A/N: You like me…you really like me (does happy dance)!!! I'm really sorry for the long wait…but I was kinda stranded without a computer for the whole of Christmas, but I'm back to school now (oh yay…) so can reward all my brill reviewers! Now, I'm gonna remind u bout the AUness cause there is a plot point in this that relies on it. Cast ure mind back 2 the wonder that was 'Night Watch' and sharpen ure logic circuits people…if Sybil and Vimes were never together, she would've never got pregnant and a certain doctor would still be in the place he was in, in previously mentioned book! See logic is fun!!(fails to convince self, returns to usual insane state). Anyway…on to my reviewers…your constant patience is my inspiration:

Deathwisher: sorry sorry…but u did review so my cliffy worked! I hope this is a bit sooner, but I do have an excuse for my irregular updates…I do.

Not your average: yes, yes I did…and why – because I can! Anyway for shame…u know I could never kill him (tried to placate the horde of rabid fangirls with sharp things)…honest!

Keyanna: yeah…only just noticed that myself. Must just not be his week! If there's not enough character development in this story…I am thinking of a sequel so…

Mally: ahh gratuitous hinting! Well I never take any notice of that…apart from just this once.

Estelendur: sorry, I'll keep trying to make them longer…but even without torture here is another chappie, mainly cause I'm sure u can find more sharp things!?!

Sunny-historian: yay ure back! Yes I know…Vimes could have taken them on with both hands tied behind his back…but for the sake of the story I had to. Don't worry, I also couldn't leave him in that state!

Elliot: ure review really made me grin…its gd 2 know peeps are as slashy minded as me! Hope this chappie lives up 2 ure expectations!

DreadNot: here's ure update…so please stop shouting ;). Glad I've been doing it right…characterisation was my biggest worry.

Mortified Penguin: glad u like it…1. I imagine Vimes in old fashioned armour with a breast and back plate held together by leather straps. There would only be a small gap at the side but there would be enough to get a blade into. 2. It was Vetinari who made Vimes a Duke eventually (more to annoy him than anything else), so it doesn't matter if he's married to Sybil or not. Hope that clears up ure confusion.

Warning: If you don't like gay men…be afraid, be VERY afraid! That and I'm very mean to both of them this chappie…

Disclaimer: If loving characters means you own them…I own the Discworld!!!!(or possibly not)

Chapter 6

Vimes had no idea how long he had been lying there, listening to each tortured breath scrape past his lips. The chilling rain ran over his upturned face, and he blinked it out of his eyes as he fought to stay conscious. The lances of agony from his side every time he breathed were taking on a muted edge as he slipped further away from reality.

Vimes blinked and gathered himself, determinedly pushing back the darkness. Lying here was not an option. He knew no help was coming…and even so, no one would want any help the Shades could provide. Unless…

Vimes somehow struggled to his feet, clutching at the wall for support. He stood there, shaking as he tried to deal with the fresh activity from his side that moving produced. He still had his hand gripped to the gash, even though it did little to stop the blood that still oozed over and around his rigid fingers.

He began to walk. Pushing his mind past the pain, Vimes focused his whole being on what he could feel though the worn soles of his shoes. He kept walking. Vimes' vision had narrowed to the ground in front of his feet. He kept walking. Each step became a blind stumble forwards. He kept walking.

Then, at last, he stopped. Vimes turned and looked up, knowing his life depended on what he would find. Above him, the weathered sign creaked in the wind.

Dr. M Lawn

Vimes knocked on the door. From inside he heard the faint sound of footsteps.

"Hello, who…"

Lawn trailed off as he saw the blood-stained, bedraggled form swaying in his doorway.

"Remember me?" said Vimes, as Lawn took his arm and helped him inside.

"Keel…?"

"Not anymore"

Vetinari picked up the next letter and started to read. After the first sentence he knew who it was. Only Rust could put so much aristocratic indignation into that small a space. As he reached for the next, there came a tap at the door, followed a few seconds later by Drumknott's head.

"The evening reports from the…informants are here sir."

"Put them in the usual tray" Vetinari murmured, without looking up.

Drumknott turned and placed the various reports in the tray. He paused a moment as if considering something, then picked the top one of the pile and turned back to Vetinari.

"Sir, I believe you will wish to give this one your immediate attention."

Drumknott placed the paper in Vetinari's outstretched hand, and then hurriedly left the room. Vetinari had always kept a tight rein on his emotions but this was an entirely different matter. Drumknott really didn't want to be around if Vetinari decided to let go all at once.

Vetinari waited until Drumknott left the room then lowered his eyes to the report he had been given. The paper crumpled as the hand holding it clenched tight, then it dropped unheeded to the floor. Vetinari moved swiftly to a cupboard at the rear of the room and pulled out a battered old trunk. After tapping on the lid a seemingly random pattern, he opened it and pulled out a robe of mottled dark green and grey. Changing into it from his Patrician's black he suddenly looked less visible, even in the light of his office, as if his outline had been smudged around the edges. Smearing some paint of the same colours on his face completed the process. Then he opened the window and slipped out into the night.

Back in the waiting room, Drumknott sat at his desk and sighed. He hoped, for the city's sake, that Vimes was still alive.

Vimes opened his eyes and squinted in the candle-light. He had focused all his remaining strength on reaching Lawn's house, and when he had he had finally surrendered to inevitable collapse and trusted to Lawn's skill. He knew he lay on a bed, but beyond that only the ceiling was in his line of vision. Vimes tried to raise his head to see the room, but even that small movement made his head swim. He lay back and concentrated on breathing, listening to the muffled snatches of conversation coming from the next room.

"…bad way. Lost too much…had to cauterize…not…time left…"

"…watch house…go…Igor…"

The door then creaked open and Vimes closed his eyes against the flare of light. He kept them closed as the light disappeared and listened to the quiet breathing of the person who was now in the room with him. Soft steps approached the bed, and then he heard a whisper, soft and almost pleading.

"Vimes…"

Vimes turned his head slightly and opened his eyes to look up into a face he knew almost as well as him own. Vetinari looked almost as calm as usual, but Vimes' mouth twitched at the sight of a streak of green still smudged on Vetinari's usually immaculate cheek. Vimes could feel the pull of oblivion once again but he fought it off long enough to say what he knew he had to. He held Vetinari's gaze.

"I shouldn't have run…"

Vetinari stared at Vimes until his eyes slide closed. Then he sat on the chair beside the bed and watched the rise and fall of Vimes' chest with each shallow breath. Vetinari felt a dampness on his cheek, and he raised his hand and brushed off the single tear that had fallen. He stared in wonder at the small drop shining on his finger then bent forward and took Vimes' icy hand in his, willing strength to the prone figure. As Lawn rushed through the damp night on his urgent mission, candle-light played over the two still forms hoping for the morning.

Tbc……whew! Yes, I know it's another cliff-hanger…but hopefully not as evil as last time. But as this story is slowly drawing to a close…would anyone be interested in a sequel? I have some ideas…so review and tell me what u think! Till next time……