Damn, and I was so close

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

It's past midnight here (but not in Pago Pago, right?) yet I've managed to cobble together a story that (barely!) fits my prompt. It's also currently unnamed, because it's OMG 12:15 and I'm late, and that's too much for my poor brain to deal with at the moment. Apologies for being tardy.

Anyway, here is my Valentine offering - and because it's still pretty rough, I have a feeling that I'm not quite finished with it. I won't be offended if you'd rather wait *g*.



Christ, he was cold. And this bed, God, it was the worst he'd ever experienced, and that said a lot. Felt like a sack of rocks, digging into his back, bruising his hips. He was leaning against a headboard of some kind, sharp-edged lumps pressing into his head and neck, not a soft spot to be found. No pillow, either—Jesus, Cowley must be punishing him for something, some misadventure that Bodie had led them into. Bodie—where was he?

So damn cold. Ray shivered and reached for the blanket that pooled around his hips. Only his right hand moved, and that was hardly more than a twitch. His left hand and arm—he was so cold, he couldn't feel them. And it was too dark to see anything. Fuck, were his eyes even open? He couldn't tell, maybe the room was bathed in thick black shadows, preventing him from seeing anything.

He concentrated on commanding his right hand to grasp the blanket and pull it to his shoulders, the frown that crossed his face twisted by skin that felt oddly tight and misshapen. If he could just get warm, he knew would rest more comfortably and then be ready for whatever it was he was supposed to do in the morning. He knew it was important, that unremembered task. Knew it was imperative that he be at his sharpest. Lives were at stake, he had to be ready. Someone told him to be ready...

His head nodded forward and he jerked it back, the motion jarring his left shoulder and sending shards of pain through his neck and torso, stealing his breath. Gasping, he clenched his right hand into the surprisingly unforgiving fabric draped across his midsection, a hazy portion of his pain-soaked brain realising that instead of the soft, giving texture of a blanket, he was clutching something slick and stiff.

He surprised himself with a whimper that turned into a wheezing cough. Something was very wrong and beneath the layer of chill wrapping around his body, he was hurting, badly. The pain in his shoulder was growing, coiling around his chest, making it more difficult to breathe with each passing minute, but it was fear that was making his heart pound inside his chest. The reason for his injuries, the memory of how they'd been inflicted, it was all coming back on a quickly rising tide of terrified and terrifying memory.

It'd been an ambush, perfectly executed on a lonely country road. Bodie had been driving, both of them silent and angry, not with each other but with the failure of their current mission. It was that failure that had them driving a little used road in the middle of the night, unaware that they'd been targeted by the very men they'd been hunting.

Ray remembered little of the actual crash. In fact, he only knew there'd been an accident because Bodie had told him in an effort to keep Ray awake during those long, dark moments that they'd struggled to find shelter. Finding the miner's shack had been a gift from the gods as Ray had been only minutes away from full collapse, despite Bodie's never-wavering strength as he supported his partner through the darkness. Bodie had been in turns encouraging and admonishing, his light-hearted grumbling failing to hide his growing worry as he'd gone on to explain how blown tyres had thrown the Escort into a stand of trees, the subsequent impact against its front end forcing Ray out through the shattered windscreen.

The shack they'd eventually stumbled on had offered little beyond soiled linen laid over pallets made of straw. Bodie had initially urged Ray to lie down but the strain on his ribs had been too great, so Bodie had improvised by stacking the pallets so that Ray could lean against them with minimal discomfort. Ray had tried to pay attention as Bodie had fussed to make him comfortable, draping Ray's shivering form in his black leather jacket while playfully admonishing Ray that any resulting blood stains meant that Ray was going to foot the dry cleaning bill.

Ray hadn't been fooled. Bodie was at his most irreverent when the circumstances were dire, and he wanted nothing more than to find a way to remove that burden of worry from Bodie's broad shoulders. When Bodie had placed the torch he'd scavenged from the Escort's boot in Ray's hand—their only source of light and the only weapon Bodie'd been able to find in the wreckage—Ray had instantly protested.

Careful to keep the light out of Bodie's eyes, Ray had struggled to sit forward. "Whatever you're thinking, forget it," he growled. "We stay together til morning and then we leave. Together."

Bodie had knelt beside Ray's makeshift bed and for the first time, Ray got a good look at his parter. For all that Bodie had unflaggingly dragged Ray through the woods, he hadn't come out of the accident unscathed. Streaks of blood had dried on his cheek and neck, and there was a large tear in his shirt that revealed a deep gash crossing from one side of his chest to the other. The grasp of his left hand around Ray's waist as they'd stumbled toward the shack had been weak, and now Ray could see how Bodie was cradling it close to his body.

