Discovered in the Fairylights - PROS Fic: The Hive (Part 4 of 8)

"Oh, very nice this," Doyle said sarkily when Bodie pulled the Range Rover up to the battered, rustic looking cottage.

Bodie sent him an amused grin. "It's a hunting cottage. Not many people know about it."

"Belong to you, does it?"

"No. Belongs to Murphy."

"Who's Murphy?"

Doyle watched as Bodie's expression turned blank, shutting down against Doyle's question. "A mate from CI5."

He hated having that wall back up between them. When Bodie had talked to him about Nicolas, Doyle had been given a glimpse of the real man behind that hard mask. Buried under that mountain of pain and grief and guilt was a very loving, passionate man. Doyle desperately wanted to do something to bring that spirit back. Unfortunately, he wasn't entirely sure how to go about doing that.

"Are you still friends?" Doyle asked.

"Yeah. But haven't seen him for two years." Bodie's tone was brusque, his words clipped.

"He won't mind us taking over his cottage?"

"Not at all. He'd never turn his back on a friend in need."

"Sounds like a good mate."

"He is," Bodie replied. "Murph and another mate, Jax, we all went through CI5 training together. We were close, before I left."

At the pain Doyle heard in Bodie's voice, his heart tightened in sympathy. Bodie had lost more than a lover two years ago; he'd lost his friends as well. How lonely Bodie's life must be. Doyle longed to reach out and touch him, but decided against it. Bodie was coiled too tightly, as if even the lightest of touches would cause him to explode. "Perhaps when this is over, you can see them again," Doyle said instead.

Bodie simply shrugged, making it look like he didn't care. Doyle didn't buy it, though. He was starting to understand Bodie, able to read him much better now, and he knew Bodie missed his friends.

They got out of the Rover and began to unload the items from the boot. "Loo's round the back if you need it," Bodie told him.

"Oh, terrific," Doyle groaned, picturing himself outside in the cold, dead of night having to find his way to the bog.

Bodie smirked then grabbed hold of two bags and carried them towards the front door of the cottage. Doyle followed behind, and couldn't help but stare as the muscles along Bodie's back and arms tightened and flexed. Every part of Doyle's body was acutely aware of Bodie. Not for the first time he wondered what it would be like to have those strong hands caressing his naked skin. Just the thought of it made his palms sweat and his heart rate increase.

He nearly ploughed right into the front of Bodie who stood standing at the door watching him closely. "Sorry, mate," Doyle murmured, hoping Bodie couldn't read the thoughts he was sure were visible on his face.

"Stay here. I want to check inside first."

"Okay." Doyle shivered slightly and tried to convince himself that it was caused from the cool air rather than Bodie's scrutinizing gaze.

A minute later, Bodie poked his head around the corner of the door frame. "Coast is clear." He grinned.

It took them a few trips to transfer all the items from the Rover to inside the cottage. Bodie lit a lamp and a few candles that were scattered about, casting the small room into a warm glow.

"We'll bunk down here," Bodie said, tossing two rolled up sleeping bags towards a thin pad of foam taking up one corner of the room.

Doyle didn't say anything, only stared at the spot where they'd be sleeping. It seemed cosy, almost intimate and he wasn't sure if he liked the set up or not.

A hand on Doyle's shoulder followed by Bodie's voice made him jump. "Ray?"

"Sorry. What?"

"Want some tea?"

"Love some."

"Here." Bodie reached inside his jacket pocket, pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Doyle. "Might as well take a look at this."

Seeing the code again made Doyle's heart race with excitement. "Wasn't sure I'd get another chance to see this. It's truly marvellous." Eyes still on the paper, Doyle wandered over to a wooden chair at the kitchen table and sat down. He could already feel the lure of the puzzle tugging at his brain and he welcomed the distraction.

***

After placing the plate on the table, Bodie looked at Doyle. The professor hadn't moved since he'd sat down to study the code. That was nearly two hours ago.

During that time, Bodie had managed to tidy the place up a bit so it was liveable. He also got a fire going in the pot-bellied stove and threw together a decent meal.

"Ray?" Bodie called softly, not wanting to startle him.

Doyle blinked and looked up at him like he forgot that Bodie was here. Massaging the back of his neck with one hand, Doyle asked, "What time is it?"

"Time to eat." Bodie grinned.

For a second, Doyle seemed torn between the paper in his hand and the food Bodie had prepared. His stomach must have won the debate because Doyle put the paper aside, rose to his feet and stretched with a sinuous, almost sensual arch of his back.

It was an innocent movement by Doyle, but one that sent a tingle of lust through Bodie's body He had to avert his gaze to keep himself from staring.

