Bad influence Part 5

*** Ye GODS! What a lot of reviews! *ego swells* they love me! Sorry it took me so long folks, but I've had the dreaded EXAMS to deal with, so they have to take priority. Plus, how the hell I'm going to top the last chapter is utterly beyond me! But I'll try. If I fail, remember, YOU ASKED FOR IT! Hahahahaha! As per usual, this is Terry Pratchett's world not mine, etc, please don't sue, etc. ALL rightie then, *cracks knuckles* ON WITH THE SHOW! ***

By Rozi aka Angua's #1 fan! *anyone else tries for the title I tear em up! Growl.*



Carrot and Elsa walked in silence for what seemed like forever. Elsa couldn't bring herself to look up into her father's face, she knew what look he had; it would be the "I'm very disappointed" face. That face on Carrot made you feel truly low, the most caring and likeable man in the city was disappointed with you! It was terrible. Worse than being shouted at.



They walked until they reached Brass Bridge. It was fairly deserted, as it was still the middle of the day, so Carrot stopped and Elsa nearly bumped into him.

"Elsa?" Carrot looked down at his daughter.

She finally gathered the guts now to look up at her father. He was wearing that face, the one she dreaded.

She bit her lip and tried not to cry, she hated crying and it wouldn't help now anyway.

"Elsa, I think this is a good spot to talk," Carrot continued and leant against the wall of the bridge "now, what happened at school Elsa?"

She shifted uncomfortably, she couldn't lie to her father and besides he had probably got the whole story from Miss Sto Helit first. He just wanted to hear Elsa's side of the story.

"Um." she trailed off.

"Well?"

"Some boys. were saying stuff, you know. stuff. About me, 'bout."

Carrot knelt down to at least attempt to see her at face height "About what?"

"Um. stuff?"

"Would you like to be a little more specific?"

Elsa couldn't bear to look her father in the eye, his eyes were so honest and kind, but now they wanted to know something Elsa couldn't bare to tell him.

But that was one of Carrot's many strong points; he could easily get the truth from someone by just looking at them. He was an expert at the "waiting game", he was good at interrogation, not because he asked questions, but because he would fill the place with quiet until the poor interrogated dupe would be forced to try and make up for the silence.

Only Carrot could do this. Everyone else had to shout until they were blue.

Elsa sighed and muttered something inaudible to the floor.

"Sorry?" Carrot asked, not unkindly.

"'Bout. mother."

Carrot searched for Elsa's gaze, which had engaged in second-degree floor study.

"What about her?"

"Saying. saying she was. a."

Carrot felt as if he was onto something, but he didn't show it.

"A. sissy."

Carrot blinked and looked at Elsa's face for a moment.

Then he laughed.

Elsa looked up sharply "Dad?"

Carrot smiled at his daughter, "I'm sorry, that's. quite..." he coughed to try and get his breath back "Funny, I mean; since when has your mother been a sissy?"

Elsa was lost "Never!"

"Exactly!"

Carrot lifted Elsa up easily and sat her on the wall on the bridge. It was easier to talk to her that way.

"Elsa, have those boys that said those things ever met Angua?"

Elsa raised an eyebrow "No."

"Precisely! I'll bet they don't even know what she looks like! How would they know what she was like?"

Elsa bit her lip "They. don't."

"You knew what they were saying wasn't true, so why did you run at them?"

Elsa shrugged "Cause I didn't like it."

Carrot nodded "Hmm.well I can see it's hard to keep a temper when it concerns someone you care about."

There was an edge of experience to his voice.

"I didn't mean to change! I was just so ANGRY!"

Elsa sniffed, it sounded like she was going to cry again, but she held her breath and blinked rapidly.

"Mother wouldn't have got so angry like that, neither would you! You two are always in control and always know what you're doing!"

"Are we?"

Elsa looked at her father questioningly, the idea of Carrot losing his temper. it was like a volcano spewing lemonade! It was like Sam voluntarily wearing tights! It was. impossible!

"No.? ."

"Everyone loses their cool at one point or another. Nobody's perfect."

Elsa tried to get her head around this concept and failed.

"But. you've never. hurt anyone have you?"

Carrot was silent for a while, and then he said, "Only under. shall we say. strenuous circumstances?"

