A/N: See Chapter 1
Not so long ago it would have been unimaginable for Pavel Chekov to have ever been injured by his best friend or to have been treated without the older man hovering near by, constantly on vigil. As the young navigator lay on the bio-bed with Nurse Chapel attending to his wounds that were inflicted by the very man who had sworn his friendship, Sulu was overwhelmed with remorse as he realized that this was the first time in months he had not accompanied the blonde to Med Bay. He was horrified as he watched the many wounds his own two hands had inflected on his perfectly pale flesh knit together with the help of the dermal regenerator.
Perhaps change had taken hold of Sulu as well as Chekov. Nurse Vaughn was repairing the damage the feisty Russian had managed to cause, while Sulu kept his eyes trained on the other man. He felt no pain as the bones were healed and the blood flow stemmed. Sorrow and guilt cut through his chest like an epee, and its jagged claws hurt him worse than any physical wound. He had not meant for his temper to get the better of his conscious or for his fists to ever strike his best friend. Tears filled the pilot's eyes as he watched Chekov's face twist in pain. He had always been the one to protect Pasha, now he was just as guilty as those heartless women – only he had done even worse. He had lashed out in anger against the teen.
Bones was standing in-between the two beds, watching and occasionally commenting to his nurses about various medical devices but not bothering to converse with Chekov or Sulu. Neither of the nurses spoke to their patients or asked them what had caused their argument, they only exchanged glances with each other and a few nods to the CMO. Sulu lay stiff on the bed, ready to jump up as soon as he was healed and convince Chekov to continue their conversation, albeit without the physical violence or screaming. Chekov was lost to his own thoughts; his body slightly more relaxed than it had been earlier. The air had grown heavy with anticipation of what would happen next, if the small truce was hearty enough to last.
With heavy hearts, both men raised from their bio-beds, their bloody and torn clothing the only evidence of their fight. Simply nodding, Bones and the nurses moved aside allowing the men to leave. Bones and Sulu locked eyes long enough for the CMO to convey his displeasure with having to stitch two Command Officers, but his lips stayed pressed in a thin line. Shoulders dropped and heads bowed, the two men left the Med Bay like two scolded puppies.
More than anything, Sulu hated the helpless feeling that threatened to overwhelm him when he realized that they were right back to where they had started before they had swapped licks. Chekov remained by his side as they entered the turbo lift. He ordered it to their deck, the only sound other than their breathing in the tiny square. Sulu had to think of something to say to encourage the blonde to talk things over with him. There had to be a way to repair the rift between the best friends. Heart in his hands, Sulu took a hesitant step forward into the hallway.
Facing down a horde of Romulans was easier to do than this. "You want to come over and hang out for a while?" He was surprised to hear how calm his voice sounded – just as it was when everything had still been 'normal'.
Chekov nodded without an ounce of hesitancy. "Zat vould be a good idea." He sounded almost chipper.
The room was dark, but Sulu quickly ordered on the lights leading the way inside. "I haven't had company in a while." He chuckled as he began moving his plant collection aside so Chekov would have room to walk.
It was as if walking into the older man's personal space had melted away every care Chekov had. His face no longer creased with worry or doubt, his shoulders relaxed and his gait light. "I do not mind ze plants." He shot a small smile as he sat down on the couch, taking a deep breath of the fragrant air.
And just like that, everything was forgiven. The cuts, punches and bruises didn't matter, all that mattered was the small blonde in front of him. He sank down on the couch beside the younger man, their shoulders slightly touching. "I know you don't want to talk about what's going on, Pav, but I think it would be a good idea to tell someone. I will listen and I won't judge, you know that." Afraid that Chekov would bolt before he could breach the subject, Sulu jumped straight to the heart of the matter.
Running his hands though his hair, the Russian sighed. "It's not zat easy." Chekov brought his large, dismal eyes to face his best friend.
Sighing, Sulu wrapped his arm around the teen and pulled him close for a one-armed hug. "Just tell me and I'll help with whatever it is, I promise." He had missed having his friend so close, talking with him, keeping him safe. He had failed once at being the knight in shining armor, he was not going to do it again. He loved this man too much to watch him continue killing himself bit by bit.
