Hello everyone! Sorry for waiting a month before finally updating. I just got through my exams last week, so I finally got the chance to write something.
Anyway, this chapter turned out much longer than I expected, but it's got a lot of stuff in it. I guess I made a long chapter because I made all of you wait so long!
Enjoy your reading!
The nature of the world is to be calm and enhance and support life. Evil is an absence of the inclination of matters to be at peace.
-Gregory Maguire
(December 16, 2013- 11:43 AM)
A ray of light hit Alexa's face, and she burrowed stubbornly under the covers. It was quiet, and she chose to ignore it. Her head felt foggy, and traces of her hangover remained. She felt it hit her face again and groaned, rolling to the side. Her eyes opened groggily as she stared at the clock without a second thought. 11:43 AM-
Her eyes snapped open in surprise, and she fell off the bed. "Shit!" she exclaimed. She winced as her elbow collided with the ground, and she pushed herself back up to get dressed.
"Your response time was slower than I anticipated. I suppose it's only natural, given the time difference in Buenos Aires and the fact that you're hungover," A voice said from behind her as she opened a drawer. She whirled around and stared at Q, who was seated casually on his side of the bed. He had a cup of steaming liquid next to him on the nightstand, and his laptop and Zharkov's phone lay on the bed.
"Q! Why didn't you wake me?" Alexa said, sounding exasperated.
"You need the sleep, and I didn't want stress to catch up to you on the most important part of the mission," he said as he continued to type.
"But it's noon, and I could have started early-" she protested.
"Too late. I started already," he said, turning his computer around to show her. She took a seat back onto the bed and stared at the lines of text on the screen.
"You cracked his phone already?"
"I've been up since six this morning. I've had enough time to make breakfast, go to work, crack his phone, and track down Pavlenko," he said. "By the way, care for a coffee?"
Alexa blinked in surprise and nodded quietly, silently wondering how he could have been so energetic at six AM. She put aside her theories for a moment and stared at the screen. "This would've taken me at least a full day of work," she sighed, sipping the warm drink in her hand. "You are bloody insane."
"Insanity is the backbone of ingenuity," he said dryly as he pulled up a new screen.
"What are you up to? A reversed query?" Alexa asked, pointing at the various lines of text.
"Precisely. I'm establishing the place Pavlenko was at when he received Zharkov's phone call. It's working now, but it should give me the final results in an hour or more," he said.
"You are great. It's a good thing I fell in love with you," she said, breathing a sigh of relief. At her words, he let out a laugh.
"I'm great? Oh, please. I'm everything but," he scoffed.
"You are, because I never would've gotten up to do this. Thank you," she sighed, kissing him gently on the cheek.
"You're welcome. Good morning, by the way," he said. "Sleep well?"
"Hmm, well enough. You kept me warm," Alexa replied. "Did you talk to M about my grandmother?"
"He said he could put her wherever she wished to remain and plant an agent or two to keep an eye on her," he said.
"Mind having company? If you don't, I'll invite her over and tell her the news," she asked.
"I don't mind. Besides, I've never really met her. Does she know I exist?" he said, sounding amused.
"Not really. In the times that I've talked to her, she almost seems afraid to ask what happened to me during and after the time I disappeared. I suppose she thinks it'll make me angry. She just tells me about the past, and what life was like. I've never really explained everything here," Alexa explained. He glanced briefly at the mirror on the wall and adjusted his tie and smoothed back a few unruly curls.
"What are you doing?" she said curiously.
"I reckon this is the closest I'll ever get to a "meet the parents" experience, and I refuse to give off a shabby impression," he said stubbornly.
"You don't have to," Alexa laughed. "She's a nice woman. I'm sure she'll like you."
"It never hurts to be prepared," he said before glancing back down at his computer. "Speaking of your grandmother, we have a little time. Do you remember the address of your old home?"
Her eyes flickered with a glint of recognition and she stood up. "Hang on," she said. Alexa sauntered across the bedroom and snatched her purse off the table. She pried the bag open and pulled out a faded letter. It smelled of dust and old paper, but it looked relatively well-preserved.
"What's that?" Q asked.
"My grandmother gave it to me the last time I saw her. Apparently, I sent this to her when I went to the Black Sea with my parents the summer before I was taken away. It's old, but I think it has my address," she said. Alexa squinted slightly to read the faded handwriting, but was able to find the street name. She gave the address to Q and watched as he placed it into a map.
As soon as the connection stabilized, Q took a glance at the fuzzy image on the screen. "It might be inhabitable, but it's just too hard to tell," he said. "It's in a remote location, and we can't usually gather images because of that factor. That's certainly vexing."
"I'll ask my grandmother if it's safe," she said, grabbing her phone off the nightstand. Alexa paused for a moment before smiling slightly.
"You're doing pretty well, by the way. Maybe you should be in trouble more often," she teased.
"What are you going on about now?" he said, looking halfway amused as he continued to type.
"Don't be coy. I'm pretty sure you know," she said, nudging him gently. Q didn't say anything and turned quickly, looking her straight on.
"Am I doing it terribly wrong? Do people usually make up like this?" he asked. She stared at him and bit her lip.
"Were you listening to what I said before?" Alexa asked.
"Somewhat. I was typing," he shrugged. Alexa rolled her eyes good-naturedly and touched his arm.
"I said, you're doing a pretty good job of making things up so far. I like not having to plan out logistics for once," she said.
"I'm the Quartermaster. This is my daily job, Alexa," he reminded her, looking amused.
"I know, but you are using it to your advantage, which is fairly clever. Nothing like fulfilling your girlfriend's every need to reconcile with her," she smiled, standing up.
"I could stop," he said dryly, "though I'm sure you wouldn't want me to."
"Exactly. I like having you around my little finger," she said cheekily.
"Oh, come now. Don't be like that," he said as he stood up to wrap his arm around her waist. She let out a squeal of surprise as he pulled her back down to the bed, and she began to laugh.
"Alright, I get it! I'm sorry," she said, glancing up to look at him as she lay her head against his chest.
"Right. Are you going to get up now?" he chuckled, running a hand through her hair.
"Yeah, I'll get to work. I need to, especially with what's happened in the past few days," she said. His eyes darkened at the mention of events in the past, and he let out a sigh. Alexa felt him kiss her on the cheek and shifted slightly as he laced his fingers in her hair.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled.
"I know you are," Alexa said.
"Oh, don't be cryptic, love. You know what I'm like," he sighed. "Aside from you, I love logic, reason, and definite answers."
