something to do (Pavel Chekov)

12

Eadie doesn't get another period and as much as she's glad that she isn't suffering through aches and pains again, she worries about what they've done to her body. She breaks down thinking about it and Pavel tries to calm her. He talks about getting checked out by medical staff once they're on the outside and she finds the words bringing her no comfort. The real word seems nothing more than a fairytale they dream of and reference periodically to make their days better.

Eadie can't sleep and she notices Pavel moving around a little too. She says his name softly and he sits up, asking if she's okay. She nods, stretching her arms out.

"I've been thinking," she says softly. "I can't remember much of how we actually got here. Everything before waking up in the cell seems blurry."

"I remember," Pavel says simply. He crosses his arms over his chest and looks to the black gates. "I was on an away mission. Something shot around my leg and dragged me into the bushes. It went black then. I think I was shot with a sedative. My roommate was on the away team too. He was piloting the shuttlecraft and looking at the plants... The captain just asked me to go because we were supposed to play 3D chess together and rather than cancel, he told me to come along so we could play a few games camping that night."

"I was on an away team too," Eadie says, starting to get bits and pieces come back to her. "I... I was the only female in my group. We were stationed a few kilometres from your group. I was looking at a bacteria that grew on some of the plants there... My friend Spooks, he tried to grab me, but I was pulled away and it just went black for me too."

"I haven't thought about it until now," Pavel admits. "I've been thinking of just about everything else."

"Have you thought of quitting Starfleet to and going back to Earth to start a new life selling ice cream from an ice cream van?"

Pavel pauses for a few seconds, looking to her before breaking into a soft smile. He shakes his head a little at the thought, shuffling a little closer to her. "I can't say I've thought about that specifically. Is that your plan?"

"I wouldn't say it's my plan. But it's one of the things I've been thinking about."

Pavel's next thought is that getting out seems like some sort of wishful thinking but he doesn't say it. He wonders if she thinks the same thing, if she's secretly as pessimistic as he is. The real world could very well be some sort of dream now. Pavel feels his bones stiffen a little at the thought and he wonders if he'll always be this uptight and rigid.

Eadie gets taken again and this time, it's for ages. Pavel wonders what they're doing to her and he wonders when he can stop crying and passing out. His sobs fill the cell and he tells himself to stay strong. His head aches from crying and exhaustion and he calls out her name, getting no reply. He hates being alone, he hates feeling trapped and he wonders how long he has until insanity claims him. He has a voice in the back of his head telling her that she's dead. The voice screams sometimes, loud and piercing;

THEYKILLEDHERTHEYKILLEDHERTHEYKILLEDHER

He clutches his hair and screams, telling himself he needs to stay alive until she comes back and they leave their prison together. He thinks of all the things they'll cook together and writes a list in the dirt on the ground. He thinks of shore leave and learning to ride a bike with her by his side.

Eadie comes back and Pavel feels like he can breath again. She's thrown to the floor and he scrambles over, calling her name over and over. She's weak, coughing and completely limp. He picks her up bridal style with a grunt and places her softly on the bench. He feels nauseous and he doesn't know why. Her body feels cool and he wraps his jacket around her shoulders.

"Eadie. Eadie, love, come back to me. Wake up... You need to stay with me! We need to stay together. You can't go... You still have to teach me to ride a bike, remember?? You promised! You can't go until you teach me how to ride a bike. Eadie, Eadie come on!" He cries, shaking her gently.

She nods. She's half awake. Her eyes open and focus on him, closing again. Her hands raise up gently and Pavel watches. She signs to him.

VISITOR. PAIN. ME.

Her last sign isn't one that Pavel recognises but she makes a long tube shape and he thinks he gets the idea. She signs 'mouth' and coughs again. He wonders if that's why she isn't talking. He kisses her hand and holds her, feeling his own eyes water.

"I'm so glad you're here. I love you. I love you Eadie."

She signs again.

I LOVE YOU

He kisses her hands and holds her tightly.