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discoveredinaljNot Quite 'A Christmas Carol'
By krisser
Ray Doyle drew his weapon before he opened the Capri door. Bodie did the same, not even locking the door after he stepped out. They paused, watching the house across the road.
"You had to cancel a date tonight?" Doyle asked, eyes glued to the front door.
"Yeah."
"Who with?"
Bodie scrambled for a name. "Clare."
"Another one?"
"Yup."
"How many do you know?"
"How many do you?"
"Point taken." Doyle laughed, an earthy sound. "Probably some were the same bird."
"Probably." Bodie made a rueful noise.
"Why don't you come round to me mum's for Christmas?" Doyle asked as he crept forward.
"Nah, don't think so." Bodie had already been moving around the back of the vehicle and turned away from the question. He missed the crestfallen expression that Doyle displayed, instead catching movement to the side of his position. He saw the glint of a gun and where it was pointing. Directly at his partner. Bodie reacted automatically and desperately lunged forward to cover Doyle as the retort filled their ears.
"What the . . .?" Doyle cried out.
"Uump," was all Bodie managed before he became dead weight.
-----
"You bastard. Getting shot like that. Did I teach you nothing?"
The voice seemed to be all around him. It filled the void he was in. Bodie opened his eyes. Void? He was in a bed, just not his bed and after looking about, it did seem like he was in a void of sorts. He thought he recognised the voice as he closed his eyes.
"Oi. Go away. I'm sleeping."
"Can't. I'm here for your welfare. I always seem to be doing that."
The whinge was more than familiar. "Keller? What are you doing here?" Bodie opened his eyes, looked about but couldn't see anyone or anything. Was he dreaming? Nightmare, more like. He tried to wake up, but nothing changed. Damn.
"You deaf? I said your welfare."
The voice seemed exasperated, emanating from swirling fog in the corner. Not that there was a corner, just where Bodie thought there could be one.
"What's the point of your disturbing my sleep?" Bodie requested of the possible apparition.
"To help you make the right decision." The voice floated about the room.
"I don't need any help in decision making, especially from you. No bragging rights on your track record." Bodie rolled over.
"Wounding. But this is not about me. It's about you. Never saw that yellow streak down your back till now." The voice held satisfaction that the barb hit home.
Bodie rolled back and half sat up like a shot. "I never turned down an assignment, dangerous or not!" he bristled toward the voice.
"No, not on the job. This is more personal."
"Nope." Bodie flopped over and covered his head with his sheet.
"Have you tried waking up? I mean really waking up." Keller asked, already knowing the answer.
"Oh, thank goodness. Means I'm not dead and this is hell?" Bodie asked, disgruntled. He had tried but he didn't know where he was or why.
After a long-suffering sigh, Keller asked. "You figured it out yet?"
"Oh bloody hell! Are you supposed to be Jacob Marley? A precursor to three ghosts?" Bodie's tone was incredulous in the extreme.
"No ghosts. Just me."
"Why you? Last I heard you weren't dead."
"Not dead yet. In a coma. No travelling to the past with me."
"Oh, so I don't rate the actual ghosts?" Bodie sounded amused.
"Nah, you're not a bad bloke, Bodie, just thick."
"Can you be any more obscure?"
"Made my point for me!" Bodie could hear the grin in Keller's voice
"Oh, shit, you're gonna show me when I die."
"No, but maybe Doyle."
"Nope! Don't want any part of that," Bodie yelled to the Keller form that seemed to becoming more substantial.
"No choice, mate. You're here."
Bodie noted that the bed disappeared and a room of sorts materialised. He was dressed in fatigues, comfortable and well worn. Bodie sighed. "Where is here?"
"Oh, that's a hard one." Keller paused a moment then clarified. "Somewhat like a bridge leading to where I need to take you."
"Okay. Again, why you?" Bodie looked questioningly at his old friend who seemed to be more real at last.
