Neon Nights

Bodie/Doyle Fanfiction
Title:	Neon Nights
Author(s):	Elessar
Date(s):	1998
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	The Professionals
External Links:	online here
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Neon Nights is a Bodie/Doyle story by Elessar.

It was published in Nothing to Hide and is online.

Reactions and Reviews

Elessar writes AU-stories that leave you gasping for breath and longing for more. She knows both Bodie and Doyle; her characterizations are dead-on accurate, and she still manages to bring across the love they share, no matter what happens, and often has them facing a formidable opponent in the person of a triple-thinking Cowley. I can whole-heartedly recommend anything she's ever written.

I do so love how Bodie's commitment to Doyle is presented in this story. You see what Bodie will do for his partner and how far he'll go in order to save Doyle, leaving no mistake as to who has top priority in Bodie's life. The situation is not far-fetched; unfortunately, I can see this sort of set-up all too readily. And because of that, it makes their commitment to each other, because I don't for a minute feel it's one-sided, all the more wonderful.

I love many of Elessar's stories, this isn't my favourite, that's Undercover, but I do like this one a lot, as you say because the lengths Bodie will go for his partner.

In last week’s Reading Room fic, Spring Heeled-Jack, we saw Doyle in an undercover op that meant death or prison if all went wrong.

In Elessar’s Neon Nights, we have a similar situation – only this time it all does go pear-shaped...

Cowley sent Doyle undercover to expose corruption in the Home Office despite Bodie’s misgivings. Doyle went under for the greater good, but this time, Cowley hangs him out to dry. Doyle is sentenced to gaol time and again, Cowley does nothing to clear Doyle. To say Bodie is upset is a major understatement!

Bodie decides to break Doyle out of gaol.

This is my favorite Bodie. This Bodie is creative, competent, and thorough. He executes his plan to but one critique, closing down a pub for a whole evening.

He'd been standing watch for over an hour, spending every second going over his plan; it was unlikely he'd have another chance if he botched this, and too much depended on it for it to fail. Every last detail had been carefully mapped and plotted, every favour owed--and then some--called in.... Still...there was always random chance; he could only hope his luck would hold, and chance would take the night off. The coloured lights surrounding the pub sign still blazed forth, as the landlord had not bothered to turn them off in his rush out to his girlfriend's for a rare night off.

I love a smart Bodie story, so this hits my buttons. I see Bodie putting all other aspects of his life aside to rescue Doyle.

The RT beeped, bringing him back to the present. "Papa Bear," he spoke softly into the RT.

"Goldilocks is on his way. You've got five minutes."

"Roger, five minutes. Drop the bar and get lost, Mama Bear. And thanks."

I even loved the call signs. : )

This story goes against type of the usual Bodie supporting Cowley and Doyle not. In Neon Nights we have the reverse. (Doyle should have listened to Bodie).

For me, this story is part serious, part funny and totally engaging.

This has always been a favorite. Especially since this is very much the way I see Cowley. He appreciates how good Bodie and Doyle are, even has a certain affection for them, but he'd throw them to the wolves in a New York minute if it served his purposes. He wouldn't like it, but he'd do it. And, of course, it's exactly how I'd see Bodie react to Doyle being sent away. There's no way in the world he would sit back and let it happen, even if they weren't lovers. That they are, and I love how the situation also resolves that little problem, just makes Bodie's actions that much more certain.

I really liked the story. It was engaging and kept my interest throughout. It provided some background information on Bodie. It showed a lot of very telling things about Cowley, which I could believe. I could see him throwing Doyle (and Bodie) to the wolves. I found the idea that Bodie had read Ross' files on them and that's why Cowley picked Doyle quite annoying. Mainly because I could see Cowley using that information to his advantage, albeit for Queen and country. It makes me really wonder about Cowley's ideas of trust. While I understand his motivations, I don't know if I could do what he feels he has to do to keep the country safe. On the other hand, I'm glad he can do it, because not a lot of people could make those hard choices.

I found the story well done, with only a few POV switches mid paragraph and/or mid sentence. I had to reread a line or two couple of times but otherwise, the story was very nice. The boys were a bit smarmy at the end but that doesn't bother me if they've had enough trauma to call for a heart to heart. I think the separation warranted a little spilling over.