They sat down to eat. Well, Doyle ate; Bodie spent most of his time watching him. Doyle's curly hair fascinated Bodie. It looked soft and silky and he wondered what it would be like to run his fingers through it. To let his hands get tangled until he had a good firm hold so he could tilt Doyle's head back and take his mouth – kiss him just like Bodie wanted, long and hard and deep.

Bodie felt his hands begin to tremble. He had to put his knife and fork down to stop from dropping them. He sucked in a controlled breath to help calm himself and when he looked up, Doyle was watching him with concern.

"You okay, mate?" Doyle asked. The table was small enough that Doyle was able to reach out and place a hand against the side of Bodie's face.

Bodie flinched ever so slightly. The warmth of Doyle's fingers sent his lust roaring straight to his groin and he felt his cock harden. It had been such a long time since he'd last had sex. He'd not so much as touched himself since Nicolas had died. Hadn't wanted to feel the joy and pleasure of self-fulfilment.

Long, slender fingers caressed the dark stubble of Bodie's cheek and he reached up to cover Doyle's hand with his own. Before Doyle had come along, Bodie had gone so long without contact from another person. Now he found himself fearing that Doyle would pull away – feared that it would be years again before another found the courage to touch him.

They were close enough that Bodie could smell Doyle's shampoo, his sweat and unique scent. He wanted to reach across the table and pull Doyle to him. Take that wonderful mouth in a kiss that would lead them to the sleeping bags on the other side of the room where he would make love to Doyle with mouth and tongue and fingers until he had him pleading for more. Bodie wanted Doyle to be his. Completely. The need clawed at him so badly that he ached with it.

But he knew he couldn't do any of those things with Doyle. They could have no life together. No future. Doyle was being hunted by The Hive. If any of the members knew of Bodie's feelings towards the other man… Bodie shivered at the thought of what might happen to Doyle if he wasn't more careful. Doyle could end up just like Nicolas.

The image of his dead lover swam before his eyes. Bodie could still vividly see Nicolas tied to that chair, body mangled, blood pooling around him.

In a jerky motion, Bodie pulled away from Doyle. "I'm fine," he snapped and shot up from his chair, nearly toppling it over. In an attempt to put some distance between them, he went to tend the fire.

***

Doyle stayed rooted to his seat and stared at Bodie's back while he added a few pieces of wood to the stove. Bodie had been about to kiss him. Doyle was sure of it. His heart was still pounding with excitement at the way Bodie had looked at him. There was no doubt in his mind that Bodie wanted him and the feeling was definitely mutual. Just the thought of kissing him had Doyle's cock lengthening in his tight jeans.

Doyle had never been so quickly turned on by another man before. The sensation was highly exhilarating. Of course, he'd had sex with other men, but there had never been this rush of desire. Not even in his last relationship with Stewart Miller, a fellow professor, had it felt like this – it wasn't even close.

Yes, Doyle had cared for Stewart. He never would have slept with the man if he hadn't, but Doyle had not been in love with him. They'd enjoyed one another's company, and when their careers had taken them in different directions, they had gone their separate ways. It hadn't been an ugly or spiteful break-up. It just happened, tepid and uneventful. Rather like their entire relationship.

Nothing about the way Bodie had looked at Doyle was lukewarm. There had been a searing, hungry heat in those blue eyes. Doyle had been mesmerised, enthralled by what he'd seen.

Except, before he was able to do anything about it, Bodie had frozen up on him, leaving Doyle feeling cold and bereft. He had no idea what he'd done to cause that reaction in Bodie. It was quite obvious, though, that something had happened.

The image of Nicolas entered Doyle's mind and it all became abruptly clear. How could he have forgotten that Bodie was still grieving over the death of his lover? Showing Doyle those God awful pictures and talking about the horrible things that had happened to Nicolas could not have been easy. They were memories, Doyle was sure, that Bodie would have preferred to leave buried, if not entirely erased.

Doyle glanced over at Bodie who was crouched on the floor, staring at the fire. He ached to go to the man. To offer comfort, friendship, but Doyle didn't think that Bodie would want either of those things from him. He wasn't Bodie's lover, wasn't even a friend. He was nothing more than a job. When the job was over, Bodie would be out of his life forever. That fact was not something Doyle wanted to think about at the moment.

"Should try to get some rest, mate," Doyle said. "You look done in."

Bodie released a deep sigh and scrubbed a hand over his jaw. "Think I will. Should be safe enough to sleep for a while." Even though Bodie's tone was still sharp, it was also filled with a heavy weariness.

After getting to his feet, Bodie went over to one of the duffle bags, pulled out a handgun, checked the safety and added an ammo clip. "Keep this with you at all times," Bodie said, placing the gun on the table beside Doyle's plate.

Doyle gave him an amenable nod. As Bodie walked away, Doyle tried to push both the gun and Bodie from his mind. He also had a job to do, and that's exactly what he was going to focus on.

