something to do (Pavel Chekov)

16

Eadie wakes with two words on her lips.

"Where's Pavel?"

The doctor points in the direction of the bed across from her. He has a mask on and she can't tell if he's awake or not.

"You two can barely breathe, you've been in that awful atmosphere down there. I'm surprised you aren't coughing your lungs out. I have a few questions, think you can answer them?"

She nods, though she wants to pass back out for a while instead of answering anything. The doctor starts by asking that she drinks a solution he gives her, and she nurses it, waiting a few minutes before she feels alive again. Her head clears a little and her body seems to unstiffen. She keeps looking to Pavel's bed, making sure he's still within a few meters of her. Her lungs are sore and she wonders if he's feeling the same thing.

Pavel wakes up with Eadie's name spewing from his mouth over and over. She calls out to him and he sighs as soon as he realises she isn't far.

"We're here. We're here Eadie," he laughs, letting a nurse take his arm for something. He gets handed a drink like her and takes it slowly, having to stop periodically as he coughs. Eadie has a stupid smile on her face as she thinks about the simple pleasures that lie ahead. She dreams of hot water and food as she gets checked over.

"What happened to your reproductive area?" The doctor asks, lifting the blanket covering her and then looking to her. She tells him the truth, that she doesn't actually know. She describes the tube and what happened, hoping he can help her. He calls another doctor over and they chat quietly.

Two hours pass in medbay and they're both given some food. It's nothing special, rice and vegetables along with a glass of juice. Pavel finishes the juice before even toughing the rest. Sugar is the only thing on his mind but he's glad to be having anything that isn't bread and he eats, smiling at Eadie every chance he gets. She's endlessly glad to be eating hot food and smiles with every bite. Pavel asks when they're allowed to eat whatever they choose and the doctor cracks a dry smile, telling them he'll let them go in a few hours. They grin at each other, not wanting to wait another second before getting out of medbay. Pavel's still in the uniform he arrived in and Eadie's in medbay regulation clothing. She's so happy to be wearing something clean, she runs the material though her fingers every few minutes to make sure it's real.

The doctor decides to clear them for a few hours so they can shower and eat before returning for psych evaluations and a few vaccinations. They request a room together after never having left one another's company and the doctor just nods, telling them a room number and a door code. There are still people onboard they want to see again but for now, they're too excited to be back.

"You can shower first," Pavel says, giving her a soft smile. "I want to eat for a while."

She smiles, waiting for him to replicate a few things before taking a seat on the bathroom floor. They know they can't be too far apart from each other, opting to stay close even now that they have the freedom to move around. Pavel is turned away as Eadie gets undressed and he takes a bite of a white chocolate bar, letting out a soft moan and the taste hits his tongue.

"I swear nothing has ever tasted so good," he smiles, taking another bite and grinning.

Eadie gets into the shower and feels like she could cry with the water running over her. She runs her fingers through her greasy hair and undoes the braids that she has kept her hair in for months now. She washes her hair out twice, trying to finally make it feel clean again. Pavel has finished his chocolate and is nursing a milkshake, realising he's so happy that he's tearing up. She hears him sniff and asks if he's alright.

"I'm fine," he laughs. "I'm so happy, I'm crying over a milkshake."

Eadie rinses the rest of her body and shaves her underarms, touching the smooth surface and smiling. She feels so clean and fresh, lathering her body with soap one more time before she gets out. Pavel grins at her when she kisses his cheek. He starts undressing as she dries her hair and with his shirt off, she finally sees that his torso is really nothing but skin and bones. She turns away as he removes the rest of his clothing, muttering about finally being in the shower and Eadie grins as he tells her he's so happy he could sing. She brushes her hair and laughs, telling herself she can finally clean her teeth as well. She cleans them twice before she's finally satisfied. She finds some nails scissors and trims her nails as well, realising they were growing almost problematically long.

"My hair is finally clean," Pavel laughs, feeling his curls come back to life with some shampoo and conditioner. His whole body is warm and he finally turns the shower off, hugely glad to have his hair dripping into his face. "This would have to be one of the best days of my life," he tells her, finding another toothbrush and cleaning his teeth.

"I'm glad," she laughs, placing a kiss on his cheek. "You going to shave?"

He rolls her eyes at her, fully aware that despite their months inside the cell, Pavel never really gained any facial hair. He rinses his mouth out and Eadie asks that they find some clean clothes. They get dressed facing away from each other and both describe just how happy they are to be in clean clothes. Eadie finds happy tears filling her eyes and she laughs as comes over to Pavel. He wraps his arms around her and finds his own eyes welling up again.

"We did it," he smiles. "We really did it, Eadie."

They share a soft kiss and Eadie wants to eat before they go to bed. She replicates pad Thai and eats cuddled up in his arms. Eadie has the radio playing and sings along to any songs she knows. Listening to music makes her so happy after going so long without it.

"Are you happy to share a bed?" she asks, looking at the soft bed longingly.

"Definitely," he mutters, swan diving into the bed. She jumps on top of him and starts kissing his cheek over and over. He's giggling stupidly and he holds her close, kissing her between giggles. He's careful about where he's touching her but she doesn't care all that much. They've never kissed more than lingering pecks and for once, Pavel tries deepening their kiss. Eadie responds, running a hand through his curls and pressing their lips together a little more firmly.

He pulls away and smiles and she figures they have probably had enough excitement for one day. Pavel lays back and looks at the ceiling, looking like he's absolutely glowing.

"You smell nice," he says softly, grinning as she lays down next to him.

"Let me feel how soft your hair is again. It's completely different when it's this clean. You smell nice too Pavel. This is amazing. This would have to be the best feeling ever."

The blankets are so soft against their skin and they cuddle up, surrounded by pillows and blankets. Pavel sleeps on his stomach and Eadie runs her fingers through his clean hair before they fall into the best sleep they've had in months. 

(Author's Note)

Learning to love the little things