I think Bodie's plan was well executed. The writer didn't gloss over how Bodie prepared everything, but gave us a play by play. It made sense to me and I think he thoroughly covered the bases. I was impressed with our Bodie's sneakiness in Records. Smart man!

It'd definitely recommend this story and I appreciate the rec here because I hadn't read it before.

Nicely done but... Flashbacks within flashbacks and the whole thing finished with an epilogue that in itself makes the rest of the story a flashback. That technique always distances me from both action and emotion, whether in fanfic or in mainstream fiction. However, that’s just a personal reaction. The writing was clever, literate and grammatical (there were no tense confusions despite the jumps in time) and the symbolic neon lights were inserted so tastefully and appropriately that they gleamed.

Some criticisms: I found the actual real-time story very flimsy and the getaway too slick, even given Cowley’s connivance; everything was created to be a plot device giving a sense of authorial intervention; the story was too polished and cold. The relationship was only luke-warm, too. I didn’t get any sense of excitement from either man and even their eventual commitment didn’t sound real to me. A few bits of direct speech seemed slightly ‘off’ - I don’t recall Doyle ever saying ‘dontcha’ but maybe that’s just because I ‘hear’ that particular spelling in a specific accent - but the whole ‘just us, now and forever’ bit seemed oddly muted and almost formal. Altogether just not my ‘thing’ but I can appreciate the writing ability of the author.

An interesting rec - I am always fascinated when people try out literary styles for fanfic instead of just pouring out their passion in straightforward narrative! Thanks for introducing me to this one!

Its one of my favourites too. I love Bodie's single minded focus on getting Ray out of there. And Bodie loves Ray so much that he has gives him the choice to go or not, regardless of what Bodie has now given up to get to that point.

And that Ray loves him enough to trust Bodie all the way and to agonise over what Bodie has done on his behalf.

Well written, totally believable and an enthralling read.

Thank you for this interesting choice, Krisser. I thought the beginning was beautiful and the writer managed to create a strong sense of atmosphere and wonderful imagery with lines like: coloured lights. Bright, blinking neon, forever locked in memory And the mystery - bleakness - that is Bodie: who he was, what he was up to, the flashbacks (though I wasn’t always sure what was a flashback and what wasn’t). I liked the way the writer showed the two very different ideals/principles exhibited by Bodie and Doyle: Doyle’s nobility – stoicism - and preparedness to suffer a hellish future for the sake of a cause more important than his own happiness. The cause that is his job, ci5, Cowley and, by extension, society. And Bodie’s own equally laudable but very different brand of nobility which is about loyalty towards his best friend - so, by implication, if his loyalty is put to the test, Cowley and the rest of the world can all go to hell. I really liked the way the writer set out those two conflicting ideals. (And I liked the point made by gilda_elise that there's no way in the world he would sit back and let it happen, even if they weren't lovers).

But.... for some reason once Doyle is free I began to lose interest in the story and felt the second part didn’t quite live up to the promise of the first. It was still well written and thought through but it just seemed to be going through the motions and lacked that spark and atmosphere which I felt it could have and which the first half of the story certainly did have........perhaps there were just too many details about how Bodie planned the getaway (and too many 'convenient' factors? e.g. Bodie knowing someone who looked like him, or managing to get into the Met and erase Doyle’s prints?).... Maybe I should just read it again? I don’t know.......but I felt *that* part of the story didn’t grip me as much as it should have done - given the skills of the writer - and so I didn’t enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. Also, given what they’d been through, the sacrifices made and what they might have to face in the future, I felt that once they were reunited I didn't get much sense of their feelings for each other, their togetherness or the depth of their emotions, and their relationship just didn't move me as much as I'd hoped it would!

But anyway, as I say, I think I should read the whole thing again as it was an interesting choice of story.

I absolutely liked the idea of it - so many potentials and possibilities, and I totally agree with you about a Bodie who is smart and competent, and patient about his plan too. Doyle I thought was well-backgrounded too - putting the overall good above his potential personal discomfort, trusting Cowley, I could totally see that.