***

Bodie woke from his kip and rubbed at tired eyes. Even though he had slept for four hours, he didn't feel refreshed. Instead, he felt achy and on edge. Of course, the erotic dreams he'd had of Doyle had done little good towards getting a restful sleep.

Closing his eyes, Bodie focused on getting the images of a naked Doyle out of his mind. He had to stay in control of his actions and his bodily responses. No matter how much he wanted to have Doyle under him to finish what his dreams had started, he wouldn't. He couldn't use Doyle that way – even though he'd thought he'd seen the heat of desire in those green eyes. Doyle was in a vulnerable position right now and taking advantage of that would be unforgivable.

Bodie rolled onto his side. Propping his head up on his hand, he looked around the cottage. Doyle was still exactly where Bodie had left him. Only now he had a pencil in hand and was scribbling furiously on a notepad. There were dark shadows of fatigue under his eyes. His brow scrunched in concentration.

The light from the lantern danced over Doyle's golden skin and Bodie couldn't help notice how beautiful the man looked in the candlelight. He wondered what Doyle would look like stretched out naked beneath him with firelight flickering over his sweaty body. Heat instantly flared in his groin causing Bodie to curse inwardly. If he was going to stay in control, he had to stop with the erotic thoughts.

Slipping out of his sleeping bag, he walked over to the pot-bellied stove and added a few more logs. He then went to the little area set up as a kitchen to start some water to heat for coffee, which he was going to need since he wouldn't be sleeping any more tonight.

Doyle, finally noticing him, looked up and smiled. "Hello."

That soft smile sent a yearning through Bodie. It had been so long since anyone greeted him in the early morning with a gentle smile and a friendly word. It was such a simple gesture, yet it made him think of mornings after long nights of lovemaking. Of breakfast in bed and the pleasure of having someone to wake up to every morning – someone he loved. And he wondered if Doyle longed for those simple things as well.

"Do you know what time it is?" Bodie asked, his voice rough with sleep and longing.

"Not really. Did I wake you?"

Bodie shook his head. Besides the sound of pencil on paper, Doyle had been very quiet. However, all Doyle would have needed to do was whisper Bodie's name and he would have been instantly awake, probably with a gun in his hand.

Seeing Doyle yawn, Bodie said, "Think it's about time for you to rest up."

"Will in a minute," Doyle replied, writing something down on the notepad.

Bodie crossed his arms over his chest. "Can't have you collapsing from exhaustion, can I. Need you to finish the job." Doyle scowled at him, except the effect was ruined by the circles under Doyle's eyes and the slumped shoulders. "Look, mate. Whether you want to admit it or not, you're knackered."

"All right. Persistent sod," Doyle murmured as he got to his feet.

"Heard that." Bodie smirked. "Can wash yourself at the sink if you'd like."

Doyle gave him a nod and went over to the little kitchen. Bodie moved to the opposite side of the room, turning his back to give Doyle a bit of privacy.

An hour after Doyle had gone to bed, Bodie could hear him tossing and turning restlessly in the sleeping bag. "Can't sleep, mate?" he asked from his seat by the fire.

Doyle sighed and sat up. "I am tired, but my mind won't shut off."

Bodie got to his feet and walked over to their makeshift sleeping area. Kneeling down on his own sleeping bag, he looked at Doyle. "What are you thinking about?"

There was a long pause before Doyle answered, "What's going to happen to me once this is over." Behind the sadness in the green eyes lay a hint of anger.

"It'll turn out all right." Bodie placed a hand on Doyle's shoulder, gave a gentle squeeze.

"Oh, really?" Doyle glared. "What's to stop this from happening again the next time some terrorist group wants a cyphertext decoded?" he said resignedly, rubbing at tired eyes with his fists. "It's never going to stop, is it?"

Bodie understood that Doyle would only want to hear the truth, although he did try to soften the blow with an understanding tone. "The safest option you have is to work for a government agency. Probably in a secure facility where you'll be protected."

Doyle shook his head, making the tangled curls brush across Bodie's fingers. He had to pull away before he grabbed hold of those curls and claimed Doyle's mouth. "After this I don't want anything to do with government agencies or the military. I don't trust the bloody lot of 'em," Doyle snarled.

It stung that Doyle was repulsed by the very job that Bodie has spent a good portion of his life doing. Yes, there were times that he didn't like the things he was made to do, but it was all done for the safety and protection of people and country. So, when he spoke, his voice came out a little more curt than he intended. "You might not have a choice. And if you haven't noticed, that group you don't trust is going to a hell of a lot of trouble to keep you alive."

Doyle let out a harsh laugh. "That's only because I have something they want. Cowley and those other agents threatened to kill me if I didn't cooperate. Isn't exactly a friendly organisation, is it?"

