For Saye0036, Detectivecaz, Alexandraiz fanfiction and Fairytales1981. I finally got this chapter done. Hope it was worth the wait :)

James was sitting on the sofa munching on chips while watching some old, boring movie when Jack and M arrived. The fact that it was rather early did not really surprise him, but M's silence was almost unnerving as she entered the house and went straight to her room without so much as a single word, leaving James to wonder just exactly what happened.

"Jack, care to explain?" said James as he stared down the hall at M's bedroom door

"Not really" he said as he headed straight for the kitchen to retrieve a beer

"What the hell happened?"

"Nothing" he said taking a long drink

"Well it had to be something, she isn't usually this quiet"

"She's just tired," he said quietly

"I don't think so," replied James as he headed off toward the bedroom

M sat on the edge of the bed staring at the floor with her arms wrapped around herself. She was so deep in thought that she did not notice when James entered the room.

"M...are you alright?" he asked as he knelt beside her

"Oh James, I didn't hear you come in" she said shaking herself back to reality "Did you say something?"

"I asked if you were alright."

"Fine, never better" she said as she stood up "Could you help me with the zipper?"

"Of course" he replied as he rose, slowly unfastened the hook, and lowered the zipper "Did something happen tonight to upset you?"

"No, I mean not really...it was nothing" she said attempting to evade the question

"Well, which is it...No or not really?"

"Do stop fussing James, I'm fine...really" she said in her "End of discussion" tone

"Do you need help getting out of that contraption?" he said with a grin

"I think I can manage, I am a little tired, so if you don't mind..." she said pointing toward the door

"I thought I would join you, that is unless you would rather..."

"I think I would prefer to sleep alone tonight," she said quietly as she reached up and cupped his cheek

James covered her small hand with his and leaned over and kissed her on the cheek

"Ok, if that's what you really want" he said quietly "I'll be on the couch if you need me"

Jack was well on his way to finishing his second beer when James found him in the living room.

"So what really happened tonight?" he asked as he flopped in the chair

"I already told you, nothing,"

James stared at him in disbelief "For a spy, you are a terrible liar," he finally said

"That would be because I am NOT a spy, I am a glorified pencil pusher" replied Jack

"What the hell has gotten into you?" snapped James "You went to the proverbial Ball with Cinderella on your arm so what the hell happened to make you both come home like the rejected, ugly step-sisters?"

"You really want to know?"

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know," snapped James

"Do you have any idea what it is like to have the most incredibly beautiful woman on the planet spend the entire evening defending you honor? Do you? Then have that same woman look at you with such pity in her eyes...It's pathetic! It should have been ME defending HER honor, not the other way around!"

"I see," replied James quietly "If it makes you feel any better, M has perfected the art of defending my honor"

"And does she also kiss you out of pity?"

"Does she what?" asked James as he tilted his head quizzically to the side with a rather confused look on his face

"And do you want to know the worst part? I kissed her back! Something that I deeply regret, because I know that in her heart it's you, it has always been you..."

"You what?"

Jack instantly regretted revealing THAT particular detail of the evening as soon as the words left his lips. He stared at James, watching as nearly every emotion ranging from anger to empathy simultaneously played across his face. James, in turn, just stood and stared at his best friend, not really sure if he should beat him to a bloody pulp or offer him another beer.

"Jack" he finally said "I'm not angry that you kissed her, but I have known M for a very long time, and you've got it wrong. M never does anything out of pity, and she does not believe in regret. To her, regret is unprofessional, so if she kissed you, it was because she wanted to"

"I should have listened to you when you told me that once I got to know her, I would find her to be the most addicting thing on the planet," grumbled Jack, as he sat on the sofa with his head in his hands

"That she is," replied James as he flopped on the sofa "The most infuriating, complicated, supremely annoying, especially on long distance phone calls, irritating, addicting person I have ever met."

"So you find me infuriating and complicated?" said M angrily as she stood in the doorway, glaring at them both

"At times" replied James slowly as he turned to face her

"And you" she said turning her attention to Jack "Do you honestly believe that I kissed you out of pity?"

"M..." he started to say before she cut him off

"I think I have heard enough," she snapped as she turned and stormed back down the hall, slamming the bedroom door behind her.

"Oh this is not good," said James under his breath

"Give her a minute and she'll calm down," said Jack

"You don't know her like I do."

"Why? What is she going to do?"

"Do you remember when I told you she, at times, could be a tiny terror?"

"Yeah"

"You are about to find out why" replied James as he slowly stood and stared down the hall, waiting for the fall out to begin.

Within ten minutes, M was storming down the hall, dressed in her trademark dark blue suit, white blouse and impossibly high stiletto heels, dragging her suitcase behind her.

"I've called and had the plane put on standby, it will be ready to leave when I arrive. I would appreciate it if one of you could take me to the airport. If this is an inconvenience, then I shall call a cab!"

"I will get my bags," said James as he started toward the bedroom

"That will not be necessary 007. Being that you came here on your own dime, you may return on your own dime as well!"

"Could we all just take a deep breath and sit down and discuss this like adults?" said Jack, in an attempt to diffuse the situation

"I believe that I have heard all I need to hear. I now see that it is impossible to have a relationship with either one of you. Jack, this long distance thing is clearly not working. You cannot build a relationship based solely on a series of phone calls and video chats, and James, any relationship with you would be considered inappropriate behavior, not to mention the difference in age and the fact that I am currently your boss!"

"M, if you would just..."

"007, you are treading on dangerously thin ice at the moment, I would suggest that you choose your words carefully, and don't even think of telling me to calm down," she hissed as she headed toward the door "I will expect you in my office no later than 6:00 pm tomorrow. You will be debriefed on this fiasco as well as your previous mission, is that clear?"

"Yes Ma'am" James replied quietly

"I will be waiting in the car," she said as she turned and headed out the door

"She's incredible. Do you know she never even raised her voice?" Said Jack in amazement

"She doesn't have to...She's M" replied James

"Let's just hope she calms down by the time you get back," said Jack as he grabbed his keys and his jacket

"Oh this is just the beginning," said James under his breath

"Why do you say that?"

"She hasn't seen all of the reports yet"

TO BE CONTINUED...