Leading the way, Q reached the car first and held the door open for James, who climbed in with one last glance at Q. Q's lip quirked and he followed James in, offering a silent prayer that this car ride be short and painless. Settling next to Bond, Q attempted a smile at Mycroft and his assistant, who were seated across from them.

"Mycroft, it's nice to see you again." He smiled, hoping it didn't look too forced. James laid his hand next to Q's, interlacing their pinky fingers, giving him that small amount of support. "And Kara, how are you today?"

Not even looking up from her mobile, she responded, "Kami. It's Kami today." Bond raised an eyebrow at Q, who gave him a quick head shake. No one understood what was up with that woman and her names. Those who were acquainted with her had long ago stopped trying to figure it out.

"Crispin," Mycroft said coolly, "And this must be your agent." His eyes glanced over James, taking in every detail.

James extended his hand, "Bond. James Bond. Thank you for helping Cris. It means the world to me."

"Yes, Mr. Bond. I have read your file. You have served Queen and Country well and for that I must thank you." Bond smiled slightly under the praise, but Q knew James well enough to tell that Bond understood more was coming and was bracing himself for the attack. "However, I am not sure how I feel about your association with my brother. On a professional level I am certain Crispin here, though the youngest, is the best Quartermaster you have ever worked with. But, due to his age, I believe he may be overly infatuated with you and I do hope you are not leading him on. According to your file, you tend to leave a trail of broken hearts and broken bodies in your wake."

Q's spine stiffened at hearing Mycroft's words. "My, that's enough," he ground out, teeth pressed so tightly together he worried one might crack. "You gave up your chance to worry about me when you practically disowned me for taking the job at MI6."

"It was for your own good, Crispin. As is this. I do not think you understand who this man truly is. What he has to do in order to complete his missions."

Sensing Bond tense next to him, and not relishing explaining to Mummy how Mycroft was killed for being an insensitive prat, Q glared across the car and, dropping his voice, he conveyed all the menace he was feeling, "Mycroft Holmes, I am his Quartermaster. I am his eyes and ears in the field. I know everything there is to know about his job, possibly even more than he does. But beyond that, I am 32 years old. I am my own man. What I do for a living is not your concern. Who I love is not your concern. And if this is what we will have to endure to get any help out of you, you can consider the bond between us well and truly broken."

Q was ready to continue when a hand on his silenced him. He looked over at Bond who had a rather murderous look on his face and just nodded once, understanding. "Mr. Holmes, I have been informed what you do for a living and while I do not understand completely, I am pretty sure I get the basic idea. However, as Cris said, our relationship is not your concern. What happens between us is our business and our business alone. If you feel the need to get between us again, I will be forced to take action. You have my read my file. You know what I am capable of. But, as you are his older brother, I will tell you I have no intention of hurting him due to any of my own actions. Obviously in our line of work, things may happen but there is nothing either of us can do about that."

Turning his hand over, Q squeezed Bond's before releasing him and bringing his hand back to his lap. "Mycroft, we need some help. If you can't provide it, then I will find some other way. But you have to stop meddling. I know it's what you do best but it needs to end. Now."

Mycroft nodded, looking disappointed and Q was sure this was not the end of the argument, just a temporary cease fire. "Alright Crispin. Then what do you need?"

"We need a place to stay. My flat has definitely been compromised, as has 221B and your home as well. We have to assume James' flat is also under observation. I will need safe transportation to and from work. And I will need you to find everything you can about Bernard Torbett. He needs to be eliminated and soon." Mycroft glanced at Kami who simply nodded and continued typing on her phone, which reminded Q, "One of my first priorities when I get back to work will be new phones for James and myself as well as tracking to make sure that Sherlock, John, and your own phones are clean. If we are going to be in communication, I want it to be untrackable. James' life may depend on it."

Bond looked at Q somberly, "Yours as well. You are the one he threatened after all."

Mycroft quirked an eyebrow and even Kami looked up from her mobile. "Thanks, James," Q muttered under his breath.

The rest of the ride was spent with Q updating his brother and assistant on the case and what was going on. Mycroft had many questions about Torbett and his network, questions Q wasn't yet prepared to answer. It was just one more thing that they would need to figure out if they were going to finish this mission.

Just before they pulled up to MI6, Mycroft asked, "Mr. Bond, you are currently listed as deceased/MIA. Will you be changing your status back to active?"

James shook his head. "I think it would be best if I stayed dead for the time being. If you could help keep my survival a secret, I feel it would be beneficial to both of us."

The car came to a stop inside the parking garage above the MI6 bunkers. As they opened the door, Mycroft replied solemnly, "Understood, Mr. Bond. This will be kept in the utmost confidence. Just keep Crispin, and yourself, safe."