Second Chance (Star Trek: TOS story by Pamela Rose and Marie A)

Fanfiction
Title:	When Dreams Come True
Author(s):	Pamela Rose and Marie A
Date(s):	1981
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	Second Chance
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Second Chance is a K/S story by Pamela Rose and Maria A..

It is a sequel to When Dreams Come True.

It was published in the print zine Out of Bounds.

Summary

"A/U Spock becomes captain of the Phoenix to be near its chief of security, James Kirk, trying to make the best of the changes caused by his trip through the Guardian."

Reactions and Reviews

1983

I lost respect for Spock with this story's ending. [In this story] he had gone into another universe but had been there months and not bothered to check and see if his background was identical in it to what existed before. So it turns out in the last paragraph that he has had a wife all along. I think the Spock in any universe has a basic scientific personality and checks and rechecks things a section nature.

I really like a surprise ending, but it should be surprise in the context of the story, not surprise that it could have possibly happened that way at all. I should be "Poor Spock!" rather than "what does the author think she's getting away with her -- no way!

1994

Finally got my hands on this 1981 zine thanks to Bill Hupe. (Send for his used zine list. There's some great, hard-to-get zines on it.) I had been looking for it for a long time. It's very interesting to look back now and see how K/S was written back at "the time of the beginning".

[...]

"SECOND CHANCE" picks up from the prequel, When Dreams Come True from this point. These stories will not be for everyone; the first ends unhappily and the second ambiguously, but they are both memorable stories that I don't think I will ever forget. Very emotionally moving and exceptionally well-written. If sad stories don't bother you, you might want to check these out.

1998

When I read the first story “When Dreams Come True”, I didn’t know it was a prequel to the next story, “Second Chance”. Actually, they should not have been separate and when I got to the end of “Second Chance” I realized it still hadn’t ended! This felt extremely frustrating and as I neared the story’s end, I thought this might happen, but I was so hoping it wouldn’t.

Well, it did.

So I put my faith in all those who know - all and see - all of K/S to tell me that there’s a sequel. Please let there be a sequel [to both of these stories]. Please.

Because these stories were so good, so involving, so exciting, so unusual, so everything wonderful in K/S, I fall down and cry if this is all there is. Okay, I won’t fall down, but I will cry! Pulleeze!

Also, I was going to do the “Classic Corner” style by telling all of the plot along with my impressions, but in this case, things are so surprising and I want all of you to read this (see disclaimer above) — so I will hold back some important plot developments in consideration.

So here’s the story.

[See this fan's comments about When Dreams Come True.]

Gary Mitchell (oh boy! You know how I feel about this!) is the first officer and has gotten Kirk promoted to security chief on the USS Phoenix. Gary wants to renew the sexual relationship they’d shared a year before. Kirk is torn, but doesn’t want to lose him. This begins a wonderful, in-depth exploration of their relationship. The basic dynamics are that Gary wants to control Kirk out of his desperate and unrequited love for him. But this is something that Gary won’t face and continues to try to get Kirk to love him. Kirk does love Gary, but more out of a need to assuage both their loneliness and dependency. The relationship is very well-written with nuances of feelings, hopes and desires that ring so true. Here is a complex character— not the typical cliché “bad boy” Gary Mitchell. I was thrilled and involved with this character and how he was woven so intricately into the events.

They are waiting for their new captain, Spock, to come onboard. Kirk is shocked because of course he remembers Spock. But Gary doesn’t believe it could be because Spock has been in Starfleet for over twenty years and Kirk had told him that Spock was about 40 when they met and Spock is now about 42. But the main thing is that Gary sees the powerful attraction between them.Spock is struck by how youthful Kirk looks without the burden of command, but is determined to stay away from him because he doesn’t want to hurt Kirk or alter his life any more than he feels he already has. This again, is one of the central themes of this story. He feels devastated that Kirk is not a commander. He feels totally responsible and vows not to interfere anymore in Kirk’s life. He becomes super-Vulcan.

All the scenes with Gary and Kirk just crackle with feeling. There’s some very sexy encounters between them that, regardless of how you might feel about Kirk being with anyone else (let alone with Gary Mitchell) fairly leap off the page with emotion. I adore how Gary calls Kirk “baby”. And again, this is not the one sided“Gary Mitchell overpowers Kirk”—many times Kirk initiates sex and needs to be with him.

So many powerful and heart-rending scenes. After a difficult mission, Kirk gives his report to Spock. Spock tells Kirk not to blame himself. He says: “If anyone has reason to feel guilty, it is I, not for what happened today, but for what I did to you seventeen years ago.” He longs to take Kirk in his arms, but can’t.

Kirk tells Spock that his mother saw them together and told Kirk that if he ever had anymore to do with the Vulcan, that she would get Spock in trouble with authorities. So that was why Kirk left.

But Spock still doesn’t want to affect Kirk and Kirk says it’s too late.

They avoid each other. Spock knows how he has to cut himself off emotionally from everyone, especially Kirk. But slowly, this resolve weakens and a fragile bond of friendship begins.

Gary becomes increasingly jealous. Kirk recognizes Gary’s pain and doesn’t want to hurt him. They go on a shore leave together to a beautiful mountain waterfall and pool. Spock, determined to tell Kirk his true feelings, follows him there and is mesmerized by the sight of a gorgeous, tan, muscular Kirk diving into the water. Spock is so in love and is just about to reveal himself when he sees Kirk and Gary engage in fellatio. He’s devastated and runs away.

What a terrific scene as Gary’s insecurities flare and there is anger, tears and apologies. Such a realistic scene, and so sad. Gary loves Kirk so much, but knows in his heart that Kirk will never love him back.

After learning of the relationship between Kirk and Gary, Spock asks “Why Gary Mitchell?” Kirk answers: “He loves me.” When Spock asks if he loves Gary, Kirk almost says: “Not as much as I love you.” It’s then he realizes he’s in love with the Vulcan.

Then, in a scene that just blew me away, Gary confronts Spock. All kinds of feeling and truth are exposed—including that maybe Spock really doesn’t know this Kirk—this is a different Kirk than he one he knew.

More things come out—about Kirk’s mother’s involvement and a terrible incident at Starfleet Academy. Gary says he vowed from then on to take care of Kirk and not to let anything hurt him again. Gary wants Spock to leave Kirk alone: “Haven’t you done enough? He could have been captain of a starship, like the one you came from, if it wasn’t for you!” And Spock accepts this as the truth.

I’m still trying very hard not to reveal everything in this story—it’s just that scene after scene thrilled and surprised me so that I don’t know which one to leave out. But suffice it to say that the rape scene is extraordinary. So unique and not cliché at all.

Then — what gorgeous sex Kirk and Spock finally have!

This whole story is such a wonderful emotional exploration—such fine K/S with all the emotional details we love.

For one thing, we never find out what actually happened with the altered timeline or if it would ever be repaired. More happens, but I’ll hold myself back from telling you because now it’s almost the end of this story and as I told you before, it doesn’t end!! You can’t imagine what the last line is, and unless I get a sequel, I’m going to be very upset.