The Professionals Circuit Archive - Old Mates       Old Mates

 

by Ice Bear 

 
 Ray Doyle did a double take as he watched the latest class of recruits
depart their orientation briefing. "Pete? Pete Givens!" He moved quickly
down the hall toward a tall, blonde man who had turned to look back.

 "Ray! Ray Doyle! I knew you were with the mob, but didn't expect to see
you my first day." The two men shook hands before Ray pulled the man back
up the hallway against the flow of people.

 "Sunshine, this is Pete Givens. He was trained by the finest the Met had
to offer -- me! We walked a beat together for a year. Pete, this is me
partner, Bodie." Hazel eyes looked dubiously at the dark haired man
dressed all in black leaning insolently against the wall.

 "Givens," Bodie responded with a nod, arms remaining where they were,
crossed tightly across his chest.

 "Bodie is it? Lucky man having this one for a partner."

 Bodie simply nodded. "Doyle, I'll meet you at the car."

 "Pete, what are you doing here?"

 "Joining this mob. Figured if they took you they'd accept anybody!
Besides, walking the beat is not where the action is."

 "Oh you'll get action here, mate, plenty. Look, I need to catch up with
Bodie. After Macklin and Towser finish with you - if you're still walking
- give me a call, and I'll buy the first round." He entertained his
partner with stories of Givens' exploits in the car.

 Givens was forgotten for the next six weeks as they worked their way
through two major operations. They had just completed the last piece of
paperwork on the second and were halfway to the car and a visit to Doyle's
current local when Givens popped up. "Doyle, your offer on that pint still
good?"

 Ray glanced over at the tired face of his partner and was about to say
no, when Bodie shot him a tight smile. "Go on, Goldilocks. I'm too
knackered to be much company tonight anyway."

 Givens had done his homework on 4-5 and 3-7 during training. He knew they
held the partner training course record, and while Doyle held the pistol
record, his partner owned the rifle record. Their 'chalk and cheese'
pairing was something of a CI5 legend.

 "So Ray, what do you say -- partners again?" Givens asked after finishing
his second pint.

 Green eyes blinked once in surprise. "Pete, I already have a partner."

 "Come on Ray, we were good together -- real good - and a little time with
you showing me the ropes , and we would be the best CI5's ever seen."

 "Sorry, mate, I'm sure Cowley will find the right partner for you. He has
a knack for it."

 "Doyle you can't be serious! We were good together. What does that
bastard ex-merc have that I don't?"

 Ray jerked away from the table. "Don't," he ordered pointing a finger in
warning, "3-7 is one of the best men in the entire mob, and he is my
partner." He threw some money on the table and left.

 Givens followed him out, realizing he'd pushed the man too far. "Sorry,
Ray meant no offense. It's just that we were good together. Thought it
would be fun to be partnered up again. You know me - I only like to work
with the best." He waited until Doyle turned to face him. "Let me buy you
a pint. I really am sorry." The two men walked back into the pub. It was
clear that the straight forward approach wasn't going to work with the
older man.

 Pete Givens was used to having the best and had bullied, bribed and
beaten people in the past to get what he wanted, and he didn't see why CI5
should be any different. Doyle just needed a reminder of how good they
were together, and he'd forget all about that stiff he dragged about.

 He made a point of chatting Ray up whenever the opportunity arose, and
got him to go out one night with a bunch of blokes from the Met. Of
course, given the nature of their work, days would pass when he wouldn't
see his old partner -- he found that 3-7 flinched whenever he referred to
Doyle that way, so he did it often. At least two members of the A Squad
suggested less then politely that he mind his own business when they heard
him talking trash about 3-7 but he ignored them.

 Bodie kept an eye on Givens, not because he believed he was a threat to
his partnership, but because there was something about the man that set
off alarm bells. And he had learned a long time ago to heed those bells.
Murphy felt the same way, and was concerned enough to share his concerns
with the Controller. George Cowley had his own issues with Givens. The man
had come in and demanded to be partnered with 4-5. While it wasn't unusual
to receive requests for specific partners, he was not used to operatives,
especially new ones, ordering him about. So he raised it with Doyle, who
shook his head before making it clear he was quite happy with the way
things were.

