*cackles* God help Lawford indeed. ^_~ Are you sure this didn't happen in the book? Because I'm pretty sure it did. *G* I especially love how you illustrated Sharpe's odd acceptance of the bad end of things that characterizes him early on in his military career ("Nowt to do now but wait."), which he leaves behind later on. Great portrait of the young man, and the slashiness didn't hurt either. *snicker*