Sound of Heartbeats

Fanfiction
Title:	Sound of Heartbeats
Author(s):	Mary Suskind Lansing
Date(s):	1985
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:	at AO3
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Sound of Heartbeats is a Star Trek: TOS K/S story by Mary Suskind Lansing.

It was published in Nome #8.

Summary

"A/U. On his deathbed, Kirk finally confesses to Spock of his love for him."

Reactions and Reviews

If you need a good cry, read this story. And if don't need a good cry, read it anyway. It's one of those K/S stories that will stay with you forever!

This is a four page vignette beautiful written; hauntingly so. I'll warn you that this does involve a character death: So if this bothers you read no further. But it's not done at all for shock value as some death stories are. Kirk and Spock have remained life-long friends and companions, even share a home in their later years. Kirk is dying, and Spock is taking care of him. We see Kirk through Spock's eyes and we hear his thoughts, feelings and regrets that he never had the courage to confess his love to Kirk because of Kirk's heterosexuality. But when they share a final meld, Kirk reveals his hidden love for Spock. The tears will flow with this story for sure! And it's very believable that this could happen; that K&S could very well have never admitted their love for one another. And even though it's sad, ifs still satisfies because their love was finally realized. Here is a small excerpt:

He bent his head gently and touched his lips to the thin, white strands. The always uncontrollable lock of hair fell over Jim's forehead and Spock smiled as he tried, unsuccessfully to make it stay put. 'I believe I could spend eternity quite happily pushing back your hair'.

I found myself going back and reading certain lines again and again. A definite keeper for me despite the character death. However, I'll take this ending—Kirk dying in Spock's arms—any day compared to Kirk's death in canon where Spock was no where to be found.