"Seems to be my lot, saving you," Keller said as he grinned. Bodie could see it this time.
"So, if I haven't done some big bad that I need to right, why are you bugging me?"
"This isn't about righting some wrong in your past, Bodie, it's about your future."
"I can handle that just fine." Bodie looked away from Keller into the nothingness that surrounded him, jaw clenched.
"We shall see. Hold my arm so you don't get lost."
"Nope. Fine, I'll stay here." Bodie folded his arms across his chest.
"Doesn't really matter. Where I go, you go. How it works." Keller stepped forward and Bodie was at his side.
"How what works?" Bodie asked again.
Keller waved his arm about. "This, now come on."
The two walked down the bridge that suddenly appeared and ended on what seemed to be the roof across the street from a row of houses. With a snap of Keller's fingers, the street below became alive with activity.
Keller pointed to a car approaching and they watched the scene unfold.
A Capri, his Capri actually, pulled-up and parked in front of a house with a Christmas tree in the window and a real tree in the yard. The front door opened and a woman with grey hair and flour-speckled apron stood waiting with open arms as he watched himself and Doyle approach her.
"Oh, Ray, you finally brought Bodie. So wonderful to have your fella here at last. Supper will be on soon." Mrs Doyle ushered them into the house then fussed about in the kitchen as she hummed to herself.
Doyle led Bodie to his old room. "I'm so glad you agreed to come this time. She'll feed you well."
Once the door was closed, Bodie asked, "Your fella?"
"Depends how you feel about it," Doyle responded with a mischievous smile.
"Quite like the idea, to be honest," Bodie replied.
"Just the answer I was hoping for." Doyle's eyes were alight with genuine excitement and love.
Doyle pushed Bodie back against the door and kissed him. A kiss that was answered in equal measure. Arms encircled one another as their passion grew. Doyle's hand reached down and pressed the obvious bulge, Bodie's head arched back. One touch sent him flying . . .
"Get a room," Keller interrupted the moment.
"Had one. Is that . . . "
"A possibility."
The scene faded from view.
Bodie was trying to control his own reaction to the scene, not shocked as he might have expected.
The bridge was back and they exited completely opposite from last time. This time they seemed to be in the future but it could have been yesterday. It was like a floating tour of almost the same event. Doyle was asking him to spend Christmas at his mum's. He turned it down each time and headed home to a sterile flat and takeaway. Every year the same. A wistful thought intruded on how happy they looked . . .
They were back on the bridge.
"Short and not too sweet," Keller needled.
"Status quo. Doyle's my partner. I can live with that," Bodie stated firmly with no emotion in his voice, but the lingering memory of . . .
Another exit presented itself on the bridge. Keller led the way. Bodie followed on his heels as everything behind him disappeared.
This time it was like they were looking in the window. Bodie recognised the office. George Cowley's. Keller snapped his fingers and the scene began.
Doyle burst through the door of Cowley's office. Cowley just pointed to the desktop. There sat Bodie's ID and weapon. Doyle looked up and Cowley shrugged. Doyle tossed his own ID, and unholstered his weapon, and placed it on the desk. He turned his back on Cowley and walked out without a word.
They travelled without moving through time and materialised in a cemetery. Bodie recognised this one. He and Doyle jogged there regularly. Keller moved them swiftly through the rows of graves until they came upon one that appeared newly dug. Bodie expected to see his name on the headstone, but instead it read: Raymond Doyle.
Bodie turned away and shut his eyes. "Get me out of here. Now!"
Keller made a sound but didn't push Bodie. "Okay. Different place," he said a moment later, or minute or however time passed here, wherever that was.
Bodie opened his eyes cautiously and Keller pointed ahead to the church. They were inside faster than the building registered in his mind.
Bodie saw a wedding in progress. Doyle stood alone with the vicar watching a bride advance toward him. No one was seated on the groom's side. No one was there for him. Bodie made to move closer.