 A month after passing training, Givens was working with Lucas when eight
teams were called in to take out a group of extremists holding hostages at
a warehouse on the outskirts of the city. 3-7 and 4-5 were in charge of
the op and positioned everyone before they moved in. Given the size of the
warehouse, each operative was given a specified amount of territory as a
responsibility. Givens' was between Lucas and Bodie. He lagged slightly
behind both operatives as they moved into the building. He had a bead on
one of their quarry but didn't fire as the man had 3-7 in his site so he
waited, giving the man the opportunity to get a shot off. The big man
dropped, rolled and came up on his feet; gun barking.

 It wasn't until the clean up was underway that Givens found out his plan
had worked, albeit not as well as he had hoped. He found Doyle pushing up
3-7's black polo neck to get at the large ditch in his right side. "Jesus,
Sunshine, thought we'd agreed no more catching bullets this month. Your
wardrobe can't handle it."

 "Sorry Goldilocks, having too much fun, guess I forgot to duck."

 "Yeah well it's gonna cost ya a trip to A and probably a day or two in
Records. Not to mention a new shirt and vest. You sure you're alright,
Bodie?" He finished softly, staring intently into the blue eyes he knew so
well.

 "Nothing a shower and a kip won't cure, Angelfish." The smile was tight
but genuine, the older operative decided before helping his partner to his
feet.

 "Doyle -- a pint after the paperwork?" Givens asked as he came up beside
the two.

 "Sorry, Pete got to see to me partner. Maybe tomorrow?" With that he
returned his full attention to 3-7.

 Givens' hopes that he'd get to work with Doyle with his partner sidelined
did not bear fruit. He was sure a day or two in the field together would
convince the older man that they were meant to be partners. The team was
given three days off and then spent two days in Records before 3-7 was
cleared for the field.

 Bodie heard and ignored many of the lies about his time as a merc that
suddenly surfaced in the rest room. Murphy raised it with him quietly and
told him their origin. The older man simply shrugged and moved on. So
Murphy raised it with Doyle. "Look, Murph, you don't know it's Pete."

 "Yeah, I do, Ray, or I wouldn't have said so. For some reason he's intent
on becoming your partner, even if it means he has to bury Bodie to do it."

 "Why are you telling me this?"

 "Because I'm worried - about Bodie and how it affects the backup he'll
get from the new agents. Some of them believe that crap your old mate is
selling."

 "Does Bodie know?" Ray looked up from his desk, green eyes clouded with
worry.

 "I talked to him about it, but he already knew. He told me to ignore it."

 "Why?"

 "Said Givens was an old mate of yours so he was willing to let it pass."

 Ray nodded and thanked his colleague before seeking out his partner. He
found him in the rest room, just finishing making them both a cup of tea.
"Ta, mate. Come back to the office, we need to talk."

 Bodie settled at his desk and looked up when his partner closed the door
to the small room they shared for paperwork purposes. "Sunshine?"

 "I know what Givens' been doing, mate -- talking trash about you. Why
didn't you tell me?"

 "It's just talk, Doyle."

 "No! Not when it threatens the backup we might get. I'm your partner,
Bodie, you should have told me." Hands on slim hips, Doyle leaned into the
bigger man's space to make his point.

 "He's your mate, Doyle." Bodie's face was set; his eyes lowered so all
Doyle could see was the long lashes fanning pale cheeks.

 "And you're my best mate, Sunshine. Didn't think I'd forgotten that, did
you?" Ray said, reaching a hand out to rest on a broad shoulder.

 "He's young, ambitious and wants to work with the best," Bodie shrugged,
looking up so his blue eyes were fastened on jade green ones.

