2002 Christmas Combi

Three days before Christmas and the little flame of anticipation that had started glowing within Bodie mid-November was rapidly growing into a raging inferno. To say that Christmas was Bodie's favorite holiday would be understating things. Bodie embraced Christmas the way the ancient zealots had embraced religion, that is to say, whole- heartedly and without question. Bodie believed, really truly believed and it was probably that absolute belief in the magic of Christmas that had allowed Bodie, one evening early in his partnership with Ray Doyle, to turn to his theretofore believed human partner and instead find himself sitting next to a creature plucked from fairyland. Unaware that Bodie had seen through his masking spell, Ray had sat in silence as Bodie took in the golden sparks of fairy dust dancing amongst the auburn curls, the exquisite slants of emerald and those amazing pointed ears.

Bodie was enchanted and it was only until Ray had physically reminded his partner via a smack to the jaw that, elf or not, he had no intention of being treated as anything less than a tough CI5 agent that things had gotten back to normal. Or as normal as things could be when you hand over guns and badges to a disguised warrior elf and an ex-merc with a Christmas fetish. Still, over the years things had gone well. Ray had promised to refrain from using his magic to manipulate his partner and Bodie had accepted that Ray wanted to be treated as human. Harmony abounded.

At least most times.

The smash of Ray's boot heel against the dash of his beloved Capri clued Bodie that there was a problem. "Ah, something bothering you, Ray?'

Ray gave the dash another kick. "My father showed up this morning." He gave Bodie a telling look. "Of course I was in the shower."

Bodie gave Ray a troubled sidelong glance. He'd been lucky enough to meet Ray's father and he had seemed to be a straightforward nice father-type person. And Ray had always welcomed his all too infrequent visits in the past. "Something wrong at home?"

Ray sighed. "No, nothing like that. It's my cousin Eldral. He's been pestering the family to allow him to visit London and now they've decided to let him." Ray gave the dash a particularly vicious kick, "Dad thinks that I've been away from the family too long. He thinks that having Eldral stay with me for a while will be good for the both of us. Family!"

Bodie hid his grin. Ray loved his family really and was often homesick. And Christmas was an especially hard time for the displaced elf as London transformed itself into a pale imitation of Meldoran.

"It won't be that bad, Ray." Bodie patted his partner's knee calmingly in an effort to spare the dash more destruction, "And you know I've always wanted to meet more of your family. When it comes to elves, the more the merrier!"

"You're an idiot, Bodie." Ray huffed. "What am I supposed to do with him all day? Pack him up and take him to work with us? Yeah, Cowley would just love that."

"Ray, if your father thinks he's ready to visit a human city then I'm sure he'll be fine without you babysitting." Bodie turned into the carpark. "There's lots of stuff he can do during the day. Even a visit to the grocery will be a thrill for someone who's never seen one before. Besides, with any luck Cowley will give us the rest of the week off. We're past due for some time off."

"Cowley give us time off? When have we ever gotten a holiday off, Bodie?"

Twenty minutes later found Bodie beaming and Ray stunned. "I can't believe it. A whole week off!"

"See, the old man's not so bad." Bodie ruffled Ray's hair. "Now you've got time to go home and clean out that slum you call a flat before Eldral gets here."

"I suppose I'll have to feed him as well." Ray was determined to hang on to his nasty mood despite the unexpected good fortune of having time off. "Anyway, as you're so anxious to meet him, why don't you go over to my place and start cleaning whilst I do the food shopping?"

"Going to let me stay to supper if I do?" Bodie bargained.

"Oh, why not. Might as well feed half of bloody London." Ray poked Bodie in the chest, "But you'll have to do the bathroom if you want your usual two servings of cake."

"Deal." Bodie readily agreed and despite himself, Ray found himself grinning back.

Eldral was nothing like Bodie had imagined. He had expected someone young, a teenager perhaps, but Eldral was about his and Ray's age and looked every inch a warrior elf. Tall, with long dark hair and emerald eyes, he looked like as if he had just stepped out from the pages of a fairytale. All that was missing was the short sword and shield.

