XIV

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Time stretched so that a single moment seemed to last for hours.

Q tried not to fidget as he waited in the Arrivals area of Heathrow International Airport, careful to keep his expression schooled to one of apathy. The arrival and departure boards were just in sight, but he ignored those in favor of watching and waiting for each influx of new arrivals. Tugging his parka around himself closer, he clasped his hands behind his back to keep himself from twisting them in anxiety; airports in general had always put him on edge long before planes entered the equation. He'd lucked out as a child only because his mother hadn't liked traveling to begin with.

Glancing at his watch, he looked up as the doors opened and another crowd of passengers left the terminal. James was late by almost two hours, his flight having experienced several delays first in Boston, where he completed the joint mission with the CIA, and then one more delay before his flight landed.

In other words, Q was steadily losing his excuse to be there as time ticked on. His excuse had been to personally handle 005's equipment change, and then he pointed out to M that it would save time if he picked up 007 while there.

His heart leapt into his throat when he recognized James, battered but alive, approaching him while casually slinging his pack onto the other shoulder. To anyone else, it looked as though James was merely approaching a chauffeur or an unlucky staff member roped into bringing him home, but it was taking all of Q's willpower not to run to the 00 agent and hug him tight.

"Sir," James greeted, noting the lines of tension in Q's body as the other straightened to smile in greeting.

"Commander Bond, if you would follow me, please," Q replied, gesturing for James to follow him to the car park. He'd have to take James back to HQ, and there was a company car waiting for them. James, he noticed, was careful to keep his body between Q and the other passengers, and Q almost smiled to himself before remembering that if he could see through the security cameras in the airport, then so could his staff. They were so far oblivious to Q's activities, but Q continued to worry. Keeping James' wish to keep their relationship secret hadn't been too difficult at times, but this was one of those moments that Q wished he could and kiss his lover, not giving a damn about whom was watching.

James waited until they entered the garage before suddenly wrapping a hand around Q's waist and pulling him behind a support column, earning a soft yelp of surprise from the other man. Q blinked when James braced him against the column, tilting his head up for a deep kiss. He whispered "Oh" in surprise but accepted the kiss that pushed him against the wall, using his hands to brace himself. He smirked against James' lips before wrapping his own hands around James' waist and pulled him closer. A growl reverberated in James' chest before he dumped the bag and crowded Q, teeth nipping his lips and neck before James ducked lower, carefully undoing the top few buttons of his cardigan and dress shirt underneath.

"James… James, we can't do that… not here, not where someone can walk in at any moment," Q whispered, his breath hitching as James' hands began to wander, brushing against Q's hips before settling at his waist. He closed his eyes briefly as James dragged his tongue against exposed skin, trying desperately to bring his own libido under control.

"No, no, you don't get to tease like that and get away with it," James whispered in Q's ear, voice hoarse as his fingers carefully flexed around Q's hips before resuming a semi-tight grip, as though James was holding on for dear life.

Q gave a short, breathless laugh. "Me? I didn't even start it," he said, turning his head to kiss James again, reaching up to hold the agent still as James' hands finally relaxed their grip. Resting his hands on either side of James' face, his eyes fluttered closed as James gently cupped the back of his neck and kissed him warmly. He could tell that James was still very interested in continuing, but at least Q could gather his thoughts now.

Pulling away, Q rested his forehead against James' and for a moment, neither of them said anything. Q spent a few seconds trying to catch his breath before he whispered, "Is everything all right?"

"Yes." James leaned forward to kiss Q again, as though to soothe over the curt response. "I missed you very much," he whispered again before nibbling Q's earlobe for a moment. A hand came up and wrapped itself in Q's hair before James nosed the dark curls. "Tonight, then? Your flat?" he whispered after a moment.

"Yes, of course," Q replied softly, a smile playing across his lips as he ran a gentle hand down the side of James' face. Studying James' blue eyes for a moment, he felt a small twinge of concern when he realized that James was still running on adrenaline, he added quietly, "I missed you too, you know. I… I can try to leave at five tonight."

"Please do," James murmured before tilting his head to better reach the soft skin underneath Q's jaw, nibbling on it for a moment before soothing the soft sting with his tongue. Q said nothing in response, gently combing his fingers through James' short hair as he glanced around to make sure that they were still alone. Making a mental note to erase the footage from any surveillance cameras, he gently lifted James' head for a final, quick kiss before he stepped to the side to have room to fix his shirt and cardigan. James wordlessly moved so that his back was against Q's, giving the boffin a measure of privacy against prying eyes. Then, when Q was finished in his attempt to look presentable again, he stepped forward to allow James a chance to collect the forgotten bag.

Q swallowed back the slight frustration that they couldn't be this close at MI6, where both men spent varying amounts of time during the day, and instead gestured for James to follow him as though nothing had happened. Squaring his shoulders, Q schooled his features back into that of indifference, all the while wondering how James managed to compose himself effortlessly.

It wasn't until they were in the car and Q was reaching for the gearshift on that James reached and touched the back of Q's hand briefly. Q looked up, momentarily startled, and they made eye contact for a second before James rested his hands back into his lap, where they remained for the rest of the car trip to SIS headquarters

A/N: Okay, I think we're caught up now. I do apologize about the delay in chapters, it's been...hectic here.