"You can't stop this. No one can see you. This is just a possibility."
Bodie turned away. "I don't want to see this."
"Bodie, look at Ray's eyes. Is that really the gaze of a happy man on his wedding day?" Keller pointed to his partner.
Bodie looked a few seconds before he turned his back. "Evidently that was his choice." His voice sounded petulant. He tried to make himself believe it.
"You left. He's just trying to fill a void." Keller turned away and the scene faded.
They were back in the room where they started. Bodie moved about, looking for a way out.
"These are just the possibilities, Bodie, you can ignore these, or you can try to affect a change. The choice is yours." Keller waited but his friend didn't know how to grab a lifeline. "Bodie, do you really think that the Ray from the first scene wanted that wedding more than what he had just discovered with you?"
"He sometimes seemed to be moving that way," Bodie said forlornly.
"Bodie, you stubborn bastard. Really remember that kiss. Did that seem feigned or casual?"
Bodie remembered all too clearly, the look, the way it felt. His partner had looked happy. He had felt happy. Doyle's mum had referred to him as his fella. "Is that a sure thing?"
"Just one of the possibilities. Your choice."
Bodie smiled at the man. "Thanks, Keller. I mean that."
"That's another one you owe me, Bodie." Keller chuckled as he faded from view.
Bodie took a deep breath and forced his eyelids to open. He needed to see where he was and be the bravest he'd ever been.
This time, waking was easy. Bodie opened his eyes as the familiar sounds and scents associated with being in hospital filled his ears and nose. He turned his head and saw Doyle sitting by the side of his bed. Relief filled him. Maybe it wasn't too late. He leaned closer toward his partner.
Said partner rolled his eyes and said, "Finally."
Bodie stretched his hand out. "Ray, I'd love to meet your mum."
The brilliant smile on Ray Doyle's face was recompense enough.
fini
Title: Not Quite 'A Christmas Carol.
Author: krisser
Genre: slash
Archive at Proslib: yes please
Summary: Bodie has a Christmas time visitor.
By krisser
Ray Doyle drew his weapon before he opened the Capri door. Bodie did the same, not even locking the door after he stepped out. They paused, watching the house across the road.
"You had to cancel a date tonight?" Doyle asked, eyes glued to the front door.
"Yeah."
"Who with?"
Bodie scrambled for a name. "Clare."
"Another one?"
"Yup."
"How many do you know?"
"How many do you?"
"Point taken." Doyle laughed, an earthy sound. "Probably some were the same bird."
"Probably." Bodie made a rueful noise.
"Why don't you come round to me mum's for Christmas?" Doyle asked as he crept forward.
"Nah, don't think so." Bodie had already been moving around the back of the vehicle and turned away from the question. He missed the crestfallen expression that Doyle displayed, instead catching movement to the side of his position. He saw the glint of a gun and where it was pointing. Directly at his partner. Bodie reacted automatically and desperately lunged forward to cover Doyle as the retort filled their ears.
"What the . . .?" Doyle cried out.
"Uump," was all Bodie managed before he became dead weight.
-----
"You bastard. Getting shot like that. Did I teach you nothing?"
The voice seemed to be all around him. It filled the void he was in. Bodie opened his eyes. Void? He was in a bed, just not his bed and after looking about, it did seem like he was in a void of sorts. He thought he recognised the voice as he closed his eyes.
"Oi. Go away. I'm sleeping."
"Can't. I'm here for your welfare. I always seem to be doing that."
The whinge was more than familiar. "Keller? What are you doing here?" Bodie opened his eyes, looked about but couldn't see anyone or anything. Was he dreaming? Nightmare, more like. He tried to wake up, but nothing changed. Damn.
"You deaf? I said your welfare."
The voice seemed exasperated, emanating from swirling fog in the corner. Not that there was a corner, just where Bodie thought there could be one.
"What's the point of your disturbing my sleep?" Bodie requested of the possible apparition.
