Okay; so this it my first James Bond fic so don't hate me if it sucks. I started it before I saw Quantom of Solace by the way so if things aren't up to speed I apologize. Also I wrote this pretty late at night so if it may not seem to all fit together I apologize again. Just one of those nights were you can't sleep so you find something to do but your brain may not function completely. I'm only going to post two chapters for now and see how things go. If I get too many flames for it then I won't continue. Again I'm new with this whole aspect so be gentle.

I own nothing dealing with Casino Royale, Quantom of Solace, or any other movie I may mention. Everything is completely made up so please for those of you out there who may think it's real; it's not.

Thanks for reading and reviews are welcome.

Enjoy!

Chapter One

"I was quite enjoying my time off M." The young double oh' planted his self in the chair across from hers. "Was it really necessary to call me back?"

"Stop being such an ass Bond." The older woman looked up from the file she'd been reading. "You and I both know you hate being on holiday."

"That was a while ago; things have changed," He pointed out.

'Yes they have; but that's not one of them." M eyed him thoughtfully. "Besides this has nothing to do with MI6."

"Really?" James was curious. "In that case I'm all ears."

"This non cholant act of yours is already getting old." M informed. "And it's a personal favor to me. Something that no one else is to know about."

There had been times before when she'd had him do assignments that no one needed to know about. But something in her eyes; in her voice told him that this time it was different. That it was one hundred percent personal. Which also told him that if anyone else was good enough to do the job she'd rather have them then him. But in the end she knew he would do whatever it took she see that things went the way they were suppose to.

Though he wasn't so sure he wanted to get involved in another one of these given what had happened to them over the last year he felt he owed it to her. She'd saved his career on more then one occasion. Had helped him see that Vesper had cared about him; had taken her own life in order to save his. It had taken a lot of lives and brooding to get it through his head.

"What is it this time?" James questioned. "Please don't tell me stopping another terrorist. I don't think I can deal with many more of those."

Dropping a file on his side of the desk M sat back in her chair. "Her name is Alleria Takarov. Ex American Intelligence officer. There have been some attempts on her life in the last month. The first I'm not too concerned about. However someone did try to run her car off the road then come back once it was done to make sure she was dead. And the third time someone tried to blow up her house. We believe their connected to the work she use to do considering most of it is classified even beyond my clearance level."

Already he knew where this was going. She was going to want him to play baby sitter. Something he had only done twice and hated it both times. None the less he reminded his self; he owed her.

Opening the file he noticed right off the bat that there was no picture with her dossier. So either she was extremely unattractive or hated having her picture taken. Either way it didn't matter to him. Eyes going to the information laid out he was surprised to see that more he read the more he became impressed.

Three years in the American Marines she was recruited by the CIA; and agencies that no one was suppose to know about; ten years ago. Having served two tours overseas with a recon force she had received the Medal of Valor, Medal of Honor, purple heart, and silver star. Trained in disarming bombs; several types of weapons and a list of martial arts about as long as his forearm she was a government agencies wet dream.

Flipping up one page he noticed that the reason she left wasn't listed. Normally that wouldn't sit well with him but given the nature of his work he could understand when something needed to be kept off the record. At least off the ones that everyone and their brother with a moderate security level would have access to.

"With skills like this she could take on a group of twenty men or more and come out without a scratch." James offered his opinion. "Why give her a protection detail?"

"The one time I don't expect you to ask any questions and you go and disappoint me." M rested her head against the back of her chair.

"You telling me that let's me know that this is more then personal for you. It's personal." James emphasized the last word.

"Given our recent history I'd say you have a right to know." M agreed. " I've come to believe that there are people in the upper echelons of American Intelligence that can not to be trusted with this. Though she hasn't been in completing hiding since leaving she has kept a reasonably low profile. It would be difficult to find her unless you were someone of great importance or willing to put in a lot of man hours. And because of the nature of her job they are privy to information most people are not. Which in turn means I can't be sure that keeping her safe will be their top priority. "

"I sense there's something more." James prompted.

"She's also my only niece." M confessed. " My brother Paul's only child."

