Disclaimer: Let's face it, I am NEVER going to own Red Dwarf. Leave me alone!
Author's note: OK, here comes some slight development...
Lister crashed into the Drive Room, spilling Kristine Kochanski's coffee over her lap.
"Whoops! Sorry!" Lister apologised with sincerity. Kochanski gave a sigh.
"It's OK, really," Kris said resignedly, "Nikki, could you get me a wet paper towel please?"
"Sure." She got to her feet.
"Issat the new Nav Officer?" Lister asked with a slur.
"Yes, Nicole Adler, Dave Lister. Dave Lister, Nicole Adler," She introduced them to each other speedily, "Now can someone get me a wet paper towel?"
"Nice to meet you," Said Nicole politely.
"Right back at ya," said Lister, not quite as politely. And with that she was out of the door.
"Listen, I've got a favour to ask," said Lister quietly.
"Oh yeah?" said Kochanski suspiciously.
"You know I took that trip down to Mimas? You know," He paused for emphasis, "to get over you."
Kochanski looked up at Dave's face then immediately away again.
"Yeah," she mumbled awkwardly.
"Well, I picked up something which I probably shouldn't have done."
Kochanski rolled her eyes. "What, the cat?"
Lister eyes darted. How did she know?
"What cat?" he tried to look innocent.
"The one that's been mewling in your jacket for the last five minutes."
Lister grinned a nervous, guilty grin. He knew that getting her involved in this put her in serious jeopardy, but he didn't know who else to turn to. Selby and Chen wouldn't care. Petersen was still on shore leave. Rimmer would probably report him. She was the only person he could think of. Suddenly she grabbed his arm and led him outside into the corridor. Her voice took a much more serious tone.
"Now you listen to me--" She began. She was interrupted by Nicole coming back with the paper towel.
"Here you go," she said sweetly.
"Thanks Nik"
Nicole nodded and walked back into the Drive Room leaving Kochanski and Lister to mumble quietly amongst themselves. No sooner had she sat down than Kochanski's shrill voice whistled through the air.
"WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM!?"
A moment later Lister's head appeared around the door. He nodded at Nicole. "Nice to meet ya, but I guess I won't be seein' ya for eighteen months."
Before Nicole had a chance to enquire as to his meaning, he had gone.
A/n: It's getting there, isn't it? I hope this is OK so far...
Looking back at it, this is actually quite a short chapter, but it's probably the one that's taken me longest to write (damn writer's block!)