Fair warning, there may not be a chapter tomorrow because; 1: I'm going to be out most of the day and 2: I will have to write those ten pages in that short time and edit and do all that good stuff. But I will tell you that chapter 7 is probably going to be my favorite to write!
(Another shout out to those who follow and review! Thank you, you lovely people!
Bones looked Pavel up and down. The kid had a small figure, felt breakable and was terrified of blood. He was beginning to second guess teaching Pavel how to drink. Sure he was Russian…but what did that matter? No two Russians are the same. Like snowflakes.
"Listen, Pavel, I think that's a bad idea. I don't want you gettin' hurt or…throwing up…or getting your dad pissed off." Bones confessed.
"Please! You said zat eet might heelp me." Pavel ran up to Bones, pleading and begging, shaking his hands.
"Kid…no. I'm not going to. I suggest that we just move onto fighting." Bones turned around and began to walk away from the outskirts, heading back into the town when Pavel came running after him, yelling all the way. From what Bones could here, it sounded like nonsense, but was probably some form of angry Russian. When Pavel reached Bones, he quickly grabbed the sleeve of Bones' shirt and roughly tugged on it like an angry child would to a mother. Bones, irritated by the persitance of this kid, turned around to face Pavel, with rage in his eyes. Pavel saw that, fearing Bones at this very moment, but did not back down. That's how persistant he was.
"Leesten to me. I have an idea." Pavel told Bones.
"What?" Bones asked, rather pissed off.
"In certain situations, when another person geets in a fight, it vould usually be after drinking in a saloon. I have seen many fights take place after a visit zere." Pavel started. Bones wasn't understanding where Pavel was heading with the conversation, so he cut him off.
"What does this have to do with any thing?"
"I zink zat eef I should learn how to fight, it should be under the circumstances of a real fight. Both of us should drink." Pavel finished his idea and looked hopefully up at Bones.
What Pavel had said made sense to Bones. In a sort of way. During fights, either one or both of the opponents were drunk off their asses…or tipsy to say the least. Pavel had made some decent points in his short, but sensible speech. So that left Bones thinking whether to act upon that or not. Good or bad things could come out of it. He was sure that one of them…probably Pavel, would have a broken limb or something nearing the end. But the kid wanted to do this. He was dedicated.
"Sure." Bones shrugged, giving in. Pavel smiled, knowing that he had won.
"Alvight! Let's go!" Pavel ran ahead of Bones, entering the town, stopping suddenly and turning to Bones, who was a couple feet behind him. Bones saw the look in Pavel face and started to jog to the town, wondering what it might have been that had made Pavel stop so abruptly.
When he reached the town entry, he stopped right beside Pavel. And he saw what Pavel had seen. It was his father, dressed in what seemed like the finest of clothes, riding atop a clean, well bred horse. Bones grunted with annoyance, looking at Sheriff Pike, then at Pavel, whose eyes were wide open with worry, eyebrows creased.
"What are you so scared of kid? It's just your dad. Yeah he's an ass—"
"Sh! Vhen he dresses like this, it means that he ees leaving ze town." Pavel's voice shook like a frightened child's. Bones began sincerely worried about the kid and his mental state around his father.
"And you're worrying why?" Bones asked. Pavel turned to Bones, shaking with fear and worry, nearly trembling, hands shaking, eyes turning glossy and red.
"It's vhen everyone…who hates me…or my father…hurt me." Pavel choked on his words as he spoke. Bones stared wide eyed.
"What?" He knew that Pavel had gotten beaten up at the bar, and possibly made fun of, but what he was hearing was just the tip of the iceberg?
"Vhen he leaves, they come and mock me, fight me, threaten me. Ze say zat my mother vas a whore. And zat my father is a dirty, rotten bastard…and I eem no better zan zem." Pavel fell quite for a second before speaking again. "Ze worst part…vell…zere or multiple worse parts…the first worst part is zat…ze men take me outside and tie me to a building. Just a post…zen, zey strip me down…and whip me, punch me…scorch my flesh….the second worst is ven my father gets back and he doesn't believe a word I say…of course he knows that I get beat up around town…"
When Bones heard Pavel say this, he nearly melted into a bucket of pain, tears and pity. Pavel kept looking at Bones, multiple teardrops running down his face. Something had reached is hand down into the black abyss of Leonard "Bones" McCoy's cold heart and had brought up emotions, feelings, and most of all, the one he did not recognize yet…love.
"Kid…I—I don't know what to say…" Bones sputtered. Pavel nodded, tears still streaming down his face. "Come here kid." Bones waved his hands toward himself, reaching out to Pavel, embracing him in a small hug. The cold iciness towards Pavel was finally starting to crack.