"Given the fact that your brother is British and I'm surmising her mother Romanian it begs the question of how did she come to work for the American's?" James pondered. "Don't you have to be a citizen to work for their intelligence network?"

"My brother was MI6; Katariana, her mother; was Romanian secret police. Both very well adapted in their careers." M explained. "Their work for both services regarding terrorism caught the attention of the president of the United States and his people. They were asked to join with American Intelligence on a temporary basis. But when they saw things getting done decided to ask them on permanently. Both were given citizenship status. Hence the reason why Alleria was able to follow in their footsteps. As soon as Hunter; the CIA director at the time; found out she had declined their offer and joined the marines he pulled out all the stops to get her to join. Finally she did."

"Does she regret it now that it's come back to bit her on the ass?" James wondered.

"Honestly I couldn't tell you." M shrugged. " As far as she's concerned I know nothing about the attempts made on her life. But a fair warning Bond when she does find out my plan; and that you're involved; they'll be hell to pay."

I swear that woman has esp sometimes, Alleria quipped.

Making her way through the small lobby and hallway to the elevator used specifically for those employed by MI6 the young woman didn't know why she was so surprised that her Aunt had called to say that she would like her to stop in for a talk while she was in London.

Having been there several times both as a niece and Intelligence agent those who were acting non cholant as they guarded the elevator were use to seeing her and gave no more then a small wave and nod of the head as she stepped into the small space and pushed the button for the floor to MI6 headquarters.

Despite the fact that she was going on thirty five years old and had been in danger more times then she cared to remember M still kept tabs on her like a hawk. Being the director of the majesty's secret service; the equivalent of the CIA and other agencies that no one really knew about; gave her access to all sorts of privileged information. Like the time she'd called to tell the young Romanian woman not to go too wild and crazy while on liberty after her first tour back from overseas. She'd just confirmed the plans for Cabo San Lucas fifteen minutes before the phone had rang.

Though she'd gotten her out of more sticky situations then she cared to admit. Had been there for her when the man she'd thought she'd known; thought she'd loved; betrayed her it was becoming a bit ridiculous. After her parents had passed away; god rest their souls; it had gotten to the point of being unbearable. Protecting her from the world this late in the game was pretty damn worthless as far as she was concerned.

Having been stabbed, shot at, blown up, and a number of other unsavory things over the years Alleria was use to cheating death. Was use to living her life on the edge and up until about three years ago had liked it that way very much. But the normal part of her life had somehow intertwined with the career part and things had never been the same. Thankfully a long talk with the older woman had straightened things out. Or so she'd thought until she'd gotten a phone call from her when heading back to her hotel from a friends house.

A quick trip to the rainy city had been her first stop before heading to Colorado and her favorite resort for a month or so of R and R. Friends that still lived here from her time working with MI6 she'd kept in touch with them over the years and promised that as soon as she was able she'd come to visit. Now that she was no longer under the governments thumb it was easier to travel. To have time to do things; go places without worrying about completing a mission.

Actually she should probably retract part of that statement. She was still under their thumb to a certain extent. Even though she'd never been considered a traitor; would never even think of becoming one; they still looked her up from time to time. Being privy to as much sensitive material as she had been when she was an agent it was easy to believe that if possible she could sell that information to the highest bidder and make a lot of money.

Thankfully she had a conscious; and courtesy of the agency; more then enough money to keep her comfortable for the rest of her life even if she spent it like a fiend. Besides America had been extremely good to both her and her parents. Why do something to a nation that had given her one; well two; of the greatest jobs she could ever think of. Though due to her thick accent she had gotten some strange looks after nine- eleven when going through the airports.

Bottom line was she would never betray what she considered her country and was curious as all get out about why her Aunt wanted to see her so bad. Planning to see her anyway before she headed out the older woman had been so busy that Alleria was beginning to think that she should call and chat with her on the phone then try to actually see her on another visit. Then she'd received the call from her and decided to extend her stay another day.