"We're not intended to be friendly," Bodie growled. "We're designed to get the job done, no matter how unpleasant it might be."

"Yeah, well, if I worked for your lot, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night."

"And I can't sleep at night knowing there was something more I could be doing to help protect the lives of innocent people."

Doyle grinned, but it was not a very pretty one. "As long as you get to choose whose lives get protected and whose don't."

Bodie'd had enough. He got to his feet and glared down at Doyle. "Didn't choose for Nicolas to die, did I? The Hive did that. So, don't go acting all self-righteous when you don't know what the bloody hell you're talking about!"

Doyle's face fell and guilt washed over his features. "Sorry," said Doyle quietly. "Can't even imagine what that must have been like for you."

Closing his eyes briefly, Bodie willed himself to get hold of his emotions. "I know you're not happy about this situation, Doyle, but I need your cooperation to get this code broken."

Doyle nodded. "Will do my best. Just don't expect this job to lead to anything more. When I'm done, I'm walking away. Won't ever do anything like it again."

"Don't make any decisions about that now. Once you're safe and people aren't trying to kill you, you'll have time to figure out what you want to do."

"But that's my point, Bodie. As long as I'm able to be an asset to any covert group, there will always be someone trying to get at me, or kill me. I'll never be free again."

Bodie couldn't answer because he knew Doyle was right. He just wished the man hadn't figured it out so soon.

***

The following morning, Doyle woke with a start. He glanced around in confusion at the unfamiliar surroundings before he remembered where he was. As he looked around the one room cottage, he noticed that Bodie was nowhere to be seen. Slipping out from between the sleeping bag, he rummaged through the small pile of clothing that Bodie said was his to use. Picking out a dark blue track suit, he quickly dressed then went in search of Bodie.

Being early morning, the air outside the cottage was nippy and a haze of frost blanketed the ground. He looked up at the pale blue sky, inhaled deeply, breathing in the clean, fresh air. If felt good to be out after being stuck inside the small, cramped space.

Glancing around, there was still no sign of Bodie, but Doyle could see the outline of footprints etched in the frost covered grass. He decided to follow the trail, which led towards the woods, hoping they would lead him to Bodie. About forty yards along, the frost disappeared as did the footprints. Doyle looked around, hoping to see some sign as to which way Bodie had gone, but found none.

Deciding that it wasn't such a good idea to go wandering around in the trees in search of Bodie in case he got lost, he cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled out Bodie's name.

By the third call, Doyle was beginning to feel a little uneasy, wondering if something may have happened to Bodie. Before he could call again, Bodie appeared silently out of the trees, hurrying towards Doyle. Without a word, Bodie pushed back against a tree trunk, a hand covered his mouth and Bodie's body pressed hard against him.

"We're not alone," Bodie whispered into Doyle's ear.

Fear caused Doyle's body to go tense. He tugged at Bodie's hand to remove it. "Think they heard me?" Doyle asked quietly.

"I don't know."

"The Hive?"

Bodie shook his head while at the same time he stared at Doyle's mouth. Bodie's head inched closer. Just when Doyle was sure he was going to be kissed, Bodie moved away and said in a brusque, harsh voice, "Hunters. Three of them. But I'm not taking any chances. Been watching them all morning. This way." Bodie indicated that Doyle should follow. "Stay low. They're just in the next valley."

Where the trees met a clearing, Bodie dropped to his stomach and Doyle mimicked his actions. From this position, the hillside dipped, giving a clear view of the valley below. "What are they doing?"

Bodie pulled out a pair of binoculars and peered down into the valley. "Drinking lager, mostly. Doesn't look like they heard you."

"Good." Doyle breathed a small sigh of relief. "Do you think it's The Hive? If it is, why would they sit around drinking?"

"I don't think they would. Even if they are hunters, can't have them stumbling across the cottage, or us. If they mention to anyone in town that we're staying here, it would no longer be safe. We'd have to leave."

"What do we do?"

"I'll keep watching them. Make sure they don't get any closer."

"And if they do?" Doyle wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.

Giving Doyle a sinister little smile, Bodie said, "I shall convince them otherwise." Bodie manoeuvred them back into the woods, out of sight of the hunters. "Okay, mate, off you go, back to the cottage. I'll handle things out here."

Doyle really didn't want to go back alone. He was feeling a bit jumpy with those men close-by. Under normal circumstances, he could take care of himself just fine, however these were far from normal circumstances. He needed to be close to someone he trusted – and that someone was Bodie.

"Would rather stay," Doyle said. "Could be your backup."

Bodie's lips twitched into a smile. "Exactly how much do you know about covert surveillance?"

"Know enough to not make any noise… or yell." Doyle grinned impishly.

Bodie chuckled quietly. "Okay. Just stay low and quiet."

