crack_van | Action of the Tiger, by EPS

And now another story written as the The Professionals was originally being aired in Britain. This is a case fic, and a long one. It has action, undercover work, an attempt to bomb CI5 HQ, a raid on a major British tourist attraction, and all of that as the background to the lads trying to come to terms with their feelings for each other.

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Length: 418kb, 71295 words
Author on LJ:

lil_shepherd
Author Website: EPS at AO3
Why this must be read:For the moment in the hotel almost exactly halfway through the story when.. no, I really can't spoil it that much!

Action of the Tiger is set directly after the events of Lillian Shepherd's gen story Tiger by the Tail, which revolves around an escaped Krivas attempting revenge. It probably does help to have read Tiger by the Tail first, but I hadn't, and I found Action of the Tiger easy to pick up. It picks up as CI5 mop up after the events of the first story.

Some time after the mopping-up is finished, Doyle receives a shock.

"You seem surprisingly undisturbed, Doyle."
"Uh? Do I, sir?"
"Yes. Well, come on, man, out with it. What explanation did Bodie give *you* for wanting to split your unit?"
"Bodie isn't in an explaining mood at--" Doyle's head jerked up, eyes goggling. "For wanting to what?" He half-rose to his feet, glaring at Cowley. "What the fuckin' 'ell is goin' on 'ere?"

It takes Doyle a while to realise what is going on.

Leaning with his hands against the tiled wall, he let his thoughts drift as the warm water washed down his relaxed body.
Water... like rain...
Without warning, Doyle's memory catapulted him back to St Catherine's, to rain soaking him, cold and pain racking his body, horror searing his mind... and Bodie's arms holding him, driving out the cold with the warmth of his body, the horror with the--
Jesus Christ!
Doyle's head came up. Staring at nothing, he slowly straightened until he was fully upright.
The nightmare was back, except that... Oh God, if it had been real...
If it had been real, Bodie hadn't gone off his rocker at all.
It if had been real, Bodie had a very good reason indeed for requesting a change of partner.
If it *was* real... if it *is* real...
What the hell am I going to do about it?
Think, Cowley had said. But what am I to think? Whatever it is, I've got to sort it out in my own mind before I see Bodie.

And there is an investigation to pursue, with Doyle undercover.

"Mr Fenlow?"
Startled, Doyle jerked round to meet a pair of bright blue eyes belonging to the heavy-featured, powerful man who had been leaning on the railings of the Underground entrance since before Doyle had arrived.
"Yeh. You this... er... Mr Baggins?"
"A close relative. The Broker gives you a high recommendation, Mr Fenlow."
"I'll blow up whatever y'want blown up, if that's what y'mean. What's the target? That place?" He jerked his head towards the white fortress of the Bank of England.
"Not exactly, Mr Fenlow. Not exactly. But we have use for your talents, you can be sure of that. Come on."

This is a long story, and there is all sorts to enjoy in it. I am particularly taken by Doyle's single-mindedness and determination as he chases Bodie to the coast, and how he manages to get Cowley out of the way - I can just see Cowley's disbelief as he realises he's been tricked. I like the dialogue: not just Bodie and Doyle together, but each of them with other characters, whether long-suffering parents or rattled arms dealers. The casefic element is intricate and the separation of the two during the investigation provides plenty of scope for further complications - and complications there are. And I love the choice of location for the final action scenes.

Action of the Tiger is not available online but is another good reason to get the Proslib CD.