"Of course, but this makes things more interesting for me," she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
"You certainly are being wicked today," he said dryly.
"But that isn't necessarily a bad thing, is it?" she said.
"Hmm, not in your line of business," he said. "It's not too much of a bad thing when you're dealing with me."
"Rightfully so," she said as she pressed her lips against his. Their kiss started out slow and chaste, and quickly turned into something more as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him. She felt him become a little less careful with his kisses and groaned slightly before he gently pulled away.
"I don't know if I should take all of this as a sign of forgiveness," Q mumbled as he leant against her. Alexa grinned at him and kissed him sweetly on the cheek before getting out of bed.
"Good. I love keeping you guessing!" Alexa laughed as she left the room.
After she left the room, she began to work on arranging her trip to Kodino. It was nearly noon, so she called her grandmother over to have dinner with them. She had left her friend in Cambridge several weeks before (I don't want to be a bother, she had claimed) and was staying at a small hotel in London. After phoning her and inviting her over, Alexa sat at the counter and attempted to follow Q's instructions as she prepared lunch.
He sat at the kitchen counter, hard at work on his computer as he continued to track Pavlenko. Alexa stood on the other side of the counter, staring rather blankly at a pot of steaming noodles. "How do I tell if they're done?" she said.
"Alexa, it's only been two minutes," Q chuckled as he continued to type. "They need to stay in much longer than that. It's not like when you microwave noodles, alright?"
"Well, what about this one? Do I pour it in with the noodles right now?" Alexa said, looking bewildered as she pointed to a pan of pasta sauce.
"What?" Q said, glancing up. He blinked in surprise and stopped her from mixing the watered pasta and the sauce. "No, don't do that! That's the wrong way to do it."
Her cheeks flushed pink, and she began to laugh. "This really shows you how much I know about cooking," she said.
"You're doing alright," he said as he continued to type. "You haven't set anything on fire yet, so I count this as a success."
"What, has that actually happened?" she said jokingly.
"Every chef has to start somewhere, even me," Q said, chuckling lightly. She blinked in surprise and burst into laughter.
"Alright, I suppose you have a fair point," she said as she stirred the noodles. "Got anything on Pavlenko yet?"
"I managed to bluebug his phone, so I can take a look at his information. It's being downloaded right now, and afterwards I can take off my tracers. Give me a minute or two," he said.
She waited in silence as he continued typing at his computer. A moment later, he glanced up and gave her a small smile. "I got his schedule," he said. "Looks like we're heading out."
"Wonderful," Alexa said, returning his smile with one of her own. "What does it look like?"
"Well, he has a meeting planned at Savinsky on the nineteenth," Q said. "Heard of it?"
"There were two facilities that I knew of; the main one in Plyussa and the facility near Savinsky, which we called the Bolshoye Base. The Bolshoye Base was just being built in the last few years of my training, and I knew that they originally intended it to be a prison. It's on the banks of Bolshoye Syamgozero," she said. "Before you ask, yes, that is a real place."
"Sometimes I wonder about the Russian language," Q muttered. "What's your idea so far?"
"We can stay in Kodino for a bit and solidify the logistics. Pavlenko already knows we're coming for him, so we just need to give him a faint idea of when," she said.
"A trail of breadcrumbs, then? Lead him to believe that we've left London, but not give him anything else?" Q questioned.
"Precisely. Uncertainty is the state they left me in for nearly nine months, so I reckon this is just returning the favour," she said.
"Alright. Do you know anything about the operations in the Dubrova base?" he asked.
"They're doing some genetic testing in there, as well as training of the potential agents," Alexa said.
"We need firepower, then," he said. "I can drop by headquarters later and pick up some new weapons."
"Good," she nodded affirmatively, "But I have a question."
"Yes?" he said, thinking it was about the mission.
"What do I do now?" she said, looking slightly confused as she motioned to a pot of boiling noddles and a pan of sauce. Q blinked for a moment and chuckled quietly to himself.
"Right, let me help you," he said, standing behind her. He put his arms around her body and instructed her carefully on how to drain the noodles. Q placed his hand on hers and doused the rotini with cold water before tossing it into the pasta sauce.
"Mix it in, and you're done," he said, placing the spoon at the edge of the pan.
"I knew that," Alexa chuckled as she mixed the two ingredients into a large bowl. "Really, I knew these few steps from the start."
"What am I here for, then?" he said, quirking an eyebrow.
"Nothing. I just like it when you put your arms around me and do things like this with me," she said softly. "It's a big contrast to what I do out in the field, and I like it. It's peaceful, like all things save for happiness don't exist."
"I like this peace too. It is what you're working towards, and it's a good goal," he said.
"A good goal? Hmm, I suppose so. I've never wanted anything more than to live like this, to live without being afraid of them," she mumbled as she leant against him. "Guess I'm finally getting the chance to make that happen, and with all people, I'm doing it with you."
"Why, is that a bad thing?" he questioned.
"No, but it's a strange thing. I'm asking the same man I wanted to protect from danger to help me rush off into the battlefield," Alexa replied. Q let out a sigh in response and moved towards her.
"I'm afraid you're underestimating me. I'm a bit rougher than I look, love," he said, his breath hot against her neck.
"I don't believe you. Prove it," she said playfully, giving him a sly smirk.
"You asked for it," he chuckled, before gently, almost mockingly, wrapping his arms around her waist. Alexa placed her hand against his shoulder as he placed his lips on hers and felt a spark of anticipation jolt her heart as she stood entwined in his arms.
From the get-go, he was anything but gentle. His grip around her was tighter, and his lips crashed unabashedly against hers as he pressed her back against the counter. She was a bit taken aback at first, but wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed back with force of her own, eager to explore this different side of him. His tongue darted out against hers with a sense of reckless abandon, and the world seemed to spin around as she kissed him. He nestled his hips against hers, and she let out a groan as he kissed the base of her neck roughly. She had no idea how much time had passed, but she found that she didn't care, as long as it didn't end.
"Did I prove my point?" he said softly with a hint of smugness in his voice as his lips brushed against her ear.
"I don't know," she said slyly. "Let me think..."
"Maybe I can change your mind," he chuckled quietly as he gently kissed the base of her neck and trailed upward, letting his hands wander where they pleased. A noise that she hadn't known she could make bubbled out of her lips, and she entwined her fingers in his hair.
"Okay, okay, I get it!" Alexa exclaimed breathlessly, her cheeks flushing pink and her eyes brightening. She rested her hands around his neck and smiled at him. "You are right. I underestimated you completely."
