A/N: And a good 2 months later... haha I am so sorry you guys. I've been so ridiculously busy with school that I almost died. But I'm still here! haha hooray which means more chapters! I hope you don't hate me or anything. I'm on a weeks vacation right now so I finally got the time to do this. It makes my life look pretty sad, haha but whatever. I'm almost done with high school.
So this chapter is shorter than the last, but I've already started on chapter 8 so it's all good, and I think it's going to be much longer. Because it took me so long, I don't want to make you wait even longer by writing a long A/N. Enjoy and I AM SOOOO SORRY.
I ONLY OWN THE PLOT. THE CHARACTERS, IDEAS, TERMINOLOGY, LAYOUT OF THE ENTERPRISE, ETC BELONG TO THE BRILLIANT CREATORS OF STAR TREK, FROM GENE RODDENBERRY TO J.J. ABRAMS. THIS APPLIES TO THIS CHAPTER AND ALL THE CHAPTERS THAT FOLLOW IN MY FIC. I THANK THEM FOR THEIR BRILLIANCE AND INSPIRATION.
7. Damnit Pavel
Ten minutes later, Christine and Kirk arrived at the rendezvous point to find Lt. Uhura and Spock already waiting. The captain watched anxiously as the group of cadets approached, but was surprised to find that Chekov wasn't with them. McCoy still hadn't arrived either.
"Cadet Navarro, where is Pavel?" he asked as his eyes met those of the cadet. She only stared back up at him, wide eyed, looking rather shaken. "You can consider that an order, cadet."
"He… he fell. D-doctor McCoy took him back to the sickbay."
"What?"
"It's true, Captain." Christine confirmed. Kirk turned to her, looking incredibly frustrated, and, she wasn't sure of it, angry?
"Why didn't you tell me?" Again, his question seemed more like a demand. He was extremely fond of Pavel, the entirety of the bridge crew was well aware of the way their Captain had practically adopted the ensign as a younger brother, and even most of the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise knew it too.
"Well, you were hurt and I didn't want… doctor McCoy said- "
"I asked for an update on anything and everything." Kirk interrupted as he activated his communicator. "Bones, come in."
"Judging by your tone, I assume you got the news." The Doctor's voice sounded unamused, probably due to the fact that Kirk was interrupting his work.
"How is he?" Kirk's stern tone broke into a more sympathetic one as he asked the question.
"He's stable… but… if you wrap up down there soon it would be great to have you back up here. I need your Captain's opinion on a matter regarding Pavel's condition."
"Thank you, Bones. Expect us to return shortly." he said as he snapped his communicator shut, then addressed his crew. "Prepare to be transported back to the ship momentarily." Spock took a step forward.
"Captain, perhaps we should discuss your discovery while we are still on the planet?"
"We will do nothing of the sort. This is a mission of your personal interest, Spock, and therefore it will be put on hold until Pavel's condition is restored to full health. I don't think that that green cat-thing has anyone else's hand to burn anyways. It will probably be here when and if we come back."
"Green cat-thing?" Spock inquired, the idea of a life form beyond vegetation peaking his interest.
"Yes." the Captain said, waving the comment aside as he once again opened his communicator. "Scotty, beam us up."
Once again, the odd sensation of nothing built up in the pit of Christine's stomach and slowly spread throughout her body. Seconds later, she was standing on the transporter of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Gratefully, she swallowed the air, allowing her lungs to fill with oxygen once again. She scanned the transporter room until she found her Captain, who had already stepped off of the transporter and was standing in the doorway, facing the landing party.
"Spock, Uhura and Nurse Chapel, report to sickbay immediately. We need to ensure that everything is done so that Pavel is OK. The rest of you, return to your posts."
"Captain, may I- "
"Cadet Navarro, return to your post. If you are needed you will be contacted." With that, he turned on his heel and walked quickly down the hall. Christine hurried after him, slightly marveled by his ability to maintain his composure in a situation that he deemed worthy, when only moments ago he seemed so frail. His large strides were practically twice the size of hers, and Christine had to jog by his side to keep his pace. In only moments, she turned the corner behind Kirk into the sickbay.
Bones shook his head as Kirk and his crew stood a few feet from the edge of Chekov's bed, staring blankly at the young boy sitting on the edge, humming softly to himself. His arm was in a sling, and most of his curls were covered in bandages.
"I've mended his radius and his clavicle, but he seems to have hit his head pretty hard. He's been humming that damn tune for hours." Bones whined to the rest of the present crew. As if on cue, Chekov broke out into song.
"Ya soldat!
Ya ne spal pyat' let
i u menya pod glazami meshki
Ya sam ne videl,
no mne tak skazali…"
His singing was quite loud, furthering McCoy's frustration. He groaned, slamming his forehead against the table. "You have not had to sit in this room with him for two hours listening to that same tune over and over again."
"Lt. Uhura, is that Russian?" Kirk asked, approaching the ensign cautiously.
"Yes, Captain. It appears that he's singing a song about a soldier."
"Ya soldat!
mne obidno kogda ostayotsya odin patron,
Tol'ko ya ili on
Posledniy vagon,
samogon,
nas takikh million
v OOOON…"
"Spock?" Kirk inquired rather helplessly. Chekov seemed to be in some kind of trance.
