Title: Anniversaries and Other Disasters, part 3
By: lbc
Raymond Doyle continued to sleep through Bodie's early morning visit. When he woke, his need for the loo overrode everything else. Then the feeling of pain struck him. He remembered his fight with Bodie. The berk, couldn't even remember our anniversary. And what the hell was with that wire?
Even now almost 30 years later, the mere sight of the thin piece of wire brought back the old nightmares and sheer hysteria of being locked in a dark closet for more than eight hours. His older brother hadn't meant to really hurt him, but he had wanted to have a bit of peace and quiet from the whiny six year old, so he had tied his wrists - - not too tightly and pushed him into the closet.
The only trouble was that he had forgotten Ray was there and when he had left with his friends for some outdoor activity, the house had been left abandoned except for the small figure huddled in the closet with a gag in his mouth and the ever tightening wire around his wrists.
How could he explain those hours and the marks that that wire had engraved on his heart? He was sure that Bodie had suffered a lot more in Africa and other places around the world. He would be amused that the man he relied upon to watch his back was so traumatized by a mere piece of wire.
After Doyle showered and got ready to face the day, he wandered into the sitting room, looking around for his missing trainers. He stopped when he saw the two small figurines, joined together by a vaguely familiar ribbon. Doyle's beautiful green eyes squeezed together in memory, but he couldn't quite place the occasion upon which the ribbon was used.
Shaking his still wet curls, he carefully walked over and picked up the two figures, reading their identification. In spite of himself, he smiled. Where did they come from? Doyle knew that they hadn't been there a few hours before when Bodie made his hasty departure.
Doyle thought about it for a minute, figuring that Bodie must have snuck in sometime earlier and left them for him to see. Sighing, Doyle replaced them. This was going to be a difficult day. He would have to apologize to Bodie, and try to explain the fears that he had been carrying for almost 30 years.
Less than thirty minutes later, Ray Doyle reported for duty at CI5 headquarters. For a few minutes he wandered around the building, looking for his errant partner, but didn't find the tall, handsome man. He was just ready to check the duty board when he ran into Colin Murphy. "Oi, Murph, you seen Bodie anywhere?"
The handsome man smiled, "What the Bisto Kids have misplaced each other? I think Bodie said that the Cow had given him the rest of the day off since he was now finished with the undercover assignment. He was here early to finish his report, and then he said something about having some cleaning-up to do."
Doyle nodded his auburn curls, but asked nothing further. As usual after having an argument with Bodie, the slender man was upset and blaming himself. He had been crazy to place so much importance on a mere day. Each and every day for four years, Bodie had proven his friendship with the green-eyed Doyle by being the best partner and always protecting his back. And what'd I do but yell at 'em? Shaking his curls in disgust, Ray Doyle settled down to review some files for an ongoing investigation.
Five hours later, he was tired, worried with a nagging feeling in his body. Even when Bodie was off duty, he usually called Doyle at work. They sometimes talked three and four times in a day or made arrangements to see each other that evening, but this time - - nothing. For the thousandth time, Doyle resolved to go to Bodie's flat immediately after work and make up with the beautiful sod. Fine way to celebrate two anniversaries . . . fighting with the most important person in your life.
Finally, Doyle checked out and hurriedly backed the gold Capri out of the car park. Rushing over to Bodie's flat was hampered slightly by the end of the rush hour, but the slender CI 5 agent still arrived, just before 8:00 pm. Feeling hungry, he wished he had brought some takeaway as sort of a "Greek bearing gifts", but he had been so anxious that he had neglected to do so. Too late now. Bodie'll feed me; at least I hope so.
Receiving an answering buzz, Doyle took the stairs two at a time; his hopes so high that the man at the top of the stairs would welcome him. Rushing to the door, he noticed it was open - - William Bodie was wandering around packing his holdall and a few other bags. Blue eyes looked up suddenly with a slight degree of apprehension. "Doyle?"
The cupid's bow mouth tried to smile but failed miserably, "What's all this then? You goin' somewhere?"
"Nah, just the Cow's idea of me movin' to a new flat. Thought it was time."
"Were you goin' to tell me?"
"Sure, but din't see ya today, did I? As a matter of fact, won't be around for awhile. Got some more work to do for the Cow, so this'll give me a chance to say hello and good-bye."
Doyle was just ready to ask Bodie about his new op when Paul Stuart wandered in from the bedroom. He was carrying a small box, loaded with various items. "This is about it, Bodie. I'll put it in the car. Hello, Doyle." The extremely aloof agent left the flat without further greeting.
"What's this then, mate? Shanghaied Stuart to do your dirty work?"
"Nah, he's going undercover with me so he came over to help me set up the new flat."
"Should have told me; I'd've helped."
"Not that much to do; just takin' a few personal items to give the place the lived in look. You know how it is. I got to take this down to the car. Be back in a minute."
Doyle nodded, looking around the almost gutted flat. Bodie never kept many personal objects in his flats so the stuff remaining was clearly CI5 issue. It made him feel even more apprehensive as if Bodie was walking out on him.
Hearing footsteps coming, the curly headed mop turned, expecting to see Bodie, but it was Stuart. The two men didn't know each other very well, but they had worked together on the Parker kidnapping. That Gerda had been some good-lookin' bird, and Bodie loved the Superman watch.
"Well, Doyle, haven't seen much of you since the Parker deal; you okay now?" Everybody had heard about Doyle's brush with death.
Doyle nodded, looking behind Stuart to see if Bodie was coming up the stairs. He didn't feel comfortable around Stuart, but he felt even less comfortable when he heard Stuart's next words.
"I hope Bodie is as good a field agent as you were, Doyle. 'Course us being a couple and living together is going to be a lot tougher, but who could argue with Cowley?"
Doyle turned pale. "Couple?" What's he nattering on about?
Before Doyle could ask, Bodie returned carrying a six-pack. "I thought we might have a farewell drink. Me and Paul here are goin' to be out of touch for quite awhile if this thing goes as Cowley plans, so we won't be seein' ya, Sunshine."
Green eyes narrowed considerably. He hadn't been kept informed on the upcoming op, but if he was careful, he might gather some info. Within seconds, however, Raymond Doyle, seeker of truth, devoutly wished that he had not.
Doyle reached over and took one of the cans that Bodie handed him. The three men held up their cans as if in a toast, but Doyle failed to drink when he heard Paul Stuart say, "Here's to a safe op. 've had many undercover disguises, but never had such a handsome lover before." He smiled wickedly at Bodie and winked outrageously at both men.
Green eyes stared into blue ones for seconds before the sapphire ones dropped to the floor.
End of part 3, one to go