 "Well, he can't have you, Bodie," the older man answered with a warm
smile. "Now, what do you say we go through that file one more time before
we go search out this grass of yours?"

 ******

Bodie parked in front of Doyle's flat two nights later. He grabbed the bag
of takeaway off the passenger seat, locked the Capri and started across
the street.

 Commotion from below brought Ray to the window. "Bodie," he whispered as
he spied the Capri. He grabbed his RT and ran. He pushed several people
aside and dropped to his knees beside the body lying on the pavement.
"Bodie!"

 "S'okay, Ray, just knocked the wind out of me," was the cautious reply as
he moved to sit up.

 "Easy mate, don't want you doing any more damage."

 "Help me up, Sunshine...please, Ray. Want to go inside." He couldn't say
no to those blue eyes, and gently moved the man to his feet before
slipping an arm around his waist.

 Once in his flat, he deposited his partner gently on the sofa. He knelt
down and waited for the head to come up. "What happened?"

 "Grey car -- BMW - came out from the alley down the way. Not sure if it
was deliberate or not."

 He helped Bodie off with his shirt and whistled at the bruising that was
beginning to blossom. "I need to tell the Cow -- just in case, mate. Then
a trip to A." His partner nodded before leaning carefully back to rest
against the sofa; eyes closed.

 George Cowley met them at A, getting the story from 4-5 while Bodie was
in the treatment room. When they were allowed in, the Controller kept his
facial expression neutral as he scanned the dark bruises starting to
blossom in stark contrast to the white bandaging covering his operative's
rib cage.

 "3-7."

 Weary blue eyes opened, "Sir."

 "You alright, Bodie?"

 "Doctor says nothing's broken sir, just a little bruised. Be better than
new in no time."

 "What happened?" He retold the story, adding one or two more facts based
on the mental replay that had run through his head while he was being
examined.

 "Was it aimed at you, 3-7?"

 "I was the only one on the street at the time, sir."

 "Aye, Doyle will take you home and stay with you -- doctor doesn't want
you to be alone tonight. Seems even with your hard head, a concussion is a
distinct possibility. I'll see you both tomorrow in my office at 10."

 A week after the accident, Bodie was cleared for field duty, and he and
Doyle began working on a drug runner that one of the Minister's wanted off
his street. Ray kept an eye on the younger man, partly out of habit, and
partly from some unvoiced concern that something bad was going to happen.

 Two weeks later, four teams surrounded a two story building in the East
End. Surveillance told them that there were three men in the house - and
that they were well armed. Murphy and Jax had the lead on the case and
were relying on information provided by Givens and Nelson who had been
watching the house for the preceding eight hours. They hit the house hard
and fast and found six well armed men. "Doyle, down!" Bodie screamed as he
surged forward to stand between his partner and two men. He took them out
and they moved toward the cellar. Doyle went cautiously down the steps
first. Bodie looked back once to see Givens in the doorway and returned
his attention to protecting his partner's back.

 Ray inched around the corner at the bottom of the steps, only to have a
crash bring him back. "What the..." His partner lay sprawled in a heap
several feet from the last step. "Bodie mate?"

 ******

At the hospital, George Cowley followed Doyle into the treatment room
after listening to a doctor explain that the fall had left the agent with
severe concussion which could result in numerous problems, but until the
patient woke, there was no point in speculating, Cowley disagreed and made
the doctor lay out the possible outcomes - none of them good. The other
damage - cracked ribs, a dislocated shoulder - was limited, due to the
patient's excellent physical condition.

 "Hey Sunshine," Ray whispered as his slender fingers gently pushed black
hair off the pale face. "They're going to take you upstairs in just a bit,
but don't worry I've seen the nurses..." he couldn't continue. "Won't lie,
it's a little iffy just now, pet. Need you to wake up. But don't worry;
I'll be up to sit with you once they get you settled. Just don't start any
trouble until I get there, okay?"

 George Cowley led his operative out into the waiting room, only to find
six CI5 agents waiting patiently. "Don't you lot have somewhere better to
be?" Cowley growled.

