Title: The Seven Years Between
Summary: You beamed down onto this planet seven years ago, only to arrive back on your ship to discover it’s only been 14 hours.
Pairing: Pavel/Reader
Warnings: None really
Word count: 3143
A/N: I hope you enjoy this. This damn thing has been hanging out in my WIPs for months waiting for me to finish. It also was switched from Pavel SO to TOS Jim and back again. I’m pretty proud how this came out. Also, how would you feel about a company piece of when the Reader and Pavel first met?
*Я тоже люблю тебя, милый -YA tozhe lyublyu tebya, milyy-I love you too, sweetheart
You slammed your hand down on the button of your makeshift transporter and sighed in relief when you felt yourself dematerialize. It had to work, you finally heard a transmission from a ship, after so long. It had to work.
You collapsed when you materialized on the transporter pad from the rough transport. You looked up at the technician, you both having a look of shock. He pressed the button on the way to page the bridge. “Captain, it’s Y/N. She’s back all on her own.”
“Richard! Oh my God! What are you guys still doing here?” You attempted to stand but collapsed, weak from the transport.
“What do you mean? We only lost contact with you 14 hours ago.” You felt your brain stall, no. It was seven years. You had been down there for seven years.
A few minutes later The Captain walked in with Dr. McCoy and Chekov close behind. Chekov forced his way through, squeezing past to get to you. Falling to his knees to pull you into a hug. “Y/N,” He cried running up and wrapping his arms around you. Gently cradling your head in his neck. The hand on the back of your hair gripping tightly whilst the thumb stroked. “I was so worried. 14 hours of no communication.”
“Pavel,” you whimpered feeling a full onslaught of emotion. Tears started to soak his uniform.
“Shh, it's okay sweetheart. It’s okay your home.”
“Pavel, it's been so long,” you whispered gripping onto his shirt refusing the let go.
“I know it must feel like that.”
“No. It’s been seven years Pavel. Seven solar years have passed. There is time dilation on that planet!” Chekov pulled back to look at you. Tears streaming down your face cutting through the dirt that was caked there. “I-I haven’t, I haven’t seen you.” You reached your hands up to cradle his face, rubbing her thumbs over his cheeks. “I haven’t touched you, in years.”
His eyes flicked over your face trying to think of what to say or do. “I’ve missed you.” Pavel gently leaned in to brushed his lips against yours afraid to do too much.
“I was so worried.” He pulled back again, “let’s get you to medbay.” He eased you to your feet with the help of Leonard.
“Come on sweetheart, let’s get you checked out.” Len kicked Pavel out of the exam room, claiming he needed the space.
“Well, your metabolism has slowed down,” McCoy sighed as he looked at the readout. “That’s to be expected. So I want to give you a few vitamins and nutrition supplements for a few weeks. Just to get you back to normal.” He smiled as he placed a hand on your shoulder. “I’m guessing you might need someone to talk too after all this. You’ve gone through a lot. I’m here, okay?”
You smiled at him and nodded, “Thank you, Doctor. I think for right now I’d like to get back to my room if I’m allowed.”
“You are free to leave, but I want you back here tomorrow understand? You’ve been relieved of duty for at least a week or until you feel fully readjusted.” You nodded sliding off the bed, you hugged Doctor McCoy tightly.
“I missed you, Len.”
His arms wrapped tightly around you tightly, “You gave me one hell of a scare. I’m glad you’re home.”
“Me too.” You pulled away and Bones gripped your forearms.
“Hey, I don’t want to rush you but, talk to Pavel.”
“It’s like looking at a ghost, Leonard. I can’t. Plus now I’m what, five years older than him? He deserves someone his age, and without all the emotional baggage of being lost in time dilation.” Bones crossed his arms with a smirk on his face. “Sweetheart, I know I can’t be the first to tell you we all have horrible emotional baggage. But. If you aren’t ready, you aren’t. The kid will respect that.” He pulled you into a tight hug again. “Get some rest.”
