Chapter 23: The Three Continents Special

Stephen had been leaning against the wall in the car tunnel ever since 1 reported that they were en route. The evening had been quiet and at the same time been one of the most stressful nights he'd had in a long time. Nothing had happened again in Q-branch except for Q going up to M's office for a briefing and then never returning. He hadn't really been worried in the beginning. Q could and did take care of himself after all. But then 7 told him about Q's restlessness and boredom. He'd been a right little shit for a few days now and 7 was worried he would do something stupid. After a few hours of getting more and more agitated 7 had stormed up to M's office for an explanation. Soon after the rumour mill told him the secretary replacing Moneypenny had quit in tears because 7 had put a gun to her head when she tried to stop him. 7 had later returned a little disgruntled but told him Q had taken 1 somewhere because 7 would've been recognized. That's all Stephen had gotten out of him before 1 called. He figured he'd get the rest of the story when the others returned.

Not a minute later the executive sedan pulled up. 1 got out, followed by 9, and raised an eyebrow in question, both keeping the back doors closed. 6 quickly gave the all clear at which both doors opened and Q, in all his stature emerged from 9's door and Jordan, fully kitted out, from the other. Q raised an eyebrow in question but 6 just shrugged and handed over the laptop he'd brought. 7 had given it to him and said to meet Q for a briefing. He didn't have the foggiest what it would be about. Q gestured for him to lead the way and, with 9 and 1 at his flanks and Jordan at the rear, they bullied their way through the building. Everyone was so busy jumping out of their way, no one even noticed Q in the middle.

They entered the gym, Q immediately finding a spot on the floor and setting up the laptop. It only took a minute of typing before he looked up.

"We're secure." he said and looked at him expectantly.

"Right." He started. "First off Q, you might want to consider telling 7 where you're going next time. He all but stormed M's office when you didn't return, interrupting M's meeting with the Director. The replacement secretary quit on the spot stating she wasn't prepared to deal with guns pointed at her." He hoped to use his amusement to hide the fact that he had been just as worried as 7 had been, but one look at Q's face told him he wasn't fooling Q at all.

"My apologies, it was not my intention to make you worry." Q answered with a sigh. "As you know I don't take risks with my security. But I shall deem to warn you in the future." There was a hint of irritation and of resignation in his voice.

"Thank you." He said, inclining his head. "M and the Director briefed 7 and said you would inform the rest of us. Where were you, by the way? I asked 7 but all I got was an amused look."

"Scotland Yard, 009 had an unfortunate run-in at a bar. He hit on the wrong girl." Q answered. Stephen chuckled.

"Well at least you weren't in camp Bastion or you would've ended up with a broken nose and bruised ribs." He joked as he remembered his arrival Afghanistan.

It had been his last tour before he had joined MI6. On the first night after they'd arrived, his troop had decided to have some fun in the rec room. It had been full to the brim with British and Americans alike but had been surprisingly subdued compared to the other rec rooms he'd been in over the years. Well time to change that, he had thought. He and the lads had started drinking in their normal rowdy way, pushing and shoving at one another, not noticing the way the other guys had sat back as if to watch the fireworks unfold. Then he'd gotten into a mock fight with a mate and knocked over a table, spilling beer and breaking the glasses. At that a guy had stood up and a hush had descended over the room. The guy, a captain like he was, though only RAMC, had marched up to them.

"Knock it off." He ordered sharply. "You will tone it down now or you will leave. You're bothering everyone. Understood?" Stephen had gotten to his feet and had looked down on him.

"Who do you think you are mate, giving me orders?" He had asked threateningly, still not noticing everyone sitting forward eagerly. That was a mistake. The next he knew he was on the floor with the guy on top of him, blood pouring out of his nose and his ribs on fire. Behind them the rec room roared with laughter.

"Hold still." The man said and reached towards his face. He tried to struggle but found he was thoroughly pinned to the floor by the smaller man. He screamed when the hand reached his nose and pulled on it.

"There." The captain had said as he let go. "Just as pretty as you were before." He got off him, pulled him to his feet and shoved him into the arms of a couple of redcaps.

"At it again, Captain Watson?" One of them asked, clearly amused.

"Sorry lads, I'll see myself to the block, shall I?" The captain had asked as if it was the most common thing in the world.

"I'm sure your usual cell is empty." The other had replied sniggering. "We'll see to this one, shall we?"

"Ta. I already set his nose. Just make sure the bleeding stops."

"Yes doctor, we know the drill." And the doctor walked away.

"You're just going to let him go." Stephen had shouted indignantly while they put handcuffs on him.

"Sure." One of the redcaps had said. "He knows the way."

"Knows it very well. He'll walk there and report he gave someone the Three Continents Special again." The other said. "Don't worry. We'll make sure you'll get the cell next to him. You can keep each other company."