"To help you make the right decision." The voice floated about the room.
"I don't need any help in decision making, especially from you. No bragging rights on your track record." Bodie rolled over.
"Wounding. But this is not about me. It's about you. Never saw that yellow streak down your back till now." The voice held satisfaction that the barb hit home.
Bodie rolled back and half sat up like a shot. "I never turned down an assignment, dangerous or not!" he bristled toward the voice.
"No, not on the job. This is more personal."
"Nope." Bodie flopped over and covered his head with his sheet.
"Have you tried waking up? I mean really waking up." Keller asked, already knowing the answer.
"Oh, thank goodness. Means I'm not dead and this is hell?" Bodie asked, disgruntled. He had tried but he didn't know where he was or why.
After a long-suffering sigh, Keller asked. "You figured it out yet?"
"Oh bloody hell! Are you supposed to be Jacob Marley? A precursor to three ghosts?" Bodie's tone was incredulous in the extreme.
"No ghosts. Just me."
"Why you? Last I heard you weren't dead."
"Not dead yet. In a coma. No travelling to the past with me."
"Oh, so I don't rate the actual ghosts?" Bodie sounded amused.
"Nah, you're not a bad bloke, Bodie, just thick."
"Can you be any more obscure?"
"Made my point for me!" Bodie could hear the grin in Keller's voice
"Oh, shit, you're gonna show me when I die."
"No, but maybe Doyle."
"Nope! Don't want any part of that," Bodie yelled to the Keller form that seemed to becoming more substantial.
"No choice, mate. You're here."
Bodie noted that the bed disappeared and a room of sorts materialised. He was dressed in fatigues, comfortable and well worn. Bodie sighed. "Where is here?"
"Oh, that's a hard one." Keller paused a moment then clarified. "Somewhat like a bridge leading to where I need to take you."
"Okay. Again, why you?" Bodie looked questioningly at his old friend who seemed to be more real at last.
"Seems to be my lot, saving you," Keller said as he grinned. Bodie could see it this time.
"So, if I haven't done some big bad that I need to right, why are you bugging me?"
"This isn't about righting some wrong in your past, Bodie, it's about your future."
"I can handle that just fine." Bodie looked away from Keller into the nothingness that surrounded him, jaw clenched.
"We shall see. Hold my arm so you don't get lost."
"Nope. Fine, I'll stay here." Bodie folded his arms across his chest.
"Doesn't really matter. Where I go, you go. How it works." Keller stepped forward and Bodie was at his side.
"How what works?" Bodie asked again.
Keller waved his arm about. "This, now come on."
The two walked down the bridge that suddenly appeared and ended on what seemed to be the roof across the street from a row of houses. With a snap of Keller's fingers, the street below became alive with activity.
Keller pointed to a car approaching and they watched the scene unfold.
A Capri, his Capri actually, pulled-up and parked in front of a house with a Christmas tree in the window and a real tree in the yard. The front door opened and a woman with grey hair and flour-speckled apron stood waiting with open arms as he watched himself and Doyle approach her.
"Oh, Ray, you finally brought Bodie. So wonderful to have your fella here at last. Supper will be on soon." Mrs Doyle ushered them into the house then fussed about in the kitchen as she hummed to herself.
Doyle led Bodie to his old room. "I'm so glad you agreed to come this time. She'll feed you well."
Once the door was closed, Bodie asked, "Your fella?"
"Depends how you feel about it," Doyle responded with a mischievous smile.
"Quite like the idea, to be honest," Bodie replied.
"Just the answer I was hoping for." Doyle's eyes were alight with genuine excitement and love.
Doyle pushed Bodie back against the door and kissed him. A kiss that was answered in equal measure. Arms encircled one another as their passion grew. Doyle's hand reached down and pressed the obvious bulge, Bodie's head arched back. One touch sent him flying . . .
"Get a room," Keller interrupted the moment.
"Had one. Is that . . . "
"A possibility."
