Chapter 34
James stirred the next morning to hear M cursing as she stood infront of the mirror. He sat up and stared at her and couldn't supress a laugh.
"What are you so moody for." James asked, grinning.
"My favourite suit won't bloody fit me now." She cursed.
James got out of bed wearing just his boxer shorts and went over to M and wrapped his arms around her waist. He suddenly felt her relax against him as her hands came up to rest on top of his.
"You don't need your favourite suit to make you feel attractive. You could be wearing a garbage bag and you'd still look beautiful." He spoke into her ear.
"Did you just call me beautiful." She asked, turning around in his arms.
"I did because you are."
"I don't feel beautiful. I feel fat and tired and now we have to ruin our day by going to see Mallory."
"We won't be there that long. We just go in, tell him I'm not going to the conference and leave."
"You think it'll be that easy."
"Hey, he needs to learn that we have more important things going on right now the MI6. You take priority over everything else."
"Oh dear boy, what would I do without you."
"I wonder the same thing all the time."
James and M were sitting in Mallory's outer office waiting for him to finish up with a phonecall. Every so often M could feel Mallory's young assisstant staring up at her. James looked at M when she heard her say something.
"What are you muttering at." James asked.
"If that young woman gives me one more strange look, I swear I'm going to knock her block off."
"You really did get out of the wrong side of bed this morning, didn't you."
"Look, she's doing it again."
"Okay listen to me, stop being so bloody paranoid. It's not everyday you see the 69 year old Head of MI6 pregnant, is it. Just let it roll of your back. Just keep this in mind, you're far more prettier than she is."
M couldn't help but give a small laugh at that. He always knew how to cheer her up, even on her worst days. The phone on the assisstants desk ran and James and M looked up when she put the phone back down.
"Ma'am. Mr Mallory will see you now."
"Thank you." She answered, sternly.
James and M made their way through to Mallory's office. When he saw them, he rose from behind his desk and walked over to them.
"M, Bond. I must say your call was a bit of a surprise. Take a seat."
They did as he asked and took a seat and Mallory sat opposite them.
"So, what can I do for you." He asked.
"I'm just going to come straight to the point Mallory. Just how important is it that James attends this conference."
"Well, I mean it's…."
"Would it be so bad if I didn't go." James asked.
"Every agent has to attend these things at some point Bond. You won't be in the field for the rest of your career. You need to learn the paperwork side, how to handle colleagues beneath you, how to handle a team. Running a department can be very intense, very stressful. I'm sure M wouldn't disagree with me on that."
"You're right Mallory, I don't diagree with you but why now. Why does he have to go this minute."
"Believe it or not M, I was trying to be helpful. When I came to see you at your house and you told me about the baby, I said I'd do all I could to help and I meant that."
"How is sending me away to Spain for a week, maybe more helping Sir." James asked.
"She means everything to you doesn't she." Mallory said, nodding towards M.
"You know very well she does." James replied, taking hold of M's hand.
"Now that you're having a baby together, you don't want to be jetting of half way across the world for months at a time do you."
"I hadn't really thought that much about it to be honest."
"I just assumed you'd want to be around more."
"I think for the most part Sir, I do. I know from M's experience as a field agent how much time she was away from Joanna and Paul and the effect it had on both them and her."
"Well that's the only reason I wanted you on this conference. So that you could gain experience in another field, so you'd have something to fall back on."
Things went very quiet for a few moments. James sitting contemplating what Mallory was suggesting.
"James you don't have to think about all of this right now." M said, squeezing his hand.
"Ofcourse you don't Bond, in your own time." Mallory added.
"How long. How long would I be away. I know you said a week but I just get this gut feeling that it's not that staright forward." James said.
"We are hoping just a week, providing training goes well."
"The maximum."
"3 weeks at the most."
"I think M and I really need to go home and discuss this. We have a scan next week and I really don't want to miss it."
"James it can be re-arranged. I'll talk to Dr Collins and she can fit us in when you get back."
"I just don't feel comfortable leaving you for that length of time." He said anxiously.
"He'll go Mallory, book him in."
"Very well and Bond, don't worry about M. We're all here for her. We'll keep an eye on her for you."
Mallory got up and got out his mobile to start arranging James flight and hotel. James got up from the seat, bringing M up with him.
"This isn't right."
"James stop worrying about me. 3 weeks isn't that long and he's right, I have Joanna and Paul, Tanner and Eve, Q and Sammy and it seems even Mallory. I'll get Dr Collins to move things around. The baby's sex will be a nice surprise on your return."
"I love you so damn much."
"I know you do and I love you. We'll be alright, you'll see."
To Be Continued…