"McCoy! No, you can't do that…" Scotty responded urgently, shaking Bones by the shoulders. "We've been through this before! You can't leave!"
Bones swatted away Scotty's hands, reaching for his glass of bourbon, taking a small sip. "Scotty. I have to. Someone is in this town and they know who I am. They might tell everyone and then I'm going to be hanging up on that noose outside!" Bones responded.
"We can hide you! We can…we can leave with you!" Scotty suggested, desperate to keep Bones here. He had changed the town so much as well as some of the people.
"No. This…person knows that Pavel is my soft spot and for whatever reason, is going to use it to manipulate me somehow. I have to be alone. I don't want to risk the town's lives." Bones told Scotty. Bones may have tried to play it off that he was going to be fine when he left, but Scotty could sense that those were false feelings.
"Aye, we both know you can't leave. You've never been so in love before! Remember what you told me? I was right! And by god, I'm goin' to keep bein' right!" Scotty pointed out what Bones had mentioned earlier on their trip.
"That's understood Scotty, but what I'm talking about isn't just about feelings. Okay? It's about keeping the ones I love safe. And that this whole damn group." Bones argued, tipping back another drink.
"You jus' don't understand…we need you McCoy! More than ever. All of us. Please, you can't leave. What'll change your mind?" Scotty was working as hard as he could to persuade Bones to stay. As if on cue, Pavel came bouncing over to Bones, grinning widely.
"Leonard! Are ve still going to ze peekneek tomorrow?" He asked, leaning up against Bones side. Bones looked at Scotty who was giving him the "I told you so" look.
"Yeah." Bones nodded. Pavel hugged Bones, squeezing him tightly.
"Ya lyublyu tebya." Pavel muttered his usual loving Russian phrase towards Bones, which gave him chills up his spine.
"I love you too kid." Bones rubbing Pavel's back gently. "Now, go on back to Sulu. Don't want him waiting, now do you?" He told Pavel.
"No." Pavel shook his head lightly, slightly let down that he had to leave, but talking with Sulu was fun anways. So he skipped back to Sulu, sitting next to him and ordered a drink or two while talking to Sulu about how the wagons and horses should have what Sulu called "External intertial dampeners." It was just a fancy word for something that stopped the vehicle.
Bones watched as Pavel listened to something that Sulu was telling him. He let out a large sigh and turned to Scotty, who was just looking at Bones, knowing that he was right. Bones wouldn't be able to leave.
"I'll only stay long enough to possibly sneak Pavel out of the town." Bones decided. Scotty looked at Bones with an open mouth.
"Now why would you sneak the Sheriff's son? Don't you think that he would notice if his only son went missing?" Scotty asked, bewildered by the sudden change in Bones' plan.
"He doesn't belong here. If I leave, he'll go back to getting beat up. His father doesn't even do anything about it." Bones explained angrily. Scotty set down his drink and looked at Bones.
"Then what about the rest of us?" Scotty asked with an attitude, rather annoyed with Bones' state of mind at the moment.
"You can come too. I would love for all of us to come. But when the Sheriff notices that a good chunk of his town and all of his border patrol is missing, then he's going to send someone out." Bones warned Scotty.
"I want to get out of this town as bad as you do!" Scotty retorted.
"Then how come you haven't left yet?" Bones asked in a rough whisper.
"Because…I never had the chance. I would have been alone." Scotty looked down the inside of his glass sheepishly. "I want to go with other people."
"Then it looks like we're both in the same boat." Bones responded reassuringly. "We just have to find the right time."
"What about now?" Scotty asked. "We have an opportunity…" He shrugged.
"No. We would be springing this on everyone too quickly. It's not enough time. We can meet again and talk about it." Bones sighed and took yet another drink.
"Good. At least we're on the same page." Scotty put a hand on Bones' shoulder. "I can't lose a good friend." Bones smiled, realizing that Scotty was somewhat right. He couldn't leave, and if he did, he should go with his friends.
"Thank Scotty." Bones thanked his friend, turning back to the bar with a small weight lifted off his shoulder.
Later into the night, everyone sat at a table, eating large helpings of food. They had grouped together after spending their time at the bar. As of now, they were talking about their childhoods and how they were raised. Despite all of them having dark shadows cast over their persona's at some point in their life, the childhood stories were just wonderful to tell and listen to.
Uhura traveled the world with her parents, going from country to country. The trips were long and some of them terrifying and possibly deadly, but she learned so many different languages and customs in the different culture. Though sadly, on a trip down south of America, her father was bitten by a poison dart frog and slowly died on a cot in the middle of the jungle. Uhura and her mother were lucky to get out.
