Title: Conversations From Q Branch
Parings: James Bond & Q; James Bond/Q (ranging in time from pre-relationship to relationship).
Disclaimer: I own no rights. I make no profit.
Chapter 7 – I keep having the same dream
"Talk to me Q." James Bond's voice was quiet over the coms.
Q knew that this was not an invitation to engage in the snarky flirtatious banter for which the two of them had become famous or, as some in MI6 would assert, infamous. No that was reserved for high stress situations. This was a request for another type of conversation entirely. One that few even in Q-branch even knew occurred. Q put the com feed into private mode for his ears only.
"Any preference as to subject 007?"
"Not really."
Bond was currently on top of a building in Prague with a sniper rifle waiting for his target to leave a party. Every agent dealt with waiting differently. James often would prefer to talk. Q thought momentarily. Bond would need a subject engaging enough to help keep him alert but not engrossing to the point of losing focus. Luckily James was such a consummate professional that Q knew he could engage his agent in a discussion of anything from weapons design to Greek philosophy without jeopardizing the mission.
Before he could suggest a subject Bond's voice broke into his musings. "You weren't around during my set up. You playing around with something interesting in the labs?"
"Mandatory psychological eval," Q grumbled.
"Oh, how did they get you to do that? You are usually better than I am about avoiding those."
"M caught me at the end of a meeting and gave a direct order. Moneypenny delivered me."
"So you had a fun afternoon with word associations," Bond's tone was sarcastic.
"Actually not. They've got a new twist now, recurring dreams."
"They've always asked agents about nightmares. Welcome to the club."
"No, this is different. They wanted to know about those dreams that seem to keep coming up over and over but do not seem to be connected to any specific event like most nightmares are."
"Interesting," Bond sounded curious. "Any tips?"
"Not really. I tend to get recurring themes as opposed to the same dream; mostly along the lines of watching and listening to events or even predicting them."
"That's hardly a surprise considering."
"They said I was working too much and recommended time off."
"You hacked the report as soon as it was written and removed the time off recommendation didn't you."
"Damn straight."
"I wonder what they'll say about mine. I keep having the same dream. I've never been able to figure out what triggers it but I've had it on and off since I first enlisted in the Navy."
Q was a bit surprised at the turn of the conversation. Bond usually wasn't so open about personal information especially over the coms. He was clearly expecting that Q would edit this discussion completely out of the mission logs. Q was flattered by the unspoken declaration of trust.
"Really?"
"In it I'm a Knight."
"In shining armor?" Q had to ask.
"Rather battered armor actually. It's a battlefield and I've just taken a sword out of a dead man's hand. I know the sword is important and that I need to preserve and protect it until he comes to claim it again."
"He?"
"Unspecified. Dreams don't have to make sense Q."
"Interesting."
"What's even stranger is that my subconscious seems to have a fine eye for detail. The armor is period typical for 5th century Britain but the sword seems to be somewhat older."
"Must have been rather vivid to allow you to remember and identify things that specifically."
"Not really. I was fascinated with medieval history when I was in school. I suspect that I'm imposing that knowledge over what I remember. In fact the whole thing is probably a rehash of some famous battle that impressed me."
"Well I think you are correct, the shrinks are going to have a field day with that one. Probably tell you that you have an overly developed since of duty or something."
Bond didn't respond immediately. His breathing pattern had changed. Q switched the coms back to the main speakers. "Site Rep?"
"Target's car has been brought around. Bodyguard is talking to the valet. Shouldn't be long now."
"Acknowledged." Q rechecked that he had all the potential exit routes at his fingertips as well as the preliminary hacks in place just in case he needed to disrupt local communications.
It was less than a minute later when Bond said, "I have visual" followed shortly thereafter by the sound of a single shot. "Target down." Bond remarked echoing what Q had seen on one of the surveillance cameras.
"Ok 007 let's get you out of there hopefully with both you and your equipment in one piece this time," said Q as he proceeded to go to work.
Author's Note: Yes, that was a plot bunny that you saw hopping through this snippet.
