A/N: Sorry, sorry, sorry for such a long wait…I was really busy, and also lazy and that's never a good combo! Well I'm back again…despite a singular lack of reviews…and slightly sooner than last time. Thank you to all those who did review…I want to do this story anyway, but its nice to know people are still reading it! Now I know I said this last time but Sybil will definitely be in this chappie…so read WHY this is AU! Now to my three wonderful reviewers:

Not your average: yes I'm back…and I've come to pervert ure world! Sorry about the length…but I needed to cut it off there so I could end this chapter in the right place without it being too short…and I know how u hate that! Colon's chair creaked alarmingly…not sure why that bit was cut off, soz. Still haven't seen any more of Tam and Rayne though!

Keyanna: glad u like the story…and that the AUness is doing its job. And this relationship with Vetinari…it's going for a long way yet!

Estelendur: yay…you like this! Anyone who would threaten me to make me write is gd in my book. U can put the file away now though... (edges slowly away)

Warning : Yes there is slash. if u don't like the idea of two men hopping on the good foot to do the bad thing...GO AWAY

Disclaimer: Did Vimes and Vetinari kiss in Night Watch? No? then maybe, just maybe i don't own this!

Chapter 5

Vimes walked hesitantly up the drive of the mansion he shared with Sybil. Even after Gods knew how long he still felt uncomfortable going up to the front door. He supposed there would always be a part of him that should be going in through the servant's door…and to be honest he hoped there always would. The day he felt comfortable as Duke of Ankh would be the day he wasn't a copper any more…and then he wouldn't be Vimes either.

He smiled wryly…today going to the front door was the least of his worries. Back at the watch house this had seemed such a good idea, a calm, impartial and above all discrete ear to listen to his problem, but now… how could he talk to Sybil about this. What could she possibly say, how would she react…more importantly how did he want her to react?

By this time Vimes had reached the door. He stood with his hand raised, then hesitated. Just as he was seriously debating staying the night at the watch house, the door opened to reveal the sober face of Wilikins. Vimes coughed, then lowered his hand, trying to project the air that standing on the front step with your hand raised was a practical alternative to actually knocking.

"Lady Sybil is waiting for you in the Ever So Slightly Blue Drawing Room sir; she suggested you may want to speak with her."

"How did she…" Vimes spluttered

"Well sir, you were pacing outside the gate for some time, so her Ladyship ventured to surmise something might be on your mind."

Vimes mutely followed Wilikins into the house, unconsciously bracing himself for what was coming next. The butler showed him to the room where Sybil sat, the tactfully left. Vimes started to pace the room, avoiding the chair where he knew Sybil would be sitting. The next minute he felt strong arms pushing him into a musty sofa, followed by the creak as Sybil sat next to him. He still kept his eyes cast down, so she put out her hand and raised his chin until there eyes met.

"Tell me"

"I…" Vimes stammered inarticulately, then subsided.

"Sam, we've been friends for too long. I know something big is troubling you and I won't let you try and deal with it alone. Tell me what it is…or do I have to lock you in the dragon pens again." Sybil added, with a smile.

Vimes half grinned at the memory…one of the many stories he was glad the men didn't know…then the smile died as he tried to continue.

"Vetinari…"

"Oh so you finally realised…to be honest I didn't think Havelock had it in him, he's been hiding it for so long I was convinced he would never…" Sybil tailed off as Vimes eyebrows threatened to disappear into his hairline.

"You mean you didn't…but the way you two act together, anybody could tell." At Vimes' look of horror Sybil reviewed what she had said then backtracked hurriedly.

"No one else hasnoticed. You know the other city dignitaries, they are about as observant as a hedgehog under a cart wheel. But I thought you would have known…not about him of course, he has more practice at hiding feelings…but about yourself"

"But I don't know how I feel, that's the problem!" Vimes blurted out. Sybil looked at him kindly. She took his hand in hers affectionately.

"Of course you do. When he was poisoned, when you had to arrest him, when Wonse attacked him…each time you leap to his defence without a second thought. Or at least not much of one."

"But it's my job to protect him."

"That's true, but not so much. He has the palace guard, his body guard…the man was trained at the assassin's guild for Gods' sakes." She paused, looking deep into his eyes.

"Don't be afraid to face the truth…just be afraid of letting it slip away."

With that she squeezed his hand one last time and left. Vimes sat as the light coming through the curtains gradually faded to the gloom of night. He wrestled with his thoughts, trying to resolve the conflict within them, all the while Sybil's last words echoing in his mind. At last, when the light had completely faded, Vimes stood, a smile playing on his lips. He began to hum tunelessly as he walked to the front door and out into the night, regardless of the rain that was now pelting down. Sybil closed her bedroom door and went to her window, smiling knowingly as she watched the gate creak open then closed again.

In the dark, wet alley, the men waited. They were new to Ankh-Morpork, but men like them automatically gravitated towards the Shades. They watched the man in the battered breastplate approaching. He didn't look like their preferred helpless victim, but hunger made them desperate…and besides there was only one of him. Before he was completely past the alleyway, they leapt out in front of him.

Vimes stood warily facing the three thugs who had so suddenly appeared. He cursed his relative lack of attention, the Shades was not the place for even the smallest lowering of guard. Still, these men had the look of outsiders…which meant they were unprepared…

The first man, moving in, had his overconfidence met with the Vimes Elbow…swiftly followed by the Vimes Kneecap. The second, trying to take advantage of this distraction, found that the best (and for him worst) thing about the Vimes Elbow was that there were, in fact, two of them. Vimes stood facing the third, his harsh breath mingling with the thunder of the rain in his ears. Why didn't the man move? He didn't even try to run, just stood there, gazing at Vimes. No, not at him, past him…

Vimes started to turn…but too late. He felt a searing bolt of pain as the unseen fourth man drove the dagger into his side. Vimes crumpled, his hand instinctively reaching to clutch the gaping wound as the man roughly tore the knife away. He dimly heard their retreating footsteps mixed with the slither as the two men decided to take themselves and their comrades elsewhere. Vimes painfully dragged his body to the side of the alley and slumped against the wall, the hot agony washing through him in waves.

Vimes lay there, listening to the rain drumming on his breastplate. He began to shiver uncontrollably, despite the warm wetness that pulsed between his clenched fingers and spilled down his side.

Tbc…I know it's a cliff-hanger, and an evil one at that! But rest assured I will update it as soon as possible (reviews will always help!)