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The away team was lost for two days, six hours, and thirty four minutes.
Pavel was down there the whole time.
The moment that there's confirmation that the team has beamed up, safely, Hikaru can breathe easy from his place at the helm. He's antsy to go see Pavel, check if he's alright, but...
He twirls the ring around his finger anxiously.
Captain Kirk is on the Bridge minutes after the message, looking unharmed save for a large bandage around his arm. He makes his rounds through the Bridge before moving to leave again, with Scotty back at the conn.
Before he walks out, though, Nyota manages to stop him for a moment. "Is everyone alright, Captain?" She asks, a question that's been burning in the back of Hikaru's mind.
"No one's seriously injured. Ensign Chekov was hit by a beam from some sort of weapon, but he's otherwise fine. Commander Spock's suffered some scrapes. But, everyone's alive."
Half an hour after, the Captain returns with Pavel, who immediately takes his place back at the helm, beside Hikaru.
Pavel doesn't even look at him.
"Pav?"
Pavel turns his head. "Pav?" He repeats, questioningly.
Hikaru blinks, at a loss for words as the nickname is suddenly... Deflected back at him. "Pavel, I'm glad you're alright, I just-"
Pavel tilts his head in the way he does when he's confused, his brow furrowing. "I am sorry, but-" He sits up in his chair. "Do-
"Do I know you?"