"If I remember correctly from my studies of the 21st century of your planet, there was only one group that I am aware of that sang a certain genre referred to as Russian Reggae. I'd assume that he is singing one of their songs." he replied rather unmoved, pressing away at the buttons of his tricorder.
"Eta ragga dlya tebya mama-voyna,
teper' ty dovol'na?"
"Pasch, can you be quiet? I can't think!" the Captain shouted, frustrated. Chekov proceeded to stand on the bed and sing louder than he was before.
"I'ma souldzja… I'ma soulzja…
I'ma souldzja… I'ma souldzja…
I'ma soul…dzja… soul…dzja… soul…dzja… soul…dzja-ja!"
"I think that's English…" Uhura said thoughtfully. Bones stood next to Kirk, scowling.
"Do you want me to sedate him, Jim?"
"No, Bones, it's fine." Kirk said, also frowning. He then proceeded to pull Chekov off of the bed and stood the boy in front of him. "Pasch! Pasch, stop singing please!" he yelled. Chekov stared up at Kirk, his expression matching that of a child who is convinced that the boogeyman is under his bed. He seemed to only just have become aware of the fact that he was not alone in the room.
"отпущенный!" he shouted at the much larger man who was gripping him by the shoulders.
"He wants you to let go." Spock translated, still not looking up from his tricorder.
"Pasch, I need you to-"
"кто – Вы?!" Chekov broke free, interrupting his Captain as he backed into the wall of the sickbay, ranting in Russian and staring at everyone stood before him wildly.
"Who are you?" Spock said calmly, once again translating for the ensign.
"Thank you Mr. Spock." Kirk said bluntly, before returning his attention the frightened boy before him. "Pasch, Pavel. I need you to speak English." Chekov's head snapped up as Kirk said his first name.
"I am Pavel." he said. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"
"Jim, he has amnesia." Bones said as he approached Chekov with his tricorder.
"It's nice to know that you had to go to med school in order to be able to make that diagnosis, Bones." Kirk replied sarcastically.
"Anytime. At least he knows who he is."
"Who are you?!" Chekov yelled, feeling ignored.
"I am captain James T. Kirk. Your captain James T. Kirk. You are Pavel Andreievich Chekov." Kirk spoke slowly.
"Yes, I know who I am. Your name is unfamiliar to me, as are your friends. Please, let me return home."
"Pasch, this is your home. You are a member of Starfleet, and part of my bridge crew. You are on the U.S.S. Enterprise."
"I am on boat? How did I get here?" Chekov gave him a mistrusting glare. "Take me beck to Russia immediately!"
Kirk couldn't help but to laugh.
"You're not on a boat, Pavel. You're on a spaceship."
"A spaceship? Zat cannot be true."
"Take a walk with me and I'll show you…" Kirk said invitingly, in his best attempt to make Chekov feel safe. His attempt obviously failed. Chekov's eyes widened and he pressed his back up against the wall, trying to create as much distance between himself and the man in the gold shirt.
"I vill be going nowhere with you." he said stubbornly.
"Captain," Uhura said quietly "maybe I should go get cadet Navarro." Kirk nodded.
"It's alright Pasch, you don't have to go anywhere then. Just stay here. Someone is coming to visit you."
Chekov glared at Kirk as he sat on the floor, feeling defeated. Slowly, he started to hum again, increasing in volume over each second that passed.
"Don't make me sedate you, Pavel." McCoy growled as he stood up from his seat, hypospray in hand. Chekov squealed, practically trying to merge his body into the wall.
"Bones," Kirk pushed McCoy back into his chair, "you're not helping."
"At least he's quiet now." Bones said with a chuckle, looking over at the extremely still ensign. The sound of the sickbay's sliding doors caused him to turn around. Cadet Navarro ran into the sickbay, followed by Uhura, stopping next to Kirk. He looked at her and nodded his approval.
"Pascha?" she asked, stepping towards him. Chekov looked up. Recognition sparked in his eyes like a fire.
"…Sofi."
"Yes." she said with a smile as she sat down next to him on the ground. "What's the matter?" He cupped his un-slung hand around her cheek.
"Zey are keeping me here and vill not let me go home. You are keptive as vell?"
Ana Sofia pressed her hand against his.
"No, Pascha, I'm not a captive. Neither are you. This is practically your home. You are an ensign onboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, and part of one of the most prestigious crews in all of Starfleet command. Your Starfleet serial number is 656-5827D, and they say you're quite the genius. Do you remember, Pascha?"
"Perheps… but how can you be sure?"
"See that gold shirt that the Captain is wearing?"
"Yes."
"Look at your shirt. It's the same."
Chekov looked down at his own shirt, allowing a small smile to hint at the corner of his lips as he fingered the Starfleet logo on the left side of his chest. "I am not keptive."
"No, you're not." Kirk chimed in, glad that Chekov was finally becoming coherent.
"I am sorry for causing trouble, Keptin. It vas not intentional." he said, looking away from his Starfleet logo to make eye contact with Kirk.
