique would actually involve learning how to fool themselves, This story makes good use of such an interesting concept.

1998

This story is part of the 'Sharing the Sunlight' universe from the same author.

The story is divided in three parts. The first part is written from the pov of Kirk. There is not much happening. Kirk is in a very good mood, remembering last evening and night with Spock. When McCoy asks him why he has such a good mood he cannot answer him, because his relationship with Spock is yet very private. So he has a nice evasive answer ready. He mused a little about his love for Spock and Spock's love for him and remembers very vividly what happened between the two of them last night. What follows is a very tasty sex scene and an unique meld-experience. Kirk experiences being a specific part of Spock's body, and as Spock stated "It was a most fascinating six seconds". Because he is so happy Kirk decides to give his lover something unique. Part two is from the pov of Spock. He, too, memorizes the events of the last night. He thanks his Vulcan mind that allows him to experience his memories so vividly and quickly. He is overhearing his students and at the same moment reliving the last evening with Jim. Another very tasty and realistic sex scene follows. Spock realizes, observing a young married couple between his students, that humans have the desire to express their feelings as often as possible, and he decides to loose up a little. He wants to give Jim something very special.

Part three is the convergence of the other two. On his inspecting tour Kirk visits Spock's lab and his students. He manage to get Spock in the office and locks the door. There Spock startled Kirk by touching him while on duty. He had never done that before. Spock says he don't want "restrict their personal interactions to the privacy of their quarters", and that he wants to express his affection for Kirk even outside their quarters and when on duty, and Kirk is extremely surprised and stunned when Spock gives him an affectionate kiss. Then he remembers that he has a surprise, too. He shows Spock on the computer-screen what he has done: he has ordered to install a double sized bed in the quarters of the captain, the first officer, the chief medical officer and the chief engineer, and it is Spock's turn to be astonished. They both try to keep their emotions to himself. Kirk asks one favor of Spock: to go with him to the observation deck, and to his great happiness, Spock agrees to go with him to one of the privacy room, 'so that I can hold you'.

It is a lovely, romantic story, very well written and well considered, very realistic. As said, not much is happening, almost all take place in the memories of both men, but that is not important. Important is the love of Kirk and Spock, speaking from almost every sentence, making it such a nice, romantic story, with the two of them very good in character, that I loved to read it and reread it. It is a little jewel, and makes me very curious about the rest of the "sharing in the sunlight" universe.

1999

PARALLEL COURSES is aptly-named. Part One deals with Kirk’s introspective reflections about how wonderful his life has become with Spock at his side. Soul deep happiness just oozes from his pores! Great writing. Part Two contains Spock’s quite logical review of their affair. A most revealing moment is when Spock consciously allots himself time—in the middle of teaching a class—to daydream!

Even reading all these stories in succession, they remain fresh and new, each one has a style all it’s own with different perspectives, different goals and paces.

Part Three—Convergence—isn’t what you think. It’s about a few stolen moments of innocent touching while on duty. Behind closed doors, yet, but on duty. And they aren’t passionate moments, they are moments that simply say “I love you”. There is inescapable meaning to this display: theirs is a very serious affair.