But none of his discomfort showed on his face as he looked at Ray, a smile of gentle mockery on his cracked lips. "You're hardly in a position to be handing out orders, sunshine. My guess is that whoever put that tack strip in the middle of the road only wanted to slow us down, not kill us, though I imagine they'd shed no tears if they had. Their deadline was as tight as ours, but I'm not taking for granted that they didn't leave someone to make sure we were off their trail. A little reconnaissance is in order, I think."

"All the more reason for you to stay here," Ray had argued. "Too dark for you to be stumbling about, you'll just lead them to me and I'm not up to receiving guests, thanks all the same."

Bodie laughed softly as he got to his feet. "When we get home, I'm going to be pissed at you for underestimating me. Until then, douse that light and get some rest. I'll be back before you know it."

Ray had stayed alert for as long he could, every fibre of his being straining to hear Bodie's return. Fatigue and pain had eventually taken their toll and he'd nodded off, but now he was coming awake to the fear that Bodie had fallen into trouble and Ray couldn't help him.

It was a suffocating sensation, to have Bodie out there in the dark without him, unarmed and vulnerable to a thousand dangers. Bodie was his to protect, to back up, to keep whole, and he here was, lying in relative comfort, Bodie's leather jacket not just his only source of heat but his only physical connexion to Bodie. Now that his eyes were open he could see that dawn was beginning to light the draughty room, revealing four flimsy walls and a long unused fireplace filled with debris. There were no windows to peer through, just a raw opening where a door once stood, its threshold filled with rubbish, dirt, and leaves. Ray stared at that threshold and willed Bodie to come bounding through, safe and unharmed.

He had no idea how long Bodie had been gone, and it was that thought that had him bending forward as carefully as he could so that he could retrieve the torch that he'd let fall when he'd passed out. His fingers had just curled around the cold metal cylinder when the sound of a snapped twig caught his attention. He sucked in a deep breath and pulled the torch to his chest as he swung one leg to the dirt floor, ready to do battle.

"Damn it, Ray!" It was Bodie, stomping through the doorway, making so much noise that Ray was light-headed with relief, understanding what so much racket signified. "Stay there!"

"Fine," Ray snapped, leaning back. He really had no choice—he was as weak as a day-old kitten, and even that small exertion had set his chest aflame once more. "Get over here and take your stinky jacket, then. You're blue and you're a very unattractive Smurf."

In truth, the growing light revealed a Bodie that dangerously close to hypothermia, if he wasn't already there. The finely sculpted lips were a greyish blue and Ray saw that Bodie's sturdy form was unsteady with shivers.

Bodie walked to Ray's side and sat at the edge of the pallet, making no move to take the jacket. "How're you feeling?"

Ray ignored him, clenching his fist into the stiff leather of Bodie's jacket and thrusting it toward him. "Put this on, damn it."

"I got warmed up tromping around the bloody countryside." Bodie's jaw was set in a stubborn line that Ray knew all too well. He was unsurprised when Bodie took the jacket and instead of putting it on, tucked it high around Ray's neck. "And I'm happy to report that we're not far from the road. Figure I'd get a fire going here and then I'll head for help."

"Told you," Ray mumbled, "we go together."

Bodie was silent, his eyes on Ray's face. Ray knew knew he was in sorry shape, that his face was badly cut up from the glass of the windscreen, and in the growing light of day, Bodie was now witness to the damage. He grew uncomfortable under Bodie's contemplative gaze, afraid that Bodie was tallying up scars that were sure to remain a souvenir of this misadventure. He didn't care much for himself—scars were nothing new and God knew his face wasn't worth a moment's regret—but Bodie would have to look at him, and that pained Ray more than he was ready to admit.

Uncomfortable, Ray glanced away, afraid he'd see unwanted compassion in Bodie's eyes. He could take an awful lot of shit from his partner, but pity was unacceptable. The wounds to his face and body would heal, but to have Bodie turn away from him for any reason was beyond imagining. He'd walk away first before he'd let Bodie feel sorry for him.

So lost was he in his miserable thoughts that he jumped when he felt an icy palm cup his jaw.

"Wherever you've gone, I hope it's warmer there than it is here." Bodie's voice was tenderly teasing as his rough fingertips stroked the skin near Ray's ear. "Next time, take me along, okay? Don't like you leaving me behind like that."

