Angels (Pavel Chekov)

106 - With You, All The Way.

It takes longer than it should for the shock to fade and fear to set in. Vienna pinches her arm gently, telling herself to wake up, because surely, surely she's imagining things. The air in her lungs feels thin and she can't bring herself to move, to look to Pavel or to do anything other than shake, just a little. Pavel blinks blankly. His mind has quickly gone to a very dark place and he feels just as he did last time he went camping. He thinks of the end, he thinks of what comes next and an eerie calm freezes his organs. He feels a little sick. His mind if telling him to rip his skin open and he looks to Vienna, wondering if it's the last chance he'll ever get to see her again.

Damien has a soft smile on his lips and it unnerves the both of them. He's enjoying the fear in their eyes, the power in his hands. His phaser is in his hand and it's set to kill this time.

"You two put on quite a show for me," he laughs, messily pushing his hair from his eyes.

Vienna notices two things then. The first is that he's slurring a little. She wonders if he's been drinking. The second is that his belt is undone and his zipper is only halfway up. The button on his pants is undone and she feels her insides turn to lead. She feels her pleasure turn to shame and the world starts to carry the faintest green tinge. She feels ill, knowing he watched her most intimate moment with Pavel. Her stomach churns and she wonders if she'll be able to stop herself from being sick.

"Oh it was fun to watch," he says coldly. "I honestly didn't think you guys would ever get to this stage. I mean you, Vienna, I thought respected yourself more and Chekov, what, a minute? A minute at very best? Pathetic. Though neither of us expected otherwise, did we? Pathetic. I told you from the beginning, Vienna... You could have been so happy with me. I could have given you everything. I would have been perfect for you. Jezzie couldn't see that either, and look what happened to her."

Pavel's cheeks are burning but he puts a hand protectively on the back of Vienna's shoulder and glares at Damien. He tells himself if he's going to die by Damien's hand, it's going to be protecting the girl he loves.

"It's really too bad though," he mutters. "You know, I'm no killer. It's harder than you'd fucking think. Though even Chekov made it look easy with Spock's mother. How funny. I saw the way you were looking at me Vienna, dear. You know I've been drinking."

He pauses to press a button on his phaser and he points it right between Pavel's eyes.

"I had this planned out. I was planning on shooting you and leaving. I believe I've changed my mind."

He turns his body towards Vienna and points the phaser between her eyes.

"Don't," Pavel says softly. "If you're taking anyone's life, you're taking mine. I'm sure you'd prefer it if I was out of the picture. Take me instead."

"Pavel," Vienna warns, glaring at him for his attempt at self sacrifice. "Damien, no one is taking anyone's life here today. You know I don't want this. I know you don't want this. And we both know Jezzie wouldn't want this either."

Damien looks up, his eyes are watery. "You don't get it. I have to do this."

"You can walk away."

"I can't!!" He screams, angry now. His grip around the phaser tightens and Vienna swallows. "That's the thing," he whispers, his gaze falling to the ground. "If I can't have you, no one can."

Vienna's heart stops beating. In one swift move, Damien kicks Pavel to the ground and wraps his arm around her neck. She can feel the cold of the phaser against her temple. It's then she realises that she's looking at Pavel for the last time. Her eyes soften. A long time seems to pass and the world goes silent. Pavel screams, Vienna can't hear him and she gives him a weak smile.

"Pasha," she whispers, not sure if he's listening or can hear. "With you, all the way."