Title: Failure - Chapter 2
Author: That hasn't changed. (Stop saying unfortunately.) StarQuality
Disclaimer: I STILL haven't got around to taking over the Dwarf.
Summary: Aftermath of the previous chapter. What events will unfold?
A/N: My second chapter of my first Red Dwarf fic, slash fic and Red Dwarf slash fic. Not as depressing as the first. Sorry for not doing Lister too well, can you ignore me not writing his accent? And for the 'at least not to a normal person' bit, in the second section, I must not be normal. I didn't know what the doctor's name was, so I nicked Ana Matronic's real surname, Lynch. (She's the female singer in Scissor Sisters. I love that album, it rocks.)
"Rimmer?" No reply. "Rimmer?!" Still no reply. "Ohmygod... RIMMER?!"
Lister fell to his knees beside the body of his bunkmate, razorblade still in his hand. "Rimmer... Come on ya smegger..." The third technician desperately tried to get him to move. "Come... Oh no..." That's when he saw the blood pouring out of Arnold J. Rimmer's wrist.
The Scouser stood up shakily, and back away. He looked at the door, he could just run away and let someone else find him. But he wouldn't do that. He was too loyal. Especially to Rimmer. "Get a hold of yourself, man. Just, get a cloth." Lister set about wrapping Rimmer's arms in any material he could find. He put a towel around his left wrist, and... What to put around the right? Lister looked around the room and began to panic. Then he ripped off his favourite shirt (The one he was wearing when Kochanski almost treated him like a normal human being.) and used that as a bandage. "Okay. Now. Call the.." He looked at the red stains that were forming on the material, feeling a little woozy. "No. Be strong."
"Is he gonna be alright, doc?"
"Well, they were deep cuts, hence the blood." The doctor explained to Lister, who was sitting next to the bed where Rimmer was sleeping, "But, as you seemed to have got there very fast..." he smiled, "...and as you seem to have done an excellent job in saving as much blood as possible.." the doctor smiled once again, "...he should be fine. We just have to keep a very close eye on him. And so do you, don't let him do that ever again, he might not be so lucky next time."
"I won't, I'll never let him outta me sight again." Lister said, sincerely, looking at Rimmer, "Thanks, doc."
The doctor just smiled and left Lister with the patient. He knew that Rimmer wasn't the most desirable person in the world - at least, to a normal person - but he was always glad to help Lister out. Saving a patient was a great achievement as it was, and if you saved someone with not much hope, that was even better, but saving someone who really meant something to someone, that was the greatest feeling.
Lister, however, stayed put, determined to be there when Rimmer woke up. He poured himself a glass of water - no beer allowed in the hospital wing of the ship - and then sat down for a long, cold night.
"So, you used your.. favourite shirt?"
"Yeah.. Well, you were bleedin' all over the floor man, I didn't want to have to clean that up."
Rimmer, who had woken up a few hours later, pretended to look shocked and hurt. "Really, Listy?"
"Nah, course not." Lister took a swig of the beer he'd smuggled in. Once again, Rimmer looked shocked. "What?" Lister grinned. He was just happy to have Rimmer back again, even if he was just about to launch into a lecture.
"You know, Lister, if you keep drinking like you do, it'll be me visiting you in hospital, after extensive liver surgery." Rimmer said, with just a hint of a smile. "But, as you saved me. I'll let you off."
"Really?" Lister prepared to fall off of his chair, "I won't be goin' on report?"
"Nope. In fact, I'm forgetting about all the smeggy things you do to me in the future."
"Future. So, this won't happen again then?" Lister looked at the bandages that were wrapped around his bunkmate's arms.
Rimmer noticed he was looking, and looked down as well. They were a painful reminder of what he had done. "No. Never again."
"Good, cos..."
"What?" Rimmer sat up.
"Nothin', just... Don't do anything like that again."
With Lister's help, Rimmer got out of bed on his second day of being in the hospital wing. The doctor had been surprised that he wasn't the irritating Rimmer everyone had described him to be, and was not releasing him early, but he thought he was well enough to leave.
"Thanks Doctor." Rimmer said, as he unsteadily left the room. Lister was right behind him, but he stopped to talk to Dr. Lynch, whilst Rimmer waited outside for him.
"Listen, I just want to thank you..."
"Well, I hardly did anything, you saved him." Dr. Lynch smiled at the confused slob, "Take care of him."
"Oh.. I will."
TBC...
Yes, TBC is right. Looking forward to the next chapter? I am. I have my 'Scissor Sisters' album to listen to. Good LORD, is it possible to be in love with a CD?
Answer my own question. Yes. 'The Rasmus' album and me. Yes, it's possible to be in love with a CD.
