Chapter 2 Coming Home to an Empty Flat.
Bond's flight got in by eight. He was dead tired, but headed to M's flat to give her the preliminary report. He would rather get it over with now, rather than having to deal with her yelling at him tomorrow at work.
M always took bad news better when distracted by how pissed off she was that he broke in yet again. She yelled at him and sometimes threw things, but had a stiff drink and then settled enough to take and ponder his report before ordering him out.
It seemed cruel to wind her up like that, but he just loved to see her riled up and livid. Her brows arched and her eyes flashed daggers, as she assessed what he told her in his reports.
Bond couldn't help but smirk, while thinking on her in such a state of agitation. He kissed her once...got a little brave after one too many at a pub after a mission. She froze him in his shoes. Bond had never made her more angry for his audacious assumption. She didn't say a word...she merely walked to the door and opened it for him to leave.
There was such danger, mixed with the anger in her eyes, that it made him uncomfortable enough to leave with his tail between his legs. The next day Bond played like he didn't remember that he crossed that line with her and M was more than happy to pretend like wise.
Bond thought of that often in the six months since it happened. He didn't know if it was just the alcohol that made him brave enough, or if it was because of her new flat and recently widowed status. Bond usually liked his women married...less mess. They just wanted some fun with him and he was more than willing to acquiesce.
M was different, in so many ways. A bit of fun was what he hoped she thought he was offering. He still blushed to think of that night. What would he have done if she caved to his advances?
The work environment would be very different if he had a job left at all. His feelings were both disappointed at her dismissal, and thankful that it did not ruin what the two of them share.
What they share was completely unquantifiable at this point. There are lurid fantasies and dreams that Bond has had where M has featured prominently. Luckily, he had been out on a mission for a month and unable to further make a fool of himself at her flat.
Bond entered his usual way and wandered around...something seemed off. M was not at home and it felt like she had not been here in awhile. Bond moved to look in her refrigerator, there was no food. He looked in the cupboard and nothing. Bond moved upstairs and looked in the closet. Most of her clothes were gone along with her suit case. Was she on vacation? Bond left and called Tanner.
/*\/*\
M spent the remainder of the week snooping around and getting the social dynamic of the place. M wandered to the west side to meet some of the couples. The person she was looking for would become visible at some point, or so she hoped.
She hid as much as possible from Jarrod, who had for some reason staked his claim on her. He always draped his arm over her chair and made any excuse to touch her. M played along to an extent, but she remained completely noncommittal.
This was all so boring...how in hell did they live like this? No wonder they switched partners so frequently. M had been told much of the, who's done what to whom from Doris and Janice.
Jarrod liked to make the rounds so to speak, but then left them soon after. Although, Janice insists that they've never seen him as obsessed as he was with her.
"He hasn't stopped talking about you since we met you." Janice insisted
Speak of the devil..."Ah, Emma there you are. I had hoped you would come for a walk with me." Jarrod called from across the library.
M tried not to roll her eyes, but he did live in a different part of the western village. This would give her access to another section of the estate. Jarrod lived in the married quarters because he moved here when his wife was still living.
"That sounds lovely. I still have not seen all the homes in the village. Shall we have a long adventure and go round the entire perimeter?"
"With you my dear I'm up for anything." Jarrod added a wink and a suggestive leer.
M held back the snarky comeback she had running through her head, through sheer force of will power. She smiled sweetly and took his arm.
/*\/*\
Bond stormed into the office. "Where is she Tanner?"
"007 you really need to learn how to knock. What if I was in the middle debriefing 009?"
"First; I don't think she would mind the interruption and I knew you were alone, since I passed her in the hall."
"Should I be concerned that you are watching my schedule that closely?"
"No you should be concerned about what I will do to you, if you do not tell me where M is."
"Why do you have to know? She could be on vacation with her children and not want to be reached."
"I've checked, and her children are in their homes with no sign of M. Q says her passport has not been used and therefore she's in the country somewhere. Why will you not tell me, when you obviously know where she is?"
"Because she ordered me not to." The intercom sounded in the room. Moneypenny's voice sounded out.
The retirement home you put M in called; to say that there will be a family day on Sunday this week. Will we be attending Bill?
"Not now Eve." Tanner said with stress in his voice.
Bond's eyes widen in shock. Eve comes into the office because of Tanners odd sounding voice to find 007 within.
"James, what are you doing here? I just left my desk for a moment."
"Long enough for me to get in and find out where you've stashed M. You put M in a bloody old folks home! Give it up now both of you!"
Tanner and Eve tell Bond that M was on a mission to a retirement community. Apparently the Russian Ambassador recently brought some old cases to the government. From what M believed to be an old operative who lived in the UK, in a luxury retirement village. M's fine, she reported to me this morning through secured channels and she should be able to find the source within a month tops."
"M's on a mission? Does she have her guard with her?"
