The flight home was long and tiresome for both M and James. Every time M seemed to drift off to sleep, she would be jolted awake by turbulence or she would start to replay the events of the last few days, and James kept fidgeting in the seat next to her as he desperately tried to find a comfortable position.

Once they had arrived back in London, they were immediately taken to the medical department of MI6 where they were both checked over thoroughly. James' diagnosis of Chicken Pox was confirmed and he was started on medication and given ointment for the spots to control the itching and released, M on the other hand was found to still be suffering from dehydration and exhaustion along with a bit of post traumatic stress which was causing her blood pressure to soar to unusually high levels. Against doctor's orders, she checked herself out of medical, stating that all she really needed was to go home and rest, and no one going to argue with the head of MI6.

"I really think you should have stayed and at least let them monitor you blood pressure over night" said James flatly as they headed toward M's flat

"I think I know my own body well enough to know that all I need is some peace and quiet!" she snapped

"Well you will at least take a few days off right?"

"I'll rest tomorrow and then I have a debriefing with Mallory and then at some point I need to get back to my office. God only knows what shape it's in"

"Hey" he said putting his arm around her "You've been through a lot and you've earned a bit of time off... "He said in a serious tone

"I'm fine!" She retorted in a stern tone

James was all too familiar with that tone and thought it best to let the subject drop for the time being. When they arrived at the flat, M made her way up the front steps, unlocked the door and headed straight for the liquor cabinet, pouring herself a large scotch and collapsing on the sofa while James carried in the bags, depositing them in the hall and then joining her.

"Are you hungry?" he asked as he pulled her to him

"No" she replied quietly

"Can I get you anything?"

"No" she replied as she pulled away from him and downed her drink "I think I'll go and have a bath" she said as she rose and headed toward the stairs

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked with a hint of concern in his voice

"Do stop hovering, I said I'm fine" she snapped as she turned on her heals and headed upstairs

"She's doing it again" he thought to himself as he watched her leave the room. James waited until he heard the door shut before pulling out his phone and calling Bill Tanner.

"007, glad you made it back in one piece. How is M?"

"That's the reason I'm calling. I need you to do me a favor, I need you to find me the number for her children, Paul and Joanna" he said quietly, just in case she was listening

"I suppose, but why?"

"Because she seems to be in one of those black and white moods, you know, the one where I say black and she says white, anyway I think it would do her good to see them."

"I'll try. What do you want me to tell them?"

"Tell them as much as you can without divulging any state secrets. It's time they know the truth about their mother and what she's been through"

"You do realize that if she finds out, she'll kill you with her own bare hands"

"That's a risk I'm willing to take at this point, can you do it?"

"It may take some time, but I'll give it a shot, just don't get your hopes up"

"Good, thanks. Oh by the way how is Eve?"

"She's a little rough around the edges, but other than that she's fine"

"Glad to hear it. Tell her we said hello and call me when you have an answer on the other"

James sat on the sofa trying to decide if he should go up and check on M or just let her be. After about an hour, he finally decided to check on her, as she had not made a sound since going for her bath. When he opened the bedroom door, he found M tossing and turning on her bed trying to find a comfortable position.

"M...can I get you anything?" he asked quietly

"I've already told you that I'm fine" she said as she rolled away from him

"Would you like me to join you?"

"No. I think it would be best if you slept in the guest room. I'll never get any rest with you tossing and turning all night" she replied

"M" he said softly as he put his hand on her shoulder "Look at me"

M rolled over onto her back and stared up at him with a blank look

"What's going on? Why are you pushing me away?"

"I'm not, I just need to be alone"

"Alright, if that's what you want, but I'll just be in the other room if you need me" he said as he headed toward the door.

James waited about a half an hour before he poked his head back in the room to check on her. M seemed to finally be asleep so he grabbed a pillow and a blanked and proceeded to lie on the floor next to her bed. He could tell by her breathing that she wasn't having a very peaceful sleep, but what happened next concerned him even more. M began thrashing about the bed, mumbling loudly until she let out a scream that immediately sent shivers down James' back. James got up and sat on the edge of the bed, attempting to catch her flailing arms when she accidentally hit him square in the jaw, sending him flying off the bed, crashing into the chest of drawers. He stood up, rubbing his sore jaw, and started toward the bed again only to find M staring back at him with a terrified look on her face, and tears streaming down her cheeks.

"M...It's ok, it's me... James" he said calmly as he sat beside her

Her mouth was moving, but no words were coming out until she finally managed to say, "I'm sorry" in a most pathetic tone

"Sorry for what?"

"Sorry I disturbed you"

"You didn't disturb me, I was lying here beside you in case you needed me" he replied with a puzzled look "I'm not you late husband, I told you I wouldn't leave you and I meant it"

M stared at him for quite a while before she eventually began to speak

"I keep seeing his face and hearing his voice" she said softly "I dreamt that he made me shoot you"

"Shhhh...It's alright" he said as he gathered her in his arms and began rocking her "He can't hurt you anymore"

"You know this is the third time you have had to rescue me and the third time I nearly got you killed" she mumbled as she held on to him

"Not to put too fine a point on it, but almost every order you give nearly get's me killed"

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"No, it's just a fact. Moreover, if you think for one second that pushing me away is going to keep me safe then you are sadly mistaken. It's the nature of this business, I just make it a habit of beating the odds and coming back alive, and now I have something worth coming home to so the odds are now in my favor" he said with a smile

"You shouldn't be sleeping on the drafty floor in your condition" she said rather matter of fact

"Good point...slide over" he said as he began tugging at the blankets

"What do you mean slide over? Why don't you just get in on the other side, this is my side!"

"Let me guess, you have always slept on this side and he slept on that side"

"Well...Yes" she said

"Then think of this as a new adventure" he replied as he gently pushed her over

"But THAT is MY side" she insisted "I won't be able to sleep over here"

"Would you just give it a try?" he said with a deep sigh

"Fine, but I'm telling you it's not going to work" she said with a pout

As they both settled down, both stared at the ceiling for a few minutes before James finally propped himself up on one elbow

"Ok...you win" he said as he climbed over her, kissing her on the way and settled down on the other side of the bed.

"Told you so" she smirked as she cuddled up beside him and drifted off to sleep.

TO BE CONTINUED...