"Sure thing, mate." It felt good to be momentarily free of the bloody code, and to be able to stay close by Bodie's side.

***

It had been another hour before the hunters packed up and left the way they had come. It had been a great relief to Bodie knowing that they hadn't decided to camp out. Once he was sure the men were gone for good, he and Doyle had made their way back to the cottage.

The rest of morning and afternoon were spent with Doyle working nearly non-stop on the code and Bodie doing various chores around the cottage, with an occasional outdoor reconnoitre.

During the late afternoon, Doyle had moved from the table to the sleeping bag, where he stretched out with pad and pencil and continued to work.

Bodie came into the cottage with an armload of wood, dropping it by the stove. He looked over at Doyle, expecting him to be working vigorously on the code. Instead, he found Doyle curled up on his side, fast asleep on top of the sleeping bag.

Grabbing the blanket from the back of the old settee, Bodie spread the blanket out to cover the sleeping man. He looked down and smiled. As it always seemed to happen lately whenever he watched Doyle in sleep, Bodie felt something in his chest shift – become more comfortable, yet tighter at the same time.

In sleep, Doyle looked vulnerable and trusting. It tugged at every one of Bodie's protective instincts. He was the only thing standing between Doyle and death, and Doyle unequivocally trusted Bodie to keep him safe. It had been a long time since anyone had put that kind of trust in him.

Kneeling down, Bodie brushed the back of his knuckles across Doyle's beard stubbled cheek. Murmuring something unintelligible, Doyle shifted closer to Bodie. God, what he wouldn't give to be here with Doyle for the sheer enjoyment of it. To make love on their makeshift bed, in their secluded little cottage in the woods. With a long sigh, Bodie removed his hand. He had to stop thinking about Doyle like that and get his mind back on the job. Doyle's life depended on it.

Tucking the blanket under Doyle's chin, Bodie got to his feet and went to make some tea.

***

From his bolt-hole in the woods, Krivas used his binoculars to watch Bodie move around the cottage. He had to give Bodie credit; the man had done an excellent job keeping Professor Doyle out of reach. It had taken four stolen cars to follow them here undetected. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had to go through so much trouble to stay hidden.

If Krivas was an impatient man, he could have already broken into the cottage while his prey slept, killed Bodie and taken Doyle. But Krivas was much smarter than that. He knew Doyle would work better while he was with someone he trusted.

And Krivas needed that code broken. He was in this for the weapons that the cyphertext would locate, not to mention the money they would bring on the black market. The man he worked for, Conor McKevitt, had made it clear that finding those weapons would secure a position of power in their newly restructured organisation. So, if it meant waiting until Doyle finished the work before Krivas abducted him, then that's what he would do.

Besides, he was enjoying finding ways to evade Bodie's traps that were set up in various areas in the woods surrounding the cottage. It had been a long time since Krivas had tested his skills against a worthy opponent, and Bodie was as worthy as they came.

It's too bad for Bodie that I'm much better, Krivas thought with a malicious smile.

***

Doyle had been the one to clean up the mess from dinner. It was the first time he'd lent a hand since they'd arrived at the cottage. So far, it had been Bodie who had taken on all the chores, along with the cooking and cleaning, and Doyle was starting to feel guilty for not helping out more.

He glanced at the door as Bodie came inside with yet another armload of wood. This would make it the fifth time in a row. One wall was completely covered, floor to ceiling, in firewood. If Doyle's calculations were correct, there was enough there to last for a good month at least.

Putting aside the tea towel, Doyle asked with a smirk, "Expecting a sudden snowstorm, are you?" He had to admit that being snowbound with Bodie wasn't at all unappealing. Except for missing a hot soak in the bath and a real toilet, being here with Bodie was no hardship. Doyle simply enjoyed Bodie's company. When he worked, Bodie left him alone, only bothering Doyle when he forgot to eat. He couldn't remember the last time there had been someone around who took such good care of him. It was comforting to know that Bodie was there.

After stacking his armload of wood, Bodie dusted his hands off on his jeans, but didn't quite meet Doyle's eyes when he looked his way. "Always be prepared is me motto. Besides, what we don't use, Murphy will."

Bodie turned away and added more wood to the stove. Doyle couldn't stop himself from watching. He loved the way Bodie moved – sleek and powerful – and loved to see those muscles slide powerfully under the shirt that Bodie wore. Repeatedly, Doyle had to keep from reaching out to lay a hand on those strong arms and chest.

Bodie's voice coming only inches from him jerked Doyle from his thoughts. "Eh?" he asked, not hearing what Bodie had said.

"You're staring, mate."

"Sorry. Was just thinking."

"About?"

