Chapter 13

Arnold was shocked, why had Kriss come down to him at that time in the morning and slept with him. It was too early. Arnold didn't want to get up. So he didn't. He curled back up and went to sleep. Kriss just about made it to breakfast; she ran down the corridor at full speed and ended up running into Dave.

"Whoa Kriss" Dave caught her as she ran into him "slow down, you'll fall and hurt yourself"

"We're going to be late for breakfast" Kriss said, out of breath "I'm starving"

"It's not like you to be late" Dave had heard her and Arnold during the night but thought he'd use it to see if she would lie to him, "why are you so late"

"Erm," she replied "I was up in the night and when I got back to sleep, well I overslept."

"You alright," he asked her "you don't normally oversleep, what's wrong"

"I'm surprised you didn't hear" Kriss sounded really guilty

"I did actually" Dave decided to stop this as he didn't want to hear it from her mouth and he knew she'd tell him. "You were having sex with Rimmer, weren't you?" Kriss nodded

"I'm sorry Dave,"

"Hey" he replied, "why are you apologising? He's your boyfriend, it would be wrong if you didn't, it's not normal not too!" Kriss smiled, she knew he was right, it was only natural that she wanted to sleep with Arnold, this comment however was making her think. Did she want to sleep with Dave too? She wasn't sure, she was seeing a totally different side to him and she liked it.

Arnold never made it to breakfast and everyone around his quarters knew why. In fact most of them were surprised to see Kriss there, and most of them were amazed to see Dave and Kriss sitting together.

"Hey, Kriss" Dave asked her "can we still be friends?"

"Don't be silly of course we can," she told him "I love being your friend, to be honest, I don't know what I'd do without you!"

Dave was happy with this, he didn't care that he wasn't with her, although he would've been so happy if he could have been, he just wanted some contact with her and friends was absolutely fine. He knew that one day he'd be able to go round to their quarters, see them kiss even except that one day they might have children together, but not just yet, the thought of little Rimmers was too much for him right now. He decided to take one thing at a time, accept that they were together, and look away when they decided to kiss.

"New canaries mission" came the voice from the loud speaker would Arnold Rimmer, Kristine Kochanski, Dave Lister, Cat and Kryten report to the canaries train, you have 15 minutes.

"We better go" Kriss commented, "Can you wake Arnold up?"

"Sure" Dave replied

Dave didn't need to wake Arnold up; he was already up and dressed in his canaries' uniform. On the walk Dave and Arnold talked

"I heard you this morning, y'know" said Dave, "well, actually I heard her, I know she's a screamer"

"Oh yes" Arnold responded, "she'd never screamed like that with me before"

"Let me give you some advice" Dave wasn't really very happy with this but if he could laugh with Arnold maybe he'd get over it easier.

"Go on then" Arnold was surprised and worried about what Dave was going to say but he wanted to hear this.

"She likes it gentle"

"Yeah, she had it gentle yesterday morning" Arnold replied

"But she loves it rough" Dave continued "get her screaming like you did last night and you know she's in heaven, you know she's happy, and you know she's satisfied." Dave asked the next question cautiously "how do you feel about her, Rimmer" he asked

"Wow," he replied "she's just, wow" Dave smiled

"Do you love her though?" he asked

"Of course I do" Arnold answered, "you know that" Dave nodded "what's not to love?" Arnold continued "she's perfect in every way, I mean, you've got the obvious things, sexy, perfect breasts and beautiful, but then there's the most important things, she's kind, she's loving, she gives up all her time for anyone and she wouldn't hurt a fly."

"Don't you think sex and passion is important?" Dave asked, "I know Kriss does"

"I know Kriss does too" Arnold replied "but I think it's nice, and it's natural and there's a big problem if a loving couple don't do it but it's not important to do it every night."

"I think with Kriss it is, and I think Kriss will want it every night too"

"Hey if that's what she wants" they laughed.

"Arnold, Dave wait" came a familiar voice "hey" the familiar voice continued "wait for me, I don't want to be the only one who's late" it was Kristine. "Anyway, Arnold" she continued "it's your fault"

"How's that?" he asked

"You made me all disorientated and I couldn't find my uniform"

"Oh, sorry" he replied "didn't realise"

"Hey it's okay" she turned to Dave "what are we doing then?"

"We don't know" Dave replied, "no one's told us yet, but we'll be there in a minute"

They arrived and stood in their line with Cat and Kryten. They were addressed by captain Holister who told them to get on the train and they'd be told there what to do. They were herded on the train like cattle and all sat down on the benches. Everyone wanted to speak to Kriss or Dave but as usual Arnold was left on his own. Even Kriss was talking to someone else. Arnold just sat there looking at the floor, the dirty, mucky floor that these very boots had walked over just a few days ago, but just a few days ago he hadn't felt loved, he hadn't had more sex in the last few days than he had before. He was just Arnold Rimmer and he was lonely. This time though things were different, he was loved and he had been sleeping with Kriss but one thing was still the same, he still was Arnold Rimmer and he still felt lonely.

Kriss finally finished the conversation and went back to him.

"Hey, Kill crazy says he's happy for us" Arnold seemed amused by this

"Kill crazy?" he asked "he doesn't know what it means, he probably wishes he was sleeping with you just now, after all, who doesn't"

"But he's not is he?" she told him "you are"

Arnold smiled, that's right, he was and blimey he felt good about it. He still couldn't believe it and had to pinch himself every now and then to check he wasn't dreaming.

"Canary transport module 551 now docking please report to base for debriefing" that was a pretty safe mission, everyone agreed. They hadn't lost anyone, which was always a good thing, and there was only one injury, which was a bloody miracle. Unfortunately the person who was hurt was Kriss.

Arnold hadn't known what to do, there was his girlfriend, his lovely girlfriend lying there helpless and calling him but he didn't know what to do. He just stood there and looked at her in shock, there was blood pouring from her leg but Arnold didn't do anything. It took about five minutes before Kriss told him to call someone. At this point all his first aid came back he yelled for help on his radio and held her leg up in the air. He took off his jacket and wrapped it round her leg to stop the bleeding. He hadn't seen what happened. All he knew was that she was injured and he wanted to help her. It wasn't a bad cut and he knew they could bandage it and she'd be okay, but for a split second he thought she was going to die, and that's why he froze.

Visiting her in the medical block was a wonderful experience for him. Obviously they didn't have sex, they couldn't but they talked some more

"I'm sorry Kriss" Arnold seemed so upset "I just froze"

"I know" she replied understandably "I did the same thing once, my brother Moose hurt himself quite badly once, I just froze, I didn't even call for Mum"

"I thought I'd lost you" Arnold confessed, "I couldn't live without you"