Sulu used to reside up in the northeast region of America with his grandparents. His grandfather had taught him how to fence and grow up a sensible young man. They told him that his parents had sent him over to live with them because they wanted their son to have a successful life in America, much like the Irish. The last time Sulu saw his parents was when he was five and they sent him off.
Spock's family was interracial, but Spock would not tell them from what race. He only said that his family was very proud of his ancestry. His mother meant the world to him and his father taught him his studies, for he was taught at home because the other children ridiculed him. Spock had learned how control his emotions and not to start fights with other children. It something of an odd upbringing in Bones' eyes.
Jim grew up in Texas in this exact town. His father went out to a war while his mother was pregnant. He wasn't supposed to be doing anything close to the battlefield, but there was a shortage of men and their main captain had fallen ill. Jim's father died in an act of duty. His mother later gave birth to him, naming him after her father, knowing that her husband had said that multiple times before. Jim grew up with his mother and her jack ass boyfriend, but he had fun in the small town.
Scotty wad born in Scotland. His family was huge. Everyone from his great grandparents down to his cousins and brothers and sisters had all fit under one roof. They had a large ranch house by a loch in the highlands. Wonderful scenery. Scotty never wanted to leave. Then when he was thirteen, his parents told him that the youngins were going to America to lead a better lifestyle. Like Sulu's situation. So Scotty left for America and lived in Enterprise, occasionally going out of town to meet up with a relative or such.
Pavel was raised with his mother in Russia. He had a slight idea of who his father was, but was never really sure. Then a couple years later, his house was set on fire with his mother inside. Pavel called police and they rushed to the home. Upon arrival, they sent Pavel to the police office and figured out that he would be sent to America to live with his father.
Bones told everyone his childhood story of growing up with his father, learning things and how to live off the land. Then he told them how he had gotten into a fight with his parents and ran away. Coming back to the town, he then realized that his mother was dead and his father was dying. Even now, it was a hard story to tell.
As their evening wrapped up, everyone said goodnight. Hugs were in order and everyone just accepted that they were now a big group of strangers that made happened to make friends with each other and form a strong bond with one another.
Spock and Uhura left together, along with Pavel and Bones. Jim and Scotty were both slightly tipsy and Sulu herded them out of the Saloon, dropping them off at each of their houses.
Bones and Pavel were just merely walking next to each other as they left the Saloon. Even thought the sun had set and it was time for people to sleep, that didn't necessarily mean that they had to go to bed. There were still people out wondering about. Luckily, they weren't noticed and passed right through the town center, hurrying into the house, shutting the door.
"You go upstairs, I'm going to lock the doors." Bones told Pavel. He wanted to keep the house…or more the people in the house safe from any further intruders.
"Alright! See you up zere." Pavel waved cheerfully, but slowly walked up the stairs, trying to fight the sleepiness inside of him.
Bones made sure that Pavel made it up the stairs before he started off throughout the house, locking doors, pulling windows shut. He wandered through the backyard to make sure that no one was there, lurking in the shadows. He mostly feared the stranger that had entered the house today, all dressed in black. He didn't want a repeat of what happened.
Securing the perimeter around the house, Bones walked back in and double checked all the doors. He went into the living room and tied down all the windows, grabbing his gun on his way out. They were going to be safe tonight. Hopefully no one would try and break in to kidnap Pavel. He had threatened them last night about coming in, so he hoped it worked.
He quickly dashed up the stairs and blindly tried to find his way to his room. Pavel had turned out all the lights upstairs, leaving Bones in complete darkness. He fumbled around, jiggling door knobs and feeling for the wall, eventually finding the only door that opened easily.
He slipped in the room, quietly closing the door behind him. He peeked at the bed and saw a small figure curled up against the wall with a pillow propped against where the headboard and wall met. There was heavy, slow breathing, letting Bones know that he was well asleep.
Stripping off the vest, shirt, boots a pants, he set them all on the ground next to the bed. He placed the gun under the bed at easy reach. Moving the sheets, he slipped under the blankets. He turned over on his side facing Pavel. He scooted over next to him and nestled his head on his small shoulder, wrapping an arm around his torso loosely. Everything else just fell into place. Pavel moaned slightly, turning away from the corner and into Bones' chest, nuzzling his head right in the crook of his arm. Bones smiled and kissed Pavel on the top of the head. He lay his own head down next to Pavel's, closing his eyes, feeling the beat of his heart and Pavel's as he slowly drifted off.
Bones had terrible nightmares. He was walking around the town, holding hands with Pavel in broad daylight. They were relatively happy and joyful. Bones was wearing a suit and Pavel was wearing a fancier version of the old clothes he had worn before. White and pink Flower petals were spread across the ground before as they walked towards the Saloon. Bones saw Scotty wearing a suit along with the rest of the group, standing in front of them, smiling widely.