"Now you know how I feel," Ray answered, his breath hitching in his chest. Except Bodie didn't know how he felt—and wouldn't, not ever. Worse than the scars on his body, a Bodie who was uncomfortable around Ray would be unbearable. "Didn't like you wandering off without me tonight."

Bodie's palm was warming against his skin. "Had to be done, you know that. Besides, I was only gone an hour, long enough for you to kip out for a while."

"Only an hour?" Ray grunted. "Felt like a lifetime."

"A lifetime," Bodie echoed softly. He slid his hand along Ray's neck before pulling away. "Yeah, that's what it feels like sometimes."

Before Ray could ask him what he meant, Bodie rose to his feet. "Right, let's see you stand up."

"I'll do it," Ray threatened. He also knew he'd have to do so without Bodie's help—it was Bodie's way of making him prove he was mobile. It took him a few moments, but when he was standing on his own, albeit on shaky legs, Bodie slid his arm around Ray's good side and let him rest his weight against Bodie's hip.

"All right, hard part's over." Bodie snatched the jacket from the pallet and slung it over Ray's shoulders, heedless of his protest. Once he was sure Ray had his balance, he bent down and picked up the torch. "Just in case I missed one," he added with a wink.

Ray shook his head, trying to convey the expected irritation. If there were bad guys still hunting them, they were defenceless, but Ray's faith in Bodie was immutable. He had no doubt that the area was clear.

~~

Bodie was panicking. Ray was just finishing with the local doctor, who'd taken Bodie aside and assured him that Ray was able to travel back to London as long as they were mindful of Ray's injuries. Bodie had almost laughed in his face then, hardly needing to be reminded that Ray was in pain. Now Bodie was stationed outside the doctor's exam room door, wearing a borrowed jumper that was two sizes too big, left hand splinted and bandaged, waiting for Ray—and panicking.

It had almost been too much this time. Bodie had come closer to failing Ray than he ever had before—by not seeing that improvised tack strip in the road, he'd almost lost his partner. At the very least, he'd caused him pain, and Bodie found that unforgivable.

But this panic, this storm of nerves tearing up his stomach, was caused not caused by their close brush with death. No, what Bodie was experiencing was the abject fear that Ray had seen, had finally figured out, that Bodie was in love with him.

It had been a close run thing, those moments back in the miner's shack. Bodie had been tired and cold and his usually faultless ability to hide his true thoughts and feelings had leached away with the adrenaline that had given him the fortitude to pull Ray through the woods. When he'd come back to the shack to find Ray struggling to his feet, he'd been unable to hide his anger, anger directed not at Ray, but at himself.

The damage to Ray's face wasn't as bad as it looked. Bodie could see in the growing light that the cuts were shallow beneath the dried streaks of blood and the thicker clots that dotted the edges of each wound. Horrific to look at, but Bodie dismissed them as minor. The cracked ribs were of more concern, and Bodie had debated whether or not to try and take Ray with him on his trek to find civilisation.

But Ray had made the decision for him, and Bodie had no doubt that if he'd try to leave Ray behind, Ray would simply have followed. That's how it was between them, for so long inseparable, yet Bodie found that only distance was going to preserve the rare friendship that they shared.

The door opened and Ray came out, his right hand pressed to his bandaged side. He was bare-chested, but Bodie remedied that with another borrowed shirt, wordlessly helping Ray put it on before turning on his heel to march down the corridor. Ray followed slowly, and Bodie knew he was being stared at, but at that moment, he had no intention of facing Ray's questions.

Cowley had arranged a rental car for them and Bodie opened the passenger side door. It was late afternoon, a watery sun giving the air a hint of warmth, but also bathing Ray's pale face in unkind light. There were black stitches and white bandages and reddened scrapes, blue circles smudged beneath tired green eyes that were watching Bodie carefully. The flutter of panic in Bodie's belly surged as he watched Ray fold himself into the car with a muffled groan, causing Bodie to shut the door with more vehemence than he'd intended.

The ride back to London was silent, and Bodie was grateful that Ray dozed beside him instead of attempting conversation. When he pulled up in front of Ray's flat, he'd had to give him a tap on the one uninjured portion of bristly cheek to rouse him.

"Home, Ray."

Ray straightened with a stifled gasp, blinking slowly into the late afternoon sun. "Home, yeah. Thank God."

"D'you need help?"

