The Professionals Circuit Archive - Gift of the Magi	     Gift of the
Magi

 

by Amy A Morgan

  
 Surveillance, on a cold midwinter night. 

Cold rain dripped from the bare trees by the street. Their car was parked
in an alley from which they could see the house they were watching. As far
as they could tell, the international forgers had gone to bed and were
sleeping in warm comfort like all sensible people. 

"Coffee?" suggested Doyle, pouring from the thermos. 

"Had some." 

"Tastes worse than it did." 

"C'mon, Doyle, that's not possible." 

"Really, it does." 

"Could use a drop of Cowley's scotch right now." 

Doyle grunted and took another sip. "Least it's hot. Think they spotted
us?" 

"Not a chance. Nobody can see us here." 

They lapsed into silence for a bit. 

After a while Doyle said, "So what do you want for Christmas, then?" 

Bodie grinned. 

"No, really. What should I get you?" 

"I can tell you what I want, mate. You won't like it.' 

"Try me." 

"A kiss." 

"What?" 

"A kiss." 

"From who?" 

"From you." 

"You having me on?" 

"No, Ray. Not in slightest." He spoke softly. "Never more serious in my
life." 

There was a rather tense silence. Bodie forced himself to relax. It was
only a conversation, after all. 

"A kiss. That's all?" 

Bodie didn't answer. He tightened his fingers on the steering wheel, then
dropped his hands. 

"Well, then," said Doyle, cheerfully enough, "C'mere." 

"Ray?" 

"C'mere, I can't kiss you if you're over against the window like that." 

"Now?" 

"It isn't as if I have to go out to the shops and buy it, is it? Yeah,
now." 

Moving slowly, Bodie shifted closer to the middle of the seat. 

"Warn you, I'm lethal," said Doyle. His voice was warm and happy. 

"Show me then," said Bodie. 

They kissed. At first, just a meeting of lips. Because both men were
sensual, experienced, and eager, it soon turned into something much more.
Neither knew the other had been wanting this for some time. 

After a while they drew apart, breathless. Bodie leaned back by the window
by the steering wheel, catching his breath again so he could speak
normally. "Lethal," he confirmed. 

"Yeah," said Doyle. 

There was another silence, this one neither tense nor bored. Two CI5
agents were thinking hard about something that had nothing to do with
international forgers, or anything else that Cowley paid them to think
about. 

Silent darkness continued to happen in the house across the street. 

After a while Doyle said, "Bodie?" 

"Yeah?" 

"You haven't asked me what *I* want for Christmas." 

-- THE END --

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