As the door opened to your quarters you smiled, it was all the same. It still smelled like home, the apple and pine scented candles that Pavel got you at Starbase Three. It was your one-year anniversary present. You gave the unlit candle a sniff before stripping of the cloth you used as clothing. You gingerly stepped into the sonic shower and instantly melted. The water pressure felt like magic on your skin. The water jest pushing into tight muscles, cutting through the thick layer of dirt and grease. You moaned in satisfaction, washing your hair a few times before it even felt clean.
As you toweled off you thought it best to go get some rest like McCoy suggested, well, rather commanded. As you laid on your bed you almost started sinking into the soft padding. You chuckled as you remembered when you one complained that it was way to stiff and made your backache. You sighed staring at the ceiling, it was like your first night on your ship all over again. You could hear the humming of the engines, and the usually unnoticeable vibration of the ship radiated through your body. Then there were the people walking by, chatting and laughing for the most part. Every night on that planet was quiet and still, and has now made your tolerance to noise so low. When you were last on the ship, Pavel said you sounded like Scotty when you stated that the hum of the engines lulled you to sleep. It was rough.
You started to toss and turn searching for some kind of relief.
None came that night, nor the night after, the third night you decided it was best to seek help. You shuffled into Medbay late, around 3:00 am, the room was mostly dim save a few lights. The rhythmic beeping breaking the silence. As you slid in you spotted Leonard sipping on some coffee reading a PADD “Hey…”
He looked up “Hey, you alright?”
You started rubbing your hands together nervously, “I can’t sleep,” you whispered. “I can feel the ship moving, and the humming, and I-I I don’t know.” He patted a biobed before turning to a cabinet.
“No problem I’ll prescribe something, but I thought I might give you a sedative and have you spend the night here.” You nodded, pushing yourself up on the bed. He came back over and pressed the hypo against your neck, then moved to help you lay down. “Take it easy, Darlin.” He brushed your hair back as the medicine took you.
The time apart from you finally made Pavel Chekov slink his way into Leonard McCoy’s office, “Doctor?”
Leonard looked up from a PADD, “Chekov, what’s the issue?”
“Y/n” he muttered softly, looking down at his hands. “It’s been two months and she hasn’t talked to me.”
“Pavel I told you. She needs time.”
“I know that,” He threw his hands up in frustration as he began to pace, “I know but it’s driving me mad! I’ve tried to be respectful… The few messages and calls I’ve left she hasn’t even answered. She talks to you though right?”
McCoy sighed and nodded, “Yes, in a therapeutic way. And no I can’t tell you anything.”
“I know, but, but!” Pavel leaned himself against Leonard’s desk, arms folded. “I can’t believe she was trapped for seven years. I mean she must have thought we abandoned her. That I abandoned her.” Len looked up watching him pace in front of his desk.
“Chekov,” he attempted.
“She won’t even look at me. “Maybe she doesn’t love me anymore. It’s been seven years for her.”
“That’s not true.” Leonard stood rounding the table to stand in front of the young kid “Pavel. She’s still adjusting. She never thought she see you again. She thinks this is too good to be true. Maybe back off a bit.”
“Isn’t she lonely?”
“From the looks of it she had been mostly alone down there. So all of this, all 400 of us? That’s a huge change.”
Chekov looked down at her feet and back up at Len, “I just want to understand. I just want to help, Doctor McCoy.”
“I know,” the older man placed his hand on his shoulder. “I know. Me too.”
“I miss her. I just think of the things she must’ve suffered. He should have never sent her down there.”
“Now, we will have none of that. This isn’t anyone’s fault.”
“But, Doctor McCoy, he put her in danger! She could have died hell I thought she did!”
“She was doing her job. She insisted remember? She was best suited for the job.”
“He could have said no. He could have ordered her to stay. He could have ordered someone else!”
“No, he couldn’t. You know that. ”
“Are we sure I mean,” Pavel huffed as he turned to leave.
