The Professionals Circuit Archive - Business As Usual       Business As
Usual

 

by Doylebaby 

 
 "So you stayed the night?" Silence. "You slept with her? Didn't you?"
Doyle kept his voice flat. More silence. "Didn't you?" Accusing now.

 "Yes Doyle, I stayed the night, I slept with her, I had sex with her. Is
that what you wanted to hear?" Bodie turned round to face him, just in
time to see the look of hurt in the green eyes, then swiftly masked with
indifference.

 "I see." *So it was true then. As soon as you gave in to Bodie he'd lose
interest.* He turned on his heel to the drinks cabinet and poured himself
a generous measure of scotch.

 Doyle had liked Inger from the first moment Bodie had introduced them,
months ago. He appreciated her intelligence and humour, her ability to
talk about more than make-up, clothes and men. A very sensible woman, not
in the least bit impressed by Bodie's macho posturing or his bad jokes.
After their affair had ended, she had stayed friends with Bodie, a friend
he could count on.

 Then yesterday morning, she had called HQ, needing help with a former
pupil who was addicted and probably involved in dangerous business. How
dangerous had become clear earlier today when he was found, shot dead.

 Bodie and Inger had turned up at the dock together. One look at Bodie had
told Doyle where he had been that night.

 "What's your problem, Doyle?" Irritated Bodie went to the drinks cabinet
and poured his own drink.

 "Are you going to start up with her again?" Doyle asked, needing to know
the truth.

 Bodie shrugged. "Haven't thought about it yet. Why?" 

 "No reason." Doyle was unable to voice his needs. If Bodie didn't have a
clue, then why bother?

 Bodie stepped closer and tangled his fingers in Doyle's curls. "Doesn't
mean we still can't have *our* fun, though." 

 Doyle pulled away from him. "I don't think so," he mumbled.

 "Why on earth not?" Bodie arched his eyebrows questioningly. "Oh, don't
tell me. You want us to be exclusive and faithful and all that stuff," he
sighed exasperated.

 "Anything wrong with that?" Doyle asked softly.

 "Nothing at all, mate. It's just not me." Impatient with all the
questions Bodie slammed his glass onto the coffee table. "You can be such
a wet blanket, Doyle, no fun at all!" He grabbed his jacket and stalked
out of the front door.

 Doyle's shoulders slumped. He had his answer.

 ******

Driving his car through the rush hour traffic, Bodie's thoughts were
elsewhere.

 Damn! Doyle could be such a spoilsport. Every now and then for the past
three months they had fallen into bed together, for a bit of slap and
tickle. At least that's what it was for Bodie. Now, it seemed, Doyle had
read much more into it.

 Bodie sighed and looked at his watch. He had a date with Inger in the Red
Lion in ten minutes, but he didn't have time to go home and change. She'd
have to make do with him the way he was.

 When he entered the pub Inger was already there. He ordered a lager and a
white wine at the bar and weaved his way through the tables. He set the
glasses down and greeted her with a kiss on her cheek.

 "How are you holding up?" Bodie asked while he sat down.

 Her face was pale, but the tears were gone and she smiled. "I'm fine,
Bodie, I'm not going to cry all over you again."

 "Don't worry about that, love, that's what me manly shoulders are for,"
he joked.

 She laughed, "I'm not worrying, I know where to find them, when I need
them." She patted his hand.

 Bodie didn't react. He was thinking about Doyle's last words: *What was
wrong with being faithful?* Shaking his head he looked up and met Inger's
eyes.

 "My turn," she said. "Are you okay? You look pre-occupied. Problems with
the case?"

 "Nah, nothing like that." He didn't really want to discuss Ray with
Inger.

 "Problems with Ray Doyle then?" she pressed.

 Bodie's head shot up. "How did you guess?"

 "Oh Bodie! It's clear for everyone to see, but you're as blind as a bat."
Inger sounded a bit annoyed.

 "What the hell are you talking about?" Bodie demanded confused, taking a
large draught from his lager. 

 "Ray Doyle is in love with you, Bodie. All the signs are there if you
only look for them." Inger sighed. "He's a wonderful man, Bodie. You're
very lucky."

 "What do you mean?" Bodie asked bewildered. "We've just had a bit of fun
and..." He suddenly remembered Ray's face when he'd told him he had been
with Inger the night before.

 He was about to excuse himself when his RT beeped. He listened to the
message and stood up. "Have to go, there are some new developments. I'll
call you." 

 Bodie bent down and kissed her lips and she whispered, "Think about what
I said." 

 ******

Having gone just down the block Bodie's RT beeped again. "You can stand
down, 3.7, it was a false alarm." The operator's voice sounded as cool as
always.

 "Was Doyle also alerted?" he wanted to know.

 "No, 3.7, we were just trying to get through to 4.5 when the stand down
was ordered."

 Bodie turned the car and drove in the opposite direction. Twenty minutes
later, he had arrived at Doyle's place and did his usual tattoo on the
door buzzer. After a long wait the door was opened and he ran up the
stairs. The door to Doyle's flat stood slightly open and Bodie silently
cursed Doyle's stupidity.

 When he stepped inside he noticed the flat was in total darkness.
Reaching for the switch, a voice stopped him.

 "Don't!" was all Doyle said. Bodie could just make out a shape standing
at the window.

 "What the hell are you doing sitting in the dark, mate?" Bodie carefully
moved around the furniture.

 "I can do anything I like, in my own place. If you don't like
it...leave!" Doyle was obviously in a foul mood.

 "Take it easy, old son. Didn't mean anything by it." Bodie held out his
hands to appease Doyle.

 "No, and that's just you isn't it?" Doyle growled. "Everything is always
fun to you. Nothing is ever serious. Even people's feelings are not to be
taken seriously!" 

 "Like the fact that you are in love with me?" Bodie asked softly.

 Doyle whirled round. "How...how did you...?" He fell silent.

 "How did I guess? I didn't, Inger pointed it out to me." Bodie explained
and walked closer to Doyle.

 "Smart woman," was Ray's only comment.

 "Yes, she is smart and kind and a good friend and .." Bodie halted when
Doyle turned back to the window. "I'm sorry Ray, I didn't think." 

 Doyle shrugged. "Why did you come back?" he wanted to know.

 "Because we need to talk. I didn't have a clue mate, about...you know.
That you are in love with me. I don't want to hurt you, Ray, but I just
don't feel the same. I'm sorry." Bodie felt uneasy about the whole
situation. "Ray, can we still be partners and friends? If you don't want
to..?" he trailed off.

 "Yeah, sure mate, no worries." Doyle's face was in the shadow, but he
sounded perfectly normal to Bodie. Perhaps Inger had it wrong?

 Their RT's went off simultaneously. Doyle answered his, while Bodie
listened.

 "We'll be right there. Out." Doyle started to put his shoulder holster on
and picked up his keys and wallet. " Same address as earlier, full alert
this time."

 Bodie looked at him. "Everything okay, mate?" he asked hesitantly.

 Doyle nodded.

 "Business as usual, eh?" Bodie said, relieved, and walked out of the
flat.

 He never saw the look of intense pain that crossed Doyle's face before he
followed Bodie down the stairs.

 Business as usual.

 -- THE END --

 *August 2005*

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