Disclaimer: I don't own it and I don't make money off it.
Bones has seen the crew behind their masks.
Starting with the Baby – Chekov
When looking upon Pavel Chekov, he appeared to be a ball of sunshine wrapped in innocence, gifted with an IQ off the charts. No worries seemed to penetrate his cocoon of continual glee. He always had a kind word on the tip of his tongue and a bright smile for all he met. Pavel was the first to offer assistance in any situation and the last to put down his PADD at night. His voice and laughter were like the song of a wind chime on a front porch on a breezy April day, filling the mess hall morning, noon and night. His blush spread across his face like wild fire at the slightest mention of things done in the dark with pleasant company. His youth, wild curls and exuberance were his calling cards. That is how most everyone on the Enterprise saw the Chief Navigator.
However, Leonard 'Bones' McCoy made his living by seeing things that no one else saw, by catching all the small things that slipped by the normal observations. His sharp surgeon's eye saw beyond that false bravado. Pavel hid his pain, sorrow and doubt from everyone's gaze, but to Bones it was blaringly evident. The crew depended on him to be the happy-go-lucky kid that he had been those many years ago, to be their ray of sunshine, but worry and sadness had long since dimmed those bright green eyes. His shoulders were a little less straight, his smile a little less sincere, his voice a little less clear. His innocence was stolen from him the day he had lost Spock's mother, whether he had taken a lover or not. It broke Bones' heart to have to watch the happy kid become a harden man, but that was the way of the life of a soldier.
Months had faded away, Bones still said nothing but he made small gestures of kindness towards the young man, trying his best to help him through such dark times. Bones knew from personal experience the kind of hell Pavel was stumbling through. If the rest of the command crew noticed, they had not spoken the awful truth aloud. There was no comfort they could offer their Pasha. Space was disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence, Bones had been so accurate those many years ago. But now, seeing the brave man Pavel had become crumbling from the inside out, the cynical physician had never wanted to be proven wrong so bad in his life. Even he wanted his ball of sunshine to return, blinding him with the intensity.
Bones physically shook his head trying to dislodge his thoughts. He needed to concentrate. They had been separated from the rest of the Away Team when the volcano they had been studying erupted on this damn planet. Communicators and tricorders had been lost during the explosion and scramble to make it to safety that ensued. Ash and smoke filled the air blocking out the natural light, so to keep together in the dense twilight, he was holding tight to Pavel's hand. "Damnit." He muttered. Why had he let Jim talk him into joining this mission?
Pavel had stopped walking and turned to face him. Bones could barely make out the dirty face on his right, the large red-rimmed eyes practically glowing. "Iz zomezing vrong?" Pavel's accident was as thick as the air around them, but he was too tired to care. The longer they trudged, the darker Pavel's thoughts became.
Bones felt guilty for adding more stress to the poor kid. He had offered to come because Pavel needed someone to help him run scans for life signs and that happened to be one of Bones' specialties, not that he was trying to keep an eye on the kid or anything. "Nah." He nodded encouraging Pavel to keep going. "How long do you think we have until we reach a clear spot?" He tried to keep his tone light, but he was dead on his feet. They had been walking for over two hours once they had made their way down the mountainside. His eyes and throat were burning and he coughed with every breath of foul air he took.
Pavel did not stop walking or turn back to face the doctor. "I am not sure." His voice was steady, his steps were sure, but the strong shoulders hunched further, bowing his figure.
Bones made no further attempt to conversate with the Lieutenant. Pavel kept the pace steady, not slow but even. Before the eruption, they had spotted a small cluster of trees to the north. Pavel had surmised that would allow them enough shelter to rest and perhaps some untainted water to relieve their raspy throats. Bones didn't argue nor did he ask for the estimate on how long it would take Scotty to find them in this mess. Some things were better left to the unknown.
Slowly out from the gray air, Bones could begin to see outlines of the trees. Nothing in all his life had looked as beautiful as those sagging, blue trees with orange leaves, even if they were the color of Auburn University, one of the rivals to his Alma Mater. He'd over look that fact this one time but he couldn't contain the chuckle.
Pavel looked over his shoulder at the other man, raising an eyebrow. "Its Southern thing, you wouldn't understand." He laughed a little more. He tried to lift the veil of sorrow over them. The other five men from the away mission were probably dead; it would not surprise them given the history of Away Team successes.
Not bothering to answer, Pavel led them further into the thicket. The canopy of leaves had filtered most of the ash, so visibility was better underneath the trees but the air still stank of sulfur. Pavel led him to a sheltered spot beside a large tree, finally releasing his hand. It surprised Bones at the depth of loss he felt when Pavel let go. There was no denying either to himself or anyone else that he had used his friendship with the younger man fill the void that his daughter had left in his heart. Somehow, though, along their shared journey, Pavel's place in his life had grown from being a replacement for his daughter to being an irreplaceable son in his own right.