“Pavel” He barely glanced over his shoulder. “Blaming Kirk is not going to help her. I know you angry and you want something to be angry at, but these things happen. I know that’s a shitty thing to hear but it’s something you need to accept. I’m here to talk if you need me.” Pavel nodded and left, head hung.
Later in the week, you clipped his shoulder walking back to your quarters and Pavel on instinct grabbed your wrist, slipping his grip to your hand. “Hi,” he whispered.
You gently squeezed back, “Hi.”
“Do you want to talk?”
You stood there a minute looking down at your hands linked together. Slowly you nodded, “Yeah.”
“How about your quarters? We won’t be disturbed there.” You nodded gently pulling him along.
As soon as you got in you dropped his hand, “How are you doing?”
“Alright,” you said softly daring to look up into his eyes for the first time in a few weeks. And looking into those honest eyes you felt everything come bubbling up to the surface. “I’m trying to get adjusted you know. I’m still having nightmares, I’ve been taking sleeping aids because it’s so bad. And i don’t mean to be ignoring you, Pavel. I really don’t. I just, I-I,” you felt tears starting to build up, and as soon as they did they fell.
Despite every nerve in Chekov’s body telling him to sweep you into his arms; he simply took your hand and squeezed. “It’s okay. I know you’ve been having a rough time.” Hesitantly, he brought his hand up to wipe some tears. “You’ve been so brave you know. So brave.”
You took a few breaths, wrapping a hand around his wrist that was next to your face. “I’m scared.”
“Of?”
You shook your head and shrugged looking back down not able to look at that soft face, “I don’t know a lot of things I guess. That Starfleet might discharged me. That this might be a dream and I’m still on that planet. That I’ll never feel normal again.” Your voice got thick with emotion, as heavier tears ran down your face. “T-That,” you hiccuped, looking back into those clear blue eyes, “That you won’t love me anymore.” You finally broke into inconsolable sobs, your body shaking with the raw emotion you felt.
Now he pulled you in, running his hand along your back. He rested his chin on your shoulder as you buried your face into his chest. You fingers curling into the yellow fabric. Slowly he pulled you down to sit on your bed. He sighed against you as you pushed in further. “I love you.” He squeezed you shaking you a bit before pulling back to look at you. “You hear me? I love you. I love you.” He moved his hands to grab yours, “My God, I love you.” He gently pulled your hands to his lips.
Despite the swirling emotions you laughed. You smiled as he did it again, “I remember when you first kissed my hand.”
“Oh?” Pavel tilted his head to the side confused at the change of topic. “That gala for the second year anniversary?”
No,” you shook your head.”I mean on Starbase 5. Do you remember that? It was before I was the Enterprise.”
“We were on shore leave. Celebrating our first few months. I was with a bunch of friends. Well, until I saw you.”
“And you to my surprise didn’t use a cheap line on me.”
“Because you told me you would knock me on my ass.”
“I would’ve. But you were so nice, and charming. You kissed my hand. I think I fell for you then.”
Pavel smiled, “That was so long ago. We didn’t even start dating till after the Gala.”
“Even longer for me.” He adjusted the way he sat on the bed.
“I know...Do you love me still,” Pavel’s voice was soft and had a slight tremor to it. I understand it’s been seven years. That’s a long time.”
You sighed, gripping his hands tight, “You moron. The thought of you and this crew….it kept me alive. That memory, now like 15 years ago for me, when you kissed my hand for the first time? That kept me alive. Of course, I still love you.” You were quiet for a minute, “I was also scared that you did still love me.”
Pavel licked his lips, tilting his head to the side again, “I-I’m not sure I understand.”
More tears built up as he made eye contact, forcing the words out of you, “I’m scared you still loved me. Be-because I’m now so much older, a-and, a-and the baggage of-of.”
