Discovered in the Tinsel and Glitter Day 23 - Tis the Season

[krisserci5.livejournal.com]

'Tis the Season
by krisser


Doyle tucked his scarf in tighter as he dashed up the outside stairs to Bodie's flat. He couldn't decide if he wanted to blow on his hands or pound on the door.

He pounded on the door.

"Okay, okay," could be heard between his fist connecting against the wood.

Bodie opened the door and stepped out quickly. He locked the door behind him.

"Hey, wait! I was hoping for a cuppa," Doyle groused to Bodie's back as he descended the stairs.

"Got nothing in. We can stop. We're not late." Bodie stuck his hands in his pockets to keep them warm.

Doyle followed quickly, needing the slight warmth of his car. "I hate December. It's always cold."

"Tis winter, you know." Bodie smiled as he pointed to the car heater.

"Not working."

"Could go to a Greek island if you want a warm December."

"Like the Cow would give us enough time to go that far." Doyle shook his head at the thought as he wove through traffic.

000

Doyle wove through traffic on the way to Bodie's, again. It would be like that during this entire flat rotation. Doyle hated that. He quite liked it when Bodie's flat was further out. Then he had to do all the driving, buy all the petrol. Oi, he realised that's what he had to do now, maybe he'd suggest Bodie pay half.

He found a parking spot just out front. Was a bit early, so he should, for sure, get a cuppa today. He hopped out and pulled his jacket in tighter. He locked the door after he got his scarf placed just right before running up the stairs.

He knocked on the door. "Bodie, work!"

Bodie opened the door immediately, jacket on and buttoned up. He stepped out and snapped the door closed. Doyle had to move back to avoid colliding with his partner.

"Hey! That's two days in a row I didn't get my tea," Doyle said as he watched Bodie speed down the stairs.

"Bought your tea, yesterday. What are you on about?" Bodie muttered as he waited for Doyle to unlock the car doors.

"Well, you're buying today as well." Doyle felt a bit mollified with that solution.

Bodie rolled his eyes as he shut the passenger door.


000

Doyle's tires squealed as he rounded the corner onto Bodie's street. He was late. Late, because he had stopped for cinnamon rolls. One of Bodie's favourites and surely that would get him a well-deserved cup of tea.

"Well, damnation!" Doyle groused aloud. Bodie was already on the kerb waiting for him.

"Was afraid I'd have to walk," Bodie said as he grabbed the door handle, and looked pointedly at his watch. His eyes lit up at the pastry box on the seat. "Wow!" He made a grab and Doyle let him. Surprised, Bodie asked between swallows, "Who are they for?"

"You, ya great lummox. Only, you're supposed to be making me a cuppa."

"I'll buy you an even larger one than yesterday. Yum, these are good." Bodie picked up another treat.

Doyle watched his delight. Just like a kid, Bodie was. He turned on the motor and headed into headquarters.


000

Doyle sat behind the wheel, pondering as Bodie ran inside to pick up their morning drinks, again.

He'd been shut out again!

Last night didn't really count as Bodie opted to walk back to his flat from the local to save him having to weave around all the bloody carollers. But, this morning again. Again! Bodie was ready to go and stepped out and shut the door before he could even peek in.

Back with the libations, Bodie opened the car door carefully and handed Doyle a piping hot cup of tea. He didn't sip his coffee until after he had closed the door on the cold air.

"Do you have a bird tucked up in your flat?" Doyle asked abruptly.

"No! What? What makes you think that? Bodie's dumbfounded expression was clear.

"Then why won't you let me into your flat?" Doyle asked in not quite a whine.

Bodie shifted slightly in his seat to look out the window. "You're imagining things, my son. When would I find time to sweet-talk, wine, and dine a bird? I'm with you most evenings. Besides, the Cow has beat us in every day this month. We have to be in on time." Bodie answered before he stuffed a sausage roll into his mouth.

Doyle stopped talking, but he didn't stop thinking about it at all.

000

The Cow sent him on a fool's errand, or at least that's how he looked at it. A bloody escort to the airport. Bodie said he'd catch a ride with Murph, so Doyle didn't have to drive all the way back in. Nice that.