To Bodie's amusement, Eldral seemed to find Bodie equally exotic, even going so far as to ask if he could touch his rounded ears! Despite Bodie's appreciation of the elf, Eldral was anxious to set a masking to spell that would give him the illusion of human form. As Bodie sat on the settee, ate crisps and watched, Eldral and Ray worked at the spell throughout the evening. They tried out different noses, hair color and body types until they found one that satisfied Eldral esthetically and that Ray found `normal' enough not to draw attention from real humans. Bodie approved as well. The `new' Eldral was not handsome, not plain, not anything really. Nondescript was the only description that fit.

"Who would think magic would be so exhausting?" Ray managed to puff out as he fell into the armchair.

"You're just out of practise, cousin." Eldral teased as he, equally exhausted, flopped down beside Bodie.

Taking pity on the two, Bodie brought them cups of coffee with a large dollop of scotch in each as a revival. It didn't take long and the two cousins started talking about family and old times and it soon became clear that at some time in their pasts, Eldral and Ray had been close friends. Bodie understood that. He himself had once been close to his family. There had been some family members that he thought would always be part of his life. But time and distance had turned them into strangers and now he no longer even knew where any of his family lived. Sad, especially at Christmas.

His introspective mood was destroyed as Ray managed to prop himself somewhat upright and swore, "Damn! I've just remembered that I promised Debbie that I'd go over tomorrow afternoon and help her with the decorating."

"Oh, is that what they're calling it now?" Bodie teased.

Ray gave him an offended look, "For your information, we're going to make cookies to hang on the Christmas tree."

"Edible decorations, what a good idea!" Christmas just kept getting better and better, Bodie thought.

"Look, Eldral, I'm sorry, but I'll have to leave you here." Ray had the decency to look truly sorry.

"I understand, Ray. There are a few women back in Meldoran that I wouldn't want you to meet either." Eldral said. "I'll find something to keep me busy."

"I was planning on doing some Christmas shopping tomorrow. If you want you can come with me." Bodie offered.

Eldral smiled. "That sounds wonderful. The sooner I can get out and see some of your city the better I'll like it."

The next day, Bodie picked Eldral up at Ray's flat. The elf had discovered television and was deeply engrossed in gardening demonstration. Bodie sat politely until the plants had been repotted and the closing music filled the room. Then, before something equally fascinating started, he popped off the television.

Eldral shook his head slowly, "Life is certainly more difficult without magic, isn't it?"

"Well, I really wouldn't know, would I?" Bodie replied as he hustled Eldral toward the door.

"Ray's never taken you home?"

Bodie stopped. Home? To Meldoran? Was it possible?

Something of his thoughts must have shown on his face because Eldral smiled. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"I'd love to visit Meldoran. From what Ray's told me it's amazing." He helped Eldral into one of Ray's jackets. "I didn't realise that it was possible for me to go there."

"Oh, just about anything is possible, Bodie." Eldral managed to reply just before Bodie shoved a stocking cap down tight over his head.



The shopping was as horrid as two-days-before-Christmas shopping always is. The shops were filled with people who had long since run out of cheer and were scrapping the bottom of the barrel for residual good will. Eldral's wide-eyed amazement at the sights and sounds that surrounded them made it all worth while however. Laden with packages, Bodie motioned toward a crowd, "Just one more stop and then we can head home."

Bodie shyly crept over to the edge of the crowd of children and pointed, "Santa's Grotto."

Eldral politely took in the plastic reindeer, plastic snow and padded Father Christmas. "That's supposed to be Santa?"

The Santa in question seemed to be a fine example of the breed. Red suit with white fur trim, white curly beard and twinkley blue eyes. Santa and no one else unquestionably. Unsure as to what Eldral found objectionable, Bodie asked, "Doesn't Santa look like that in Meldoran?"

Eldral was indignant. "Of course he doesn't look like that! Santa's an elf, isn't he?" He cast an unfriendly eye over the imitation jolly old elf. "He'd never pass for one of us!"

