Sulu arched his back slightly, sighing with relief at the 'pop'. He stepped from the bathroom, running his hand through his hair and wondering if he should put on a shirt. His eyes swept around and landed on Chekov, who was sitting at his desk, hands in his lap, smiling. Sulu smiled back weakly and went to his bed, deciding against the shirt.
"Uhura came by while you were in the shower." The Russian said, turning in the chair to face Sulu. "She said she's worried about you..though, I do not think she realized you were not in here." He frowned a bit. "She said she'll get McCoy to use his medical override if you do not go to breakfast tomorrow." Sulu shook his head and plopped down onto his bed, laying back onto his pillows. "I told her she should not worry, you are eating." Sulu scoffed, a sad smile playing onto his lips. "What, you are."
"I know, Pasha. You sit there and watch me eat."
"If I did not, you'd be skin and bones." Sulu rolled onto his side, watching as Chekov leaned over the back of the chair, still smiling. "How is your assignment going?"
"That botany project the Captain assigned me?"
"Da. That one." Sulu sighed and curled in on himself a little.
"I can't concentrate. I am mislabeling everything. It is a miracle Kirk even allows me to pilot." Chekov frowned, rising from the chair and going to the bed, kneeling down in front of the bed.
"Hikasha, you are the best pilot in Starfleet. Nyet, the universe. You would never ever endanger the crew and the Captain knows this." Sulu rolled onto his back, throwing one arm over his eyes. "If you do not think you are capable of doing your job, resign." The doubting pilot lifted his arm slightly and glared at Chekov.
"I am not going to resign. This is my dream..Our dream." Chekov gave a brilliant grin again.
"Da..it is. So give all you can to it." Sulu dropped his arm back across his eyes.
"What is the point?"
"To live."
"I can't, Pasha..I want to, I just can't." Chekov tutted.
"Yes you can."
"No..I can't..I can't do this without you." Chekov's smile faded and he reached out, his hand hovering above Sulu's arm.
"I am right here. I always will be." Sulu gave out a choked sob. "Hikasha..Hikaru..please do not cry. Not again. Please." The plea was in vain; tears rolled from Sulu's eyes and hit the pillow with soft 'thuds'. "Talk to me.."
"You'll always be here?" Sulu asked, his voice breaking slightly
"Of course." The Russian scoffed slightly. "I will always be here if you need me, Hikaru."
"Pavel..."
"Da?"
"Pasha...you're dead." Chekov pulled his arm back to his side.
He was sitting there, hand still in the air, wearing a normal gold Ensign's outfit. Except it was anything but normal; right over Chekov's heart there was a massive brown bloodstain that trickled down to his midsection. The hem on his shirt was burnt and he was missing a sleeve. Sulu sniffed, closing his eyes tightly.
"I know...but I will stay with you forever. If you want me to, that is." Sulu nodded as if his life depended on it.
"I do. Oh God, I do." Chekov giggled, actually giggled. "What?"
"Nothing, Hikasha...You need to go to bed, you have that appointment tomorrow." Sulu opened his eyes halfway, looking out through his lashes.
"Yeah..with that shrink again." Chekov hummed and stood. "Stay until I fall asleep?"
"I always do." Sulu nodded and closed his eyes again, the day catching up with his body. Chekov watched, smiling softly as Sulu drifted into sleep before turning and walking towards a wall, slowly fading away as he did.
"I love you, Hikaru."