"Well, what the hell was he doing following me?"
Tanner wipes his brow nervously. "Not sure ma'am but Q contacted Bond while we were in the mountains and out of a coverage area."
"Christ…Tanner this will look bad and here I am trying to mollify the Americans after the last Bond driven fiasco in Florida. I will throttle him when he awakes….do you think he has internal injuries?"
"We should take him to hospital."
"No, this cannot come out….Tanner look in my files…there is a Dr. Mallard listed. Get him on the phone now."
Tanner jumps to work in the suite as M moves to the bedroom to check on Bond.
M brushes his hair with her fingers allowing herself this private moment with her best agent. She does not play favourites but he is unconscious and she has patched him up as well as her training allows.
"My dear boy what have you gotten yourself into now?"
Tanner calls for her and she leaves the room to take the phone.
"Dr. Mallard, hello this is an old friend from home that requires medical help through less than public channels...Yes, I understand who you work for now but there are oaths that predate your current obligations that I impress upon you now... Please bring your medical bag to the hotel that Mr. Tanner mentioned….this is between us Doctor….yes... you may refer to me as M….yes well I know that you are an intelligent man so any deductions who I am will be kept between us…yes…please hurry."
M looks at Tanner. "He is coming but I hope he doesn't piqué the interest of his superiors in what is the organization? NCIS…they have so many of the bloody things it no wonder anything gets accomplished at all. Bring up the file on Dr. Mallard will you Tanner."
"Here it is ma'am…member of SAS in Vietnam and Afghanistan in the 1980's, He is not only a pathologist but has degrees in phycology also."
"So I can have him check Bonds head while we are at it? What luck...an all in one doctor. I wish I could send a car for him but he will have to make his own way here I just hope it's soon."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ducky gets off the phone with a perplexed look on his face.
"Mr. Palmer I have to take a personal day…something has come up."
Ducky moves to gather all his medical equipment into his bag as Palmer looks at him confused.
"What should I tell the others?"
"Nothing but that I am taking a personal day Mr. Palmer."
"All right Dr. Mallard. I will hold down the fort while you are gone."
"I trust you Jimmy…goodbye."
Ducky moves out the back door quickly and gets in his car. Knowing that he better make it fast if there is an injured British agent on US soil…damn conflicts of interest but that woman…M she got him on a technicality.
When you enter a military service you swear oaths to that country and he did…he is an honourable man and will live up to them.
A short while later Ducky's ushered into a suite by a Mr. Tanner. There are security men on either side of the external door. Who ever they are guarding is important. A woman exits the room and looks up at him.
Ducky is not usually one to be struck dumb but she is lovely…very lovely.
"Doctor could you follow me?"
"Yes…yes of course."
There is a blonde man on the bed who looks like he's been run over. Better get to work.
After a preliminary investigation Ducky looks at the patchwork done already.
"Who patched him up?"
"I did Dr. Mallard. What is his condition? Are there any internal injuries that need tending too?"
"No…he is severely bruised and quite deeply. I have some drugs that I will give you to be administered after, since you likely do not what to visit a pharmacy or clinic for him. I have injected him with something that will help for now and some ice for the swelling should do the trick."
The woman visibly relaxes upon hearing that her agent will be fine.
"Doctor I would like you to stay with us to watch Bond's progress."
"I do have obligations elsewhere…"
"Yes but I assume you took a personal day to help us so you can at least be my guest at lunch."
Ducky smiles at the thought of spending more time with this lovely woman and nods his head.
"It would be my honour madame…shall we."
The doctor gentlemanly extends an arm which she takes.
"Mr. Tanner we are going for lunch please keep an eye on Bond."
"Yes, ma'am…but please take both security guards."
M frowns at him with one of those looks.
"M…please you know you have to after what happened."
"All right…calm down it is just to the café here in the hotel…I won't even step outside."
"One guard then."
"Tanner…fine…one guard."
The two leave the room and M pauses. "Todd your with me and Johnson you stay here."
"Yes, ma'am."
Ducky looks at the lovely profile of the woman he is escorting to lunch and whispers in her ear.
"Special branch?"
M nods and smiles.
"Years ago I met a man who worked in special branch and he had the name M…the letter. I take it that your Em is not a short form for Emma or Emily and that you share the letter and the position."
M smiles at the handsome charming doctor and whispers back.
"How do you think I found you name in my files Dr. Mallard?"
Ducky smiles. "Please call me Ducky all my friends do."
The get a table and the guard stands by the door of the café watching all those who walk by carefully.
"So Ducky we cannot discuss our work…what would you like to talk about?"
"We can talk about home…if you are married…the war…I love corgis."
M laughs. "How very English of you Ducky…corgis. I do not have pets…my agen….employees are my pets and I was married but am recently widowed. You are not married and never have been but you went to very nice schools and do some very good work for your current organization."
"I do not know whether to be faltered or scared that you know that much."
"I don't mean to unnerve you Ducky and I am sorry for the recent loss of you mother."
Ducky's unnerved by her but not just what she was able to find out so quickly but by her…her eyes are compelling and her lovely face. He could get lost staring at her…there is power about her…a grace…danger…she is provocative…everything about her is alluring.
Ducky ponders the empires that have and could fall at her feet…like Cleopatra.
M was born in the same era as him…she is obviously brilliant and cunning to get where she is. She dresses professionally and not at all dowdy. Her clothing speaks of the famed fashion districts of London. The smell of her perfume is as disarming as her smile. M's appearance creates the illusion of a much younger woman with all the experience that only age and wisdom bring.
"I have not been home since…I can't remember, maybe you could tell me?"
M laughs. "2005, London and Edinburgh."
The two of them talk about a variety of topics but nothing more personal. M is a beautiful compelling woman who is, from what Ducky can gather the head of MI6. That she gave him any personal information about her marital status and job at all shows she has judged him to be trustworthy or…"
"You are looking at me strangely Ducky…what is the matter?"
"I just realized that you told me through actions and words some very personal things about yourself and I cannot help but wonder if I will make it out of here alive."
M leans over the table and pats his hand. "Alive…I still need you."
They both laugh and Ducky is very happy she still needs him, because he feels…like he has not in a very long time…attracted to someone.