Bodie's question, posed so casually, had the opposite effect on Ray. He swivelled his head around to stare at Bodie, his expression confused.

"You weren't planning on coming up with me?"

Bodie shrugged, his eyes on the car parked in front of them. "Only if you need me. If not, there's a hot shower and a soft bed waiting for me across town."

Ray was quiet and the sour feeling in Bodie's stomach, lulled into submission by the silent ride home, flared anew.

"Right." Ray reached for the door handle. "Reckon I can manage on my own."

"Ray—"

But Ray was already moving, and moving far too fast for his injuries. Bodie cursed and got out of the car to meet Ray at the kerb, ignoring the flashing green eyes as his slipped his arm once more around the slender waist to give support.

If he'd expected a reprimand, he didn't get one. Together they made their way into Ray's flat, Bodie standing aside only when Ray had to fish his keys out of his jeans pocket. Then they were inside, awkwardly apart, both of them looking anywhere but at each other.

"Look, Bodie," Ray sighed, "you were right, I'm fine on my own. You may as well shove off."

Relieved, Bodie nodded and turned toward the door. Rest was what they both needed, rest and time. Bodie's hand was aching anyway, and once he had his emotions under control, he could get to work on easing the strange tension that had sprung up between them.

"In case you were wondering, there won't be scars," Ray said behind him, so quietly that he stopped in his tracks to listen, "the doctor was pretty certain about that."

Bodie turned, puzzled by Ray's announcement. "What?"

Ray took a step toward him, his expression open, his eyes resting on Bodie's face with something very like hope. He waved a hand at his own face, smiling slightly. "I know I look a right mess now, but—"

"Who the fuck cares about that?" Bodie was truly bewildered as he stared back at Ray.

Ray shrugged and then winced. "No one, I guess, except maybe you. After all, you have to look at me, right?"

"Doyle," Bodie's eyes fluttered close as he struggled to retain his composure. Leave it to Ray to bring up such a nonsensical subject when they were both dead on their feet. Bodie felt the grasp he had on his unruly emotions begin to slip once more, but he opened his eyes and gave Ray what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "That's good news, sunshine, you'll be charming the girls again in no time."

Ray lowered his head, placing his hands on his hips and then dropping them to his side. "Go home, Bodie."

Something in Ray's demeanour was bothering Bodie. Ray was more than tired, they both were exhausted. Ray had taken some painkillers but beyond that, Ray was a stoic sod who rarely let physical pain slow him down. But right now, he was looking uncharacteristically defeated, and Bodie, despite all good sense, wanted nothing more than to find a way to ease whatever burden he was carrying.

"Fine host you are," he heard himself saying. "Not even an offer of tea to ease my journey?"

"Tea?" Ray looked up, eyes widening. "You want tea? Now?"

It was Bodie's turn to shrug. "Why not? It's been a hell of a day and I've still got a cross town drive ahead of me. Something warm sounds good." He gave Ray what he hoped was an innocent grin. "I'll even make it, you won't have to lift a finger."

To Bodie's relief, Ray's expression lightened and he nodded, stepping aside with a slight bow as Bodie strode past him toward the kitchen. Ray had been in this flat long enough for Bodie to have learned where everything was located, and he had the tea things sorted in short order. By the time he carried one of the mugs into the lounge, he was relatively sure that he'd been able to regain some composure and would be able to see that Ray was comfortable before retreating to the safety of his own flat.

He stopped at the threshold when he saw that Ray had fallen asleep on the sofa, long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankle. His head was canted to one side, giving Bodie a clear view of the worst of the cuts. His breath caught as he took a long look at the damage, Ray's assurances that there would be no scars ringing his head. No scars that could be seen, anyway.

Setting the mug aside, Bodie drew close to the sofa, his gaze never leaving Ray's battered face. Not for the first time, Bodie damned himself for caring so much that even in his sleep, Ray was the centre of his attention. He could no more look away than he could stop breathing, and in that moment when his emotions were plain for anyone to see, Ray's eyes opened.

It was a moment of pure communication, unhindered by the walls that both men built and tore down on a regular basis. Bodie knew that his heart was in his eyes, that every secret he'd had concerning Ray Doyle was now revealed. What he wasn't prepared for was an answering expression from Ray, a startled softness around his mouth and an indrawn breath that spoke of both fear and hope.

"Bodie?" Ray whispered his name, confusion beginning to cloud his eyes. "You're still here?"

"'Course I am," Bodie answered breathlessly, "where else would I be?"

