Title: Desert HeatAuthor: Iolana Khenemet
Fandom: JB - Goldeneye
Rating: T
Summary: 006 and 007 in trouble
Warnings: swear words
Beta: Thanks to CaptainMac
A/N: Merry Christmas to everyone. I haven't been as active recently as I would have liked to be but I'm still around and still working on my WIPs like TTT and "listen how the Madrigal sings" but have a few difficulties with them. Meanwhile, I hope you'll enjoy this.
Disclaimer: James Bond is the creation of Ian Fleming. The characters in the story are the property of Ian Fleming and the filming companies that produce Bond Films (United Artists, MGM, Eon). No copyright infringement intended. No profit is gained by this work.

"Your journey ends here, Mr. Bond."

007 gritted his teeth as they tied his left foot to the last remaining pole, which had been driven deeply into the desert sand, and pulled the rope tight. He tested the bindings immediately only to find that they were unrelenting and that he could barely move. He stared up at The Barracuda defiantly. "That remains to be seen."

The man known as The Barracuda snorted and smirked. "We'll see indeed. I'll come back and have a good laugh at the bleached bones that'll be all that's left of you." The megalomaniac turned to leave but stopped to speak once more. "I hope you enjoy your visit to our beautiful desert." He looked over to the jeep and shook his head. "Too bad that your partner seems to intend to miss the show."

Two men dragged 006 from the jeep and tied him to another set of poles next to Bond. Concerned, 007 noted that 006 was not struggling, which meant that he was still unconscious. Alec had not moved once while they had been brought here. Damn, just how badly was he hurt? James tried to get a better look at his partner but even though the moon was full, light was too dim for him to make out any details.

Barracuda tipped a mock salute at his hat and jumped into the waiting jeep. His men cheered and fired shots of triumph into the night sky. The cars drove away and disappeared into the night, taking both their laughter and their insults with them.

"Alec?" Bond asked but only the sounds of the desert at night answered him. Grimly he flexed his hands. Although the ropes were tight, he could still move his fingers and twist his hand slightly. He could not reach the bonds themselves though, which was bad. For once, 006 and 007 were in far over their heads. No, he corrected himself. They were in deep, deep shit.

A moan was the first sign that his partner was regaining consciousness. "Alec?" When 006 did not reply, Bond repeated his question.

Alec groaned again, then broke into a coughing fit. Panting, he asked, "James?"

"Right beside you. How are you?"

"Fine."

Sure and elephants could fly. Bond was one hundred per cent certain that this was an outright lie. Alec's next remark really made the alarm bells ring.

"Don't worry. Been…worse."

Bond sighed but did not inquire further since Alec would obviously not give him a straight answer. "Can you move?"

"Give me a…moment."

From the suppressed grunts and groans that he heard, James suspected that 006 was struggling with the bindings. Unsuccessfully, as it seemed from the frustrated and pained curse that followed.

"Not really." After a moment Alec asked, "Where're we?"

"In the Sahara."

"Oh. That's great." James' colleague drew a few shaky breathes before he asked, "James? I know you love...a good quip but did you have to –" Alec coughed and continued, "compare the size of his balls with that of peas?"

"Sorry, Alec. I didn't expect him to take it out on you."

"Is all right. He deserved it." After a moment Alec asked, "If we're in the Sahara…then why's it so cold?"

James, who had been unsuccessfully tugging at the ropes again, felt his temper getting the better of him. "You had the same desert survival course as I, didn't you, 006?" James snapped. "You'd better concentrate on getting out of this than on the cold."

"I am," Alec replied, teeth chattering. "It's just – it's so cold, like ice."

Although his body shivered now and then, James did not find it that cold. He shot a worried glance into his friend's direction although he could not see him. That mumbled answer was nothing like Alec, who normally would have snapped back. James swallowed back both his anger and impatience and calmly said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you."

A faint "All right" was all he got as an answer. James sighed in helpless frustration and renewed his struggles. Since tugging and twisting did not work, he urged himself to think about anything that might be of help. But his watch was gone, and the gadgets in their boots were unreachable. This situation was so damn frustrating that he had the sudden urge to slam his head against something. But that would only drain his energy, and he needed every bit of it, especially since it was clearly up to him to get them both out of this. If only he knew how…

He had been lying there, his mind working in overdrive, when a sound between howling and laughter filled the night. Hyenas, James realised. "Don't worry, they won't come near until they're convinced we're dead."

"Great…so kind of them."

The sun was slowly creeping over the horizon and was stretching her rays out over the shifting sand. On any other day the sight would have been spectacular. Today it was an omen of death. Right now, James' cooled-out body welcomed the warmth but there would not be much time until it became unbearable hot. Now, with a bit more lighting, James looked at his partner and pressed his lips together. As he had suspected, Alec was far from being 'fine.' His left eye was almost completely swollen shut and blood had dried under his nose and some more covered his lips and chin. James could just hope that it was merely from minor head wounds since those tended to bleed strong but often were much less severe than they looked.

007 looked around. Only sand greeted his sight, red sand wherever he looked, and there was even more sand after he had blinked. He had grains on his face, in his mouth and more grains under his shirt. James lifted his head to examine the bindings at his legs. The ropes were as tight as they felt, as were the bindings at his left wrist. With desperation he turned his head to his right. The sun reflected on something half buried in the sand near his hand. He craned his neck to get a better look.

It was his watch and it was mere inches away from his fingers. 007 pulled at the ropes, pushed against the wooden pole, tried to work his fingers into the knots but the only thing he achieved was that the bounds dug into his skin. Blood trickled down where the rough fabric had scraped the skin off. James could have shouted in frustration. Rescue was so near and still out of reach.

Hungry sun rays licked at his body, giving James a taste of the heat that was to come. He closed his eyes for a moment to regain a bit of strength. Just a moment before he would try again…

Suddenly Bond heard a shuffling noise and a whine next to him. He turned his head and stared right into the eyes of a Hyena. "Piss off!" The animal fled, not without sending a shower of sand over James, who coughed and quickly looked to his right. Had the animal trampled his watch into the ground? He could have sung in joy. One of the paws had kicked the watch sideways, towards him. Ignoring the pain in his wrist, he stretched his fingers and grasped it. Immediately he activated one of the tiny built-in gadgets and cut the rope. The other bounds followed quickly.

As soon as he was free, he rolled to his feet and moved over to his partner, who looked even worse from close up. When he touched Alec's throat to check the pulse, he found that his skin was sticky with cold sweat.

Alec moaned at the touch. "James?" His eyelashes fluttered and then he looked at James with his healthy eye, slightly confused.

James grinned at him. "A Hyena rescued us." He withdrew his hand and freed Alec as fast as possible.

Sighing and with an effort, Alec sat up. He flexed his hands and moved his feet and legs as good as he could to get the circulation running.

Bond did the same after he had activated the distress signal. Hopefully, help would be nearby. "I don't know when they can extract us. We need to move."

Alec nodded and looked at him. "Give me a hand?"

"Sure." Carefully James pulled his partner up and steadied him when Alec threatened to fall. "How are you?"

"Just a few bruises and a bit shaky. It'll pass."

James looked him over and found that Alec really looked better. One hurdle was taken, they were free. That did not mean they were safe, though. The heat would kill them within a few hours unless they found some shade behind the next dunes.