He kept his grip on your hands and brought you in close, nose barely touching. “Hey! Hey, who stays up with me when I have nightmares of the Nero attack? Who is always there for me to carry the weight of my tragedies and failures? You. You’ve always been there.” He brushed his nose against yours, pressing his forehead against yours, “ Now it’s my turn. I’m not going to let you handle this alone. I’ve got you. I’m with you. And I’ll tell you that as often as you need to hear.”
“What about my age? I have like five years on you now,” you don’t know why you suddenly felt so insecure but you did. But, Pavel just smiled and let out a low chuckle.
“I’ve been on a ship where most of my prospects are four years older than me. I’m fine. I’m perfect if you are okay with it. I want you to be comfortable.” Your heart understandably melted as he leaned his head to the side and his lips hovered above yours, suddenly become afraid of kissing you, “I love you, and your age has nothing to do with it.”
You let out a shuddering sigh, closing your eyes, trying to prevent more tears. You tried focusing on enjoying his hold on you. “I’d never thought I’d have this again.”
This time you felt a shuddering sigh against you, “Me either.” You stayed like that for a few minutes. “Can I kiss you,” the soft request came with a voice thick with tears. “Please?” You felt chills run down your spine as his breath breezed across your lips.
You tilted your head to the side and pressed your lips against his gently. It was like the first kiss all over again. Soft and tender, he carefully placed his hand on your cheek. And even though it felt like the first it still felt like home. Like you were finally home because Pavel still loved you.
“Do you think me sleeping next to you will help,” he finally asked.
You shrugged, “I don’t know. It’s worth a try. But-”
“Nothing will happen. We’ll take everything slow. You dictate our speed to intimacy. Okay?”
You smiled softly, kissing his cheek, “Okay. Alright.” The Pavel’s eyes began to feel with tears. His nose began to turn pink and his brows knitted together. You caressed his cheek, “Pasha?” Then it was like the dam broke, tears spilled over his cheeks and he let out small gasps that lead to large sobs. “Pasha,” you pulled him in, pressing his head into your shoulder. Your finger twisting in his hair. You felt the thick tears on your neck, his hand curling into the fabric of your shirt. You just began to coo and whispering affects and affirmations of his safety.
After a few minutes, he finally began to speak, “I missed you. And I know it’s nothing to compare, but I’ve missed you. And I’ve missed hearing you call me Pasha.”
You smiled and kissed the top of his head, “I’ve missed having you to call Pasha. I’m sorry I’ve been so quiet.”
“Don’t apologize, please. You have nothing to be sorry for. I understand, even more now.” He slowly untangled himself from you and walked to your closet. “Thank God we’ve had sleepovers so often, right?”
“I think our sleepovers and clothes is an oxymoron.”
Pavel spun around to face you after he had taken his shirt off, “Who you calling a moron?”
“You,” you teased. Pavel started advancing towards you, pushing you back onto the bed with a gentle force. You let out a very undignified squeal as he loomed over you. “Pavel, no,” you begged.
“Take it back,” He teased, a bright smile on his face as he freed a hand.
You tried to wiggle away but it was useless. So, you stilled and hardened your resolve, “Never.”
“Then it is to be war,” he asked giving you one more out.
“It is.”
Then that cheating bastard went straight to the most ticklish place on you, that cheating bastard. You squealed and tried to push his hands off. “No fair,” you yelled, “You have to work up to that! You can’t just go nuclear!” Pavel just laughed as he continued and you fought for a breath, “Pasha!”
“Just take it back. Just take it back, Y/N and I stop.” You groaned and mumbled an apology. “What was that I can’t hear you.”
“I take it back,” you laughed and he pulled his hands away and kept himself propped over you. As you caught your breath you felt wonderful. In that moment it felt like you had never left. Like you had just been apart for a few hours. “I love you,” you mumbled as you pulled him down on top of you, pressing your nose into his shoulder.
“Я тоже люблю тебя, милый. Seven years we’ve been together.”
“I pegged down the great Russian Lover.”
“Always.” You laid underneath his weight for a while, enjoying the warmth, the contact that you had been denied for so long. You were finally safe, you were finally warm, you were finally home.
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