Where the Worms Are

Bodie/Doyle Fanfiction
Title:	Where the Worms Are
Author(s):	Pam Rose
Date(s):	Before 1985
Length:	280K, 51,071 words
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	The Professionals
External Links:	on the Circuit Archive; on AO3
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Where the Worms Are is a 100-page Professionals slash Bodie/Doyle story by Pam Rose.

It was originally in the paper circuit and then archived online in 2003.

first page of the circuit story

It is a story on The 1985 Hatstand Express Top Ten Lists.

Excerpt

"While by no means as handsome as his partner, Doyle did more with what he had, letting his inner sensuality make up for what nature shorted him. It worked incredibly well. So much so that by the time they were washing up the dinner dishes, she found herself appreciating his exotic looks more than Bodie's conventional beauty. Until Bodie gave her one of his sweetest smiles, and she changed her mind again, amused at herself and even more amused at both of them. They were quite a pair, these young scoundrels of Cowley's."

Summaries

"C is dead and B suspects murder but nobody else is convinced - even D thinks he is crazy. After a while though things start to stink - and B&D get together again to investigate, with the help of old Elizabeth Walsh. Murphy dies while helping them. B&D acknowledge their love and go to bed. They find out a minister is a KGB agent and he has kidnapped C staging his death. They free him and arrest the minister, and B survives being shot. CI5 is reopened and all is well."

Reactions and Reviews

Unknown Date

Pamela Rose is a terrific, versatile writer. She does a MEAN amnesia story (Forget That I Remember and Dream That I Forget -- for me, easily the best example of the genre in Pros), a funny and sweet AU (Professional Dreamer -- which would be on this list, were it not for some other AUs I wanted to include), and a classic h/c (Fevers). But this is the story of hers that sticks closest to canon and manages to weave in intrigue, angst, h/c, and romance. Cowley is dead, CI5 has been disbanded, villains are everywhere, and our heroes don't know who they can trust. Except each other, of course. An exciting read.

The worst has happened; Cowley has been killed, and CI5 has been broken up. Worse, Bodie and Doyle are no longer partners. At least, not until it's made very clear that there is far more going on than meets the eye. Lots of double- and triple-think in this plot-driven, episodic tale. Plus, it features the ever-so-marvelous Elizabeth Walsh, which is an added bonus.

very very high on the plot, lower on the romance, and the plot's engaging, fascinating, enthralling. so, yes. read this one.

1986

"Where The Worms Are" is a favourite also, because the story and characterisation is done SO well. I really think this is the best Pam Rose has done yet. Her ending is actually excellent and usually they are bad. She's learning and it shows in this one.

I'd just briefly like to apologize to Pam Rose about my comments on her endings of stories. I stated they had been 'bad' and what I should have stated was that I thought they needed improvement. However, her recent works show an improvement. "Where the Worms Are" is one piece of work that is classic B/D. (It's one of my all-time favorite top 10.), and even with "Fevers" there's a definite ending that is paced and timed well.

1993

Again, Doyle is the seduced, and again, I think Bodie suffers more--wondering if Doyle has been killed, almost getting killed himself; having Doyle not believe him at the beginning...

1996

...one of my favorite circuit novels: Where the Worms Are. I'm still having trouble deciding which *fandom* I'd select a zine from [for my Desert Island List], but Where the Worms Are was--and is--still wonderful and deserves an honorable mention...

1997

This has a good plot, is in character in my opinion, and the sex is very low-key and non-embarrassing, but the relationship develops as in all the best slash"

2003

After the head of CI-5 is killed and the organization disbanded, Bodie and Doyle find themselves conducting a very risky (and unofficial) murder investigation. While Where the Worms Are is a long, plot-driven story, it doesn't skimp on the developing relationship or character arcs. It has a little bit of something for everyone: hurt/comfort, angst, romance, and a complex case drawn directly from elements of the series.

2005

Pros has a lot of good novels, and this is one of the best. It's got intrigue and tension, as Bodie and Doyle deal with living in the aftermath of Cowley's reported death, with CI-5 disbanded and both of them blacklisted. Their relationship builds slowly and naturally, as they realize that more than ever, all they have is each other. This is fabulously written, and is a classic in the fandom for very good reason.

2008

Starts out as a case story - a shocking one, as the Lads find out that Cowley has been killed in an 'accident'. They end up on the run. Their attempts to find out the truth bring danger - and contact with an old friend of CI5 who guesses the truth about their relationship some time before they do. Yes, love is eventually mentioned, but I can't see anything mushy about the story or the way they act towards each other.