"I zink…z-zat we should finish this conversation later. Here he comes." Pavel pushed away from Bones, stepping aside as his father came riding up to the two of them.
Sheriff Pike looked at his son and the stranger for a moment before speaking.
"I would like you to know, Mr. McCoy, that I am leaving on a four day trip to Austin. I will be gone and there will be someone in my place. That doesn't mean you get to go all wily and crazy." The Sheriff started.
"I know sir. I won't." Bones returned to being stern and tough. Pavel feared that Bones would be stuck like that for a while, in his cold, stern form.
"But…since I have seen you and my son have grown….closer…than any other men in this town. I have a favor to ask." The Sheriff shifted uncomfortably in his saddle. Bones smirked and crossed his arms, looking up at Pike.
"Yes?"
"I would like you to…watch my son while I'm gone. He has reported…violence towards him while I was off, so I want him to be somewhat safe." Sheriff Pike had trouble spitting his words out, but managed to do so. Bones was surprised by the Sheriff's favor.
"You really trust the strangest of men, don't you?" Bones asked, laughing.
"Are you going to do it or not?" The Sheriff asked.
Bones smirked again, but turned serious, responding. "Yes. I will." The Sheriff looked down at his son, the glare menacing and quite dreadful.
"You hear that Pavel? This man will be watching you. Now when I come back, I don't want anymore complaints. There shouldn't be anymore complaints. Understood?" Pike told Pavel. Pavel looked at Bones with a hopeful look.
"Yes sir." Pavel nodded.
"Good. Well…I will see both of you in four days…oh, and Mr. McCoy, just because I am letting you watch my son, does not mean I have given up looking for who you are. I am still searching."
"I understand." Bones replied. The Sheriff nodded and clicked his tongue, moving the horse along. Bones watched as Sheriff Pike joined a new group and began laughing as well as pulling out a cigar. "Well kid, looks like you're stuck with me." Bones turned to Pavel, who was quick to wipe away any signs of distress or crying.
"Yes. I am thankful though. You veel keep me safe." Pavel sighed and looked at his father. "Are you ready to go drinking?"
Bones looked at the kid, who was still slightly emotionally torn up. "Are you sure that you're in the right mindset? You don't look too swell." Bones worried.
"I eem fine. Let's go." Pavel pressed on, drudging his feet along the dusty ground as he walked towards the saloon. Bones shook his head to himself, thinking and knowing that this was a bad idea, but he followed Pavel.
"Pavel, come on. I really think this is a bad idea." Bones argued huskily. Pavel kept walking while he talked.
"I zink zat I will be fine! You vere ze one zat suggested it." Pavel added. Bones mentally cursed himself for even adding drinking onto their list of things to do. But then again, what Pavel had said earlier…about being in the right circumstances…it made a hell of a lot of sense. And Bones was thirsty…
"Fine. Let's go. But don't leave my side. I don't want you up on those damn antlers again." Bones agreed, trying to seem upset and disgruntled.
"I don't zink I vill go in there myself ever again." Pavel shuddered thinking about the last time he was in the Saloon. Never again.
"Good." Bones nodded.
The two of them walked to the Saloon in utter silence. Both of them were thinking about the emotional moment that Pavel had shared with Bones. Pavel had told someone he had barely even known for a day something that he could never tell his father. Pavel saw that as a sign of trust, Bones saw that as a sign of trust and something else. It tugged at his heart, making him rather nervous.
From farther away, Jim Kirk had seen the whole exchange between Pavel and Bones before Sheriff Pike had ridden up. It raised suspicion towards both Pavel and Mr. McCoy. Jim Kirk knew for a fact that Pavel was a very shy, timid boy who would never come within a yard of Jim and his group. But now, he was hugging strange men and crying? It certainly begged the question of who Leonard "Bones" McCoy was and why Pavel had grown so attached to him.
Pavel and Bones reached the Saloon, entering through the wide swinging doors. As they came through, the doors loudly clacked and banged behind them, causing everyone in the bar to grow silent. They watched Pavel Chekov and the stranger make their way to the front of the bar, settling down on a pair of stools. The tension in the room rose. Last time that exact pair was in the bar, a fight had broken out, resulting in a broken nose and arm. Everyone was now very wary.
Bones felt the eyes on him and Pavel as they sat down. Nothing would ever really be the same here. He had made his impact in this certain place, which was a bad thing. An outlaw should never make an impact. Good nor Bad.
"Zey are looking at us." Pavel whispered to Bones as he sat next to him. Bones leaned forward on the bar, crossing his arms.
"I know. Don't make eye contact. Just follow my lead and you shouldn't get in another fight." He muttered and looked at the bartender. To their luck, it was someone different.
