Note: I have kept to a teen rating on this story but leave this option to the individual reader. For a mature version of this chapter go to archive of our /works/1657655/chapters/3765507
Chapter 12
Bond and M go back to their cabin to contact Tanner and start working on a plan. This has little to do with MI6 and everything to do with a problem in M's marriage 15 years ago.
"M while we wait for Tanner to return our call why don't you tell me the story. What happened 15 years ago?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Why not…how can I help if I don't know the level of chaos this woman is capable of?"
"Bond you're just being nosy…you are just trying to dig into my personal life."
"So… I can't help but be interested in everything to do with you and this sounds too good to miss."
M sat on the bed a rested against he headboard and James came and sat beside her. M absent-mindedly plays with her shirt as she looks forward without actually seeing. M's going back in her mind to find the story for retelling.
Bond wants to grab her hand to reassure her but does not want to break this fragile connection with her past.
"It was when we just moved back from China and Nigel met her through a friend. I was becoming very bogged down at work and was never home. The children were out on their own and I assumed my presence was barely missed…I was wrong. We began fighting often and then the fighting stopped suddenly. I thought he had finally seen reason until I came home one Friday evening planning on a nice dinner out and a show to find an empty house. I called both my children and they said Nigel went away for the weekend and that I should wake the hell up and notice him once in a while."
"Your children sound lovely M."
"I always enjoy speaking with them when I want a dose of sarcasm and thinly veiled contempt."
"Did they at least know where Nigel was?"
"No but Marshall did and he was my next call."
"At least he told you…did he tell you about her?"
"Marshall implied that I may not want to call him but he gave me the name of the hotel. Nigel had gone to Brighton for the weekend. I called his hotel room and she answered."
"What did you do?"
"What do you bloody think I did…I was angry…so angry…I sat on the floor of my kitchen and got stinking drunk."
"By yourself…M that is not healthy…I know only too well."
"I didn't have anyone else to drown my sorrows with. Nigel is my best friend…my job did not allow me to have a lot of non work or even work friends and I was not exactly liked at work…I'm a woman in a man's world."
"You went through it all on your own?"
"Yes, and he came back to me…thank god… and we worked on it but I still held myself away from him…I couldn't be as close and passionate for years after…I was always holding back from him and Nigel knew it. The worse thing is that I told him I could have her killed…it was out of anger…I have alway been ashamed about that."
"Oh…M, It's completely understandable but you two are in a good place now...before Jane that is."
"Time heals all wounds Bond and we've been together for so long that it eventually seemed natural to forget about her."
Bond pulls her into a hug which M accepts as comfort. Bond rests his chin on M's head as he feels her begin to shake. M starts to sob into his shirt.
M can't understand why the floodgates are finally open. Perhaps it is being in the comfort of Bond's arm…knowing that he cares for her…that he is the friend that she never had when Nigel cheated on her before.
They snuggle there together as Bond strokes her back and feels her tears soak into his shirt as she leans her small body against his. Eventually M's sobs subside and she just rests her head against his chest.
"Feel better…I will always be a shoulder for you to cry on as long as I live…I swear it."
"Thank you James…I guess I should get cleaned up so that we can go to the pool and get some drinks…this is a vacation after all. Evelyn cannot possible plan on anything while you're here…we will find her cabin number and set up surveillance if need be we will arrest her before Nigel boards."
"I think I should take her off the ship in St. Martins and hand her over to the agents there…how tough can that be…she's at least 60."
"No, she's only about 55 she was 40 when they had the affair and why do you assume older women are easily managed? You have a hard time with me."
"That my dear is for an entirely different reason. Come on let's go get some drinks into you…you're far more frisky when full of alcohol."
"Bond! Stop that."
"It's true…last night…many nights and afternoons this past week you tumbled into bed after a few drinks M. Flirting at the bar with Jack and Bob…any of this ringing a bell?"
"Bond you were farther ahead when you were being comforting and not teasing me."
"Ahead where M? Am I making headway? Almost ready to acquiesce…to take me to bed and see how I perform and manage you?"
"Bond when was the last time I fired you?"
"Last night when I yanked you through the corridors after yanking you out of that man's bed."
"You looked so mad...I've only ever seen you look that angry at me once before, during the Quantum episode."
"Yes…I know all I remember a blinding rage and you bending over…ahem. I got an amazing peak down the front of your dress while you searched around for those evil torture devices you call shoes…not to mention your back side."
"Stop being cheeky."
