The Professionals Circuit Archive - Aftershock       Aftershock

 

by Rochvelleth 

 
 Bodie was still in his dressing gown and just pouring himself a glass of
milk when the doorbell rang, and so he put the drink down on the coffee
table and went to the door. For a moment, he hesitated to turn the handle
-- it was only the day before that someone had broken into his flat and
left a little surprise for him in the telephone. But then he shook his
head, shamed to react with fear even for a moment, and opened the door.

 Doyle was leaning against the doorframe wearily. "I had to press the bell
twice," he complained. "Can you still not hear?"

 "What?" Bodie said.

 The brief flash of mischief in Bodie's eyes told Doyle that he was just
being playful now, and so he elbowed him lightly in the ribs as he pushed
past and entered the flat.

 Doyle went through to the main room and sat down heavily on the sofa,
pushing aside some magazines and items of clothing that were lying around.
"This place is a mess," he grumbled.

 Bodie raised an eyebrow, out of concern rather than surprise, and went to
sit in a chair near his partner. When Doyle turned up in the morning
looking grumpy, there could only be one of two reasons: he had received a
call from Cowley, or he was upset about something. From his current mood,
the latter seemed the obvious conclusion.

 "So what's up, mate?" Bodie asked, trying not to sound too concerned.
That would only make Doyle suspicious.

 Doyle seemed for a few moments to be searching for a way of saying
something. Finally, he shrugged. "Cowley wants us in at 12 for a debrief
about yesterday." So that was the reason after all.

 "A debrief!" Bodie exclaimed. "We were all nearly blown to pieces
yesterday!"

 "Yes, and he wants to make sure it doesn't happen again," Doyle said,
before looking at his watch. "So you better get dressed or we'll be late."

 Flashing his partner a smile, Bodie got up and went through to his
bedroom, leaving the door open just enough for Doyle to be able to see
through. As he got changed, he checked to see whether his partner was
watching, as he usually did -- but it seemed he wasn't, because he seemed
to be looking at something on the table. Something was not right with
Doyle.

 When Bodie came out again, he tried flashing Doyle his most seductive
smile. "Come on, sunshine," he said cheerfully, and waited for his partner
to get up and smile back at him.

 But instead, Doyle continued to sit on the sofa, staring into space.
Bodie sighed and sat down next to him, close enough that their arms
touched. "Come on, Ray. Tell me. Is it something about yesterday?"

 Doyle turned and looked at him. "You..." But he trailed off.

 Well, if he wasn't going to say anything, Bodie thought, they might as
well get in to work. Maybe Doyle would open up in the car. "Well, let's
not keep the Cow waiting," he said, clapping a hand on Doyle's thigh as he
stood. This time Doyle followed him.

 Just as they were about to leave the flat, Doyle put a hand on Bodie's
arm, and Bodie turned. "You could have died," Doyle said simply.

 Bodie suddenly grinned. "Or worse -- I could have been maimed! And I
wouldn't want to spoil this face..."

 At last, Doyle smiled, just a little. Bodie ushered him out through the
door, and as he brushed past in the narrow hallway he caught Doyle's hand
and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

 -- THE END --

 *June 2008*

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