A day in the hills.

Chapter Five.

There was a sudden but barely perceptible twitch of warm fingers against mine but it was one strong enough to jolt me from my fragmented thoughts.

"Sir?"

My partner, dozing fitfully in a hard uncomfortable chair on the other side of the bed, his heavily bandaged foot stretched out before him, responded in an instant at the sound of my weary but hope filled voice. Bleary eyed he glanced at me, the blueness of his eyes flitting across my battered face and then followed my gaze to take in the unconscious form of our boss. The fingers I held, however, were once again still and lifeless.

"Sir? Mr. Cowley?"

He was unresponsive to my anxious enquiry and I sat back again letting my hand slip from his. Dispite the warmth of the hospital room an involuntary shiver rippled through me and I closed my eyes, too exhausted to meet Bodie's concerned gaze. I was aware of him getting to his feet with difficulty. He said nothing, there was nothing he could say, nothing that hadn't already been said. He came to glide a gentle hand over my hair in comfort and then he left the room. On his return I felt him drape a blanket around my shoulders and I realised that in the few short minutes he'd been away I had fallen asleep. Dropping a packet of unpromising sandwiches in my lap and pushing a white Styrofoam cup between my fingers Bodie struggled for several seconds with holding his own food and negotiating his way back to his chair landing in it with a thud that seemed to shatter the silence.

The heat of the liquid seeped into my cold cupped hands and, shivering again, I brought the cup to my lips. Mindful of his restless eyes upon me I sipped at the tea, sickly sweet with sugar. I didn't think I could face the sandwiches but the worried blue eyes that watched me wore away at my unwillingness to stare with silent insistence. I couldn't bring myself to look at him for fear of losing the last thin thread of control, my emotions bubbling so dangerously close to the surface as the days events start to catch up with me. But when I looked down at the food my eyes already swam uncontrollably with tears. I gulped at the hot tea for a distraction envying Bodie's apparent detachment and emotional coldness. Always a figure of some fascination to me I wondered, when does it ever get too much for him? Does it ever?

A sly glance across in his direction found Bodie looking at me with kind understanding as if my release had been hoped for or expected. He relaxed back in his chair with evident relief and his tired eyes left me momentarily to fall upon the bed bound older man guarded by the strangely comforting rhythmical sounds of machinery. I knew he cared deeply for me and, his affection for Cowley, though kepty hidden, is evident to me also, and I'm sure to the man himself. It strikes me there and then as I blinked away the last of the silent unbidden tears that we are an unlikely combination, a strange type of family almost. We seem to be all we have that is true and constant.

Suddenly the door swung open and a nurse, petite and efficient, swished in to lift the clipboard hooked over the end of the bed. But I didn't see her, instead I watched with amusement the eyes of my partner as they came alive to sweep the length of the woman in one skilled movement, a soft smile on his face. Seemingly oblivious to his observations she checks the machinery, takes readings and makes entries on the chart. But he caught her eye as she re-attched the clipboard to the bed and Bodie, still grinning, raised his eyebrows a just a fraction in approval of her. His reward was a shy half smile from her as she dipped her head in embarrassment and left as swiftly as she had come in. She had provided a welcome diversion even if just for a minute or two and Bodie and I shared a warm smile.

The overly sweet sugared tea was energising and, coursing through my severly depleted system like a fireball, brought life back to me and with it an overwhelming hunger. When was the last time we had eaten? I couldn't remember. Revived, my now warm fingers tore at the plastic wrapping and I bit into the bland but welcome sandwich. I heard Bodie grappling with his too, his hunger driven impatience coming to the fore with tuts and sighs as he endeavoured to find a way into the packet. When at last he did a calm settled over us.

I was able to put our circumstance into perspective now. I had saved them, I told myself. They were alive and safe and here. Bodie would heal quickly and Cowley would recover in his own time; he had no doubt been through far worse in his long career. I seemed to have come out of the ordeal relatively unscathed, physically at least. Any mental scars would fade, made easier to deal with already by the safe return of my partner and boss.

"I could eat that again." Bodie's voice filled the quiet room and broke into my musings. He drained the last of his tea and idly attempted to flatten the rigid plastic sandwich wrapper.

"Me too." I agreed. "Why didn't you get more in the first place?"

"Ran out of money, didn't I? I haven't another penny on me."

"Well don't look at me, I lost my wallet somewhere along the way, remember?"

I heard him let out a long breath in disappointment and he sank deeper into his seat. I watched his eyes wander to Cowley's long dark coat neatly folded over a chair at the back of the room and then widen as a possible solution started to form in his head.

"Don't even think about it, Bodie." I warned though something told me I was already too late.

"He won't know, besides, we'd only be borrowing it. We'd pay him back."

"We?"

"You said you were still hungry."

"I didn't say I was willing to steal from my boss in order to do so, did I?"

"Ah," replied Bodie smugly. "But he's not your boss anymore is he? He sacked you, remember? So if you do it you've got nothing to lose."

I stared at him incredulously. "How have you suddenly turned this around so that it's now me that's going to steal it?"

"That's the trouble with you," Bodie frowned. "Once a cop always a cop. Anyway, like I said, we're only borrowing it." He viewed me with disdain for a few seconds while he weighed up the consequences and then, decision made , he was scambling to his feet and hobbling as fast as he could towards the coat.

"In any case," he said, sliding his hand between the folds of fabric and finding the inside pocket. "He won't remember how much he's got in there."

"Oh, he will! He's Scottish. He'll sack you, you know."

"Well, I'm not staying at C.I.5 without you anyway so it doesn't matter." Bodie revealed a brown leather wallet and opened it to quickly remove a banknote which he pocketed with unsettling ease before returning the wallet to its rightful place. He moved behind me to stand at the door.

