A/N: Zombie Kitty, I've been thinking a lot about what you said, about how Cat should have been able to smell the missiles and I think I've got an explanation. Cat's nose did not smell the missiles because firstly, they were fired at the right side of the ship whilst he was on the left side (and you gotta agree, that's a hell of a long way to smell); secondly there was lots of walls etc in the way meaning the smell would have to diffuse around them making the smell weaker (OHMYGOD, I'M TALKING CHEMISTRY IN MY FANFIC, SHOOT ME NOW!), and also there's a lot of smells on the dwarf which could overpower the smell of the missiles…to name one, Lister. And regarding the radar…no one was watching it and Holly, bless her, was having 'one of those days'. It's good that you get tetchy about details, always ask questions!

Reddwarfaddict, you were perhaps the only one who was disappointed at the lack of Lister torture, but it's understandable given how much pain and anguish you put the Dwarfers through in Quarantine 3. You were also upset that no one got hurt when the missiles hit…so, just for you, there's going to be physical pain in the next chapter (yes I know I said it'd be in this one, but it sort of didn't happen, but don't fret the whole of the next chapter will be devoted to pain…hope you enjoy)

Friggin' flapjacks, this is a bloody long A/N note to self, write shorter A/Ns. Thanks to all reviewers. I love you all sooooooooooooooooo much!

Oh and BasketweaverJesser thank you for not suing me…I'm very grateful. I'd like to read your fanfic, could you please tell me the link.

Thank you to all reviewers: Zombie Kitty, boogle, reddwarfaddict, smegginitlarge and Basketweaverjesser, you rock!

Sunrise

XXXX

Also, as a final note…big bummed builders in low cut Levi's have taken over my back garden…they claim to be building a conservatory…why wasn't I informed?

"What's the plan?" asked Lister, once they were outside.

Toni sighed, "I'm going to give myself up…" she crossed her arms and quickly averted her eyes to avoid looking directly at Lister, who froze "what?" he said in a hoarse whisper.

"G.E.L.F's are proud creatures, Lister" she explained "If the plan had worked and it looked like I'd just disappeared, we may have got away with it…. but because they think you kidnapped me, they're determined to get revenge…"

Lister shook his head slightly; he was in complete and utter disbelief. This couldn't be happening…this had to be a nightmare.

"If I go back now, I can persuade them that you're not worth wasting missiles on." she paused "It's the only way…if I don't go back, they'll keep on firingat the Dwarf til it's broken down into teeny tiny pieces and scattered around space like pieces of confetti at a wedding."

"There's got to be another way though," muttered Lister, placing a hand on the wall to steady himself

"There isn't" said Toni quietly, "This is the only option…"

Lister turned away from her and remained quiet. Toni let a few seconds tick by. She wanted him to face facts, say goodbye and let her go and save his life.

She was just about to go when he spoke up "Take one of the Blue Midgets, say you managed to escape by beating the crap out of your kidnapper…" he turned round and gave her a weak smile "they'll believe you…"

Toni wrapped her arms around his neck, and the pair stood in the dimly lit corridor, hoping that the embrace would never end.

But it had to.

She sighed, before looking deep into his eyes "I love you" she said simply. Lister managed to force a dry smile, but he felt like crying. The need to shed tears increased as Toni backed away, her hand was pulled away from Lister's yet her fingers were still held out towards him.

She gave him one last lingering look, before running towards the docking bay, tears cascading down her face, her heart torn in two.

Lister stood and waited til he could no longer hear her footsteps, he inhaled sharply to fight back the tears.

Why did he always loose women he loved so dearly. It had happened with Krissie and now with Toni.

He knew deep down he was doing the right thing. It was Toni wanted to do, and if he'd forbid her from going back, then he'd be just as bad as the G.E.L.F's, controlling every aspect of Toni's life, giving her orders and restricting her freedom.

But this didn't take the pain away.

He frowned, recalling Toni's last words to him…she said she loved him. That was the first time she'd said that too him, before now she'd just kissed him or smiled shyly but never uttered the 3 words he longed to hear.

Everything suddenly clicked into place, the reason why Lister lost the women he loved was because he sat back and let them leave. He never did anything to stop them going. He just accepted it.

But not this time. This time he wasn't going to let it happen. He opened the door to his quarters, "Guys, we've got to get to Starbug pronto!"

"Why?" asked Rimmer, more than a little annoyed at the lack of details

"I've got to get Toni back"

Rimmer and Kryten exchanged confused looks "We don't understand, sir" said the mechanoid.

"She's gone," said Lister agitatedly as he grabbed his jacket

"Gone" repeated Rimmer "Gone where?"