Ray swallowed and glanced at the space beside him, a space wide enough for Bodie to join him. The invitation was plain, the motive behind it uncertain, yet Bodie sat down without hesitation, drawn to Ray as he'd always been but only now giving in to the temptation to believe that perhaps Ray had similar feelings.

"'Nowhere but here," Ray replied softly, obviously still not completely awake and yet Bodie was aware that in that moment, he had all of Ray's attention as well.

It was heady stuff, yet there was no mistaking the hand that reached toward him, or the fingers that played lightly against his lips. Bodie's mouth fell open, entranced by the gently searching, unexpected touch. Ray's eyes were on his own fingers as he stroked Bodie's cheek, seemingly oblivious to Bodie's quickening breath until he finally met Bodie's gaze. As if startled, Ray dropped his hand and started to lean away, but Bodie reached for him, resting his hands on Ray's shoulders to keep him still.

"Ray," he began, then stuttered to a stop, having no idea what to say. Then, before he could think it through, he continued. "I don't care."

"About what?" Ray was steadfastly staring at his hands that were now in his lap. Bodie released one shoulder to guide Ray's chin upward until their eyes met.

"About the scars. Yours, mine, any of them. All of them."

"You don't?"

Bodie smiled then, seeing the understanding grow in Ray's eyes. They both knew that they weren't talking about the cuts that adorned Ray's face. They weren't talking about physical scars at all.

Instead of answering, Bodie leaned forward and pressed his mouth to Ray's, his grip on Ray's chin keeping them both steady. It was a light touch, warm and reassuring in its way, yet also intimate and full of promise. Ray's mouth opened slightly and Bodie deepened the kiss just enough to assure them both that it wasn't a mistake or an impulse to be regretted. When Bodie felt Ray's hand twist in the fabric of his jumper, he retreated back far enough to see that Ray's eyes were closed, his lips still parted as if waiting for another kiss. Happy to oblige, Bodie slid his hand to the base of Ray's neck as he brought their mouths together once more.

Their second kiss was more brief than Bodie would've liked, but he could feel Ray tense beneath his hand. Concerned, he pulled away to see Ray smiling back at him, the edge of a chipped tooth reassuring Bodie that Ray was neither confused nor insulted. In fact, his smile widened when Bodie grinned back, both men easing into the seismic shift their relationship was about to undergo.

"Still going home?" Ray asked, his grip on Bodie's jumper tightening as if to refute any answer other than "no."

"Well," Bodie drawled, "I'd rather stay here, if you don't mind."

"No, no, I don't mind at all. Only one bed, though. It might feel a bit crowded."

Bodie's stern glare was met with wide-eyed innocence. "Raymond, you're tired, I'm tired, and any sort of mischief you have in mind will have to wait."

"Coward," Ray muttered, but Bodie could see that fatigue was setting in once more and let the insult pass.

"Probably," Bodie agreed, rising to his feet and holding out his hand. "But discretion is the better part of valour, or so I've been told."

Ray grabbed the offered hand and allowed himself to be slowly levered to his feet and into Bodie's embrace. "Whoever told you that was a fool," he said. Pausing to catch his breath, he leaned into Bodie with a wry chuckle. "Which means it was probably me."

Bodie was feeling magnanimous, so instead of agreeing, he began to lead Ray toward the bedroom, a large part of him regretting that his well-hidden fantasies about this moment were so far off the mark. But later, as Ray slept beside him, the fingers of their uninjured hands laced together beneath the covers, Bodie was forced to admit that reality was better by far. Only later, as he'd drifted closer to sleep, did Bodie realise that there'd been no words of devotion spoken between them, no unnecessary declarations required for two men who knew each other so well.

It was just as well, Bodie thought as he succumbed to his happy state of exhaustion. Neither of them were men who tended to wear their hearts on their sleeves and now that those hearts had been claimed, they'd never have to.

Comments

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Well, that was just the loveliest way to start a morning.. I do love holed up/banged up lads taking care of each other, and being stoic, tender and snarky while they're about it - and you write that mix perfectly.

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

Thanks, love - this one was hard (I know! Romance! My genre!) and there was so much more I wanted to do, so I'll give it a couple of days before re-reading to see if it's salvageable.

take care - V

[mab-browne.livejournal.com]

The unspoken emotion expressed through action theme is a favourite of mine. Nice. :-)

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! Yes, our Lads are men of action, aren't they ;).

take care - V

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

Lovely story, showing how their concern for each other gets them to make even greater efforts to survive (and conversely has more power to alarm them than dealing with bad guys does). Clever use of the scars! - and the contrast between fantasy and reality, injuries and all - and I liked Ray concluding that the fool was probably him!