"What?"

"When I felt that it was. necessary."

"Like when?"

Carrot clicked his tongue thoughtfully "Hopefully you'll never have to know."

Elsa decided this line of enquiry was best left alone.

Carrot sighed "But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to keep your temper, everyone does lose it once in a while, but it takes a stro-"

"-nger man to walk away from a fight than to join in," Elsa added, "I know, but it's easier to say it than to do it."

Carrot shrugged "You are a strong willed little girl Elsa, you are also intelligent and you care. Any other werewolf would have not thought twice about tearing someone to pieces -I should know- you definitely got that from your mother. It's hard to, but try and. see things from their point of view."

Elsa blinked at her father.

"Huh?"

"Those boys who said those things are probably just. unhappy, jealous or just wanted to see how you'd react to hurtful comments. You know better than to respond to them. Just try and see how they see things- feel sorry for them."

"You mean 'walk in another man's shoes'?"

Carrot frowned "Well.I'd consider that theft, but I think I can see what you mean."

Elsa laughed.

"I can't give you any better advice than to try and keep your temper from now on, you have been told that a million times by now I'd expect," Carrot said.

"Yeah," Elsa replied.

"The best thing you can do is to try and think of something else, there is always something worse to get angry about."

She nodded.

"Thanks Dad."

"Your welcome."

There was a long pause, Elsa and Carrot sat on the bridge for a long time saying nothing. Any moment Elsa wanted to bring up the subject of going back to school, but wasn't completely sure if this was the right moment.

"Now. it's about one o'clock, you've still got about two hours of school left." Carrot trailed off.

Elsa blinked and tried to make her eyes look as big as possible. She didn't have Rex's oh-so-delightfully-big-and-blue-eyes, but she sure as hell had puppy dog eyes. in a rather more literal sense.

Carrot raised an eyebrow "Don't give me that look Elsa, your education is important."

"Daaadddyyy?"

On most occasions, Carrot was as steady as a rock; he was not easily wavered by a pair of cute eyes. but in these circumstances.

"On one condition."

"Yes?"

"You finish any work that you missed on Saturday."

Elsa drooped, but it was a compromise nonetheless.

"Alright," she said in defeat, "thank you dad."

Carrot stood up straight and said "I have to go on duty in about half an hour, I'll have to take you back to the Watch house."

"Where's mother? I thought it was her shift today?" Elsa asked curiously.

Carrot looked a bit worried for a moment, his brow wrinkled in concern and he said "I'm... not sure, but I'm sure it's. okay."

"I'll talk to her tonight," Elsa jumped down and stood next to her father, "maybe she'll know about keeping temper?"

"Hmm. yes, I'm sure. Now," Carrot crouched down, "do you want to be carried home?"

Elsa stared for a moment in embarrassment "No! I'm five not a kid!"

"Really?"

"Besides." Elsa shifted her feet "I feel height sick when I sit on your shoulders! Plus I hit the ceiling all the time!"

Carrot pulled a mock expression of hurt "What!? I can't be THAT tall!"

Elsa smiled "You are dad, trust me!"

Carrot rolled his eyes "Al-RIGHT! I won't carry you on my shoulders, but how about just by the arms hmm?"

Elsa pouted in thought.

"Will anyone see?"

"No."

She held her arms out.

"Deal."

*Isn't it cute? *

Sam kicked a stone as he walked "How d'you think Elsa is?"

Rex dug his hands into his pockets "I don't know, she seemed very upset," he replied considerately.

"I would have beaten them up," said Sam, "but then Elsa would've been unhappy."

"She doesn't like having other people fight her battles," Rex agreed.

They both knew Elsa really well, they were a trio, a band and they had been together since they were even younger. Sam still had memories of Lady Sybil babysitting Rex and Elsa and he used to try and teach the two young babies (and occasional pup) how to fire a crossbow.

"Can I come over to see her?" Asked Sam, "I just want to check she's okay!" He added hurriedly.

"No problem," Rex smiled sincerely, "as long as your Dad lets you."

"He will."

School had long since been over, the teachers crawled back out from under their chairs in relief and the ancient bell in the teacher's guild tower hammered out three o'clock; the teacher's favourite hour.

** I should know; my parents are teachers! **

They strode home, both picking up the policemen's step that they had learned from their fathers.

