Sweetpea sent Dars and Hasan home. She didn't know what time of day it was, but she figured that they needed some sleep. Sek wasn't all there. Sweetpea could tell that they were keeping one godly eye on her. Not fully paying attention, but ready to snap into Sweetpea's body if there was any danger. It was actually nice. Sweetpea had a bodyguard that was a god. A bodygod.

Feeling more confident than ever, Sweetpea decided to test out her healed legs. She threw off the covers and fairly sprang out of bed. She felt light on her feet, like a cat, ready for anything. Now, Haddock had to be around here somewhere. That foot wound had looked bad, and he didn't have a god on his side to heal quickly. He did now.

Sweetpea had been expecting to share a room, but the John Keel wing wasn't as crowded as other wings in the hospital unless it was an emergency. She didn't know who John Keel was, except that he must have been important to Dr. Lawn, who had had the hospital built.

She opened her door and glanced down the hallway both ways. There were a few nurses, both male and female, at the end of the hall. If she was quiet they wouldn't notice. Someone would be coming to check on her soon; she had to be quick.

Her bare feet made no noise as she padded down the hall. The floors had been scrubbed clean recently, and the antiseptic stung her feet. She couldn't remember the last time she had had her boots. Was she wearing them in that closet? As she tried to remember, her mind suddenly balked from the memory. Her breath quickened and her heart was pounding as if she'd just run several blocks. What was wrong with her? She wanted to stop thinking about being in that closet, about getting stabbed, getting shot, getting stabbed, getting stabbed—

"Hakim?"

The voice saved her from thinking of the sensation over and over again. It was Haddock's voice. In Sweetpea's panic, she hadn't realized that she'd stopped right in front of an open door. Trying to lever himself to a better viewing position from inside was Constable Haddock, looking both confused and worried. She took a few gasping breaths and laughed.

"H-hey, Haddock." She sniffed and walked into his room. He stared at her in astonishment, and she twirled around to demonstrate that she was, in fact, walking. He continued to stare, but his expression was one of relief and, yes, joy.

"You're okay," he said softly. "You're okay!" he exclaimed. "Sweetpea, when they found you they thought you were dead."

"I was dead," she explained. She came close to his bed and leaned on it with both her hands. "I met Death and everything. But Sek saved me, Haddock. Seven-Handed Sek. I'm going to be their avatar."

Sek? she thought. Can I get an assist?

Miracle number one, Sek agreed, making their presence felt fully. And don't feel so surprised. Hand of healing and all that.

I'm just glad, Sweetpea thought. Out loud she said,

"I know it's a lot to take in. But being an avatar has its perks. Would you like to not be in bed for the next few weeks?"

Haddock was still dumbfounded. "Of course, but—"

"The first hand of Sek," said Sek, "Is the hand of healing."

They laid Sweetpea's hands on Haddock's foot through the covers. From Haddock's perspective, Sweetpea's eyes turned a glowing white and her hair blew in a celestial wind. Her hands surged with divine light, and suddenly all feeling was back in Haddock's foot. He wiggled it, gingerly at first, and then rolled it enthusiastically. Totally normal.

"Whew," said Sweetpea, staggering backwards a bit. "That was dramatic."

Gods like a light show every now and then, said Sek. It's not at all necessary, but it looks great.

"That thing with the eyes was—wow."

Next time I'd like to do miracles a little bit more deliberately. But a hurt foot is small change. Talk to you later, Hakim. I shouldn't need you until you get out of the hospital.

"All right. Thank you.'

Haddock looked up at Sweetpea, who appeared to be talking to herself.

"How did you do that?" he asked, astonished.

"Um. It's a miracle?" she said, as though it was obvious.

"I guess so," he muttered to himself. Young recruits who had been half-dead a few hours ago showing up and healing was outside of his expertise. He could roll easily with most punches, but this was a pretty big one. "How is all this going to work, Hakim?"

"That's a good question," said someone from the door. Sweetpea's head swiveled around and saw Sergeant Angua leaning against the doorway, her arms folded. Her eyes were narrowed, too. Sweetpea swallowed. Which was faster, she wondered, Sergeant Angua's teeth or Sek?

"Relax, lance-constable, I'm not going to eat you," said the sergeant easily. "We're all glad to see you okay. Most code OOOs don't end so well." She raised an eyebrow. "They especially don't end with the officer back on her feet after injuries that could kill a man. I'm a fast healer and even I'd call that quick turn-around."

Yeah, about that. She elected to go for honesty, or at least partial honesty. Sergeant Angua would know if she weren't telling the truth.

"I was saved by a god. Seven-Handed Sek. I-"

Sergeant Angua held up a hand.

"Hold on. I have the feeling that this is going to be a long story, and I don't want you to have to repeat yourself. I'll get the Commander and Dr. Lawn in here and you can tell all three of us."

"What about me, Captain?" Haddock asked. He had pushed the covers aside and looked ready to get out of bed. A flicker of surprise passed across the sergeant's face. One person getting healed was one thing, but two people? Two people was miraculous.

"I'll-get one of the nurses to check you out," the sergeant said. Her pause was only momentary. "Lance-Constable, come with me, please."

