Chapter 10

***Olivia Mansfield***

Olivia sat in an abandoned warehouse. The dust and dirt around her was suffocating, and the bench under her was cold and hard. This was the location on the slip of the paper from Bond. It had instructed her to leave Kincade's the next day with Michael and drive to this location. It took hours and was incredibly uncomfortable for her lying in the back of the vehicle and trying desperately not to be ill all over. Bond wanted them there by late afternoon so they left Scotland in the early hours of the morning.

The second James was in her thoughts, her heart skipped a beat and her stomach fluttered like a school girl's. She had to stop thinking about Bond; the soft tone of his voice, the caress on her cheek or the shiver that ran through her body when he touched her. It was complete madness to think about him that way. She was his boss and she couldn't afford to have these feelings.

"What time is it?"

"Fifty minutes since we arrived, 17:20 ma'am."

Where were they and what was taking them so long? She couldn't afford to think about the worst case scenario. Her agents were alive, they had to be. Bond would survive, he was like a cat with nine lives. Nine lives which he had in all likelihood already used up.

"I will do it again."

Olivia's body shivered. How often would he lie to keep her safe, to do what he thought was best? Why did it bother her so much?

Olivia couldn't let Bond insert himself into her life. He had dominated her existence while on the run, yet she was still a slave to his will. She couldn't allow him take over her life, but at the same time she couldn't stop worrying about him. She was old enough to know better.

"Ma'am..."

Olivia rose to her feet the moment her agent pulled out his gun and stood in front of her.

"It's me."

Bond. The relief was overwhelming. Thank god. It took all of her self-control not to go to him for an embrace.

"007, the office, please." She pointed to the left. The only private room on the premises being the see through glass cubicle. She couldn't contain the sharpness of her voice.

"Yes, ma'am."

Bond made her wait for him. He had the nerve to stop and talk to Michael instead of following her into the office. She couldn't hear their conversation, but the agent was nodding to him in understanding.

He made her so angry. The blood in her veins practically boiled, when he finally followed her orders and came to the office. She noted Michael's back was to the glass as he kept guard.

Olivia wanted her body completely healed already, she would love to grab something and hit Bond over the head with it. Now, she was completely helpless. She was improving, but her movement was still limited and she fatigued far too easily.

"You have to go back!" Was the first thing out of his mouth. He didn't have the decency to wait for her to speak. As his boss she expected him to at least allow her one courtesy after all this. She shouldn't be surprised. He seized control of her life the moment he carried her out of that hospital, but now, she wanted it back.

"Excuse me?"

"You have to go back to six's emergency headquarters. Mallory needs to see you. He and Q think they may have a lead but want to talk it over with you before they proceed. Someone is plotting against you and I'm not letting you die on my watch. Not again."

"You have to stop making decisions about my life, Bond. Wasn't I clear from the moment we met? I'm the boss here, not you."

"Not when there are people out there trying to kill you! The safest place for you now is at headquarters. Everyone will have eyes on you there. Tanner will take charge of your safety. We can trust him to appoint you with agents that himself, Mallory, and Q have approved. End of discussion."

End of discussion? She didn't have any right to decide for herself!

"You are aware, I won't..." She froze when his lips touched hers. What...is he? Dear...God! In her head her mind screamed out as she remained frozen to the spot.

The entire journey here he had played in her thoughts and now this! She didn't know if her heart could take the tremendous beating against her poor damaged ribs. M began to feel dizzy after a few moments of not breathing, while his mouth was on hers. All the while her body took momentary control of the logical part of her brain. It was seconds...just moments of illogical physical bliss after days of pain and frustration.

It had to end, yet logically this was the only time...the only moment that would be for them and just them. All the pain and frustration, the running and fighting suddenly vanished in the seconds he crossed the line and kissed her. James Bond had intruded on her personal space and she had to make him…

James pulled away...leaning his forehead was pressed to hers and it was difficult to think with him this close to her.

It was not the passionate occurrence she had expected James Bond would give an unsuspecting female. To be honest, it was rather a chaste kiss, not that the whole kiss lasted that long. Still, it had the desired effect...

"You were saying?" Bond's voice had broken through the fog in her mind.

Think damn it! She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. For the first time she was absolutely speechless in his presence. Her heart beat fast and furious against her rib cage, her lungs hurt and her skin tingled. She should have slapped that bloody smug face of his, but he wasn't smug right now.

He looked tired, concerned and defeated. Definitely not the Bond she knew. Something had gone wrong. Something was wrong with him.

"Are you alright?"

He had pressed his eyes close for a moment and finally opened them as he stepped back with a confused and questioning gaze.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Bond was not the kind of person who would breach her personal space and cross their carefully crafted boundaries, unless he was sure the consequences were minimal for his life.

M realized that James Bond would had to have been certain of succeeding in seducing her, or leaving her again not expecting to return.

If he dared to kiss her, he would have made damn sure that she wouldn't hold it against him for long.

"Bond..." Before she had a chance to look him from head to toe, his knees gave out and he collapsed towards the floor.

"MICHAEL!" Olivia screamed, but she couldn't prevent Bond from sliding on to the floor. She carefully knelt beside him. Michael dropped near her in a second. He was ripping Bond's shirt and they both could see the bloody bandage and beneath it, a festering knife wound on his right side.

"Oh, my god! You bloody idiot!" she cursed.

"How long has he had this?"

"I have no idea!" She hadn't seen him without a shirt. Is it possible he concealed it from the start? She couldn't imagine him carrying her around and not mention it.

"There was a shooter he fought with our first night on the run. That was before he managed to take out my tracker and stitched me again. Damn it all that was 5 days ago!"

"He probably didn't want anyone to know, ma'am. We have to find him a doctor."

No. They have to go back like he suggested and transport him to MI6's medical. Bloody thick headed Bond! Always thinking himself indestructible! Always disregarding her wishes and pushing everything to the limits!

People were taking a careful steps back, when Olivia regally stalked through the corridors of the bunker MI6 now called home. They looked at her like they were seeing a ghost, which was an appropriate response because, technically for them, she was dead. Michael kept his pace with her, not letting anyone to go near her. He opened the door for her to M's office, her office.

Mallory looked up.

"I think I will take it from here, Gareth," M informed him coldly.

"Olivia..."

His shock was palpable. Mallory glanced to Michael and nodded for him to leave, but he didn't take a clue. It took everything in her not act a little smug. She knew his agents' reason. He already confirmed it to her before they left the warehouse.

"I take it you won't stay with Bond."

"He will skin me alive, if I leave your side, madam."

"Remember I am your boss, Michael." One of her eyebrows went up in challenge.

"I will gladly give you my resignation later, ma'am, but Bond will kill me if I leave."

"Very well."

They didn't yet know Bond's condition. One of the agents stayed with him and took him to the medical area of headquarters. Hopefully, they would hear something about his condition soon. For now, Olivia needed to regain control of her life and MI6 again.