"Any complaints?" he smirked. "Feedback, after all, is crucial to personal growth."
"Believe me, I have no complaints," Alexa said. "As for feedback, I enjoyed it immensely and let me just say, I didn't know you were capable of doing half of those things to me or making those noises come out of my lips."
"Letting that side of me out every once in a while isn't a bad thing," he shrugged, before shifting slightly. "Anything else to improve?" She ruffled his hair affectionately and leant up to reach him.
"Well, I suppose you deserve one more word of advice: do more things like that to me," she whispered, giving him a quick kiss. "You are quite the man, and best of all, I have you all to myself."
"Right. Just you," he mumbled, wrapping his arms around her waist to hug her. The doorbell rang suddenly and Alexa's head snapped up.
"That must be grandmother. I'll grab the door," she said as she pulled away from him. He nodded and she left him to set the table. Alexa's hands rested on the doorknob and she opened the wooden door to look into her grandmother's crisp blue eyes.
"Gran! Good to see you," Alexa said warmly.
"It's good to see you, my dear," Tatiana said, giving her granddaughter a hug. "How are you?"
"I'm doing well. Come on in," Alexa replied, leading her grandmother into the room. The older woman took off her coat and rubbed her slender fingers as she examined the room around her.
"My goodness, is this your home?" she said.
"Partially," Alexa explained, giving her a small smile.
"Well, it's lovely," she remarked. "But what do you mean by partially?"
"Let me show you," Alexa said, leading her out of the foyer. Tatiana's eyes sharpened with an air of curiosity at the sight of Q in the kitchen. Q's eyes sparked with interest, and he wiped his hands against a towel.
"This is Q, my boyfriend. Q, this is Tatiana Grazinsky, my grandmother," Alexa said.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am," Q said politely.
"Ah, but the pleasure is mine," Tatiana said, her eyes sparkling with interest. "You have an interesting name."
"It's a nickname," he said vaguely.
"For?"
"Sherrinford," Q said, looking unfazed. Tatiana blinked in surprise and let out a light laugh.
"I see why you wanted a nickname," she said. "Speaking of which, I didn't know Alexa had a boyfriend."
"She has a tendency to keep a lot of secrets," Q said dryly.
"She does, doesn't she?" Tatiana replied, giving him a knowing smile. Alexa rolled her eyes good-naturedly and placed a hand on her grandmother's shoulder.
"I prepared lunch for us earlier. Would you like anything to drink? We have some alcohol, if you'd like," Alexa asked.
"Just water, dear. I'm afraid I'm not up for a full glass of vodka anymore. Doctor's orders," Tatiana chuckled. Q poured her a glass and set it down, along with the pasta.
"Here you are," he said, before taking a seat. Tatiana studied him quietly as he sat down, a look that made Q slightly nervous. Alexa saw her searching look and waited patiently for her to ask questions.
"Tell me more about you two. How did you fall in love?" she asked. Her voice trailed off at the end of her sentence as she realized that this could be a touchy subject. Tatiana made an effort to avoid talking about what happened after Alexa's disappearance, for fear that she would remember the horrors she had gone through and be mentally affected. Despite this, Alexa seemed fine and began to talk about their relationship.
"That's a great question," Alexa said, letting out a soft laugh. "I first saw him in university. He was ranked first in our class and I was second, but I never talked to him until I met him in a Tube station."
"A Tube station?"
"Yes, a Tube station. Isn't that right, love?" Alexa said, taking a bite of her pasta.
"Yes, that's right," Q said. "I caught her reading a book about computer security, a subject I'm interested in. After testing her, I hired her to work for me."
"You're her boss?" Tatiana said curiously.
"Formerly. She quit permanently," Q said vaguely.
"Really? Do tell," Tatiana said. Q glanced at Alexa hesitantly, and she nodded softly in response.
"I suppose you should know everything, given that this is what I brought you here for," Alexa said quietly.
"Know what?"
"What really happened in Kodino," Alexa said. Tatiana blinked in surprise and shook her head.
"Dear, if you don't want to tell me-" she began.
"No, it's alright. I can handle it," Alexa smiled. Tatiana looked at her hesitantly but decided to trust her.
"Alright. I'm listening," she said. Alexa took a sip of the water in front of her and began her tale.
"I took the track test early that fall, and I remember getting a letter back about an elite school. Mum and dad were happy about it until the soldiers arrived at our doors," she said. "The elite school was a lie, and I had been accepted into Operation Chetiri, a program headed by The Agency designated to create assassins. It was the Union's last attempt to stay in power, and I had to be orphaned to get in."
Tatiana's eyes were wide, and she but her lip. She could not speak for a moment, but had to acknowledge the truth. "And so your parents were..." she began.
"Yes," Alexa nodded gravely. "They were killed. I tried to run, but they caught me and chained me into that facility for a long time. They trained me to kill, and forced me to do their dirty work."
"Bozhe moi. I always had a feeling that it was something suspicious. That's why I moved from Kodino and changed my last name," Tatiana muttered, wringing her hands nervously. "But how did you get away?"
"I faked my death in a bombing and came to London to study. For years, I thought that they were gone and that I was finally free to live my life. That's when I met Q, and he offered me a job," she said, smiling slightly.
"What job?"
Alexa leant back and let Q explain what had happened between them. "I'm the technology director, you could say, of the MI6," he said. "I hired Alexa, and I unknowingly fell in love with her after getting to know her. The Agency found out she was alive, and after being found out, she quit working for me permanently."
"What do you mean by permanently?"
"She jumped in front of a train to fake her death," Q said, looking nonplussed. Tatiana stared incredulously at her granddaughter, waiting for an explanation.
"What? It was the only way to keep him safe!" Alexa said indignantly. Tatiana shook her head and let out a sigh.
"And you somehow figured out she was alive after that?"
"In a long way, yes. My older brother is Sherlock Holmes, the man you first asked to help you on her disappearance in 1989. I helped him with the case, and she came out of hiding to tell me that she was alive," he said. "I came to forgive her and we began dating just as she was hired as an MI6 agent."
Tatiana merely sat quietly and took a swig of her water. "My goodness. You've taken a long path to get to this point, dear," she sighed.
"For the most part, it was worth the walk," Alexa said dryly. Tatiana nodded, and looked back up at her after taking a bite of her food.
"I have but one question, though. Why let me know now, not earlier?" Tatiana asked.