 "Just wanted to check on 3-7, sir." Murphy responded, eyes on Doyle. All
he got in response was a shrug.

 "6-2 take 4-5 out and get him a bite to eat. That's not a suggestion,
Doyle," he finished. "You'll be back well before Bodie wakes up."

 "Ray, why don't you come with me," Givens said sidling up to the former
copper. "We can grab a bite at Tony's."

 Murphy glared at him and grabbed at Doyle's arm. "Let's go, Ray, wouldn't
want the Cow to suddenly rescind the order to eat."

 ******

The doctor was concerned 72 hours later that his patient had shown no
signs of regaining consciousness. Doyle spent as much time as Cowley would
allow with his partner. "Don't know what you're waiting for, Sunshine," he
started as he pulled the chair alongside the bed, "Father's beginning to
think you're taking that holiday he's always promising but never gets
around to giving us...please, Bodie, need to talk to you." He ran his
fingers lightly across a pale cheek.

 Need to know what happened, pet. Not like you to fall. Know I give you a
hard time - call you a dumb ox and all, but you know I don't mean it.
You're probably the most graceful man I've ever seen; whether you're
gliding across a 3 inch beam in some dark warehouse or escorting one of
your birds around the dance floor." He kept talking, retelling stories of
their exploits together, and a funny story from art school. He was
rewarded two hours later by a slight glimmer of blue. "Bodie mate?" The
eyes opened further. Ray was struck by the lost look in them - it wasn't
one he'd ever seen on his partner's face, and it scared him. "Easy,
Sunshine. I'm right here. He leaned over the bed so he filled the
patient's line of vision.

 While the doctor checked out his partner, Doyle called the Controller.
"We'll be right there, 4-5. Stay with 3-7."

 He was still waiting for the doctor's report when Cowley and Murphy
arrived. He was slightly unnerved by the concerned looks on their faces.
"Sir?"

 "There's no easy way to say this...Peter Givens was in the house during
the raid."

 "What does that have to do anything?" Ray's confusion was written across
his face. Cowley exchanged a grim look with Murphy but before he could
continue, Doyle's head cocked as his brain worked through what he'd just
heard. "He and Nelson weren't supposed to be in the house."

 "Aye, but three operatives place Givens in the kitchen - he would have
been behind 3-7. Even if Bodie had seen him, he wouldn't have thought he
needed to watch his back."

 "What are you saying? That Givens pushed Bodie? Just because he was in
the house? It doesn't make any sense."

 "I'm afraid it does," Murphy spoke up. "Givens told Nelson he'd be
partnered with you before the fortnight was over. And remember when Bodie
caught that bullet a month or so ago during the warehouse raid? According
to the man who shot him, he'd seen an agent aim at him but the man didn't
fire. He figured the guy froze. It was Givens, had to be, because he was
between Bodie and Lucas."

 Ray moved to the window, eyes unfocused as he stared out into the
darkening sky. "Why?"

 "He wanted to be your partner, and he has a history of getting what he
wants. At University he wanted to play goalie. The starter and backup both
had to leave the team; one because of a car accident, the other because he
was badly beaten in a robbery attempt. At the Met, after you transferred
to the Drug Squad, his partner was invalided out after a GBH call. He went
through four more. He wanted you, 4-5." George Cowley said.

 "Where is he," Ray asked turning from the window, fists clenched.

 The doctor entered the waiting room, drawing the three men's attention.
"He's awake: confused, unsure what day it is or why he's here. He asked
for the Major." Cowley started forward. "Major Nairn."

 "He thinks he's still in the SAS?" Ray hoarsely whispered.

 "How likely is it that this is temporary?" Cowley asked.

 "Hard to say. The brain is a tricky thing. He could remember tomorrow or
he might never."

 "I'd like to see him, please." Ray stepped forward. After a look from
Cowley, the doctor nodded his agreement. He entered the room cautiously."
"Bodie mate?" Blue eyes opened slowly, "How ya feel, Sunshine?"