Sergeant Angua turned on her heel and strode out the door. Sweetpea had to jog to catch up with her. Her feet were starting to get cold on the wood. Sergeant Angua glanced down at her.

"We should get you some clothes," she said. "Hospital gowns can't be good for a long period of time."

"Yeah," said Sweetpea distractedly. "Sergeant, do I still have my job?"

"Why wouldn't you?"

"I thought I might be in trouble."

The sergeant stopped. "In trouble for healing completely after we all thought you died?" The sergeant shook her head and continued walking. "I thought you were smart, Hakim."

Sweetpea flushed half with embarrassment and half with pride. The sergeant had thought she was smart! That established it, she was a sucker for blondes.

"We had a few questions that we were going to ask you once you were conscious," Sergeant Angua said. "And now we've got...quite a few more. It was going to be in your room, but the commander and Dr. Lawn are waiting out here."

She gestured to the space that she and Sweetpea had just entered. It was a drab-looking waiting room, complete with uncomfortable chairs. A tall, thin man with white hair was talking quietly to the commander. When Sweetpea entered the room the commander swore, and the man-had had to be Dr. Lawn-jumped up. He hurried over to Sweetpea and waved his hands around her, unsure of where to begin.

"Your shoulder-your side-your leg-how are you even walking right now?" He glanced over his shoulder at the commander. "This would happen to one of yours, wouldn't it, Sam?"

"Yes, it would, though to be honest this one has me stumped," said the commander. "Care to explain yourself, Hakim?"

They all insisted she sit, which was awkward since the three of them continued to stand. Sweetpea started the story from the beginning. Like before, she found that talking about the Sto Kerrig Three was too difficult. There was just a block in her brain.

"They knocked me out, and I woke up in a closet. They-They-" Her breathing quickened, and she gulped out the words.

Commander Vimes and Sergeant Angua exchanged glances.

"Hakim, they didn't do anything to you, did they?" the sergeant asked gently, much more gently than Sweetpea had expected. The kind tone made things even worse.

"No, they didn't. I-" She put her face into her hands. "I don't know what's wrong with me, I can't-"

There was suddenly a hand on her shoulder, and she jumped. It was Dr. Lawn.

"It's all right, Sweetpea," he said. "Take some deep breaths. I'll breathe with you. One...two…" Sergeant Angua and Commander Vimes waited patiently while Dr. Lawn helped Sweetpea calm down. When her breathing had returned to normal, Dr. Lawn said, "You've been through something extremely traumatic. You may be able to talk about it in time, and then again you may never be able to talk about it. Is it possible for you to say how you fought them off?"

Sweetpea nodded. She resumed with where Sek entered the story; things got easier after that. Vimes looked annoyed at the mention of a god, and continued to be annoyed until Sweetpea finished her story.

"I'm glad you're all right, Hakim, but I hate it when the gods get involved. Though they're going to be involved all the time, now, aren't they? Damn. Are they always with you?"

"No, I don't think so," said Sweetpea. "Not in my head, at least. They're keeping an eye on me in case anything happens, and they can take over my body, but-"

"What was that last one?" the commander interrupted.

"Since I'm an avatar, Sek does things through me," Sweetpea said. Going over this again and again was going to get old. Maybe she could make Sek do it. "That means that they can use my body. I told you, that's how I fought my way out of-out of the Three."

"They can take your body over at any time," the commander repeated.

"Yes. We agreed that they wouldn't use me to do any smiting," Sweetpea added. "If that helps."

"Not really." The commander sighed and rubbed his face. Sweetpea noticed him reach for his cigar case and then stop himself. "So they aren't going to be in control all the time?"

"Not at all. They said that they couldn't be. And I told them that I still wanted my job, so being an avatar will be just a side thing." She saw the look on Vimes's face and said hesitantly, "That is, if I still have my job."

"What?" said Vimes. "Oh, yeah. Of course. Take the next two days off, Hakim-that's an order."

"Fine, sir, but in all this excitement nobody's told me. Did you catch the SK3? The last thing I remember was beating them up, but I don't know if they got away or not."

Vimes smacked his forehead. "Of course, Hakim. You'll be happy to know that all three of them were taken into the Tanty. The trial won't be for at least a month. We can talk about it later, but I don't think you'll have to be involved if you don't want to."

Sweetpea's heart began to pound at the thought of seeing them again, even in court.

"I don't know if I can—I don't want to make a decision right now."

"And you don't have to. Right now, Dr. Lawn will check you out and then your brother can come and get you. Take one more week at the Treacle Mine Road house and then we'll be moving you to your office at Pseudopolis Yard."

"Er, yes, sir," said Sweetpea. Why were they moving her so soon? Her probation wasn't nearly over yet, and if this...incident had proved anything, it was that she needed more training. What was the rush?

Sergeant Angua and Commander Vimes looked at her, and then at each other. In that look she understood. They wanted to keep an eye on her. She had a god in her head that could access her body at any time. She was an unknown factor; a potential threat, even. Better that she could be close where more people could watch her. Offler damn it. Did they think she was actually good enough to be moving up so soon? Sweetpea doubted it. They hardly knew her. Not even she knew how good of a copper she was going to be.

"Let's go back to your room," Dr. Lawn suggested. "From the looks of it, giving you a clean bill of health isn't going to take very long at all."