"Because I wanted to build trust with you before I could let you know," Alexa sighed. "Also, it ties into what I wanted to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I'm close to nailing the man who ordered mum and dad to die. It's a dangerous affair, and while I'm away, you'll stay under the MI6's protection. You can choose where to go," Alexa said.
"Anywhere, hmm..." Tatiana mused. She paused for a moment before glancing up at Alexa. "I'd like to go to Siena."
"Any particular reason?" Alexa said curiously.
"I met your grandfather there in my twenties, back when I was teaching mathematics at St. Mark's School. He had been drafted there, and I met him when he drew me sitting at Piazza del Campo," she said. "It's a beautiful city, and I've dreamed of going back again."
"I can make the arrangements later today to make your dream a reality. You'll be accompanied by two men, and they'll keep watch over you," Q explained.
"Am I free to roam around Siena as I please?" Tatiana said.
"Certainly, as long as you don't do anything illegal," Q said with a twinkle in his eyes. Tatiana let out a laugh and shook her head.
"I'm afraid I left my mischief back in my youth. You won't need to worry much about me," she chuckled. "I'll be worrying more about both of you anyway."
"You mustn't worry about us. Q's the responsible one, so I'm in safe hands," Alexa said.
"I'll be keeping a close eye on her, making sure that she won't do anything reckless like she usually does," Q said, giving her a chiding look.
"I'm not that reckless," Alexa protested.
"I've seen enough of you on missions to concluded that no, of course you aren't," Q said dryly.
"My business is danger, darling. You should've thought of that before you fell for me," she said, smiling slightly.
"Maybe it's a good thing I'm with you. Who else would be responsible for you?" he sighed.
"Point taken," she said. A light chuckle came from the other side of the table, and they glanced at Tatiana.
"Something wrong, Miss Grazinsky?" Q said.
"Oh, feel free to call me Tatiana, Q," she said. "I just laughed because I realized what you're like to her. You keep her grounded. I think it's right for her, really, and it's certainly nice to have you with her."
"Thank you," Q said. "I do my best to keep her out of danger."
"Go about your business, then," she said. "Just make sure to bring back my granddaughter in one piece, or I'll give you an earful.
"Trust me, I'll stay close to her," Q said, smirking slightly at Alexa. She could only laugh in response before giving Q a meaningful look.
The three continued lunch with no hassle, and Tatiana quickly grew to like Q. She found him to be a good fit for Alexa, and approved of the fact that he was a responsible man when it came to caring for her granddaughter. He could certainly make sure that she was doing well, and it seemed that he genuinely loved her.
As she stood in the foyer and pulled on her scarf, she glanced around to look for Q. He was nowhere to be seen, so she turned to Alexa. "Alexa, dear, do you believe he's the one?" she asked.
"The what?" Alexa said.
"You know," Tatiana said in a hushed tone. "The man whose love is yours to keep; the one you'll grow old with and who you'll fight for to the end?"
Alexa's eyes softened, and she nodded confidently. "Of course. Q is the only man I've loved, and the only one I'm certain I will ever love. Sure, he has his flaws here and there, but he means well. He makes me happy, and his love is for me alone, as is my love for him. I love him, and despite all my faults, he loves me too; nothing, not even the Agency, can change that," she said.
"As long as he makes you happy, dear. That me the most important thing," Tatiana said gently.
"I suppose it is," she said as she watched Tatiana put her scarf on. Alexa handed her a pair of gloves before giving her grandmother a hug.
"I'll see you soon," she said with a smile. "If you have any trouble while you're at Siena, let me know."
"I'll call you if I do. Maybe I can visit you again after this is all over," she said. "You know, check in on how you're doing."
"You certainly could. You're always welcome here," Alexa replied.
"I'll come back to visit often. I left my old home in Kodino already, and I left Leo Novikov, your father's best friend, to care for your house. It's still in fairly good shape, but I can't bring myself to go back," Tatiana said. "I've found a lovely little house in Dover, so I'll be moving in after you come back."
"Alright. Well, feel free to stop by whenever you wish," Alexa said.
"I will, and I reckon you'll surprise me each time I stop by," she said with a twinkle in her eye.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I'm not a simpleton, dear. That boy loves you dearly. Before long, I'll be receiving wedding invitations, and later, even a few great-grandchildren," she chuckled.
"Gran!" Alexa exclaimed, turning pink. "I don't even know if he would agree to such a thing. He doesn't seem like the type to like children."
"You never know, my dear. It's always the unlikely ones who get along with children the best," she said as the clock chimed behind her. She looked back at it and turned to Alexa.
"I think I'll head off now. I won't bother you two any longer," she said.
"Not a problem. Bye, Gran," she smiled.
"Goodbye, Alexa. Good luck," she said, giving her a quick hug. Q emerged from the kitchen and Tatiana waved at him.
"Goodbye, Q! It was good to meet you," she said, shaking his hand.
"It was a pleasure to meet you as well," he said.
"Now remember, take care of my granddaughter," she chided gently. "I'd like her back in one piece."
"I'll be sure to do so," he chuckled, putting an arm around Alexa. The couple waved goodbye to Tatiana and watched as the door shut behind her.
"Did you hear everything that we said?" Alexa said curiously.
"Every last word," he said, looking amused. "It was sweet of you to tell her all of that."
"Oh," she replied, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of pink. "You weren't supposed to be listening! Especially what she said after-"
Her eyes widened slightly, and her face seemed to turn a darker shade of red in embarrassment. "Never mind," she said. Q merely shrugged and dismissed her comment as he headed towards the door.
"By the way, I'll be going out for a bit on an errand," he said, grabbing his car keys and a coat.
"For how long?" Alexa said, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm not entirely sure. Maybe a while," he said vaguely. "In the meantime, I left some new weapons for you on my desk. Is one of your fingers a size seven?"
"Yeah, I'm a size seven on my fourth, third, and second finger. You measured me when you first started building me weapons, remember? Why?" Alexa said, looking confused.
"I was trying to design a new gun, but I wasn't sure if I had the correct measurement. It doesn't really matter, I suppose, since I scrapped the idea altogether," he said. Her eyes narrowed, and she wondered why he would ask a trivial question. He wasn't one to ask pointless questions like that, a fact that caused her to glance at him strangely.
"What are you up to?" she said warily.
"Nothing," he said nonchalantly.
"Are you sure? You're not entirely off the hook yet, you know," Alexa said teasingly, with a twinkle in her eye.
"I know," he said breezily. "I'm just heading out on an errand. In the meantime, feel free to try out the new weapon designs."
