"You've met him before? And you haven't told me?" Jim asked, scolding Bones.
"I didn't think he was that big of a threat when I met him." Actually, Bones thought he was a huge threat, he just chose not to tell Jim.
"Son of a bitch…alright. We can handle this. Things will be all right. Don't worry…" Jim started to talk to himself more than he was to Bones.
"Jim, don't worry, I'm pretty sure we can handle him." Bones assured Jim. That was yet another lie. This man was frightening. He was advanced and knowledgeable. No one was safe from him.
"You're right. He's probably one of those assholes from…where'd he saw he was from?" Jim asked.
"Europe." Bones responded.
"From Europe. I'm sure we'll be fine. That gun was big though…" Jim shuddered at the thought of the gun. It was huge and looked like you could stick a child's head in the barrel. It was like nothing he had ever seen before in his life.
"I'm pretty sure it's fake. He probably built it himself." Bones threw out another suggestion. He was just feeding Jim lies to keep his mental health safe. Jim seemed like someone who could only take so much before going psychotic.
"You're right. Okay. Let's go back inside." Jim shook his head and herded everyone inside. Pavel clung to Bones' shirt, scared out of his mind. The stranger had returned and threatened further. And they had let him go of his own free will. That was a stupid move, Pavel felt, on Jim's part.
"Leo, I'm scared." Pavel muttered.
"It's alright Pasha. Don't worry. I'm sure he's gone by now." Bones held Pavel close to him and hugged him tight. If anything ever happened to Pavel, Bones wouldn't know what to do with himself. The young boy beside him had become the thing he held dearest within a couple days period. He couldn't let that go, not if he wanted his sanity.
They walked back inside the house and everyone re-grouped in the living room, taking back their original seats.
"Well that was terrifying…but why'd you let him go Jim?" Scotty asked as he sat down next to Bones, rubbing his forehead out of stress. He had nearly been shot out there and if it wasn't for McCoy, he would have been dead.
"I'm pretty sure he was just playing himself. He doesn't seem too bright or right in the head. I would rather let him go than kill a man." Jim shrugged.
"Bloody hell! I almost got shot!" Scotty exclaimed. Was Jim off his rocker?! Who would let someone as psychotic as him go?
"Like that gun was real? Did you see how big it was? Nothing that big could be real." Jim assured Scotty. He humphed and kept quiet. It would be stupid of him to argue with Jim. The conversation wouldn't go anywhere.
Jim turned to the rest of the group. "I think we should lay low for a while, see if that guy comes back. If he's not back by the time Pike comes into town, I think we'd be good and ready to leave." Khan had scared Jim. Never had he seen anyone but Bones take such a dramatic stand. But Bones didn't threaten the town with a large gun. Nor was he from Europe, where everything over there was fucked up at the moment.
"What should we do now?" Uhura asked. She hadn't been frightened Kahn at all. Maybe a little intimidated, but she wasn't afraid.
"Split up and gather the things we need for the journey." Jim finally decided.
"Like what?" Uhura asked.
"Things such as money, weapons. Check up on the horses. Food if you can get some. Scotty and Uhura, you two work at the Saloon, correct?" Jim asked.
"Yes." Both of them nodded in sync.
"Get some booze. We're going to need some of that for our first couple days." Jim groaned. There had been a time before, when he was out for a while with Spock and Sulu. All three of them had nearly gone mad with the time spent together.
"Aye, I can do that easily." Scotty laughed. "I do it all the time."
"Alright, then we have that covered." Jim sighed. "Spock, Sulu and I can split up and grab weapons, food and money." He turned to Pavel and Bones. "What do you two need to do?"
Bones looked at Pavel and he shrugged. It had seemed like everyone else had gotten the rest of the supplies. "Uh, we can check the horses." Bones suggested.
"Good. Yes, we need that. Alright. Are we ready?" Jim asked the group. Everyone nodded. "Then head out!" He announced. Everyone rose from their seats and quickly left the house.
Pavel grabbed Bones' hand squeezing it as they walked out to let Bones know that everything was going to be okay and he loved him. But once they reached the door, Pavel quickly let go. He knew the risks he ran holding Bones' hand.
"I cannot believe zat zis ees actually happening." He grinned up at Bones.
"Yeah, me either kid. It's amazing." He too was thrilled about it. He could finally be free of the law's prying eyes and their search to find him. Pavel could be happy and he still would have his friends at the end of the day.
