Sorry, I've been neglecting this one a bit.

As soon as the car came to a complete stop, M bolted out the door and charged up the stairs leaving James with a rather bewildered look on his face. She hadn't said one word the entire way home and judging by her behavior, had no intention of discussing the matter anytime soon. As he made his way into the flat, he was immediately struck by the stillness. He half expected to find her in the sitting room downing the first of many drinks, but instead the room was empty. He stared up the stairs debating whether he should go up and check on her or stay out of the line of fire, but curiosity and concern got the better of him and he ascended the stairs cautiously. He stood outside the bedroom door for several minutes before he finally worked up the courage to knock.

"M...Are you alright?" he asked quietly "Do you want to talk?"

He waited patiently for an answer, but when he got no response he knocked again more forcefully

"M...I know you're in there...Please talk to me" he said leaning his head against the door, but still no response.

He was about to knock again when he heard a knock at the front door, so he turned and made his way back down stairs grumbling the entire way. When he opened the door, he found Jack staring at him with a look of concern.

"How is she?' he asked as he brushed past James

"To tell you the truth, I really don't know. She's locked herself in the bedroom and is refusing to answer me" snapped James as he closed the door and followed Jack into the sitting room

"I can't say as I blame her." replied Jack as he poured himself a drink "The chat with Ivan was rather enlightening"

"That's putting it mildly"

"After you left I found out a few more things. Sergei has spent the last few months drilling the past into Anton's head, telling him things that he did, but making the old fool think that they were things he did, Anton I mean"

"So he basically brainwashed Anton into believing that he was responsible..."

"For everything that happened to M...You got it," replied Jack angrily "Don't get me wrong, Anton was a monster and he was responsible for more than his fair share of things, but according to Ivan, he changed when he met M, he became softer and it annoyed the shit out of his brother"

"So the other day at the safe house...He was trying to "rescue" her?"

"Hard to say. He might have been or he might have been trying to finish what his brother started all those years ago. Look all I know is that Anton couldn't remember yesterday let alone nearly forty years ago, so whatever he did, he was coached, and I wouldn't be surprised if he had an ear piece with his brother on the other end telling him what to say and do"

James stared up the stairs with a look of total helplessness as he listened to Jack.

"I've got my team on alert, and they are ready to move as soon as I give the word" said Jack

"Well how the hell do you intend to get him when he's working for the Russian government?"

"I've got friends in high places...We'll get him, but we have a bigger problem"

"Oh really, and just what would that be?"

"Who knew about this mission?"

"What?"

"Who knew other than you, M and Mallory?"

"I don't know why?"

"Because I believe that there really is a mole and it isn't a computer program. Look Your

People were captured with very little effort on Sergei's part, which means that he knew where they were. The only reason my team wasn't discovered is because you didn't go thru the usual channels..."
"Right...I didn't use my work phone, I used a burner phone to contact you"

"Exactly, so no one knew about us...Which means that somewhere you have a leak"

"Jack...I need you to do me a favor. I need you to stay here with M. Don't let her out of your sight." Said James as he got up and grabbed his coat and headed toward the door

"Why..Where are you going?"

"To ask the one person who might just be able to answer all of our questions" replied James

"Well what do I tell her if she decides to come down here?"

"Tell her to stay put. I mean it Jack, keep an eye on her she's a slippery one and she knows just about every way from Tuesday to ditch a body guard so stay on your toes"

"You're not going to do anything stupid are you?"

"No, I'm just going to rattle a few chains" he replied as he disappeared out the door

Jack took his drink, sat at the foot of the stairs, and waited. Eventually M would emerge from the bedroom and he was going to be damn sure she didn't get past him, although to be honest he was really hoping that she would stay up there until James returned, as he wasn't really looking forward to explaining his absence.

James headed straight for Whitehall, bypassing nearly every security guard and checkpoint until he stood outside Mallory's office.

"Good Afternoon 007" said Mallory's secretary as she looked up from her computer

"Good Afternoon. I don't suppose he's in is he?"

"As a matter of fact he is. Did you have an appointment?"

"No, but this is a matter of great importance and I was hoping I could have a minute if at all possible" said James in a rather fake polite tone

"Of course, let me see if he is available" she replied as she got up and disappeared into the office

James waited patiently as she returned with Mallory

"007, how can I be of service?" he asked as he motioned for James to enter the office, closing the door behind them "I've just been reading the preliminary reports from the mission. How is M? It looks as though she's been through quite an ordeal"

James remained silent as he handed him a slip of paper, which Mallory read before looking up with a look of total disbelief

"You can't be serious?" he said with a grim expression

"Sir, I think that under the circumstances..."

"Yes. Quite right" replied Mallory as he grabbed his coat. Follow me

James did as he was told and followed Mallory out of the office.

"I will be out of the office for a few hours. Please reschedule my remaining appointments for a later date" he said dryly as the two of them headed off down the hall.

Mallory's secretary gave them both a rather puzzled look as she watched them disappear before she picked up the phone and began dialing.

James hailed a taxi while Mallory fiddled with his phone until it was finally switched off and then handed it to the guard at the front gate.

"Please have this taken to Q branch. It appears to be malfunctioning. Ask them to give it a once over."

"Yes Sir" replied the guard as James and Mallory got into the waiting Cab and headed out.

Jack sat at the bottom of the stairs for what seemed like an eternity, when in fact it was only about an hour, before he heard a noise and turned to see M glaring down at him from the top of the stairs. He stood and watched her descend the stairs until she finally reached to bottom before he tried to speak to her again

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly as she looked at him with almost no emotion

"Aside from the fact that I shot and killed an innocent man, I'm just fine" she snapped as she headed toward the sitting room

Jack quickly turned on his heel and followed her catching her arm as she was about to pour a drink.

"Hey...He wasn't all that innocent" replied Jack as he turned her so that she was facing him "He may have been suffering from a disease that turns your brain to mush, but that doesn't excuse him for what he did, so don't go blaming yourself" he said quietly

M stared vacantly at the floor as she listened to Jack.

"You don't know what he was up to and you did what you had to in order to stay alive."

"Where is James?" she asked, abruptly changing the subject

"He stepped out for a little while"

"Out?"

"He had an idea and went to follow up on it" replied Jack "Don't worry, he'll be back soon"

TO BE CONTINUED...