The door slipped open and McCoy looked up to see who was disturbing him that late in the night. He was confused to see Chekov staggering inside, with bright red cheeks and a silly grin on his lips.

"Ensign Chekov…" He murmured. "Are you okay?"

"I'm… I'm… I'm a bit drunk." The ensign replied, then he laughed loudly, almost losing balance.

"I see." Bones sighed, passing a hand on his face. "Here, sit." He ordered, standing up so that the young man could sit on his chair.

Pavel accomplished without a word, snickering, slouching on the chair. McCoy kneed in front of him, taking his face between his hands and the young man laughed.

"Leonard…" He started to say, then he paused, thinking about something. "Leonard." He repeated. "Leon… Lion…" He smiled, growling more like a little kitten that like a lion.

Leonard sighed.

"Are you okay, ensign?" He asked.

The Russian stilled silent for a while, his eyes travelling on the doctor's features. He nodded once –although it seemed more like a reply to something he was asking to himself, that a reply to McCoy's question- then he inched forward, touching the older man's lips with his own. McCoy drew back.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, without giving much importance at the drunk kiss.

"It's a dare." Pavel replied sincerely, with an innocent smile.

"A dare?" Bones repeated.

"Yes. We were playing truth or dare and the captain dared me."

Jim. McCoy had to know it had to be Jim.

"Jim challenged you to kiss me?" He asked.

The ensign laughed.

"Nyet, nyet." He replied. "He challenged me to confess my feelings for you." He added, then he tried again to kiss the doctor, who drew back before he could do it, standing up.

"You're drunk, Pavel. And you're seventeen!"

Pavel sighed, then he smiled.

"Am I seventeen? Yes. Am I drunk? God, yes!" He laughed. "Am I madly in love with you?" He bowed his head, glancing toward the doctor through his lashes. "Yes, I am."

"You're drunk." Bones repeated.

The ensign sighed again, shifting uncomfortable on the chair, watching intently his hands.

"If… if I come here tomorrow… when I'm not drunk…" He looked up, meeting McCoy's eyes. "Would you think about it?"

"Think about what?" Bones scowled.

"About us." Pavel replied, pretending a braveness he had just thanks to the alcohol.

"You're seventeen!" Bones exclaimed.

"I know!" The Russian said. "And I also know what I want and I want you!"

The doctor didn't reply, sighing deeply.

"Pavel… go to sleep."

"Just promise me you'll think about it." Pavel pleaded.

Bones gaped twice, then he sighed.

"I… I'll think about it." He assured. "If you come here tomorrow, when you sober up, and you tell me the same things, I'll think about it."

The young man stilled silent for a while, watching carefully the doctor's face as to try to understand if he was saying the truth, then he smiled and stood up, staggering just a little.

"I'll se you tomorrow." He promised.

He hesitated, then he neared Bones, invading his personal space, and kissed him again, softly.

"I'll se you tomorrow, sober and still in love with you." He promised again, with a smile, then he walked away.

McCoy watched him exit, then sighed, rolling his eyes.

What have he agreed at?