Groundhog Doyle
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| Bodie/Doyle Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Groundhog Doyle |
| Author(s): | Irene |
| Date(s): | March 1996 |
| Length: | |
| Genre: | slash |
| Fandom: | The Professionals |
| External Links: | |
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Groundhog Doyle is a Bodie/Doyle story by Irene.
It was published in Close Quarters.
Summary from the Zine
"Bad enough to be stuck living the same day over and over again until he gets it right—but it's Christmas Eve, and Raymond Doyle has never liked Christmas. Still, how much trouble can he get into in just one day?"
Reactions and Reviews
"Groundhog Doyle" (for Joan) - the other story by Irene is one I may (!) have mentioned before on the odd occasion. Every so often you come across a gem and this is one of them. It is an imaginative mixture of A Christmas Carol and the movie Groundhog Day. Christmas-Bah-Humbug Doyle finds himself stuck in December 24th, having to live it over and over again with every day unfolding in exactly the same way, apart from a few minor deviations. After a few days of this, and following a fight with Bodie, he decides to call in sick; and though he later changes his mind and goes in, it is too late - Bodie has gone on the bomb call-out without him and the tragic consequences of his ennui bring him to his knees... Much of the story takes place in the rest room of CI5 where the agents joke, bicker and exchange insults while they sit around waiting for action, with the strange counterpoint of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on the radio in the background. Only Jax is actually listening to it. This repeated scene become strangely claustrophobic after a while. Fortunately, like Ebenezer, Doyle is give the chance to put things right and in the process, learns a lot about himself and his priorities. There is a wonderful scene in Cowley's office where Doyle rejoices in his good fortune while Cowley and Bodie wonder if he has finally lost his marbles. The story ends in the best possible manner on Christmas Morning. Again, this is beautifully written, and so evocative, you can feel the atmosphere of the rest room, see, hear and even smell the horrors of the bomb blast. Best of all is the relationship between Doyle and Bodie. It is so close and empathic, even before it becomes sexual.[1]