The man working the bar had a thinly shaved head and very pale skin. His eyes were slightly sunken in and tired. But the smile on his face made up for lack of sleep in happiness.
"Excuse me," Bones started. When he gained the man's eye contact and attention, he resumed. "Can we get twelve shots of the strongest stuff you have?" When Bones asked for the multitude of strong, heavy drinks, Pavel straightened up a bit. He didn't know that Leonard was going to order that much.
"Aye, sure. Splittin' the bill or what?" He asked. Bones was surprised when he heard the accent that came out of the man's mouth.
"Uh…no thanks…just six for him and six for me." Bones pointed to Pavel, caught off guard.
"Alreight. I'll get right on it." The man smiled and turned away, taking down twelve shot glass and grabbing a dark brown bottle from the top shelf.
Pavel leaned over to Bones, whispering, "This ees safe, right?" Bones nodded slowly as he watched the man at work. When he was done, the bartender brought all twelve glasses to the front and split them up into two groups, shoving one towards Bones and the other towards Pavel. Then he turned right around and poured another glass of something and threw and icecube in it.
"Okay kid, there you go. Just go at it." Bones nodded his head towards the glasses sitting in front of Pavel. Pavel looked at Bones then at the glasses, timidly reaching out and picking one up, examining it. There was a short laugh from the bartender, who was slowly drinking his odd, new drink, watching the two.
"Just drink it Pavel. You're making yourself look stupid." Bones told Pavel. Pavel looked around the bar sneakily.
"Fine." He huffed and lifted the small shot glass to his lips and tossed the drink back. Bones waited in anticipation, nervous for the kid's reaction. Pavel squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head. But not yet, did he utter a single word. That was making Bones nervous. Was he choking? Is he allergic to it? Bones held in his breath, beginning to freak out.
"Pavel, speak!" Bones slammed his palm on Pavel's back, making him cough loudly, collapsing on the top of the bar.
"I—I eem fine…" Pavel responded hoarsely. Bones relaxed and let his breath go. "Can I have another one?" Pavel asked. Bones laughed nervously, thankful that Pavel was okay.
"Sure. Knock yourself out. Let's see how you do." Bones leaned casually on the bar, taking his own glasses and shooting them back like no problem. Pavel would glance at him from time to time, trying to imitate Bones as he drank. Bones realized that and smiled just a little. No one had ever looked up to him, let alone speak to him and become acquaintances. No matter if he was in town for a just a little while, or met someone on the road. No one had ever warmed up to him. Maybe that was because Bones never let anyone. He was always trying to rob, kill and steal. And his motive was slipping farther and farther away the longer he stayed in the town. Usually, Bones would have worried, but right now, he wasn't sure what he was feeling.
"You are already done?" Pavel asked Bones, in shock. Bones looked up from his cognitive haze and saw that he had in fact finished his six shots, while Pavel had only downed four.
"Yeah. I'm quick. Keep going kid." Bones encouraged. Pavel smiled towards Bones and picked up another shot, happily shooting it back. The bartender, who had been watching the pair very closely leaned next to Bones and began talking.
"That kid's got a real strong stomach, now don't he?"
"Yeah. I bet his father would be proud." Bones sighed, wishing that this kid had a better home life and father.
"Ha, his father. Tha's a wee bit too enthusiastic there." The bartender chortled.
"Yeah. I suppose. Listen…tell me, what's this town like? With that damned Sheriff running it?" Bones turned to fully face the bartender, speaking to him. The bartender hesitated and looked around.
"Let me tell you. No one likes it, but he have to learn to live with it. The Sheriff has saved our arses so many damned times that we really should be dead!" The bartender spoke harshly and quietly.
"Saved your asses?" Bones asked, confused.
"Yes! Our town is so small that government has decided on multiple accounts to demolish it and wipe it off the map. That would cause us to relocate. And he can't have that." The bartender began to become heated about the subject, glad to get it off his chest.
"Why can't you relocate?" Bones asked.
"Because it's our only home. We've grown to know this land, know these people…we can't lose that. We'll get lost!" He sighed.
"Oh…say, where are you from? You sound…foreign." Bones awkwardly restarted the conversation, aiming it elsewhere.
"Ah! Yes. I am from Scotland. Moved here…a couple years back. The name is Montgomery Scott. My friends call me Scotty." The bartender smiled and took another drink. "Say, what are you doing, hanging around the Sheriff's son. You being new and all."
Bones looked at Pavel who was happily drinking away the second to last shot. It seemed like Pavel would be one of those happy drunks.
"I don't know. He just…attached onto me." Bones shrugged. "But I'll tell you one thing. That group of…whatever they are. Jim Kirk and them, they won't stop following me or watching me. I've got a suspicion that they're…I don't even know." Bones sighed.
