Duty Calls

::::::::

Author: IceBear
Fandom: The Professionals
Rating – PG (male/male ovetones)
Disclaimer: All things related to The Professionals belong to others. I borrow them solely for my own entertainment.
 
Summary: Work interferes with Ray Doyle's personal life once too often and his reaction may cost him his partner.




“Where the hell do you think you're going?" Ray Doyle demanded as he entered the room; red silk robe tied loosely enough to show the few sparkling drops of water left clinging to his chest hair.

"Duty calls, Sunshine. That MI5 bloke who was supposed to play pigeon tonight broke his arm. Apparently I'm the next closest thing to that international financier, so I'm off to the Canary Wharf do," Bodie replied as he finished straightening the bow tie that completed his tux.

"It's our first night off together in six weeks." Doyle responded angrily, as though his partner had planned his escape.

"I argued that, and," Bodie shrugged wearily, blue eyes dimming, "I lost."

"You leave me on my own, and I'm going to find some company," Doyle said, hands on hips, eyes hard.

"You act like this was my idea," Bodie responded, unsure if his partner was serious.

"For all I know it was."

"Look," Bodie drew a deep breath, and let it out slowly, “I'll be back as soon as I can, and we still have all day tomorrow."

"Saw Claire last week, maybe I'll give her a call."

The figure in the tux stiffened. "It's not as though I have a choice, Doyle. Cowley called himself."

"And only his blue eyed boy fits the bill, right? Well, mate, I hope you and the Cow will be very happy together. You leave, and I will find someone who's actually interested in keeping me company. I have no intention of sleeping alone tonight."

"Ray?" The dark haired man called softly as he watched his partner stalk away. "Good night, Sunshine, sweet dreams," he whispered as the bedroom door slammed shut.

Doyle woke after 10 the next morning, head throbbing and mouth dusty from the large amount of booze he'd imbibed. After drinking enough water to seriously lower the Thames and taking a long hot shower, he got dressed and went into the kitchen to make coffee. He was surprised to find the second bedroom empty - he'd been confident of finding his partner curled under the duvet.

Well, it was still early, and depending on what happened, he could be tied up in interrogation. That had to be it...Bodie wasn't one to hold a grudge. He cringed as he recalled just how snarky he’d been as his mate was leaving the night before. After breakfast he went out to do the marketing. Upon his return he began to get annoyed. The stupid sod could at least call.

By late afternoon when the buzzer rang he was seething. He hit the button without bothering to actually answer it and stood, hands on hips waiting for his prey. "Damn you, Bodie," he began as the door to the flat opened only to stop mid breath as Murphy appeared, supporting most of Bodie's weight. “What the hell?"

"That way," Bodie grunted as he gestured toward the second bedroom. Murphy eased his burden by Doyle and down the narrow hallway into the bedroom. He sat him on the bed and began to pull off his shoes.

"I asked what the hell happened." Ray demanded, standing uneasily in the doorway. Bodie's pristine white, ruffled shirt was missing and the superbly cut black jacket was in tatters, barely covering the heavily bandaged ribs. The right arm was held snug against the muscular chest by a sling.

"Sorry to bother you, Doyle. Lost the key," Bodie growled eyes on the floor.

"Why do you look like you lost a fight with a lorry?"

In the uncomfortable silence that followed Murphy gently removed the ruined jacket before taking a bottle of pills out of his own pocket. "I'll get you some water so you can take them." Moving past Doyle, he headed for the kitchen.

"Bodie?" Ray was unsure whether to be worried or angry and had no idea what to say. When no answer was forthcoming he tried another approach. "Are you alright?" Murphy returned, full glass in hand. “Murph, what the hell happened?"

"The information we had was good. The cartel made their hit. Carter was out of position, and they had a good go at Bodie before we got to him." After Bodie downed two pills, Murphy took the glass from him and eased him into a prone position.

"Why wasn't I informed?"

"I was told HQ called." Murphy replied as he placed an extra pillow under the dark hair.

"I was in all night," Ray argued, though a hazy memory floated across his mind of the phone ringing somewhere after his fourth or fifth glass of whatever it was he’d been drinking. The two men looked at each other. "What's the damage?"

"I'm fine," Bodie responded, left arm awkwardly moving up to cover his eyes. "Just need a kip."

