I thought it was time to see some of the "old" M coming thru. And Prosper I will think on your suggestion, It could be interesting:)
After the breakfast dishes were taken care of James gently carried M back upstairs so she could get dressed.
"I know you would probably prefer a shower, but I don't think I am the best choice of assistants in that department, so I asked Eve to stop by after work and give you a hand if that's alright?" he said as he rummaged around in the wardrobe for something for her to wear.
"Who is Eve?" she asked sounding a bit worried
"Eve is your secretary. Don't worry, you'll like her, she's very fond of you and you of her. She asked about you earlier so I thought I could kill two birds with one stone so to speak, she could check up on you and you could get a shower." he said handing Her a white blouse
"No not this one" she said handing it back "Try the light blue one instead, it looks more comfortable"
"Skirt or trousers?" he asked exchanging blouses with her
"What?...Oh...trousers I suppose" she said quietly
"Right then...I'll leave you to it and Oh by the way in case you're interested your knickers are in the top drawer" he said with a slight grin
"And just how would you know?" she asked suspiciously
"I found them last night when I was searching for your night dress" he replied rather sheepishly
"I see... well then off you go. I'll call you when I am ready to come back down" she said as she hobbled off the bathroom.
It had been almost an hour and a half and M still hadn't called for him so James walked quietly up the stairs to check on her. He knocked lightly as he opened the door only to find M just sitting on the bed staring at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes glued to her arms and shoulder as she lightly ran her fingers over the scars.
"What happened to me?" she asked fighting back tears
"Well" he began "You were in as accident of sorts years ago while you were away on "business" he said softly as he knelt in front of her and grasped her hands.
"But so many scars on my arms and legs" she replied as she looked down at him
"I know, but that was a long time ago and aside from your current injuries you're fine now" he answered helping her pull her blouse on the rest of the way.
"You're not going to tell me are you?" she asked the frustration clearly showing in her voice.
"Well...No, not today..Doctors orders" he replied as he stood up
"Would you like to stay up here for a while and rest or would you like come back downstairs?" he asked as he hung up her dressing gown
"Well let's try the sofa. I could us a change of scenery" she said firmly as she stood up "But I think I'll try it on my own if you don't mind!"
"Well as a matter of fact I do mind! If anything happens to you Tanner will have my head!" James replied as he followed her out the door
"Then I suggest you make damn sure nothing happens Mr. Bond!" her sudden use of his formal name did not go unnoticed
"So it's Mr. Bond now is it?" he said as he went down the steps one at a time with her until they reached the bottom.
"There you see nothing happened!" she said coolly as she brushed past him toward the sitting room.
"Did I miss something?" he said sounding confused as he followed her into the sitting room
"What do you mean?" she said as she sat down
"Well a minute ago you were upset about the scars and then within seconds you were completely pissed off at me and I suddenly went from being James back to Mr. Bond, so I was just wondering what the hell I missed between kneeling at the foot of you bed and when I stood up?" he said sounding a little hurt.
"Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to have your whole life ripped away from you and to know that there are people around you who could tell you but refuse" She shouted "I look around at all these things you say are mine and have no recollection of them. I don't even know what drawer my knickers are in for Christ sake so don't stand there like a pampas ass and tell me I hurt your feelings"
"I'm sorry M but please try to understand that we're only doing this for your own good"
"My own good...I'm not a child!" she said sharply
"I know that"
"Then stop treating me like one"
"I'll go and make some tea" he said as he walked out of the room
She was about to crack and he could tell. And as a matter of fact he does know how she feels but he can't tell her that, not right now. He kept reading the list of instructions while he waited for the tea.
"Let's see dilated pupils...no, nausea...no, vomiting...no, mood swings...yep that one we've got in epic proportions."
When James finally returned with the tea he found M sitting on the sofa looking at a photograph album with tears streaming down her cheeks as she turned the pages.
"M, what is it? what's wrong?" he said as he sat down beside her
"I can't remember them" she said through her sobs "I have children and I don't remember them. I look at the pictures and I see them and who I assume is their father but I don't recognize them. What kind of mother doesn't know her own children?" she cried as she buried her face in her hands.
James closed the album and put in on the coffee table and put his arms around the now near inconsolable M and held her close and rocked her.
"Shhh... M it's going to be alright, You'll remember, It just takes time." he said softly
"I'm going to tell you something I think might help" he said pulling back so he could look into her tear-filled eyes
"What is that?" she said with a sniffle
"Olivia" was all he said