The Blessing

Fanfiction
Title:	The Blessing
Author(s):	Kitty Berman
Date(s):	1995
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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The Blessing is a Kirk/Spock story by Kitty Berman.

It was published in the print zine First Time #41.

Summary

"Sybok realizes the hidden love Kirk and Spock have for each other, and at his death sends Kirk the message that Spock wonʼt say no if Kirk approaches him."

Reactions and Reviews

1995

Beginning with the events of STVI and Sybok, this story written by a new author, takes us to some very nice places. There are some lovely moments such as when Sybok finally sacrifices himself, he lets Kirk know: "I do this for you and my brother. I love my brother and I also love you, James Kirk. There is nothing left for me now. You have each other. Go to him, he will not reject you." When Spock decides he will tell Kirk how he feels about him, there are some excellent "behind-the-scene" thoughts such as "Not in Front of the Klingons" is "What he had 'heard' had given him such hope. I want to kiss you, had been the thought in Kirk's mind and Spock's response came without thought, ...later, Jim."

Neat scene when Sybok seduces Kirk by making him "see" Spock. Even though written simply and filled with "telling not showing", this story has a lovely, open feel to it. So when Spock says "Now Jim, complete us both." During their love-making, I fell for it. It has a nice, sweet style with lots of fun things to read about—warrior bonds, mind-links, Sybok and the heights of their love.

The "I-can't-help-it" Department: Continuing the exploration of types of lubricants used in stories—this one's an unique one: Spock reaches for a "pot of cream".

I liked the touch of McCoy's understanding when after learning that Kirk and Spock are bonded, he beams back to the ship so that they can have their "honeymoon".

2001

Star Trek V and the time spent with Sybok has long deserved some careful exploration, and you can find it here. We begin in the brig, with Kirk kneeling at Spock's bedside trying to absorb some comfort from his proximity, some solace for their predicament. He's easing the burden of knowing his ship is in another's hands, something that never quite seemed to adequately distress him in the movie. We see some of the proper response/emotion here, but still Kirk seems robbed of his usual propensity to act, not be acted upon.

I do love the references to and the scene on the Klingon ship, "Please, Captain. Not in front of the Klingons...." Spock's mind says "Later, Jim, when we are alone".

There's one continuity glitch that I must mention. On page 59, Kirk explains to Spock the things he learned while melded with Sarek: that Sarek thought he and Spock were bonded. He learns from Sarek about warrior bondings and how Sarek and Amanda have thought this had happened between the Starfleet officers. Only two pages later, Kirk and Spock have made love and Spock reveals his desire to bond. A lovely scene, except Kirk now knows nothing of warrior bonding, has "always presumed that homosexual relationships would be considered illogical". I found that lapse very disconcerting.

Yes, I like it very much when they do make the simultaneous physical and mental link that makes them one. It almost makes me forget the discontinuity. Maybe it was just the heat rolling off the pages...