Nobis ✴︎ Pavel Chekov

Chapter Forty Four - Rematerialisation

       

Pavel feels a little dizzy when he rematerializes. He stands up, takes two steps and collapses. He looks up, realising that he's on the Enterprise still. He wonders if his calculations worked. The ensign at the console frowns at him, looking at the controls and back to Pavel.

"Scotty!" The ensign calls out, "Scotty get here now!"

The Scotsman runs over as the ensign helps Pavel to his feet. Pavel wonders where Kirk and Karsen are.

"Pavel..." He whispers, coming to a stop. "Pavel? Pavel Chekov!!" He yells, Pavel is startled, Scotty grabs him and pulls him into a tight hug. He still feels quite dizzy but tries to hug him back, a little uncertain as to why the sudden affectionate influx.

"I'm here Scotty," he mutters, "I'm right here..."

"But you weren't," Scotty mutters. "Maybe I shouldn't be the one to explain this. Let's get you to McCoy lad, let's get you checked over."

McCoy looks as stunned as Scotty did when he sees Pavel.

"Oh my God, Chekov, you're here."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" He asks. "Where was I? What about the Deffarians?"

McCoy looks at him briefly before calling over another nurse. "I need you to go dismiss our head nurse immediately. She is to leave right this instance and tell her I'll brief her later. Make sure she returns straight to her room and doesn't come through this way."

"McCoy what happened to me?" He asks, growing more and more concerned. "Why is everyone freaking out? How long was I gone for?"

"I'll explain it to you in a minute, just let me check you over. I need to check you over first."

Pavel bites his tongue, a sinking feel in his stomach. McCoy waves a sensor probe over his head, watching the results stream through on his PADD. Pavel looks on, not seeing anything abnormal come up.

"How long did I disappear for?" He asks, piecing together what he thinks has happened.

McCoy looks up at him, a little stunned. He looks at Pavel as if he's seeing a ghost. "Pavel..."

"How long McCoy? How long?"

"Two and a half months," he admits, his voice going abnormally quiet. "Everyone thought you died, everyone thought you had been gone forever. People have mourned for you, there was even this shrine for you..."

"Oh god," Pavel mutters. "Sulu... My parents?! Emory! Oh god what happened to Emory!"

He starts hyperventilating, McCoy trying to get him to calm down. His lungs burn and he wonders what kind of mess his life will be in now. He needs to see everyone. He needs to tell them he's all okay.

"Pavel, I'm going to start with the captain and Sulu. We'll work our way from there."

Pavel nods mutely, wondering what he can even say to them. He breathes out heavily, McCoy patting his shoulder gently.

Pavel is crying when he sees Sulu again. It's been only a few minutes for him but a lifetime for Sulu. He lost his best friend, he was convinced Pavel had died. He starts crying too, something Pavel didn't think he'd see. They hold each other for a while, Sulu tightening around him as if he can't possibly be real. Sulu takes a step back, letting Kirk come and give Pavel a hug.

"I've never been so glad to see someone in my life," Kirk laughs, holding Pavel and giving him a firm pat on the back. Pavel wipes his eyes, feeling an awful guilt over everything that has happened. It's not his fault, even with the calculations but he can't help but feel like it is.

"What am I going to do?" Pavel asks helplessly, "how am I going to break this to Emory?"

Kirk and Sulu look at each other, almost like they know something he doesn't. "Start with Irina," McCoy mutters, "she mourned for you, she's been struggling too. She needs to see you. Just take it easy on her, okay? I don't know how she'll react."

"Can you explain what happened first?" Pavel asks meekly, his stomach tightening at the thought of having to see her, especially in this circumstance. "I don't want her to think she's hallucinating or anything..."

McCoy nods, waving him into his office.

(Author's Note)
Yeet hope y'all enjoyed :)))