Cowley had Dr Landau, a CI5 specialist whom Bodie and Doyle knew and trusted, waiting for them, but there was no examination that day. Bodie went willingly to hospital, dazed by the news that he had lost a whole week, but when Landau's nurse approached him to draw blood, he flinched and backed away from her. Used to patients who were timid of needles, she went closer, and he grabbed her and flung her into the doctor with a force that staggered both of them.
"Bodie!" shouted Cowley. His subordinate looked at him with blank terror in his eyes.
"Hey." Doyle took a step towards his friend. "It's okay, Bodie. Let's get out of here, just you and me." He looked at Cowley, who nodded slightly. "We'll get some food. You didn't have anything to eat this morning, did you?" His partner shook his head and Doyle touched his arm and steered him out the door, keeping himself between Bodie and the shaken medical staff.
When they were gone, Dr Landau said, "That'll be all, nurse," and the woman left too.
Cowley sat down. "What do you make of that?"
Landau perched on the exam table. "That was a psychological reaction, possibly a flashback. I'd still like to do a full workup on him, but I'd say your man is severely traumatized."
"And dangerous?" asked Cowley.
"Perhaps." The doctor considered. "I would need to know the nature of the trauma to judge that. I don't mean to be so vague, George, but I can only try to repair the damage after the fact. What happened to him is your department."
Outside in Doyle's car, Bodie mumbled, "Sorry about that."
His partner started the car and pulled away from the curb. "What you need is some fish and chips, my son." They drove in silence for a moment, then Doyle asked quietly, "Do you want to tell me what that was about?"
Bodie took some deep breaths, staring out the window, then turned to look at his partner. "I don't know, Ray. I saw that needle…"
"Don't tell me you're afraid of needles!" Doyle scoffed.
"Hardly." The dark-haired man relaxed at the familiar bantering tone of his partner, and now he spoke slowly. "It was as if I wasn't there anymore. I wasn't at hospital, with you and the Cow."
"Where were you?" asked Doyle seriously.
Bodie struggled to find words. "Someplace dark. Dark, and cold, and I had no clothes…there was a needle, and a voice saying no one knew where I was and no one would ever be able to find me or help me…" He wiped cold sweat off his forehead. "Stop the car."
His voice was blurred but urgent, and Doyle pulled over to the curb and switched off the ignition as Bodie tumbled into the street. Doyle hurried to him, kneeling next to him and putting an arm around his shoulders as he retched painfully.
The spasms finally stopped and Bodie gasped, "What's happening to me?" He leaned against his friend like a hurt animal seeking warmth.
Doyle said haltingly, "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out." He helped Bodie up, put him in the car, then went around and got in himself. "I think you'd better stay with me for the present." Bodie started to protest but Doyle went on firmly. "You know Cowley's going to put you on leave anyway until we get this sorted. You can sleep on my sofa."
Bodie grudgingly admitted it might be a good idea. His reaction to the needle and what he had done to the nurse frightened him, and the thought of being under Doyle's watchful eye seemed very comforting.
