Chapter 7 is exceptional. I admit I had my doubts about the story at the time you launched it, nevertheless I decided to follow it.
Now I feel much rewarded for doing so. Your narration has enough convincing detail to support the reader's imagination, and well-paced profluence that does not omit the necessary descriptions.

This latest chapter, moreover, deals with the loss of Kirk Prime in a way that I did not encounter before. It realistically depicts the life-long awkward relationship between McCoy and Spock, and how they would deal with each other under the strain of lacking the third, supervisory party. You give a convincing picture of how McCoy would grieve, and it is an interesting touch that he would say "we need each other", in order to avoid stating "I cannot bear it alone; I need your help to bear this".

If three people have been so close, how would they behave when only two of them are surviving? Grief, I think, is perhaps the most powerful pain a Human can encounter, and if not addressed properly it can lead to anything on the scale between depression and aggression. It is no wonder why Humans gather for funerals - funerals don't reach the dead, they are meant to reach and link the living to support.
Whereas Humans such as McCoy can only accept and grieve or deny and risk insanity, a being such as Spock still has the option of purging himself of emotion.
In your story, Spock makes this choice, as discarding emotion is not something he would consider an inacceptible alternative. Your conclusion from this premise is very realistic - Spock, who no longer cares enough to look how the doctor is doing, and McCoy's self-seclusion, because he is faced with standing the pain alone, without having someone who truly understands (only the other survivor of a trio such close were able to understand; everyone else would only be disappointing).

Very well done.

BF

I was debating reading this story and I'm glad I did! It's quite good. It's certainly an interesting premise. I'm eager to see how this all shakes out. Hopefully Spock & Bones will see that they're meant to be friends, close friends even. And then the Trinity will form and all will be right with the world ;)

I love these guys. They're awesome. You're awesome.

Sarek is awesome.

And this chapter broke my heart.

So good.

I've been quietly following this story since the start and I have to say, while every single chapter has been getting better and better, this last one just blew me away. The characterization was perfect, the writing spot-on, the descriptions and everything--I was utterly, utterly absorbed. Gah, I can't explain how much I think of this. Every line, every emotion is so completely *Star Trek*. You have it nailed. This is one gem of a story, something of such quality that you rarely find it online. On par with, and even better than some professionally published works I've read. Well done.

what an utterly compelling chapter, and story overall. the way spock and mccoy are forced to stare unflinchingly and face each other--i am left breathless and chocked with them from the depth of experience they had.

i love how you hint at the potential for friendship contrasted with their usual argumentative interactions--that makes that friendship even more tragic in spock prime's time, and even more precious in the nu!trek timeline. softie and sucker for happy endings that i am, i really really hope they can finally be friends in the end ;_;

WOW! THis was amazing. The feelings were so good, in character, and jumping out of the screen. Good job!

That was really fabulous, and how heartbreaking, both Spock and Bones not being able to comfort each other over Jim's death. I've always been wary of stories where a mind-meld seems to take the place of character development but I honestly don't think that's what has happened here. I see Bones and Spock being ever warier with each other than before.
Good job! :-)

OMG! This is the greatest chapter in the history of chapters! I adore this story. The emotions, the depth! So powerful and raw. Excellent job. Can't wait for more.

Wow. That was amazing. Those memories of TOS!Bones and Spock...wow. And those are all the words I have. Stunning.

wonderful! i love it!
more, more, more!

<>

oh. priceless!

I must say, this was an especially fantastic chapter! Having Sarek there was a breakthrough. It's an amazing read, full of emotion and all that stuff that makes a story brilliant and perfect.

What a great update! I can see how difficult it must be for both McCoy and Spock to deal with the situation and really look forward to the continuation. Thanks! :-)

:3

Another chapter devoured and thoroughly enjoyed, m'dear. I shall begin at the beginning and continue from there. First: love, love, LOVE getting into Kirk's head. And I loved and giggled over his dinner party efforts. They were sweet, because it shows that he really is trying for the three of them to get along. Alas, poor Kirk, he hasn't seen the original series and the only one who has is in McCoy's head.

I especially loved "Don't-don't raise your eyebrow, Spock."

That has earned a resounding LMAO and 'XD', because he knows exactly what it means.

And damn if I couldn't feel every little bit of awkwardness during that meal. It was excellent, and realistic and other words of praise that are similar. "I don't have dissociative identity disorder, I have a damn Vulcan." PRICELESS.

And OH MY GOD THERE'S SERIES QUOTING IN HERE. I LOVE SERIES QUOTING. Clearly. Awesome squared.

Spock-McCoy interaction? Spot on. Little bit of insult, little bit of concern, lots of totally-there friendship that they won't admit to. I LOL'd when Spock was all "perhaps you should avoid drinking too much" and McCoy got all "the katra is just fine." XD not only is that concern, it's treating him like a pregnant woman.

It must just absolutely suck to be McCoy right now. Like those pictures that have the same picture within the picture in a never ending series of pictures? That's about where his memories are right now. Him seeing original Spock seeing older him...wow, I'm totally confused just thinking about it. Not that it's the fic confusing me. Course not.

And oh look at that there are even series REFERENCES. I was like "I REMEMBER THAT EPISODE X3"

-waits, as she waits for several other fics-