His words captured her interest and momentarily diverted her attention away from his errand. "That's probably a good idea. I need to tell M to place Gran in Siena anyway," she said.
"Alright. There's also a file for both of us that contains legal documents and plane tickets," he said. "Can you plant a trail of breadcrumbs to lead Pavlenko towards our general path?"
"With pleasure. It's finally time to return the favour for leading me astray for months," she smirked.
"Alright, then. I'll see you soon," he said, kissing her atop the forehead.
"See you. Have fun," she said with a smile.
"I certainly will," he said before leaving Alexa in puzzled silence.
(2:53 PM- The Q-Branch)
Alexa sat quietly at Q's desk, tapping her fingers impatiently against the metallic surface. Q had been gone for the past two hours, and she wondered what he could possibly be doing that would require so much of his time. In the time that he had been gone, she had planted a trail for Pavlenko, finalized the weapons he had given her, and performed various activities around the Q-Branch. There was nothing left to do, and all she could do was wait. His absence and his nonchalant attitude had worried her, and she wondered if it was natural to feel this way. It felt odd not to trust him like this, as she had never really experienced this situation before.
She glanced around and slid her chair to Joy's desk, who was currently working on organizing a stack of papers before going home early. Alexa looked around briefly and upon seeing that they were the only two left, leant forward. "Hey, are you free?" she said in a hushed tone.
"No, but I am in dire need of a break," Joy sighed, groaning as she leant her head against the stack. "Did you need something? Also, why on earth are you whispering?"
"I need honest dating advice," she said. "Have you ever dealt with suspicions of infidelity before?"
"No, I'm afraid I haven't, but I am 101% sure that Eve could help you on that," Joy smirked. "Why, do you think Q's cheating on you?"
"Yes! Wait, no! Damn it, I really don't know," Alexa groaned.
"Well, go on," Joy said as she continued stacking papers. "Tell me about it. Maybe I can help."
"It all started with that thing with Kate. I became afraid that he had been cheating on me after I saw what he was doing with her, but we both ended up being at fault because he kissed her back and because I left him to think I was dead for a few days," she said.
"Anyway, I guess the incident planted doubt in me, and he ran out two hours ago on an "errand"," Alexa muttered.
"So the man went out on an errand. Guys do it all the time," Joy chuckled.
"No, but he was acting a little strange. He asked me something about my measurement for a gun design, but he told me a few moments later that he scrapped the idea completely. You know what he's like; he never says pointless things like that, and he was so nonchalant when he said he was heading out," she said. Joy's eyes narrowed, and she tilted her hair slightly.
"That is quite strange for him to do. Maybe he went out to get materials for your mission," Joy suggested.
"Maybe, but he's been gone for hours, Joy! Even I know he wouldn't work that slowly," she groaned. "What do I do? I've been worrying all afternoon, but that doesn't help. I hate feeling like this; it doesn't feel normal! Maybe I'm being ridiculous over nothing-"
"Alexa," Joy said, looking amused. "I'm fairly certain that about 85% of the people on earth have felt this feeling before. It's normal."
"Are you sure?"
"Course I am. You'll be fine, alright? Just have a little faith in the man. I know that's a little hard for you since it takes a while for you to build and regain trust, but just take a chance. He'll be fine," Joy said.
"Alright," Alexa said softly. "So I'm not being ridiculous?"
"Eh, a bit. Just trust him a bit more. I mean, it is odd to think that he's being unfaithful because of the way he's been. Maybe he's being secretive, but for a different reason," she said. "He is, after all, much more than he appears to be. Remember, this is the same man that broke into-"
Joy suddenly stopped and looked around. Alexa glanced back at her, looking puzzled."Broke into what?" Alexa said curiously.
"You've never heard the Zagreb story?" Joy said incredulously.
"I thought that was a rumour, so I never listened to it!" Alexa said.
"Rumour, my arse. It's all true. Marcus Greene was one of our former employees that the PM forced in here. I guess she couldn't accept that Q was competent enough to run a country's security at his age," Joy said.
"Anyway, turns out, he was an assassin working to steal some weapons designs from us to sell. Q caught on fairly quickly and confronted him, and he ran off with a hard drive he collected with all of our information on it. He disappeared for a few days and we couldn't get any of our agents on the case because that was the same time 007 disappeared to kill Raoul Silva," Joy said.
"Well, go on. What did he end up doing?" Alexa said, urging her onward.
"The new M was taking care of affairs and couldn't find any other agent good enough to take down Greene, so Q essentially told him to piss off and went after Greene himself. He stormed into a warehouse in Zagreb a day later, singlehandedly took down eight men, and took back what was rightfully his," Joy shrugged.
"...Are you sure were talking about the same man?" Alexa said after a long period of silence. Joy smirked and gave her a nod and Alexa's expression broke out into a smile.
"Well, well. You learn something new every day, I suppose," Alexa shrugged.
"I've always wondered a bit about him. None of us know how he was hired, and it's bothered us for years now. Maybe he'll tell you," Joy said as she put on her coat.
"I have a vague idea," Alexa said, recalling the time he had told her about his earlier dealings.
"Really! I've known him for a while, but I knew he would tell you," Joy said, with a hint of envy in her voice. She glanced up at the clock on the wall and touched Alexa on the hand.
"Oh, I have to run. Ivy and Mia are part of the school's theatre production, so I have to grab my husband and go," she said brightly.
"Alright, mother hen," Alexa said teasingly. "Tell your daughters that I said hello."
"Will do," Joy called as she exited the room. The door hissed shut behind her, and Alexa was left alone to wonder where Q could be. Alexa decidedly ignored her gnawing fear of infidelity and reassured herself that Q was alright. She just needed more faith in him.
For the next half hour, she secured their mission files in a small silver briefcase. Alexa placed the new weapons he had left for her inside a black duffel bag and looked for any other things that they needed. The door opened without warning behind her and Q walked in, with a slightly vexed expression on his face. His facial expression changed when he saw her, and he came up behind her.
"Hi," he mumbled as he kissed her on the cheek.
"Hi," she replied, giving him a smile. "How was the errand?"
"It was a terrible idea. I shouldn't have abandoned you here," he sighed.
"Why? What happened?" she asked.
"It was a waste of my time," he said, circling around her to grab a few papers off his desk. "Got everything?"
"Just about," she replied, her brain snapping to attention. "All we have left is the bags at home that I left on the staircase."
