He had been working for at least three hours undisturbed, having already sunk lower than his chair's surface since he had been too busy to pay attention to his position, when he heard rustle from outside. It sounded like arguing first then some heavy furniture – supposedly the desk blocking the entrance – being moved forcefully to the side. Just that moment the door swung open and a ruffled-looking Alec Trevelyan aka 006 stood there, obviously having just returned from field without even showering and changing first. He stopped in mid-step, staring at him open-mouthed, eyes wide as saucers.

"What the hell!?" – The agent gave an undignified yelp of horror.

Q just stared back at him, totally lost. He didn't know what to say or do. The man had been away on a long-term assignment abroad for the last half a year, and seemingly everybody had forgotten to inform him of the recent happenings. Finding your transparent Quartermaster sitting on the floor, inside a chair, with colorless blood still visible on his back where he had been shot was certainly not the optimal way to find out such news.

"006. Welcome home." – He managed to say in a nearly normal voice as he backed out of the chair and carefully stood up. – "I didn't know you were back already. Otherwise I would have had someone warn you about… this." – He finished, indicating to his semi-visible body with a nervous little laugh.

"What in the name of God has happened to you?" – Shrieked the man again, still plastered to the wall as if afraid to get closer to the ghost in case his state was contagious.

"I'm dead." – Explained Q simply, shrugging his shoulders helplessly, wishing he didn't have to be the one to do this. He hated being the bearer of bad news. Or any news for that matter. Moneypenny was so much better at that; that was why he usually just let her do the talking. Where was she when you needed her, anyway…?

"Well. No shit."

"It's okay, really. I think I'm getting used to it. I can glide; look!" – And he proudly demonstrated how he could just float around the place at will. It looked as if he were swimming in the air without a care in the world. The look on the agent's face immediately robbed him of his smile though along with his confidence. – "Well, I thought it was fun…"

"Will you tell me finally what happened?" – Pressed the man when he managed to find his voice again, and tiredly flopped down into Q's abandoned chair to show that he wasn't about to budge.

The ghost dejectedly settled onto the cot (careful not to fall into it again), and sighed.

"It's a long story. But to make it short: I went to Austria, I got captured and questioned. Painfully. I managed to get away. I came back and got shot. I died. Even more painfully."

Alec blinked confusedly.

"I think I would like to hear a slightly longer version." – He stated and Q, for lack of better option, began to explain in detail about everything the agent had missed.

J * B * J * B * J * B * J * B * J * B * J * B

"I'm going to kill him!" – Promised Alec with a threatening growl. He had long since abandoned the chair and was now pacing up and down the office, making Q feel dizzy just by watching him. Funny how just being around a Double-O agent could make even a ghost feel light-headed…

"You can't kill him; he's not even in England right now. He left with his new girlfriend just after we got Blofeld." – Tried to reason the spirit patiently.

Unfortunately, it only seemed to fuel the other's anger further.

"Precisely that's why I'll do it painfully slow! I'm going to look for him first. And then, when I'll find him, I'm going to kill him." – 006's eyes shot sparks of fury. At the beginning of the ghost's storytelling, he was just endlessly sad. Now, he was sad and angry. Q couldn't even decide which one was worse to be responsible for.

"Listen, Alec, it's fine. Leave him alone. He's gone. He doesn't even know I'm dead. He never cared enough to ask." – But it wasn't fine! Not at all! Q felt his non-existing blood boil at the thought of the man marching back into Q-Branch the day following 'The Incident', not to ask what had happened to his friends; oh, no. But to take the car! The Aston Martin Q had worked on for long weeks and developed; according to M's orders; for 009 personally. The car, 007 had just stolen, then wracked. And after Q had restored it, he had stolen it again to be able to impress his new girlfriend. He never cared about anyone but stupid cars and silly women!

Okay, maybe Q was a bit resentful…

"Didn't the bastard notice you weren't on your place when he came back for that wrenched car?" – Apparently, the Quartermaster wasn't the only one of that opinion.

"I don't think he noticed anything else but Doctor Swann and the Aston, to tell you the truth. These are the only things that matter to him: women and cars." – The young man admitted sadly. It wasn't a great feeling to know that his once good friend (at least he had thought they had been friends) hadn't even asked about him, even though he had known about his injuries he had gotten in Austria. Of course to this very day he hadn't called either to check up on any of them. He hadn't even asked what it was like for them to have to pick up the pieces after the mess he had caused!