"Yes and no. Why would M need a guard in a retirement village? Only Eve and I know where she is."
Bond tossed his arms up in frustration. "Get me in there as a physiotherapist or something. I will go scrounge up some proper clothes and leave as soon as Q can create my credentials."
"What? Why?"
"Tanner don't be obtuse. What if she is in danger from a former KGB spy? If he or she uncovers her snooping around what then? I need to go and be nearby just to help."
"I understand your protective nature Bond, but she's fine...all she has had to manage is to swat a few old man's hands off her knee."
Tanner had never seen such a look from 007 before. Frustration and anger came off him in a sudden flash.
"How is that not her in danger? Come on Tanner...have you not read about these retirement places and the...well...escapades that go on there between seniors. My god! It's like dropping a supermodel into the middle of an all boys dormitory Tanner!"
Tanner blushed red and began to stammer. "I...I had not...thought about that. I assumed...that..."
"That what...M's not attractive to the opposite sex Tanner? That older people don't have sex? I assure you that they do. Many of my marks are older men with very young women remember. We never stop thinking we're young. Damn it, Tanner in 20 years do you think all desire will have melted out of you because of the number on your birth certificate?"
"Fine. Go see Q. I will put you on reduced duty and you had better be a convincing physiotherapist Bond! Because M will be pissed that you're there."
"I will be, I've used the act before. Why on earth is M on a bloody mission?"
"Who else would blend in and never be expected Bond. We were going to use 009 as a nurse but M said that the rogue agent will be watching for any changes in staff. And by the by, I do know how attractive M is Bond, I do spend more time with her. You will have to be extra careful to stay off the radar."
"I'm not looking for her mark. I'm just there to look out for her. I will let her do the job and if anything gets sticky, I will get her out of harm's way. And Tanner...you don't find her...attractive on a personal level do you?"
Tanner crossed his arms and smirked at James. "I do and I know you do too."
Bond moves forward and gets in Tanner's face. "Yes...Tanner. We are not going to have a problem are we?"
Tanner straitened up and fixed his tie holding Bond's glare with one of his own. "Not so long as you never hurt her 007."
"Boys, calm down. Bond get your gear in order and go look after M." Eve said, after allowing the argument to go only so far between them. They had seemed to forget all about her presence in their pissing match over M.
To say she was shocked was an understatement. Eve knew M was an attractive woman, but she wondered if she had any idea that these two men hold her in such regard.
/*\/*\
The girls at the dining hall were all a twitter about something as M came to eat. She needed a stiff drink after spending so much time with Jarrod. The man talked about his accomplishments as if he ran the justice department itself.
"Emma, you must come here. Janice said that here is a new physiotherapist and he's the most gorgeous thing she has seen outside of a magazine." Helen pulled M into their circle.
"He will be doing water workouts in the pool daily and anything else we may need." Janice said suggestively.
M tried not to look completely bored by their exuberance, but she guessed that with only the occasional handsome doctor and yard workers to look at, this is big news to them. Christ, M had agents that put actors to shame. Bond would be an adonis to these women and some of the men here. Why did her mind automatically drift to 007? That was not a comforting peek into her own subconscious.
"Tomorrow at 11am for the first aqua aerobics class, we should all go." Doris said.
/*\/*\
Doris, Janice and Jarrod of all people, knocked on her door in the morning. They had their swimming suits and towels at the ready.
M walked in pace with Jarrod who made sure to monopolize her time as much as possible.
"I'm surprised you are coming with us Jarrod. I would have thought you we more into the dance classes offered."
"What and miss a chance to see you in a bathing suit? Not a chance."
M blushed despite herself. "Really Jarrod...you shouldn't exclude Janice in your comments. I think she has a crush on you."
"Really, I hadn't noticed. I've only had eyes for you since you moved here darling. I have just been waiting for you to invite me over for dinner."
"Oh. I'm sorry for not doing so earlier. Perhaps we can make it a foursome with Ivan and Elsa. I've been spending time with them in the gardens this week. Such a lovely couple."
Jarrod looked surprised, but smiled and nodded as they reach the pool and went to their change rooms.
M hadn't worn a swimsuit in a while. This one is cute, black with a flared skirt that pulled her in, in all the right places. She paused to look in the mirror. Not bad for her age...that's what Nigel always said to her as he patted her ass.
The sudden memory of him, pierces her heart a little. Time would mellow the hurt, but at least he didn't linger in illness like many of the widows and widowers here faced with their spouses.
M entered the pool area with the other women, all excited about the instructor who jumped out of the pool if front of them.
His blond hair dripped water down his torso, he stood in a pair of small black shorts, that showed the definition of his thighs, abs and arms enough to stop all further conversation. The collective sounds of ahhs, do not match the groan of contention from M as she shook her head.
"Bloody Bond." She whispered as his eyes meet hers. To her embarrassment Bond looked her up and down too. Jarrod noticed and moved closer to her side suddenly draping his arm over her shoulder, as he glanced down at her body in a swimsuit.
