Lily and Q sat together in her room. Bond came in a few minutes later. He cleared his throat and assured them that Bastian was under tight security. He wished them a good evening and left the room.

"I should head back." Q said, after Bond left.

Lily looked up at him and nodded. "Okay."

He kissed the top of her head and left the room. She hugged herself and stared at her shoes. Bastian's blood-thirsty eyes remained in her head. As much as she tried, she couldn't get them out of her head. Standing, she walked out of her room and hurried to M's office.

M looked up from his desk when he heard the light knocking. "Come in."

Lily appeared at his door and he raised an eyebrow. "Can I help you, Miss Bond?"

She closed the door behind her and cleared her throat. "I just wanted to talk to you. About Bastian."

He motioned to the chair in front of his desk. "Please."

She sat down and fiddled with her hair inbetween her fingers and stared at him. "I...I beg you...kill Bastian."

M blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

"You heard me. Kill him, please. He's no use to you alive. Please."

She was shaking now. M sat up straight and grimaced at her words. "On the contrary, he's very much needed alive."

"Why? He's a maniac and he's only playing games with you. End this now and kill him."

"This isn't for you to decide. If you seek-"

"Do you want me to do it? Afraid to get your hands dirty or something?"

He began to lose his patience. "I suggest you get some rest. You've been through much and I think rest will help you-"

"You think I'm insane."

M looked up at her.

"You're insane for not getting rid of this man. Fine. Don't kill him, but just send him away from this building. I can't stand it!"

M pressed a button underneath his desk and cleared his throat. "I'll ask you again, my dear. Leave and I can forget this request."

She slammed her hand on his desk, making him jump. "You're housing a maniac and you're just sitting here doing nothing."

Two agents entered the room and grabbed her by the arms. They dragged her out of the room and through the hallway. She struggled against them, calling out at M. Q removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes util he heard the yelling. He and Bond saw Lily being dragged away. Bond swore under his breath and approached them.

"Are you mental? What are you doing?"

"M ordered us to escort her back to her room."

Bond pulled Lily away from them as she started to cry. "I'll do it. Go."

Q watched as Bond brought Lily into the data room as she wiped her eyes. "You have to kill Bastian. Please!"

Bond grabbed her shoulder and stared into her eyes. "What's the matter? Tell me what's wrong, Lily."

"Go on. Tell us how to help you." Q said, gently.

She was shaking. "Get rid of Bastian."

Bond sat her down and he sat in front of her. "Tell me what's wrong."

After a few mintues of trembling and silence, Lily calmed down. She looked at her father and swallowed. "He's stuck inside my mind. Do you have any idea what he's done?"

"Tell us, Lily." Bond replied, almost whispering.

"He touched me, alright? I was young when he was angry and drunk! He said he loved me and he was sorry afterwards and I foolishly gave in to save my own life and because I was afraid."

Bond pulled her into his arms and shushed her. "It's over now. You don't have to be afraid."

Q turned when he heard the data room's door open. M came inside and stood by the door. "I see she's calmed down."

"It's nothing. What is it, M?" Q asked.

"Duplin demands to see her and won't open up until she does. I think she needs to suck up her fear and see him."

Lily shook her head. "Never. You'll have to make me."

Bond tried to reason with M, but he wouldn't change his mind. "Convince her, Bond. She listens to you."

He left the room and they were alone again. Q shook his head, looking at Lily. "Don't do it."

Bond swallowed. "She has to."

Q grimaced and Lily looked up at Bond. "What?"

"Bastian won't talk unless he sees you. Please. We need you to do htis last thing for us, and you can go home." Bond pleaded.

Lily's eyes filled with tears. "You're doing it again."

Bond grimaced. "What?"

Lily pushed him away and she got up, walking towards the door. "You're putting your work before me."

Q looked at Bond as Lily left the room. "I'll talk to her."

Bond covered his face with his hands and sighed deeply. Q hurried after Lily as she entered the elevator.

"Lily, wait. I think Bond's right."

"Not you too."

He hesitated. "Once you talk to Bastian, we can get more out of him and then, we get rid of him. I'll go with you. Right now."

She stared at the floor and then at him. "You'd do that?"

He nodded and adjusted his glasses. "I would. I will."

He slipped his hand into hers and smiled. She sighed and gave a curt nod. "Fine. But...I won't like it."

Q stood behind the layers of glass, watching as Lily sat in front of Bastian. His face was a bit bruised and his hands were handcuffed in front of him. He stared at the table, not meeting her eyes.

"Where should we begin?" she asked.

He said nothing.

"Would you like to start?"

Nothing.

She bit her lips and glanced at the glass. Bastian pointed his finger at her. "You. That's all I want right now. So, you can all your spy friends away or else you'll get nothing from me."

He gave her a sly smile and she swallowed. She touched her ear as Q spoke through an ear piece to her. "I can't leave you here with him alone."

