Chapter 6

Bond sat across from Gareth Mallory with Tanner hovering nearby.

"I'm busy."

"What do you mean you're busy?" Mallory asked perplexed.

"I was given a special project by M." Bond retorted.

"You've done what you set out to do there 007 and don't try to pull one over on me. M called me and told me that you were now free to do missions." Tanner added.

Bond glared at him and scoffed. "When?"

"Last night."

"So she's leaving soon and I should be the one there for back up."

Tanner was getting short with Bond's attitude. "You know that she doesn't want or need it now. M has been in training for months with all the 00's not just you 007."

"I know but it would be dereliction of duty to allow the head of MI6 to go into dangerous territory alone."

Mallory interjected in what seemed to be the beginning of a heated back and forth between the agent and M's chief of staff. "That was discussed with the PM extensively and it was agreed upon that the value outweighed any risks she took on this matter. Besides, I am officially M now and hold the keys to the place Bond. You can work for MI6 as a 00 which is not easy to obtain or you can resign and I know that the former M would hate for that to happen."

"I'm confused. How are you M, if M didn't retire or resign?" Bond asked with a smirk. Tanner rolled his eyes and moved towards the door.

"I will fetch your documents from downstairs Bond. Try not to get yourself fired before I can return."

Bond smiled widely at Tanner and cupped his hands behind his head leaning back in his chair. "No promises Tanner but then again if he is not M...then only she can do that."

Tanner sighed and was about to add something but shook his head and decided not to bother. He left the office to collect Bond's travel documents and mission file.

Gareth Mallory started in the moment the door closed. "Look 007, I was appointed to the post by the PM. Bond, you have to understand that this has to seem legitimate. When M returns I will step aside for her to continue as head of MI6 until she retires or the PM asks her to step aside."

"So that is how you're playing this then Mallory? Get to the job through your political connections?"

Mallory frowned. "I will refrain from answering that as it insults both of us. Stop trying to press my buttons. I will not be as forgiving as she is."

Bond scoffed. "You don't know her well at all do you?"

Mallory met Bond's eyes and looked suddenly serious. "And exactly how well do you know her Bond?"

Bond met his gaze. "Not as well as some but I've been on the end of many of her withering looks and I know that since Mitchell turned traitor and almost killed her that she's not been herself. Something is gnawing at her and it involves what is going on right now."

Mallory became concerned. "You don't think she's properly prepared?"

"I think that she thinks that she's prepared but I have my doubts. Not to mention that she's using her own daughter for this. Something is really not right."

Mallory sighed. "Her Daughter?"

Bond looked confused. "You didn't know?"

"No...M and Tanner kept that part from me. This is concerning."

"You think." Bond added sarcastically. "How did you not know? Did you meet Judith?"

"No, not personally. I assumed that she was an agent who M trusted and who looked the part she wanted her to play."

"So you are blind in all this? Never questioned who Judith was nor saw a picture. The moment you see that woman you know exactly who's daughter she is."

"Well there is not much you or I can do about it now. We have to let her go along with this plan and let us know what happens. Q is overseeing all of her movements personally. Bond you need to go do the mission you've been given."

Tanner came into the room with a package and handed it to Bond.

Bond reluctantly took the package and nodded to both of them as he turned to leave. "Tanner you may have some questions to answer once I return and perhaps sooner." Bond said looking from Tanner to Mallory.

"Bond make sure to report to Q, he has some equipment for you." Tanner said abruptly.

Bond met his eyes with an upraised brow. Tanner never usually said that. If M didn't then it was implied that he would not need any special equipment. "I will do that now. I will be back as soon as I complete the mission."

"Good." Mallory said. Happy with his apparent compliance.

Tanner was about to have an uncomfortable meeting with their temporary M as Bond made his way quickly down to see the old man, .

Q had always had a soft spot for him and Q was definitely not going to let M go unprotected into the great unknown. At least Bond hoped he wouldn't.

Q was busily making piles of different equipment beside various sized luggage bags when Bond reached Q branch. Bond remained serious when he greeted the older man.

"Q please tell me you know where she is? I know that the Bahamas is one possibility but I don't trust that she didn't plant that information to lead me astray."

"007...you know that you can't have me jeopardize another agent's mission."

"Yes but you and I both know that M is not an agent and that we both value her safety a great deal."

Q stopped in his tracks and looked down at the equipment piles. "Not here Bond. Look at your package...carefully and take this pack." Bond took the small black sling pack and nodded. Q could barely meet his eyes and Bond sensed that he was not at all happy with this situation.

"Good luck on your mission 007...and bring her back safe." Q finally met Bond's eyes.

"I will, you can count on me."

"I usually count on you to destroy everything I give you on a mission. This time I trust that you will be more more careful, considering the importance of your mark to this organization."

"Yes, this mark...is far more precious to me than any previous missions."

"I'm trusting you to handle with extreme care 007 this time Bond." Q said digging his index finger into Bond's chest.

Bond smirked, Q never referred to him by anything but his number but this time the old man needed to convey the importance M had to all of them. He needn't really worry about that.

Bond was beginning to suspect that on some level, Q and Tanner knew his greatest weakness. They may mistakingly think that Bond was craving a mother in M. The reality of the situation since the Quantum mission, was far more difficult to navigate.

On one had, M was a tough bitch, but that was contradicted by the separate life that Bond had a glimpse of when he broke into her flat. This and her unwavering attack, was a powerful teaching moment, even if she were in a possibly threatening situation with him, a killer in her flat. Her husband asleep in the bedrooms hidden from view.

Bond was torn between just wanting to protect M, to wanting her...deeply...sexually and all to himself. Recently, this entire mission of training M to seduce...someone else...brought all these conflicting emotions to the surface.

Bond had been fostering the fantasy of taking her away without the constant barrage of international espionage. The problem was that M was too good for him. She would never believe that his feelings were this real and intense. Ever since Bond's first mission she became the only woman he could trust and the only one he truly wanted to please.

James Bond was falling in love with her and she didn't have a clue. It was unlike what he thought love was like in his previous relationships. He knew that in some ways that he was stalking M but he convinced himself that he was truly just protecting her after what happened with Mitchel. Bond shook his head to try to clear this doubt and uncertainty out of his head. He had a mission to focus on and it could be the most important one he had faced thus far in his career.

Bond left Q branch. Once he reached his car he opened the package from Tanner and saw the tickets and instructions for his mission. There was a folded up map that was marked and not the destination that he was instructed to go.

One thing was for certain, it was not the same place that he thought M was headed. Bond smiled to himself. He knew that Tanner and Q wouldn't let her do this without him.

Bond headed to the airport determined to meet up with M and her daughter as soon as he managed tracking down the low level thug Mallory had him after. Tanner must have spoon feed him this assignment because it shouldn't take more than a few hours. M was headed to Monti Carlo which was just a short flight away from his mission.

To be continued...