Forgive Us Our Trespasses, Father and Son 4/4 (Mycroft, Lestrade, Sherlock)
anonymous
November 12 2011, 11:48:37 UTC
***
Hours later, as night threatened to became morning, Doyle said simply, "He's a good man, Bodie." He placed the last file on top of the others to form a neat stack sitting between the two of them, a guest at their table. "When are you going to meet him?"
"I'm not." With an effort Bodie kept his voice even. The admission felt like another loss, another unexpected blow, but he knew in his bones that he was right in this. "What would I say? 'Nice to meet you, son. I'd tell you my name, but it's classified. I'd tell you what I do, but I'd have to kill you.' Not going to happen."
"You could tell him what's written all over your face right now, and with good reason: you're proud of him."
A shake of the head. "I don't have that right."
"If you don't, who does? And if you don't, who else will? Not his mum. Not his wife. Not his child," Doyle said, sincerity etched into every line on his tired face. "He saved Holmes's brother: maybe Holmes is trying to give him something back in return. Something he needs."
Bodie, however, had thought this through; and more to the point, he knew his strengths and his weaknesses. "What he needs, with the job he has and the company he keeps, is looking after. I can do that best from the shadows, in secret. That's what I do, Ray.
"If Holmes can use his position to protect his baby brother, I can use mine to protect my son. Keep watch over him, and try to fight back the danger when it comes."
"It's not an either-or proposition," Doyle said.
"Isn't it?" With a jerk of his chin, Bodie indicated the files. "Tell me, if word gets out, that his connection to me won't make him a target. That someone couldn't use him to get to me, or to get to you through me. You can't. His work's dangerous enough already. You've seen his record."
Doyle opened his mouth, shut it again, and scowled.
"He's a good man, Bodie," Doyle said at last, each syllable thick and heavy in the air. "And so are you, you stubborn sod."
The weight of Bodie's many what-might-have-beens felt just this side of crushing, but even so, a tightness eased in his chest at those words. He bowed his head, blinking hard.
Thank you for this! I really appreciate your reading it, even without knowing The Professionals. I'm so glad you found it to poignant, and that the characters sounded right. Thanks so much.
BTW, the actor who played Bodie in The Professionals (Lewis Collins) was born in 1946, and Rupert Graves was born in 1963, so the math works. ;)
I'm really, really happy the parallel between Bodie and Lestrade -- how each lost his chance to be father to his biological child, and is playing a paternal role in a different way -- came through. I'm not sure if I'm going to polish this for posting in my LJ (I haven't decided yet), but I've been wondering if that point needed to be more overt/clear, if I do. It means a lot to know that you saw and liked that.
Hours later, as night threatened to became morning, Doyle said simply, "He's a good man, Bodie." He placed the last file on top of the others to form a neat stack sitting between the two of them, a guest at their table. "When are you going to meet him?"
"I'm not." With an effort Bodie kept his voice even. The admission felt like another loss, another unexpected blow, but he knew in his bones that he was right in this. "What would I say? 'Nice to meet you, son. I'd tell you my name, but it's classified. I'd tell you what I do, but I'd have to kill you.' Not going to happen."
"You could tell him what's written all over your face right now, and with good reason: you're proud of him."
A shake of the head. "I don't have that right."
"If you don't, who does? And if you don't, who else will? Not his mum. Not his wife. Not his child," Doyle said, sincerity etched into every line on his tired face. "He saved Holmes's brother: maybe Holmes is trying to give him something back in return. Something he needs."
Bodie, however, had thought this through; and more to the point, he knew his strengths and his weaknesses. "What he needs, with the job he has and the company he keeps, is looking after. I can do that best from the shadows, in secret. That's what I do, Ray.
"If Holmes can use his position to protect his baby brother, I can use mine to protect my son. Keep watch over him, and try to fight back the danger when it comes."
"It's not an either-or proposition," Doyle said.
"Isn't it?" With a jerk of his chin, Bodie indicated the files. "Tell me, if word gets out, that his connection to me won't make him a target. That someone couldn't use him to get to me, or to get to you through me. You can't. His work's dangerous enough already. You've seen his record."
Doyle opened his mouth, shut it again, and scowled.
"He's a good man, Bodie," Doyle said at last, each syllable thick and heavy in the air. "And so are you, you stubborn sod."
The weight of Bodie's many what-might-have-beens felt just this side of crushing, but even so, a tightness eased in his chest at those words. He bowed his head, blinking hard.
"Say you'll sleep on it, at least," Doyle said.
Yeah, he could do that.
When Doyle reached out a hand, Bodie took it.
THE END
Reply
OP is very, very happy. <3
Reply
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
BTW, the actor who played Bodie in The Professionals (Lewis Collins) was born in 1946, and Rupert Graves was born in 1963, so the math works. ;)
There's a picture of Bodie doing one of his amused/tolerant/patient looks (which reminds me of Lestrade) when he was in his thirties here: http://media.photobucket.com/image/bodie%20professionals%20grin/bandy/A%20Hiding%20To%20Nothing/hiding4web.jpg
Thanks again!
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
I'm really, really happy the parallel between Bodie and Lestrade -- how each lost his chance to be father to his biological child, and is playing a paternal role in a different way -- came through. I'm not sure if I'm going to polish this for posting in my LJ (I haven't decided yet), but I've been wondering if that point needed to be more overt/clear, if I do. It means a lot to know that you saw and liked that.
Thanks again for your kind words!
Reply
Thanks again for your encouragement.
Reply
Leave a comment