A few weeks later...

Bond and Q sat in a bar together. They sat on the balcony where Bond had first laid his eyes on Lily. His eyes watches the cars drive by and the people make their way across the street.

"It was down there were I first saw here." Bond said, pointing with his eyes.

Q glanced down. "Indeed?"

Bond side-smiled and took a sip from his beverage. "Still makes no sense to me."

Q grimaced. "What?"

"She died of a graze to the waist from a bullet."

"Loss of blood."

"I gave her some of mine."

"We'll never know, I suppose."

Bond shook his head. "I hate not knowing things. It's maddening and a bit dull."

Q chuckled. "You can't have all the answers."

"Why not? I think I'm clever enough to get the answers I seek."

"I'm sure you are."

"Shall we head back, then, Q?"

They stood up from their table and paid their bill. As they drove to headquarters, Bond kept Lily in his mind. They arrived and Bond decided to visit the hospital room where Lily spent her last few breaths. The window in the room gave a dull view of London. A few buildings were in the way so you couldn't see many of the trees or nicer buildings.

He heard voices and realized he had no authorization to be in the room. With a shrug, he didn't care if he got a scolding from M for it. He remained where he was until he heard something being discussed amongst the voices.

"The Bond girl, eh?"

James turned his head when he heard the voices coming towards the room. Quickly, he spotted a tall counter on the same wall as the door. He crouched down and hid next to it. The door to the room opened and two people stepped in.

"She died in here. Gave Bond himself a bit of a shock."

"Odd way to die, isn't it?"

"Just a scratch at the waist. Killed her within an hour."

"Blood loss, I imagine."

"That's the thing."

Bond raised an eyebrow.

"Bond gave her some of his blood. She should've been alright."

"Must've been the shock."

"Who can tell? Last thing I remember was feeling her pulse. Nothing. Her skin was cold and her eyes were wide open. She had a bit of droll coming out of her mouth. Bit nasty, really."

The voices trailed off as the two doctors left the room. Bond couldn't get to his feet. He sunk down and sat on the floor. His hands covered his head and he breathed heavily. Suddenly, his phone rang and he jumped.

He answered it, yelling, "For the love of God, what is it?"

A pause. "Uh, it's Q. Where are you? I thought said you'd meet me in the lab."

"I just...I just had to take care of something. Can you just shut up for a minute?"

"You're in the hospital room, aren't you? For God's sake, do you know how much trouble you'll-"

Bond hung up and rested his arm on his knee. Quickly, he got up and hurried out of the room to find Q. He took two elevators and ran across several halls. Then, he burst into the lab, making Q jump.

"Jesus-!"

"Where is her body being held? Where is it?" Bond demanded.

"Who's? Lily's?" Q asked.

"No, your Aunt Fanny's!"

"She's being held upstairs. First door on your right." Q replied, with a frown.

Bond hurried up the stairs with Q behind him. "What exactly are you doing?"

Breathing aloud, Bond found the case with Lily's body. Q stuttered aloud.

"Uh, you shouldn't open-"

Bond opened it.

"Never mind." Q sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Talk to me, Lily." Bond whispered.

But, it was not Lily's body inside. There was nothing inside. Bond glanced at Q with a cold look.

"Where is it?" Bond demanded.

Q grimaced. "I swear it was there. I swear!"

Bond slammed his fist on the case and began pacing around the room. Q swallowed as he stared at him.

"Bastian." Bond whispered.

"What? He's dead. You think he stole her body?"

Bond paused and stared at the case. "Bastian's not dead."

"How do you know that? I shot him in the head!"

Rubbing his chin, Bond snapped his finger. "That wasn't the real Bastian. Don't you see?"

Q narrowed his eyebrows, trying to think. Bond groaned aloud and threw his hands in the air. "Why didn't I see it? Bastian would never make himself so visible to us! He'd never march in here without proper security or protection. I am such an idiot!"

"Alright, that I can see." Q said, raising both eyebrows.

"Why would she be drooling if she already dead?" Bond asked.

Q grimaced and suddenly his eyes widened. "Y-Yes, she was drooling. When I heard the news, I hurried into the room and saw fresh saliva dripping from her mouth."

"How can a dead person drool?"

Q shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe you're just getting too excited, Bond."

"If I am, then where is her body? Someone who was working for Bastian was in there and gave her some kind of drug to make her body still. It would keep her blood from flowing for a moment and that would make her skin go pale." Bond explained.

"But, who was it that drugged her?"

Bond closed his eyes trying to remember a face. Any face that he saw that day. He glanced at Q. "Who told you she was dead?"

"The doctor you yelled at that same day." Q said, shaking his head.

"Doctor." Bond repeated.

"She should be awake soon. Just give her some time." the doctor replied.

"I don't have time." Bond snapped.

His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "That sick son of a-"

"What? What?" Q asked.

"She had on a medical mask. Why would she need one if they weren't opening her skin?" Bond asked.

"They took her blood."

"That was several minutes before and that woman wasn't even there when I gave Lily my blood."

"She was trying to hide her face." Q realized.

"They drugged her, and the body's gone. They have her." Bond nodded.

"Bastian."