"Right. Our flight leaves tonight at ten, so we can make it out to Kodino early in the morning without anyone really noticing. I cleared it with M, so we're leaving to get ready now," he said.
"Good. We can pick up some supplies in St. Petersburg though, can't we?"
"I don't see why not. If we need to, anyway," he replied.
"Alright. Sounds like a plan," she said as she picked up the briefcase. He slung the duffel bag over his shoulder and led her out the door.
"By the way, my mum's inviting you to dinner tonight. Care to join?" he asked as he walked out of the building.
"I don't see why not. But doesn't she live in Petersfield?"
"Yes. It's an hour and a half away, but if we get everything ready now, we can still make it back from dinner," he replied. Alexa's eyes lit up with understanding, and she nodded.
"Oh, right! I see. Was that what your errand was about?" she said, a hint of a smirk appearing on her lips.
"What are you talking about?"
"You forgot, didn't you?" she said, looking amused.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Q said coolly.
"Mycroft's birthday? December 16?" Alexa said patiently. At the sound of this, Q realized that she had seen through his façade, and he turned away in embarrassment.
"I knew it! Your eidetic memory had to have a flaw somewhere," she said triumphantly.
"For the record, I remembered it this afternoon," he said stubbornly. "Therefore, it still counts."
"Aha! Is this what your errand was about?"
"Partially," Q said vaguely. Alexa gave him an askance look and merely shook off his comment.
"And I bet your mum planned a sporadic get-together again, didn't she?"
"I'm afraid that's right," he sighed. "It's not like I can avoid it. She'll be cross with me if I don't go."
"Well then, it'll be alright. It's not like we have much left to do, and it is an important occasion," Alexa said as she took a seat in Q's car.
"You're willingly agreeing to dinner with my mother and both of my brothers?" Q said, looking both amused and surprised. "Doesn't she terrify you in the least?"
"I suppose that's true. She's the only woman I've ever met who can shut up you and your brothers in two seconds, and she's honestly one of the few people I'm afraid of. But still, she invited me, and I won't be rude by refusing her invitation," Alexa sighed. "Besides, what's the harm in getting to know the woman?"
"If you say so," he shrugged as he turned on the car and headed out of the parking lot. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
Alexa looked at him curiously but merely brushed off his comment to look quietly at the passing city lights. It was a sight that evoked tranquility in her and the bursts of colour occupied her attention as she sank into the comfortable leather seat. They drove down busy streets and freeways in a quiet, yet peaceful silence. Every other moment or two was peppered with bursts of conversation that filled the air as they approached the small town of Petersfield.
Alexa stared up at an elegant home with a lawn blanketed in snow. The cobblestone driveway bumped softly beneath them, and Q stopped at the middle of the path. He turned off the engine and looked over at Alexa. "Are you sure you want to be here?" he asked.
"I'll be fine, love," Alexa chuckled. "Can't be that bad, can it?"
"It could be. Most of our family reunions do end in squabbles," Q shrugged.
"We'll be fine. Now, did you bring Mycroft a present?" she said.
"Of course I did," he said, pulling out a long black box from the backseat. Alexa chose not to question it and reveled in the fact that he was being considerate to his eldest brother.
"Right. Let's go, then," Alexa said as she walked out of the car. They stepped into the snow covered driveway, with snowflakes falling on her lashes. Q knocked on the door and moments later, his mother walked out.
"Sherrinford Holmes, you're late!" Violet Holmes scolded as she looked at her son.
"On the contrary, mum," he said coolly. "My watch is adjusted to your clocks and it is 5:00. Your invitation specifically said 5:00 so therefore, we are exactly on time."
"Au contraire, my dear boy. I last looked at the clock at exactly 5:00. A minute has to have passed by now," Violet said, looking nonplussed.
"Check again, mum," Q said dryly. She glanced at the clock behind her and upon realizing that he was right on time, gave him a displeased look.
"Fine, I'll admit that I'm wrong this time. But where are your brothers? They are nearly late, and I thought I told you boys that I detest tardiness," she said.
"I'm not entirely sure. Are we really the first ones here?"
"I'm afraid so. I prepared a large dinner tonight for Mycroft's birthday, and it would be terribly rude to be late," she sighed. Violet placed her hands in her pockets and glanced over at Alexa.
"I almost didn't notice you there, Alexa!" Violet said. "Did I startle you?"
"Erm...slightly?" she said hesitantly.
"Good. It's something you'll learn to get used to when you spend enough time around me," Violet smirked. Alexa gave her a tentative smile that caused Q to chuckle and put an arm around her reassuringly.
"May we come in now? It's considerably warmer in there," Q said.
"Of course, but your brothers better show up, or I'll be bloody cross with them-" she began. As she spoke, a sleek black car sped into the pathway, followed by another dark coloured vehicle. They glanced over at the drivers, who emerged from the cars with somewhat nervous gazes. Q recognized Molly, who looked terrified as she stood next to a restless Sherlock. The other passenger whom Alexa did not know was scolding Mycroft.
"Honestly, Mycroft! Would it kill you to drive slower than that? Why the hell-" the man next to him said. Mycroft quickly quieted him and strode up to the door.
"Good afternoon, mother," he said politely. "Hello, Q, Alexa."
Sherlock walked up behind them with his hand in his pockets. "We're all here on time," he said, as if it was an effort to reassure his mother. She glanced back at the clock and folded her arms across her chest.
"It's 5:02! What have I told you two about being late?" she said.
"With punctuality lies the power to work efficiently," Sherlock and Mycroft said simultaneously, appearing to be rather exasperated with the statement.
"It's good that you remember my words verbatim, even after all these years. There is hope for both of you yet," she said, looking somewhat pleased. "Come in, then. I shan't keep you out here in the cold, can I?"
They walked in quietly, and Alexa hung her coat on a rack in the foyer. The house spacious and tastefully decorated, and a series of family portraits hung on the wall. She stared up at the spiraling mahogany stairs with a lush burgundy carpet, knowing that Q had sprinted up and down these stairs when he was young. In turn, she found herself wondering what Q's childhood had been like, living in such a household. It was a very well-to-do environment, and she couldn't help but feel intimidated by the elegant expanse of the home. As she looked around, she tugged gently at Q's arm.
"Q," she whispered as she watched Violet head into the kitchen with Mycroft, his friend, Molly, and Sherlock.
"What?" he said, hanging his coat on the rack.
"Is that why you're so ridiculously strict about punctuality?" she said curiously.
"Yes, love, that's exactly why I'm ridiculously strict about punctuality. It's a behaviour that rubs off on you after living with her for so long," Q replied as he put an arm around her waist.