"Well, I was too angry to mention it last night. So I have to now…M your ass is magnificent…I cannot be the first person to tell you that."
"No, you are not…Nigel tells me all the time."
The two of them head to one of the pool-side bars on the ship and watch the families and people while they have a few drinks in the sun.
The two of them are making observations on some of the crew and guests, chuckling at each others witty observations.
M is laughing and relaxed by the time they enter the dinning area for lunch. Bond's phone goes off and he answers. After a few minutes he hangs up.
"Tanner has connected Evelyn to Graves and the kidnappers. How do you want to proceed? Arrest her now and put her in the brig or wait until we dock at St Martins?"
"We know where she is and I want to know who she talks with. You have her room number?"
"Yes, you want me to rig her room?"
"Yes…good idea. I want her off this ship when my husband arrives."
"OK…it is best they don't see each other."
"I just don't want him to know this was all because a woman loved him so much that she could not let go."
"Are you talking about her or you M."
"Both of us but I was referring to him blaming himself for all these actions…I would rather he blame me and my job as usual."
Bond frowns. "M you will have to deal with Nigel soon…what are you going to do?"
"I don't know…in all honesty. Bond what do you think I should do and be brutally honest but remove your feelings for me out of the equation. If Vesper had lived and you married and she did that to you what would you do?"
"I would have murdered the other man or beaten him so badly he never came back. For you and Nigel…it's different you've been together so long…have such a life together that I could not compare the two of us. I spoke to Nigel about this and he regrets the mistake he made with Jane. Nigel thought you and I would tangle the sheets together and it made him to cave to her flirtations and lets face it M…men are the weaker sex when it comes to something like that."
"You aren't."
"I managed to say no…barely and I have regretted it ever since."
"I don't. It made me thankful."
"Your husband thanked me also. On one hand I want you to leave him…come live with me at my flat in London. Then I think of how the two of you were at the beginning of this trip…recovering finally from that affair, all that time ago to have it brought up again. I don't know what you should do and it's not for me to say…M this is your decision and I will support whatever you choose."
"I think I need another drink here in the sun."
"That's a good idea…do you think you can manage 30 minutes here on your own without attracting trouble?"
"Why?"
"I'm going to wire her room now and most people are out and about during the day…she may still be in Robert's room."
"All right. I will have a few drinks and read my book here in the sun…I will only leave long enough to use the toilet so make it quick and don't get caught."
"What can she do to me if she catches me?"
"Seduce you with her powers…I don't know she could be dangerous for all I know…she hired kidnappers…why not assassins."
"Now that you say that maybe I should stay with you."
"Go…and hurry back."
"Don't eat or drink anything until I return…just in case she is an assassin."
M laughs at Bond and swats his arm sending him away. She lightly nods off in her lounge chair and Bond rejoins her after 30 minutes.
"What did you find?"
"Nothing much…she does not spend much time there as is common on cruise ships. I did take these pictures."
M looks at his phone to see a picture of Nigel and one of her taken on the beach in Jamaica.
"So she was watching us. I wonder what her plans are?"
"What ever they are I don't want her near you."
"And I do not want Evelyn near Nigel. Can Q patch internal camera's so that we can have eyes on her?"
"I will message him and see. This is our last day together and I have an idea. Come on get up and come with me."
"Where?"
"Trust me M…you're going to love this."
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M had no idea how fun video games were. Bond brought her down to the ships arcade to make her practice on every shooter game they have.
M is improving in killing dinosaurs in Jurassic park and deer on the great plains of Canada. Then Bond brings her to a home console and places a headset on her and they play world at war.
"These graphics are amazing."
"Yes, they are…who do you want to play as on the fields of France M."
"British army…who else would we play as…the Germans?"
"You can pick any army."
"Well, we will be playing as ourselves…come on let's kick some Nazi ass."
By the time Bond gets her back to the room to change before dinner. M improved her aim and manual dexterity.
"I still want to get you on the firing range when we return…you need the ability to defend yourself better…hand to hand combat and guns M."
"What is it that you think will happen to me behind my desk?"
"It is not you behind that desk that worries me. It is you out in the big wide world where you attract trouble to you like ants to sugar."
"Bond don't exaggerate and I have a driver and guard at home."
"Honestly though how many times have you been kidnapped M?"
"What…I don't remember…once or was that a dream. I was saved by a tall dark and handsome agent…he was almost as annoying as you."
"Do tell…M when was that?"
"Around 2000... I just became M if you must know the sordid tale."
