AN: New chapter... Whoo! Hopefully the next one won't take as long and I can get this story moving.

Chekov stared distastefully down at his tray, pushing his replicated dinner around with his fork.

"Miss home cooked meals?" Sulu asked.

"Yes," Chekov mumbled.

Sulu scooted over to the other side of the table so he was sitting next to Chekov. Ever since the crew on leave returned to the ship 3 days ago, Chekov had become homesick. His first day back he didn't speak at all throughout his shift and said very little outside the bridge. The only people that seemed to be able to coax full sentences out of him at first were Kathy and Sulu. They comforted him with arms around his shoulder and offers to watch old Russian movies with him. After a while, Jim finally spoke to him with sympathetic eyes and a slight squeeze on the arm which was a universal Kirkism meaning empathy, condolence, and understanding all in one. It was surprising how easily Jim could double as a counselor.

"We'll be home before you know it," Sulu said, nudging him slightly with a smile. "You know, so many people joke about how it's great getting to have half a galaxy between them and their families. They say it's the only thing that can prevent them from going insane."

Chekov smiled just the tiniest bit, looking down into his lap. "That's mean."

"True sometimes." Sulu shrugged. "But I guess you're too young and loving to think like that."

Chekov nodded. Sulu watched him a while longer, paying attention to how his bottom lip stuck out ever so slightly and how hard he swallowed.

"I never taught you how to fence," Sulu said suddenly, thinking of the first thing that would get Chekov's mind off home.

"You said you were afraid of hurting me."

"Oh yeah. That was slightly vain of me."

Sulu remembered the conversation. It was before Chekov was 18 and after Nero. He remembered how he told Chekov that he would only get hurt - as all fencers did when thrown into the sport head first. Sulu explained he was a tough teacher and wouldn't go easy on him no matter what. He then pictured the curly haired 17 year-old being covered in bruises and flat on his ass. It made him cringe. At the time, Sulu was unaware of Chekov's determination and ability to learn quickly - not to mention his youthful stamina. After working along side him after barely a year, though, Sulu learned that he was wrong in thinking he could be defeated so easily.

"I'm sorry. But I can teach you now if you want."

Chekov looked up, a grin forming on his lips. He nodded happily.

"Finish your dinner before we go down to the gym."

"You are sounding like my mother. She would not stop babying me while I was there. I thought she was going to give me a bedtime again."

"Half a galaxy away is pretty great, isn't it?"

Sulu laughed as he watched Chekov move stiffly down the hall. The younger man realized early into the lesson that fencing involved a lot more than just thrusting out a tiny sword - which he learned was actually called a foil. He would need agility that his still-growing, boyish body was not capable of and discipline for learning the techniques and stances. And after moving up and down a long line across the floor while spontaneously changing directions and postures, he found it hard to walk comfortably. His legs felt as though they were ready fall off his body or he would chop them off himself.

"Take a painkiller in the morning," Sulu said, throwing an arm around Chekov's shoulder.

Chekov groaned at the thought of how worse he would feel when he woke up. He wondered if it would even be possible to walk from his room to the bridge without falling to the ground and dying. He would write a will before he went to bed and leave a letter for everyone to read, explaining how he met his fate. They would all blame Sulu for it. No one would talk to him for killing the former child prodigy until the guilt started to eat away at Sulu's sanity, causing him to resign from Starfleet and be a lonely man with his plants. He would never fence again for the memory of how he killed his best friend would be too painful and even looking at a foil would make him tear up.

"You ok?"

Chekov was shaken out of his mental plotting. They were approaching their rooms and Sulu had his hand on his shoulder, giving him an amused look.

"I've seen that look before," he said fondly.

"What look?" Chekov murmured.

"That scowl you make when you're planning someone's demise."

Chekov crosses his arms, furrowing his eyebrows even farther together. "I am going to blame you for my death."

Sulu laughed. "How will do that? And why are you going to die?"

"I am going to tell everyone that you made me do horrible things in the gym."

"You wanted to learn how to fence!"

Chekov leaned against the wall as Sulu punched in his passcode to his room. "That was not fencing! That was torture."

"What do you think I went through when I was learning?" Sulu asked.

Chekov turned away from the traitor. He wouldn't speak to him for the rest of the night - he wouldn't speak to anyone, just mope around, staying completely silent no matter how persistent everyone would get. His last night would be spent in misery. It would be more guilt on Sulu after his death. Perfect.

"You'll get used to it in time," Sulu added.

"Not if I die first."

"You won't die." Sulu walked into his room, Chekov following close behind despite his plan.

Chekov sat on his bed, rubbing at his thighs through his Starfleet issued workout pants. They were really nothing more than red tights that everyone was reluctant to put on their first time during training - except probably Captain Kirk who never wore a shirt in the gym and stood like he had no shame.

"How are things with you and Kathy?" Sulu asked, walking to his dresser.

Chekov rolled his eyes. "Platonic."

Sulu huffed a laugh. "It really doesn't matter if you two date. Starfleet hasn't repealed the fraternization regulations yet but they don't care."

"I know."

"Then stop being so paranoid about you and Kathy. You're such an anxious person." Sulu smiled at him. "Everyone can tell you're together, anyways. You're always hanging around each other."

Chekov scowled when Sulu turned around to go through his drawers. Of course he and Kathy were always together, they were friends! He spent just as much time with Kathy than he did with Sulu.

"It's just not common for couples to be on starships during long missions. Long tours don't leave too much for relationships," Sulu continued. "That's why everyone's really happy for you two. It takes a lot for officers to seriously commit in these situations."

As Sulu talked, his voice got quieter and his eyes focused on the pile of t-shirts in his drawer. Chekov realized how little affection he had seen on the ship. The closest he think of was Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock but everyone was uncertain on what their relationship was. No one else looked at each other like they wanted to spend the rest of their days together. It was sad, Chekov thought. How right his mentors were at the Academy. People that went on to have long Starfleet careers had no room for family. There were too many risks in space and not enough time for something healthy.

Chekov laid back on Sulu's bed, closing his eyes and giving up on conversation for the night.