It came as a surprise to Bodie when Doyle approached him. His friend and partner had always been a source of never-ending bemusement and fascination, and he'd even considered him in the light Doyle was threatening to activate. But still, the proposition was out of the blue.

"Am I too ugly for you?" The exasperated Doyle had long ago lost the thin shred of patience which had been his at birth.

"You're not ugly," protested Bodie indignantly. To be truthful, he'd often accused his friend of having less than a wholesomely attractive mug, but ugly? Never!

"You always say I am. Sound happy about it, too," Doyle insisted, never one to relent when the odor of victory smelled near.

"I'm just teasing. Can't you take a tease?"

"Depends."

"On what?" Bodie already knew he'd regret asking.

"Whether or not he wears trousers."

After Bodie picked his face off the floor, he opined, "Oh, ha ha. What is it with you, Doyle? Too many natural foods?"

"What's a more natural food than - "

"Cowley's going to get you for that," admonished Bodie. "You're really serious? Why me?" Backtracking quickly, he hurried on, "Other than the obvious, of course?"

"What else is there?"

Bodie glared until his impishly daring partner gave out with the giggles. "I swear," complained Bodie, not for the first time, "You're enough to make a saint rot in hell."

"Oh. Thanks for the compliment."

"You're very gracious."

"So the answer's no?"

"Of course it's no. What else could it be?"

Doyle shrugged. Ordinarily that piece of body language was a dangerous sign, but evidently Doyle was too flustered to take advantage of a ready target. "I thought that you would say yes. You don't strike me as being afraid."

"I've never been afraid in my life." Before Doyle could give with the green stare, he continued, "Except when it's eminently logical to be so."

"Convenient. Learning to think on our feet, are we?"

"Only while I'm driving."

"I'm glad you remember where we're going."

"Easy, isn't it, when you have the map open on your lap?" Bodie breezily retorted. This was territory he was familiar with.

"Been noticing my lap, have you?"

"Since it's so wide, yet so narrow, it's rather hard to avoid." The quickness of his reply pleased him, and he was satisfied.

The corners of Doyle's full mouth lifted as he rejoined calmly, "Do you have any idea what you're talkin' about?"

"Huh? Oh. I wasn't talkin' 'bout that, and you know it!"

"Hate to tell you this, sunshine, but I think you've crossed your limit on cleverness."

There had to be some way of turning this conversation to his advantage. Bodie quickly regrouped. "Well, with you makin' strange proposals and all, what do you expect? I only hope Cowley didn't notice my lack of concentration. Could be fatal."

"Oh, give me the hearts and flowers. And don't spare the violins."

"We're here," Bodie said as he pulled the silver Capri into their parking space. "Now you'll be forced to shut down." For a change, he was actually driving his own car. No wonder he'd momentarily forgotten the route, what with Doyle propositioning him and all. Right in the a.m. before work, as well. Shows you what kind of mate Doyle was, right? "Here, why am I driving, anyway?"

Doyle said seriously, "I wanted to see if you'd crash us."

Bodie responded in kind, "You know, with mates like you I'm better off in Africa."

Returning each other's cheeky grins, they checked in at headquarters.

All day Bodie was left to ponder Doyle's sudden invitation. "What do you think of us going to bed together?" indeed. It wasn't the sexual aspect that bothered him, he could think of far worse to lay himself out with. In fact, everyone he could think of was a worse proposition than Doyle. But he had the feeling his partner was playing again, and Bodie was his new toy. Nothing simple like cards or chinese checkers for Doyle, for the curly-haired moppet with the large narrow eyes liked more dangerous toys - jujitsu, handguns, and Bodie. Doyle had finally got around to playing with him. Or wanting to at any rate. Which left Bodie feeling empty, abused, lonely, and furious. How dare that lanky partner of his, with the oh-so-sexual swagger, contemplate him as another in a long line of... Bodie frowned. Of what? Certainly Doyle wasn't under the impression he had just grown pyramids? They worked out together too often for that idea to grow feet and walk on its own.