"Darling you look divine."
Bond began to speak. "Hello all, I am your new instructor, Bond, James Bond. How about we get everyone in the pool. I will need one volunteer." Bond moved through the group directly to M. "Ma'am would you be so kind as to join me on my platform."
They all moved into the water and Bond put them through the motions using M as his example. He touched her arms and legs, moved her into the correct position throughout the lesson.
M whispered, "what in hell are you doing here 007?"
"Apparently my boss went missing and I was concerned. Here I find her making time with some handsy old man in a luxury retirement home. What are you doing here M?"
"Not now. Village Green lane number 42 after tea."
The class ended and Bond was bombarded by the female attendees of the class.
"Mr. Bond, you are so inspiring. Tell us what brought you here?" Doris asked.
"Oh I couldn't stay away. I heard about all the lovely ladies in the area and could not resist." Bond says as he looked at M and climbed out of the pool.
Jarrod inserted himself between M and James as they walked up the steps out of the pool.
"Are you single Mr. Bond?" M asked with a smirk.
"Why yes I am Ms?"
"Tanner. Doris here has a bad back and I bet you do massage therapy don't you?"
"Why yes I do. Do you have any persistent problems I should be aware of Ms. Tanner?"
"Oh most definitely in my neck where I carry all my stress, on a scale of 0 to 7, usually 7 has always represented my worst level of pain. But I must not monopolize your time, not when Doris has been chomping at the bit to have help with her back." M smirked at him and Bond smiled at her analogy.
Doris and Jerrod looked confused by M's statement but Doris moved forward and touched Bond's arm. "Oh Mr. Bond could you really? I would be delighted. Where do you want me?"
Bond rolled his eyes and followed Doris toward the adjoining gym rooms. He turned to watch, as that man they called Jarrod took M away, back towards the changing rooms. Bond had a bad feeling about that man.
/*\/*\
M had tea with the group after their aquatics. The entire place was buzzing with news of James Bond's attributes and abilities. Janice asked her about being that close to the handsome young man...if she only knew.
Once Doris rejoined the group you couldn't have whipped the smile of her face. Her tales of Bond's talented hands made the other women envious. M just smiled and nodded in agreement. Jarrod, Jacques and David merely frowned with all the feminine attention now diverted to the new younger man. Bond always did create mayhem wherever he went and today he didn't even have to try that hard, to get them riled.
M avoided Jarrod after tea and took a trip into the garden to meet with Elsa. Elsa loved the flowers. "How are you today Elsa?"
"Fine dear, and how are you? I hear there is a new man in your life."
"What? Oh...you mean Jarrod...well he does try. And he would like to come to mine for dinner. I was hoping that you and Ivan would join so that I don't have to do it alone."
Elsa smiled at me. "You will get use to these new experiences eventually Emma after all, I met Ivan here. However, I was referring to the new physiotherapist that everyone is talking about."
"Oh yes, we all went to the pool this morning. You should join us tomorrow."
"Perhaps I will. We would like to meet the new man. You have really livened up this place Em. There have been many talking about you, your charm and beauty."
M looked at her shocked for a second, surprised by her using the shortened form of Emma. M recovered quickly and smiled bashfully.
"Well I can't imagine why, but I do count on you to come tomorrow evening around seven.
"We will come and be the buffer between you and Jerrod. I will bring the dessert."
M smiled and left Elsa to her flowers. She walked the path beyond the hedged area of the flower gardens and past the small wooded area. Suddenly Ivan appeared from the woods.
"Hello, Ivan. I just left Elsa in the gardens. I had hopes that you two will join me tomorrow evening for dinner. I hope you can manage my cooking." M paused when she noticed that Ivan was looking at her strangely.
"My dear, Elsa is not my wife."
"I know that Ivan, she mentioned that to me." M looked at him confused.
"She looks after me so that I don't talk. You are beautiful and smart...I know you are not some wealthy, widowed housewife. You catalogue this facility with your eyes...just as I do. I remember things...horrible...violent things...languages...so many. Comment allez-vous aujourd'hui belle dame."
"Je vais bien. That hardly means anything Ivan. We all took some French in school."
Ivan grasped her shoulders with a sudden crazed look in his eyes. "IVAN!" M hears Elsa call out from behind the hedges. Ivan looked around panicked and disappeared back into the woods. Elsa came around into view.
"Oh Em. Have you seen Ivan? He was supposed to meet me by now in the garden. We always meet at this time."
"No...no I'm afraid I haven't Elsa. Perhaps toward the main house."
"I will look there now. See you tomorrow for dinner dear."
M walked away but kept glancing towards the wooded area, afraid that Ivan waited to accost her again, once Elsa disappeared.
M made it back to her flat and entered as a hand clamped over her mouth.
"No!" M's muffled scream emptied against the large masculine hand.