something to do (Pavel Chekov)

5

Eadie wakes up alone and shaking. Her whole body is cold and she has barely any feeling in her fingers and toes. She calls out to Pavel but only a lonely echo comes back and her teeth chatter so hard she can barely hear herself think. Her body protests but she stands and looks around trying to make out any sort of shapes she can in the dark room. Her breath feels hazy and frigid. She wonders how long she has until her lungs freeze solid. She hasn't thought about dying here yet but the thoughts start to cloud her mind as she wonders what her last few moments will be.

And like that, there's light. Eadie doesn't know whether she should be happy to see it or not. She is taken by the arm and pulled down a corridor. It's warmer so she follows, knowing putting up a fight is redundant. She is seated on a bench. A tricorder is waved over her face and she is picked up again. She thinks she can hear herself sob but her eyes close and they drag her for miles and miles and miles.

Eadie wakes back up to a falling sensation. Pavel catches her, trying to bring her back with his voice and telling her to wake up. She whimpers his name. Her eyes focus in and she looks up to him, trying to gauge whether he's real or not. She decides he is and sobs into his chest.

"I'm so cold, Pavel," she cries, lifting her shaking fingers into her line of vision. He removes his jacket and wraps it around her, taking her hands and squeezing them.

"You're freezing, Eadie."

He holds her tightly and puts her hands on his chest, under his shirt. She feels them warming up and sighs, wondering how long she's been gone.

"Are you alright? Can I do anything besides keep you warm?"

"Tell me how long it's been. How long did they have me for?"

"Two days," he says softly. "I think. They've fed me twice so that's my only guess."

"It felt like a few minutes. I can't remember what happened... I just remember being cold and them waving a tricorder probe over me. That's all."

"It felt like a lifetime," he whispers, closing his eyes and trying to calm himself down a little. He keeps around her for a while and they stay quiet. She feels safe and has no intention of moving for a while.

They fall asleep on the ground and wake up spooning. Eadie feels warm and doesn't question it. She lays there for a little until Pavel wakes up and quickly moves off her. She turns to look at him and she swears his cheeks are blazing.

"I'm so sorry," he says quickly. "I didn't even realise."

"Why are you apologising? It was nice. I'm not cold anymore."

"I, ah," he splutters, finishing his sentence in Russian and going to wash his face. She sits and watches, confused about why he's acting so uptight.

"Did I make you uncomfortable?" She asks softly.

His face softens at her question and he shakes his head. He sits opposite her and starts stretching his legs out. "I said last time," he says, reaching for his toes. "Not uncomfortable per say, just unfamiliar territory."

"If you don't mind my asking, have you never had a girlfriend or are you not into girls or...?"

"The former," he mutters. "I like girls, I just haven't had a girlfriend before."

"You're so nice though," she blurts, "Surely you've had a girlfriend before? Surely you've had plenty of girls interested in you."

He keeps stretching, seemingly quite reluctant to answer. "I appreciate the comment. I haven't had a girlfriend. I'm shy, I've always had my head in books."

She nods, starting to stretch as well. They stretch in silence for a little while before Eadie breaks it by asking if he's had a first kiss. He anticipated the question but it makes it no easier. He looks at her a second or two before shaking his head.

"You've never been kissed? Once again, don't feel obligated to answer but are you scared? When I first suggested you slept in my lap you seemed quite... I don't know, taken aback? Have you not kissed anyone because you haven't had the opportunity?"

"I'm too frightened to," he says. His voice is barely a whisper and he doesn't elaborate.

"Why is that?"

He shakes his head and she watches the way his eyebrows knit together. "I'd rather not go there. That's a story I don't tell. I'm just frightened. Let's leave it at that."

She doesn't ask anymore questions and they continue stretching. She hums for a little while and though he doesn't tell her, he finds it comforting. He listens and they stretch. Time starts to gain normality again.

Pavel has a rest for a little while and Eadie sings softly. She hasn't listened to music in so long and it's getting to her slowly. She sings any song that comes to mind and taps her fingers against her leg softly as a beat. Pavel stirs and she quietens a little until he settles. She keeps singing and Pavel pretends to keep sleeping, listening to her sing and running his busy head through their conversation earlier.

They're given more bread and Pavel finally sits up, rubbing his sore eyes. He asks if he slept long and Eadie guess around an hour. They eat together and Eadie complains that her stomach aches a little despite the food. She thinks for a second and asks how long they've been in for and he shrugs.

"Shit," she mutters. "I'm probably getting my period."

He looks up, realising what that means. "Wait, then won't you..."

"I don't have anything to stop it! I'm just going to bleed everywhere, I'm going to get infected!"

"Hang on a second," Pavel says, worried about how distressed she's getting. "We can sort something out. You have socks on, right? Maybe you can use one and wash the other and try and alternate them. I know it's less than ideal but it's something..."

She nods, he notices her eyes welling up.

"Hey," he says softly, his hand resting on her shoulder. "Please don't let it upset you. I know this is rough but it's only me here and I'm not going to laugh at you or anything. You don't need to be embarrassed."

She puts her hand on his knee and leans into his chest. He puts and arm around her and tells her not to worry. They sit in silence, Eadie doesn't feel like singing any more.