Lily stood up and left the room to see Q. He stared at her, shaking his head. "We tried."

"Leave."

"What? Are you mad?"

"Do it, Q. If you don't, he won't talk to me."

"You can tell him I left. He can't even see me."

Lily reached up and pulled the chord for the lamp, hanging bove them. The room lit up and Bastian turned to look at them. Lily folded her arms and gave Q a look.

"Please, go. You said you wanted to do this. Now, leave."

"I can't leave you alone with him."

"You'll have to."

He shook his head at her. She grabbed his arm and dragged him to the door. "Go. Now."

He pursed his lips. "Fine, but take this."

He handed her a gun and she placed it inside her coat. "Thanks."

With a final look at her, he left the room. She went back to Bastian. "I didn't think you had it in you, darling."

"Shut up and speak only when you're spoken to." she spat.

He raised both eyebrows. "Alright.

"You wanted Bond. You were jealous of him. I came to find him for my own reasons. You wanted those files to get his identity and threaten the other agents of whose files you also wanted to steal."

He nodded. "That sounds pretty accurate. Are you going to tell me why you went for Bond?"

"Not on your life."

He frowned and nodded. "I see. Then, you leave me with no other alternative."

Quickly, he got up and pushed the table towards her. She stumbled to the floor and he rushed to her. He wrapped his handcuffs around her neck, choking her.

"Tell me or you'll never see another day!"

She croaked and tried to call for help. Suddenly, the door from behind the glass burst open with Q and M. Bond was right behind them. He rushed into the room, aiming his gun at Duplin.

"Let go of her."

Duplin chuckled as he continued choking Lily. "Tell me why she searched for you or I'll just kill her."

Q's hands trembled as he tried to think of something. "Mother of God..."

Bond kept the gun aimed. "I'll tell you if you loosen your grip on her."

"Oh, no, Mr. Bond. I'm making up the rules of this game. I'd hurry if I were you, she seems to be turning blue."

Lily croaked again as Bond stared at her. "Hang on."

Bastian shrugged and lifted Lily to her feet and dragging her towards Bond. Bastian's hand snaked into Lily's coat and pulled out the gun from her jacket. He aimed and fired at Bond's leg. He dropped his gun and yelled in agony.

He fell to the floor in pain. Lily screamed as Bastian placed the end of the gun at her cheek. "Tell me or I kill him right now."

Lily shut her eyes and breathed heavily. "Bastian...please."

"What did you say, darling?" he sneered in her ear.

She stuttered and said, "He's...my father."

Q's eyes widened and he looked at M. Bastian's jaw fell open and he laughed. "Well, this just got interesting. And here, I thought you loved him."

He kept the cuffs around her neck and dragged her out of the room. Q and M watched as he came into the room with her.

"You won't make it out of the building." M said.

Bastian laughed. "Who said I needed to get out of the building alive? What better way to make an exit...than with the on you love?"

He cocked his gun and aimed it at Lily's head. "You first, love."

Q shook his head. "No, you can't."

Bastian raised an eyebrow. "Can't I?"

Lily turned to face Bastian and breathed heavily. "Just do it. Please, just end it now. The two of us can be together forever. Do it now. Just no more violence towards them."

Bastian stared at her lips, hungrily. "You and I?"

Lily grabbed his face and shoved her lips onto his. Bastian shut his eyes and kissed her back. Q saw his opportunity. He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a pen. Quickly, he placed small ear lpugs into his ears and approached them, aiming his pen at Bastian. With a click, he placed the pen by Bastian's ear.

"Cover your ears, Lily!"

Lily obeyed as a sharp beeping noise sounded and Bastian's ears began to bleed. He gave a gurgled scream. M covered his ears as well. Bastian groaned aloud and stumbled to the floor with Lily. A gun was fired and a scream was heard. Bond made his way into the room by crawling. His leg was bleeding immensly.

His jaw hung open at the sight he saw. Lily's eyes were wide open. Q picked up Bastian's gun and shot him in the head. Lily put a hand to her hip and felt something warm and wet. Bond quickly crawled to her and Q bent down.

"Lily...look at me. Stay with me, alright?" Bond asked, as he held her face in her hands.

M removed his coat and Q used it to apply pressure to Lily's hip. "It's okay. It's okay."

Lily's wide eyes stared at the ceiling, in shock. "He..shot me."

"Lily, be quiet and relax. Stay with us, okay? Don't close your eyes." Q urged her.

M pressed a button on the counter and an alarm was sounded. Q lifted Lily into his scrawny arms and carried her out of the room. M helped Bond to his feet and assisted him by walking out of the room and following Q. Lily felt her vision blur and all she wanted to do was close her eyes and just forget.

"Don't go. Stay. Stay. You're okay." Q kept mumbling.

You're okay.

~x~