This stunned Bodie, but it did make sense. Santa as an elf...a warrior elf? One of the short ones? He was about to ask Eldral for the details when he realised a very small child was smacking him in the legs in an effort to move him and get to Santa. He smiled down at the little cherub in what he hoped was a menacing manner and took hold of Eldral's arm. "Time to go home." Eldral cast one last evil glance toward the imposter and agreed.

The next day was Christmas Eve and Bodie's social calendar was filled. He started the day by going round to visit all the people who had done so much for him through out the year. At each stop he dropped off a small gift and, more often than not, he was invited in to have a cup of tea and some holiday goodies. Then it was time to visit the homes of old army mates. These visits resulted in less tea and more scotch. Finally, the hardest visits were made. Visits to the homes of women and children whose husbands and fathers had died for CI5, George Cowley and country. Sobered by the sorrow that couldn't be hidden beneath the trappings of the season, Bodie left the last house feeling humbled and knowing that the greatest gift that he had received this year was the fact that he and Ray were both alive and well.

Normally he would have gone over to Ray's for a drink and if he were lucky, supper, but he didn't want to intrude on Ray and Eldral's time together so instead he stopped for takeaway and headed home. He was just digging into the second entre when the telephone rang.

"Bodie, I've got a problem." It was Ray. "I promised Debbie that I would go to her place tomorrow."

"Ray, it's Christmas. You can't just leave Eldral by himself." Or me, he added silently. They had always worked on Christmas before and he had assumed that they would be spending the day together even though they were off-duty. The sudden realisation that he didn't have anyone special to be with or anyplace to go on Christmas hit him smack in the middle of his chest.

Unaware of his partner's thoughts, Ray continued, "You know how it is, Bodie. She asked me the other night and I just sort of said yes."

"Caught you during a weak moment, did she?"

Ray laughed, "Something like that."

"You're a manipulative little sod, Doyle. But, seeing as I like Eldral you can drop him at my place on your way over to Debbie's."

"Thanks, mate. I owe you." Doyle rang off and Bodie placed the phone very gently down in its cradle. Supper forgotten, he went to bed feeling very alone, all sweet dreams of Christmas fled.

The next morning, Bodie plugged in the tree and put on Christmas music as was his tradition. Always practical and not given to brooding, Bodie was resolved to make the best of what he had and not ruin the day by worrying about what he was missing. By the time Ray arrived, he had eaten a large breakfast, snacked on Christmas cake and opened his small pile of gifts. All and all it had been a nice morning and when he opened the door and let the snow-dusted men it was with a genuine smile.

"Happy Christmas, Bodie." Ray offered, a bit guiltily.

"Happy Christmas, Ray." Bodie took Eldral's coat, hat, scarf and gloves. "Got time for a cup of eggnog before you head over to the lovely Deborah's?"

Ray pulled his jacket off. "Just about. We're driving out to her parents' place in the country, so we need to get an early start."

Bodie served up eggnog while Ray and Eldral admired the tree. He came up behind the two men catching the end of something Ray was saying to Eldral in Elvish. "What was that?" He teased. "It's rude to speak a foreign language in front of someone who doesn't understand it."

Ray turned quickly, obviously caught out in something he'd rather not explain. Eldral simply shrugged. "Not my fault if you don't understand plain Elvish." Ray took his eggnog unrepentantly. "Oi, where's the brandy?"

"You must be joking, constable. Brandy before driving?" Bodie waggled his mug under Ray's nose. "Course, as I'm not driving, mine's nicely laced."

The two men scuffed for Bodie's mug until Bodie ended the struggle by draining it in one go. Ray conceded defeat and drank his less interesting version down. "Must be going. You two stay out of trouble."

"Trouble? Us?" Bodie patted Ray on the shoulder as he saw him to the door. "We're going to be as sedate as your gran's gran."

Ray rolled his eyes and called out to Eldral, "Look after him for me."

Eldral agreed, clearly enjoying the show. After Ray had gone, Bodie motioned Eldral into the sitting room. "So, is there anything special you'd like to do today?"

"I don't really know. What do you usually do for Christmas?"