After the head of CI-5 is killed and the organization disbanded, Bodie and Doyle find themselves conducting a very risky (and unofficial) murder investigation. While Where the Worms Are is a long, plot-driven story, it doesn't skimp on the developing relationship or character arcs. It has a little bit of something for everyone: hurt/comfort, angst, romance, and a complex case drawn directly from elements of the series.

One of my favorite fics - a suspenseful, action-packed mystery, yet focused on the development of B/D's relationship. Good stuff. I like the way the reader sees B/D through Elizabeth Walsh's eyes... [extensive excerpt clipped]

I liked crusty old Cowley, and the protective vibe that Doyle got when Bodie got hurt. I liked the way he stood up to Cowley about bitching about how long they'd taken to find him instead of appreciating that Bodie was initially the only person who didn't believe he was dead, and almost got killed saving him.

The sex scenes were good, advancing the relationship and plot instead of reading like some obligatory "insert sex scene here" type of scenario. And the story WAS romantic. It's just that the writer was skillful enough to let the reader see the love, tenderness and vulnerability that both men feel towards one another, without slapping us up side the head with a lot of long, OOC, emo conversations about their "feelings." But what does, "promise me you won't die" mean but, "I love you and can't live without you?" And what does agreeing to make such an impossible promise mean but, "Yeah, and I feel the same about you?"

Altogether, a very satisfying read.

The one quibble I have with the story is Murphy getting killed. I like Murphy - not as a potential mate of either of the lads, but just as a character. I would have preferred if he'd made it through to the end, and returned to CI5 with the resurected Cowley.

But what does, "promise me you won't die" mean but, "I love you and can't live without you?" And what does agreeing to make such an impossible promise mean but, "Yeah, and I feel the same about you?"

Exactly.

I'm never sure what people mean by "romantic" in the pejorative sense - I've taken to incorporating heroic tales like Robin Hood, Arthur etc. in my definition and I usually specify "genre romance" when I'm talking about M&B formula work etc. I was never a great reader of genre romance anyway, with the exception of some historicals. When I was younger I vastly preferred reading Alistair MacLean, Hammond Innes and Dennis Bagley (these days it's Ian Rankin and Sata Paretsky), whose books often incorporated a romantic element without ceding too much space to relationship development while the plot/action was afoot.

"Too much space" - that's the kicker. Movies that pause in the middle of a crisis for the lead romantic pair to spend minutes gazing into each other's eyes, with talky talk talk about the dire situation they're in and how they feel about each other make me squirm in my seat - and not in a good way! There's an impetus and an energy from understated, but nonetheless real, love that can't be bought with all the words in the world.

I love this, one of mny favourite re-reads. And like blkandwhtcat, I enjoy the way the lads and their changing relationship are observed through Elizabeth Walsh. It works brilliantly at showing us how in love they are without having them have a single converstion about it. One of my favourite scenes outside those, is that wonderful first hug in the kitchen after Bodie's picked up and tended to a bruised and battered Doyle. It's just so charmingly touching and unmushy: [extensive excerpt clipped]

Warning: Slight SPOILER

Thank you for adding this story, I haven't read it in a long while. It's absolutely superb. I love the angsty situation the lads find themselves in, as if it had been written for the show. It really is well written. And the banter! I had to stop reading through hysterics at one point, where Bodie says "You are not an easy person to live with Raymond." And Doyle sunnily replies "If it was easy, everyone would be doing it." For once poor Bodie had no immediate pithy come back for that one, but then who would. I thought it was hilarious and so Ray Doyle.

As for unromantic, no it was romantic though not in the mushy sense. Even without any mushy sentiment these stories will always come across as romantic, as you can still see and even feel the love there. It's that love that makes the relationship, it would be lifeless without it. It's the whole reason we enjoy reading and writing Pro's fic in the first place. But I do agree it I do prefer a story without any unnecessary mush, and this one's great!

2010

Where the worms are is another Pamela Rose story. I find her an excellent author. Cowley is dead, CI5 is no more. Bodie insists it's murder, but Doyle can't accept that and they go there separate ways. Doyle find that he can't get a job, anywhere, then an attempt is made on his life and suddenly Bodie's accusations aren't looking so stupid... A good, involving read.

2013

This is a brilliant work with a clever plot. I would recommend it to any reader heartily. The only thing not totally my taste was the ending: I thought the misunderstanding between the partners was too easily and too quickly solved for likeness. I would have prefered an open ending with some bitterness remaining for some time. Generally speaking I favour open endings every time it's possible. and I tend to skip all the sentimental parts in a story; so it's probably just me.

2014

I particularly love the resolute, loyal Bodie of Where the Worms Are, a Bodie who, against all opposition, is the only one ready to believe that Cowley's death isn't what it seems. And it goes without saying that Bodie's obduracy helps to mask his real grief at the loss of his old mentor.