Rimmer stood alone, "Why the smeg did I decide to do this?" he cried out into the darkness ahead of him. His hands were shaking as he fumbled about with his bag to find his flashlight. "Smegginhell it's smegging dark. Smeg. Smeg". Trembling he groped his way forward picturing Paige holding him tightly, he knew in his heart he would do anything to make her feel comfortable but maybe he should have asked Kryten to fetch this. What if something terrible happened? What if he got lost? What if he found nothing and he had no one else to blame it on but himself? That would be the worst thing, at least if Kryten came back empty handed he could have made a scene and shouted and looked manly and in charge in front of Paige. Now it was all up to him and he didn't like that one bit, he stared at the bit of paper in his hand. "Floor 87, Room 6 – well that cant be too difficult to find. Where am I now?" Rimmer turned the light to the wall and saw a sign, "Floor 3 …. Smeg"

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Paige blinked and opened her eyes slowly, her vision was blurred and her head hurt so she snapped them shut and remained as still as possible. She waited for the wave of pain to start to creep around her body, that agonising rip she felt after every operation, after every promise that it would be okay this time. After a few minutes she relaxed and opened her eyes once more "It doesn't hurt" she whispered, a tear of relief crawled down her cheek.

"Ma'am? What is it? Are you in pain? Tell me where?"

Paige grinned at the android above her and threw her arms around his neck, "Thank you so much" she cried kissing his head wherever she could. "This is incredible, it doesn't hurt. The pain has gone. I cannot believe it, what did you do" she jumped from the bed and stared at her body.

Kryten stepped back unable to speak for a moment, his circuits felt like they had short wired he had never been so embarrassed or felt so useful since he found Mr Lister's guitar in a half full waste disposal unit a few hours earlier. Even then Lister had only kissed him once and then ran off. "Oh, er well I removed some of the metal they had placed in at odd angles, just healed some wounds fixed your pain receivers on your data chip and closed you back up again. It was nothing really" he gushed.

A second later he found himself awkwardly still as Paige hugged him once more. "Anyway .. I have arranged some food for you, I will just fetch it. I will request that you get back into bed, I want to monitor you for a few days and just make super safety sure you are on the mend"

"Yes'sir" Paige smiled and climbed back into her bunk. She looked around the room and pulled her legs up to her chest, rocking back and forward she watched Kryten walk out of the room and wondered where Rimmer had gone. It took her a few minutes to accept that she really wasn't in pain and almost dared to hope that her dreary existence might improve. "Rimmer" she said aloud, looking around her wondering if the hologram could hear her. She wasn't very familiar with holograms, unsure if she called would the main computer alert him to her wanting him or whether he was a separate entity. Nothing came of her call so she lay back down upon the pillows desperate for some sort of distraction, her mind stayed on the wavy haired man she had told her tale to. Unsure why she had held him so tightly she put it down to a mix of guilt for her original attack upon him and slight intrigue as to how a man could have such sad eyes yet such a warm smile.

Flipping onto her back she closed her eyes and pictured Rimmer standing before her, his broad shoulders seemed so inviting when she first set eyes on him, someone she could fall into and feel safe, and when she had dared, had jumped forward and held him he hadn't disappointed her. Nervous at first – she could tell he was uncomfortable, yet when he calmed he held her so tightly against his chest she was able to listen carefully and hear a silence where his heart should have been. It was so strange to feel his hands, his chest and know he was there holding her yet she couldn't hear his heartbeat, he had no heart – no living organs, he was composed of light and air and yet he was warm, something made him warm. His hands had been soft and smooth – Paige lifted her own hand and traced a line along her palm – he had held it just tight enough, almost like he had practised it. Almost like he had never wanted to let go, with a smile Paige turned on her side and hugged a pillow close to her, thinking dreamily of a man she barely knew she drifted off to sleep.

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Rimmer sat watching Paige sleep; she had turned over three times and mumbled something about eyes but showed no signs of waking up anytime soon. She had such a look of contentment about her that he couldn't help but stare, he had already reached over to move hair from her cheek and stayed there a little bit too long just listening to the silence that surrounded her. It was a novelty to see someone else that didn't breathe, made no living noise when they slept. Beside the bed was a tray of uneaten food that Kryten must have left but she must have been asleep before he brought it. Kryten was now down in the laundry room delighted at having a batch of new clothes to clean and organise.

Finally he looked around the room and stared at the few items he had found in her quarters on board, a photograph album, some clothes, a little ragged teddy bear and a few essentials, a toothbrush and deodorant etc. There was very little to show she had been there at all – he had found all he had brought in a box at the bottom of a cupboard. After an hours more scavenging he had found a few other rooms that ladies must have inhabited and taken as many girls clothing as he could find, he didn't know if she would like any of them or even if any of them would fit but he had tried.

