Both Jack and M were startled by the sound of the door and turned to see James staring at them with a look of total disbelief and anger.

"James…this isn't what it looks like" said Jack as he quickly released M

"Then what the hell is it" replied James thru clenched teeth "Groveling and apologizing my arse…you just wanted to be alone with her so you could…"

"Could what?" asked M as she took a step toward him

"How could you!" he said, taking a step back

"James…pleased let me explain" said M

"Oh I don't think there is much need for explanation…I have eyes, I can see what's going on"

"As usual my friend, you've got the wrong end of the stick" said Jack

"No…I don't think so"

"James it was just an innocent kiss…nothing more" explained M

"You call it what you want. I know what I saw."

"This is ridiculous…" said M throwing up her hands "I owe him my life and…"

"And I suppose I did nothing…is that what you're trying to say? He's the one who rescued you from the hotel, and he's the one who go to you first at the Safe house while I was just sitting on my arse enjoying the scenery"

"I never said that" she snapped with a hurt look on her face

"You didn't have to" replied James as he stormed out of the room

M turned to Jack with a look of total confusion and pain as tears were beginning to form in her eyes.

"Oh Jack…What have I done?" she said with a crack in her voice

"Oh NO he doesn't!" replied Jack angrily as he headed toward the door "He doesn't get to waltz in here and make accusations and then walk away" he said as he stormed out of the room after James

By the time Jack had made it to the sitting room, James was already out the front door and headed down the street. Jack ran nearly a full block before catching up to James and forcefully grabbing his arm, spinning him around. Thankfully Jack was a trained agent as he ducked, narrowly missing the punch James threw at him. Jack's self-defense training kicked in and within moments the two were locked in an all-out brawl which brought them both to the ground with Jack eventually pinning James on his back.

"Now listen here you little spoiled, pain in the ass…We need to get a few things straight!" shouted Jack as James struggled beneath him

"I'm not interested in anything you have to say" said James angrily

"I don't give a shit what you're interested in. It's one thing for you to be pissed off at me and treat me like crap…Hell if I were in your shoes I would probably do the same thing, but you do NOT get to treat M like that, not now…not ever DO YOU HEAR ME?" shouted Jack angrily as he brought his face down so that he was nose to nose with James

"Isn't that special…You're defending her honor" replied James sarcastically

"Please don't make me beat the crap out of you" said Jack in an annoyed tone

"Why? Afraid it will spoil your dinner plans?"

"Look, If and it's a big IF, but if I let you go will you at least listen to me?"

"What are my other choices" asked James

"I snap your neck, and run off with your girl" replied Jack with a wink as he loosened his grip on James

Jack moved to sit beside him on the sidewalk as James sat up, rubbing his neck and wrists.

"So…are you ready to listen" asked Jack in a serious tone

"Do I have a choice?" replied James with an edge to his voice

"I know what you thought you saw, but you're wrong. M's a beautiful, intelligent woman there's no denying that, and any man would be lucky to have her, but there's just on tiny little problem"

"Oh and what's that?" asked James

"She's in love with some arrogant, self -absorbed little pain in the ass, that's what!"

James gave Jack a look with skepticism written all over it.

"Do you want to know what happened when she woke up in the Safe house? After I pinned her down so she wouldn't hurt herself, one of the first things she asked about was YOU, and when I got to her at the second Safe house and I thought she was dead, I held her in my arms blaming myself, the first thing she said wasn't "It's ok, don't worry about it, I'm ok" NO it was where is James" said Jack in an almost disgusted tone

James felt himself sinking lower and lower until he felt like he was about an inch high.

"You have no idea what you've got. That amazing woman for some unknown reason loves you, and she would never hurt you. I'll admit that for about a half second I thought about giving you a run for your money, but then I saw you with her and how she, and it pains me to say it, adores you. Her eyes light up whenever you're around and she genuinely seems happy. Don't screw this up you big fool" said Jack as he gave James a slap on the back of the head as he stood up

"I think I already have" replied James sadly

"She'll forgive you, just give her some time to cool down"

"You don't know M."

"Tell you what…there's a little bar just around the corner. Why don't we go grab a drink and then go back so you can crawl back to her on your hands and knees and beg for forgiveness…women love that kind of stuff" replied Jack with a laugh

"I hope you're right" said James as he stood up and dusted himself off before the two of them headed down the street toward the bar.

After a few hours and more than a few drinks Jack and James stumbled back to the Safe house. James had jumped a fence along the way and stolen a few roses from someone's front lawn along the way in hopes of apologizing with a little style in nothing else.

As he made his way down the hall, James was somewhat surprised to see that M's door was open but as he got to the door he was shocked to find the room completely empty. James immediately turned and stormed back down the hall to the sitting room where a few agents were playing cards.

"Where is she?"

"Who?"

"Don't play stupid…you know who" replied James angrily

"She made a call and had Agents Boon and Connor take her to the airport" answered one of the agents

"Why the hell would she want to go to the…"

"What's the problem?" asked Jack as he rounded the corner

"You and your great ideas. She's gone" replied James as he began pacing around the room

"What do you mean gone?" asked Jack just as the door opened and Agents Booth and Connor returned

"Where is M? Where has she gone?" asked James furiously

"She called the airport and had them ready her plane shortly after you left. She's gone back to England. She asked if we could be so kind as to drop you off on our way back to the U.S." replied agent Boon

James stopped dead in his tracks and just glared at Jack.

"Don't worry Jimmy…We'll fix this" said Jack as he picked up the phone and dialed the airport to arrange a flight for the next day.

TO BO CONTINUED...