Bond sat in the pilot's chair and watched the positioning of the sub in relation to the coastline of the lake. There was a sudden noise and flash of light that he could see in the blackness of the water at night.

It was a helicopter looking for them! Not knowing if it was a foe, Bond grabbed the controls and dove deeper into the black loch. He wanted to try to contact Tanner and Q but dare not risk it yet.

There was another flash of light and something hit the sub. Damn it! Definitely not friendly.

Bond decided to be unpredictable so he continued to dive and then turned the small submarine 180 degrees heading back to the estate that they fled from. This would hopefully be unexpected and if they were lucky a MI6 clean up crew would arrive soon if they are not already there.

M was in far too much danger to make direct contact until Bond was sure which group of armed men were their armed men. He could get the commander to radio in a code to base that would inform them that M was safe, for now.

Bond also needed them to go to the Moroccan desert to look for the base of whoever was behind all of this. The sequence of events reverberated in his mind. M was pointed and asked all the right questions of Silva before he died and of all things...Franz Oberhauser was alive!

Bond went back to the miserableness of his childhood and remembered going to Switzerland to stay with the Oberhauser's when his Aunt Charmian had had enough of him. Franz was older and jealous of the attention his father paid to the poor little orphan boy.

This was all about that! The jealousy...the two had reportedly died in an avalanche over 20 years ago!

If what Silva had told them was true, Franz wanted M dead just to make him suffer. The bastard knew how Bond felt about M, but how? It doesn't seem possible. Yet here they were, speeding back towards a war zone with an injured woman he needed to protect against anything that may happen.

Bond was torn between needing to stay with M, in order to look after her, or to go chase down Franz. He would be expecting them now, so Bond would have to go in as part of a drop team. Would Mallory authorize it? Was MI6 compromised? Right now his head was swimming with possibilities. Bond turned to look back towards the back of the submarine where M was resting.

"Far too much to think about." Bond whispered to himself. They were getting near to the house again so Bond slowed the ship's pace and upped the periscope. He could see the dancing of the fire that still showed even with the fire brigade fighting it. There were helicopters flying around with lights but they were commercial, likely news cameras were involved.

There was no indication who was controlling the situation. Bond decided to risk it and call in.

"This is agent Bond with MI6 to HQ...secure channel requested...does anyone read me...repeat...MI6 this is agent Bond."

Bond listened to static for an agonizing 15 minutes until Q and Tanner would be able to make a secured channel.

Static sounded...zing and zapping popping until a voice finally sounded back. "Bond? This is Tanner...channel secured...where in hell are you and do you have the package safe?"

"Tanner...yes the package is a bit bumped and bruised but safe. Are you at the incident site?"

"Yes...I just arrived. We are sorting through the collateral damages and have been identifying bodies with the local authorities. We lost three men in this raid."

"Did you find a body in the safe room in the basement towards the shoreline?"

"Not yet. The inspectors have just entered the building."

"What did you do with the other package entrusted to you?"

"That package is safe. Where are you 007?"

"I'm in a small submarine near to the shore but there were choppers south of here looking for us. You need to radio base and have them look carefully for a base in the Moroccan desert."

"Morocco?"

"Just look Tanner...and try to find us a dry way of disembarking. I will come as close as I can to the dock."

"On my way."

Tanner and some men passed the firefighters and headed towards the shore to a small dock. He could see the light coming from under the water. A small submarine surfaced and the top opened. Bond appeared up the hatch with a gun in his hand. Bond's eyes skimmed the area looking for threats.

"Bond?"

"Bring a car around. Do you have a flight arranged to London?"

Tanner frowned. "Yes...but...Bond...where is M?"

"She's injured Tanner. Did you find that body I needed located?"

"No 007 we did not. There was nothing there but blood, however there was a lot of damage and he could have fallen into the water because of the explosions."

"Damn it! Well let's get M home and better. Did you have Q look into Morocco?"

"Yes he's on it." Tanner spoke into a com and waved to one of their men to get the car. "How bad is it?"

"What...oh M just got a hip wound. I stitched her up and she's sedated. I will have to carry her out." Bond disappeared back into the submarine and returned a few minutes later with a bundle over his shoulder wrapped in a blanket. The men came forward and helped him with M who was now awake questioning everyone through the material.

"Tanner, how is Judith?"

"She's fine M and I hear you are not?"

"I'll be fine. 007 patched me up."

"The car door was opened and they gently laid M in the back. Of course she bolted upright shooting commands to everyone in earshot.

"I need a status report from the commander of this raid by tomorrow at the latest and I want them to stay here to search for survivors and bodies."

Bond got in with her, with the thought of allowing his legs to be used as a pillow.

"007 shouldn't you be upfront?"

"No M you need to rest so lie down and quit working already. You have stepped down temporarily and now you need to heal."

"It is not for you to say what I need 007!" M snapped at him as Tanner turned to look at Bond questioningly.

"Damn it M! You need to heal from that wound and I need to make sure you get home before heading after Franz."

"Tanner, have three units sent to the desert and I want prisoners. I want every one of them looking for Franz Oberhauser and I want a report the moment the body of Tiago Rodriguez is found."

"Do we have any intel on this Oberhauser?" Tanner asked.

"In my file there should be something and Q can dig up the rest." Bond answered. He was hesitant to leave M but he wanted to be part of the team that went after his foster brother.

"007 I'm sure M-Mallory will want you on this mission. You know the target best."

"Yes and we are assuming he ran back to his base that he doesn't know we were told about."

"True. but is there another option?" M asked as she gradually allowed Bond to hold her legs across his lap. Not willing to allow anything as personal as laying her head on his lap." Bond frowned as he met her eyes.

"I will not bite you M. Rest your head on my legs if you like." Bond called her out on her obvious discomfort because of his exclamations of longing for her..

"Phis ha….Bond I don't want to become another victim to your charms." M said with a smirk and a rare smile.

Bond smiled back. Perhaps this would work eventually. If he kept his focus and ended this mission...that was what she needed from him now. Not the words of adoration and desire, that sprung into his head every time he looked at her.

Not yet anyway. Possibly in the near future...after Franz is dealt with...when on earth did he become so bloody sentimental.

Bond shook his head and M looked at him quizzically. "What?"

"I'm a fool for love." Bond whispered.

"A what?" M said, not sure that she heard him correctly.

Bond turned and looked directly into her eyes as he rubbed her legs through the blanket. "Correction...I..am...a fool in love."

M blushed under his gaze and turned to the front seat hoping that Tanner and the driver didn't hear Bond's comment.

"You are a fool...I will acquiesce."

"That is all I ask for M...your acquiescence."

"Don't be cheeky, 007."

"Yes ma'am." Bond leaned his head back and closed his eyes with a broad grin on his face.

Tanner smirked to himself and turned to the driver to say that they could now depart. The jet was 45 minutes a way and it was nearing dawn.

M had stopped giving orders and would hopefully rest for the duration of the trip home. Because Tanner certainly didn't want to hear their continued flirtations from the back seat.

it was already hard enough keeping the gossip about M and her favourite agent contained within the halls of MI6. After this mission that may become bloody well impossible now. The shock waves from this will be in the ear of the Prime minister within a few days and then M's sabbatical may quickly morph into a retirement. Tanner didn't relish her leaving. This M...inspired a level of devotion that Tanner doubted anyone else could attain in the same position.

To be continued...