James Bond/Gareth Mallory
Chapter 1
…
James strode through the halls of MI6 towards the outer office of M to see Eve hard at work, looking up she eyed him and gave him a polite smile as he approached her desk and sat just on the edge, arms folded watching her.
"What is it James…I'm busy?"
"I'm just here to see M, she said it was important."
"Then why are you sitting here distracting me then when you ought to be in there."
"It's nothing serious is it? I know she's not been quite herself since Skyfall."
"James, she nearly died…it will take some time for her to get back to normality."
"Yeah I know it will…I just worry about her." He smiled.
"She ought to feel honoured then. There aren't many people you can say that about." She teased.
"What are you talking about…I care about you…and Bill and Q."
"And…?"
"And what?"
Oh nothing, go on…you better not keep her waiting."
James removed himself from Eve's desk and walked towards M's door, knocking to hear her invite him in. Closing the door behind him, he made his way over to her desk to see her with her back to him, reading over a file.
"Oh James, take a seat…I'll just be a moment."
James made a move to sit opposite her desk before she turned and stopped him.
"Not there James, the sofa."
"The sofa?"
"Yes, it's an informal chat…go sit down…Scotch?"
"Please." He replied, taking a seat on the sofa, waiting for her while she prepared the drinks.
She made her way over to him, passing him a glass before setting hers on the table and sitting down beside him.
"So…glad to be back?" She asked.
"Sure."
"How much damage did you cause this time…does Q need to de-stress?"
"Very funny, minimum damage to the car."
"I'm surprised."
"Yeah well…he worked very hard on this car…I thought it best to be extra careful with it."
"If only you could do that on other occasions."
"Then I wouldn't be me and you wouldn't get to yell at me and I know how much you enjoy that." He joked.
"Yes well, an old woman needs her small pleasures in life."
"So come on then…you said you had something important to talk to me about…what's wrong?" James asked, suddenly worried.
"Nothing's wrong as such."
"M?" He warned.
"Okay, I'm just going to say it. The last few months have been somewhat hard, Silva…Skyfall, the thought I might lose this job."
"Don't forget nearly dying."
"Quite…which is why I've come to a decision."
"Go on."
"I've thought long and hard about this and I've decided that I'm going to retire…semi."
"You're…retiring. You are joking."
"No James, I'm very serious."
"You can't retire, this place needs you. You're M."
"James, this job...MI6 has been not just a part of my life but all of my life. It's taken me away from my Son and Daughter…my Grandchildren. Nearly dying at the hands of Silva has put so many things in to perspective and it's not as though you'll be losing me completely."
"How does one semi retire exactly?"
"I've been talking with the PM and I'm going to come in 2 days a week."
"Okay…and who runs the place the rest of the time?"
"Gareth Mallory has agreed to taking over the running of MI6."
"Mallory…so what, are we to call you both M and who do I report too?"
"You will report to Mallory directly and I will be brought in when necessary."
"No, you can't do this…you can't leave, we need you."
"James I'm not leaving altogether, I just can't do these long hours anymore. I need to spend time with my children, see my grandchildren grow up."
"Look, I do understand, of course I do but…"
"Mallory will fit in just fine."
"I've nothing against him, believe me."
"Oh I know you don't." She gleamed.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"You know…I think this is the first mission I've sent you on where you didn't bed anyone."
"How do you know I didn't?"
"Because normally you can't wait to talk about it, in fact the last few months, you've been somewhat reserved in that area."
"It's not exactly been the best of times lately; let's just say perhaps I'm not in the mood."
"You visited him in hospital what he was shot."
"How the hell do you…"
"I have my sources Bond."
"I was grateful okay…he saved you life in that courtroom."
"My dear boy…when are you going to wake up and take notice of what's right in front of you."
…
James got up and walked over to the window, M following him, handing him his glass.
"James…I'm making changes to suit me, to make me happy. Perhaps it's time you did the same."
"It was seeing him shot that did it, I thought I hated him. I convinced myself I hated him for trying to push you out."
"James he didn't push me out, if anything…Mallory was protecting me, he was trying to makes it easier on me."
"When he pushed you out of the way and fell like he did, I just…something inside just…"
"Tore at you, I do understand. I never imagined Gareth Mallory would be the one to take hold of James Bond's heart but…I guess it takes all sorts doesn't it, and please be assured that I am in no way criticizing you. Quite the contrary, I'm glad someone's finally broken though that tough exterior of yours."
"I always thought it would be you." He smiled, looking down at her.