Shutting out those ridiculous and utterly useless thoughts in such a dire situation, Bones eased himself down into a sitting position. The ground felt like feather pillows to Bones' tired body. He splayed out across the grass closing his eyes allowing himself a respite. Pavel sat beside him leaning against the tree trunk, his head in his hands. They stayed that way for several minutes until Bones' fell into a light slumber.
Pavel decided to use his time wisely while the older man rested, so he went in search of water to replenish their supplies. Pavel had been closer to Bones than most everyone else on board the ship. He had become like a mentor to him, a father-figure. Hikaru was his best friend, but Bones was like his hero – always flying in right in the nick of time to save him or anyone else that was hurt. Rumors amongst the crew spoke of his 'idol worship' of Kirk, but truly he was amazed by how Jim seemed to juggle everything and still be as cool as Hikaru.
Now they were stuck on this planet breathing in these poisonous fumes with no way to communicate with their ship. Utter hopelessness threatened to drown Pavel. He had tried to be so brave, to put on such a good front, but inside he was breaking. He had encountered such situations countless times before, but there was always some light at the end of the tunnel. Bones had always been on board the Enterprise awaiting his return. It sounded so foolish echoing in his mind, but he did not want to face the death of Bones like he had with his own Papa. Bones had taken Papa's place, now Pavel had to protect him from the dangers they faced daily.
Gentle babbling of water snapped Pavel from his anguish and worry. Following the sound, he slowly made his way towards their hope for survival. The small stream appeared to be untainted, so in all likelihood it was from an underground source. Letting his mind flutter through the known process of mineral filtration for 'well' water as his Grandmamma called it, he quickly filled both canteens and hurried back to be at Bones' side. They had not been able to discern any life forms before the eruption, but that did not mean there was not some local fauna that could pose risk to the older man while his defenses were down.
When Pavel reappeared, Bones was sitting up against the tree. "I was wondering where you went." He reached and accepted the offered canteen, not bothering to hide the relief on his face. "I'm old, Pavel, but a fifteen minute power nap and bam! I'm ready to go again." Bones moved over so the boy could sit beside him. Bones could see that the weight of all past, present and future terrors were sitting heavy on those thin shoulders.
Pavel sat close to Bones, as if the man's life depended on the proximity of the youth. "There iz a clean stream a few meters avay. I refilled ze canteens." He didn't bother to add the fact they had no food to sustain them or that over the next few hours the water source may become contaminated.
Bones nodded absentmindedly, his eyes running over the boy's frame. "Water is good." He laid his canteen down in his lap. "Pavel, don't worry about it, ok?" It was a foolish thing to say, but he hoped that maybe he had enough influence on the boy to convince him to relax. He gently put his hand on Pavel's shoulder. Emotions flickered across the younger man's face. All the pent up hurt, anger and sorrow he had hidden from the rest of the world was breaking from behind its dam.
Bones watched as Pavel's face morphed. All pretenses of his youth dropped his eyes hard and his face drawn. "How can you say zat? Everyone dies. Ze rest of our team is probably dead!" His voice was as rough as gravel. Tears spilled down his sallow cheeks. "I couldn't sawe them, I can't sawe them all and I von't be able to sawe you." His voice cracked with hurt. "Sometimes I vonder if it is ewen vorth going back up there." Anguish of the years past twisted his face in agony.
Without thinking, Bones pulled Pavel into a fierce hug. "Don't you dare talk like that! Do you hear me?" He wrapped his arms tighter. "We would not be complete without you, Pasha. No, you can't save everyone but neither can I." He swallowed past the lump forming in his throat. "Nothing is your fault because you are the best damn navigator and kid genius in this entire shitty universe!" His fingers curled in the younger man's curls as his shoulders shook with sobs. "We all need you, especially me." Bones' voice was soft as he whispered the last into Pavel's ear.
Pavel sobbed against Bones until he had no tears left to cry. He cried for Vulcan, for Spock, for all those they lost along the way, for his Papa, for his innocence that had been stolen. Slowly he pulled away. "Zank you." He whispered, his eyes not coming to meet Bones'.
Bones kept one arm around Pavel's shoulder, while the other tilted the blonde's chin up. Sniffling Pavel wiped his face and met his stare. "I am here for you Pavel, always. All you have to do is come find me." He offered a small smile, which was returned. "We will get out of here. Jim Kirk won't let his best navigator die down here and he needs me too bad to make us wait down here long. Have faith Pavel, because we have faith in you." Pavel nodded, straightening himself a little.
As if they heard his words, Bones felt the tugging of the transporter beam ready to bring them home. Sighing with relief, he relaxed into its hold and closed his eyes. When he once more dared look upon the world five seconds later, he was standing in the transporter room back on the Enterprise. Several of the Medical staff were racing to assist them down from the pad. With a quick look, Bones surveyed Pavel's condition. He noticed that Pavel was back to normal, a smile on his lips, but however small the smile, it was genuine and the light in his eyes was shining once more. Relieved, Bones followed Chapel back to Med Bay without one bitter remark.
A/N: Thanks for reading!
Please hit the review button and tell me what you think! I wanted to do one for each of the main crew…