Bond frowns…he had heard rumours but to have them confirmed gives him shivers up his spine.
"Why were you taken?"
M does not like to remember that time…her friend died, killed by his own daughter. M whispers her response.
"Revenge."
"For what?"
"Not allowing my friend to pay a ransom to terrorists for his daughter."
"The King affair…I heard…you were taken? Did that monster hurt you?"
"What? How do you mean? No no…not physically...he killed my friend by poisoning his own daughter against him."
"Were you close to King?"
"Yes…a long time ago."
"How close?"
"Bond…really.."
"King was your lover?"
"Bond!"
"Why so evasive then…did you cheat on Nigel and with a very rich man?"
"No! We were lovers in university before I met Nigel but don't say anything to anyone."
"Why? He's dead."
"I never admitted that to Nigel…I always claimed we were just friends because he was very jealous when we were younger."
"I don't blame him but that was a long time ago."
"You know what kind of troubles old lovers cause in a relationship…hence the problems of the last week. I thought I would leave the past in the past like I thought I had with Evelyn Carter."
They clean up and change for dinner. M wears a lovely off the shoulder green cocktail dress that makes Bond's mouth hang open for a moment.
M smiles at his appreciation for her new dress. "I had to buy new clothes what do you think?"
"M…this is better than the sexy silver one you wore for those Americans."
"Believe it or not women usually dress to impress other women."
"So you were killer sexy to piss of other women…especially Evelyn once you realized who she was?"
"That was just a happy coincidence and I've got over 10 years on her."
"Still you look better than she does and that must kill her."
"That would save me a lot of trouble if she died of shock."
"Where would you like to go this evening M? The main dinning hall or somewhere more secluded? There is a show after dinner or dancing in one of the lounges. What do you feel like?"
"I would rather avoid the hall…I don't want to run into Robert, Nathan or Evelyn. As for after dinner we will play it by ear…I'm tired after drinking and staying up so late last night."
They make their way to a smaller restaurant grill and not the large dinning area. Bond manoeuvres them to a table for two and orders wine.
"This feels like a first date to me M how about you?"
M laughs. "A first date after a private cruise and sleeping together 3 nights already."
"Three…damn was I really drunk because I only remember holding you in my arms twice."
"Our first night together we fell asleep during the movie and spent the night on the sofa."
"Oh, how could I have forgotten…I could have woken you and taken you back to Nigel but I couldn't part with you. I watched you sleep for a long time and managed to see the end of Casablanca…it was a great film. Boggy loved her but let her go with her husband because he needed her more…sounds eerily familiar doesn't it?"
"Bond...nothing that romantic is happening here. It was a great film and I can't believe you didn't take me home when you could have…all this trouble started when Marshall and Joe saw us that morning."
"Not all the trouble M…just the string of lies required to cover up our kiss and those lies get more and more outrageous all the time. Marshall thought I was your lover and he convinced his hapless wife I was an illegitimate nephew."
"I really don't think Josephine is as hapless as we all believed. Nigel and Marshall, the cowards that they are, sent me to explain to Joe after the auction that those groups were swingers and she knew already. Had discussed the merits of an open marriage with Joan and Barbara."
"Really? Was she up for it?"
"I haven't even had the chance to speak with her what with the attack and kidnapping. Maybe she and Marshall decided to spice things up and did."
"M you have to find out…this could make the rest of this vacation interesting."
"Bond, I never took you for such a gossip."
"Come on M…that is too good not to share. Stuffy proper Josephine Mansfield experimenting sexually…you want to know too."
M giggles. "Of course I do…do you think she still believes that crazy story of you as my nephew?"
"I made sure to alway call you ma'am in front of your family. Marshall knows I'm your bodyguard and to keep his mouth shut. Marshall thinks there is more between us and that Nigel knows. Marshall's confused by his brother allowing such behaviour."
"Nigel and Marshall have always been so competitive and Marshall has never really progressed his mindset with women because he never had to. The wife stayed at home raised the children and that was that. He accepted that I was different and that attracted him to me but he could never truly reconcile his sexist attitude because he didn't have to."
"I think he understands what he's been missing and that is why he hit on you. I am not the only one that's attracted to your bossy nature."
"How do you explain the others…they got just bored with their American playmates? I was not acting bossy around them…nor my family."
"Oh that is the easiest to explain…have you looked in a mirror lately M?"
"What?"
"Come on M you are beautiful…that cute crop of white hair your high cheekbones and you have a killer body."