As Bones looked around even more, he saw an elaborate set up made of a large canopy with a white sheet suspended over it. Surprisingly Sheriff Pike was standing at the front of the group of people, holding what he thought was a bible. Confused, but rather happy, Bones stared down at Pavel's hand. On it was a bland, silver ring. Were they getting married? Bones smiled and held Pavel's tighter.
The two of them walked up to Sheriff Pike, who held the bible in his hand. He opened to a certain page and began to read from it. From what Bones was hearing, Sheriff Pike began to chant something and it didn't sound like a verse from The Bible. And it wasn't. Beside him, Pavel disappeared out of thin ear. Frantic, Bones looked around, trying to find him. Around him, his friends disappeared one by one, leaving only Sheriff Pike and him by themselves. Bones began to freak out, turning in all directions trying to find anyone who he trusted. There was no one.
"What did you do with them!?" Bones yelled at the Sheriff.
"I didn't do anything." He responded smartly, grinning as he shortly glanced across the town. Bones followed his eyes, seeing where his friends and almost husband had landed.
Large, big, black wooden crosses were standing up high in the ground. On them, people were nailed in a cross position across the wooden center. A small fire had started at the base, crawling quickly up the structure, creating a billowing cloud of black smoke.
"NO!" Bones yelled across the town, running as fast as he could towards his group of friends. His lungs inhaled the black smoke, making him choke and drop instantly to the ground. He began to hack and couch heavily, keeling over. His hands grasped the ground, trying to hold himself to reality as he coughed. The harder he coughed, the more pain emitted from his chest. A painful bile rose in his throat, coughing it out. Blood spattered on the ground from his mouth. He could taste the bitter copper flavor.
"Leonard!" He heard Pavel's voice call out for help. Bones looked up and barely saw Pavel's body hanging from the cross nearly shrouded in black smoke. The fire was slowly climbing higher, the orange and black flames licking at his feet. Bones tried to crawl forward, struggling, as gravity became heavier on his body.
"OH. This is amusing…" Bones heard that familiar black velvet voice harking over him. Bones looked up and saw the stranger, leering over him, still covered up from head to toe except for a pair of eccentric multi-colored eyes.
"You. Let them go you bastard!" Bones hissed, choking on his words, spewing out more blood.
"Such a pity…I was expecting more out of you…No matter if you stayed or left, I would always find you. It's inevitable." The figure growled.
"Let them go…I or so help me, I will shoot you." Bones threatened, reaching for his gun, which wasn't there. He frantically searched himself for the gun, unable to find it, but all the movement caused him to cough up more blood. The voice cackled deeply. It moved down to Bones, leaning close to his face.
"I've got your precious gun." The stranger whispered into Bones' ear. Bones reached up and tried to grab the man's throat, but missed miserably. "So sad…" The stranger laughed, dangling the gun from his finger.
"DAMN YOU BASTARD. Give me my gun." Bones choked.
"Ahmmm….no." The strange laughed and blatantly kicked Bones, who rolled over easily in pain. "See you later…feel free to watch your loved ones…" The stranger walked away and Bones was left there, laying on his back in multitudes of pain and regret. He was unable to move, watching as each one of his new friends and companions died, the fire singeing away their flesh minute by minute. Bloodcurdling screams emitted from the black clouds and the crosses threw a shadow over Bones, letting him realizes the mistakes he made in life. His whole life had been thrust upon him in a giant flashback.
"Leonard! Leonard! Vake up! Please!" Pavel shook Bones from his horrible nightmare. It was almost morning and Pavel had been rudely awakened by Bones flailing his arm and cursing while still asleep. It had frightened Pavel hugely, so he shook Bones, trying to get him to wake up.
"What?!" Bones shot up, sweaty, hair ruffled, sheets tangled all over him. He looked around. No crosses…no smoke. A small stream of light came through the window, but it was still early morning so the sky was just barely a light blue. More of a dark tone.
"Leonard! Eet ees okay! Don't yell!" Pavel grasped Bones, holding him by the shoulders, trying to calm him down.
"Pavel!" Bones yelled, looking at the kid in disbelief. Pavel was laying in bed with him. Alive. Not burning alive. Alive. "Pavel…" Bones softened and grabbed him, holding him close to his chest. Pavel was confused nonetheless, but he enjoyed the attention and love he was getting from Bones. He hugged him back, pressing his cheek against Bones' bare chest, breathing calmly once again.
"Vhat happened?" Pavel asked, murmuring into Bones' chest.
"I had…a nightmare…you…everyone I knew. All of you were hanging on crosses, burning. That guy that was in here…he did it." Bones retold the nightmare, not wanting to replay it in his mind, but it just happened. The smoke, the coughing, the blood…it was like a big memory from his past.