"Right, I figured that was the case," Alexa muttered. "Look, I see why you were hesitant when I agreed so easily."
"Oh, really?" Q said, looking amused. "And why is that?"
"Your mum is intimidating as hell, Q! I'm sure she's nice, but I can't help but feel intimidated by her. I was naïve to believe that this would be easy," she grumbled.
"We won't be here too long, I promise. It won't be that bad. Or at least I hope not," he murmured as his lips brushed softly against her cheek. She smiled slightly and entwined her fingers around his. They entered the room hand in hand and began preparing for the dinner before them. Q sat across from Alexa, and Alexa glanced over at her seatmate on the right to give her a small smile.
"You must be Molly. I'm Alexa," she said, holding out her hand.
"I remember you," she said brightly. "I signed your death certificate. Speaking of which, it was bloody clever, how you did it. You managed to fool them for a little while-"
Molly blinked, suddenly realizing that this was not the entirely appropriate thing to say, and her cheeks flushed red. "Oh, sorry. I wasn't supposed to say that," she said hastily. To her statement, Alexa could only laugh and shake her head.
"Molly, it's alright. I've heard worse, especially from living with him," she said breezily.
"What was that, love?" Q said, glancing at her from across the table.
"Nothing," Alexa said nonchalantly. Q merely shrugged, and Alexa turned back to Molly.
"I've heard only a little about you from Q. You're Sherlock's girlfriend, right? Must be a handful to deal with."
"Yeah, and it's a bit much sometimes," Molly said in her soft voice as her cheeks flushed pink. "I mean, he can be hard-headed...well, a lot, really, but he's sweet nonetheless. He's probably a lot like your man."
"Stubborn as hell yet sweet in his own way? Of course. Nothing both of us can't handle, though," Alexa said. The two women laughed together, causing Sherlock to turn away from his conversation with Mycroft.
"Molly, you aren't spreading rumours about me over there, are you?" he said, looking amused.
"Of course not. I'm just telling Alexa what you're like," she said. "No need to be alarmed."
"Caring about rumours? That's a first," the other man next to Alexa chuckled with a roll of his eyes. He was an older gentleman of a taller stature, with greying hair and a weathered expression. He seemed friendly, and turned to join their conversation.
"It's only when I spread rumours that he cares, Greg," Molly said, looking amused. "By the way, have you met Alexa?"
"I can't say I have," he said, holding out his hand. "Name's Greg Lestrade. I work with Scotland Yard."
"Nice to meet you," Alexa said, shaking his hand. "Mycroft yours, then?"
"Oh, yeah," the older man chuckled. "Not as much of a hellion as your lot, I reckon."
"I'd say they're about the same. Mycroft dabbles in a bit of everything too," Alexa chuckled. The clattering sound of Violet setting a plate on the table momentarily distracted her, and she watched as the three brothers stood up.
"Mum, sit down. We'll take care of it," Q sighed.
"Boys, I'm perfectly capable of handling my own dishes. I'd like to present it myself, for heaven's sake-" she protested.
"No, mum. You're almost 62, and you certainly haven't been taking the medicine I sent you. You seem so frail, almost as if you're on the brink of osteopenia. Therefore, you really shouldn't be lifting such a heavy plate," Sherlock complained.
"Ah, yes. Looks like you finally made use of that Chemistry degree," she muttered. "And remember to watch your words, dear. I'm not that frail yet."
"Mother, there are three larger dishes in the kitchen. Now tell me, would you rather lift all of them by yourself?" Mycroft said.
"I would rather do it, to present the fruits of my labours with my hands," she grumbled, waving her sons aside. "Step off, all of you."
"Too late, mum," the three brothers said as they set the food on the table. She gave them a pout in response and took her seat.
"Fine, fine. Go on then, let's begin," she said breezily. The dinner began quietly, but soon, small bursts of overlapping conversation spread across the table in the midst of eating Violet's lamb chops and steamed vegetables. Alexa took a bite of a crisp vegetable and a small slice of lamb and looked up at the sound of Violet's voice.
"How is it, Alexa?" Violet asked.
"It's lovely. I take it this is where Q gets his cooking skills?" she said with a small, hesitant smile.
"I reckon it is. I taught all three of them how to cook when they were small, because I never liked the idea of eating outside anyway. Too much money is wasted that way," she scoffed.
"Did you teach him his alcohol connoisseur skills too?" Alexa said curiously. Violet's eyes flickered with surprise, and she leant forward.
"No, I'm afraid not. In fact, he never told me about it. He never tells me anything, my Sherri-I mean Q," she said, looking slightly irritated. "I'm assuming Mycroft taught him, and Mycroft learned from his father. Siger always did have a taste for fine wines and the like."
Alexa nodded in response and continued to take small, steady bites out of her lamb. After her small spurt of conversation, Violet had moved onto new prey and was currently doing her version of an interrogation on Molly, who looked as terrified as could be under Violet's piercing gaze. As she stammered out responses, Alexa reveled in the fact that Violet had not torn into each detail of her life yet and intended to leave with Q soon to prepare for the mission.
"-lexa, how's work?" Violet said casually from her position at the table. Alexa did her best not to visibly flinch and put on a smile. This was the question she had hoped that Violet would not ask, but she decided to face it anyway.
"It's going well," Alexa nodded, setting her fork down.
"Oh, no need to be vague. Spare me a few details," Violet said nonchalantly, causing Alexa to turn around.
"Am I allowed to do that, Q?" Alexa said curiously.
"At her demand? She's former personnel, so I don't see why not," he said. "Given that everyone knows here, of course."
"Know what?" Molly said as she and Greg exchanged mutually confused looks.
"Boys! You haven't told them?" Violet said.
"It didn't seem important," Mycroft said vaguely.
"You seem like you want to forget it, but your mum apparently doesn't want you to. This has to have juicy details, so tell us, what are you talking about?" Greg asked, looking curiously at him. Mycroft looked at each of his brother for a moment before going back to Greg.
"Are you sure you want to know?" Sherlock said, looking amused
"The last time I didn't know, I ended up accidentally dating a consulting criminal. The last time Greg didn't know, he ended up thinking you committed suicide," Molly said dryly. "I think that's enough of a reason for you to quit keeping secrets and tell us."
"I side with Molly in this case. I'm curious on this one," Greg said. "What is it, and why is it so important?"
"The positions we've held are important because they concern national security," Sherlock replied after a moment. "All of us except you two have worked or are working for the MI6."