Relaxing slightly against the Asian's frame, Chekov bit his lip. "It iz stupid, it iz nothing." He tried to laugh, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.
Fighting his growing impatience, Sulu took a deep breath. "I'm not going to argue if it's stupid or not, but it's eating at you. I've never seen you like this. Pav, you aren't yourself any more. Please let me help." He was sincere in his request, he would do anything the younger man asked of him.
Just as Sulu had predicted, his defenses dropped and Chekov began contemplating explaining his plight. Alone with Sulu in a comfortable environment, his walls crumbled. "No matter hov stupid it is, no lawfing." His face was serious, so Sulu had no choice but to nod. "I think zat I am homesick. Zat is one of the problems." His voice peppered with longing for things that he would not see again for several more years, yet there was still an icy edge to his response.
Neither man moved for several minutes. Sulu's memory of the last few months clicked over and over in his mind, things finally falling into place. Chekov was young and this was his first long mission. It all made since. He might have the highest IQ of anyone Sulu had ever known, but he was still a child at heart. This was the final piece of his adulthood forming. He had taken several lovers, he had attempted to accelerate his development and to harden his heart, and faced down the terrors of the known universe, but this was the last of his innocence falling away – his final step in asserting himself. Relief swamped through Sulu as he chuckled. "Is that all?" He smiled down at the younger man.
Twisting his face in anger, Chekov tried to pull away but Sulu clutched his arms. "Is zat all? I am in agony daily! I miss my family! I miss you!" His anger returning, he blushed as he realized what he had blurted out. Even though he had said too much, it was as if something else was on the tip of his tongue, but he clamped his mouth shut and curled his fists, ready to fight again.
Thinking quickly before things spiraled out of control, Sulu's laughter died. "Ok, ok, Pav, I didn't mean to sound uncaring. I miss you, too. Being on this ship is just not the same without getting to loaf around with you. I just was afraid that it was something worse. Like someone was hurting you or something like that, maybe PTSD or something." He tried to smile.
Most of the fight drained out of Chekov. "Zere is nozing vorse zan being so far away from home and loosing your best friend, vho still sits beside you daily." Heart wrenching sadness filled his hazel eyes, heartbreak evident in those hazel pools.
Completely understanding Chekov's point, Sulu relented. "You're right, as always. I didn't mean to disappear. I guess we were both pulling away and not realizing it." He relaxed back into the couch with the blonde doing the same. "But homesick or not, you can't keep on ruining yourself. Those women are not going to replace Russia." He gently rammed his shoulders into Chekov's trying to keep the mood light. "And those women sure in hell can't replace me." His arms aching to hold the Russian until the pain, both of their pain was a distant memory. Love might one day have a place in their relationship, but he was sure it wouldn't find its niche today.
The proud man his best friend had become nodded his head silently, tears filling his eyes but refusing to fall. "I know zat zere is no replacement for either. I just vanted to dull ze pain, but it vas only hurting zem as much as I am hurting. It vas selfish of me, but I didn't want to stop. I began to vant zem to hurt like me. I used zem to get through the long off-hours." Chekov clutched hands in his lap.
Sulu was surprised by the venom in the younger man's voice. "Pavel, that is not good for anybody." His companion nodded, ashamed. "How about you and I work out more often and play video games like we used to? You keep your 'Captain Kirk' persona under wraps and we try to figure this out together? I'll help you, man. I'm not going any where, again. I'm going to be right here for you any time you need me. All you have to do is come find me, Pasha." He was gentle, desperately trying to recover his friend.
Calm fell over Chekov's tender face. "I said zat I didn't need anyone or ewen you, but I vas vrong, Hikaru. Zank you for staying by my side." A true smile curled on his pale lips.
That one smile melted Sulu, his own smile stretching across his face in answer automatically. He would have fought the hounds of hell to take the burden from Pasha's shoulders, a few punches and a little blood was a small price to pay.
A/N: Thanks for reading
This chapter was first written with enough fluff to choke a small animal, but I think I've re-worded it so it's not so bad.
I don't know if I want to end it here. I like to get them together, but I'm not sure.
Reviews/comments would be helpful in seeing what I need to do