But...

I must admit that I totally struggled with the style in which this was written. As someone said above, it's flashback upon flashback within flashback, and I find that really throws the pace out for me, so that I start to lose interest in what really is happening. I think this has the potential for a wonderful, and probably dark, novel if it had been written in straight narrative, but I really had the impression that we were being given the flashbacks so that the author didn't have to do that - it was easier to do it this way rather than write what would have been a much longer story. (I'm not saying that's what she did, just that it's the impression I get from so many flashbacks.

I felt there was a bit much tying-up of as many issues as possible too - that the lads must commit to each other, that they'd both only really wanted each other when they dated women, that Cowley might not really have been a bad guy, the explanation for his apparent betrayal, that they had funds for all their needs, that they would be able to walk into a respectable job when they got to Canada, that... For all the emphasis on Bodie's long and careful planning, things seemed a bit too pat, a bit too perfect, by the end. Life is chance-y enough, even without everything they'd both been through to deal with - I'd have liked to see a little hint of that gritty reality, which is something I love in Pros.... Oh, and the way Doyle knew all about Bodie's past and had already accepted/forgiven him for anything dodgy, or let it bring them closer or something - even though Bodie was so manly that he was keeping it to himself... As if the author was trying to have her cake and eat it...

Not sure Doyle would have been imprisoned for bribery - suspended yes, investigated and probably thrown out of CI5 as thingie was in Runner, yes, but...

Wasn't keen on Bodie's way of dealing with Keller's betrayal - a bit too over-emotional or something I think, not what he did, but the description of it, somehow... It was all a bit soap-opera - I could see it on the big screen, you know?! (Although I'd've liked to see the outcome of that scene on the big screen! *g*)

Erm... language and so on that people have mentioned, yeah, pretty good. The odd thing that made me blink - "You're bound to have noticed that Cowley's not looking so good" - as if the two of them are so distant from each other and Cowley that they wouldn't have commented on it between themselves... Doyle's description of his possible jail sentence struck me as a wee bit American, perhaps, various twists of words and accent, as I think someone said above...

I loved Bodie's pilot's license being used - yeay!

And the neon signs running through it all was a nice idea - I think it would have worked much more beautifully without all the flashing back though... Oh, I'm trying to finish on a happy note, but actually I think I want to describe this fic as a bit jarring for me - it's a great idea and all, but it wasn't the kind of smooth read I could sink back into and enjoy because I kept being bumped out of it - and not in a good, purposely-done way...

I do think the epilogue was unnecessary (and another POV switch). We really didn't need every single thing tied up, but there are plenty of writers (and readers) who aren't happy with a story unless every thing is explained and every questioned answered. I'd have left it off personally, leaving the reader with something to ponder.

Otherwise, in spite the the multitude of flashbacks I didn't have trouble following the story. I do tend to avoid flashbacks the more I write as they can be problematic for the reader. There are other ways to get the story across, of course. I wonder if the formatting on the archive didn't lend itself to separating out the flashbacks.

I liked the neon signs as well. It was a good idea that helped weave the entire story together.

I do like the overall concept of this story - the Bodie who is willing to do anything to save Doyle from prison. I like the elaborate detail that Bodie has put into his planning, seemingly preparing for every contingency.

As you mention, so often in fic we see Doyle questioning Cowley's orders and Bodie who is loyal to the Controller. I'm not sure if Doyle is sacrificing himself for the greater good or if he's mainly looking out for his own skin. He tells Bodie: "...But even if the Cow does speak out, I might still be convicted, and he'd be dragged down with me. Keeping him in power is my best chance to clear my name in the long run."

I really love the wordless hug Ray gives Bodie as his answer to the question of whether he'll go with his partner.

I agree that some of the plot devices are a little too pat. Bodie's telling Doyle about his past when drunk and then conveniently forgetting it is one that stands out to me.

The flashbacks don't jar me and overall I find this an enjoyable story.

"The Controller had covered his tracks too well; after all, Bodie'd never actually heard Cowley admit to the plan to trap Peters by having Doyle take a bribe, he'd only heard that from Doyle.

