Pros Novel Read-Along - Painted Angels by Angelfish - Chapter Three

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Apologies - I'd hoped to post this morning, but I've had a migraine all day, which is only just fading, and I couldn't bear the screen... (If anyone would like to volunteer to help with the introductions sometimes, then that would be great!) But here we are at last!

Painted Angels by Angelfish.
Cover art by firlefanzine

Chapter Three

Chapter Three
The lads are off on another test, this one apparently to find their way from Point A to Point B in the wilderness, and this time they're working alone. Doyle has reached the end, but instead of the comforting light and warmth and human companionship he's been looking forward to, the clearing is empty - except, he eventually realises, for Bodie peering around in a similar way.

Bodie makes himself known, and seems to be trying to be friendly - but Doyle is wise to this now, and determined not to open himself up to betrayal again. When he heads off to get some water from the river, though, Bodie follows him, and they end up trying to work things out together.

Sure enough, there are further instructions hidden for them in the clearing, and they set off together to find what they hope really is the final end-point. All does not, however, go wrong. Doyle is determined to prove to Bodie that he's equally as capable - which he's already doing with ease - to the point that when Bodie tries to hand him over a rocky outcrop, Doyle refuses his help. Unfortunately Bodie didn't explain why he was trying to give it, and so Doyle lands on a brittle ledge, and plunges them both down the steep hillside into the river below.

Bodie is knocked out by the fall, but Doyle is alert enough to be able to pull him from the river and administer CPR. Bodie revives, Doyle it turns out has four broken ribs and has lost his jacket, and they both limp on as far as they can go - which isn't all the way.

Doyle is becoming dangerously hypothermic, and so Bodie stops them and makes a shelter and a fire so that they can see out the night. They cuddle up close to share body warmth, and Doyle falls asleep. He dreams - and calls out to Gabe, and in his dream they're obviously very close, because Bodie finds himself the subject of sleepy sexuality. Knowing that any response on his part would not be a good idea, Bodie's just about to move them apart when Doyle falls silent and his dream takes a completely different turn - then finally he relaxes into sleep again.

With light comes a searching helicopter, and they hike out a final mile to meet it. Bodie makes the mistake of asking Doyle about Gabe, and Doyle immedately attacks - "Don't you ever... ever even fucking think of saying that name to me again." The lads are rescued - sure they've failed out of CI5 this time - and they're taken back to civilisation. Doyle is hospitalised for a week, although Bodie is passed fit even after his near-escape. Cowley is surprised to find Bodie staying close to the hospital, and in fact to Doyle's bedside. The lads are even more surprised, when Cowley speaks to them, to find that not only have they passed CI5 recruitment - but that it is on the condition that they work together as partners.

So - what do you reckon?! Does this read as our Bodie and Doyle? Is it realistic? What do we think of Bodie's apparent change of heart after the revelation of the last chapter - "Thinks he's made a friend. Spare me." Are you believing in the story?

Comments

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Migraines are really *not* fun and even after the main attack has lessened you're left feeling pretty rough so thank you very much for posting this. I haven't had a chance to read it yet but I'm looking forward to it.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Looks like you've caught up anyway - I'm only just about to jump into the discussion myself!

And thank you - I hate that I've started having migraines (well, who wouldn't), and even more when they come on the first warm day for ages, when I could have been nipping out between work to enjoy it, Instead I've felt cold all day. How bizarre and unfair!

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Sorry, my writing's so misleading! I meant to say that I've read the chapter but hadn't yet read your comments on it, which I have now.

Really depressing about your migraines, especially when you thought they'd improved. I suppose you've tried acupuncture for them? I know that helped a friend of mine.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, okay! *g*

I think my migraines will mostly be helped by avoiding dairy! I use lactase pills so that I can eat dairy sometimes, and I've had a bit of a chocolate-want lately, and suspect that I didn't take enough lactase for something that I ate... *sighs* On another note though, I've heard lots of good things about acupuncture, recently...

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

Oh, my doctor told me that migraines aren't the result of chocolate. I asked him because I discovered that I have a need for chocolate when I get a migraine and I thought it might be because of the chocolate that I get the migraine. And he said "No, you have theneed for chocolate after the first igns of the migraine starts. It's the need for sugar and energie your body shows to you to fight the migraine." I don't know if he's right, but since I'm not a chocolate-type and the only time I eat chocolate is when Ihave a migraine it seems possible tome.