"I vonder vhat vould have happened eef you didn't come into town?" Pavel pondered the thought, and so did Bones. Both of them came up with heart wrenching guesses that neither of them shared with each other. Pavel probably would have stayed in Enterprise up until his dying days, and Bones would have remained the same ruthless outlaw until he was caught and killed.
"I would choose to ignore that. The fact that I'm here is good enough for me." He told Pavel.
"Da. I agree. Zank you for suggesting eet to ze group."
"Of course Pasha…I would do anything for you. You remember that." Bones gave a tight squeeze of Pavel's shoulders to let him know that he cared, unlike Pavel's father and the townspeople.
"Zank you, again." Pavel giggled as they entered the horse's stalls. Bones smiled to himself and parted from Pavel's side to check up on the horses.
"Hey, do you know what we have to do? I mean, all the horses are here…" Bones looked around, seeing absolutely nothing to occupy himself with. He didn't want to be useless.
"Ve could brush zem?" Pavel suggested, walking over the end wall of the stables, pulling out two brushes. He tossed Bones one and he caught it. As Bones looked closer, it was one of the weirdest things he had ever seen. It was oval and had sharp, thick black bristles protruding from the other side. Now he had only had horses on the run and was never cleaned them. This was new.
"Wait, Pavel." Bones set the brush down, looking out at the town square. "Where's my horse?" He asked.
Pavel laughed. "Eet ees right in front of you."
Bones turned around and sure enough, there was his black horse, shining and cleaned.
"You just did't see eet because he vas so dirty." Pavel explained. "Ve moved him in near ze second day." Pavel walked over to the horse and petted it behind the ear. "He's wery nice. Vhere did you get him?
"I got him…at a…from a friend." Bones shrugged. He had lied once again. He stole the horse back down in Missouri.
"Ah…must be a wery good friend." Pavel smiled up at Bones. "You need to brush him."
"Alright." Bones picked the brush back up and began to gently brush the horse's coat. He wasn't sure if he was doing it right, but it seemed like it. He was doing everything pretty well. If he were to rack up his own karma points, then he would have guessed that he would have enough to take back all the bad he had done in the past, but Bones knew deep in his heart that was also a lie.
"You are doing good." Pavel praised Bones as he too, brushed a horse next to him.
"Thanks." Bones nodded and continued farther down the horse.
Bones and Pavel both worked silently on the horse, moving from one to another. They didn't say a word to each other. It was an awkward and almost timid silence that seemed so fragile. Bones sense something in the air that wasn't right. There was some sort of tension and it wasn't the good kind. He shook it off though. Soon, hopefully tomorrow or the day after, they would be leaving Enterprise for good. Bones could ditch his outlaw days and travel with his friends.
As they finished up, Bones put his brush away. Pavel followed right behind him and when he turned around, Pavel was there. He instantly threw his arms around Bones and hugged him tight.
"Pasha…what's the matter?" He asked, holding Pavel against him.
"I don't know. I just feel zat I should give you zis hug because…I don't know." He held onto Bones a little longer before letting go. "I just feel zat something bad ees going to happen." He sighed.
"No, Pavel, don't think like that. Think about something better." Bones tried to push away Pavel's negative thoughts, because he knew that it would raise suspicion in others.
"Like zat I am going to be vith you, out of zis town…?" He asked.
"Yes. Exactly that." Bones hugged Pavel and brought him in close to his chest. "We'll be free. Just think about that." Bones muttered.
"Yeah, zat does sound good." Pavel sighed.
"Right? Now come on, let's get back to the house. We need to pack our own things." Bones ushered Pavel out of the horses stable, back into the town square, past the Saloon, where he saw Scotty sneaking a couple of booze bottles into a bag and Uhura was slipping food into another. Bones smiled to himself. The things people would do…
They walked back to the house and Bones started to tell Pavel what he should do. The plan was to pack a bag to keep on the horse at all times. Something that had food and extra pairs of clothes. Bones had lost his back somewhere in Missouri.
"Vhat size of bag do I need?" Pavel asked, searching the pantry of the house. His father had always kept burlap sacks in there.
"Something big enough to fit clothes in, but small enough that it wouldn't weigh down a horse." Bones answered back, looking through the cabinets as well.
"Ah…alright…vhat about zis one." Pavel pulled out a sack that seemed pretty well sized.
"Yeah. Go with that one." Bones nodded. "Now just fill with things you think you would need on a trip such as this one."
Pavel nodded and dashed upstairs, leaving Bones in the kitchen by himself. He leaned up against the counter and thought. Hopefully, they would leave tomorrow, right when the Sheriff arrives. So while all the hustle and bustle is going on, the rest of them could sneak out without being noticed at all. Bones wasn't sure how Pavel would react to being away from his father for a long time. Even though he was the kid's father, he sure didn't act like it.