Stepping out of the elevator she started down the hall; the sound of her hiking boots muffled by the plush dark blue carpet that filled the hallway. Another thought dawned on her as she placed her bag and belt in the plastic bucket on the conveyor that stood beside the metal detector. Had the American government done a check on her in the last month or so and found out about the attempts on her life? Then called M when they feared she was more danger then she was admitting to?

Taking off her boots and placing them with the rest of her things she tried to recall any strange visits that she'd had over the last month or so. The only thing that remotely popped into her head was when she'd gone to the CIA headquarters in Langley for her yearly review. Again though she was no longer with the Intelligence community she was considered high risk because of the amount of information she'd had access to. That in turn required her to go through a background check and lie detector test every year. When she'd been there they'd brought up the fact that in the past week or so recent activity concerning her many different alias' had gone up quite a bit.

Three hours into what should've been a half hour trip they realized there was nothing in her past that would raise that kind of flag. No leaks that they'd been able to find or pinpoint but they'd keep looking. She'd told them good luck and left. It was hard telling what or who could've found out her true identity. The list of her missions; both successful and unsuccessful was as long as the Constitution and Declaration of Independence put together.

Thanking the guard once he gave her the go ahead she grabbed her messenger bag and used one of the nearby chairs to put her boots back on. Tying the laces her eyes widened as a thought dawned on her. Four days after coming home from Virginia the first attack had happened. Was it possible that someone inside the CIA was telling her enemies; those who's organizations she'd destroyed; her true identity?

Human greed was a scary thing. For the right price someone would sell their mothers soul. Chills ran down her back at the thought that someone she'd trusted with her life at one point was selling out to people who thought killing innocent woman and children was a way to garner attention to their cause.

Suddenly her head was spinning with the possibilities as she headed the rest of the way down the hall towards where her aunts secretary sat. Shaking it gently she decided that now was the not the time to dwell on it. Nothing had happened for at least a week. Then again she'd been traveling. However if someone was smart about it they could make it look like nothing more then a vacation gone wrong.

Those thoughts were for another time. Right now she had to figure out why her Aunt had mysteriously returned her phone call the day she was suppose to leave. And why the hair on the back of her neck stood up in warning when Money Penny looked up at her; smile not as genuine as it usually is.

"Alleria! It's good to see you again." The secretary got up and came around the desk to give the young Romanian woman a hug.

"You too Mon." Alleria returned the sentiment. "How have you been?"

"Good." The other woman stepped back. "Getting sick of all these male agents. You'd think they'd have more then two female double oh's."

"Believe me you don't have to tell me about too much testosterone." Alleria waved her off. "I was in the American marines for five years. I got enough of it to last a life time."

"I'm sure being as gorgeous as you are you had to deal with your fair share of come ons as well." Mon sat back down behind her desk.

Raising an eyebrow at the other woman; who was suddenly extremely intent on her blotter Alleria instantly knew something was wrong. The way the other woman was acting told her that her Aunt at least knew about the attempts on her life. Now what exactly she had up her sleeve was something the young Romanian was going to have to find out on her own.

"As sweet a woman as you are Money Penny I find it odd that you'd pay that much of a compliment to me given the fact that you've known me for the last twenty years or so." She held up her hand. "Let's see; I'm not your boss, you didn't forget my birthday, and I'm pretty sure you don't need a favor from me. That leaves only one thing."

"And what would that be?" She wondered.

"That my Aunt has something up her sleeve and you know all about it but were ordered not to tell me." Alleria offered. "How am I doing so far?"

"I have no idea what you talking about." Money Penny refused to look at her.

"You're an extremely terrible liar; you know that?" Alleria told her.

"How do you know I'm lying?" Money Penny asked.

"Because you won't look at me and you're fidgeting. Classic signs that you're lying right through your perfect white teeth." Alleria informed.

"I swear I'm not lying." Money Penny tried again. "Your Aunt hasn't told me anything other then the fact that she's expecting you."

Watching as the other woman bit her bottom lip Alleria knew she only had to push a little farther before getting the secretary to spill what exactly it was her lovely but meddling Aunt had in the works.

"Oh come on Mon." She pouted. "You know that sooner or later I'm going to get it out of you so why make it hard?"