Now I take some anti-headache/migraine pills when I feel the need for chocolate and it works.

I think my tricker for migraines is the fast weather change from warm to cold to hot to cold in short time. Maybe that's the main reason for you too?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I don't think this is the same kind of migraine - in fact I'm not even sure if I should call them migraines really, but they're definitely more than headaches. They're definitely related to lactose rather than just chocolate too - in fact I can eat lactose-free chocolate with no problem!

For years and years I had headaches and painful sinuses and so on, and I thought it was some kind of chronic sinus infection, but a few years ago I went to stay with my cousin for ten days and when I got home I realised I'd barely had a headache the whole time. The only difference to normal was that she didn't eat dairy, and so I'd barely had any while I was there. So I experimented - and sure enough, if I avoided dairy then I didn't get headaches any more! I looked it up, and apparently it's a less-common version of being lactose intolerant. Most people get funny tummies if they're lactose intolerant, but some of us get severe headaches. The annoying thing is that I think eating dairy must have given me a little immunity back to it, because I had constant headaches but they were relatively low-grade. Now if I accidentally eat lactose without first taking lactase enzyme (which is what deals with the lactose), then I get a massive headache and am maybe even sick with it (like yesterday - blargh!)

Apparently everyone starts off lactose tolerant as babies, but gradually gets less tolerant - except that there was a genetic mutation at some point, and now lots of people remain tolerant of it. But not me, sadly! I try to be careful, but sometimes there's unexpected dairy in something (even when the ingredient list says there isn't). I even found out that there was dairy in wine sometimes, because they use milk to "fine" the wine (make it smoother) - since then I've bought vegan-friendly wine, and now that doesn't give me headaches either!

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's a nasty version. I only have the known problem with the funny tummy but I can eat a small amount of dairy in the week. I hope my headache and slight migraines last week weren't the result of to much dairy because I had yoghurt every day and I wondered why I had the headache. I'll see if there is a connection between my headache and eating dairy.

And I never knew that they used milk do "fine" the wine. But I buy my wine only directly from a befriended winegrower.

It would be so much easier for us if they didn't use dairy in so much food. Sometimes you have no chance to avoid it.

[jat-sapphire.livejournal.com]

The first time I read this chapter, I was so happy to see a Bodie I could recognize that I just gulped it down. But on rereading, I find this transition very hard to follow.

The action scenes are great, and I love the rescue. When Bodie was thinking "why didn't he just obey," I wanted to ask him, "This Ray Doyle, have you MET him at all?" But Bodie has been guarding himself so hard, I think he really hasn't given any thought to what makes Doyle tick.

When Bodie realizes, maybe with some compunction, that his efforts to build a shelter and a fire have been mostly for his own good, and when he observes Doyle's sex dream/nightmare, it seems to trigger an increased consideration for Doyle that, when I view it apart from my own concern and involvement with Doyle and with the two of them together, I don't understand. Why does Bodie hang around the hospital? Later in their relationship, I get it, but now?

What happened to all that deep damage? Is it just gone now? Because they saved each other this time?

[cim3745.livejournal.com]

I don't understand. Why does Bodie hang around the hospital? Later in their relationship, I get it, but now?

I had the same thought, and expected a change all the time.

What happened to all that deep damage? Is it just gone now? Because they saved each other this time?

It isn't gone, it's only covered, and I am quite sure it'll show up again.
What about the point being alone with this tough guy Doyle in the wilderness ? There is nobody else, so Bodie can't lose his face, what he defenitly doesn't like.
I screwed up yesterday, all right? I am aware of that, you know. The old man made it perfectly fucking clear for me, in front of all of you

[jat-sapphire.livejournal.com]

Yeah, being alone makes a difference, I'm sure, the way I do think it made a difference on the rope bridge before Bodie denies it to Murphy. The waiting-around-in-hospital while Doyle sleeps still seems strange to me, though.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

The waiting-around-in-hospital while Doyle sleeps still seems strange to me, though.

Doesn't Cowley think it odd as well so perhaps we're supposed to find it a bit puzzling (at this stage).

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

When Bodie realizes, maybe with some compunction, that his efforts to build a shelter and a fire have been mostly for his own good

This is true and even the writer says:

It occurs to Bodie with a faint shock that all his measures so far have been towards his own survival.

