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It took a full week before the Enterprise docked above Earth, the view brightening up everyone's spirits as they looked out the portholes of their workstations and rooms. When the ship was parked at the space dock, the shuttles began to fill with those who were set to leave. Alice, still weak from her surgeries, waited with Pavel in Medical before a shuttle was set for her to board. Along with Leonard, Alice and Scotty were loaded into the shuttle along with Christine and Pavel.
Now, three days after their arrival home, Alice was tucked into bed as Pavel and Hikaru headed down with the rest of the crew for a debriefing on the events that took place. When the shuttle landed, they were met by a medical crew and whisked away for further treatment and observation. During her twenty-four hour lockdown, her friends came to visit along with the Admiral.
"McCoy said you'll be on crutches for a while. I hope he's nice enough to put padding on yours," he chuckled. "They hurt like a son of a bitch."
And Admiral Pike was right; they did hurt like a son of a bitch. She begged for a wheelchair until Leonard glared and told her that she was perfectly fine to use crutches. She continued to whine and beg to any doctor and Christine, until Leonard came back with a cup of frozen yogurt with fresh fruit on top.
"I will give you this as long as you shut up about the damn chair!"
Alice shifted under the quilt that Pavel placed over her body and yawned. They had be fortunate that Hikaru had an extra bed in his dorm for them to crash on, until they could find a place of their own. Pike was working on finding them an empty dorm, while working on the case against the rouge Klingon attack. Alice was about to close her eyes when the sound of the door opening and two voices filling the air stopped her.
"I don't know how Pike does it," Hikaru chuckled. "If I had to deal with Kirk reporting to me I'd be an alcoholic right now."
Slowly pulling herself up into a sitting position, Alice ran her fingers through her tangled hair and pulled at her shirt. She was dying for a shower and new clothes to change into, and prayed to a higher being that Pavel would help her.
"Hey, you're awake!" Hikaru grinned, taking note of the bed-ridden woman.
Pavel smiled and made his way over to her, "How are you feeling?" he asked, as she yawned.
"Disgusting," she scowled, as he kissed her forehead. "I feel like I have at least ten layers of dirt on me."
Hikaru snorted, "Nyota said she's bringing clothes and other things over for you," he said.
Alice smiled and sighed in relief, "Finally,"
"Vhat is vrong vith my clothes?" Pavel asked, pouting slightly.
She snickered, "Nothing," she insisted, reaching out to touch his cheek. "I just want to feel clean. I still have the stench of a hospital on me."
Pavel chuckled, "Da, you do," he scrunched up his nose in disgust. "Come, lets get you cleaned up," he said, standing up.
It took a few minutes to move out of the bed and onto shaky feet, as Pavel steered her towards the bathroom. Hikaru promised to shout out when Nyota arrived, and sat down on the sofa to catch up on some reading. Once the door was shut, Pavel sat Alice down on top of the toilet seat and went to start the shower.
"Can you stand up long enough to vash?" he asked, looking over his shoulder at her.
She nodded, "I think so," she looked down at her leg. "It only hurts if I lay on it at an angle."
Pavel helped her out of the rumpled clothes and into the shower, steadying her under the warm spray of water. Alice stood still as savored the warmth, before taking the washcloth from Pavel. He stood by, holding the shower curtain to the side, helping her when she needed. Once she was squeaky clean and sud-free, he turned the water off and pushed the curtain open. Wrapped in a fluffy towel, Alice stepped out of the shower and sat down on the toilet seat again.
"I get you clothes," he said, before disappearing back into the room.
He returned a few minutes later with not only clothes, but with Nyota. The older woman smiled at her, before setting a bag down on the counter.
"You look better!" she exclaimed, bending down to kiss her cheek. "I knew Pavel would take care of you."
He blushed and unfolded the clothes that Nyota brought her- a standard Starfleet Academy shirt, shorts and some frilly underwear- which made Pavel blush, as he tried to figure our which part covered what.
"I'll wait outside-" Nyota said, as she turned around. "Don't do anything I would do!"
Ten minutes later, they stepped out of the bathroom and made their way slowly over to the sofa. Hikaru and Nyota were in the middle of a discussion, when they both fell silent as the teens sat down.
"So," Nyota started, glancing at Hikaru. "We're all going out for dinner later."
Hikaru nodded, "Yeah, Kirk thinks we should celebrate our "victory" and yours and Scotty's release from the hospital."
Alice shrugged, "I could use some real food," she said.
Pavel nodded, "Ve need to ask Doctor McCoy first," he said, as Alice rested her head against his shoulder.
"Call him in a little while," she said, yawning. "I want to hear about the meeting."
…..
With many warnings from Leonard, Alice and Pavel sat around a table with their close friends, as they laughed and ate. She laughed and smiled as Jim and Leonard bickered at one end of the table, while Spock and Hikaru debated on potential samples for their botany studies. The light squeeze that Pavel gave her hand brought Alice out of her daydream, as she turned and smiled at him.
A week ago, he almost lost her, fearing the idea of spending the rest of his life without her. Now she was here, a little worn out and bruised, but alive and breathing in the same air as him. They didn't have to say a word, for their eyes did all the talking.
Afterwards, as the group made their way outside of the restaurant, Pavel and Alice lagged behind.
"Well," she sighed, wrapping her arms around him. "I can't tell you how much I've missed non-replicated food."
Pavel pulled her close and kissed her nose, "Da, and fresh air."
She giggled, "Everything about Earth has been missed greatly," she whispered, as a gust of wind picked up.
They stood quietly, arms circled around one another as the cars came and went from the parking lot. Alice rested her head against his shoulder, sighing in content as his hand came up to rub the back of her head. She relaxed against him, closing her eyes as he whispered something to her in Russian.
"Mmmhh that sounds nice," she grinned to herself, before looking up at him. "Whatever it is that you said."
He brushed a loose strand of her hair before tracing his fingers down the side of her face, the warmth that spread across her face against the chilly evening air.
"Vill you marry me?" he asked, quietly.
Alice smiled and nodded, "Yes."
Pavel returned her smile with his own and she reached up to caress his face, "Yes! Yes!" she giggled, as he kissed her.
They could hear the cheers from the end of the sidewalk, as their friends crowded around one another against the chilly evening air, witnessing the beginning of their forever.