Difference That is No Difference

"Difference That is No Difference" is a Star Trek: TOS story by Sue S.
 
==A Series==
This story is part of a series.
The first is Turnabout Alternative by "A Lady" printed in King Grope in 1978. The author, "A Lady" may be Sue S. In this first story, Jim Kirk remains in Janice Lester's body after she is killed while in his own. They become lovers. 
The second story is "...and now for something completely different...". It was printed in Enter-comm #1, where it had some small uncredited illos and a portrait of Janice Lester by Kathy Carlson. In this story, Kirk and Spock marry when they discover Kirk is pregnant. They become the parents of twins.
This third story, "Difference That is No Difference" was in Enter-comm #2 where it had art by Pat Stall.
==Description and Plot Summary==
Kirk tells Spock she is changing her name, as she's tired of explaining why a woman is called James. Her new name is Jaime. 
Kirk also announces at a cocktail party in front of the Enterprise's crew that she is thinking of resigning as captain of the Enterprise to stay on Vulcan and raise her children as she's worried they won't know she's their mother if she allows other people to care for them too much: "I can't desert my children." She hasn't discussed this decision with Spock first, but he takes it in stride. "I will stand by whatever decision you come to." Spock also says he will take Kirk's old job as captain of the Enterprise.
Kirk says: "'Uhura, I think this is the traditional time for the ladies to withdraw and leave the gentlemen to their discussion'." After they leave, McCoy explains that women and their hormones are different than men and that maternal instincts cause them to make different decisions, like give up their careers. He cites both Kirk wanting to stay home with her babies, and of Christine Chapel who gave up her Starfleet career to be Spock and Kirk's babies' nurse.
Sulu points out that the Enterprise "... was the first ship in Starfleet to have a woman captain - but that was because she had held the post as a man. There hasn't yet been a born woman in command." Sulu, Spock, McCoy, and Scotty discuss the possibility of a female captain. They think of Uhura, but she is fourth in line to the throne, as it were. It turns out Scotty feels he's too old, and Sulu wants to get another job on a cartographic ship. The men then decide Uhuru's future without her: "Uhura could transfer to Command Branch, couldn't she? If she went back to Starfleet Academy for an Intensive Command Course, she'd automatically be made up in rank when she returned. That'd make her a Lieutenant Commander, like Scotty here - and the next natural choice for First Officer." Spock said, "I dislike all this political maneuvering, Doctor, but I see the validity of the argument." 
Later, Kirk gets very emotional and says a lot of angry things to Spock and McCoy. Kirk's reality has finally hit her, and she is very angry. McCoy says explains she's not fit to command, that she'll get worse before she gets better, and his plan is to "pump her full of tranquilizers."
McCoy hires a new nurse in Sick Bay named Liz. Liz does not recognize Kirk as a woman (turns out she's a complete murderous psychopath). She also says: "It's disgusting," she shivered. "Two men. Ugh! It's just not natural for one man to be in love with another." Liz then confronts and scolds Kirk, telling him being a woman is Kirk's punishment. Kirk cries and then tries to commit suicide by taking pills.
Meanwhile, McCoy is told Christine Chapel is going to marry a Vulcan named Starn who is Spock's cousin. McCoy rushes to Vulcan to tell Christine he loves her. Christine says she never intended to marry Starn; that it was a trick cooked up to get McCoy to declare his love for her. They get married. 
Kirk wakes up from her pill-induced coma. She's confused. McCoy also aggressively scolds her about being nicer to Spock. He alludes to the past and how he could have easily become Jim Kirk's lover. 
==Kirk Decides to Change Her Name==
==McCoy Thinks of Kirk as a Whole New Person==
==McCoy Explains to Kirk How Women and Their Hormones are Different Than Men==
==Kirk Gets Emotional==
==McCoy Explains Kirk's Angry Words to Spock==
==Spock Misses the Male Kirk==
==McCoy Scolds Kirk==
==Kirk Has an Epiphany==
==Fan Comments==
==References==
Category:1980 Fanfiction