And yet Bodie's given Doyle his jacket... and the fact that he's stayed and built a shelter (when he could probably have walked on to safety) seems to contradict what the author would have us believe of Bodie, given what she writes of his thoughts.

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"...And yet Bodie's given Doyle his jacket..."
Exactly! And he has noticed quickly the signs of Doyle's hypothermia. And of course is the fire not only for his own benefit - so I can't understand these thoughts about '...have been mostly for his own good'.
Bodie seems very insecure about himself and his social competence!

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

Bodie seems very insecure about himself and his social competence!

Excatly. I think it is because of the life he lived before he joined SAS and CI5. I think he has to learn to be social like a kid when it joines the kindergarten. They also don't know how to behave on a social level. Maybe for Bodie it's the same.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Bodie seems very insecure about himself and his social competence!

I must think about this. I know what you mean but I'm really undecided and that's what makes Bodie such an interesting character: who is the real Bodie and what makes him like that?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Bodie seems very insecure about himself and his social competence!
He does a bit - or maybe he knows that he's putting on an act about being "too tough for the SAS" and so on - that it's all image. I think we were told early on that the other recruits are rather conflicted by him - they don't know if he's really one of them, or part of CI5 sent to test them even further, or what. And if you can't trust someone to be "one of you", then you treat them like an outsider, and Bodie must pick up on that and then almost encourage it by being defensive and acting even more tough...

(And just to go back to our previous discussion, it makes Bodie less-Bodie to me, because we see him being really friendly with everyone in the eps!)

I can't understand these thoughts about '...have been mostly for his own good'.
I wonder if Cowley and Murphy made him start thinking about it - it might not be entirely true, but leaving McCabe behind so that he could win was pretty awful, and Cowley just told him off for abandoning his partner in the other race, so maybe he's extra-conscious around other people right now. Especially since he's been somewhat abandoned (as he sees it) by Cowley and Murphy now...

[jat-sapphire.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was thinking about the sentence you quoted. But do you think Bodie already cares more than he admits to himself?

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

But do you think Bodie already cares more than he admits to himself?

I don't know.... I'm sure there's an awful lot of things Bodie doesn't admit to, probably his actual default, but I'm trying to think what would it be about Doyle, so far, which would make him care? Or maybe it's just carnal and he fancies him?!

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

Why does Bodie hang around the hospital?

For me it's about guilt. I think he feels guilty because he realised to late that Doyle had hypothermia. Maybe he thinks he should have done more to help Doyle. And I must admit that I like him sticking at Doyle's side in hospital.

[jat-sapphire.livejournal.com]

Oh, I like it! It just seems ... premature for this Bodie.

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't think that's a conscious thing, it is in his supconscious and he wouldn't know what you mean when you ask him.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It is good to see a Bodie who feels more familiar, I agree!

I think my first blink was when he took back his words to Doyle at the very start - he does his super-Bodie-obviously thing at first, saying "Yeah, I saw you ages ago" but when Doyle then ignores him and just takes off on his own business, Bodie backtracks and is the one to try and make it up between them. He actually apologises! He confesses that he only just got there! He even asks Doyle for his opinion. It looks like he's being friendly again, and Doyle isn't believing it this time. But then the author shows us how frustrated Bodie is at suddenly being on his own - he's not got Cowley and Murphy backing him up now, he's been thrown into "the other", and now he's having to deal with it. Maybe this is what's pushing him outside his normal behaviour. He knows it too, because "He more than halfway means it, too".

Doyle's copped on though - he reckons that Bodie might well mean it right now, but then regret it later and slam his shields back up. So I don't reckon that deep damage is gone at all - but the author's showing us that actually he does have reasons for letting himself change.

He does go a bit back-and-forth like this in the chapter too - he decides to build the fire, realises that he wanted it for himself rather than Doyle anyway - but then he also realises that he's abandoned Doyle to do it anyway, so no matter who it was for he wasn't properly thinking about Doyle. So we do see him working his way to being more considerate. I reckon the hospital thing is an extension of that - he abandoned Doyle to make the fire, when he might have got worse, and he had the realisation that he could have spared five minutes to make sure McCabe was alright the session before, so he hangs around the hospital to make sure that Doyle's okay too.

