reddwarfslash | When We Met, Chapter 10 (Reply)

Title: When We Met
Pairing: Ace/Spanners, Spanners/Kochanski
Beta: techh_ism and my gf
Chapters: 10 of 15?
Rating: PG-13
Summery: Before Ace went Dimension hopping he met a young scouser. One meeting changed their lives forever.
Disclaimer: Red Dwarf isn't mine, and Ace and Spanners are sadly the property of Grant Naylor.

“Krissie? Ya here?” Lister called, entering his apartment. It was after work the next day, and he had spent the night with Ace. It took everything Lister had not to go to Ace’s quarters after work instead.

“I’m here, Dave!” she called from the kitchen. “Where were you yesterday?”

“I…I ‘ad ter werk late.” He didn’t want to lie to her, but he still wasn’t sure what to do. He wanted Krissie and Ace.

“Did you hear?” She said walking to the living room with a sandwich.

“Wa’? He asked sitting on the couch.

“Apparently Commander Ace Rimmer is stationed here. I read so much abou’ him. I wish I could meet him.”

Before Lister could stop himself, “I know ‘im.”

She stopped mid-bite, “What?”

“Yea…Ace is the reason I joined the Corps. Met ‘im when I was thirteen. ‘E ‘elped me get me act together.”

“Can you introduce me, Dave?”

Lister hesitated, Wa’ ‘av I walked into? Smeg. “I’ll see wa’ I can do. ‘Ez a busy guy, babe.”

“But you’re an old friend. I’m sure he can make time to meet your girlfriend, right?”

Smeg. “I’ll talk ter ‘im tomorrow.”

The next morning Lister and his team were still doing checks and repairs to Ace’s ship. There wasn’t much damage, but several wires needed replacing and every centimeter had to be inspected before Ace sat in it again.

Lister saw Ace talking to the Admiral, who Lister never actually spoke to. All of Lister’s reports were delivered to him by his secretary. Only certain personal got to speak to the Admiral. Ace mus’ be important. Lister thought walking to the ship.

It wasn’t until 4pm base time that Lister got a chance to have lunch and talk to Ace. He asked the older man to join him, and of course Ace agreed. Ace didn’t order for himself, but stole Lister’s chips instead.

Lister poked his sandwich, less hungry suddenly. He wasn’t sure how to bring up Krissie’s request without it being awkward. “Something on your mind, old chumburger?” Ace asked, removing his sunglasses.

“She wants ter meet ya.”

“Who?”

“Krissie.”

Ace paused, “Why?”

“I didn’t tell ‘er about us, if that’s wa’ you’re wonder’n.”

“Then why does she want to meet me, ol’ love?”

“She’s ‘eard o’ ya. You’re famous, Ace. So she wants ter meet ya. Probably wants yer autograph.”

“Sounds like a ride, old sausage.”

“Will ya do it?”

“Don’t see a reason not to, Spanners.”

Lister stared at him, “Ya don’ see a reason?”

“She doesn’t know about us, I have no plans to tell her. The choice is all yours, ol’ banana.”

Lister looked at his sandwich, he wasn’t hungry. “I need ter tell ‘er, Ace. It’s not fair.”

“I’ll understand, Spanners. And if you’d rather stay with her I won’t hold it against you.”

Pick ‘er? Ova Ace? The thought never even occurred to Lister.

“I need ta get going, old love. You’re welcome to stop by quarters later. I should be free around 2200.”

“We’ll see, Ace. I’ll see ya later.”

Lister watched Ace leave, still unsure of what to tell Krissie. ‘…stop by my quarters later.’ Ace’s words rang. Lister couldn’t think of a good reason to go, or not to go.

When Lister entered his apartment at midnight, Krissie was sitting on the couch, drinking hot chocolate. She looked up at him and smiled, placing her cup on the side table, “You’re home late. Work again?”

Lister sat on the couch, after he left Ace’s he made his decision, “Actually, Krissie, I wus wi’ Ace.”

“Ace Rimmer?”

“Yea. There is sumthin’ I need ter tell ya.”

“What is it, Dave?” She took his hand in hers.

“Ace and I…we’re not friends.”

“What? But I thought he helped you get up the latter, or did he…” Her brow was furrowed in confusion; Lister could see her mind racing to make a connection.

“’e and I are…kind o’ tergether. Erm…Well, we wus, but then we los’ touch, and I met ya. But we neva actually broke it off.”

She stared at him. Lister felt her grip on his hand loosen. She stood, not looking at him. “Are you sleeping with him?”

Lister looked at the floor, “Yea.”

There was more silence. Then: “Is it possible for you to pick one of us?”

“I dun thin’ so, babe.”

Krissie crossed her arms, biting her lip. “I can’t say you cheated on me, since technically you’re cheating on him with me.”

“It’s not fair to either o’ ya.”

“Does Ace know about me?”

“Yea. ‘e told it’s me decision, and ‘e’ll respect it.”

“He wants you to be happy.” She stated.

“I’m ‘appy with both o’ ya. I care ‘bout both o’ ya.”

“If you can’t pick, and Ace will respect your decision, then it’s really up to me, isn’t it?”

“Wa?”

“If say, I decided to pack my bags and leave you, then the choice would have been made. Your only real options are either just Ace, or both of us.” She sighed, hesitating. “Because you will never pick me over him.”

Lister stood, walking to her. He pulled her into his arms; she buried her face in his shoulder. He didn’t know what to say, she was right, but how could he tell her? “Krissie, I’m sorreh.”

“I could never ask you to pick me. If it weren’t for Ace I would’ve never met you.”

“Do ya still want ter meet ‘im?”

“I don’t know what I would say to him.”

“’Ez a great guy, Krissie. ‘E won’t bring this up unless ya do.”

“Give me time to think, Dave.”

“Alright.”