Thank you to Martina McBride for the idea. I've listened to this song constantly the last few days and it deserved to be used in one of my Bond/M stories. Reviews welcome as always, Enjoy.
I'm Gonna Love You Through This
Bond/M
James arrived a few minutes earlier than usual and walked over to Eve's desk and took a seat on the edge.
"Bond…off."
"Aren't you pleased to see me Eve."
Eve stopped typing and looked up at James and smiled fondly at him.
"Of course I am. How was the mission."
"Not too bad, only got shot once."
"Oh you poor thing, nothing too serious I hope."
"Just my shoulder."
Eve got up from her desk and walked around to stand in front of James. She placed her hand gently on his right shoulder, noticing the small groan that escaped his lips.
"Nothing serious huh, have you been checked out by medical."
"It's nothing, I'm fine."
"You know M will have you down there in minutes if she finds out."
"Then don't tell her." He smirked.
"James, I'm serious. Please, go to medical."
"I'll go after I've been to see her okay."
"Good, then I won't have to use force."
"Oh damn."
Eve's intercom buzzed and caused her to jump.
"Eve, is he here yet."
"Yes Ma'am, he's just arrived."
"Well, send him in will you."
"Yes Ma'am." She said, hanging up.
"I guess I'm going in then. See you later."
"Remember, medical."
"I won't forget, don't worry."
James got up and made his way into M's office. He walked over and stood in front of her desk.
"Take a seat Bond." She ordered.
As he sat down, he noticed that she didn't look quite like her usual self. She seemed distracted.
"Your mission was a successful one it would seem." She said, quietly.
"You're pleased."
"Well you managed to retrieve the £50 million, so yes…I'm more than pleased."
"Good and how have things been here, while I've been away."
"You've only been gone 8 weeks Bond, what's wrong with your shoulder." She asked, noticing him wince in pain.
"You don't miss a thing do you."
"Was that an answer to my question."
"It's nothing."
"It doesn't look like nothing."
"Don't worry, I'll go to medical, I promise."
"Very well."
"How are you."
"How am I, oh the usual. Nothing changes here Bond, drink?"
"Please."
He kept his eyes on her as she stood up from her desk. She looked as though she was in pain but she was clearly trying to hide it from him. As she went to pick up the bottle of scotch she gasped in pain, causing the bottle to smash on the floor. James was on his feet in seconds and at her side.
"Hey, you okay." He asked, his hand going around her waist, concerned for her.
"Get off me Bond, I'm fine."
"M…"
"I SAID I'M FINE."
James stood back and waited for her to get herself together. She walked back to her desk and sat down.
"You should go, get medical to have a look at that shoulder and then go home."
James could see she was on the verge of tears but she composed herself very well. He was in two minds whether to continue enquiries after her little episode but decided against it.
"I'll be off then."
"Good night Bond."
M watched as James walked out of her office and closed the door, only then did she let her tears flow.
Eve looked up as James emerged from M's office and saw the worry on his face.
"James, you okay."
"What's wrong with M."
"How do you mean."
"Is she ill."
"I've no idea, she had been a little distracted lately but if I'm honest, it's been so busy I guess there hasn't been time to really notice. I know she went down medical a few weeks ago and Lizzie has been in her office a lot but I just assumed it was to do with other Agents or you."
"Something's not right with her, she doesn't look well."
"I feel awful, I never even noticed."
"She wants me down there to get my shoulder checked. I'll see what I can find out."
"Lizzie won't tell you anything, patient confidentiality."
"Well I can at least try Eve."
James left the office and made his way downstairs. When he arrived, Dr Elizabeth Kearns was at her desk. She looked up and smiled when she saw him.
"James Bond, long time no see."
"Hi Lizzie."
"So what brings you down here."
"M wanted you to check over my shoulder."
"What happened."
"I was on a mission, what do you think happened."
"Did you remove the bullet yourself again."
"I might have done."
"For christ sake James, how many times do you need to be told. It needs done properly, by a professional."
"Last time I swear."
"Like I believe that, come on through and sit up on here."
James did as he was told and sat on the examination table as Lizzie removed his jacket and shirt to reveal the badly stitched shoulder.
"Well this is a lousy job you've done on yourself."
"I did my best."
"Bloody fool. These will have to come out right now."
She got the tools she needed and took out the stitches made by James and cleaned the wound before doing the job properly herself. James watched her intently as she cleaned him up.
"Lizzie, I need to ask you something."
"Oh yes and what might that be. If you're going to try to seduce me again then you can bugger off. Your charm doesn't work on me anymore."
"I need you to be serious for a minute."
She looked up at him and saw worry on his face, something she'd never seen from him before.
"Okay, go on."
"What's going on with M."
Lizzie looked away from him and passed him his shirt and jacket before walking across the room to get him some painkillers for his shoulder.
"Take two of these after a main meal for a week, it will help with the pain."
"Lizzie, answer my question."
"James don't do this."
"I know she's been here to see you and that you've been in and out of her office the last few weeks. Something's wrong."
"I can't tell you, patient…"
"I know, patient confidentiality but this is M we're talking about. Come on Lizzie, her Son and Daughter are half way across the world, they barely speak, her Husband's long gone, she has no one except us. If she's ill then she'll need us."
Lizzie walked over to her filing cabinet, containing all the medical reports on every employee of MI6 and opened the top drawer before walking to the door.
"You never saw me to this Bond, I'm going to get a coffee. I want everything back the way you found it, understood."
"Thank you, I mean that."
"If she finds out it was me."
"She won't, I'll take full responsibility."
James watched Lizzie walk away and got down from the examination table and went over to the filing cabinet and scrolled down the names and found the file marked M. He took it out of the drawer and began to read through the first few bits of paper and panic set in. He re-read it 3 times trying to take in the fact that she had breast cancer.
To Be Continued…
