Jack was the first to wake, looking down at the sleeping M, curled up in his arms. He couldn't help but smile when he thought of the tiny titan sleeping in his arms. Although he had never personally incurred her wrath, her temper was famous among her agents, but tonight she just looked like a beautiful angel. He could tell that if he didn't move soon there would be hell to pay later, and as much as he hated to wake her he really didn't have any other options available.

"M" he whispered as he kissed the top of her head

"Mmmmm"

"M hunni, you've got to wake up"

"Why" she asked still in a sleep induced haze

"Because if we stay like this much longer, neither of us will be able to move in the morning" he replied still half asleep himself

"Where are we?"

"We fell asleep on the sofa"

"Oh" she said wrapping her arm around him tighter as she attempted to go back to sleep

"M" said Jack a little louder as he sat up, promptly disturbing her sleep

"Jack" she said looking slightly confused "What are you doing?"

"Moving before I'm frozen in this position, not that it's a bad position, but…"

"Oh, I'm sorry Jack" she said sitting up and rubbing her eyes "How long have we been like this?"

"A few hours I guess"

"What time is it?"

"About quarter past one" he said with a yawn

"You should have waken me sooner"

"I would have, but you just looked so damn cute" he said with a wink

"Didn't anyone ever tell you it isn't polite to flirt with someone who is half asleep" she said with a sleepy laugh

"I think we should continue this conversation in a more appropriate setting. One that allows both of us to stretch out a bit" he said standing up and offering her his hand

M took his hand and stood up, losing her balance in the process. Jack was quick to respond, putting his arm around her waist and gently picking her up.

"Jack! What are you doing? Your back" she protested

"Forget about my back, you're worth it" he said with a grin as he walked toward the door "Which way to your bedroom?"

"It's upstairs, but I can manage if you will put me down"

"And have you fall down the stairs in that impossibly long dress? Not on your life" he said as he slowly climbed the stairs.

"But what about your knees?"

"To hell with my knees" he replied as he cradled her in his arms

When they had reached the top M pointed the way to the bedroom

"I can't tell you the last time I was carried to bed" she said through a yawn as she rested her head on his shoulder

When they reached the bedroom, Jack gently put her down and turned her around so he could unzip her dress

"We need to get you out of this before you trip over it and kill yourself" he said as he let the dress fall

M turned around and leaned against Jack as she rested her head against his chest. He helped her step out of the dress and led her to the bed where he promptly tucked her in.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked as he was about to turn and leave

"I thought I would go back down and sleep on the sofa" he replied quietly

"Why? Are you afraid I'll bite?" she asked with a hint of a smile

"No" he said sitting down and leaning over her "I just didn't want to assume"

M reached up and put her arms around his neck pulling him down into a gentle kiss.

"If it wasn't what I wanted, I wouldn't have let you carry me up here" she said as she broke the kiss

Jack stood up and striped down to his boxers and climbed in beside her, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her close.

"You're one hell of a woman M" he said kissing her temple as they both drifted back to sleep.

He didn't know what it was, but Jack heard something or someone moving around downstairs in the sitting room. M hadn't mentioned that she had any pets and he was positive that he had locked the front door. Jack carefully untangle himself from her and slipped out of bed, retrieving his trousers and his small, but effective gun from its holster on his belt.

"Jack…where are you going?" asked a still half asleep M

"Stay here" he whispered sharply "I heard something downstairs"

"But…."

"M…for God's sake do as I say and stay here" he said as he crept out of the bedroom and down the hall to the top of the stairs. He could see a faint shadow coming from the sitting room as he quietly made his way down the stairs.

M got out of bed, slipped on her dressing gown and quietly inched her way down the hall to the top of the stairs only to be the recipient of one of Jack's death glares as he motioned for her to go back to her room. M, being M did no such thing and made her way down the stairs. As Jack entered the sitting room with his gun drawn, a hand came around from behind the door and grabbed his arm and a struggle ensued with punches being thrown and furniture being over turned. M quickly ran and turned on the lights and stood in the doorway with a look of disbelief as she saw James with Jack in a headlock on the floor.