"I do care for you James, as a mother would for her Son."
"Like wise." He smiled.
"I'm inviting Mallory for lunch tomorrow, a thank you for saving my life, it's overdue."
"How does he feel about putting up with me?"
"Actually, he seemed quite happy to take on the challenge of James Bond." She joked.
"M…"
"You should tell him about your feelings, don't waste time on maybe, take it from someone who knows. I still have time to make it up to my family, take a chance on him, he may surprise you."
"What if he's disgusted by my feelings?"
"Then he's not the man I thought he was, but honestly…you might be in for a surprise."
"Can I drive you home?"
"No, my Son's coming by to take me to dinner; I told him about my semi retirement…he seemed rather happy about it."
"I should probably go then."
"To his place?"
"M I'm not sure I…"
"James, don't…go and see him, do it for me."
"Suddenly you want a happy ending?"
"You don't have to sound so surprised, go and talk to him."
"Fine, for you."
James finished off his drink before placing the glass on M's desk. He came over and kissed her cheek before moving towards the door.
"Goodnight M."
"Good luck Bond." She said, smiling back at him.
…
James stood at the door of Gareth Mallory, nervousness building up inside him. M's wise words running over and over in his mind.
"Oh for god sake James, get a hold of yourself. You're a MI6 Agent, you can do this…you've done worse." He groaned to himself, running a hand over his face before knocking lightly on the front door. He straightened his suit jacket before looking up as the door opened. James could swear he stopped breathing as he took in the sight of the older man before him. Mallory had never looked so relaxed, dressed in jeans and a light blue shirt, the first few buttons opened.
"Bond." He smiled, in surprise.
"Sir, I'm sorry to just drop by unannounced but I…"
"No no…come on in."
Mallory stepped aside to allow James in before closing the door behind him and showing James through to the sitting room. James looked around, the red walls, wooden flooring, brown leather sofas, it was all very Mallory.
"Drink?"
"Please."
"Bourbon okay, I forgot to stock up when I was out."
"Bourbons just fine, thank you Sir."
Mallory poured the drinks before passing James his drink and taking a seat on the sofa by the wall.
"Do sit down Bond, I don't bite."
James smiled politely before taking a seat beside the older man.
"So, to what do I owe this visit? Is everything alright with M?"
"She's fine, she just told me about her retirement plans."
"Oh…I see. Look before you start on me, it wasn't my idea and I…"
"I didn't come here to start on you Mallory, M explained her reasons for retiring and I can't say I blame her, especially after everything she's been though. I can understand her wanting to spend more time with her family; I guess it just seems strange knowing I'll not see her everyday."
"You won't lose her Bond, she's a very big part of your life and MI6…we're sharing the job but I do need to know that you're okay with me being in charge…I know you haven't exactly warmed to me, not that I blame you I mean…"
"I didn't give you a chance when we first met and I'm sorry, you did a wonderful thing that I can never repay you for…you saved M's life. If you hadn't pushed her away when you did well, we wouldn't even be having this conversation right now."
"I know I was unconscious but…I am aware you came to visit me when I was taken to hospital."
"I needed to thank you."
James looked up at Mallory, his piercing blue eyes boring in to him. Mallory smiled softly at him and made a small gasp as James suddenly leaned in and covered his lips. Intuition told him too pull away immediately but James soft lips on his were playing havoc with his desire to think straight. James pulled back just enough to see confusion on Mallory's face, James hand stayed firmly on Mallory's wrist as he gave the smallest of smiles.
"I've shocked you, haven't I?"
"It was just…I can't say I'm not surprised Bond…you're the last man I would have suspected of being attracted to other men."
"Honestly, I can't say that I ever have before…you're the first."
"It's unexpected, why me?"
"You saved the life of someone I hold very dear to my heart and whilst I was always under the impression to were trying to force her out of MI6, she explained that it was entirely the opposite. When I first met you that day in her office there was something about you, I couldn't explain it."
"And now."
"You still make me feel something I didn't think was possible."
"If I'm to be your boss I'm not sure we can even…"
"Don't…don't say no just like that. It took a lot of courage for me to come here tonight and tell you this, it wasn't easy."
"Yes I know that and I'm James but I don't know if I can."
The smile on James face faded before he stood up and straightened his Jacket.
"I should go."
"James wait…"
"No…don't, just don't. Congratulations on the job Sir...it will be a pleasure working with you."
James quickly turned and walked out the door, leaving Mallory standing, his face full of mixed emotion.
…
To Be Continued…