A few days after McCoy has called Pavel back into his office. The doctor weighs him again and the Russian has finally officially met weight goal. McCoy slaps him on the back and congratulates him for his improvement not just physically but mentally. Pavel doesn't have the heart to tell the doctor his mental state isn't hugely better than what it was after Delta Vega. He doesn't need any more therapy sessions where he just talks about himself and what's making him sad. As much as he hates to admit it, McCoy can't really do much for him other than listen to him and just be there.

The Russian thinks he's about to be let go from McCoy's reasonably cluttered office when the doctor makes him sit down.

"So I was talking to Scotty-"

Pavel's stomach lurches. "No."

"Well-"

"No."

McCoy sighs. "I'll send you some weblinks. You look at them, and we never speak of this again. Deal?"

Pavel thinks about protesting for a moment. "Fine," he agrees quietly. "You say nothing to Sulu, okay?"

McCoy raises his eyebrow. "Wait what does… Hold on, Pavel do you…?"

Pavel realises he's spoken too soon. "No, no I just, he's my friend and it'll just make things awkward if you tell him…" Great save Pavel, really smooth.

McCoy smirks. "Your secrets," he says, emphasising the s, "are safe with me." Pavel shoots him an annoyed glare and leaves the office. He's going to kill Scotty when he gets home.

The material that McCoy does send Pavel is painfully detailed. There's only so much description about Andorian Hepatitis that he can take. He reads through it reluctantly when Scotty isn't around to comment on it. He didn't know there are so many sexually transmitted diseases in existence. He had heard of a few of them but the list of them seemed never ending.

Pavel's train of thought is interrupted by a knock at the door. He hopes it not Sulu but he knows it probably is. He opens the door and it is Sulu standing there. He lets him in and tries not to act cold or awkward.

"You been busy again," Sulu chuckles. "I haven't heard from you in a while again. What have you been reading up on this time?"

Andorian Hepatitis. "Not much," he lies. "Just a few physics theories that I'm thinking of doing a study on. I need to pick a topic for my end of semester assignment and there's a lot to choose from." Pavel makes sure to close the web page his PADD is on as he's talking.

"You alright? You seem… I don't know, different. Like upset or something. Is everything okay?"

Pavel wants to tell him to go away and tell him everything he knows about Veesa and him, but he refrains and denies anything's wrong.

"Why don't you answer my PADD messages then? I mean surely you don't spend every waking hour studying for several days on end. Did I say something or?"

"It's not important," Pavel says quickly, starting to get irritated and defensive. "I'm sorry I'm not as devoted to your messages as you'd like. Despite what people think I do have a life, okay?"

Sulu is taken aback by his sudden snap. "Look I wasn't getting angry at you but if you're that annoyed by me asking is my friend is okay then fine, I'll stop."

The Russian frowns a little and bites the inside of his lip. "It's not like you really care anyway, you're always too busy with Veesa." Pavel honestly doesn't know what's taking over him. It's probably the built up anger and sadness that's getting to him.

Sulu scoffs. "So this is what it's about? What's your problem with her anyway? You weren't interested… She's a nice girl and I like her a lot."

"I noticed," Pavel says coldly.

"Look you're acting… Crazy. I don't know where your anger is coming from, but I don't appreciate you taking out your teen angst on me."

Pavel snorts and tries not to cross his arms. "I think you should go."

"I don't know what you're problem is Chekov. Maybe McCoy can give you something for moodiness." With that Sulu leaves, closing the door behind him and striding off angrily.

Pavel starts crying angrily after he leaves and he punches his pillow a few times. He yells into his pillow, "I'm sorry. Don't go, I want you."

Scotty finds him crying and comforts him by rubbing his back in circles gently. He doesn't really know what he's doing but it worked on his cat and it seems to work on sad Russians too. Pavel pours out all the details about him getting angry and Sulu getting pissed at him. Pavel doesn't deny that there are things he shouldn't have said, but the whole teen angst comment really got to him. He hates liking Sulu so much, and he hates that Sulu likes Veesa and not him. Scotty listens and can't help but agree with Pavel. Maybe Sulu shouldn't have pursued Veesa out of respect, and Veesa definitely shouldn't have gone after Sulu, especially so quickly.

(A/N)

Yes, I know Pavel's having a temper tantrum. That's the point. Some people seemed to question its necessity but I think Pavel would get to a stage where all his built up frustration would explode.