Bones thought farther and farther into the future, thinking about how life would turn out for the two of them. Would they part ways? He hoped not. Would they start their own family? He hoped so. Would the group of them stay together until the end of the world, making their own small family. He prayed for that every night. To have people that cared for you was amazing. He missed the feeling.
Pavel came bouncing down the stairs and to the back of the house, holding his already full bag, beaming proudly up at Bones. "I have got everzing zat I might need." He told Bones, handing him the bag.
Bones took the bag and looked inside. Clothes…shoes….a belt…a bottle of…lotion? Bones looked up at Pavel, who appeared as innocent as ever. "Pasha…what's the bottle of lotion?" He asked warily. Pavel blushed madly and threw his arms behind his back.
"Uh…zat ees nothing…just something." He shrugged, face getting more red by the second. Bones wasn't sure how to react.
"Oh it's something. Where'd you find it?" Bones asked.
"I've ah…I've had eet…for a vhile." He nodded, pacing in circles. Bones noticed the red, crimson color sneak into the boy's face. Bones laughed.
"I see. Alright, you can keep that. We would just have to ration it for ourselves." Bones winked at Pavel, who smiled and furiously blushed back at him.
"V-vhat abut you? Do you have anyzing?" Pavel asked, scanning his body for a bag.
"No. I've learned to live off the land. I'll be fine." He smiled and leaped up, sitting on the counter. "Come here." He called to Pavel, who dropped the bag and jumped up next to him. Bones instantly wrapped Pavel in a hug, holding him close.
"I love you so damn much Pasha." Bones muttered into Pavel's ear. Pavel hugged Bones back.
"I love you too…Leo, ees zere something vrong?" Pavel asked as he rested his head against Bones' shoulder. Bones would never be this emotional towards Pavel unless something was happening.
"No. I'm just a little worried for you Pasha." Bones told him, rocking Pavel back and forth, in a fluid motion. "You're so young to be doing all of this…you're running away from the only thing you have ever known." Bones sighed.
"But you did zat. Vhy can't I?" Pavel asked, looking up into Bones' hazel green eyes. They were soft and gentler, much more than from when they had first met.
"You are a different person, under different circumstances. I worry about how you will react to the new, raw world ahead of you." Bones worried. Bones had been raised to be tough, but Pavel, on the other hand, hand't.
"Leonard," Pavel turned and looked Bones dead in the eye, arms crossed. "I have been doing fine here. I've been through abuse, fires, all sorts of zings. I vill be fine. Please, don't vorry about me." He pleaded.
Bones pondered what Pavel had said. Yes, all of that was true, but it was only because Pavel was foreign and different. That's what worried him. Traveling through the states would be dangerous for a foreigner.
"Yes, I do agree, but Pavel, you from a different place then some of us. You have a thick accent, unlike Sulu, who sounds pretty damn American. People will treat you differently." Bones tried to explain.
"Vell…yes, but I know how to shoot and fight. You taught me! I zink zat I could handle myself." Pavel retorted. "I don't vant to be looked at as veak."
"You aren't weak…at least not in the heart. I worry so much though!" Bones raised his voice. He didn't want Pavel getting hurt. Ever.
"I eem not veak!" Pavel cried out.
"I worry about you! Pavel, listen, I know you think you're not weak, but when the first fight breaks out, you're going to wish you would have stayed back." Bones tried to keep Pavel safe, but that was difficult.
"I can do good! I svear!" Pavel pleaded.
"Tell me one time you were able to pull something off that would have saved your hide?" Bones asked, crossing his arms.
"Ze first time I fought you…I threw you off. Vay off…" Pavel's smile returned, becoming bashful, reaching out to grab Bones' hand, holding it softly. "Remember?" He asked.
"Yeah." Bones laughed. "I do…That was pretty…you sure as hell threw me off." He pulled Pavel in closer, sliding off the counter, pulling the young boy in, grabbing his jawline, tilting his head up. "And I loved it." He made contact with the boy, pressing his lips against Pavel's. Pavel wrapped his arms around Bones, pressing himself into the kiss more. As Bones became more intense and passionate, wrapping his arms around Pavel's waist, latching onto his hips, Pavel opened his mouth just a little, partially forcing Bones' lips open as well. He didn't restrict or hesitate. Pavel grinned and sneakily snuck his tongue into Bones' mouth. Bones groaned and his eyes nearly rolled back into his head with pleasure.