Furious, Bodie'd threatened to resign, but the Controller's point that he'd have even less power to help his partner as a member of Joe Public had held three-seven hostage. In the end -- throwing a bone to his obedient dog -- Cowley'd merely stated that Doyle probably wouldn't have to be imprisoned for more than a year to eighteen months before they could make another move on Sir Roger Peters. And, if that failed, Bodie had asked, and been informed that his partner should be out in three years with good behaviour."

I repeat the ‘best’ parts: "‘the controller’ – covered his tracks too well – furious – the obedient dog – eighteen months before they could make another move on Sir Peters (not: ‘before Doyle is free again’!) – with good behaviour..."

I wonder that nobody is really concerned about the background of the story. I can say for myself, that - after that fundamental betrayal from Cowley -, I can’t enjoy such a story anymore.

I don’t like any of the betrayal episodes. The worst is Operation Susie. And I certainly don’t want to read about the monster in Cowley in a fic. He is even just called ‘Controller’. (IMO that is a stylistic device that is a bit ‘overdone’ because Cowley’s acting is terrific enough.)

And after such a beginning, I can’t buy that ‘us against the world’ stuff any more. It’s more like ‘fighting against windmills’ - because in reality you have no chance – even not Bodie and Doyle. And no happy ending can save such a story for me.

My temper would tend to take the next machine gun and shoot Doyle to freedom. And if Cowley would be a victim on the way – fine! Very fine! But that long planning, under observation, while Doyle is suffering in prison... - is very, very clever - but for me personally absolutely nerve-wracking.

I’m afraid I’m hopelessly romantic. I don’t want Cowley’s triple thinking. Nobody can convince me that ‘the end justifies the means’!

I want Cowley tough but righteous.

I'm afraid I have to agree with the but-ters here. The premise is fine, I like a tricksy, efficient, committed Bodie but there is something about the execution that doesn't quite work. I find it oddly bland. I don't remember a single standout phrase or sentence. Not a bad story by any stretch of the imagination, but perhaps a little workaday?

From a technical standpoint, I think this is pretty much of a mess -- the flashbacks within flashbacks (as others have remarked), the odd choices for POV and tense, awkward phrasing, etc.

There's a lot of good detail, though, and a lot of effort went into building the backstory and giving the lads -- especially Bodie's -- history. All of which I appreciate.

Oh, and I like the mix of humor and danger.

The main strength for me is the premise -- I really like these partner in jep stories, and I do believe in a self-sacrificing Doyle, a ruthless Cowley (though that ruthlessness would be based on the greater good), and a Bodie who would do just about anything to save his partner -- certainly in this case where Doyle has already done his bit and is now simply paying the price for being a good soldier.

I thought Cowley's ruthlessness in burning Doyle was balanced by his ultimately letting them go free.

I liked the fact that Doyle wasn't acting solely out of martyr-complex, but that from a practical standpoint he thought following Cowley's plan was his best bet.

And, like you, I like seeing a competent and wily Bodie -- with his own network of resources and contacts to draw on.

I don't see Doyle as suffering from martyr-complex in canon -- with the exception of DiaG. I don't even see him suffering unduly from guilt despite Bodie's famous "blame himself for the invention of gunpowder" comment and his obvious anguish during The Rack.

But it does turn up with regular monotony in fics.

It seems like such an...impractical trait, and I see Doyle, well, and Bodie too, as being vastly practical men. Pragmatic. How could they survive in their job and not be?

I do see Doyle as self-sacrificing -- willing to die for his ideals or to save others, but I think this is probably true of all the good guys in CI5. Does Doyle seem to exemplify this trait more than anyone else in Pros?

I don't know. I'd enjoy hearing debate on that. Did the writers paint him in a more romantic light? He is certainly written to be...softer than Bodie. More caring? More...civilized (despite the fact that Bodie is the one in the suits)? From little details like shearing off to play ball with kids or yelling at a technician who doesn't seem to take the death of a casualty seriously enough.

Clearly there was supposed to be a contrast between Doyle and Bodie, but I don't think martyr-complex was what the writers had in mind, and that's one thing I like in Neon Nights. That Doyle explains he's not just choosing jail because it's Cowley's plan, he's seeing it as his best option.