"Do you think we'll be watchmen when we grow up?" Sam asked thoughtfully.

Rex nodded, he couldn't imagine being anything else.

"D'you think I'd be commander of the watch?" Sam asked.

"Hmmm, I would be captain like Dad," Rex's chest swelled with pride.

"Elsa would be sergeant."

"Yeah."

"And we'd solve crimes an' stuff."

"Yeah! And I'll learn that trick, y'know the one where dad throws his truncheon in the air and catches it," Sam said with a grin.

Rex looked puzzled "Why?"

Sam shrugged "Dunno, but Dad's a good copper and he does it all the time. Maybe you need to be able to do that."

"Hmm, but my dad doesn't do that and he's a good copper."

"Maybe it's just a Vimes thing then."

"Yeah."

They walked on in reflective silence.

They came up to Peach Pie Street, along it were the various guild buildings such as the Alchemists and the Gamblers. They walked by the Alchemist's guild and quickly jumped back before the window blew out, sending a small alchemist out with it.

"Business as usual Mr Brunswick?" Rex called out to the unfortunate alchemist.

He lifted his head out of the rubble around him and removed his goggles, the black that covered his face left two white patches around his eyes.

"Watcha young Rex!" He called out cheerfully, "Tell your dad to pick up them salts at about six tonight! She forgot last night."

"Will do!"

The alchemist got up, brushed himself off and dived back into the building.

"You know him?" Asked Sam thoughtfully.

"My Dad does, he sells us smelling salts," replied Rex as there was yet another explosion and another window blew out.

"Oh?"

"For Mother."

"Right."

They stopped and Sam dug his hands into his pockets and said "Look there!"

Rex turned and looked up.

It was a bronze statue. The figure stood holding an axe by it's feet, he wore rough armour that vaguely resembled a Watchman's. He had a stern expression on his face that looked very familiar.

"Wow," said Rex amazed, "it looks like Mr Vimes!"

"It's my ancestor!" Said Sam proudly "That's ol' stone face Vimes, he cut off a king's head."

Rex nodded "Dad took me on a walk round here and told me about it."

"Cause he was evil Dad said," Sam swelled with pride, "and ol' stone face cut his head right off! With an axe, cause no one else would do it. Deserved it to!"

"Why wouldn't anyone else do it?" Rex asked, looking intently at the statue's stern face. It seemed that the bronze visage was looking directly at him.

"Cause he was the king and they were cowards, they wouldn't do it cause they were scared."

"Why?" Rex continued to stare.

"Cause the kings were important in those days."

"But not anymore?"

"Nope."

"Oh."

Rex shivered inwardly, without knowing why.

"It looks just like Dad doesn't it?" Sam said leaning his head sideways.

"Hmm."

"You ok?"

"What? Oh, yes, fine."

They stared up at the statue for a long time, Rex turned to Sam "So, there are no more kings?"

"Yep, they're all gone," Sam said firmly, "good thing to."

"Really?"

"Yeah, Kings do something strange to people, dad said, that people simply follow 'em cause they're the king. They got a natural leading thing and they don't care about what happens to the people that they lead."

"Oh."

"The last king was REALLY bad! He tortured people and there was this big war where old stone face fought those who wanted to keep the king and he won. He dragged him up in front of everyone and he cut off his head! They didn't like it though, the people I mean, and they then killed him afterwards."

"Because they wanted the king back?" Rex asked.

"Yeah, dunno why, he weren't a very good king. But that didn't matter to them, they still killed him. That's why my Dad don't like kings."

"He doesn't?"

"Nope, obvious why though."

"Yes."

Rex looked back up at the statue thoughtfully, he felt guilty for some reason. He felt that the stern stare was driving right into him and he felt responsible for something he couldn't quite define.

"Rex.?"

"Hmm?"

"You've gone pale!"

He blinked and turned away, "Sorry, it's just."

"What?"

"I. it's nothing. Probably my imagination."



"Captain!" Vimes cried quickly ran into Carrot as he entered the watch house.

"Sir?"

Carrot carefully put Elsa down and said "What's wrong?"

"It's." Vimes was aware of Elsa's worried expression; she could probably smell his panic.

"Elsa ought to go, she shouldn't see this," he said carefully.