And that was how he'd met Captain 'Three Continents' Watson. The guy had been an excellent companion that night. By the time they were let out the next morning, he knew everything he needed to know about camp Bastion and that there was at least one medic he could trust to have his back.

As he looked up from his trip down memory lane, he saw the others were looking at him incredulously, except for Q who wore a smile of fond amusement. He looked at 9 and saw residue of blood clinging to his nose. Then the penny dropped.

"You're kidding? He's in town? You got the Three Continents Special" He asked as he looked at their surprised faces and then burst into laughter.

"Three Continents Special? That wasn't in his file?" Q asked curiously and highly amused.

"If it was, I would be highly surprised. Three Continents Watson was a bit of a legend in camp Bastion. He was the one who kept order in the rec room. Everyone knew you had to behave, especially towards the ladies whenever he was there. But once in a while there were newbies who had yet to learn and they got treated to the special. It was always very amusing to watch. Not so amusing to experience though." He said as he clapped 9's shoulder in commiseration. "But he's in town?"

"Has been for three years now." Q replied.

"Really?" Stephen asked in surprise. "I didn't think he'd ever leave the service. If there was someone who embodied soldier it was Captain Watson."

"He didn't leave voluntarily." Q answered. "He took a sniper round to the shoulder. Got medically discharged." That shook him. He didn't think anything could ever hurt Captain Watson. The guy was a second role medic for crying out loud. He never left camp. How the hell did he get picked off by a sniper? It was always the good ones, he thought bitterly. He didn't think Watson would do well as a civilian. The rest of the room was silent too, though for a different reason then he was apparently.

"How the hell did a wounded RAMC soldier get the better of me?" 9 growled angrily.

"Well that would be the special forces training he received. The expertise in hand to hand combat does come in handy too." Q replied with a chuckle. Stephen gaped. He hadn't known Watson was special forces. Then he chuckled. Off course he'd underestimated Watson again. Wolf in sheep's clothing that one.

"Oh, I do like the way he parties." 1 purred. "He did say he was both a first and second role medic. And small arms expert to the boot. Why three continents though? He looked too unassuming to have a good pull with the ladies." She asked. Stephen chuckled.

"I don't know really. I think it's because of the special. He started doing it after basic training. And he served in Iraq too. I bet he's broken and set more noses then anyone in the world. Everyone just thought it was funny. But Watson was quite conservative when it came to his love life. Didn't like one-night stands." He replied. Before turning on 9. "What did you do to the girl that set him off then? You didn't get the TC special for nothing."

"Nothing." 9 said defensively. "She looked nice and had just told Watson that she was going to start dating again. I had only just introduced myself when the Captain interfered." Stephen laughed at that.

"Oh, I bet he had your number the moment you walked through the door. Good judge of character the doc is. Still doesn't explain it though. He normally didn't mind us pulling girls as long as we did it respectfully." He said confused.

"That's because Doctor Molly Hooper has been the victim of a honeypot before and the captain made sure she wouldn't fall for one again." Q said.

"Seriously?" 9 asked his eyes narrowing. "Someone pulled a honeypot on her?"

"Yes." Q answered. "And as James Moriarty was a psychopathic crime lord with genius level intelligence you can understand that, while nothing happened to her, it left her a bit shaky. Therefor the captain's reaction was perfectly understandable."

"I'll say." 1 acknowledged, looking a bit green at the thought.

"Now then." Q said. "Now that we have cleared up this mess. I have a bit of news to share. I'm glad to say my restrictions have finally been lifted." The smile, almost shark-like in ferocity, made Stephen groan internally. "Therefor in about 36 hours I can put the final stages of my recruitment plan into action. This will sufficiently distract everyone and will give our mole an opening to strike. He'll probably be in custody within 48 to 52 hours and you can all go on missions again like I know you're eager to." This set off alarm bells with him.

"Q." He said, rounding on him. Q's eyes narrowed at the sight. "How long do you expect to be awake for this?" He asked sternly. Q sighed and rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"You agents are a bunch of annoying care-bears." He answered thoroughly annoyed. Stephen didn't give an inch. He narrowed his eyes and Q gave in. "The preparations will take about 36 hours and then I need to monitor at least the first 48 hours." Q answered dutifully with a slight sulk. "Therefor I will sleep before I start. There. Are you happy now?"

"Very. I think R might be able to make it in by the time you're able to send us out. She can handle equipping us. She's been asking about those earpieces." He said with fond exasperation in his voice. "I've already asked 7 for them."

"Tell her if she has a good delivery system for them, she can give them to you to test in your missions. I'll be on comms and she and Jordan can do it when I'm not there. We'll go from there."

"I'll go and tell her that then." He answered as he walked for the door. Then he paused. "It's good to have you back Q. Life was starting to get rather dull." He said as he exited the gym.

"Well, I live to entertain." Q called after him.