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you - I think the story needs some work, I'd like to explore that aspect of their relationship a little more closely, the unspoken devotion that makes them strong. But I'm glad you enjoyed what I had so far!

take care - V

[norfolkdumpling.livejournal.com]

Very nice! I do like me a bit of h/c and this pushed my buttons nicely. Always together, even when Bodie goes off on his own, and a lovely acceptance of the change in their relationship. I also liked the description of the colours on Ray's face a lot. Thanks!

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

Thank you - with or without slash, they are a devoted couple and I love that that about them! Glad you enjoyed it - thanks again!

V

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Awww - they're so cute when they're looking after each other, and I love your use of the scars. Lovely, thank you!

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

They are cute, aren't they? In their own special way ;).

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

V

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

What a lovely story. And their coming to an understanding was just perfect, a bit of hesitation and fear but not too much from two men who know each other so well. I absolutely adored the last line.

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much - if I hadn't mismanaged my time, I think I would've made that transition go more smoothly. Maybe in the re-write - or the sequel *g*.

Glad you enjoyed it, though - they're always a treat to write!

V

[erushi.livejournal.com]

This plays up to my guilty h/c pleasure very nicely. Their worry was palpable throughout the entire piece. The bit over tea, as they kissed, was beautifully worded and heartbreakingly tentative - I was literally holding my breath as I read it.

Thank you so much for this!

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you - you always say such lovely things and in this case, you've made me feel a bit better about this story. I'm so glad you enjoyed it and thanks for sharing your thoughts.

V

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Oh..... I thought this was ab-sol-ute-ly beautiful and I loved everything about it! And if I was forced to choose one particular strength of the writing then I think it would be the way you write them so in tune with each other i.e. their understanding of each other seems entirely without effort and I love that aspect of their relationship whether it's in fiction or canon.

Thank you so much for this.

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

Thank *you* for such a lovely note! I'm so glad you liked it - I love that aspect of their relationship - that unique communication they have - and I tried to work that in here. Thank you for letting me know that you enjoyed it - I really appreciate it.

V

[biani.livejournal.com]

I have a feeling that I'm not quite finished with it. I won't be offended if you'd rather wait *g*.

Oh, that sounds wonderful! I couldn´t wait - of course - and read it and now I hope there´s more where this one came from. Thank you so much!

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

I think the story needs work/a sequel/something - I don't feel as though I've finished with this one. But then again, the lads are so fun to write for, I guess I'll always feel that way ;).

thank you for letting me know you liked it so far!

V

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

I do love that moment of realization between them--when they know not only what they feel, but that it's shared. Thank you! This was a lovely Valentine's Day gift, starting off in terror and confusion and pain, and ending in mutual understanding and relief and love. Cheers.

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I'm just not quite happy with it, I feel there's more story there and also some rough edges that need to be smoothed. However, it was Valentine's Day, Ray and Bodie style, so it had to end with a kiss! I think it's a law or something...;)

take care - V

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Damn you, V. Now I'm all weepy. What a sweet story. I loved it! I loved the caring and concern, the looks, the touches, the knowledge of each other, so sure and deep. Thank you! If this is rough, I don't know if my heart will be able to take the polished product.

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

LOL - then my work here is done! Okay, not really - I feel as though there's more story in there somewhere but I'm not sure where - middle, beginning, or end - or all three ;). But thank you so much for letting me know that you like it so far!

V

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed this, the h/c, Doyle's concerns about not seeing pity from Bodie, Bodie's concerns about Doyle not seeing anything he's feeling... Lovely.

It all seemed a very natural way to slide in to a change in their relationship to exhausted to deny it or hide.

Thank you. :D

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm not sure I'm done, I feel as thought there's more to this story than I have so far. They're both so tough and stoic and yet so vulnerable to each other...and they don't make things easy, do they? But I'm so glad you like the story so far!

V

[saintvic.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this, I liked how you portrayed the progression into the relationship. It was a wonderfully warm and tender scene at the end as well.

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I was thinking of writing a sequel, just so that they could have a bit more of a conversation regarding this new aspect of their relationship, but I'm not sure, we'll see if the muses agree ;). More importantly, I'm so glad you enjoyed it and thank you so much for letting me know - that's lovely *g*.

V