"I know it wasn't, Pasch. You just recover quick so I can have my ensign back." Relief was plastered across his face.
"You remember the layout of the ship, right Pascha?" Sofi asked. Chekov nodded with a smile. "Do you want to take me on a little walk then?"
"I vould like zat wery much." he said as he stood up, helping cadet Navarro with his good arm. "If it is OK with zee Keptin, of course."
"Take your time." Kirk flashed an all too readable smile to the ensign.
"Wait!" McCoy shouted. "He is still my patient. I want him back here in half an hour so I can check his vitals."
"Of course, Docter." Chekov grinned, then left the sickbay with Ana Sofia.
Only moments later, the sickbay was once again empty. Christine looked around. Doctor McCoy was sitting once again, reading over files, and Kirk was sitting on one of the beds, doing nothing in particular. She watched him as he frowned off into space.
"Are you feeling well, Captain?" she asked, approaching him.
"What? Oh, yeah, just uhhh… headache." he said, turning away from her blue eyes. Once again, he was experiencing a wide range of emotions that were foreign to him. The whole display between Chekov and cadet Navarro brought his thoughts back to Christine Chapel, exactly a place where he wished his thoughts wouldn't go. It wasn't the usual mindless fantasies that he was used to, and the fact that these were more out of his control than the latter unnerved him. He felt her delicate hand on his shoulder, only bringing them on full force.
"Do you want something for it? I can prepare a hypospray that will take it away in a second." She felt Kirk flinch under her touch at the mention of a hypospray. "Or not?"
Kirk laughed, once again feeling better as he did so.
"You really care about Chekov, don't you?" Christine asked. Kirk patted the space besides him.
"Sit." He waited until she was comfortably seated before continuing. "It started out as me just helping him out. To me he was just this boy who had gotten into something bigger than he was aware of. We all kind of started out that way, I guess, but he was so much younger than the rest of us…" he trailed off. "After a little while, I was able to really see how smart he was and how confident he was in certain areas, and I started to notice little things we had in common. He looks up to me, and well, I want to make sure everything works out for him."
"Did you set him up with the Cadet?" She looked up at him. Kirk did his best not to meet her gaze, keeping his eyes on the ground.
"No, actually." Kirk smiled, turning towards Christine. He felt his stomach drop, reminding him of why he was staring at the floor. "He did that himself, and didn't come to me about it until earlier today. I've had to figure things out through observation over the past few weeks. The boy has some charm. I just make it my duty to make sure he gets opportunities to spend time with her."
"Now I'm unsure as to if that's really kind of you or really irresponsible." she mused.
"Well you see now, you have to base that judgment upon who I'm giving that freedom to. Both ensign Chekov and cadet Navarro are extremely responsible people, therefore making my decision to pair them up whenever possible extremely responsible. Even with the unfortunate setback, Ana Sofia gathered just about as much information as Spock."
"Really?" Christine laughed. "And from your big brother point of view, do you approve of his choice?"
"From what I've heard, she's very proud of her culture, and it's just fact that Pavel is entirely too proud of his. They don't fit perfectly. So yes, I think he did well."
Never before had Kirk actually considered any aspect of a relationship besides the attractiveness of both counterparts. After witnessing the way Ana Sofia and Pavel behaved, he felt an unfamiliar twinge in his heart that he finally labeled as loneliness. That had been what he was debating when Christine approached him. Christine. It was so foreign to him to feel lonely; Kirk had always been satisfied with a one night stand or random hook-up. He felt like that was what defined him, but Christine Chapel's caring and obviously oblivious nature was causing him to question it. Perhaps he would be more confident if she showed some attraction to him as well, but because she seemed so neutral towards him, and most of the time annoyed with him, Kirk felt unable to do anything. Usually that would be of no importance to him, and he would push her until she gave in, but currently, he was just too nervous.
Nervous. He thought in annoyance. The idea of him being anything but boastingly confident sounded like a bad horror film, and frustration was overcoming him.
"Are you sure you're OK, Captain? Do you need me to look at your hand?" Christine nursed as she watched Kirk's frown deepen.
"I asked you to call me Jim..." he whispered. His tone wasn't one to be considered as kind or inviting. Each time she called him Captain just worsened his anxiety.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"I'm fine!" he shouted as he quickly moved towards the exit of the sickbay, avoiding looking at Christine at all costs. "Bones, come with me to my quarters."
"But Jim, Chekov will be back any moment. I need to be here to give him a checkup."
"You are coming with me. I'm sure you've trained Nurse Chapel well enough for her to be able to give Pavel a thorough inspection. Once he's cleared, send him and cadet Navarro to the bridge to meet with Mr. Spock." he ordered, turning out the door and leaving a stunned Christine and a gawking McCoy standing in the Sickbay.
"I… uh… do as he said." Bones said before running out behind the Captain.
A/N: The next chapter is longer, I promise! If you want Chekov's song, look up by "Солдат" by 5'nizza. Why did I pick that song??? Because it is generally awesome. haha
If there is anything you disliked or loved or ANYTHING you wish to let me know in general, please review and I will take whatever is written into consideration.
I promise I will do my best to update the next chapter before I get back to school next monday!
~hace