Disclaimer: Don't own 'em. You know that because love makes you stupid chapter four Vimes entered the office, I can smell Carrot on him. why didn't I notice before? why didn't I notice? frowning slightly, eyeing his desk and the legendary mounds of paper that covered it. Angua watched as he settled himself, hunting for a pen, a cigar. Now that he was here, Angua was at a loss as to what to do. She had waited in the cold dawn light, a thousand different scenarios running through her head. kill him. rip him to shreds hunt him humiliate him terrify him shatter him make him howl make him feel just like you do now, screaming inside, dying inside And then he had entered and everything had changed. Everything was suddenly, awfully, real. She hadn't moved. She didn't know what to do, what to say. A sigh that was half sob escaped her, and he bit the end off his cigar, skidded back out of his chair, drawing his sword. 'Angua?! What in hell are you doing here!' Fear made his voice harsh. and guilt he reminded himself don't forget the guilt. you're fucking her boyfriend and one day she's going to find out. and then the midden will really hit the windmill 'Gods! What do you...' Alarm set in, '...has something happened?' oh gods not Carrot Angua just stared at him Vimes looked at her; she was hastily dressed in the uniform that he recognised as being the emergency one she kept in her locker. she's been out in plainclothes then... 'Angua, what is it? What's happened' you stole Carrot, you bastard. that's what's happened. and it's so hard not to just kill you now, flinching behind your desk 'Angua' And then he looked her in the eyes. Saw the bleakness. Dropped the sword, sinking back onto his chair. He said the first thing that came to mind. 'Carrot...' he said in a near whisper, more scared than he'd ever been. '...is fine...' Angua said, eyes elsewhere '...loves you very much...' Vimes froze. '...' Mouth dry, throat dry. Sick and scared. Swallowing, desperately trying to speak. Realising how much danger he could be in she's a werewolf. an angry, angry werewolf 'how...does Carrot know, uh, that you...know?' 'No' bad enough that I'm here now, looking at you, smelling him on you, you bastard. how could I have had done thus with him? how could I look at him without hearing the love in his voice for you? Vimes couldn't believe he was having this conversation. And stranger still, underneath all the sickening fear, he was still a policeman, in his head. and how long have you known about our relationship? mine (your Commander) and Carrot (you know Carrot; tall chap. red hair. your, er..., your er.), that is. mmmm-hmm. and you found out when...? thank you, you've been very helpful The fear, however, was in current control of his vocal chords, and was too wrapped up in an attempt to retain the use of said vocal chords by not having them forcibly removed from his throat by the werewolf standing before him, to allow him to ask what he wanted to know. 'who else?' Blank look. Angua growled, low in her throat. 'Who else knows about...' she tensed her body, as if anticipating a blow. '...about you and Carrot' Vimes could barely whisper. 'No one. No one else knew' 'Except me' 'Except you' 'You stupid, stupid man' Angua's voice was low and twisted with rage. 'Do you have any idea what could happen to you. What could happen to him? Vimes groaned, dropping his head to his hands. 'I know. I know...if Vetinari ever finds out….' 'The Patrician?! Gods Commander, he probably already knows!' Vimes flinched Angua paused for breath, fighting the part of her brain that was howling for blood, for vengeance. 'That's the least of your worries. What you should be worried about is if someone like Lord Downy finds out. Or Lord Rust. Or Nobby bloody Nobbs! Or...' Angua balled her hands into fists, feeling her nails dig deep into her palm. 'But what you should really worry about, Commander' she snarled, ice in her voice, ice in her veins; the adrenaline that had held her up was nearly gone, making her tremble slightly, 'is what should happen if your wife, who is currently carrying your child, should find out.' Her voice had lowered to a hiss. 'Oh gods...I know' Vimes whispered slowly. 'I know…it's just...' Angua's nails gouged semicircles of flesh from her palms. She wanted to scream or run or fight or anything else but stand there, uselessly. 'I don't care' she snarled. 'I don't care. You knew this! You knew all of this, all the consequences, all the...' 'It wasn't that simple' he tried to say. 'He...I...we..we lo-' 'Shut up!' don't say it, don't ever say it. Vimes blinked. 'Why did you have to take him from me?' oh shit shit shit she was thinking I'm going to cry. not now not now not yet. I need to get out of here I can't do this oh gods she screamed why did he have to take him? She continued, staring at the Vimes's slumped figure. 'He was the only' she paused 'only other person who never cared that I was a werewolf. It didn't bother him. I loved him. And you took him from me.' Vimes looked up and Angua was startled to see tears in his eyes, desperation in his voice. 'Angua I-' 'shut up. I need...I'm going to go away for a while.' She smiled, despite the rage in her mind. 'A holiday of sorts.' thank gods Vimes opened his mouth. 'At full pay. Starting immediately' Vimes bit his tongue. 'Fine' he said weakly. 'Fine' she said. 'good day, commander' 'Angua' he said 'we never meant to hurt anyone. He never meant to hurt you. It's just...we lo-' The door slammed shut. ***authors rant*** (it is, in keeping with the entire story, short) WOO-HOO!!! FINISHED!!! I know this wasn't very long, compared to other Discworld fics out there (Chanson de Sang, as a case in point), but schmer...it' my first real attempt at Discworld fanfiction, and I am so very very happy to have it done. It is a bit of a cliff-hanger ending, but that's all for the best, I feel. frankly, I'd run out of inspiration, and was sick of the entire thing. This is caused not a little by the fact that the story I wrote is not the one that I wanted to. Originally the Vimes/Carrot barely figured, and Susan was hugely involved. She wound up not figuring at all...how did this happen? I adore Susan! And I really don't like Carrot. I don't. Does anyone else not like Carrot? Please let me know....I feel so alone...lol I am thinking about fleshing out an Angua/Susan fic that's been sitting in my head for a while. It's neither slashy nor as implausible as it sounds. At least I don't think so... ...and last, but absolutely not least, a great big thank you to VimesLady, Miss Malice, Jinxster & Jo Bendle (and others, who's names are not springing to mind at the moment) for kind and constructive reviews....they made my day! ~manx