"He has five cracked ribs, and it took twelve stitches to close the knife wound to his shoulder. He needs to see the doctor day after tomorrow and to be watched for signs of fever." Murphy finally looked Doyle in the eye. “And he needs to take these pills every four hours. Make sure he does.” Turning back to the bed, he leaned over. “You going to be alright, Bodie?”

“You’re a good mate, Murph,” the injured man said softly. “Ta, much.”

“You just make sure you remember that the next time I need a fiver,” was the smiled response. "Get some rest, Bodie-mate.” He eased by Doyle, who remained in the doorway, green eyes focused on the bed. “Take care of your partner, Doyle,” he ordered before disappearing down the hallway.

A groan had the curly haired man out of the chair he was dozing in and crouched on the side of the bed in an instant, one hand softly brushing the hair off the pale forehead. “Easy Sunshine, you’re home,” he whispered. “S’okay, you’re home.”

Confused blue eyes opened to find concerned green ones watching. “Ray?”

That earned him a smile. “Take it easy, pet, you’re a bit bruised. Though Murph tells me he did get the number of that lorry you hit.”

The blue eyes closed, and the pale face leaned into the palm now cupping a cheek. “Thought you were with Claire.”

“What? No! I’ve been…why would you think I was with Claire?”

“Told me you were going to see her.”

“Well, I wasn’t.”

“Told the Cow I needed a new flat.”

“Just how hard did you hit your head? I thought you liked it here.”

“Do, but it’s not working.”

“Stop talking in riddles, Bodie. What are you on about?”

“You said… when Cowley called this morning, there was no answer…made a promise we’d be up front with each other if it wasn’t working.”

“Yeah, we did. What makes you think it’s not working?”

Pulling away from the warmth of his partner's hand, Bodie struggled to sit up, biting back a groan as his ribs protested the movement. “Things are fine as long as you get your way. If I have to go do something, like last night, the threat is always the same – you’re going to find someone else. Thought at first it was just you being, well, you. But like most things, if you hear it often enough, you begin to believe it.” Long lashes hid the eyes as the handsome face dipped down.

“Is that what you think?” Doyle barked, coming swiftly off the bed to stand over his partner, hands on hips. A slight nod was the only answer he received before storming out of the room. Sighing in resignation, the injured man carefully lowered himself back down and closed his eyes.

“No! He was not serious. He’s on heavy pain killers, how could you possible believe anything he said?” Doyle demanded of the phone.

“4-5, he made the request before he arrived at Canary Wharf,” George Cowley answered. “So unless you have something else to say, I’ll see you in my office tomorrow, first thing.”

Storming back into the bedroom, he halted at the foot of the bed. Lying there with the sheet not quite covering his chest, Bodie looked pale and vulnerable. And vulnerable was not something he’d ever connected with his larger than life partner.

He’d seen the hurt in the blue eyes last night – and he’d been quite proud of the fact that he’d been the cause of it. Clearly, though, he’d gone too far. He still couldn’t believe Bodie had taken the step of telling the Controller it wasn’t working. He hadn’t meant what he’d said. Oh, he’d get angry and yell a bit, bluster around and make his partner sleep in the second bedroom. But that didn’t mean he didn’t love the man…though now he was beginning to realize that was exactly how his partner viewed it.

Was he trying to push Bodie away? NO! He loved the man, couldn’t face a life without him. Hell, he got antsy when they spent the day doing different jobs. Not having him to come home to, or in his bed at night – he’d go off the deep end. Well, he wasn’t going to let that happen. He liked things the way they were and more importantly he loved the stupid prat and he was going to prove it. He had no idea how, but he would figure out something.

Bodie woke two hours later to find Ray leaning forward in a chair, watching him. “Time for your pills, mate. Can you sit up?” Without waiting for an answer he gently helped the injured man into position, pushing an extra pillow behind him, and handed him the pills and a glass of water. “Before you go back to sleep, do you want something to eat? Might make those pills a little easier on your stomach. I have some stew warming on the stove.”

“Okay.”

He was fed, his pillows fluffed and an extra blanket added, just in case he got cold. A glass of water and a glass of juice were placed within reach, after he has gently escorted to the loo and back. “Can I get you anything else, Sunshine?”

“Just a kip,” Bodie said softly as he moved an arm up to cover his eyes.

“You want some company?”

The arm came down and pleading blue eyes stared into green. “I can’t do this…not today. Please?”

“Okay. You get some sleep. I’ll wake you in a couple of hours to take your pills. You need anything in the meantime, just yell.” He turned off the light and ghosted a hand through the soft, black hair. “Sleep well, luv.”