Doyle cut off the lie before it fully formed and decided to be bold. He went with the truth. "You." Bodie's gaze widened, becoming heated as it swept over Doyle's body. When their eyes met, an electric current seemed to sizzle between them. "I love to watch you move. Love to see your muscles flex. All that strength makes me want to touch you to see what it feels like."

Swept away by that mental image, Doyle wasn't aware that he'd spoken those last words out loud. It wasn't until he saw the expression in Bodie's eyes change and become more guarded that he realised his error.

Doyle began to look away only to have his chin grasped with a strong hand, forcing him to meet Bodie's eyes. The blue was nearly black, Bodie's cheeks mottled with colour, nostrils flared as if in anger. But it wasn't anger, Doyle realised. It was something else – lust, desire.

A hand wrapped around Doyle's hip while another one came to rest at the small of his back, holding him still. Bodie lowered his head and kissed Doyle – hard and demanding. Doyle's lips were teased by a hot tongue, coaxing and luring him to accept Bodie into his mouth. Willingly, Doyle parted his lips, releasing a groan when Bodie slipped inside.

Sliding his hands up Bodie's body, he used fingers of one hand to clutch a muscular shoulder and the other went round to grasp Bodie at the nape of his neck. With a little tug, Doyle brought them closer together, their erections pushing against each other. Doyle's body sang with excitement, a fiery passion that rushed through his system – the sensation as wonderful as it was frightening.

Bodie was the one who broke the kiss. They held onto one another, both panting hard as though they'd just run a marathon. Bodie was looking at him, eyes fixed on Doyle's parted lips and Doyle's own eyes slid to Bodie's mouth, seeing how swollen the lips were from their not-so-gentle kiss. Lifting his hand, Doyle used his fingertips to gently caress the reddened lips and wondered if his looked the same way.

Bodie jerked at Doyle's touch then let out a quiet curse. "We can't do this. It's wrong. A mistake."

A rush of cold swept through Doyle, carrying away any remains of contentment he may have felt.

A mistake?

How could something that felt so amazing – so right – be a mistake?

Doyle began to shake in anger and frustration. He pushed away from Bodie, putting a good distance between them. He couldn't stay in this small space for one more second. Had to get away from Bodie and cool off before he thumped the man. Turning away, Doyle strode to the front door and yanked it open. "Felt bloody right to me," he said before slamming the door shut behind him and hurrying down the stairs.

***

Since it was pitch dark outside, Doyle didn't wander off very far. From where he stood amongst the trees, he could still see the warm glow of candlelight shining through the windows of the cottage. Standing out in the cold, shivering and alone, made it a little easier to accept Bodie's rejection. It also made him realise what was truly important in his life.

His work. Nothing more.

For those brief few minutes, that kiss had made Doyle forget the reason why he was here. And that was wrong. He should never have got distracted. The lives of innocent people were depending on him and he needed to focus on what was important – discovering the hidden meaning in the cyphertext.

Now that he'd had time to think, he understood why Bodie said what he did.

That kiss – it was a mistake.

As he stood there shivering, Doyle didn't hear Bodie's approach, in so much as he sensed the man, just before his large figure emerged from between the trees.

"Forgot your jacket," Bodie said.

With jacket in hand, Bodie reached around Doyle and slid the material over Doyle's shoulders. The way Bodie's arms were loosely wrapped around him felt like an embrace. Doyle couldn't stop his body from reacting to Bodie's nearness. His heart began to race and he inhaled deeply to pull in Bodie's unique, intoxicating scent.

Desire tightened Doyle's belly, making him feel weak and breathless. He had never felt this way about Stewart, as a matter of fact, he'd never felt this way about anyone. Doyle's instant reaction to Bodie was both unique and utterly mystifying.

The man was like a drug.

A very addictive drug.

One he needed to wean himself off of – and fast.

Bodie's movements were jerky but gentle as he held the jacket while Doyle slipped his arms into the sleeves. The darkness hid any emotions that may have shown in the blue eyes. When Bodie moved away, the loss of body heat was instantaneous. His body began to shiver making Doyle wrap his arms around his upper body.

"We should get back to the cottage," Bodie said, not looking at Doyle.

Doyle knew that wasn't a good idea. Before he made any attempt to go back inside, he needed to be positive that he could be in the same space with Bodie and not want to finish what they had started. "I'll come back in a little while. Just need a bit more air."

Bodie nodded, but didn't move. "Didn't mean to hurt you, Ray," he said quietly. "I swear it."

Doyle's hands tightened on the leather of the jacket, not sure that anything would ease the empty ache that chilled him from deep within his soul.

"Look, Bodie. We don't have to talk about this. Just forget that kiss ever happened."

"Just wanted you to know I'm sorry for the way I acted. Should never have let my feelings get in the way of the job."

The job. Yes, that's what was truly important – not his feelings, or Bodie's. They both had a job to do. Lives depended on their success.