"Bond! How can you of all people say that…the women you…Vesper she was a stunning woman, so tall and lean."
"M, I know that you think that tall slim youthful women are my thing but really they are more the thing of the evil men I am working against. Most of them are not much more than concubines or rich women that even at their young age have gone to recreate themselves in some way surgically. You would never do that and you carry your age very well."
"Thank you Bond. I do think you are just trying to mollify me and work your way into a better position."
"True and that position is with you under or on top of me in bed darling."
"Bond! Enough, if I left you alone at the bar after this women would be throwing themselves at you…what will you do…ignor them because I'm here? In reality you will be undressing them with your eyes."
"That is normal for most men M but you cannot explain away that there were at least 4 men and your brother in-law hitting on you besides me in Jamaica and a husband that could not keep his hands off you."
"Nigel and I have done so well for the last 6 months that I thought something was wrong and he just wasn't telling me. You don't think he been seeing Evelyn behind my back again do you?"
Bond shifted nervously in his seat and raised his eyebrows at her. "No…I honestly don't think he has had an affair."
Bond hopes M stops questioning him on Nigel because he does not know if he can lie to her face if she asks a direct question.
"Tomorrow this all becomes chaotic again doesn't it M?"
"Yes…they will all be here. I need to spend some time alone with Nigel. While I do that you can try to get Evelyn off the ship. Has your magic phone given us any sign that anyone else is working with her?"
Bond looks at his phone and shakes his head. "She is never there. The feed from Q shows her in the dinning room at a pool during the day. She was with Robert for a while but is with another older gentleman now. Do you recognize this man?"
"Yes…from the fire that night he was with a woman named Jenny. I don't remember if he gave a name…Robert, Nathan and Bob were there that night."
"So, Evelyn is making her way through the group from Georgia…I wonder if that will come into play."
"I hope not. I would hate for them to get involved in something criminal."
"Shall we go to the bar now beautiful lady or would you like a show on your last night of freedom?"
The two of them walk arm in arm to the open deck and the bar. Bond finds M a seat and goes to the bar and gets them another bottle of champagne.
"How am I free? On this trip…I have only had a few scant hours of freedom on this ship before you flew in to rescue me from that freedom."
Bond pours the bubbly champagne into the fluted glasses and raises his to M's and they clink them before taking their first sips.
"Nigel asked me to rescue you from yourself and I think that you are glad that I did."
"A bit…but it would have been nice…"
"What would?"
"Never mind."
"Him? Nathan…sleeping with another man."
"Yes…to be honest it would have been nice."
"I have already offered my services in that department darling and you keep shooting me down."
"I told you why…there is something to be said for keeping emotion removed from the equation."
"Yes, but that is not for you…it should never be for you. M you may typify an emotionless leader but your staff all know that you are a softy at heart. In this business it is important to keep you heart out of the mission…a task I have failed at again...here with you."
"It is not wise for a 00 to fall in love during a mission…I agree but you did not know Vesper was a double agent. The two of you could have had a life together…married had children. That experience, though it hurt you changed you into what you are now."
"I'm not focusing on Vesper…I am talking about you…stop diverting the conversation to someone you consider more worthy of my affections because she was younger and you perceive her to be more attractive and suitable for me."
"Do you not think that Vesper changed the way you approach this job because I can tell it has?"
"The only person who changed me for this job is you my dear. To say anything else is a lie."
Bond refills their glasses."
"What are we celebrating or are you just trying to get me drunk on champagne?"
"Our last night together…my last chance on this vacation to sleep with you. Unless, you've decided to leave Nigel and move in with me."
"Bond…be serious and no I will not leave him…it's to late in life to do something like that."
"How can you say it's to late when you have me waiting to take you in…and pleasure you in ways you can only imagine…M really I.."
"Stop it Bond…you know I can't do that…it wouldn't be right and you would soon tire of me."
Bond grabs her hand.
"Stop pretending this is all a joke…I will be here waiting for you…you will leave him or eventually through natural causes you will be free and when that day comes you will turn around in your house and see me standing there with a white rose. On that day you will say yes…won't you M?"
M drains her second glass of champagne pondering her response. She feels herself getting closer to caving. M's experiencing an escalating physical reaction to James. This...need for him is not a subtle as it was and building with the time they have spent together.
M's fully aware that this is and always has been Bond's plan from the beginning of his flirtations. Fill her mind with possibilities and images of his chiseled chest over her as they engage each other physically. James Bond is a dangerous man...her dangerous agent.