He was trying to figure out a way to fix things with his mate when the phone rang. Of course it was Control telling him he was needed. He didn’t want Bodie to wake up alone, but he hadn’t any choice in the matter. After changing, he went into the second bedroom and reluctantly woke his partner. “Sorry pet, know you need your rest, but I just got called in. Didn’t want to leave without letting you know you’d be on your own for a bit. I need you to take another pill – it’s almost time anyway, and I wanted to see if you needed anything else before I left. Made some sandwiches and left them in the fridge for you.” He realized he was prattling on and stopped.

“Don’t need a nursemaid,” Bodie growled, eyes remaining closed. “Be fine on me own.” Ray shook his head and was at the doorway when a noise made him turn around. “Watch your back, Doyle,” Bodie half whispered.

“Sleep tight, Sunshine,” he responded, a lump in his throat. This was wrong, all wrong. He needed to stay and work this out, but the buzzing of his R/T was a reminder that he was not the one in control.

Doyle returned twelve hours later to find his partner up, dressed in camouflage army fatigues, accompanied by the Controller, who held a carryall in one hand. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?” He demanded, fear warring with anger fueling his tone.

“He’s going on assignment, 4-5.” The Controller responded, gray eyes daring him to argue.

“Assignment? Are you mad? He can barely stand upright!”

“We have information that drugs – painkillers – are being sold by the staff at a military rehab center up north. An injured SAS sergeant is good cover.”

“He’s in no position to defend himself. Are you trying to get him killed?”

“He’s standing right here,” Bodie said breaking up the glaring match between the two. “Doyle, Mr. Cowley’s right. It’s the perfect cover. And the doctor said my shoulder would need some work in order heal correctly.”

“Bodie…” Ray stopped, head dropping so he was starring at the tips of his boots.

“S’okay, Sunshine, I’ll be back before you know it. You watch your back.” Ray flinched as the door closed. He moved to the drink cart and poured a large glass of scotch – after one sip he threw it violently across the room and took great pleasure in the noise it made as it shattered.

Twenty three days later, he wearily hung up his jacket and removed his holster after setting the locks. He was halfway across the lounge before he realized he was not alone. His grab for his weapon halted midway as he realized he’d removed it. “Ray.”

“Bloody hell, you dumb prat, trying to give me a heart attack?” He yelled as the long body on the sofa uncoiled as Bodie made his way to his feet.

“And it’s good to see you, too, Sunshine…I take it from that warm welcome you missed me?”

Doyle opened his mouth to spit out something nasty and hastily closed it. “Course I missed you…just took me by surprise is all. How are you?” He was remembering all the lectures he’d given himself about the proper way to treat the person you loved, and the promise he’d made to follow his own advice for a change.

“Good as new according to the docs, and we closed down the pill pushing business. You?” Bodie remained in place, the wariness in the blue eyes at odds with the friendly tone in his voice.

“Much better now that you’re back. Missed you…though if you tell anyone, I’ll deny it,” he smiled warmly as he moved to his partner’s side. “It’s good to see you, pet. Been so long…been too long.” He slowly raised a hand to cup a pale cheek, ready to pull away at the first hint it would not be welcome. To his surprise and relief, Bodie nuzzled it gently.

“Missed you too, Ray…had a lot of time to think between physio appointments.”

“And?”

“I want to be with you. Will work harder to make you happy.”

“Oh, luv, you make me happy. Never doubt that. I’m the one who needs to work harder. I take you for granted, because you’re one of the few people in me life who truly accepts me for the snarky, bad tempered rat bastard I am. Doesn’t give me the right to treat you badly. I’m sorry. I love you. Need you to give me a second chance.”

Bodie dropped his forehead to rest on Ray’s shoulder and sighed as strong arms gathered him close. “Don’t want to lose you, Ray. Couldn’t handle that…thought of you with someone else...”

“There is no one else, hasn’t been since I figured out I loved you. Won’t be anyone else as long as you’ll have me. A promise.”

“I was so worried,” Bodie said an hour later as he lay partially draped across his partner’s naked body.

“Worried about what, pet?”

“That I’d come back to find out I’d been replaced.”

“Not possible, Bodie. You’re irreplaceable. I’m quite certain they broke that particular mold after they made you, and I’m glad of it. One Bodie is hard enough to handle, can’t imagine trying to handle two.” Laughter broke out as two of Cowley’s toughest began to wrestle for control.