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Ch. 8 - Just a Few More Things

Chekov was conscious but he left his eyes closed. Like before, he listened. He was not restrained and the light material on his arms felt like clean sheets. And the humming of the ship's engines was so familiar that he smiled before he opened his eyes. It was the sound that lulled him to sleep every night - the sound of the Enterprise traveling at warp.
Chekov opened his eyes. He was in sickbay; the only person there was Dr. McCoy, his back to Chekov looking at a screen.

Chekov carefully rose up on his elbows before calling softly, "Doctor."
McCoy spun around, "Chekov! You're awake. How do you feel?"
"Alive," Chekov said gratefully.
"Yeah," McCoy said softly, "Thank God." He finished scanning Chekov with his medical triquarter and looked down at the young man. "I'm supposed to tell everyone once you're awake but do you feel up to it?"
"Yes," Chekov said.
"You sure?" McCoy asked, "You were pretty...not everything has healed yet even though it's been most of a day."
"I'm sure," said Chekov. "I just want to see...near the end I started wondering if you were coming."

"Of course we were coming," Kirk said striding into the sickbay, "We weren't going to leave you."
"Excellent timing, Jim," McCoy said dryly.
"I told you I was going to check on him," Kirk said dismissively. "Chekov, how are you?"
Chekov sat up gingerly and flexed his hands carefully. He winced slightly as the cuts on his wrist moved. "I'll be ready for duty soon, Captain."
"None of that, Ensign," Kirk said, he sat down on the edge of McCoy's desk (McCoy rolled his eyes), and "You're taking off as much time as you need."
"I'm not letting you leave sickbay until I'm sure you're fine," McCoy added.
Chekov smiled, "Yes, sir...sirs."

Chekov paused then asked, "Captain, you were part of the rescue group, weren't you?"
Kirk smiled, "Yes."
"Why?"
"Why? Because you're my Navigator and my friend, Chekov," Kirk said.
"But if you'd died on the mission...!"
"I wasn't leaving you there," Kirk repeated. "I'll never leave anyone behind."
"Doesn't that make us all bait?" Chekov demanded.
"It makes our ship stronger," Kirk replied, "Because we all trust each other with our lives."
Chekov thought about it for a moment then smiled, "Thank you, Captain."
"You're very welcome, Pavel," Kirk answered.

The sickbay doors slid open and April entered. "Doctor?" She asked, "Is Chekov awake?"
"Yes," McCoy answered, stepping to the side so that she could see for herself. April's breath caught in her throat when she saw Chekov. She hadn't thought she'd be this happy to see him.
Kirk smiled knowingly and clapped Chekov gently on the back, "See you around, kid. I'm going back to the bridge, don't be surprised if Sulu and Scotty come running in here soon."
Chekov half-laughed in reply. Kirk left and McCoy discreetly went into his office.

April stepped forward and gave Chekov a gentle hug. "I'm glad you're okay," she whispered.
"So am I," he said sincerely and she laughed. Chekov grinned but then said seriously, "And I'm glad they didn't get you, too."
April opened her mouth to answer but Chekov interrupted her, "Because, on my own, I was able to not tell them anything. But if you had been there, I don't think I could have lives with myself if they'd hurt you."
April smiled, blinking back tears that Chekov would never know had existed. She reached down and squeezed his hand. Chekov squeezed it back warmly and, part of them fully conscious off the rules aboard a Starship, they slid their hands apart. But their fingers were still touching.

"How did you manage to distract the Klingons?" Chekov asked after a moment.
April laughed, "It was seriously the stupidest thing Nick and I have ever done! We..."
"Laddie!" Scotty shouted running into the sickbay. Sulu followed so quickly that he ran into McCoy coming out of his office. Chekov and April laughed as McCoy began shouting at both Scotty and Sulu. Right outside the doors Spock heard all this and, unseen by everyone, he smiled.

The End