 "Who are you? Where's the Major?"

 "Easy Sergeant," Cowley said startling both men. "I'm George Cowley,
Controller of CI5."

 "Sir."

 "Major Nairn asked me to keep an eye on you. Do you remember what
happened?"

 "Sorry, sir, but I need to see some I.D. first."

 "Of course, and this is 4-5, Ray Doyle, one of my men." Cowley responded
as he produced his I.D.

 "Doyle," the patient acknowledged, eyes carefully looking him over.

 "Do you recall what happened, Sergeant?"

 The eyes closed tightly and one arm moved up to cover them. "No, sir.
Head hurts; my back as well. Was I in a fight?"

 "No lad, you were working with Doyle on a case for me."

 "You alright, Doyle?" Bodie asked urgently, grunting as he leaned forward
to get a better look at the man in question.

 "Yeah, Sunshine, I'm not the one..." he left off as his green eyes
searched his partner's face for some sign of recognition.

 "The one who what?"

 "Got hurt," Cowley finished. "Sergeant, until we get to the bottom of
this, Doyle or one of my other men will be staying with you."

 "The Major?"

 "Will be informed...not to worry lad, you'll be back on your feet in no
time."

 "And if I don't remember?" George Cowley inwardly flinched at the fear
blazing in the blue eyes.

 "You will, Bodie, you will. Doyle, a word." The two men retreated to the
hallway.

 "Sir?"

 "Stay with him. Answer any questions he asks, except those about the
operation. I'll ring the Major and let him know what's happening just in
case Bodie calls him."

 "And if he doesn't remember?" Cowley saw the same fear reflected in Ray
Doyle's eyes that he'd seen in 3-7's.

 "We'll deal with that when the time comes. Now go see to your partner."

 Ray went on the offensive, asking his charge questions about his time
with the SAS and Paras, doing everything he could to keep the man from
asking questions. He told some stories from his days with the Met and a
few general stories about CI5.

 "You have a partner?" Bodie asked late the second day; pushing himself
further up the pillow at the reaction the question received as the curly
haired agent failed to conceal a flinch.

 "Yeah...dumb crud got himself hurt, so I'm solo for now," Ray answered;
eyes on the foot of the bed.

 "That explains why we were working together." Seeing the question in the
green eyes, Bodie continued. "Makes sense. I must have been working with
you on whatever mess CI5 got into when I got hurt. Feels like I should
know you..."

 "Yeah, we work well together, despite the fact the Cow - Cowley - calls
us chalk and cheese. Despite your SAS training, you have the potential to
overcome all that and be a good agent anyway."

 "Thanks. Never met anyone from your mob before - only heard the stories."

 "I'll take that as a compliment," Ray responded with a warm smile.

 "It was meant as one, Sunshine," Bodie's warm smile and his use of their
shared nickname relaxed something inside the older man. Seems even if
Bodie didn't remember his partner, he felt comfortable with him all the
same.

 When Murphy came to replace him, Ray hesitated; not because his partner
wasn't in good hands - something kept nudging at him. Bodie closed up
after being introduced to 6-2, almost as though he shared Doyle's feeling.
"Alpha's waiting for you at his club," Murphy said.

 "At least I'll get fed then," Ray shrugged as he slipped into his leather
jacket.

 "You'll get real food anyway," Bodie groused. "Maybe you could smuggle me
some. How's a bloke supposed to get back on his feet eating gruel?"

 The familiar pout brought a smile to Doyle's face. "You behave for Murph,
and I'll see if I can't smuggle in a swiss roll or two." He tensed as his
partner's face bleached white. "Bodie?"

 "Better go, Doyle. Not a good idea to keep your boss waiting," he gasped
out. His face was twisted with pain and both hands clutched at his head.

 "Bodie, what's the matter?"

 "Feels like my bloody head is going to explode," he whispered as Ray's
hands covered his.