"But Leonard, I am right here. Eet ees okay. Lay down." Pavel coaxed Bones to lay back down beside him on the bed. Bones obliged weakly, scared to even put his head to the pillow. "Come on Leo…" Pavel laid down on the bed, smiling up at Bones. Bones sighed and laid back down. Pavel turned on his side and propped his head up with his hand, reaching another hand out to brush his fingers through Bones' hair.
"Tell me more…" Pavel quietly ordered.
"Your father was there…" As Bones started to talk about Pavel's father, Pavel's fingers tensed up. "He was…uh…we were…walking, in the town…down a uh…sort of aisle." Bones wasn't sure how to word the beginning of his dream. Pavel's eyes widened, excited.
"Like….a vedding ceremony?! Vere ve getting married?!" Pavel leaned up on Bones' chest, looking him in the eyes, wide with excitement and thrill. Bones thought to himself, pondering the dream even more.
"Yeah. Like a wedding." He subconsciously slid a hand over Pavel's hair, ruffling it. "You had a silver ring." He rubbed Pavel's bare, pale back in a soothing motion for both of them.
"Oh really?" Pavel asked with wonder, snuggling up closer to Bones, closing his eyes dreamily.
"Yeah…really. Kid, you looked…amazing." Bones sighed. "But then you disappeared, and Scotty and Jim…they all disappeared. There was smoke—" The horrible memory came rushing back just as he was able to push it out of his mind.
"Sh! No, Leonard! Shh…Eet vas just a dream." Pavel hurried to calm and quiet Bones. "Eet ees okay." Bones shook wildly, scared. Pavel held Bones, cradling his head, over his shoulder. "Shh…Leonard…" Bones clasped his arms around Pavel, whom he nearly enveloped.
"I know, I know." Bones muttered. "I would just hate to leave you. I love you." Pavel pulled off of Bones and smiled at him, holding his face gently in his hands.
"Now…Meester McCoy, can you please calm down so I may serenade you?" Pavel asked sweetly. Bones laughed and smiled.
"Sure kid." He calmed down and laid down on the bed, relaxed and cool. "Just…don't get to ahead of yourself. Okay?" Bones asked timidly.
"I von't." Pavel sighed. Bones knew how bad the kid wanted to get in his pants. But that would have to wait.
Pavel's hand slowly circled over Bones' chest, climbing up and down slowly, tickling Bones and giving him the Tingles for what seemed like would last him the next hundred years. Pavel slowly climbed ontop of Bones, the two of them fitting perfectly with no troubles at all. "Vashe telo eto khram." (Ваше тело это храм) Pavel whispered into his ear. Bones didn't know what it meant, but he enjoyed the Russian words flitting through his ears.
"What's that-" He started to speak, but Pavel pressed a single finger against his mouth, hushing him.
"I vill tell you later…" He uttered quietly, removing his finger, then pressing his lips to Bones' making him nearly cry out with satisfaction. Pavel wound his hands around Bone's neck, twisting his head as his lips moved against Bones'. Bones tangled his arms around Pavel's body, feeling every curve, niche and scar. Pavel opened his mouth slowly, forcing Bones' open as well. There came a sound from Bones' mouth. Pavel felt the vibration of it against his lips, parting from him to whisper another phrase. "YA lyublyu, kogda ty plachesh's udovol'stviyem. (Я люблю, когда ты плачешь с удовольствием.) The words was sultry and in no way innocent. At least it was Bones best guess.
"Pavel—" Bones started.
"No meester McCoy." Pavel hushed him with yet another kiss, pulling down off his mouth and towards his neck. Bones desperately tried to hang on to his sanity and Pavel went farther and farther, reaching his collarbone and chest. His fingers dug into Pavel's back as he tried to restrain himself. Pavel whimpered slightly when he felt Bones' nails stake him in the back, but he didn't mind.
"Kid…please." Bones pleaded. He ached for Pavel.
"What ees eet Meester McCoy?" Pavel pulled away and asked slyly. Bones grabbed the kid by his shoulders, flipping him over so that Bones was hovering carefully over him. Bones flew towards Pavel' kissing his mouth with a long needed ferocity. Bones aggressively worked down the kid's neck and collarbone, noting many freckles that adorned his pale skin.
"Oh my Leonard….O, moy!" Pavel exclaimed as Bones wandered around his neck line and chest. "Bozhe moy! Stop! Leonard…" Pavel cried out, feeling his heart speed up. Bones listened to Pavel and slowed to a stop, landing a chaste kiss on his lips. He laid back down on his side, looking at Pavel who was wide eyed and in a lustful state of shock. He laughed.
"You good kid?" He asked.
"Eh…no." Pavel laughed nervously.
"I seem to have that effect on you." Bones smiled with a small gleam in his eyes. He had never felt so alive or happy before.