"Q, you do realise that I don't usually make house calls?" M asked in a dull voice.

The ex-Quartermaster just blinked. It was late and he was tired. The lights of his apartment were set dim. "Can I get you anything, sir?"

"We'd like you to come back. Whatever reason made you leave, I'm sure we can fix it."

Q chuckled quietly. The "problem" was currently lying naked in his bed. Naked. Probably listening to this conversation.

Mallory let his eyes wonder in the apartment now that his eyes were accustomed to the semi-darkness. He noticed a tie on the sofa. Q didn't wear ties if it could be avoided, Mallory knew. Besides the boy wonder seemed to be a tidy sort of person so the discarded tie was probably someone else's. Yet it looked familiar. "Q, say something," Mallory prompted to him to answer.

"Sir," Q said, "I'm no longer the Quartermaster."

"Was it because of 007?" Mallory suddenly asked walking towards the bedroom. The door was ajar. "He's quite a handful."

With quick strides M was by the bedroom door turning the light on.

"Shit," cursed Q silently.

At least Bond had had the decency to cover his naked body with the sheet.

"Evening, 007"

"M."

Mallory turned to look at Q who was currently red as beetroot. "Well, then. I expect to see you in my office nine o'clock sharp, Q"

Then M was gone.

"Coming, Q?" a raspy voice asked from the bedroom.