"So you won't be wanting anything then, will you?" he said sarcastically. It only took me a few seconds to deliberate.

"Get me the same again but don't put any sugar in the tea this time."

Bodie sniggered, glad he was not alone in his crime anymore and then disappeared.

He had seemed to have been gone for ages but now Bodie and I sat with full stomachs. The warm room was very conducive to sleep so that when I heard the sound of a voice I wasn't sure if it was a part of a dream or not.

"Fifty six pounds and eighteen pence."

I opened my eyes and stared across at Bodie. "What?" I asked him.

"What?" he countered looking at me in puzzlement and then we both slowly turned our heads towards Cowley.

"Fifty six pounds and eighteen pence, Bodie. That's how much is….was in my wallet." he said feebly.

Bodie looked surprised and guilty, I was delighted and pleased.

"Good to see you, Sir. How are you feeling?"

Cowley closed his eyes and appeared to drift off again for a moment. I smiled at Bodie across the bed. "I told you he'd know how much he had in his wallet!"

Bodie chose to ignore this and was struggling to his feet when Cowley stirred again.

"D-Doyle?"

"Yes, Sir." I laid my hand on his arm reassuringly.

"I- I know I should have told you about the rifles, you and Bodie."

"The rifles, Sir? Look, don't worry about them now, they're safe. You just get some rest. Bodie and I will…."

"Safe?" Cowley's tired grey eyes narrowed in confusion. "But I told you…..to leave them."

Bodie grinned at him. "Yeah, well you know what dilligent Doyle is like Sir, don't you. Likes to do a good job."

Cowley began agitated. "No, I had the Kelmers taken to London in secret a couple of days ago." he paused, struggling to catch his breath. "There were just bricks in the box. I-I told you to leave them."

I stared down at the older man, bewildered and wondered if his confusion was as a result of the anaesthetic but something deep within told me it wasn't.

"Do you mean to tell me that you had us risk our lives and yours for that matter for a box of bricks?" I demanded, suddenly growing more furious with each word. Cowley drifted out of consciousness again and I gazed at Bodie who looked as equally astonished. I turned on my heels and stormed out of the room. I didn't quite know where I was going; all I was aware of was a blur of medical staff as I rushed past.

It was several minutes later when Bodie found me leaning against some railings outside the hospital, the weak Spring sunshine warming my face. He said nothing but stood beside me quietly.

"What the hell does he think he's playing at?" I exploded. " We could have been killed! All for a box of bloody bricks! And he didn't think to let us in on it. Well, I tell you mate, I'm glad he's sacked me cos, there's no way I would ever stay now, not after this."

"You don't mean that." Bodie said quietly after a long pause.

"Oh don't I?" I snorted.

"No."

"I've had enough of this, I'm going to catch a train home." I stated, my anger subsiding and turning into annoyance as I started to walk away.

"You can't" Bodie said. "You haven't got any money and neither do I. As always Cowley holds all the aces."

I stopped in my tracks and dropped my head resignedly.

"And," Bodie continued, attempting to diffuse the situation. "It might not seem like it at the moment but one day we'll laugh about this."

"I doubt it."

"And you still haven't asked me about my foot!"

I watched a tentative smile begin to stretch across his face as he wrested the last of my anger. In truth there was no way I could leave him and Cowley there; there never was.

"I have but you won't tell me!"

"I have to come back tomorrow to have it dressed again, by the lovely Lowri."

"But what have you actually done to it?" I almost pleaded. "And who's Lowri?"

"The pretty little nurse who was in with Cowley."

"Oh, so while I was starving to death you were busy chatting her up. Nice."

Bodie gave me one of his mischievous looks and then became a little more serious.

"I also rang base and told them what had happened. I've put Murphy on standby to come and get us once Cowley's fit enough to travel which, knowing the Cow, won't be long. In the meantime we are both in need of a hot bath, some decent food and some sleep. I phoned Cass and he's going to put us up until we're ready to leave. He should be here by now so while I go and look for him why don't you go and say goodbye to the old man."

I regarded him thoughtfully for a few seconds letting out a long breath and then nodded wearily.

Slipping quietly back into Cowley's room Lowri was helping to prop him up against the pillows.

"You have two minutes," she warned me as she left the room. "and then Mr Cowley really does have to rest."

Cowley and I viewed each other with exhausted eyes. He seemed however to have rallied a little and there was a returning colour to his cheeks.

"I am sorry, Doyle," he began when I neared the bed. "But I…."

"It doesn't matter, Sir. What's done is done. You just need to get some rest."

"You're a good man, Doyle. I should have anticipated that you would insist on seeing the job through."

"And I should have done as you'd instructed and left the box. But don't worry about that now, Sir." I squeezed his arm reassuringly.

"I don't suppose I need to tell you you're not fired. I need you Doyle, need you in my team. You'd be the last person I'd want to lose. Bodie, on the other hand….." he let a rare smile cross his lips and I smiled back at him.

"We come as a pair, Sir."

"Aye, pity about that!"

"I'll see you later, Sir." I said and watched him settle back into the pillows and close his eyes.

Stepping quietly into the busy hallway I felt tired but happy. Ahead of me I saw my partner and Cass slowly walking away beside one another, their voices low with soft laughter and their heads slightly bowed towards each other. Cass reached out to place a tentative arm around Bodie's waist in support and I was glad when Bodie countered this with his own arm and leaned into him. On hearing the door to Cowley's room close Bodie stopped abruptly, twisting round awkwardly to look for me.

"Ray." His voice, though edged with weariness, was full of warmth. He looked relaxed as he stretched out his arm waving it slowly and invitingly in my direction, anxious to gather me into his newly extended fold. "You haven't asked me about my foot."