I also like the odd bit that the author throws in, like "There is something about Doyle which makes him question why he is currently behaving like - what had Murph said? A dinosaur with piles..." I think he's realising there's more to Doyle than he'd originally thought - Doyle can run faster than him, and seems to have beaten him to the clearing (or at least got there at the same time), and doesn't give up like McCabe did, and so on. I don't think the damage has gone away, but we're maybe getting through it a bit...

[cim3745.livejournal.com]

Get well soon and thanks for posting despite your pain.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *g*

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I don't know about anyone else (and I can't find an actual example), but overall I'm finding some of the writing slightly convoluted in that it's sometimes unclear who is saying what and to whoooooom, and I find myself reading something several times just to make sure I'm right in what I'm thinking. I wonder if this is one of the things golden_bastet refers to earlier in her 'fine tuning' comment? I'd love to know.

So - what do you reckon?! Does this read as our Bodie and Doyle? Is it realistic? What do we think of Bodie's apparent change of heart after the revelation of the last chapter - "Thinks he's made a friend. Spare me." Are you believing in the story?

I think it's gradually becoming more canon Bodie and Doyle. Bodie's change of heart? God knows... perhaps the pressure is off very slightly, or he just feels more comfortable doing what he's doing out in the wild, surviving?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I'm finding some of the writing slightly convoluted in that it's sometimes unclear who is saying what and to whoooooom
Ha - I thought it was just me! Yeah, there's been a couple of places where I've had to go back and check who said what, and a couple of times when the pov change hasn't worked as naturally as it should.

perhaps the pressure is off very slightly,
Ooh, my guess is it's the exact opposite - he's feeling the pressure of being abandoned (as he probably sees it) by Cowley and Murphy ("Up until a week ago, he, Murphy and the old man would plot out these survival tests together. Now the only resource, the only team he has is this stubborn ex-copper, who beneath his friendly exterior is plainly tough as nails, and unwilling to give an inch after being ditched out on yesterday.") Oh, and now I've quoted that - maybe he's also feeling more thrown-in with Doyle, and appreciates that Doyle's actually just as competent as he is in his own way, with his own strengths and so on, so maybe he's almost been pushed into being more friendly to Doyle himself... if just because he feels like he's got no one else just now. Maybe?

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

perhaps the pressure is off very slightly.....

Ooh, my guess is it's the exact opposite - he's feeling the pressure of being abandoned (as he probably sees it) by Cowley and Murphy

To be honest I don’t even think I’d managed to convince myself! It was just a throwaway thought for discussion prompted by a remark from Cowley which I can’t find for the life of me find now so was probably drawn more from optimistic imagination than reality BUT there's also a slight implication contained in another observation made by Cowley:

Cowley, limping toward him along the viewing gallery, thinks that he would probably like his face to be blacked up with cork, ready for a night mission or to emerge from the shadows of the range and scare the crap out of whichever recruit whose incompetence has drawn his attention.

i.e. that Bodie would far rather be out and about on manouevres or whatever it is the SAS do. (Sorry can't spell that word but if I go and look for the correct spelling I'll lose this.)

But I think I much prefer your reasoning because of this other comment from Cowley:

The point is this -- can you persuade one of those men out there that he likes you well enough, respects and trusts you enough, to want to work with you? One man, laddie. If you can't do that much, I have no use for you."

There. Bodie is thrown.

In truth, it’s probably a bit of both but it does seem coincidental that Bodie’s suddenly become more accommodating towards Doyle... but would that mean he’s aiming for a partnership with Doyle? Not too sure about that.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

i.e. that Bodie would far rather be out and about on manouevres or whatever it is the SAS do.
Yeah - and that was when he was instructing the other recruits in shooting, wasn't it, so that makes sense. I can't remember now if we've been told what Bodie thinks of his transfer to CI5 - he knows its his last chance, and he wants to make it, but do we know what he thinks of it? Does he think it's lesser than the SAS?

can you persuade one of those men out there that he likes you well enough, respects and trusts you enough, to want to work with you?
Yeah - that was a good bit! *g*

would that mean he’s aiming for a partnership with Doyle
No, I don't think he is - the Bodie we see now would surely rather work alone and scare everyone else with his reputation for getting things done. But when he finds himself alone in the dark, and abandoned by Cowley and Murphy, I can see why he might subconsciously start to cling a little to Doyle, who he's started to respect for his abilities and attitude, at least...

