Chapter Seven:
The next day, Pavel came to practice with a smile on his face.
From the beginning, when Len walked in, he seemed uncomfortable around the kid. Pavel thought nothing of it as the others gathered around him and the piano. Pavel began to play the melody, and soon he was singing along:
You left me and darkness fell
You left me alone and confused.
When you were gone I picked up the pieces
And now all I remember is your light.
You left me but you didn't
You left me but I don't blame you
You were sad and you wanted out
So finally the higher powers let you.
Even with you gone I try to remember you
Even with your absence I search for your light.
I find your light through singing songs
And laughing away the sadness you left.
I'll remember you, as I'm sure you remember me
Look down on me fondly
And guide me with that special light
I'll always look for it.
You left me but you didn't
You left me but I don't blame you
You were sad and you wanted out
So finally the higher powers let you.
I'm happier now and less confused
You're light shines even when you're far away
You're love for me has only strengthened
And I thank you for the love you left behind.
Even with you gone I try to remember you
Even with your absence I search for your light.
I find your light through singing songs
And laughing away the sadness you left.
You left me but you didn't
You left me but I don't blame you
You were sad and you wanted out
So finally the higher powers let you.
I love you
I miss you
I remember you
I fondly whisper your name.
You left me but your didn't
You left me but I don't blame you
You were sad and you wanted out
So finally the higher powers let you.
I find your light through singing songs
And laughing away the sadness you left.
When Pavel finished up, he looked around and saw that almost everyone (not counting Len and Spock) had tears in his eyes. Pavel smiled, "It's called 'Searching For Light' and its dedicated to someone I love very much…" he said mysteriously.
"Well? What are we waiting for?" Kirk asked, wiping his eyes on sleeve, "With this song, I think we're going to pound Khan and Romulans…"
"Definitely," Hikaru replied, sitting down at the drums.
Pavel nodded and began teaching the guitarists the chords, carefully tapping his foot on the floor to help Hikaru with the main beats (Hikaru was the only one allowed to play around with percussion to make it sound better. Pavel could become a Russian prison guard when he wanted to be).
When he was turned away to practice, Scotty tried to think about someone who Pavel could love… but was so obviously gone from the world. Pavel lived with a woman who looked almost like Pavel, save for a shorter stature and lighter blonde hair and bluer eyes. Either that was his mother or… then where was his father? Was that woman Pavel's mother in the first place? So many questions.
"Something the matter, Scotty?" Hikaru suddenly asked, when tapping the cymbals didn't seem appropriate for such a slow, sad song like the one they were practicing.
Scotty jumped a little, and noticed that he had stopped strumming the chords and strings he had just been taught. "N… Well. Yes. I know nothing about that kid. He seems all happy, but when he's not… he gets all gloomy and you can't help but want to make him feel better. You ever notice that about him?"
Hikaru smiled, "Yeah. But I never get to comfort him. Lucky bastard," he said.
Scotty blushed, "You can… you can comfort him the next time, if you want, Hikaru…"
Hikaru shook his head, "I don't think I would be as good as you, Scotty. He got comforted by you, and he got the idea for a song. I talked to him over the phone, and I only gave him vague ideas. No. When it comes to things that matter, you're much better."
Scotty blushed a little, turned away from the others, and continued practicing his part for the song. Hikaru smiled slightly and began fiddling with the triangle, liking the sound, but wondering if it would fit.
After practice, Pavel found himself on the curb in the cold, breathing white crystals and humming the notes to the new song. Goodness, that was a stroke of genius on his part. Without Scotty's pep talk, he would have never remembered all the inspiration his mother had given him.
Scotty… Pavel though as he brought his hands up to his mouth to breath into them and keep them warm. Despite the gloves on his hands, the cold November air was not treating him so well.
He suddenly heard voices behind him. "I don't care that he's younger than even me. He's a human being, and he deserves respect, especially yours, Len!"
It was Hikaru's voice. Pavel turned his body, but he could not see what was going on. It was happening as Len and Hikaru were putting the bass drum in Hikaru's truck. They didn't notice the curly-haired brunet as he crept up to watch and listen.
"He wrote a pretty damn good song, though," Len was saying.
"He did. And for that you should be grateful," Hikaru shot back, "With this song, we have a chance not to be shunned by our fans."
"But…"
"Stop being so stubborn about Pasha, Len! He's our song-writer and you're going to have to live with it!"
Pavel took a chance and looked over the car he was hiding behind. He hated to eavesdrop, but this was Leonard McCoy and Hikaru Sulu… Pavel should at least be allowed to overhear at least one conversation, right?
As he looked over the car's hood, he saw Len move instinctively close to Hikaru, his eyes darkening slightly as he leaned in and… kissed the other?
Hikaru's eyes and grown bigger in the five seconds it took Len to detach himself. There was an awkward silence between the two before Len made an angry growling noise and took off.
Pavel's eyes were wide, but he heard Uhura honk and decided not to dwell on what he had just seen. But it was the oddest thing he had ever seen… what had gotten in to the surly old would-have-been doctor?