"I'm still going to kill him." – Declared Alec, probably having reached the same conclusion, and sank onto the chair once again. – "But honestly, Kid, how are you feeling about all these? I must admit I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like for you. I've never seen a ghost before."

"Neither have I. Do you think I'm the only one? That's my biggest fear." – He admitted for the first time ever, shuddering at the thought of being totally alone with this problem in the entire universe. That would be just his typical luck. – "That I won't have anyone to talk to about this. I don't even know what's awaiting me: is that for ever? Will I have to watch everyone around me die and move on while I'll be stuck here in between until eternity, belonging neither there nor here?"

"I don't know, Q. But why would you be the only one? I'm sure there ought to be others. We'll look for them!"

"We?"

"Of course! You don't think I'd let you suffer through this alone? Or Eve, M, Tanner, your minions, the other agents… anyone?"

"I could easily name someone who would"

"Don't mind him. I'll kill him anyway."

"Just please, make sure he doesn't become a ghost. I couldn't bear to be stuck here with him for eternity."

The agent actually shuddered at the mental image of a James Bond spirit haunting London.

"No, no. I wouldn't wish that on the world."

"Thanks, Alec."

"You're welcome. Never forget: you're not alone. We're all here for you. And you belong here with us, in whatever shape you are; never doubt that for a minute."

J * B * J * B * J * B * J * B * J * B * J * B

And Alec had kept his promise, just like he had been right about the others as well: they all were there for him, reassuring him they didn't mind him being a ghost, repeating over and over again he was still their friend like before, that, for them, nothing had changed. Slowly, even Q started to believe it.

Also, all started researching everything there was to know about ghosts and life after death. They tried to do it in secret so that he wouldn't get his hopes up, but he, naturally, had found out right away what they were doing. He was still the Quartermaster after all, regardless of circumstances; so it was still in his unofficial job's description to know everything that was going on in MI6.

He recalled the conversation between his best friends he had 'accidently' overheard the day before (it really wasn't his fault there were security cameras that recorded voice all over the building):

"Here! Here seems to be something usable… A spell…" – Came Moneypenny's excited exclamation. Q could even see her sitting bent over a large book, bouncing in her seat in happiness about having found something, thanks to the camera's current angle. – "Oh… No, wait. That's not good. This is to get rid of ghosts, not to find them…"

"Don't you have to find them though first to then be able to chase them away?" – Asked Tanner hopefully, but Q was sure he didn't really believe it himself.

"Well, it's not that disappointing: I mean, if there are spells like that, then it should mean, there are other ghosts, right? Why else would they have developed spells against them?" – Reasoned Alec.

"Who knows with sects…" – Answered M solemnly. – "You can't trust them at all, they're notorious of seeing things that aren't really there. Here's something else though… It says it's supposed to be for summoning them. But it's in Latin… Does someone speak Latin?"

"Q probably does." – And R was right of course. He did speak Latin. A pity though that they had decided not to bother him with it, in case it would prove to be false and only cause him to be more disappointed in the end. They proceeded trying to translate it with the help of Google, having divided the text between themselves. As soon as Q caught snippets of it, he determined it to be rubbish, but still he couldn't even begin to tell how much he appreciated their thoughtfulness and caring.

It was a Friday afternoon three weeks after 006's return and their initial conversation, when the young ghost heard the desk outside being shoved away and the door opening right after that. Eve entered, smiling enthusiastically. Q could see that she had already changed out of her working clothes into a more elegant dress. (And this was not a small feat, seeing that she was elegant all the time.) She wore earrings and an expensive looking necklace that she had gotten – according to her – from one of her ex-boyfriends who had been very rich. ("Why should I throw it out just because we're not together anymore? It goes very good with my favorite pair of shoes!" – She had explained ages ago. Well, even if it wasn't so long ago, it still belonged to another age: to the time when Q had still been alive.) So, she also had her favorite shoes on, and she had completed the picture of perfection with just the right make-up and hairstyle.

"So, what do you think?" – She asked, turning around slowly so that he could properly observe her from every angle.

