Bones started down the corridor, checking doors. Private quarters. Fuck. Maybe he'd be smart and go to his own room. He heard muffled singing as he reached the end of the corridor. Not English. He stepped up closer to the door. That didn't sound like Chekov… he opened the door, hoping he'd find the kid. There he was, sitting on a neatly made bed with a PADD in his hands and a little blue stuffed rabbit in his lap. He hardly looked up when Bones entered, eyes fixed on his cartoon- some Russian Winnie the Pooh knockoff. Weird, how he was into the old stuff. He didn't figure Chekov to be a twenty-first century type.
"Where did you get that?" he asked, reaching for the rabbit. There was a horrendous shriek and the PADD crashed to the floor as he scooped up the rabbit and cuddled it, hugging tightly. Bones raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay! Fine! Jesus.." Bone reached out again, getting the PADD from the floor- cracked screen- and scooping Chekov into his arms. He nuzzled against Bones' shoulder, thumb finding its way to his mouth- Jesus Christ that was pretty goddamn cute. Pavel blinked up at Bones, smiling around his thumb and nuzzling again.
"Papa." he murmured.
"Wha- no. No, I'm not your- goddamn it, Jim…" he grumbled.
Bones managed to prop the PADD up on a mug on his desk, allowing Pavel to remain curled close to him- because it was better than him running around, or so he convinced himself was a valid reason, if Jim and his smart mouth had anything to say about it. Pavel, on the other hand, did not care one way or the other where he was, as long as he could watch his Russian cartoons and no one even looked at that fucking rabbit. Where the fuck did he even get it, was the one thing Bones wanted to know. He glanced down at the mop of curly hair and wide innocent eyes fixed on a bear that thought it was a rain cloud or some shit and told himself to do work, finally tearing his eyes away, setting to quiet work so as not to disturb the poor kid. And so, when Nurse Chapel entered, babbling about something or other 'the captain' said, he silenced her with a glare and sent her scurrying back out of his office, giving another glance to Pavel as he started to drift off, lashes fluttering as he kept trying to keep himself awake, rubbing at his eyes with the hand that clutched his- at least, Bones hoped it was his- rabbit's ear. Bones shifted the kid so he could lift him as he stood, carrying him out to one of the cots and laying him down.
"Take a nap, kid." he murmured, pulling a blanket over him. Pavel nuzzled into the pillow, rabbit clutched tight to him and thumb still stuck in his mouth- he might need to stop him from doing that..
The minute Bones turned his back Pavel let out a quiet whimper. God fucking dammit. He couldn't just walk away from the poor guy, and so, with a heavy sigh, he pulled up a chair and reached out, fingertips skimming back and forth, back and forth along his back. Pavel shifted, trying to keep himself awake, mumbling to himself.
"Shut up and sleep, kid." Bones answered, soft. Pavel wanted to sleep, clearly, and so Bones kept rubbing his back, relaxing in the chair a bit. Pavel curled up under the blanket a bit more, turning on his side and grasping Bones' sleeve with one hand, rabbit tucked close to his chest.
"Оставайтесь здесь [stay here]…" he mumbled, slowly drifting off when he knew Bones wouldn't leave, lips parting a bit, thumb slipping from his mouth.
AN: HAPPY CHRISTMAS! I'm so so so sorry for lack of updates I know it's annoying but I hadn't really found time to write and I'm really sorry this chapter is short but I hope you're having a wonderful holiday and I'll try to update soon :)