 "Murphy! Get a doctor, now," he ordered. "Easy, pet. Slow breaths with
me. It will be okay. Come on now." By the time the doctor arrived, Doyle
was sitting on the bed holding both of Bodie's hands in his lap, still
speaking softly.

 The doctor used a pen light to check the blue eyes before asking a series
of questions. "Best you rest now. I'll have a nurse bring you a sedative.
Gentlemen," he motioned the two operatives to follow him out.

 "Get some rest, Sunshine. I'll be here when you wake up," Ray promised
before following the doctor. Once in the hall way, his hands found his
slim hips. "Well," he demanded, "is he alright?"

 "What were you discussing when this happened?"

 "Said I'd bring him a swiss roll; they're his favorite."

 "And I think that triggered the response."

 "You mean he's remembering?" Murphy asked eagerly.

 "His brain is trying to."

 "And that's good, right?"

 "I believe so. It indicates he has the capacity to remember. He'll sleep
for several hours now, Mr. Doyle."

 "Ray mate, go see the Cow. He'll want to know what's happening. I'll call
if anything changes."

 Ray stopped on his way to the club and picked up two swiss rolls. Cowley
was thoughtful when he heard what had happened. "Maybe it's time to bring
the lad home - back to his flat - might trigger more memories."

 "Or kill him!" Ray hissed. "I was afraid he was going to pass out on me."

 "See what the doctor says."

 "May be better if I take him to my flat," the younger man said, almost to
himself. "Familiar but won't raise a lot of questions. After all, why
would an SAS man even have a flat - you know as well as I do that Bodie
lived in barracks until he joined up with this mob."

 "Point taken. Ask the doctor when he can be moved. I'd feel better if he
was somewhere with less public access."

 "Why?"

 "Not sure what Givens will do now that he knows 3-7 has told us what
happened."

 "What?" Doyle came out of his chair. "You're not going to...no! You
can't! Bodie doesn't even know who he is."

 "Sit down! We need him to make a move."

 "Not until Bodie is in a position to defend himself. I will not let you
make my partner one of your internal Operation Susies."

 "4-5, in order to protect your partner in the long run, we need to end
this now."

 "You bastard, you've already told Givens haven't you?" A nod. "Does
Murphy know?"

 "Yes." Ray rose abruptly from the table and left; his mind moving through
various scenarios - none of them good. He was so caught up in his thinking
that he failed to notice Givens.

 "Doyle?"

 "Pete! What are you doing here?"

 "Need a favor, Ray," he said as he pushed a gun into the older man's rib
cage. "Come with me. I need a word with your partner, and there doesn't
seem to be any other way I can get it."

 "What the hell are you talking about?"

 "Don't play with me, Ray. Your partner claims I pushed him down the
stairs."

 "You're mad! Bodie thinks he's still with the SAS."

 "Loyalty. I admire that in a partner. Come on now, you drive."

 ******

Bodie woke several hours later to find Murphy still with him. "Ray?"

 "Still with the C...Mr. Cowley."

 "Oh." The disappointment in the statement made Murphy smile. "He's a good
man, Ray Doyle." The patient stated as a half question.

 "Yeah, his partner says he's the best."

 "What happened to his partner that the poor sod got stuck with me?"

 "Was hurt on an op - he'll be back. In the meantime, the Cow thinks you
and Doyle make a good team." Bodie smiled before closing his eyes. As soon
as he was sure the man was asleep, Murphy hurried down the hall and called
Doyle on his R/T.

 "Sorry, 6-2, 4-5 is otherwise engaged. Tell 3-7 if he wants to see his
partner again he's to meet me at the old train yard in the East End. He'll
know which one."

 George Cowley met Murphy in the waiting room. "Does 3-7 know?"

 "No, sir. Doctor's concerned. Says it's too soon to confront him with the
truth."

 "That's not the doctor's decision to make." Cowley entered the hospital
room. "Sergeant, I need your help."