His own thoughts driving him to greater distraction than the presence of his partner could, Bodie sought him out. Naturally, he found Doyle at one of the computer terminals - playing. "What are you doing?" Doyle shrugged and returned to the computer to wipe the screen. Bodie was thinking he must quickly do a refresher course on his partner's anatomy. No longer did a shrug mean a shrug. Or maybe it did. He was totally confused, and Doyle made him that way.

Only one table at the far corner of the rest room was occupied so they settled into chairs as far removed from the others as possible without looking suspicious about it. Suspicion, known among more diplomatic circles as caution, was bred naturally among the ranks of secret agents working for a classified organization. It would look peculiar if the two of them were head-bent over a table obviously harboring secrets. Everyone knew they weren't on assignment, when such rudeness was not only tolerated but envied.

"What do you want to talk about?" Doyle whispered.

It occurred to Bodie that his partner was perhaps burlesquing the situation, but now was not the time to hurl stones. Later tonight would be soon enough. "What do you think?" His voice always grew rough when he whispered and he caught the gleam of amusement in the emerald eyes before it died a natural death.

"Is the answer yes or no? Or are you still thinkin' about it?"

"I thought my answer was no."

Doyle argued complacently, "Then why are you still thinkin' about it?"

"I don't know," Bodie sighed. "You drive me out of my mind. You know you do."

"Of course. That's why I brought it up," Doyle spoke in the tongue of reason.

"Wait a minute. You think I'm in love with you?"

"Yeah." Lest Bodie relax Doyle pointed out, "So does everyone else."

"Everyone?" Bodie gasped. "Who?" he demanded.

There went his shrug again. "Everyone that knows us. Something about the way you watch me. Cowley told me if I can't control you he'll have to throw you back. So this is my way of controlling you." He surrendered to the hard blue gaze softly. "I don't want to throw you back, Bodie."

"I'm in love with you? I wonder whose sanity is in doubt here?"

"Certainly not mine. Majority rules in sanitary cases."

"That's sanity!"

"Whatever. Come to my place tonight?"

"Might as well. Can't talk here."

Pushing himself from the table, Doyle gently demanded, "You really want to talk, Bodie? Aren't you talked out?"

Maybe he was, but that didn't mean Bodie wasn't going to make Doyle work a little harder - harder than two conversations, anyway - at getting him into his bed. Not that Doyle ever said he wanted Bodie there, exactly. It was more like an order the way Doyle explained himself, mentioning Cowley and all.

Quickly Bodie turned to catch up with Doyle. "Here, then. You do want me, don't you?"

"I suppose. If I have to have a man, you may as well be it. Haven't had much luck with women anyway. Do we have to have this conversation in the hall? Can't it wait 'til tonight?"

"Let's go out to the car, then."

Outside with the wind and stray leaves pelting at his hair, Doyle complained, "Listen, Bodie, either you want me or you don't. We've established you want me. What's the problem?"

"It's not a one way street, that's the problem. When you brought this up I thought you were only curious, or wanting an indefinite arrangement. We were going to be something to do between birds. My pride, which you don't think I have, was somewhat wounded. That's why I turned you down. But you're right, you turn me on and always have. I care more about you than anyone. But I won't be something on the side. Nor do I want you if you're only adapting yourself to some new company policy Cowley's instigated."

"That's not it, Bodie." Wearily, Doyle leaned against the car. "I've always cared for you. And you're the best-looking guy I know." He confessed ruefully, "I judge other men by how they measure up to you. And I love how you take care of me, especially when you think I don't know. I just needed that pointed out to me, and Cowley managed to do that. Knwoing how you feel about me makes all this seducion shamefully easy, you know. Just like falling into bed. I'm lonely without you, Bodie. You're the only constant in my personal life, didn't you realize that? We're perfect for each other."

On that, they were in perfect agreement. Who cared if Cowley - the manipulative swine - had a hand in it? "We're wasting time then, aren't we?"

The green eyes beamed a sultry message as Doyle laughed. "We have to finish work first. Just keep our date at my place, okay?"

Bodie grinned. "Just as soon as I break another."

In harmony, they turned back to headquarters. "By the way, what's for dinner?"

In the gents room was scratched by someone taking care to make their penmanship as anonymous as possible, BOD LOVES DOY, WHO RETURNS THE AFFECTION.

-- THE END --