There was a brief silence, and Molly and Greg could not fight off a surprised expression. Violet looked at Molly and Greg's reactions and beamed with a hint of glee. "Oh, I love this part the best," she interjected. "The look of surprise is always priceless."
"Hang on, are you still part of the MI6?" Greg said, looking curiously at Violet.
"Somewhat. I come in every now and then. Sherlock's an agent that they call in every so often, as is Mycroft. Q's the Quartermaster for the MI6, and Alexa's currently an agent," Violet said. A thought dawned on Molly, and she whirled around to look at Sherlock.
"Is that why you missed our anniversary?" she exclaimed.
"What?"
"Remember? I caught you with a ticket to Berne and questioned you about it. All you said was, 'I'm out on a mission; see you later,'" Molly frowned.
"Ah, yes. That's right. At least you know now," Sherlock said nonchalantly.
"Leave it to you to think like that," Q chuckled. "At least I don't have to deal with that."
"Oh, no. I've put you through much worse," Alexa smirked. "That's the price of being with me."
"It's a price I'm willing to pay," Q said smoothly, allowing himself to give Alexa a small smile.
"Why Sherrinford, I never knew you were such a sap," Mycroft teased.
"I have my moments," Q shrugged, as the smile remained on his lips.
And so, dinner continued somewhat peacefully, each moment never dull and filled with conversation. For once, Q noted that the evening had not ended in a squabble and was relatively enjoyable. At the head of the table, Violet sat whilst beaming proudly at her sons. She had never anticipated for any of them to find someone else who would care deeply about them and felt satisfied at knowing that the Holmes brothers would be in good hands.
As the evening winded down to a close, Q and Alexa sat calmly together on the couch. The others were also gathered around the fireplace, and were presenting Mycroft with presents for his birthday.
"This is our gift, from Sherlock and me. Happy birthday, Mycroft," Q said, holding out a box for his brother. Mycroft thanked him briefly and took the lid off the box.
"So that's where my umbrella went," Mycroft mused. "What have you done to it?"
"This umbrella always goes around with you, and you do conduct some fairly dangerous dealings at some points. The small switch in the handle that fires tranquilizer darts. Or bullets, really, if you so desire. Sherlock made the mixture inside the darts," he said.
"Certainly a useful gift. Thank you, both of you," he said, nodding appreciatively. The clock behind him chimed seven, and Q looked over at Alexa.
"Think we should go?" he asked
"I think so. The flight leaves at ten, right?"
"Yes, and we can make it back in time," Q replied.
"Going so soon?" Violet questioned.
"I'm afraid so, mum. We're heading to Russia tonight," Q said.
"Why Russia?" she replied,
"I have old friends that I need to meet again," Alexa said dryly.
"I see," Violet said, giving them a knowing look. "Good luck with your endeavours, then. It was good to see you, Alexa. Do come back and visit."
"It was good to see you again," Alexa said, shaking Violet's hand warmly. "We'll be back before you know it."
"Well, then. Goodbye, Q, Alexa. Don't get yourselves killed out there," Mycroft said, bidding them goodbye.
"I assure you, Alexa and I can manage ourselves out there. We'll be fine," Q chuckled.
"Of course you will be. You two work well together," Sherlock scoffed.
"Must be a perk of mixing business and pleasure," Mycroft chuckled. Q rolled his eyes good-naturedly and watched Alexa as she said her goodbyes to Molly and Greg. The sight of her with the others caused him to turn his attention to his mother.
"Before we leave, may I speak to you privately?" Q said, turning to her.
"I don't see why not. What is this about now?" Violet said as she headed off with him. Their voices quieted as they headed up the staircase in the foyer, and Alexa looked around for Q. She quickly excused herself and was in the process of putting on her coat when she heard a loud noise from the upstairs floor, followed by Q's words of, "Mum, be quiet!"
She wondered what had happened, but chose not to question why Violet had come down the stairs minutes later with Q and a smile on her face. She seemed invigorated and stood on the threshold to wish them goodbye.
"Goodbye, Alexa. Take care of my son out there, will you?"
"Duly noted. I'll keep an eye on him," Alexa said.
"Good. Enjoy your time in Russia," she said. "Well, I know you will-"
"Mum," Q scolded, frowning at his mother.
"Sherrinford, dear, I can't help it. Give me a chance to be excited," she scolded.
"Whatever," Q sighed. "Goodbye, mum."
"Goodbye, my boy," she smiled, giving him a hug. "Your father would be proud."
"It's not that big of a-" he began.
"Oh, hush. Of course it is," she chided. "Now, go on. Have a good time in Russia!"
"Sure," Q shrugged. "See you later."
They said their goodbyes and retreated into the car at the front of the house. Alexa shut the door behind them and glanced over at Q.
"What just happened?" she questioned.
"Nothing," Q said nonchalantly.
"Are you sure? I heard your mum make a fuss about it, so it must be something good," she said.
"I'm telling you, Alexa, it's not a big deal," he said as he started the car.
"To you, it might not be a big deal, but I still want to know," Alexa said. She suddenly went quiet and a mischievous glint lit up her eyes.
"What if I tried to coax you into telling me?" she grinned.
"You couldn't get me to tell you even if you tried," he chuckled.
"Can I test that?"
"Try what you want, but I really won't tell you," he smirked. "Sorry, love."
Her lips pursed into a frown, and she let out a theatric sigh. "Oh, alright. Is it something you'll tell me eventually?"
"Eventually, yes. However, I assure you, it's nothing for you to worry about," he said as he adjusted the mirrors. "Ready to go?"
"Of course. What about you? Are you sure you can do this with me?" she said.
"I'm ready to go," he said. "And yes, I am ready to do this. You know my track record and the business I deal with. I can handle this."
"Point taken. Let's do this," Alexa said, appearing invigorated.
"Off we go, then," he replied as they took off. Though neither of them knew what was in store, they were prepared to face whatever was necessary to take down the Agency. Their car sped off into the night, leaving the bright lights of Petersfield as fading flickering beams in the distance and pushing themselves closer to the unknown.
Alright, that's all I have! It was more of a development chapter (in terms of character relationships), but I hope you still liked it. Spoiler alert: Next chapter will be about the Agency and Q's secret! (Also, it'll have more action, I think)
By the way, I want to thank all of you for your reviews. Your support is the backbone of this story's success, and I want to say thank you.
Please continue to review so I can publish the 100 reviews special and whatever we may reach beyond it!
Thanks again!