 "Sir?"

 "Ray Doyle's been kidnapped by another one of my operatives, Peter
Givens."

 Bodie's eyes shut tight as pain screeched through his head. "What does he
want?" He gasped out, hands clutching his head.

 "You."

 "Where," he asked as he carefully leveraged himself over the side of the
bed and onto his feet.

 "Easy, lad," George Cowley said softly as he moved to the man's side and
steadied him. "There are a few things you need to know first." He quickly
explained that Givens wanted Doyle as a partner and had tried - twice - to
kill 3-7, Ray Doyle's partner.

 "Permission to terminate with extreme prejudice, sir?" The SAS Sergeant
asked once he was dressed.

 George Cowley looked carefully at the man in front of him - a man who had
been trained by the best, to kill. "If that's what it takes to save your
partner, aye lad."

 Bodie took a cab, as they were not sure who might be watching. He leaned
his head back and closed his eyes after giving the driver the address. He
didn't realize he'd moaned out loud as a bolt of pain ripped through his
head as a vision of Ray Doyle lying covered in blood on a carpet assailed
him. "Sure you don't want me to take you back to the hospital, mate?" The
driver offered as he pulled over at the destination. Bodie shook his head
slowly.

 He walked deliberatively down the narrow entrance. Just before stepping
into the yard he staggered against the brick wall as he "saw" Ray, burns
on his wrists, which were held by plastic cuffs, escaping from a large
country house.

 "So the great 3-7 arrives at last. It's not nice to keep your partner
waiting," Givens said stepping out on the small space at the end of a
train car.

 "Where's Doyle?" Bodie demanded as he shook his head at the man's
thinking he was Doyle's partner.

 "Don't worry your partner's fine."

 "Look Givens, I don't know what you're talking about, but you wanted me
so I'm here. Now let Doyle go, and you and I will take care of whatever it
is you think we need to."

 "Maybe he doesn't want to go. Maybe he's in on it. Did you ever think of
that?"

 "I don't have all day, Givens. Show me Doyle now or I walk."

 "Fine. I don't want him to miss all the fun anyway. Wait right there."

 Bodie felt his gut clench as Ray was dragged out; arms cuffed tightly
behind him; a bruise blooming over his left cheek. Angry, worried green
eyes sought his. "Doyle, you alright?" He got a slight nod. "Alright
you've got me, now let him go."

 "Don't think so. Your mate needs to see just how much better off he'll be
with me as his partner. Throw your gun over here." He held a gun against
the curly head. "Do it, now."

 He did as he was told; eyes glued to the man holding the gun on Ray
Doyle. "For the last time, Givens, I don't know what you want, but you've
got me so let the man go."

 "Here's what's going to happen now. I'm going to beat you into the
ground; then kill you." He pushed Ray roughly onto his knees. "You'll see,
Ray, why I should be your partner - not this amoral bloody ex-merc."

 "I'm not Doyle's partner, Givens. He was hurt on an op. I was only teamed
with him because CI5 needed some help from the SAS." Bodie looked at
Doyle, waiting for him to respond.

 "Yeah, right! Don't waste your breath giving me the 'I got amnesia'
speech - I'm not buying it."

 "Not a speech - tis a fact. I don't work for CI5. Never even met any of
you mugs until Cowley asked Major Nairn for help."

 "Doyle, this is getting to be a bit much. Tell the merc to drop the act.
I'm not buying."

 "It's not an act, Pete. When you pushed him down the stairs, it did some
real damage. He thinks he's still with the SAS. He lost seven years of his
life in that fall." Green eyes asked forgiveness as he saw the anguish
spring forth in the blue eyes.

 "So your partner; the one hurt in the op? That was me?" Bodie asked
softly. Only Doyle caught the tremble in the voice.

 "Yes. Sorry, Sunshine, for the lying. Doctor said it would be best if you
remembered on our own."