"You look breathtakingly beautiful, Miss Moneypenny." – Q answered honestly. She really did look amazing. It was her birthday and some friends of MI6 were going out to celebrate her in a luxurious restaurant. This was going to be her night, and she deserved it to be perfect.

"Thank you, you're a real gentleman! So, are you ready to go?"

"What? Go where? How could I go? Eve, I'm dead!"

"So?"

"So!? I'm transparent and I float inches above the floor! Not to mention that bloodstains are visible on my back. I can't do anything about it; I died with them. But people would surely faint of fright seeing me!" – She really spent too much time cooped up with lunatics in MI6 if she had already forgotten that being a ghost wasn't considered 'normal' among average people… There was a reason he hadn't set foot outside of Headquarters ever since he had died. Oh, what he wouldn't give just for a bit of fresh air (which he didn't actually need anymore but craved anyway) and seeing the stars again…

"Oh, come on, silly! We'll put a long coat on you along with a hat. You'll imitate walking and keep your head lowered. And once inside the restaurant you'll always turn away when the waiters come. Otherwise, you'll be fine: we have booked a separate private room just for our group."

"But… but…"

"You can't say no! It's my birthday! I'd be very offended if you didn't come!"

"Do you think honestly this could work?" – He didn't want to sound too hopeful. – "What if I'm not able to hold the coat and the hat, and they'll all fall through me?"

"They won't. You have mastered the art of touching and holding things already splendidly. You'll be fine. We'll be there to help you. Oi, come on, everyone is waiting!" – As if demonstrating her reasoning, she reached out to grab his arm. He concentrated on letting her touch him and noted happily that it worked. He felt more optimistic about this crazy idea by every passing minute.

Of course it wasn't easy to get to the restaurant, having to hide a ghost among them all the way and making sure nobody would accidentally really look at him and realize what was under the disguise. Q had to be very careful not to walk into anyone or anything and not to lose his hold on his concealing clothing for a second, lest they would just slip onto the ground in a heap, leaving him quite exposed to curious observers in a decidedly not sexy way.

The next problem was settling down inside the restaurant. Like in any decent place, it was expected of men to take off their coats and hats upon arrival. Naturally, this was absolutely out of question this time, so M, Tanner and Alec distracted the personnel while Eve, Julia (M's wife) and Marnie (Tanner's wife) rushed with Q into their private room already waiting for them. As Eve had just broken up from her 'long-time' boyfriend (well, long-time for her, anyway… the relationship had lasted nearly half a year!), Tom, and Alec hadn't had time to find anyone just yet since his return to England, it was only the seven of them that evening. The room therefore was little but very friendly and cozy for their small group.

They laughed as they took seats around the table, happy about their success arriving here.

"Man, oh, man. It's so good to be out of the office finally!" – Said Q between giggles. – "I thought I was going to die of boredom in there!"

"That's not funny, you dork!" – Remark Eve but her smile betrayed her real feelings.

"So, Mr. Quartermaster…" – Began Marnie.

"Oh, just Q, please. I'm too young to be a 'Mr.'. And I'm not getting any older either."

"You moron." – Laughed Moneypenny, and good-naturedly tried to hit his shoulder. Her hand just went through him without causing the slightest effect.

"Q, then. I'll admit this is new. I've never seen a ghost before. But Bill has assured me there's nothing to be afraid of."

"Don't worry; I'm not an avenging spirit or anything like that… I must say: the both of you take seeing me for the first time really well. Others usually faint or scream when they spot me." – The ghost admitted reluctantly.

It was Julia who answered.

"I think I can talk for the two of us when I say: ever since our husbands have been working for MI6, we have gotten used to pretty much everything. So we're not surprised about adventures like dining with a ghost anymore. It's a bit like X-Files, isn't it? I've always liked Mulder…" – And Marnie nodded her agreement, both blinking dreamily while Moneypenny just laughed.

Just then the remaining three men entered as well.

"We have already placed our orders, so at least they'll not come in for that. They'll bring drinks in a few minutes though." – Explained M apologetically.

"I'll just slide down under the table then."

"Idiot." – Eve failed to as much as meet resistance when she wanted to punch him again, and everyone was rolling from laughter at their friendly banter.