Aye that's the rub...M cannot have him...if she retired...maybe...or if it could be an emotionless one-night stand but that would be impossible for her. M is falling in love with him.
"I'm still not sure and that could be years away for you to change your mind."
Bond frowns knowing that it won't be years…
"I will never change my mind…I told you that, but you could keep me interested in waiting by consenting tonight M."
M starts to laugh at him. "So that is the price of having you wait…a little taste to keep your interest. The women here would be so envious…although looking at the two of us they are more likely to imagine you are my son."
"Good…let them but I will not continue that illusion for the women or men that are sexually attracted to you M. Come with me I want to dance with you."
"All right."
Bond takes M's hand and walks through the ship to a dance bar.
Before she can object to the music he pulls her out on the dance floor and pulls her tightly to him and sways slowly to the fast music.
"Bond this is hardly the right type of music for dancing like this."
"Did you never watch Happy Days M? The Fonz always danced like this when he had a beautiful woman with him. All popular music is basically 4/4 time so we just dance to 2/4 time and it still counts."
"You have a quick excuse for everything don't you?"
"Yes I do, I am a 00 after all. You seem to have a fast excuse for everything also."
M laughs into Bond's chest. "I do and it is usually for why we are not sleeping together."
"Not for much longer because we still have tonight."
Why does this make M feel so nervous? The two of them have shared a bed before and there are two beds in the cabin.
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They return to the room and M decides on a shower before bed.
Bond winks and flirts heavily, using every ounce of his suave nature and eventually...
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M manages to take her shower alone.
M leaves the bath and climbs into bed in her t-shirt smelling of soap to find Bond fast asleep. Even in his sleep Bond gravitates towards her and snuggled up against her.
Bond woke beside M having slept better than he can remember since he was young.
It is reassuring to have M pulled close to him. That night on the yacht with the waves gently rocking them to sleep…that was a peaceful night too.
Nigel and the others come to meet them today and Bond will escort Evelyn to the authorities. Hopefully Tanner and Q have dug up enough evidence to put her away for a while.
Bond rolls over to take his phone. There is a video image of Evelyn packing…she turns to someone hiding from view and she speaks looking angry at whoever it is.
This is not good…she could be trying to get away. Bond hops up and dashes into the shower. He dresses and runs out of the door before M even rolls over to ask what he is doing.
Bond tears down the corridor and up another level. He reaches the room and knocks on the door. Evelyn opens the door shocked.
"So…the old bitch finally sends her lap dog to come get me…you are one of her agents…Bond, James Bond. Yes I know the old woman keeps an array of agent lackeys around her to sleep with and ignore her husband for. She cannot stand to lose but she will today."
"Enough…ma'am I will try to stay polite but you will come with me and meet some other lovely agents from home that will escort you back to Britain. You're being arrested for conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping, hiring people to assault people and generally being a nasty bitch."
"Really…you are planing on doing this now?"
Bond looks confused. "Yes…we docked in the middle of the night so we are in St. Martins where there are agents waiting…please come along I would hate to have to bind you and parade you through the ship."
"Well, Mr. Bond I would enjoy having you bind me up in other circumstances and sampling yet another one of Olivia Mansfield's men but you see I don't think you will be taking me in like you think you will."
"Why is that?"
"I've watched you also Mr. Bond and I know you are having an affair with the pious honourable M. Olivia...so sanctimoniously...she likely refers to me as a whore or a home-wrecker. Yes, Mr. Bond I know her secret name is M thanks to Graves putting the last piece together and now I plan to have my revenge. Who is looking after your precious M now Bond? Did you not just leave her all alone in the cabin you two love birds have shared since you boarded the ship by helicopter last night?"
SHIT! Bond does not incapacitate her or say anything more as his target has changed in the second it take his mind to process that M is in danger. Bond's eyes widen as he bolts from the door hearing the bitch cackle as he runs back to their cabin to save M.
M rolls over as the door closes. "James?"
Bond must have gone to get them coffee and food. M stretches out on the bed smiling as she ponders last night and the reality of the day ahead. She gets up and gets dressed and applies some make up wetting down her wayward hair and brushing her teeth.
There is a knock at the door. James must have his hands full. M opens the door…her eyes go wide as a strange man forces his way into the room and grabs her arm slamming a syringe into it.
"NOOOO! James…where..are..y…." Escapes M's lips as her vision darkens…her last thoughts are…Nigel...arrives...today.
To be continued...