Learning Trust

Fanfiction
Title:	Learning Trust
Author(s):	Russ
Date(s):	November 1996
Length:
Genre(s):	slash, Bodie/Doyle
Fandom(s):	The Professionals
Relationship(s):	Bodie/Doyle
External Links:	online here
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Learning Trust is a Bodie/Doyle story by Russ.

Summaries

"D is in the Met and is trying to arrest a drug dealer. B is SAS and a possible suspect as a friend of said dealer. B rescues D from gang rape and takes him home. D tries B out, and they are attracted but not trusting. They end up arresting the dealer together and clearing up the equivocations: D is not an addict, B was not friend but blackmailee (as gay). D says he is going to CI5 and suggests B does the same."

Reactions and Reviews

“Learning Trust” is so true to the episodes that I could see it as the pilot episode for Pros – the plot, the docklands setting, the shooting-up action scene in a warehouse and quieter closing scene in the police station, setting up very plausibly how each came to join CI5... Both are in character, sexy, tough and very effective, especially Doyle. Bodie seems rather more vulnerable and aimless (but isn’t that also part of his character too?).

The lads’ relationship has a refreshingly unusual trajectory too. They make friends and are in bed together within hours of first setting eyes on each other, establishing their mutual attraction, but the morning after they are more concerned about their careers, and their mutual distrust prevails.

But even my very favourite fics have their flaws. Here it’s: (1) Doyle: “I’m with the Met, not Scotland Yard”. *headdesk* All the more annoying for being a completely unnecessary remark. (2) If Bodie is serving with the SAS, how does he manage to spend so much time in London? Shouldn’t he be in barracks? It is, of course, possible that he takes leave to be in London whenever he has to make a payment (say, monthly?), and he just happens to have a pied-a-terre in the East End… (3) The big squick: What happened to the slash? They fancied each other enough that first night but… In the warehouse Doyle kisses Bodie, but he does it as a trap, which works because Bodie is seduced by it. And at the end, Doyle, in a position of dominance, can only glare at Bodie, albeit with a rather artificially-written “strange undertone of affection in his glance”, then walk away, no doubt giving his partner-to-be the full Doyle-arse treatment.

In this universe, is Doyle always going to use sexual attraction as a tool to manipulate Bodie?

Yeah, I liked this story and the beginning set the scene very nicely, thank you. I could really see all those broken-nosed heavies and the sawdust on the floor, Doyle being goosed in the loo and the saloon doors swinging in the wind and then.... (Sergio Leone music..) just in the nick of time, Bodie coming to the rescue. (Sorry, I think I'm finally displaying my long hidden bias.) No, seriously, I liked this story and I'm sure I've seen it described as pre-slash but if this is a typical example of that genre (and I'm not 100% sure that it is because there are strong sexual vibes here and they do end up discussing the possibilities of some kind of sexual relationship, not forgetting the fact that they end up in bed together with Bodie administering what seems like a full body massage) then I'd like some more, please.

'Pre-slash'. Who needs that label anyway?

I don't think that the label is important, but I could imagine that for someone who doesn't like slash, there is enough in that story! :-) I think that even the lightest hint of a sexual attraction spoils it for some people...

And for slashers there is enough as well!... Some stories you can read both ways if you want to, but IMO not this one.

I read this sometime ago when I was searching for pre-CI5 / early partnership stories. I totally agree that this story is quite plausible on how the lads could join CI5; much more plausible I think, than the “Operation Impossible” story written by Brian Clemens.

I didn’t pick up the lack of slash when I first read the story because most of the early partnership stories I’ve read were mostly pre-slash. The majority of these stories seem to have the lads in a stable working partnership first before moving into a physical relationship.

One interesting thing I do remember was that this was the first story that I had read which made the connection between the nickname “sunshine” with “a drop of sun” and Doyle’s name. Love “The Sound of Music” reference *grin*

the early partnership stories I’ve read were mostly pre-slash I've never gone out looking for them, but what a good idea, to compare them.

Have you read “Four Things That Never Happened to Ray Doyle – And One That Did” by Aerye (in DiaLJ December 2006)? One of the five vignettes there is a similar premise to "Learning Trust", with PC Doyle and SAS Sgt Bodie in London (guess it's a situation that appeals to me *g*).

I suppose most Pros fic involves the relationship beginning when they're paired, as workmates, and the sexual relationship building over time (at least 8 years later in many cases, which I always find improbable). On the other hand, there is a lot of fic mileage to be had from them meeting pre-CI5, having a sexual relationship of some sort, then unexpectedly finding themselves both in CI5 later - how will they react?

Overall, I enjoyed this. The plot holds together well enough if you don't examine too closely -- and she handles the action scenes pretty well. She's given to explaining the obvious, but that's not unique.

The dialog is so-so. Not exactly the lads but not so bad it spoils it.

I could see this as a first meeting for them ...

I like the choices Russ makes. It did feel like this was the start of a series fo fics or a longer fic. When I first started rereading the story I thought it was quite straightforward and uncontroversial but the more it's discussed and dissected, the more I realise it's *not* and I think that's the great thing about discussions!

I liked it - but just wanted to add my bit to the comment in the introduction about the flaws. As well as the Met/Yard thing (which, as you rightly said wasn't even necessary) I was irritated by aspects of the pub. And again, they are unnecessary things, intended to set the scene but actually detracting from it. To begin with I have never heard of a UK pub called The Gunslinger though there are lots and lots of Guns. It simply isn't a Brit word. Then what's with the 'liquor'?? Something as opposed to the beer on tap. Hmm. Brit beer that isn't on tap tends to come in bottles, in pubs, and is never referred to as liquor. Ever. And News of the World? Was it a Sunday? Were we told? I wish writers would leave details out if they can't get them right. However, I liked the story, and often I prefer 'pre-slash', if that's what this is, to more explicit pieces. It would make a wonderful pilot ep!!

This story belongs to several categories of fanfiction I always especially appreciated: The action/adventure genre, as I indicated previously, the "First time" kind (and for me, in the aforementioned context, it means more the "Get to know you" theme or the partnership's beginnings than the first sexual or sentimental encounter) and last but not least the resolution of a psychological confict.

To sum up the topic, without revealing too much, it mainly deals with the first meeting of Bodie and Doyle as with the creation of CI5 and the premises of their friendship and partnership; the sexual attraction between the two men is just hinted but, like other elements of the story, sets up a basis for future developments. The plot is cleverly tied up and includes some of the best action scenes you can find in this fandom. There is nothing to reproach to the characterisations, especially of Doyle (some readers may find Bodie a little too tame but that's hardly a flaw).

So, if you want a nice hour of reading go to: Learning Trust.