"Well, usually we open our gifts." Bodie sank down to his knees and picked a small wrapped box from the half-dozen or so opened parcels that lay under the tree. He smiled and handed it up to Eldral. "I wasn't really sure what you would like. I know Ray likes jewelry, so I though maybe you would too."

Eldral took the silver and onyx bracelet from its box. "This is lovely. Thank you very much."

Bodie was suddenly embarrassed, "It's really nothing."

"But I don't have anything for you."

"Doesn't matter."

"I know something that you would like. How would you like to spend Christmas in Meldoran?"

Bodie caught his breath in. "Really?"

"Really."

Eldral took his necklace off and placed it around Bodie's neck. "Don't take that off until we get back to London or I may lose you."

Bodie nodded and fingered the smooth gold. "What else do I need to do?"

Eldral grinned in a way that reminded him of Ray. "Not a thing." Eldral started to chat in Elvish and sapphire swirls of smoke and fairy dust filled the room.

Bodie had the feeling that he was falling, flying, swimming. He blinked the sapphire fog out of his eyes and found himself standing in what looked like a clearing in the center of a huge forest.

Eldral had dropped his masking spell and was once again an elf. Bodie felt a twinge of envy. Ray had never understood Bodie's obsession with fantasy and the Elfworld. To Ray, Meldoran was as boring as Liverpool had been to him at fourteen. And like Bodie, Ray had left to find something different, something exciting and someplace where he could be the warrior that he was born to be. But to Bodie, Meldoran was a wondrous place filled with magic, heroes and adventure. A place where all of his deepest wishes could come true.

The clearing was obviously some sort of marketplace and Bodie's appearance was starting to attract notice. Eldral tugged at Bodie's arm and moved them away from the clearing down a narrow path. "My house isn't far from here. We can go there first and you can meet my family."

Too overwhelmed to say anything, Bodie simply gawked at the tall wooden houses that seemed to be built on slits over the native greenery. No house was like another and some of them had small bridges leading to the large trees that grew thickly around them. Eldral stopped in front of one of the slit houses. "This is it."

Bodie followed Eldral up the ladder and found himself on a platform that circled the house. Eldral ignored the painted door and instead led Bodie to another ladder that took them up to yet another level. "This is where my family lives." He shouted out something in Elvish and pointed below, "Ray's family lives on that level."

The door opened and before Bodie knew it, he was surrounded by elves, all of whom seemed to be chattering away in their own tongue.

Eldral laughed. "They can be a bit overwhelming all at once, can't they?"

"This is all your family? And they all live here?" Bodie was astounded.

"Only fourteen of us live here. The rest are visiting."

Bodie understood this, "Come to visit for Christmas, just like at home."

"No, it's not Christmas here. Our winter festival is in about two weeks. And yes, you'd find it pretty familiar, after all, you humans stole all the best bits for your own holiday."

"Bodie!"

The sound of his name over the incomprehensible river of Elvish brought Bodie round. "Terwil!" It was Ray's father.

"Where's Sodiel?" Terwil asked, scanning the crowd.

It took Bodie a moment to recognise Ray's real name. "He's not here. Eldral brought me."

Terwil shook his head slowly. "I should have known that Sodiel wouldn't have come by his own choice." He clapped a hand down on Bodie's shoulder. "But you're here and that's all the excuse we need for a party!"

He obviously wasn't the only one with that thought because a moment later someone slapped a glass of wine into Bodie's hand and a moment after that music started up. Before he had finished his glass of wine, one of Ray's female cousins grabbed his hand and led him to where the band was playing. He didn't speak a word of Elvish, but dancing with a beautiful woman was a language of its own.

"Should have known that you wouldn't waste any time."

"Ray!" Bodie delightedly turned to his partner. "What are you doing here? I thought you were going to Debbie's parents place?"

Ray shook his head, "Yeah, well, I did. Got there and found there was a crowd of her family there to keep her company. She didn't need me. Started me thinking that maybe my father was right. Maybe Christmas is for family," he caught Bodie's eyes, "And for friends."

Warm with the love and the joy of Christmas, Bodie thought he that he had never been happier. "Happy Christmas, Ray."

And it was.

-- THE END --

December 2002