Carrot swallowed "What's going on sir?"

"Elsa-" Vimes began.

"I can smell something's wrong Mister Vimes, what's happened? Where's mother?!" Elsa cried, striding past Vimes.

Carrot quickly caught her and lifted her up "Elsa, Mr Vimes is right, you shouldn't see this," he said firmly.

"But father!"

"Go to your room Elsa," Carrot lifted her down, and said "please."

"But-"

"Now."

Carrot's stern tone was quite a shock to anyone, especially his children, but now it was needed.

Elsa turned to go to her room.

And darted away, following the smell of her mother.

Carrot wasn't quick enough and neither was Vimes.



Elsa followed the sent to the Watch's forensics department. Her dread at what was going on heightened; she pushed between various watchmen down to Igor's lab and sick room.

Her mother's friend Cheery saw her; the dwarf had tears in her eyes "Elsa! What are you doing here?!" She cried.

"Where's mother! Is she alright?!"

"Go back upstairs-"

"Mother!"



Angua lay still on the slab in the sick room. Igor was bandaging a nasty wound on her arm; she had many cuts and bruises all over her body.

"What happened?" Elsa sobbed.

Igor turned to look at her, he swallowed "You'd better not thee this Elsa," he said carefully, "she's badly hurt."

"But she CAN'T be hurt! It couldn't have been-"

Silver?

Elsa only noticed now that there was a bad burn on Angua's stomach. It was in the shape of a dagger.

"Mother?"

"Elsa!"

She turned at the sound of her father's voice; he had entered the lab with a panicked look and found his daughter.

"I told you to-"

"It's silver father! IT'S SILVER!"

"Elsa please go to your room," Carrot said calmly, "please. I won't ask you again."

She looked tearfully at him and then at the unconscious form of her mother.

"Elsa, you'd better go," said Vimes solemnly, "your mother needs to be alone for a while."



Elsa was stubborn. Stubborn and determined.

She waited outside the room with a careful ear pressed against the wall. Her werewolf hearing was not as good as normal, but it was good enough to hear through a wall.

Perfectly.

"Murder?" That was Carrot, "But how?"

"The body was found by the river, it was Mr. D'mitre, a local entrepreneur. He was found. well all the pieces were found eventually," that was Vimes.

"But you KNOW it couldn't have been Angua!"

"I know lad, I know, but we found her nearby the river. Unconscious, with that damned burn in her stomach. It was a full moon last night-"

"But Angua wouldn't-"

"We know that, you know, I know, your children know, but when the city finds out about the circumstances they will want to know who to blame!"

There was a long silence. Everyone knew what would happen, a suspicious and rather messy death, even for Ankh Morpork, would be reported.

The word of an unconscious officer of the watch was found beside the body. She was notoriously feared around the city in a primal way that no one could define. In a minute the rumour would gather a crowd, wasn't there a WEREWOLF in the watch?! A messy death, watchman, no alibi and a reputation.

It didn't take a genius to work out what could happen next.

"But Angua has no motive to kill Mr D'mitre!" Carrot said.

"How many people would be concerned with a motive?"

"They don't know-"

"But they'll find out Carrot."

There was a long silence.

"Who else could have done this?" Carrot asked, there was a terrible tone to his voice that no one had heard before.

"We will start an investigation; I know Angua would have never done this. But I have a feeling that someone, or something, murdered Mr D'mitre and seriously hurt Sergeant Angua. They are trying to frame her for murder."

"And they would know about her."

"Yes."

There was a long silence.

"Sir, I will begin the investigation straight away," Carrot said.

"No captain, I will. I won't put you through this-"

"Sir, I can cope, you know very well I can."

"It's your Gods damned wife!"

"I'm not going to let personal get in the way."

"What about your kids!"

Elsa pressed her face against the wall and sobbed.

They'll be run out of the city! They'll find out and she would have to leave!

She knew her mother would never ever murder someone. She wasn't like that! Anyway, she was in control! She wouldn't kill a man for no reason!

Elsa stamped away, her temper fraying. She shouldn't get angry, but she wanted to! She had a good reason! Her mother was accused of something she didn't do, it wasn't fair and Elsa wasn't going to just let it happen to her!

Easier said than done.



To be continued...