"They are an odd group. But I don't think they would lay a hand on either of ya." Scotty shrugged.
"Done!" Pavel announced loudly, grinning at Bones. Bones looked at Pavel and then looked at the glasses.
"Nice kid. DO you feel sick…or anything?" Bones got off his stool and began to inspect Pavel very closely. Was there any paling of the skin? Is he shaking? What about his eyes, were they okay?
"I feel fine! Is there anymore to do?" Pavel asked, trying to keep his eyes steadily on Bones, despite how drunk he was. He didn't want to scare Bones.
"Uh…yeah. Stand up." Bones commanded, taking a step back. Pavel looked down at the ground, slightly afraid to get off the stool. He knew he was going to fall. He was drunk enough to fall.
"Uh…okay." Pavel nodded, trying to mentally calm himself down. Maybe if he just really concentrated, he could stay steady and on his feet.
So Pavel grabbed on edge of the bar and kept his other hand out as he slid off the stool. When he feet hit the ground, he shook a bit and began to lean ever so slightly. Bones stepped forward and was ready to help at any time, but Pavel stopped him.
"No. I got it." He told Bones and himself. Scotty watched the whole event go down.
"Hey! Have some scotch. You add enough alcohol into your system, you'll be so drunk you'll remember how to walk!" Scotty suggested. Bones looked at him as if he was crazy.
"Are you sure?" Bones asked.
"Damn right I'm sure! It's happened to me before!" Scotty exclaimed, blindly reaching for another glass, expertly pulling it down in front of him. Bones looked back at the wobbly Pavel and then back towards Scotty.
"Fine." Bones agreed and dug into his pockets for the money, adding everything together. "There you go. And tip." Scotty nodded and smiled, accepting the money, swiping it into his pocket. Then he pulled up a bottle of scotch, a couple ice cubes and began to pour the drink over the smooth ice. Bones tapped his fingers against the wood impatiently, glancing from Pavel to Scotty.
"Oh boy. You've got it bad. Haven't you?" Scotty smirked as he handed Bones the drink. Bones looked at Scotty, confused by what he was saying.
"Got what bad? I don't have anything?" Bones handed Pavel the drink, quickly turning back to Scotty for an explanation. Scotty just smiled and kept drinking. "Dammit man! What to I got!?" Bones asked, raising his voice. Scotty laughed and put the drink down.
"Sorry to break it to you…but if you haven't noticed yourself…you're in love."
Bones took a step backwards, looking at Scotty with complete disbelief. "Ah, no. I would know if I were in love." Bones smartly replied, though something inside of him didn't believe his own words.
"Aw come on, don't say that! I watch people…You sir…have got it bad." Scotty repeated.
"How? Huh, how do I have it bad?" Bones asked, becoming nervous and hostile.
"The little glances…the worried looks…the words around town…you get to know these things." Scotty didn't even seemed phased by Bones deadly demeanor. "You're in love with Pavel Chekov."
Bones told himself not to believe what Scotty was saying. It was, in no way, true. He loved his women…didn't matter how they came, he loved them…he thought. But now he was beginning to second-guess himself, and he also self-doubted himself.
"No. I'm only watching him until his father comes back to town. Then I'm gone. Leaving." Bones whispered to Scotty. It was true. Bones needed to get out of this town and just travel onto the next one. With all his rage and denial pent up, he didn't even think twice about burning the town. It would be good for him to get his anger out. He turned and glared at Pavel, who was now walking around on both feet, perfectly fine, but probably drunk of out his mind.
"Aw, don't say that!" Scotty frowned. He had come to like this new stranger.
"Yeah. I just did. See you later." Bones responded, angry with Scotty and his assumptions. He walked over to Pavel, checking in with him. "Hey kid, you still want to fight?" Bones asked. Pavel looked at Bones giddily.
"Do I ever! I vant to go! Let's fight!" Pavel was most definitely a happy drunk.
"Okay. Alright. I'm going to take you back to the hay bales. I don't want to get in trouble for hitting you." Bones grumbled as he took Pavel by the shoulder and carefully guided him out of the Saloon. More people were staring, more people were whispering and like always, there was the ever present Jim Kirk, lurking in the shadows watching Bones and Pavel. The strange pair. He respected their privacy, whatever they may be doing, but he wanted to know more about Leonard McCoy, just as Sheriff Pike did.
Bones was careful to not make big scene. A drunken Pavel Chekov was sure enough to gather a crowd and raises questions, so Bones worked his way around the back allies of the town, ending back up at the hay bales.
"Okay kid, now, I'm going to teach you how to fight."