Doyle finished early with his dump off and headed straight to Bodie's to see if he had a bird there waiting. He parked a bit away behind a bush that definitely needed trimming. He saw Murphy drop off his partner with a wave. Bodie walked up the stairs, unlocked the door, and faded from view.

Doyle waited an hour to see if Bodie set out to collect or left with a bird, but nothing.

Maybe it was his imagination.

000

Doyle knuckle rapped Bodie's door. He hadn't connected the third knock when Bodie opened the door, stepped out, and locked it before Doyle could even say a word.

Bodie did. "Cow called, we're on escort duty and we're already late," Bodie announced as he rapidly descended the stairs.

Doyle followed. If it had been anyone else, he would have wondered if the assignment even existed. Certainly the timing was a little too perfect.

Even later, after a minister with four dogs and a considerably younger wife that needed protection while shopping. He still couldn't stop thinking about how Bodie had been double quick to close the door.

Why? What secret was he keeping hid there?

It had to be a bird. Or a bloke. Doyle blinked hard. He didn't want it to be a bloke, unless it was one of his old mob mates, but they usually meant trouble. So surely Bodie would talk to him about that. They were past the secrets stage . . . weren't they?

Maybe not, obviously, he was keeping something secret in his flat.

000

Bodie was stuck in files for the rest of the day. The endless Christmas carols in the restroom drove Doyle out and down to the car park.

He drove to get away, aimlessly or so he thought as he found himself on Bodie's street.

He didn't even have a key to Bodie's place.

Doyle parked at the corner. He locked his car as he looked about before walking around the building, looking for access. No community gardens out back, but there was a wall.

Doyle found himself climbing the wall so he could jump across to the fire escape ladder. He moved upward as best he could until he reached, what he figured, was Bodie's place. He knew that Bodie liked to keep the bog window ajar and even security was set up to accommodate that. Doyle was sure he could fit through the window.

Doyle used a lower window ledge for his footing as he lifted himself up to Bodie's loo window. Hanging there, he realised that the window was locked. Good for the CI5 agent, bad for Doyle.

Doyle balanced himself precariously against the wall as he withdrew his lock picking kit. He took out a skinny file and tried to wedge it between the lock and the glass. He worked it slowly and for several minutes his patience was greatly tested, but finally he was rewarded with movement. He pushed the window open and hoisted himself up.

To say it was a tight fit was a gross understatement. He went in headfirst and it took longer to wriggle his chest through than to pick the lock. He thought he'd done himself an injury as he got his belt caught on the lock mechanism. After very careful manoeuvring, he was through and nearly landed headfirst in an open toilet. Instead he sprawled across the loo floor.

As he picked himself up, he thought he heard movement in the front room.

"Ah ha!" he said to himself. There was a bird here. He slipped into the bedroom. No obvious female stuff lying about. He headed to the bedroom door to open it a crack

He turned the knob and opened the bedroom door slowly only to be surprised at the sight of a gun barrel pointed directly at his face.

"For Christ's sake, Doyle! You nearly got your head blown off!" Bodie shouted, his eyes wide and wild.

"What?"

"My neighbour called. A ruffian had climbed the wall to go in the bathroom window. Should she call the cops – I should have let her." Bodie put his gun away.

"You wouldn't let me in. It's been a week." Doyle was still standing in the doorway of Bodie's bedroom.

"You broke into my flat because I didn't let you in the front door?" Incredulous was too mild for the sound of his voice.

"See! Even you said it. You didn't let me in." Doyle felt vindicated.

"Jesus, Doyle." Bodie shook his head. "What time of year is it?" Bodie's tone was pure exasperation.

"Cold."

"The season?"

"Winter."

"See, exactly, you can't even say it." Bodie made a vague gesture with his hand.

Doyle rolled his eyes. "Okay, the Christmas holiday season. There. Better?"

"You're like a child."

Doyle wanted to stick his tongue out but felt it prudent to hold himself in check.

"So what does Christmas have to do with it?" Doyle finally asked after it was obvious that Bodie wasn't going to say more.

"Didn't want you take the piss out or deride me, so I opted for not putting myself, or you, in that situation."