"M…Get out of here" he shouted as he tightened his grip

"007…RELEASE HIM THIS INSTANT!" she shouted

"What?"

"I SAID LET HIM GO!"

James stared at her as though she had suddenly grown a second head, but did as he was told. Jack rolled to his side gasping for air as M rushed to him and put her arms around him.

"Are you alright?" she asked as she tiled his chin up to look in his eyes

"Never better" he said with a pathetic smile as he rubbed his neck

M leaned over and kissed him gently before standing and turning to face the totally confused 007.

"What the hell do you think you were doing?" she demanded furiously

"Protecting you!" he snapped "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Sleeping! Not that it is any of your bloody business" she snapped back as she turned to help Jack up, carefully looking him over to be sure he wasn't too badly injured

"James…Do you always to break into your boss' house in the middle of the night" asked Jack as he put his arm protectively around M

James looked and Jack, dressed only in his trousers and then at M who was wrapped in a loosely tied dressing gown and immediately began to blush uncontrollably.

"Jack? What the hell are you doing here?" he asked when he was finally able to find his voice

"Boy you really should clean out your ears. Didn't you just hear her say we were sleeping until some knob head decided to break into the house and raid the liquor cabinet" he said, thoroughly enjoying how uncomfortable James appeared to be at the moment.

"M..." said James clearing his throat "Would it be possible to have a word alone with you" he asked, still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he had stumbled in on his boss sleeping with his friend

M looked up a Jack and then back at James

"It's late Bond, this had better be good" she said sharply as she let go of Jack and secured her dressing gown around her

"I'll just go back upstairs and leave you two alone" said Jack as he leaned in and gave her a quick kiss

"I won't be long" she said glaring at James "Will I?"

"Erm…no" replied an obviously embarrassed James

Once she heard the bedroom door shut M spun around and glared at James

"What the bloody hell is so important that you felt the need to break into my flat at this hour?" she demanded

"Well…I always break into your flat after a mission, I just didn't count on Him being here" he said defensively "What is Jack doing here anyway?" he asked as he narrowed his eyes and stared at her

"Not that it's any of your business, but he came to see you, and since you were away on a mission…"

"He just thought he would amuse himself take liberties with you and until I got back…Is that it?"

"NO!" she said sharply "Bond…this may come as a shock to you, but as it was pointed out to me earlier, I'm a widow, not a nun. I am entitled to have a life outside the office, a fact which I seem to have forgotten until someone very special reminded me"

"Yes of course you do, but Jack? Really?"

"What's the matter James? You almost sound Jealous" she replied

"I'm not jealous,"

"Look, it's been a long time since anyone has taken an interest in me, and I have to say it's nice to feel wanted. I'm not stupid enough to think that this will ever go anywhere, but I should at least be allowed to enjoy this for as long as it lasts" she replied

"I just don't want to see you get hurt is all, Believe it or not I care about you. You're not just my boss, you're my friend as well" he said sincerely

"Point taken, but the fact still remains that you broke in yet again…Why?"

"Would you believe me if I said it was because I missed you?"

"You could have just called" she snapped

"Maybe because I was worried about you"

"James" she said putting her hands on her hips

"Alright, I just wanted to see you. I assumed that you would be alone again, and I thought you could use the company, but I can see that you've already got that covered" he said with a grin

"Right, well you've seen me and I'm most definitely not alone, so if that's all, I think you should be going" she said as she pointed toward the door

"Fine" he replied as he headed toward the door "Just one thing" he said leaning down to whisper in her ear "You tell Jack that if he hurts you I will not hesitate to snap him in half like a dry twig"

M pulled back and stared at James with a look of total surprise

"Good Night M" he said he leaned down and lightly kissed her cheek before disappearing out the door.

M shook her head and rubbed her eyes as she locked the door and turned off the lights before heading back upstairs. As she got closer to the top she could see Jack leaning against the wall

"I take it you were listening" she said dryly

"He really cares about you" replied Jack as he held out his hand to her "But so do I"

TO BE CONTINUED...