Chapter 9

Eve lifted the cup to her mouth, jumping when her phone buzzed beside her, setting down the cup, she picked up her phone to see Kate's name flashing on the screen.

"Kate hi, what are you…"

"Eve please listen to me, I don't have much time. Is James still in Gareth's office?"

"Yeah, he's been on the phone with the PM for the last hour…why what's wrong?"

"I'm at the hospital with Gareth."

"Oh my god, what's happened?"

"James asked me to pop in on him, I found him unconscious in his bathroom. I need you to get him here immediately."

"Will he be okay, the baby?"

"Right now dearie I have no idea but he's asking for James, he needs to get down here now."

"Absolutely, don't worry I'll let him know. Kate…are you okay, you don't sound good."

Kate closed her eyes tightly before swallowing the lump in her throat and answering Eve.

"I'm fine dearie, just get James here quickly." Kate replied, hanging up.

Eve placing her phone back down on her desk before getting up and making her way in to Mallory's office to see James still on the phone with the PM, smiling up at Eve when she got closer.

"Absolutely Sir, yes I'm sure he'll be just fine. I'll let him know you were worried. Yes thank you Sir…goodbye."

James placed the phone down, smiling at Eve as he ran a hand through his hair.

"God that man can talk."

"James…"

"Eve…what's wrong?"

"Kate was just on the phone, it's about M."

James was on his feet, coming around to Eve, who looked ready to cry.

"Eve what's happened?"

"She went by to check on him like you asked, and she found him unconscious in the bathroom."

"She…is he okay…the baby?"

"Kate got him to the hospital, he's being looked after now. He's been asking for you, Kate needs you there now."

Before Eve could say anything else, James had grabbed his jacket and rushed out the door, slamming it behind him. James made his way down the corridors, slamming in to Tanner as he went.

"Woah, slow down Bond…where's the fire."

James didn't answer, instead continued to make is way out of the building. Tanner muttered something under his breath as he made his way to Mallory's office, finding Eve at her desk, worry etched on her face.

"Eve?"

"Oh Bill, sorry."

"Hey what's wrong?" He asked, kneeling down beside her.

"It's M…he's been taken to hospital."

"So that's why Bond was in such a rush."

"Kate thinks there's something wrong with the baby, she didn't exactly say that but I could tell by the tone of her voice, she was really worried Bill."

"Well, these things happen right."

"What…"

"Oh come on Eve, I mean pregnant…the whole situation was crazy, maybe it's better this way."

"Better that he lose the baby."

"It shouldn't have even happened anyway Eve, a man having a baby….it's not natural."

"You are unbelievable."

"I'm unbelievable…what's unbelievable is the fact that M even considered going through with it in the first place. Maybe this is gods way of telling him it's not meant to be."

"I have to go out, can you cover things here. You may not agree with M's decision to have the baby but I assume you're still supportive of him as Head of MI6?"

"Of course I am."

"Good…because you and I will need to run things here for him for a while. I'll be back soon."

"Eve I…"

"Don't, just leave it."

Kate was sitting outside Mallory's room while the doctors looked after him inside, her stomach churning the more concerned she became.

"Kate…"

Kate looked to her side to see James walking quickly towards her, fear written all over his face.

"James…."

"Where is he?"

"He's in there but wait; you can't go in just yet."

"The hell I can't, I need to be with him."

"James you need to allow the doctors to do their jobs."

"Why can't you just do it?"

"My medical background doesn't stretch to surgery."

"Surgery, he needs surgery."

"We don't know yet, we don't really know anything as yet. We have to be patient."

"He shouldn't be on his own."

"James I know you're scared but Gareth is in good hands I promise."

James took a seat beside Kate, his foot unable to stop moving.

"If he loses this baby…after everything he's gone though…"

"James don't go getting a head of yourself until we know something for sure."

"I love him so much Kate, both of them"

"I know you do dearie…I know." She smiled, reaching for his hand.

Half an hour later a doctor finally emerged from Mallory's room, turning to see Kate and James staring off in to space.

"Are you both here for Gareth?" She asked.

"Yes we…oh, I know you." James asked.

"Yes…Dr Sharon Danell, you were with Gareth at his first appointment with me."

"Yes, that's right."

"I'm glad you managed to change his mind about the baby that day."