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I can't remember now if we've been told what Bodie thinks of his transfer to CI5 - he knows its his last chance, and he wants to make it, but do we know what he thinks of it? Does he think it's lesser than the SAS?

This is what Cowley thinks:

"I'm out, then."
Neither a question nor a statement. Cowley analyses the words for any sign of feeling -- anger, disappointment, even relief. Bodie wanted the SAS posting more than life, Chief Marsh has told him. Scrambled for it, worked his heart out, trod blindly over army comrades he'd have lain down and died for before the chance came up

....but I'm not sure if Bodie's actually said or thought anything (so far) to make us think the same as Cowley - perhaps it crops up later? The impression I have is that Bodie thinks the SAS is above everything else, but I think that's just an impression gained from reading loads of other stories which imply that, not necessarily one which I've got from this story! But he must know that his career expectancy vis a vis the SAS is pretty limited in terms of fitness etc. More limited that life in ci5.

I agree re the subconscious clinging to Doyle.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, that was Cowley wasn't it - not Bodie at all... Although now that I've picked up the chapter again, Bodie does think contributed to his imprisonment here (at CI5), so maybe that's an indication, maybe he really does resent being shoved to CI5 to start with. Although a bit later there's a bit where he recognises that he only thought he needed the SAS, and that Cowley's actually asking even more of him... Which suggests that he didn't want to leave the SAS, but that he's starting to respect CI5, perhaps...

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

i.e. that Bodie would far rather be out and about on manouevres or whatever it is the SAS do. (Sorry can't spell that word but if I go and look for the correct spelling I'll lose this.)

Sorry, I left off the important bit! That maybe Bodie's more relaxed now because he's out and about and away from the eyes of the instructors etc - he's doing what he does best. And I've just remembered, *that's* the observation I'm sure Cowley made but I can't find it!

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

At the beginning I thought "No, that's not my Doyle. So insecure and fearfull only because it is dark in the forrest". But that's the only part in this chapter I didn't think fits good.

I especially love the scene where Doyle ordered Bodie do put the paper with the instructions back under the treetrunk and Bodie obeyed "Did the old man say this was about getting home first? Ah, level the playing field, Bodie," he growls. "I'm not saying leave it out in the open like a gift. Just give anybody getting here later the same chance we had."

The action scene with them going down the cliff and Doyle rescuing Bodie is very well written. And the scene with the reference to Doyle's lesser force and strength is one where you don't think "Oh no, not again this thing with 'Doyle is smaller and thinner so he can't have strength'". No, it is so good written that I thought "Yes, it is clear that he has difficulties to shift this deadweight. He's fallen down the cliff, the water is cold and Bodie is unconscious. It couldn't be easy." And I was glad that the author thought about that.

Oh, and I could feel the fear creeping up Bodie's spine when he discovers Doyle's hypothermia.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I didn't think he was scared of being in the forest, just tired after the hard work to get to the end, and looking forward to being with other people again.

he scene where Doyle ordered Bodie do put the paper with the instructions back
Yes! I love that too! And it's maybe another moment when Bodie realises he doesn't have to be so competitive and on his own against everyone else.

"Oh no, not again this thing with 'Doyle is smaller and thinner so he can't have strength'"
Yeah, the cliff fall is done well, and Doyle rescuing Bodie - anyone'd be extra heavy when they're unconscious and you're weakened.

But I did want to scream later on when the author kept going on about how Bodie was more "bulky" than Doyle, and that meant that he'd be able to survive better. It's complete rubbish! Being big doesn't make you less susceptible to cold or hypothermia or things like that. Having more fat supplies might, but that's not how Bodie's described. Being built differently doesn't make differences like that. If anything, bigger people have got more skin surface to get cold through! Luckily the author also told us that Doyle had a fairly serious ongoing injury and had also lost his jacket - now that would explain why he's struggling to keep going, and Bodie's doing the "looking after" for a while...

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<ibut [...] "bulky">') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

<iBut I did want to scream later on when the author kept going on about how Bodie was more "bulky" than Doyle, andi>
Oh, but that's only said as something Bodie thinks and tells Doyle I thought. And that would be normal, because he is more bulky and doesn't feel the cold much.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but I'm bulkier than various of my friends, and sometimes feel the cold more than they do. I don't think it's quite as simple as the author suggests!