"What are you on about?" Doyle tried to follow Bodie's train of thought, but his frown made Doyle curious and he lost the thought train completely.

Bodie sighed loudly, and capitulated. "Fine." He moved behind his partner and pushed him gently into the front room. He stopped them just inside the archway.

Doyle gasped. It looked like a Christmas fairyland or a Christmas department store.

A tall tree decorated with ornaments, fairy lights, and tinsel stood in the middle of the room. Glitter laced icicles lined the window. Brightly coloured garland with fairy lights woven in stretched across the walls, corner to corner. There were antique Christmas toys along the mantel and wrapped presents under the tree.

Doyle was sure a Christmas record sat in the record player as well.

"This is why you didn't let me in your flat all week?" Doyle's voice was full of hurt. "I wouldn't have made fun."

"Of course you would've. That first morning, if you would have come in, would have said something like - You roll an elf?" Bodie tilted his head at his partner.

Doyle allowed the honesty of the words used to show on his face, much to his chagrin. "Yeah, sounds like me." Doyle looked around at all the carefully placed objects. "You must really like all this," Doyle said, thinking out loud. He was so relieved that there was no bird in this picture.

"Yes, Doyle, I do like Christmas and all the trimmings." Bodie steeled himself.

"You must have worked hard to do all this."

"Did." Bodie half closed his eyes, not clear on his partner's change of tone.

"I'll do all this with you next year, if you like." Doyle tone as was deceptively mild as someone idly moving sand with his toes.

"You like Christmas all of a sudden?" Bodie asked with curious caution

"Not necessarily, but I could enjoy doing all this," Doyle waved his hand all around the room, "With you."

"Really?" Bodie spoke gently as though not to startle a kitten. He paused, then asked, "Why? Why would you enjoy doing something you don't care for?" Bodie's tone begged for honesty.

Bodie's tone resonated with Doyle. "I don't have any real great Christmas memories. But sharing this with you would probably become one. A good memory, that is."

Bodie's eyes softened and he drew Doyle in for an embrace. Doyle hugged back, a real hug. He spoke into Bodie's chest. "I didn't like being shut out and I was so afraid you were with a bird."

Bodie's chest seemed to rumble and Doyle took it as encouragement to continue. "I thought it might be one of your old mates and found I didn't want you keeping a bloke here either."

Another rumble seemed to follow. "I wanted to be the one here."

Bodie stepped back but kept the embrace intact. "Yeah, I get that. Now." Bodie looked Doyle in the eyes and asked gently, "What is it you do want?"

"You." Doyle smiled. "I just figured it out." His smile looked like he'd just won the lottery.

Bodie smiled back, that special smile that Doyle knew was just for him.

Bodie drew Doyle close to cup his face. "Guess my Christmas present came early this year."

Lips met equally to seal the deal.

fin


Title:Tis the Season
Author: krisser
Slash or Gen: slash
Archive at ProsLib/Circuit: yes
Disclaimer: they have more fun with me.
Warnings: It's a Christmas story

Comments

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

Very cool!

[krisserci5.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

[cloudless-9193.livejournal.com]

A very enjoyable Christmas story :-)

[krisserci5.livejournal.com]

Thanks, glad you liked it.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Oh, this made me smile! I love that Bodie's flat was basically Santa's workshop and I adore stories that use Christmas as the catalyst to get the lads together. ❤️

[krisserci5.livejournal.com]

I must admit that I like all catalysts that get them together. . . .

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

Love it.
Bodie smiled back, that special smile that Doyle knew was just for him.
*sigh*

[krisserci5.livejournal.com]

Thanks:)

[cim3745.livejournal.com]

It's such a heartwarming story.
Thanks for a lovely Christmas read.

[krisserci5.livejournal.com]

Thanks for saying so :)

[f-m-parkinson.livejournal.com]

Thank goodness it all turned out all right in the end! Loved the idea of Doyle breaking in through the bathroom window...

[lrhbalzer.livejournal.com]

"I wanted to be the one here."

Sniff.

Thanks for the story! Loved it.

[sw33n3y.livejournal.com]

Heh, it was fun to see Doyle's curiosity get the better of him.

Happy New Year!