"Believe me, so was I."

"Dr Danell, I'm Kate Kaplan…I came with him earlier, how is he?"

"You can both relax; Gareth and the baby are going to be just fine."

"They are…oh thank god." James smiled.

"Are you absolutely sure."

"Kate…"

"Look I'm sorry if I'm over stepping my mark here but he's my friend and I care about him a great deal. When I examined him a few days ago his blood pressure was very high."

"Oh you're the one I'm be ousted for." Sharon smiled.

"I'm sorry…"

"He told me that he'd found another doctor to over see the remainder of his pregnancy, I was curious to see who was better than I…now I know."

"My apologies, it was never my intention to steal your patient…it's just that he…"

"Kate it's perfectly fine, I'm only teasing you. Look Gareth will be absolutely fine in a few days, he's been suffering from extreme morning sickness, as well as high blood pressure and he's very dehydrated. Give him a few days and he'll be back to his old self."

"Can I see him please?" James asked.

"Of course you can, and Kate…it was nice to meet you, I hope I'll be seeing you again." She smiled as she walked away.

"Well…you've certainly made a friend." James smiled at her.

"Oh do shut dearie and go and see Gareth, I'll wait here."

"Thanks."

James made his way inside to see Mallory's eyes closed as he approached the bed, he took hold of Mallory's hand before leaning down and placing a kiss to his forehead.

"James…"

"Sssh, it's okay…I'm right here."

Mallory opened his eyes to see James looking down at him, relief on his face.

"Don't ever do that to me again, you scared the hell out of me."

"I'm sorry, James the baby?"

"Don't worry, she's fine. You just need to take things easy for a few days okay."

"But work."

"Forget about that for now, the PM will understand and I'm sure Bill and Eve can manage just fine without you for a bit."

"I'm so sorry James, I nearly cost our child its life."

"Don't, none of this is your fault. It could have happened to anyone."

"It's just as well you sent Kate to check on me, where is she anyway."

"She's waiting outside…she was pretty worried about you."

"I scared her."

"I didn't really realize until now just how much she cares about you; I don't think I've ever seen fear like that on her."

"She's a good woman."

"Yeah, well you're not the only one who thinks so."

"What do you mean?"

"Well if I didn't know any better, I'd say that Dr Danell likes our Mr Kaplan."

"Really?"

"Body language doesn't lie."

"Well good for her, it's time Kate found someone."

"What's the deal with her, why's she so secretive about her past."

"It's just the kind of person she is."

"I tried doing some background work on her, I couldn't find a thing."

"James, leave it alone."

"But what happened to her."

"If Kate ever wants to tell you then she will, but don't ever push her."

"Fair enough, anyway…I'm just you're okay."

"That makes two of us."

"I love you so much, from now on…you take things easy, no matter what."

"I won't risk the baby's health James, not after today."

Eve made her way through the hospital, finally finding Kate by the coffee machine.

"Kate…"

"Eve, what are you doing here?"

"I had to find out how he was, I couldn't concentrate on work."

"He's fine dearie, he's suffering from severe morning sickness and the doctor said he was a little dehydrated but he'll be fine."

"Thank god…and what about you?"

"Me?"

"I heard you on the phone Kate, you were scared."

"Well of course I was, Gareth is a dear friend…if anything were to happen to him or that baby then I…"

"He's fine Kate." Eve said, her hand on Kate's arm, trying to soothe her.

"Thank you dearie."

"Oh Kate, there you are."

Kate and Eve turned to see Dr Danell walking towards them, Eve offering a smile as Kate looked up cautiously.

"Dr Danell, did you forget something. Oh sorry, Eve this is Dr Danell. Dr Danell, Eve Moneypenny."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Eve…and it's Sharon."

"Hi, so Kate said you were looking after M…Mallory, he's okay?"

"He'll be just fine; he just needs to rest for a few days."

"Oh don't worry he will; we'll make sure of that." Eve smiled.

"Good, so Kate…I know we've only just met but I was wondering if perhaps you might like to get a coffee."

"A…that's very nice of you but I…

"Oh go on Kate, I'll come and get you when we're allowed to see Mallory."

"Great, the cafeteria's this way." Sharon smiled, as she escorted Kate down the corridor.

To Be Continued…