Another week passes with no messages and Hikaru starts freaking out. He checks his PADD obsessively every few minutes and even tries to get into contact with some of the people up in the Starfleet ranks to see if they know anything. McCoy can see Hikaru stress in every message his sends to the doctor asking if he's heard anything yet. They're not even meant to be on the mission for much longer but Hikaru really doesn't want to go another two weeks without knowing what's happening to Pavel. There are a tonne of dangerous creatures on Delta Vega and Scotty did mention that the cold could cause problems for the machinery. He worries about Pavel and he really doesn't trust his ability to cope in bad situations. He's a smart kid, there's no doubt about that but Hikaru still wonders if he would really be able to think if his life was at stake.

It's nearly 3:00 in the morning when Hikaru's PADD buzzes gently. It's just enough to wake him up and for a moment he think he's imagined it. There's a message from the screen and he opens it sleepily, hoping it's not another message from McCoy. The message takes a while to load but it's a message from Pavel. Hikaru sits up and rubs his eyes, trying ot make sense of the bright screen. More messages start coming through. Dating back to when they first lost contact. Most of them are asking if he had gotten the messages and the rest are about how Scotty thinks something is messing a little with their satellite. As more messages flood in it turns out the main receptors had frozen over at the base. Hikaru never expected Pavel to complain about the cold but even he admits it is freezing there.

Messages are slow over the next few days but Hikaru gets a lot of photos and video messages to make up for it. They try video calling but the connection is terrible and it drops out every thirty seconds. McCoy does ending up saying his 'I told you' lecture but over four or five not so passive aggressive paragraphs. Pavel just replies with 'Okay.' He knows the doctor is going to get pissed at him when he gets back but for the moment he's safe on Delta Vega.

Connection goes quiet again for a while and come back online when Pavel back on the way to earth. He can finally video chat Hikaru but seeing him and hearing his voice is the weirdest thing ever. Pavel hasn't had a haircut in nearly 6 weeks and his hair has grown to basically a full afro. He's started to develop a patchy beard as well, something he has received relentless teasing for it amongst the other guys.

"Pavel's finally hit puberty has he?" was one of his favourite ones.

Pavel ends up video calling Hikaru for nearly three hours and by the end of it his cheeks hurt a little from laughing and grinning. It's pretty late at night Hikaru's time and Pavel's surprised that he stayed up for so long talking to him. He really missed Hikaru. He only realises it now but he really really missed him.

As soon as the shuttle lands Pavel basically jumps off it. Hikaru said he'd come pick him up, but Pavel has no idea where. He wanders he shuttle terminal for a while until he finds some kind of small strip of cafes where he can sit down and message Hikaru. Pavel waits quietly for his PADD to connect and taps his feet gently against the table. The chair next to him shifts and Hikaru sits down beside him. Pavel grins and wrapped his arms around Hikaru. For a second, Pavel feels something different. He can't explain it, and it's only there for a fraction of a second but it's something strange. He lets go and grins at the Asian man.

"I'm alive he says proudly."

"I noticed," Hikaru mutters back, rolling his eyes a little.

The dorm is exactly as it was when Pavel left, but it seems to have lost the sad aura that he had associated with it. It's the same room, but not the place. It's nice and cool and fresh almost. Pavel throws his bag down on the floor and falls onto his bed, breathing slowly and appreciating how soft the Starfleet dorm beds are. Hikaru closes the door and plugs his PADD into the charger and sits down on his bed, grinning at Pavel. Pavel rolls over and buries his face into the pillow, realising how jetlagged he really is.

Starfleet is not gentle on it's officers and makes the Delta Vega team report in the morning after they get back at 0600 hours. Pavel considers skipping it and getting a note from McCoy but he has a feel he's going to get a rant from the doctor because of his lack of communication on Delta Vega. The report is boring and tedious, everyone there is still extremely jetlagged and the generals get a look of dirty looks and sarcasm from the crew. Scotty does the majority of the talking while Pavel just sits there and pretends to pay attention. He's thinking about getting breakfast with Hikaru and then going back to sleep for the rest of the day. Halfway through the meeting there is a small break and a few of the important people leave and some join. Spock is amongst the people arriving and Pavel considers leaving to go the bathroom and not returning. The Vulcan doesn't notice him at first but it's awkward when he finally does. Pavel manages a curt nod towards him, making as little eye contact as possible.

Pavel leaves as soon as the meeting is over but Spock catches up to him with little effort. It's awkward for the first few seconds where no one says anything and Spock seems to have lost his train of thought, which is a weird coming from a Vulcan.

"Ensign Chekov," Spock says firmly. "I believe you found your experience on Delta Vega a positive one?"

Pavel nods and swallows uncomfortably. "Yeah it was good. I learnt a lot about engineering and Scotty is a really good mentor."

"Mr. Scott's skills in engineering seem to be unmatched. I wish to enquire about your mental state. I believe I, to use the human term, 'crossed a line,' in our last meeting. I felt it necessary to apologise, however you left for Delta Vega before I had the chance to speak to you again. I feel this is not an issue to address via online communications either. Am I correct in assuming that I made you uncomfortable?"

Pavel is a little taken aback by his comment and stumbles over his words a little in trying to get his thoughts out. It's too early in the morning for this.

"I – I don't know. A little I guess, but I know you probably didn't mean it…"

The Vulcan studies him a little, deciding what to say. "Ensign, I did not intend to pry so much into your personal life. I should have explained to you what I was doing prior to acting. For that I am sincerely apologetic."

"Its fine sir, I know you did not mean to. I understand that you were trying to help."

Pavel's comment sounds very insincere but he has no idea what else to say.

"I believe we should have a discussion some other time. I notice you did not show up to our last scheduled meeting."

Pavel's face reddens. "I am sorry about that commander. I mean this with as little disrespect as possible, but I don't find it very easy to talk to you." He regrets the words as soon as he says them and scolds himself mentally. "I-I didn't mean because of who you are as a person of course- I just meant after all that has happened and… Yeah…" Pavel feels like a huge idiot, and resists the urge to run his hand through his hair in frustration.

"I understand what you mean Ensign. Please do not allow it to worry you."

Pavel nods. "I'll ask McCoy to schedule another meeting. I assure you I'll be there this time."

"Until then Ensign." Spock says monotonously. Pavel nods and waits a few second for Spock to head off before going back to his dorm.