For Saye36, Detectivecaz,Fairytales1981 and Alexandraiz Fanfiction, Thanks for the support and encouragement.
Holly sat on the sofa, glancing back and forth at James, Jack and M as the three of them tried in vain to explain, without divulging too many details of their professions that they were not engaging in anything remotely incestuous or inappropriate.
"So let me get this straight" said Holly as she paused to choose her words carefully, "You came here to surprise Jack, and you told James you were away on business, and James believing that you were away on business came here to surprise Jack, and once James discovered that you were here, he couldn't leave you because you are his boss and you didn't have a proper escort, so rather than all staying in the same place you decided to stay here to give them some privacy and in the process she ended up in your bed instead of his?" she concluded looking at James with a rather perplexed look
"I think she's finally getting it," said Jack as he handed M a cup of tea
"And you told everyone that you were his parents so that people wouldn't get the wrong idea and think that there was something weird going on, and you set James up with my sister Annie to teach him a lesson for barging in except I showed up instead and M got jealous so you dumped her?" she said looking at Jack
"I didn't dump her...Look I know sounds a bit farfetched, but I swear it is the honest to God's truth..."
"And now she's going with you to a reception instead of staying here with James?"
"Holly, let me give you the short version" said James as he sat down beside her "A guy fell in love with his boss who is older than him, but because of the rules he wasn't allowed to tell her so she went off and thought she had fallen in love with his best friend who is closer to her age, but when the guy showed up unannounced, the boss realized that she was really in love with the guy all along and just didn't realize it and the best friend spotted it right away and told her to follow her heart...so she did, end of story"
"You people are all crazy" said Holly as she got up and headed toward the door
"No, we're spies," said Jack with a smirk as she shut the door
"Now why in the hell did you tell her what we do?" asked M sharply as she leaned back against the sofa cushions, pinching the bridge of her nose
"Darlin, she didn't believe a word we said, why you would think she would believe that?" he said with a laugh
"I have to admit, if I were listening to the three of us, I would think we were crackers as well" said James shaking his head
"And was it absolutely necessary to put in the bit about my being older?" she asked
"Well it's the truth," said James with a wink "I think it is safe to say that we should definitely not stay here tonight"
"I think we should just go back to my place. You two can have the guest room," said Jack
"Given everything that has happened, I think it would be best if we go to a hotel," said M quietly
"Why? I have a fully stocked liquor cabinet to keep James busy while we are out, and that way he will know exactly what time I bring you home" quipped Jack as he put his arm around her
M smiled weakly as she rose and headed for the bedroom.
"Where are you going?" asked James
"To collect my things. I would like to get settled, again, have breakfast or given the hour brunch, take a short nap and a soak in the tub before tonight," she said as she disappeared into the bedroom
"I'll get my gear and the car and meet you out front," said James as he headed for the door
"Well, it looks like we all have our marching orders," muttered Jack as he went to collect his things
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Several hours later M was just emerging from a nice long soak in the tub while Jack and James sat in the living room, watching a sporting event on the television.
"Shouldn't you be getting ready?" asked M as she poked her head around the corner
"Yeah, I will in just a minute," replied Jack
M retreated to the guest room and began dressing for the evening. She had brought along two dresses and was having a difficult time deciding on which to wear when James snuck up behind her.
"What are we doing?" he asked as he leaned down and began kissing her neck
"Trying to decide what to wear" she snapped as she held up both dresses
"I like this" he said picking up a cream-colored turtleneck and her black trousers
"This is a formal reception James! Not a casual trip to the pub"
"Alright then, I'll leave you to it" he said as he backed out of the room, bumping into Jack
"Something wrong?" he asked
"She's deciding on what to wear" James said quietly
"Oh I see, why are we whispering? Is it a state secret?" he asked with a grin
"No, it's just that M is very particular about how she looks, and one wrong comment will set the tone for the entire evening" he said as he made his way back to the living room.
A few moments later M appeared in a long, midnight blue velvet gown that hugged every inch of her body in just the right places to show off her amazing figure. She wore a simple circular, diamond-encrusted pendent on a thin chain that hung just low enough to draw attention to her breasts. Her entrance into the living room left both men speechless as they stared at her with their jaws open.
"I take it that you both approve?" she said, sounding slightly amused "Would one of you care to zip me up"
James quickly stepped forward and zipped the dress and fastened the top closed, leaving his hands resting on her shoulders.
"That zipper had better be right where I put it when you two get home" he said looking at Jack "And the hem of that dress had better not get any higher than her ankles is that clear?"
"Relax Bond," said Jack as he offered M his arm "This isn't our first time at the rodeo you know"
"Really James, I never took you for the jealous type" smirked M
"You know this type of relationship could actually work," said Jack as he looked down at M
"I beg your pardon?" she said narrowing her eyes
"You and I could be each other's permanent date for these damn boring functions, and I could keep you company when Boy Wonder here is out blowing things up..."
