For those who may be confused y some of the references in this story, it is a continuation of the story Chance Encounters. Just thought I would put that out there if you wanted to know just how M met Jack in the first place :)

The sun was just beginning to peak thru the bedroom curtains when M finally opened her eyes, only to find Jack propped up on one elbow staring down at her with a rather silly grin on his face.

"Jack! What the hell are you doing?" she said sleepily as she glared up at him

"Have I ever told you how absolutely beautiful you are when you're sleeping?"

"I thought I told you it isn't polite to flirt with someone when they are half awake" she replied with a grin as she elbowed him in the ribs

"Ouch! that hurt" he yelped as he leaned over her, pinning her to the mattress before he bent down and kissed her deeply "You better be careful little lady" he said as he broke the kiss "I am a highly trained agent of the CIA..."

"Oh don't flatter yourself" she replied with a laugh "We've both received the same training" she finished as she reached up and traced the side of his face with her finger before pulling him down for another kiss

Just as Jack was about to respond, they heard a loud noise in the kitchen.

"M?...Jack?' shouted James

"Oh for the love of God, did you train him to have crappy timing or does he come by this annoying gift naturally?" snapped Jack as he leaned his forehead against hers

"Well, at least he didn't burst into the bedroom" replied M with a laugh

"There is that I suppose" he grumbled as he rolled over on his back, pulling M along with him so that her head was resting on his chest "WE'RE UP HERE JAMES" he shouted unhappily as M snuggled closer

"IF IT'S ALL THE SAME TO YOU, I'LL JUST WAIT DOWN HERE," replied James

Jack leaned down and placed a soft kiss to M's temple as he sat up.

"Guess we should go down and see what the boy wonder has found out"

"Do you have to call him that? It makes him sound like some sort of Comic book super hero," she said as she got up and retrieved her dressing gown

"Well isn't he? I mean he always seems to get himself in the damndest pickles and yet somehow come out smelling like a rose every single time, due largely in part, I assume, to your inability to let him fall flat on his face once in a while" he replied sarcastically

"That's the pot calling the kettle black isn't it?' she retorted slightly offended, "Let me remind you that it was James that rescued you last night and brought you here! I should think you would be grateful..."

"I am" he replied as he snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her close "It's just damn annoying sometimes is all" he finished as he lightly kissed her forehead

"Come on" she said as she untangled herself from his grasp "Let's go down and I'll put the kettle on while you go find out what he knows"

James had made himself comfortable in the sofa in the sitting room while he waited for M and Jack. He still wasn't quite used to the fact that his best friend had a thing for his boss, but as long as she was happy than who was he to interfere.

"Morning James"

"Jack. How are you feeling this morning?"

"Well, I've been better, but Oliv...I mean M is an excellent nurse so..."

"Ok you can stop right there. I don't need the sorted details. A simple "as well as can be expected" will suffice" replied James in a slightly uncomfortable tone

"Why James. I never took you for a prude"

"I'm not, but this is M we're talking about, and there are just some mental pictures I would prefer not to have stuck in my head"

"Point taken." replied Jack with a laugh as M came to stand beside him

"Anyone care to tell me what you find so amusing about this situation?" she asked as she looked back and forth between the two of them before placing the tray with the coffee on the table and moving to sit on the sofa, motioning for the two of them to sit.

"Oh nothing really" replied Jack with a smirk "It's just that James..."

"It was nothing M" James quickly interrupted before Jack could finish what would only lead to what most would consider a rather awkward conversation.

"Yes...Well perhaps we should just stick to the facts at the moment shall we?" she said with a slight edge in her voice

"Right" replied James as he pulled out a small note pad "I've retraced your steps from the hotel to the pub, spoken to everyone you came into contact with except for the waitress at the pub and..."

"And?" replied M curiously

"Nothing really. Q was able to analyze the drug used and found that it was a mixture of Chinese Herbs, basically harmless in small doses. He said it is a mixture used in the South China Sea region for medicinal purposes and should have no lasting effects"

"Well that's good to know" replied Jack dryly "What about the emails?"

"I've had Q checking on those as well and it would appear that M's personal computer was hacked..."

"Thank you for pointing out the obvious 007, but why? And by whom?" asked M

"Therein lies the sixty-four thousand dollar question" replied James with a somewhat perplexed look

"What about M?...is she safe here? I mean if they can get to her computer then they must know her address as well," said Jack as he put his arm protectively around M's shoulder

"I've given that some thought and the only thing I've come up with at this point is to relocate the two of you to a safe house until we can determine how much of a threat this is..."

"What about..." M started to say before being abruptly cut short by Jack

"How much of a threat!" snapped Jack "They've hacked into her computer, monitored her movements...They know every detail of her life professionally and personally...No, I think we should get her to a secure location, but one they don't know about and I was thinking about RAF Croughton, they would never think to look for her on a U.S. Military base..."

"How about..." she started again, only to be interrupted by a rather agitated James this time

"If you think for one minute that we would ever consider "Hiding" the head of MI6 on a U.S. Military base than you clearly are suffering some unknown side effect of that drug...," shouted James

"We have to take her somewhere safe as clearly they have access to..."

"ENOUGH!" shouted M as she rose and angrily walked to the door before turning and shooting them one of her famous death glares "I am going to go up and have a shower and dress, and when I get back, I expect you two overgrown prepubescent teenagers to have dispensed with this rather unattractive posturing maneuver and come up with a real solution to our current problem...IS THAT CLEAR?"

Jack and James sat quietly and stared at her, stunned by her sudden and rather uncharacteristic outburst.

"Oliv...I mean M, we are only concerned with your safety" said Jack apologetically as he rose and started toward her.

M immediately put her hand, stopping him in his tracks.

"DO NOT PATRONIZE ME! While I understand that my safety is a major concern at the moment, I am not so sure that you two are the best choice for handling this situation, as clearly, you BOTH have a severe conflict of interest. I am no different than any other head of state that happens to find themselves in a rather precarious security situation so please TRY to keep that in mind. And Jack..." she said leaning in, close enough so that James shouldn't be able to hear "If you EVER slip and say my real name in public again...I will not hesitate to drop you where you stand...DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?"

"Crystal M" he replied quietly as she turned and disappeared up the stairs

James sat in the chair, wincing and shaking his head as Jack turned around.

"And just what is that look for?' snapped Jack

"Welcome to my world old friend" replied James with a grin "I merely mentioned that I knew her real name once and she threatened to end me"

"She's right you know," replied Jack as he slumped down on the sofa "We are acting like a couple of horny teenage guys, after the same girl"

"Yeah, but this isn't just ANY girl"

"You can say that again. So got any brilliant ideas?"

"Maybe. Let me make a call" replied James as he took out his mobile and dialed the only logical, impartial person he could think of. "Tanner? This is Bond. I need to talk to you about M," he said with a wink

TO BE CONTINUED...