Confirmation
Lister slipped for a third time on the slimy field as he pelted down to the tree. His stomach was still aching terribly, but he just had to reach Rimmer and explain. He tried to run the words over in his head, but as he slowed down near the tree's crooked trunk, he realised that all the words made no sense whatever way he ordered them. He'd been thinking gibberish the entire time. "Rimmer?" Lister scanned the branches desperately, thankful for the flashes of lightening that brightened his vision, and terrified at the same time that they were evidence of the storm possibly getting nearer. He soon spotted Rimmer, surprisingly high up, curled up against the trunk shivering and holding his legs against him for warmth. "There you are! Come on, it's wet. You'll get a cold." Lister made his voice as light as possible. Perhaps Rimmer would pretend not to know if he thought Lister didn't know he knew. Rimmer didn't move. Lister sighed and, ignoring his throbbing injuries and the stabbing pain in his stomach, grabbed the nearest branch and attempted to haul himself up. "GEDDOWN!" Rimmer's shrill voice came from out of the blue. Lister leapt back from the tree obediently. "All right, but you've got to come down too."
"Go away. I know about the bet. I don't want anything more to do with you."
"I know what you must think of me. I think it too. I'm a total piece of smeg. I'm sorry about the bet – I really am. But I wanted to be your mate anyway. I don't think anyone deserves to be alone. I know what it's like. I don't wish it on anyone."
Rimmer sobbed silently into his pyjama sleeve, hating such gentle words.
I thought I wanted to be alone. Is that how I truly feel, or is that what I was told to feel? Perhaps it was to make it easier for me, for the times when I am alone. Did I convince myself to push people away to save myself from hurt when they would walk away voluntarily? Is Davey someone I should keep nearby?
Rimmer lifted his head suddenly. Lister had been silent for some time. "Lister? Are you still there?" He could still make Lister out. Was he being given the silent treatment? Lister wasn't like that, he was sure. His throat tightened. "Lister...?" The lightening had stopped briefly and Rimmer's eyes slowly adjusted in the darkness. Lister was lying in the mud.
Rimmer almost fell out of the tree as he scrambled his way down the branches and landed inelegantly beside Lister's fallen body. "Lister? Don't smeg about, you goit! Get up!" He reached out tentatively towards Lister's arm and his hand trembled against the cool skin. His heart pounded and he moved his hand up to Lister's face; and he was relieved to feel him breathing. But it was heavy breathing, almost choking-sounding, and his face was hot to the touch. "You stupid smeg, you've got a fever. You didn't even come out with a coat on, you... you." Rimmer felt that was the best insult possible at that moment.
He tried to haul Lister up to his feet, but Lister yelped out in pain so loudly and suddenly that he was almost back in the mud again. It was then that Rimmer noticed the bruising from the fight, and Lister clutching his stomach in agony. The elbow was one of Parker's favourite moves. Rimmer had seen it used on several boys who had been stupid enough to challenge Parker. Rimmer was bowled over by how Lister hadn't been comatose by it. He slowly and carefully dragged Lister back to the school, praying frantically that they wouldn't be discovered.