Turn back the Tide

By Iolana Khenemet
A James Bond Fanfic

Warnings: Not a happy fanfic.
Beta: unbetaed
A/N: Once tragedies are no longer in the news, we tend to forget about them far too soon. This fanfic is dedicated to all the victims of the Tsunami tragedy.
Disclaimer: James Bond is the creation of Ian Fleming. The characters in the story are the property of Ian Fleming and the filming companies that produce Bond Films (United Artists, MGM, Eon), except for Jasmine, who is mine. No copyright infringement intended. No profit is gained by this work.
Copyright: 2005

Chapter 1: 25 January 2004

Exotic scents from the flowers filled the air, and James Bond inhaled them deeply while he walked back towards his hotel, which was situated a bit remote. The way he had chosen led through a small park where huge palm trees overshadowed the paths and only streaks of sunlight filtered through the canopy. A flock of birds bathed in the sand a few feet ahead, undisturbed by his presence. To his left he had a spectacular view at the ocean. The water glittered in the sun, and the waves rolled gently onto the beach. No one else was in the park because only a few other tourists spend their holidays here at the moment. He embraced the solitude and the comfort of nature. What else could he ask for on Christmas?

Last year he had battled a powerful drug lord. The year before, he had nearly frozen to death in the Antarctica. In 2001 he had been tortured in a North-Korean prisoner camp. Christmas 2000 had not been much better. Duty had forced him to spend it undercover on a submarine, and he had almost drowned when yet another megalomaniac had tried to dominate the world. Just when he had taken some time off, Elliot Carver had showed up.

This year the only thing Her Majesty's secret agent wanted was peace. And since he had never been in South Asia for holidays, he had asked Moneypenny to arrange this trip. Nobody could say that these few weeks off duty were not well-deserved. Bond paused when movement in the shadows ahead caught his eye.

A young woman of about 27 years leant against a tree trunk. "Hello."

"Hello." James smiled although he stayed alert.

With a mischievous gleam in her eyes she said, "I've been waiting for you." After a pause she added, "I watched you swim in the ocean. There hasn't been anyone as attractive as you here for several years."

James raised an eyebrow. He was no longer twenty or thirty but close to fifty and though physically fit, his age showed. What did she see in him?

As if she had read his mind, she said, "There's more to you than meets the eye. You're a very handsome man."

"And you're a beautiful woman. Do you live here?"

"No, but I've enough money to spend an extended holiday here every year. I'm -" She interrupted herself and continued, "You wouldn't be able to pronounce my name correctly anyway. Just call me Jasmine."

"Jasmine – what a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. I'm Bond, James Bond. Just call me James."

"James," Jasmine purred. She stepped away from the tree, walked past him and down a few stairs and stopped to look back over her shoulder at him.

The invitation was clear. Silently he followed while she led him away from the hotel resort and into the natural part of the small forest. Under a bush with red flowers she stopped and removed the blue band holding her hair together. "My rooms?" she asked. "My house is half an hour in this direction."

He chuckled. She certainly did not waste time. With a nod he indicated her to lead the way again.

Jasmine laughed and swirled around. Her black hair flowed around her head like a veil. When her small hand reached out, he took it without hesitation.

This day belonged to them.