The scene faded from view.
Bodie was trying to control his own reaction to the scene, not shocked as he might have expected.
The bridge was back and they exited completely opposite from last time. This time they seemed to be in the future but it could have been yesterday. It was like a floating tour of almost the same event. Doyle was asking him to spend Christmas at his mum's. He turned it down each time and headed home to a sterile flat and takeaway. Every year the same. A wistful thought intruded on how happy they looked . . .
They were back on the bridge.
"Short and not too sweet," Keller needled.
"Status quo. Doyle's my partner. I can live with that," Bodie stated firmly with no emotion in his voice, but the lingering memory of . . .
Another exit presented itself on the bridge. Keller led the way. Bodie followed on his heels as everything behind him disappeared.
This time it was like they were looking in the window. Bodie recognised the office. George Cowley's. Keller snapped his fingers and the scene began.
Doyle burst through the door of Cowley's office. Cowley just pointed to the desktop. There sat Bodie's ID and weapon. Doyle looked up and Cowley shrugged. Doyle tossed his own ID, and unholstered his weapon, and placed it on the desk. He turned his back on Cowley and walked out without a word.
They travelled without moving through time and materialised in a cemetery. Bodie recognised this one. He and Doyle jogged there regularly. Keller moved them swiftly through the rows of graves until they came upon one that appeared newly dug. Bodie expected to see his name on the headstone, but instead it read: Raymond Doyle.
Bodie turned away and shut his eyes. "Get me out of here. Now!"
Keller made a sound but didn't push Bodie. "Okay. Different place," he said a moment later, or minute or however time passed here, wherever that was.
Bodie opened his eyes cautiously and Keller pointed ahead to the church. They were inside faster than the building registered in his mind.
Bodie saw a wedding in progress. Doyle stood alone with the vicar watching a bride advance toward him. No one was seated on the groom's side. No one was there for him. Bodie made to move closer.
"You can't stop this. No one can see you. This is just a possibility."
Bodie turned away. "I don't want to see this."
"Bodie, look at Ray's eyes. Is that really the gaze of a happy man on his wedding day?" Keller pointed to his partner.
Bodie looked a few seconds before he turned his back. "Evidently that was his choice." His voice sounded petulant. He tried to make himself believe it.
"You left. He's just trying to fill a void." Keller turned away and the scene faded.
They were back in the room where they started. Bodie moved about, looking for a way out.
"These are just the possibilities, Bodie, you can ignore these, or you can try to affect a change. The choice is yours." Keller waited but his friend didn't know how to grab a lifeline. "Bodie, do you really think that the Ray from the first scene wanted that wedding more than what he had just discovered with you?"
"He sometimes seemed to be moving that way," Bodie said forlornly.
"Bodie, you stubborn bastard. Really remember that kiss. Did that seem feigned or casual?"
Bodie remembered all too clearly, the look, the way it felt. His partner had looked happy. He had felt happy. Doyle's mum had referred to him as his fella. "Is that a sure thing?"
"Just one of the possibilities. Your choice."
Bodie smiled at the man. "Thanks, Keller. I mean that."
"That's another one you owe me, Bodie." Keller chuckled as he faded from view.
Bodie took a deep breath and forced his eyelids to open. He needed to see where he was and be the bravest he'd ever been.
This time, waking was easy. Bodie opened his eyes as the familiar sounds and scents associated with being in hospital filled his ears and nose. He turned his head and saw Doyle sitting by the side of his bed. Relief filled him. Maybe it wasn't too late. He leaned closer toward his partner.
Said partner rolled his eyes and said, "Finally."
Bodie stretched his hand out. "Ray, I'd love to meet your mum."
The brilliant smile on Ray Doyle's face was recompense enough.
fini
Title: Not Quite 'A Christmas Carol.
Author: krisser
Genre: slash
Archive at Proslib: yes please
Summary: Bodie has a Christmas time visitor.
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