This one is more serious but never fear I will sprinkle some humor in here and there.
With a lot of coaxing Bond and Tanner finally managed to get M into the car for the ride to headquarters. Once they arrived M was immediately whisked away into an exam room leaving Bond and Tanner to wait in the hall.
"We need a plan" said Bond sipping on his stale, lukewarm coffee.
"Well as far as the office is concerned I can run things for the next few days. I can just say she had some sort of family emergency" replied Tanner
"Right. Best not to raise any suspicions" said Bond nodding in agreement
What about contacting her children?" asked Tanner hesitantly
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We'll wait and see what the doctor has to say, after all it could just be shock causing the memory loss"
"Right. What about contacting Mallory?"
"Christ NO!" replied Bond looking at Tanner as if he has suddenly grown a second head "He'll be all over you like flies on manure, trying to assume command. No best to keep him in the dark for the time being as well."
"We'll have to tell Eve. She's very discreet, very loyal to M and she is the first line of defense for anyone trying to contact M." said Tanner
"Alright, but that's it until we know more" replied Bond firmly.
"Agreed"
After a few hours the door to M's room finally opened and the doctor headed toward Bond and Tanner.
" 007, Mr. Tanner. Anyone care to tell me just what happened to her?" he said looking at the two men.
Bond and Tanner exchanged glances and both shrugged their shoulders
"Didn't she tell you?" asked Bond hoping that since they had arrived M had regained at least enough of her memory to explain.
"We need to talk privately" said the doctor motioning to a private conference room across the hall.
"How is she?" asked Bond the concern clearly showing in his voice
"Well, under the circumstances she is doing reasonably well"
"So just exactly what are we dealing with?" interjected Tanner impatiently as he took a seat next to Bond
"Well...I'm not really sure I should be discussing this with the two of you, but seeing that you are the ones who brought her in you are already aware of the state she is in."
"Go on" said Bond as his eyes narrowed
"Aside from a twisted ankle, some minor bumps and bruises and a four inch gash along her hair line M appears to be suffering from a brain injury caused by a concussion she sustained in the fall."
"No Kidding" replied Bond sarcastically
"As a result" he continued "She is displaying signs of amnesia" he paused for a moment to let his words sink in before he continued. "Because of this, the memory loss could last only a few hours OR it could last a few weeks, OR it may never fully return. We will just have to wait and see."
"Wait and See!" shouted Tanner angrily "Do you have any idea just who that woman is?" he said standing up to pace about the room. " She isn't just someone's elderly mother or Grandmother who took a nasty tumble down the stairs. She is the bloody head of MI6. Just what exactly are we to tell the Prime Minister? Sorry sir she can't protect or defend you at the moment as she can't remember who you are?"
Bond, who had been rather quiet throughout most of the conversation finally spoke up.
"Can we see her?" he asked quietly
"Yes. I think that she would like that as you two are the only familiar faces to her at the moment." replied the doctor as he moved toward the door
"What a bloody nightmare this is" said Tanner rubbing his forehead
"Oh stop whining Tanner" said Bond clearly irritated with him. "This isn't half as hard on you as it is on her!"
Bond followed the doctor to M"s room and hesitated for a moment before he opened the door.
"Is she comfortable?" he asked
"Reasonably"
"Thank you"
Bond cautiously opened the door and entered only to be greeted with a sight for which he was not quite prepared.
M suddenly looked so small, almost frail lying in the hospital bed with all sorts of machines hooked to her to monitor her every move. She had a bandage around her ankle and one across her forehead that covered the angry looking bruise that was beginning to form. Bond was surprised at how very pale she looked even against the white hospital sheets.
"Hey... How are you feeling?" he asked softly as he walked across the room to take a seat next to her bed.
She looked at him with a look of total bewilderment for a few moments before answering him.
"Mr. Bond?...This isn't a normal hospital is it?" she asked with a slight crack in her voice
"No" he said quietly "It is a special medical facility where you work" he said calmly so as not to upset her.
"All of these people keep calling me M. Is that my name?" she asked sounding slightly confused
He thought about that for a moment before he responded. The last thing he wanted to do was confuse her more.
"Well, no not exactly" he said reaching out to grasp her hand lightly, and to his surprise she didn't pull away from his touch."It's more of a title. You have a very important job with the government and all of these people work for you, so they refer to you by your title"
"I see" she said sounding just as confused as she was before.
"How long will I have to stay here?" she asked as the tears began to form in her eyes
That was all it took. Bond quickly gave her hand a light squeeze and stood up to leave.
"Give me a minute" he said sounding very determined " I'll be right back."
To be continued...