[siskiou.livejournal.com]

I read up on that a little last night, and apparently having more muscle *does* help with keeping warmer and getting warmer quicker, but it still bothers me just a little, to see references like Doyle looking "fetching", or just too light coming up here and there.
Hope your head is clear and pain-free again and stays that way!

Was behind on reading, but have caught up now, and had a hard time stopping.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

*does* help with keeping warmer and getting warmer quicker
Surely not to the extent that is portrayed here though - Bodie's shown as barely even noticing that he's also soaked through from being dunked in the river, whereas Doyle is practically incapacitated from it! And Bodie's the one who lost consciousness and had to be resuscitated too. I just can't believe that Bodie would feel not the slightest bit cold in that situation! And it's night-time too, there's no sun to warm him up or dry him off - he's walking around in wet clothes just as much as Doyle (granted he's not lost his jacket, but everything else must be soaked and cold!)

I know what you mean about a hard time stopping - I'm quite glad I only have to wait until Saturday. And I'm glad I've already read the story (even if I don't remember it much) - it's a very different way of reading!

[siskiou.livejournal.com]

I do think Bodie is a bit of a mysterious super-hero here, able to warm himself up like that. I'm half hoping he *will* teach this mental trick to Doyle at some point, so we can find out what it is! I'm also waiting eagerly to learn what turned Bodie from the guy Murphy remembered from six years ago into the Bodie we see now. And how he can survive without ever really sleeping. Doyle is much more of a normal human being with limitations, so far.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Superhero really does seem about right - or maybe an android... *g* And yes - I'd love to know how to warm myself up just by thinking about it. Just think how many lives could be saved!

I'm not convinced that he doesn't sleep either - I imagine it more as being the kind of insomnia where you think you're not sleeping, but actually you're getting enough to function. Cos otherwise he couldn't! I like that Doyle calls him out on that, too... *g*

[siskiou.livejournal.com]

You can warm yourself up by thinking!
I learned how to do it in a limited fashion using biofeedback when I was pregnant and not allowed
to use migraine medication.

The insurance even paid for it, back then! And it did work. I wore a temp probe on my finger and thought "hot"
thoughts (not *that* kind *g*). I still use the technique nowadays, and acupressure.
In my case, my hands and feet only get cold when I'm getting a migraine.

I'm not sure the technique would work if I were knocked out and plunged into a cold river and almost drowned, though.

So maybe Bodie uses biofeedback! I never even thought of that until just now, when reading about the migraines in the comments.

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

I've read somewhere that the Sherpas who climb the Everest use this technique too. I think that works in the same way in which I can tell me that it is cold on a to hot summerday. *g*

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

You're right, you can't survive without sleeping for more then two maybe three days. Never months or years.

But sometimes you subconscious is working while you body sleeps and when you wake up you think you didn't sleep at all.

So maybe Bodie sleeps in a low sleeping depth with his brain working all the time and never reaches the deep sleep. If he never sleeps, he definitly can't function.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Forgot to say that I love this scene, it's so them!

"Aren't you supposed to...take your clothes off and get in here with me?"

"Jesus Christ, Doyle. At least buy me dinner first."

He delivers it deadpan, and for a moment they stare at one another. Then Doyle, to his own amazement, feels a gurgle of laughter rise in his throat. He gives Bodie a shove. "Fuck off and light your fire."

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Heee - yes! Loved that bit! *g* Just a glimpse of who they're going to be together amidst all the other stuff while they're still separate...

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Thank you for writing this introduction! I hope you're feeling much much better now!

I like this chapter!
It' powerful writing and never boring.
Maybe you could argue about this and that, and if it's Bodie or not. If Doyle is too scared in the night.
But nothing could throw me out of this story so far. I love stories of how they met.

And with the famous last words, "Congratulations... You won the golden lemon." starts their partnership. :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I'm better enough to think about the discussion properly now, anyway! *g*

I liked this chapter too, much better than the previous ones. It feels a bit as if we're settling down with who our lads really are now. Even the thing that bugged me - Bodie-superhero - is settling down a bit more, and he's more human, and also Doyle is a bit more equally superhero, too. *g*

And with the famous last words, "Congratulations... You won the golden lemon." starts their partnership. :-)
Yes! That makes me smile actually - it has begun! *g*