Chapter 3

To his credit Dr Lawn didn't look surprised when Vimes shouldered his way into the house calling for him, he hadn't got as far as his bed and was still dressed when he appeared at the door of his own treatment room. "And what, pray tell, is it this time? Some poor sap who made the mistake of sneaking up on you?"

Before Vimes could answer Nobby piped up, a tad unsteadily. "He always knows it's me." the boy pointed out, and he wavered a little where he sat on the edge of Lawns table, his good arm still clutching at his bad one.

Lawn stepped forward, frowning deeply, his eyes tracking across Nobby, taking in the pale face, glassy stare, and very obviously broken arm. Then those shrewd eyes narrowed and snapped to Vimes, but Vimes' very understandably, indignant response was waved away before he had the chance to utter it. Vimes settled back, miffed that Lawn, even for a moment, could have thought that he would break a childs arm. A grown mans, yes, if he damn well deserved it, but not a child, not even Nobby's on his worst of days.

He watched in silence as Dr Lawn made a quick check to be sure the knock on the head and the arm were the only injuries before he set to work tackling them. Nobby did try his best to wriggle away from the attentions when he realised that resetting his arm might just hurt as badly as when it had been broken, but his protests died away under the twin, quelling stares of the doctor and the Watch Captain and he let Dr Lawn do his work.

Vimes was impressed at the level of cursing Nobby knew at this age, and deliberatly ignored the way tracks were appearing in the grime on his face. Let the boy have what diginity he could for now. He was sent from the room to get a bowl of the evenings dinner from the kitchen and when he returned Dr Lawn was carefully splinting the arm and wrapping bandages around it. While Nobby ate the food he was given Lawn pulled Vimes aside.

"It was a bad break, someone twisted his arm until the bone gave way. And that blow to his head was a nasty one, he's not going to be up to much for the next while I'm afraid."

Vimes waved a hand, wordlessly stating that it didn't really matter. He would find something for Nobby to do at the Watch house instead of sending him running about the city for a while until he was healed. He could practice his reading and writing or something, there were always paperwork that needed sorted somewhere, or he could leave him manning the main desk with Fred, he'd get a kick out of that at least, and Fred could use the practice looking after a kid with his first on the way.

"Is that all?" Vimes asked, an undercurrent in his tone letting Lawn know exactly what he wanted to know.

"This time. I wouldn't be surprised to find a lot of marks from previous encounters however." Lawn said confidently. "You know who is responsiable?"

"Got an idea." Vimes said, not entirely sure what he was intending to do with the information just yet, but it was probably going to involve punches being thrown and someone falling (prehaps repeatidly) down the stairs to the cells tonight if he was any judge. He wasn't above bringing the heavy hand of the law down on some people. Some people deserved it. (He ignored the part of his conscience that was part Carrot and part Sybil, because neother of them where here and he didn't want to have to live up to their expectations, not tonight at least). Nobby was a copper, granted a lot smaller and not actually sworn in right now, but you always backed up your own when you could, and you dealt out your own justice if you had to.

And Nobby was his.

"I'll put him up in your bed tonight if that's alright." Lawn mentioned, nodding at whatever he'd seen on Vimes face. "I'd appreciate you didn't call on my again tonight." Which was implicit permission to leave certain people stewing overnight t look after whatever knocks he would take when he 'resisted arrest'.

Only then did Vimes realise Lawn intended to use his bed for Nobby for the night. His nose wrinkled. "Any chance you could get him into a bath before you do that?" he asked hopefully.

They glanced at Nobby, who was carefully licking the bowl clean, looking less pale now at least, bandages standing out starkly. Lawn looked calculating for a moment. "I can try... but I'm going to charge you for the soap."

Vimes nodded and strode over to Nobby, who blinked up at him, eyes more focused, if only by a little. "Alright Nobby?" he asked, waiting for the nod. "You'll be staying here tonight, so I want you to behave for Dr Lawn. I don't want to hear that anything's gotten 'lost' or that you've been playing silly buggers. You do what your told you hear me?" another nod, this one accompained by a worried looking expression. "Now lad. I know you know. Where's your dad at tonight?"

Nobby's eyes looked about to eclipse his whole face. "I... I..."

"Nobby." Vimes said, gentling his voice just a little. "Where's he at tonight?"

Nobby looked torn, he was a trustworthy enough kid for enough money, but there had always been a streak of loyalty on Nobby for his own. In Vimes own time that loyalty lay only with the Watch, but here and now Nobby was loyal to his family, his mum and brother definately, and his dad because he felt he should be. Vimes waited, because he knew some of the loyalty had moved across to him. Finally Nobby looked away, toying with his bowl. "The Klatchians Head." he said lowly.

Vimes reached out to pat his head. "Good lad. Be good for Dr Lawn." he gave the doctor a nod and left the room and the house. The Klatchians Head wasn't on his usual beat, but he was getting a bit thirsty and he thought it might be just the right place for a drink.