 The blue eyes changed to black as they swung from the older man back to
Givens who had moved in front of him. Givens pounced, only to land on the
ground as Bodie neatly side stepped him. He was ready to evade again when
a picture of Doyle fighting a short, dark haired man flashed through his
head. Givens took advantage of the opportunity and struck - a heavy kick
to already cracked ribs. Bodie staggered, but did not fall. "Bodie!" Ray
called out, pulling the big man's focus back to the events at hand. Using
all the skills he'd been taught by the Paras and the SAS, plus every dirty
trick he'd learned in Africa, he attacked with a vengeance.

 The third time he put Givens on the ground, the man pulled a gun.
"Enough," he panted, "down on your knees, hands behind your head," he
panted.

 "Bodie, no!" Doyle shouted. "Pete, look, I'll be your partner. Bodie
doesn't even remember me, just let him go. I'll ask Cowley to be
reassigned."

 "I don't believe you, Ray. You really shouldn't lie to your partner."
Givens hauled himself carefully to his feet; gun pointed firmly at the
kneeling man's head. "Say goodbye to your partner, Doyle."

 "No, Pete, please!" Ray begged.

 "S'okay, Angelfish," Bodie said quietly, eyes intent on the gun. The gasp
from Doyle at the use of that nickname turned Givens attention away for a
split second and that was all Bodie needed. He broke the wrist holding the
gun and had Givens' face first in the dirt, a knee in his back. "Doyle,
need the cuffs you're wearing."

 "Bodie?" Ray asked softly as the cuffs were removed and transferred to
the prone man.

 "Sunshine, you alright? Let's have a look," he took both wrists in his
hands.

 "Geroff Bodie - you're the one looks like the remains of a bad night out.
Where's the backup?"

 "Not sure," as he spoke Murphy and Cowley arrived, accompanied by four
other agents. Givens was taken away and CI5's top team was returned to the
hospital. Despite lectures from the doctor and Doyle, Bodie refused to
stay. So Murphy dropped them off at 3-7's flat as a compromise.

 Bodie disappeared into the bedroom and Ray heard the shower come on.
Twenty minutes later he found the younger man in bed. "Bodie, mate..."

 "S'okay, Doyle. Just need a bit of a kip. Be good as new come morning."

 "Scared me, pet. Afraid I was going to have to train you all over again.
Rather not go through that again."

 "Kept having flashes - Ojuka; Martin - knew when I saw you standing by me
bed you were important. Just took a while to put all the pieces back to
together."

 "S'okay, Bodie, long as you did. What happened at the raid?" He needed to
hear it for himself.

 "Heard a noise, looked back - Givens gave me the high sign. Next thing I
knew I was falling...sorry."

 "Not your fault, mate. Never figured Givens would take things that
far..."

 "We okay, Ray?"

 "Yeah...get some sleep."

 "You still owe me a swiss roll, you know," Bodie uttered just as Ray was
about to step out of the room.

 "Dream on, luv. We've got Macklin in a fortnight - need you lean and
mean."

 "I'll give you mean," Bodie's pillow hit the older man in the face.

 Ray dove carefully onto the bed and the two wrestled, laughing until he
got the upper hand and pressed his partner down onto the mattress. "Scared
me, Bodie. Thought I'd lost you even though you were right in front of me.
Don't want to go through that again." Serious green eyes peered into blue.
"Need you, love. Never told you before, but I do." His forehead dropped to
rest on his mate's.

 "Felt like part of me was missing," Bodie sighed and ran his warm hands
gently up and down the slender back. "Wanted to tell you for a long time.
Was afraid you'd thump me and leave. Couldn't face that."

 Ray placed a tender kiss on bowed lips. He smiled softly as he flopped
onto his side. "Not going to thump you, promise...at least not about
that." He reached for another kiss. "Just promise me - no more memory
loss. Don't want to go through that again. Agreed?"

 "Agreed." They lapsed into silence, Doyle holding Bodie snuggly to his
side as sleep claimed them both.

 -- THE END --

 *November 2007*

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