"Are you suggesting that the two of you SHARE me?" she asked with an almost horrified expression on her face
"All I'm saying is that I'm here if you need me"
"Which she won't" said James, with a sly grin "Although...At least I would know that you were safe and well looked after"
"Have you two completely lost your minds?" she said sharply "If you two do not stop with this absurd line of thinking this instant, James can accompany you to this reception and I will make arrangements to return to London tonight!" she snapped
"Calm down M" said James as he pulled her to him and kissed her "I have no intention of sharing you with Jack or anyone else for that matter," he said quietly as he held her close
"And for the record, by keep you company, I mean you can call me and rant all you want about how he is spending your entire budget in a nano-second" said Jack "Not that I would be opposed to anything else that might pop into that beautiful little head of yours" he said with a laugh
"We really need to get going," said M abruptly as she pulled away from James "We won't be late"
"I'll be sure to keep the light on, you two kids have fun" replied James as he shut the door
Once they were in the car, Jack leaned over and softly kissed M on the cheek
"Thank you for being such a good sport in there." he said quietly "I just want you to know that I would move Heaven and Earth for you and James if the occasion ever presents itself"
"Thank you Jack" she said lightly squeezing his hand "That means a lot"
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Jack and M arrived at the reception hall, deposited the car with the valet and proceeded to enter the ballroom. Jack had warned her on the drive over that the consensus was that he was a bit of a screw up that couldn't get a date if his life depended on it. Although the original plan was NOT to tell anyone who she was, after hearing his colleagues opinion of him, M decided that if ever there was a time to USE her influence and her title to her advantage, then this was it.
As they made their way across the room, his commanding officer, General Morgenstern, stopped Jack. The General was in his mid-forties with graying hair, rather tall with broad shoulders and an air of arrogance that could be sensed from across the room.
"Agent Ward, how nice of you to grace us with your presence. I assume that you will be limiting the collateral damage this evening to just a few wine glasses?" he smirked as he turned to face M "And who have we here?"
"General Morgenstern, I would like you to meet M..."
"M? I assume you have a proper name my dear, even if Jack didn't happen to find it necessary to use it" he replied in a rather condescending tone
"No, my name is M as in the letter M" she replied coolly
"I see. And just what is it that you do honey?"
"Oh I would love to tell you, but then I would have to kill you or rather have you killed," she said with a syrupy sweet smile
"General, if I may interrupt, before you make a complete ass of yourself, I would like you to meet M. She is the head of MI6 in London," replied Jack
It was about this time that Captain Peters, Jack's communication specialist spotted them.
"Good Evening Ma'am, nice to see you again" he said
"Excuse me Captain, but you know this woman?" asked General Morgenstern
"Yes Sir, this is M, head of MI6"
"You must be joking," he said shaking his head in disbelief "This beautiful creature couldn't possibly be the head of MI6"
"Keep patronizing me and you will find out what I can and cannot do!" snapped M
"Well I never..."
"No, and you probably never will" replied M smugly, as she took Jack's arm while he led her away
"Well played Darlin," said Jack under his breath
"The man is a twerp; however did he manage to become a General?"
"I would say with a lot of butt kissing," replied Jack with a grin
It did not take long for the news to spread that Jack, international screw up, had the head of MI6 on his arm and soon they found themselves surrounded by every high-ranking official in the room.
"Excuse me gentlemen, but I would like to dance with my date" said Jack as he led M to the dance floor
"Thank you Jack. This evening wasn't supposed to be about me," she whispered as he held her close
"It wasn't supposed to be about me either, but here we are," he said with a laugh "I don't suppose you would be up for helping me change my reputation a little more would you?" he asked
"Why? What did you have in mind?"
Jack leaned down and captured her lips in a gentle kiss as he twirled her around on the dance floor.
"Just wanted to give them something to talk about" he replied with a grin
As the evening wound down Jack and M were both more than ready to make a hasty retreat, heading toward the car, via a rather secluded hallway.
"This really was a most enjoyable evening," said M as she leaned her head against his arm
"Thank you M, for agreeing to come with me. I usually hate these things"
"I can see why. Your superiors treat you and your team as though you are all mindless drones with not one brain cell amongst you" she replied quietly "Don't they realize what you do?"
"They aren't as hands on as you are, Hell, they don't even know our names most of the time"
M looked up at Jack and noticed the sadness in his eyes. He had devoted his entire life to keeping his country safe by any means necessary and instead of being praised; he was treated with disrespect and disdain. Before she even realized what she was doing, M reached up and put her hand behind Jack's neck, pulling him down into a deep kiss, while wrapping her other arm around his waist. It didn't take Jack long to wrap his arms around her and return the kiss as he backed her up against the wall, allowing his hands to wander up and down her back as he deepened the kiss.
"I'm sorry Jack," she said breathlessly as she pulled away from him
"Let's get you home before we get ourselves into some real trouble," he said, giving her one more quick kiss
TO BE CONTINUED...