"Mhmmnff." Bones tried to speak, but it was too difficult, considering that Pavel's tongue was in his mouth. Pavel grinned and eagerly pushed Bones against the cabinets. Bones gripped onto Pavel's hips harder, making the young boy squeal. Bones knew that he was going to have to out do Pavel, so he snaked his tongue into Pavel's mouth, making the young boy gasp and pull away for a catch of breath.
"You did good…you threw me off. I'm just hoping you won't use that tactic on other men." Bones smiled and laughed. Pavel was amazing, his mouth, his attitude, his body…everything about him.
Pavel blushed and looked at the ground. "Only on you Leo…only for you." Pavel grinned and played with his hands, eagerly awaiting what Bones would do next.
"Good. I need to take a shower, alright? I will be right back down." Bones lightly kissed Pavel's cheek.
"Okey!" He smiled brightly and gave a short wave to Bones as he swiftly left the kitchen and made his way up the stairs to the showerroom. Pavel walked around the kitchen, being as giddy as ever. Though thought as innocent and chaste, (up until he and Bones had sex in the barn), he was going to take a spin to Bones' head and play with him a little, shock the man, make him moan more. It gave Pavel the shivers when Bones moaned and groaned…
Bones was in the shower washing off, when he heard the door creak open. He put down the towel he was washing himself with and peeked out of the curtain, water dripping from his face and onto the floor. He looked around and spotted Pavel's head poking out of the door.
"Yes Pasha?" Bones asked, rolling his eyes playfully.
"Can I come in?" He asked, his blue eyes surveying the room. He was anxious to get in.
"For what?" Bones asked, still dripping wet. Pavel entered, quietly closing the door behind him, walking up to the shower. Bones noticed that he was wearing nothing but a towel around his waist.
"I zought zat you might be lonely." Pavel shrugged. Bones smirked to himself. He should have seen this one coming.
"Thank you, but no thank you. I'm just fine." Bones replied. Pavel pouted, pursing his lip, showing off his big blue eyes. Bones recoiled, wincing at Pavel's face. He couldn't resist it when Pavel begged and used his eyes on him.
"Please…" He whimpered.
Bones sighed and looked around. "Fine." He opened the curtain open wider to allow room for Pavel. The young kid, threw off his towel and nearly bounced into the shower, giddy.
Pavel stepped in, feeling the water hit his naked body like a rush of cold air. He gasped and quickly fell into Bones arms, looking up at the older man's green hazel eyes with specks of light brown. A small grin appeared on his face.
"Watch it." Bones warned, knowing well what Pavel was in here to do.
"I zink you know me too vell." He giggled. Bones couldn't help but crack a smile as Pavel laughed, straightening up from the fall.
"Of course I know you too well." Bones shook his head and grabbed the towel, beginning to wash his body over again. Pavel just stood, letting the water hit him, watching Bones wash off. It was like watching…fireworks. Pavel had only see them once in his life and the experience was breathtaking, as was watching Bones wash himself. Every single muscle in that man's body moved like gears, his arms flexed, leg muscles moved fluidly as he moved them, stomach tensed, his neck…It was beautiful. Pavel watched in awe.
"Leo, you are beautiful…do you know zat?" Pavel asked. Bones looked up at Pavel smiling.
"I did not. The thought never occurred to me." He responded. "…Thank you."
"Mhm…" Pavel nodded, keeping his eyes fixed on his boyfriend. Bones cracked yet another smile and looked at Pavel.
"Hey, are you just here to look at me?" Bones asked, extending his arms out.
"Ah…I just..err. Da?" Pavel shrugged. He would to have loved to just stay there and watch Bones, maybe just touch his arm and feel the life and strength in his arms. He wanted Bones to grab him and hold him tight, caress his pale, freckled skin and dot his neck with red marks that would be there for weeks on end…
"Hey, Pasha, you alright?" Bones smirked as he looked down at Pavel's crotch, trying not to laugh. Pavel looked down and then back up at Bones, his face flushing a bright red.
"Ah…oops?" He asked, embarrassed. He wished that the shower would drown him and just wash away the embarrassment.
"It's all right Pasha…" Bones reached out and grabbed Pavel's hand, bringing him closer. "It's quite alright." He smirked again and held Pavel's face up, staring into his eyes.
Pavel achieved what he had gone in there to do. He had once again shocked the unshockable. He had left Bones, panting, sweating and up against the wall of the shower, begging for Pavel to come back. But Pavel had just stepped out of the shower, dried off and headed to their room, awaiting an angry Leonard McCoy.