Title: Opening Up
Author: lucy_roman
Rating: Teen and up
Summary: Bodie has been hiding from his past for a long time
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Word Count: 305


"What you reading?" Bodie asks, not waiting for a reply before he reaches across and plucks the book out of Doyle's unresisting hands. He closes the book using his finger to mark Doyle's place and examines the front cover. "The Dysfunctional Family," he reads aloud. "How to identify them, how to navigate them, and most importantly of all how to survive them." Bodie looks up. "Why are you reading this?"

Doyle shrugs. "It looked interesting. I thought maybe it might give me some insights."

"Insights?" Bodie practically throws the book back at Doyle. For years he has held off telling Doyle anything about his family. What happened is in the past and over his lifetime Bodie has become an expert at not looking back. But then partnership turned into friendship turned into something more intimate and things have a habit of slipping out. Being close to Doyle, knowing how completely he is loved has given Bodie the opportunity to open up about his past, even though he never intended to.

Bodie turns away from Doyle. He chews his lip and then deliberately turns back around. He hasn't schooled his face into its usual expressionless mask. If he can't be vulnerable with Doyle then who else is there?

The book is forgotten. Doyle is on his feet and he is pulling Bodie into a hug.

"I'm sorry," Doyle mutters into Bodie's shoulder.

"No," Bodie says and he backs away just enough so he can look into Doyle's eyes. He grins. "Let's go for a run. You can ask any questions you want. I might even answer them."

Talking while they run will be easier. He won't have to see the look on Doyle's face when he tells him the things he's tried so hard to forget but has been unable to. It's okay if Doyle knows. Doyle is his family now.
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