Stand Tall and Fight
Bond/M
James had returned to work 2 weeks after M had ordered him to take a holiday. After everything that had taken place at Skyfall with Silva, James had gone above and beyond his duty to her. When she was recovering in hospital from her gunshot wound, James had never left her side, except to change or eat. When she had finally been allowed to go home, he had insisted on staying in her guest room to help her recouperate. M had been dead set against the idea but James wasn't a man who would accept no for an answer.
During the time he spent with M at her home, he had become well aware of the pressure she was receiving from the higher chains of command. When M had sent him on holiday , he'd made her promise him that she wouldn't give into Mallory and the department, so when he had returned to MI6 and walked into her office to find Mallory in her place, he wasn't happy.
"Ahh Bond. How nice of you to join us back in the land of the living."
"What the hell are you doing here, where's M?"
"As of last week, I am now the new M."
"WHAT. They fired her."
"She took early retirement. Wise decision in my opinion."
"You'll forgive me if I don't share your joy."
"Come on Bond, lets face it, she'd ran her course. The whole Silva fiasco was proof of that."
"M still has a hell of a lot to give. It's what she does best. She's not one to just sit around at home."
"Well maybe she should be. She's not exactly a young woman anymore."
"What the hell does her age have to do with anything. She's bloody good at this job, she's the best. She understands and treats the people who work for her with respect."
"Sentimental indeed." Mallory muttered.
"Excuse me."
"I accused M of being sentimental about you, remember. Perhaps it wasn't one sided."
James stood across from Mallory silently. He could try arguing with him but the truth was he was right.
"I'm not officially due back in here until tomorrow, so if you don't mind, I'll be going."
"As you wish. We'll see you tomorrow then."
"Sir."
James walked briskly to the door and slammed it shut behind him. There was no way he was letting this guy take over MI6.
M was sitting in her lounge listening to Joni Mitchell singing her classic Both Sides Now when she heard a knock at the door. She let out a big sigh as she got up to answer it. She opened it to find Bond standing on her doorstep.
"Bond. What the hell are you doing here."
"Can I come in."
"I suppose. Should I feel honoured that you used the front door for once."
"Are you going to stand there moaning about this or are you going to let me in."
She stepped aside and allowed him in. He made his way through to her lounge. When she followed him through, he was standing infront of her with his arms folded. Clearly by the look on his face, he wasn't happy.
"I didn't think you'd be back so soon." She said.
"Clearly."
"Bond I…"
"What the hell happened. What did we agree to before I left."
"I know, but…"
"M, you took early retirement. Why?"
"I'm just not good at it anymore."
"Don't be ridiculous, ofcourse you are."
"People are dead because of me. Maybe they were right, perhaps I am too old for this now."
James could see all the energy in her had deflated. She had lost her determination, that glow she had. He moved closer to her and took hold of her hand and guided her over to the sofa, making her sit down beside him.
"Look, I know that you feel awful about the deaths of those Agents but it wasn't your fault. Silva is the one who caused all this and then he shot you. You have to stop blaming yourself and you can't let people like Mallory push you out of a job you were destined for."
"Nothing seems to be going right at the moment."
"Well drinking won't help you either." He said, noticing the 2 empty wine bottles on the table.
"You're one to talk."
"There you are then, I know what I'm talking about, don't I."
"Why do you care so bloody much. As long as you get your job done, why does it matter to you who's running things."
"I don't like him. He's not you."
"What if I can't make it through this Bond."
"You will. You're a strong willed, independent woman and you have me, Tanner, Q and Moneypenny to back you up. You can do this. Stand tall and fight."
Fin xxx
