Sorry this took so long, the little details are a bit time consuming, but it will all make sense in the next chapter :)
James looked at the sitting room doorway as he answered the door to make sure M did as she was told, even though he knew she hadn't. As he neared the door he suddenly tensed and wished he had drawn his gun, but his apprehension was short lived as soon as he opened the door.
"Jack…thanks for coming on such short notice" he said as he quickly ushered his friend inside
"Well…I have to admit, you've got me stumped with this one" he said shaking his head "What makes you so sure there is more to the story?"
"Because SHE says so" replied James motioning to M who was now standing in full view
"M…Good to see you again" said Jack as he closed the distanced between them and kissed her cheek
"Jack" she said with a warm smile "Thank you for coming. I know that this sounds crazy, but I just can't let it go" she said as the three of them walked into the sitting room
"Drink?" asked James as he headed toward the liquor cabinet
"Yes please" replied M as she sat on the sofa
"One for me too" said Jack
"Now let's see what you have here" said Jack as the took the files "These are the original Intel files right?"
"Yes. They document the movements of Anton and his men in the spring of 1968 thru the fall of 1969" said M "If you notice, after every incident there is a list of men present. See anything unusual?" she asked
"Not really, I mean it lists Sergei as being present at all of the incidents, but if he was the driver…"
"But he wasn't…look closer. The man listed as the driver is named Ivan something or other" said James as he brought the drinks
"Yes…Ivan Kaminski." Replied Jack
"That has to mean something, doesn't it?" asked M
"Well there's one way to find out" replied Jack
"Oh and what is that" asked James narrowing his eyes
"We could just ask him" said Jack rather matter of fact
"And just how are we supposed to do that?" asked M
"That part is easy." Said Jack, taking a drink of his scotch "He's sitting in a cell in the Hague waiting to be put on trial for crimes against humanity"
"What are you talking about" asked James
"We found him last year and turned him over. I'm sure with a little sweet talking on M's part, they would be more than willing to let us talk to him" replied Jack
"I'm afraid we may have to go over her head, no offense M, and ask super twit Mallory to intervene" said James dryly "This isn't the type of think M would normally be involved with"
"What do you mean?"
"We are in the business of capturing the spies, once they're in custody, unless it is a matter of national security, we're pretty much out of it"
"I think trying to take out the head of MI6 qualifies as a matter of national security" snapped Jack
"Well you and I may think so, but the powers that be may not see it that way"
"Well I sure as hell can ask. I can tell them that he is needed for questioning in a current investigation." Said Jack as he finished his drink "I'll fly there and question him myself"
"I want to come" said M quietly
"NO!" snapped James angrily "You're not going anywhere near him"
"James…I need to do this. I need to hear it for myself" she said as her eyes began to fill with tears
"It's alright sweetheart" said James as he put his arm around her and kissed her forehead "If you really want to go then I guess I can't stop you, but you WILL stand behind that stupid two way mirror thing alright"
"Deal" she said as she leaned up and kissed his cheek before resting her head against his shoulder
"Well it looks like you two have made up" said Jack with a smirk
"You could say that" replied James with a smile
"So what pet name did you decide on if I may ask?"
"Not that it's any of your bloody business, but I think we've decided on…Wife" said James with a smile as he looked as M
"Now that has a nice ring to it." replied Jack with a grin "Good luck M. You've got your work cut out for you" he said with a laugh "But in all seriousness, I think I can get this Ivan character brought here for questioning. The less traveling we, and I mean you M, the better. It will be easier to protect you on your own soil, so to speak"
"Jack…Believe it or not, if she's right, then you are in just as much danger as she is. He knows what all three of us look like, and by now he's got to know that we suspect something"
"By he, I assume you mean Sergei? I thought of that. It took me twice as long to get here because I changed vehicles and modes of transportation about a million times just in case our little friend was watching"
"So what do you think?" asked James trying not to sound worried
"I think the sooner we get Ivan here the better. Let me work on that while you two keep looking for any other proof just in case they say NO" he replied as he took out his phone and began dialing while he walked out into the hall
"Oh James" said M with a deep sigh "I'm sorry for getting you and Jack mixed up in all of this"
"What the hell are you sorry for?" he asked sounding annoyed as he pulled her close "If you recall it was Mallory who set up this little fiasco, which by the way, should not surprise you in the least as every time he puts his nose in where it doesn't belong, it all seems to go balls up in a matter of seconds…"
"James, don't be so hard on him. On the surface this sounded like a legitimate request, and a means to finding out some valuable information…" she said pulling back to look at him
"But he just doesn't think M" said James angrily "You don't just go putting the head of the secret service in that kind of danger EVER, he of all people should know that. It's like sending the commanding officer to the front line with a sling shot when the enemy has an atom bomb"
"James he did what he thought was necessary, and if I'm right and Sergei is playing us then even the CIA was fooled, so it isn't fair to place all the blame on Mallory" she replied in her usual business like tone
"I suppose you're right" he conceded as he gave her a quick but gentle kiss
Jack hung up the phone and grumbled under his breath as he sat back down
"Well?"
"They sort of agreed" he replied rubbing his forehead in aggravation
"What the hell does that mean?"
"It means that we can have him, but only if we agree to some sort of deal that could affect the outcome of his trial…something about leniency for his cooperation with this mess" replied Jack
"If that's what it takes then so be it" said M firmly
James and Jack stared at her with puzzled looks on their faces. This was a woman who NEVER makes deals and yet here she was agreeing to one.
"M…do you have any idea how long it took to get him?" asked Jack
"Do you have any idea how valuable the information he has really is?" she retorted "If I'm right, and I think we all know that I am, then capturing Sergei is far more important than.."
"She's right" said James interrupting "Sergei is the key, and if Ivan can help then…"
"Ok, I see where you two are going with this. Better to let the little fish swim away if it means capturing the big fish"
"Something like that. So when will he be here?" asked M apprehensively
"Late tomorrow afternoon" replied Jack
"Then I suggest that we all get some rest as we have a busy day ahead of us" said M as she rose and headed toward the stairs
"Right then…I will be going" said Jack as he rose and headed toward the door
"And just where do you think you're going?" asked M curiously
"Back to my hotel" he said with a rather confused look on his face "Why?"
"Just lock the door and both of you follow me" she said firmly as she headed up the stairs "And be sure to turn out the lights" she said over her shoulder
Jack and James both had a look of shock written across their faces as they stared up the stairs. M could tell that by the fact that you could have heard a pin drop that they were both slightly confused by her statement, in fact under any other circumstance she would have found the situation humorous herself, however at this particular time the request was in the interest of their safety, not to satisfy some odd sexual fantasy.
"Boys…I'm only going to tell you one more time." She said leaning over the railing "Lock the door, turn off the lights and get your arses up here. Jack can stay in the guest room" she said looking directly at Jack "And if you can behave, you can stay with me" she said motioning to James before she turned and headed down the hall
Jack and James let out simultaneous sighs of relief as they began to laugh
"Boy am I glad she clarified that" said Jack with a grin
"You and me both" replied James with a bit of a crooked smile "I always suspected that she isn't as straight laced as people seem to think, but to be quite honest, this really isn't the time to be exploring that theory" he said with a laugh as they did as they were told and headed up the stairs.
TO BE CONTINUED...