"It's okay," Doyle said. The words felt hollow, because it sure didn't sodding feel okay.

"No, it's not, but that's the way it has to be. I hope you understand?"

Yeah, Doyle understood perfectly. Bodie's lover had been killed by the same men that were trying to kill him. Neither he nor Bodie had any business getting involved with each other.

"I just need some time to clear my head so I can focus on my work. Can't do that with you standing so close."

There was a long pause before Bodie said, "Don't be long." He turned away and slipped back into the shadows.

Doyle took a long, deep breath, released it and looked up at the clear night sky, watching the stars. He could do this. He had to do this. Had to be strong enough to resist Bodie. He was no fool and was smart enough to know that he didn't have any other choice.

***

Krivas slid deeper into his bolt-hole and grinned. It appeared that Bodie had feelings for the pretty professor. Earlier, he had witnessed that kiss between the two men, and he had to admit, it was very unexpected. In the past, when Bodie was on a job, that's all he focused on. The man had never let anything distract him until the work was done.

But watching Doyle, Krivas could understand Bodie's obvious lust. Doyle was a man of beauty with his exotic features and lean, muscular body. Krivas wouldn't mind having a taste of that himself. He didn't have a gender preference for his bed partners and would have sex with any willing, and occasionally not so willing, body.

From where he hid, Krivas could see Bodie keeping an eye on Doyle from a few yards away. In the dark, Krivas doubted that Doyle knew that Bodie was guarding him. Actually, if Bodie had left Doyle alone, Krivas would have found it very difficult to resist the urge to move in too soon and snatch Doyle.

McKevitt was pressuring Krivas to move faster, anxious to get his hands on those weapons. When Krivas finally established his much deserved spot as McKevitt's right hand man, he was going to have to teach his boss that money wasn't everything – power was much more important. And much more enjoyable. Krivas knew that although money could buy power, fear could buy a hell of a lot more.

McKevitt was just going to have to wait. Krivas was enjoying himself way too much right now to hurry. That kiss between Bodie and Doyle changed everything. It was obvious that Bodie cared for Doyle, which made Doyle that much more interesting and useful to Krivas.

***

Doyle threw down his pencil, scrubbed fingers through his hair and growled in frustration. Over the past twenty-four hours he'd not made any progress with the cyphertext. The bloody code was winning and Doyle knew that if it did, people would die.

He was always one who worked well under pressure, however, this level of pressure was almost more than he could handle. He was beginning to think that he'd never be able to break the code.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he opened them again and noticed the bowl of soup near his elbow. Bodie had placed it in front of him over an hour ago. At some point it had been removed, reheated and set down in from of him one more time. But now it sat, cooling once again. Doyle could smell the vegetable broth. As enticing as the scent was, his stomach rebelled at the thought of eating.

It seemed like every time he closed his eyes, those horrible pictures Bodie had shown him filled his mind. Lately, it had got so bad that Doyle wasn't able to sleep, or even close his eyes for very long. With a deep sigh, he dropped his head into his hands. If this went on for much longer, he swore he would go insane.

He tensed slightly when hands landed on his shoulders, but then immediately relaxed as those wonderful fingers began to gently knead his tight muscles.

"How 'bout taking a break? Go have a little kip," Bodie said.

"Mmmm." Doyle hummed in pleasure, tilting his head to one side to allow Bodie's fingers better access to the left side of his neck. "Can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes I see the code scrolling through my head." And the faces of those dead people, Doyle said to himself. He wasn't about to tell that to Bodie, though, because he knew it would only make Bodie feel guilty for having shown the pictures to him. And Bodie had enough self-imposed guilt that Doyle didn't want to add to the lot. He tried not to groan in disappointment when Bodie's hands released him, his skin already cooling where Bodie's warm fingers had touched him.

Bodie shifted around to the opposite side of the table and sat down. Blue eyes slid over Doyle, searching his face. "Something else is wrong."

For a second, Doyle thought about not telling Bodie, except he knew in the end that Bodie would figure it out anyway. Besides, talking about it might actually help. "I've hit a wall."

Bodie frowned. "A wall?"

"Yes. No matter how long I study the code – no matter how long I work at it, the solution keeps evading me."

"It might help if you tried to get some sleep."

Doyle shook his head and rubbed at his tired eyes. "Can't. There's too much at stake. If I fail, people will die."

Bodie reached across the table and briefly squeezed Doyle's hand. "That's an awful lot of pressure to be putting on yourself, mate. You need to relax. Give it time."

Releasing a frustrated sigh, Doyle replied, "It's hard to relax when I'm banging me head against the same bloody wall." He looked at Bodie, trying not to let the desperation he felt show on his face. "What if I can't do it?"

