Reading Room X - Crossover Stories

[nypagan.livejournal.com]

Title: "An Encounter in Cascade" and "An Encounter in Eastland".
Author: Meridian
Pairing: B/D
Link to story: 

http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/11/anencounter.html


http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/11/anencounter2.html

These two fics are primarily a Pros/Chief crossover, with the first having a brief crossover with The Sentinel. TS is a police drama that aired in the US from 1996 to 1999.

In these fics, Doyle has left CI5 after Bodie was killed in a CI5 operation gone bad. He has assumed a new identity as Alan Cade, Chief Constable for Eastland, UK. Cade travels to the city of Cascade, WA, USA, to attend a law enforcement conference.

We get a very limited view of The Sentinel in this story. The Sentinel main characters come into play as Jim and Blair pick up Cade at the airport and invite him to their apartment for the afternoon. While visiting with J&B, Cade’s world is changed by a message on their answering machine.

“An eerily familiar voice filled the room. "Hi Blair, its Drew Stevens. I finally tracked down that book you were looking for, old son. And you owe me big time for it. Call me when you get a chance. Bye."

Alan's breath caught painfully in his chest. He knew that voice! Would know it anywhere, at any time. Bodie! But, Bodie was dead!”



Simon Banks and Alan Cade had met the previous year at a law conference in NY city. Simon is not convinced that the voice Cade has heard on Jim's machine could belong to Bodie. He is also unaware of Bodie and Cade's history, until Cade reveals his dual identity. Simon advises caution when Cade asks Blair to take him to meet the man behind the voice.

"I take it this man was important?" Important was such a gross understatement that Alan wasn't sure what he could say to express what Bodie had been to him. "Very."

The remainder of the story exposes us to a proud yet remorseful Bodie and an equally proud, obstinate Doyle. Doyle can't seem to forgive Bodie the fact that he is alive, with a new identity. Since Doyle was forced to do the same as a result of Bodie’s death, sympathy on his part is not easily forthcoming. He rails at Bodie for not giving him the opportunity to continue to love and care for him after the catastrophic event that ultimately separated them.

"I cannot believe after all we were to each other, all we could have been, you let me believe you were dead!"

"Ray, you don't understand -" Bodie started to say, but Alan cut him off with a harsh laugh.

Twelve years had passed since he'd been Ray Doyle. The name did not fit any more. "Not Ray, Alan. You're not the only one with a new name, sunshine."

Bodie looked at him, shock clear. "Why?"

"Do you have any idea what your death did to me - do you? I wanted to die, too." His voice disintegrated completely as he added, "I not only lost you, you bastard, I lost me, too."

Tissue please?

"An Encounter in Cascade" continues into "An Encounter in Eastland". Bodie returns to England for a job interview and tries to reconcile with Cade. Cade’s not sure they can, or if he wants to.

“Under my thin civilised veneer, the part of me that is still Doyle wants to tear you apart for what you did to me. And the Cade part, the grown up, tells me to walk away and be done with all of it, and my heart won't let me do either."

Later, Bodie is trapped in a hostage situation by a criminal from their CI5 past who still holds a grudge. Cade is on the sidelines, contemplating the possibility of losing Bodie all over again.

I like these stories and the way they are written. As a fan of The Chief, I feel the character of Cade is well represented and plausible. A mature Doyle could assume this role. I find Bodie’s role equally believable. Not wanting to be a burden to the new love of his life. Thinking that Ray would be better off without him and the fear that Ray would only have stayed out of pity. Ray's volatile feelings of anger and betrayal do not surprise me, nor does Bodie's response, when you consider Bodie’s pov. I like this Bodie, who appears to have accepted his new role as a member of academia, with a more stable lifestyle.

The only plot issue I had, was lack of mention of Doyle's reaction to Bodie’s death, once he was aware of the incident. I expected a line or two, especially while Cade is yelling at Bodie. Such as, “I went to your funeral!” What about when Cowley told Doyle that Bodie had died. Why wouldn’t he ask to see his body? What excuse would Cowley have given?

The boys are still the boys, with different names and the maturity of age and experience. Meridian does a good job, in relatively short stories, presenting the emotional turmoil surrounding the circumstances of Bodie and Doyle rediscovering each other.

Your thoughts? Good, bad, indifferent? Do you think they work it out?

Comments

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed both these stories. (I'm a big fan of Meridian's!) The emotions, the feelings of betrayal, Bodie's struggle to create a new life were all very moving. I think the characterizations were good. (I've not seen The Chief - so I'll have to take your word on the Alan Cade character.) You called for tissues above - I needed one when Bodie's son was introduced. I do think they work things out - not easily, but they meant too much to each other and the feelings are still there. (I have been accused of being a hopeless romantic *g*)

Nicely done review & rec! Thanks!

[nypagan.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you enjoyed them. I agree with you on the writing. Meridian makes it very easy for me to visualize the emotional confrontations, without them being sappy.

Since you don't know The Chief, were you satisfied with how he was presented? Have you read Meridian's other Chief crossovers? I didn't know the Cade character either when I first started reading the crossovers, but after some research, found the show and the characters well done. I now have the dvd's.

Thanks for your comments!

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I hadn't read these before in spite of the fact that I was in TS for many years. I enjoyed both of them. The TS characters had very little to do with the story overall so they weren't intrusive. I actually have a kink about Doyle being in disguise in these other characters so it worked for me. I don't care if it's silly or implausible, I still like it. Thanks!

[nypagan.livejournal.com]

Yay, you like it! I'm doing a true TS/Pros crossover next week, if you want to check that out.

Did you find these stories implausible?

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

After Still Crazy you think this was more or less implausible? *dies laughing* That was pure silliness. This was definitely serious.

If you mean the TS connection, it was fine. If you mean Doyle is Alan Cade, well, of course he is!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

I must confess that I haven't seen anything of TS or The Chief.
*hangs head in shame*

So for me the three guys at the beginning were... well a bit superfluous. ;-)
I started to skim through the text and suddenly everything was over and no Bodie and Doyle and no happy ending...

But I read it again this night, and it really is a good story!
Bodie would probably do something foolish like that.
And after they meet again, they both can't forget and forgive, - but they both can't live without the other.

And I like Bodie as the family man. His father in law is a very plausible figure.

Thank you for the rec! :-)