Sighing with exhaustion he reached over for the teddy he had recovered, it was a dirty brown colour with one eye missing but the leg had 'Paige' stitched untidily along its sem. He smiled imagining a younger version of Paige sat with a needle and thread, each letter was a different size and the P was back to front but it was clear it was a sentimental item. He turned it round in his hands a few times then knelt over to place it beside her; he lifted her arm gently to slip it underneath and got a shock to see her eyes open and watching him intently.

"I was beginning to think I had dreamt you" she smiled, then her eyes fell on what was in his eyes, "Pooky" she laughed, "Oh my god, where did you find him?" she took the bear from Rimmer's hands gently brushing against his fingers as she did, "I have had him since I was born" she laughed, a gentle giggle that drew Rimmer even closer to her, "Thank you so much for bringing him to me"

"That's no problem" Rimmer stuttered, he was dangerously close to the edge of her bed now, kneeling in front of her examining every detail of her smile, "I returned to the ship and found some stuff I figured was yours and some other clothes as well" he smiled, "There wasn't much but I hope its helped. I don't even know it half of it would fit you" Rimmer knew he was talking complete and utter rubbish, he could hear his own voice and was urging himself to shut up but he was so wrapped up in this new and strange feeling that was taking over him.

"Thank you, you didn't have to do that. I really appreciate it." Paige was suddenly aware how messy her hair must look and felt ashamed, "Is there somewhere I can take a shower here?"

"Oh yes, erm, each room has its own shower unit" Rimmer jumped up and opened the door to show her the bathroom, "You can use it any time" Paige was immediately sorry she had asked as he was now over the other side of the room and not right beside her where she had enjoyed his presence up close, she tried desperately to think of a reason he could return back to her but her mind had drawn a blank.

Rimmer stared at his feet and felt awkward again, "Holly" he said quickly "Holly is the main computer here, if you need anything you just say his name and he will appear and can help. He's offline now I think. Well he's usually a lot more use when he's offline anyway if you ask me, but I mean that's why he hasn't responded now – or it could just be because I called him. One or the other." Rimmer cursed himself mentally for his complete lack of command and respect on the ship. He began thinking about how unfair life was and how all of it could have been so much more different and how if he had been an officer he could have talked to this girl so easily and so confidently and not be stood here like a complete goit. Yet when she spoke he napped out of it, blinking as if he had been slapped, he knew he could have stood brooding on his own thoughts for hours if left alone.

"Rimmer, can I ask you something" Paige smiled as he came bounding over to her side once more and sat opposite her, not quite as close as she would have liked but close enough, "Are there any other women on this ship? Anybody else? I have met an android named .. Kryten was that correct? And I vaguely remember a short man with dirty hair and a taller man with a very smart suit!"

"That would be about correct yes, Lister – short stubby and the last human alive, The Cat – a vain self satisfied sort of guy, evolved from cats but don't try to pet him. That's about it really, just us four guys."

"Last human" Paige mumbled aloud, "I'm not human anymore am I? I mean I was – but now I guess… I don't know. I'm part android, part human but essentially." Paige stopped, she suddenly felt very cold and very scared, "Essentially I am dead. Oh god, I am dead" Tears began forming in her eyes again.

Rimmer felt her pain and reached over for her hand, forgetting he was a cowardly worm with no idea what to do in any situation that didn't involve him running for his life he did what he wanted, what he had needed and what he never got, he pulled her towards him and held her close, "Yes, you are technically dead, but you know what it isn't so bad" he rubbed her back gently pulling a blanket around her cold shoulders he leant back against the bunk wall and felt her curl around his body until she was sat between his legs and curled up against his chest, if he had a heart it would have been hammering ten to the dozen and he was very concerned about where her knees could knock but he kept rubbing her back and making soothing sounds. "It will be okay Paige".

"But .. I'm dead" she sobbed. The full effect of those words hitting her, she would never breathe again, would she have children? Get married? Do anything that normal women do everyday.

"I know" Rimmer sighed, he looked down into her eyes and smiled, "But so am I, you don't see me crying about it do you. Well not in public anyway" he grinned, and hugged her tighter as she laughed aloud and wiped away her tears.

"Dead" she laughed again, "We can form a society I guess. Just you and me" her hand was absentmindedly stroking the smooth padded velvet of his jacket.

"Form?" he laughed, "you will have to see if you have the qualifications and the skill to join mine! I will need it in writing that you wish to join and you may state your qualifications. You can't just come along here being dead and take my 'only deadie on the ship' title away from me"

Paige laughed some more and felt a lot better, she rested her head against his shoulder and sighed, "Well we can be dead together anyway" she yawned.

Rimmer sat with his eyes wide open, his grin went from ear to ear and his happiness was immeasurable.