Chapter 2

James followed Mallory home in his own car, stopping off on the way to get a mixture of different dishes so that the girls could have a choice. He parked outside Mallory's home, admiring the stonework as he walked up the steps of the big house and knocked on the oak door, hearing Gianna yelling from the other side. He certainly didn't envy Mallory the job of raising his nieces.

"Bond, good timing."

James offered a sympathetic smile as Mallory stood aside to let him inside. He waited for Mallory to close the door before following him through to the kitchen, Gianna and Isa fighting over the tv remote.

"I brought a selection; I wasn't sure what they liked."

"Well they…that was a good idea, I've no idea what they like either to be honest. Girls…dinners arrived, come help yourself to whatever you want."

Isa came running through, while Gianna stomped in behind her.

"Right girls there's sweet and sour, curry, mixed vegetable, omelette, chips. Just help yourselves." James smiled as he opened the tubs and placed them in the middle of the table as Mallory put rice on both the girls' plates. Gianna helped herself to some curry and sweet and sour while Isa picked some omelette and mixed vegatbles. Ginna was about to walk away when Mallory spoke up.

"Gianna where are you going, we eat at the table."

"But my shows on."

"I'm sure it won't hurt to miss one episode."

"WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO UPTIGHT, IT'S SO UNFAIR I…"

James could see Mallory was winning a losing battle when he finally gave in and allowed her to eat her dinner in the family room, Isa begging to go with her. Mallory took a seat to the right of James and placed his head in his hands, letting out a sigh of frustration.

"She's a tough kid." James suddenly spoke up.

"Takes after her mother."

The sadness on Mallory's face made James chest hurt, he had never been close to the man, not really giving him a chance to get to know him but to see him like this was killing him. James reached over the table and even surprising himself grasped Mallory's hand.

"I'm so sorry about your sister and brother in law."

"Life is cruel."

"You don't need to tell me Sir."

"Right come on, let's get this debrief done."

"Leave it; you don't need to worry about that right now. You need to be here with the girls, let Tanner run things for a week or so…I'll go over it with him."

"No…I need to be at work, I need to keep busy."

"You can't keep taking them to the office; they need to be at home. They need to grieve for their parents; you need time to grieve too."

Mallory suddenly stood up and walked over to the sink, his back to James. He turned to see James watching him closely, worry on his face.

"How am I suppose to take care of them, how am I suppose to love them, Gianna already hates me and I just can't handle…." He said his voice breaking.

Isa walked in to the kitchen with her plate as Mallory suddenly turned his back to her, his hand coming over his mouth.

"I'm finished my dinner."

"That's great sweetheart. Just leave your plate there and we'll put it away."

"Is uncle Gareth crying?"

James looked over and back to Isa before smiling at her.

"He's just a little upset about your parents, he'll be okay."

Isa sat her plate on the table before walking over Mallory, who still had his back to them, when he felt her little arms coming around his legs and hugging him.

"It'll be okay uncle Gareth, mummy and daddy are with the angels now, that's what Gianna said."

James got up and pried Isa from Mallory's legs before handing her a small bar of chocolate.

"Here, go and take one to your sister too. Go and watch tv okay."

Isa took the chocolate bars and walked away, turning back at the last minute to see James walking back over to Mallory.

James came up beside him, hearing the silent cries from his boss, placing a hand on the older man's back to comfort him.

"I'm sorry Bond, I'm embarrassing myself." He sniffed.

"Don't be silly, you've lost your sister, your brother in law. You're allowed to be upset about that."

Mallory turned to him as he wiped the tears that had escaped.

"How am I supposed to take care of them, I work around the clock and I've had no experience with children, let alone young girls."

"I'm sure all new parents feel like that in the beginning."

"Gianna hates me."

"She doesn't hate you; she just doesn't know you very well. You said yourself; you weren't around much when she was growing up."

"What possessed Anna and Steven to give me guardianship is beyond me."

"Because you're the only family they have left and they need you. Gianna's a typical teenager, blaming you for everything...she'll get over it, but right now as I said before she's grieving for her parents and she needs someone to blame and unfortunately she's targeted you."

"I can run and army of agents, send the likes of you out to kill terrorists and yet I can't control my own niece."

James began, without realizing it to rub Mallory's back in a soothing motion as he looked at him.

"I'm not saying it will be easy but you will get through it and hey…we're all here to help you…whatever you need." He smiled.

"Thank you…I really do mean that Bond."

"James…" He replied, smiling.

To Be Continued…