"She's gone back"

"To the G.E.L.F ship?" asked Kryten, "but what about her plan?"

"That was her plan," said Lister, walking out the door, a cue for the others to follow. "She was going to go back, say she'd managed to escape and persuade the G.E.L.Fs to cease fire" he paused as he spotted the Cat, slinking down the corridor "Cat, get in Starbug!"

"Don't kill me, buddy!" yowled the Cat, holding his hands up to shield his face "I'm too cute to die!"

"I'll kill you later but right now, we've got to go…"

The G.E.L.F troops waited outside the airlock til it was safe for them to enter, they surrounded Blue Midget, guns at the ready. They watched as the door to the craft opened and Toni jumped out.

She felt her heart sink as the dullness of the ship glared at her, nothing had changed and she guessed that went for life onboard as well.

"You escaped?" asked one of the G.E.L.F's, lowering his gun,

"Yes" she replied coldly, "There is no need to continue firing at the ship, they have nothing we need…" she went to walk off but someone grabbed her arm

"What about our honour?" snarled Geoffrey, "They kidnapped a G.E.L.F, made mockeries of your people…they deserve to die like the worthless scum they are!"

"They are merely pests," hissed Toni, wrenching her arm free of his grip "They are not worth our time..."

Geoffrey considered this for a second or two, his eyes narrowed in concentration "Call off the missile fire, set new co-ordinates." He barked as he stormed out of the landing bay.

The troop of G.E.L.Fs dispersed as they went back to their duties. Toni looked out of the viewport window, in the far distance she could still make out Red Dwarf, it's colour making it stand out stark against the darkness of space. Several seconds passed before she managed to drag herself away.

She was making her way towards her quarters when the tanoy cackled into life "An enemy craft has docked in the landing bay, all personnel to corridor 12 X. All personnel to corridor 12 X"

Toni felt her heart flutter, could it possible be Lister? She raced back down the maze of corridors, tearing up flights of stairs in her haste to get to corridor 12 X.

Inside Starbug, Rimmer was going mad, "Has your remaining brain cell finally expired? What you are about to do is suicidal…."

"It might be" remarked Lister, opening the doors "But it's something I've got to do…" and with that he walked calmly yet purposefully down the steps.

Rimmer turned to Kryten and Cat "He's flipped…he's finally flipped!"

"Whether he's in complete control of his mental state is not up for debate at this moment in time, all we can do if offer our support!" said Kryten as he followed Lister,

Rimmer's mouth dropped open "You're supporting him…you're going to support the stupid goit with this stupid idea of his that is completely stupid! Why?"

"It's either that or stay here and listen to you moan all day…. personally, I would never inflict that type of torture on my gorgeous ears" grinned the Cat, as he twirled out the door and sashayed down the steps.

Rimmer bounced on the balls his feet, sulking. "Fine" he muttered, "Don't listen to me…. I mean, I only know what to do for the best don't I…" he twitched, before racing after Cat and Kryten shouting, "Wait for me!"

Lister was shocked (and slightly scared) as he came face to face with dozens and dozens of G.E.L.F's upon turning a corner.

A moment of silence passed. No one moved, no one spoke, they just stared.

It was Geoffrey who spoke first, his cruel, cold voice echoing off the corridor walls. "Do you value your life so little that you feel the need to return, even after you kidnapped one of my comrades and affronted others?" he paused and stepped forward, casting a shadow over Lister "What business do you have here?"

"Toni" replied Lister, trying to ignore the G.E.L.F's inhuman height. "I want her to come back with me…"

Georffy raised an eyebrow; surprise flickered across his face before he sneered, "She escaped your capture once, what makes you think she won't do it again? Besides, it's her duty to stay here and to do her job!"

"What job?" laughed Lister "There's no wars man, you've been made redundant! She hasn't got a job" he pointed to a random G.E.L.F "he hasn't got a job, you haven't got a job! You are all officially jobless!"

"Lies" growled Geoffrey "All lies!"

By this time Kryten, Cat and Rimmer had caught up, they watched nervously as Lister argued it out with the tall G.E.L.F. They looked across to Toni for help, but all she could was shrug helplessly, not knowing what was going on herself.

"Toni is coming back with me" Lister yelled,

"What gives you the right to think you can take her?" smirked Geoffrey,

"I'm not gonna take her" said Lister, returning the smirk "You're gonna give her me!"

Collective whispers rippled through the crowd but Geoffrey silenced them with a fierce look, "And how will you achieve this, human?"

Lister stared him straight in the eye "I'm gonna fight you for her…"