"You can do it," Bodie said, sounding utterly confident. "What do you normally do when you hit a rough patch?"

"I let it be for a while and move on to another project. Give my brain time to work things out on its own. But…"

"But?" Bodie prompted.

"We don't have time for that. Do we, mate?"

"We have all the time you need."

Doyle closed his eyes and shook his head, wishing that were true. "I need to distract myself for a while. Let me brain work in peace."

"You don't need a distraction. You need sleep."

"I can't sleep, Bodie. I've tried," Doyle said in frustration.

"Know that, don't I. Hear you shifting around in your sleeping bag at night."

"Sorry. Didn't mean to keep you awake. Shall try to be quieter."

"I don't care about that. I'm worried about you. You need to take a break."

"Told you already. I can't. I need to –"

"Take a break," Bodie insisted. He stood up, clamped a hand around Doyle's wrist and pulled him to his feet. "Time for a walk, I think. Come along, Sunshine." A faint smile appeared on Bodie's face.

Outside the air was brisk yet refreshing. Doyle breathed deeply, taking in the clean, frosted scent. It was a beautiful area. Quiet and peaceful. If it weren't for this horrid situation, Doyle could quite easily enjoy himself here. Suddenly, he wished for his sketch pad, paints, canvas and easel. It would be wonderful to put on canvas the beautiful forest and countryside, and to lose himself in his artwork. But he didn't have that freedom of enjoyment. He had a deadline looming over him as did other nameless people. People who were depending on him for their very lives.

"Oh, no, you don't," warned Bodie. "I know that look. Whatever it is you're thinking about, stop it right now."

"Eh?"

"That look. The one that tells me you're not going to eat my cooking, no matter how many times I reheat it. The one that makes your eyes fill with fear and your face go pale."

Doyle hadn't realised how transparent he'd been. Or perhaps Bodie was simply that observant. "I try not to think about it, really I do."

"You'll solve the puzzle, Ray."

"You know what's at stake, Bodie."

"Of course I do. But you can't let yourself think about that. One step at a time. That's what you need to focus on."

"Is that how you do it?"

"Would be overwhelming if I stopped to think about everything. Helping you crack the code, getting you out of here, finding the mole and getting the information back to Cowley, finding a safe place for you while we use that information, wiping out The Hive –"

"Okay, okay." Doyle laid a hand on Bodie's chest. "I see your point."

Wrapping his fingers around Doyle's, Bodie removed it from his chest, except rather than letting go, Bodie kept hold, warming it. "You can only do so much at a time. You need to give yourself a break every now and again."

Looking into the dark blue eyes, Doyle wished, not for the first time, that he'd met Bodie under different circumstances. Everything about Bodie made the man very attractive. Bodie had proven he was a caring man. One who put others before himself – even to the point of risking his own life. And he was beautiful to look at. A masculine face with soft angles and a mouth that was both soft and hot. Doyle could still remember how those lips had felt – firm and demanding against his own. Just the memory of their kiss was enough to warm Doyle and set his heart racing.

As though he'd been reading Doyle's thoughts, Bodie said, "Let's not go there, shall we." A faint smile curved Bodie's lips. "Come on, professor. I want to show you something."

With their hands still clasped together, Bodie led him through a crop of trees. As they moved along, Bodie would point out different sections of ground where he'd set traps for any unwanted visitors. Twenty minutes later, they reached the top of a ridge. Wind whipped around them, tossing Doyle's hair into his eyes.

"There," Bodie said, motioning with a hand towards the horizon.

Brushing his curls away from his face, Doyle looked. The breath caught in his chest. The view was spectacular. From here, he could see the rolling mountain-side. In the valley below, the trees proudly displayed their autumn colours. Brilliant swatches of reds, yellows and oranges, all blurred together to form a Monet-like painting.

"It's beautiful," Doyle said with awe in his voice.

"Knew you'd like it," Bodie replied, sounding pleased.

"Wish I had my canvas and paints. I would love to paint this view. Maybe…" Doyle trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence.

"Maybe what, mate?"

Maybe, when all this is over, we could come back here together, Doyle had wanted to say, but he knew it would never be over. His life as he once knew it had ended. He doubted very much that he'd ever return to this place again. Instead of answering Bodie, Doyle gazed out to appreciate the view. Everything looked different from where they stood – softer and more continuous. Rather than individual trees and rocks, bushes and blades of grass, the entire landscape merged into one single work of art. From this distance, each separate object now appeared continuous – a continuous whole.

Just like the cyphertext.

Suddenly, time seemed to freeze for Doyle as the meaning of his thoughts rang loud and clear in his mind.

That was it!

He had figured out the key to the puzzle.

Thanks to Bodie and his mountain view, Doyle had found the answer. He would finally be able to crack the code.

***


Part 5