AN: Thank you to Saye0036 for helping me with this chapter. I really appreciate it. :)
Chapter 22
...
Moneypenny watched as Ross left the room, while M looked for anything to use as a weapon, hoping it wouldn't have to come to anything.
"Tanner has an open razor in the bathroom cabinet."
"Go and get it. We're taking no chances." M tried to remain calm.
"How do we know it's Campbell. He doesn't know where…"
"He does. He was at Tanner's house. He used Ellis' codes to gain access to our personnel files. With everything that's happened, I forgot to disable them. Now, would you go and do what I asked?"
M watched as Moneypenny rushed to the bathroom to get the razor. She was starting to regret sending Bond to France.
/*\*/*\
Ross looked out the peephole on the door, noticing a boy who couldn't be more than thirteen standing with a package in his hand. Holstering his gun, he opened the door.
"Can I help you?"
"I was told to deliver this to a Miss Moneypenny." The boy handed over the long white package.
"Did he say who it was from?"
"No, only that it was someone she would be hearing from soon."
Ross looked at the parcel in his hands.
"What did this person look like?" Ross looked up noticing the boy had gone.
Looking down the corridor he saw the boy run out of sight and swore silently to himself. Closing the door behind him he walked back to the bedroom, to see M and Moneypenny standing in the middle of the room, with Moneypenny holding an open razor.
"Who was it?" Moneypenny asked looking at the box warily.
"A young boy, told to deliver this to you." Ross indicated to the box before placing it on the dresser.
"Did he say who it was from?"
"Someone who we would be hearing from soon Ma'am. I'm assuming it's from Campbell."
M watched as Moneypenny approached the box and put a hand on her arm to stop her.
"Nobody is touching that until a team checks it over. Ross call it in. Get a team over here immediately."
"Ma'am."
M watched him go and looked to the box. She was apprehensive of what it contained. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.
"Well, if we are going to be stuck here for a while yet, I'm going to make some tea. Do you want anything Ma'am?" Moneypenny asked the older woman.
"I think I need something stronger, but I guess tea will have to suffice for now."
Moneypenny gave a nod, "I won't be long."
She left the room and made her way to the kitchen, hearing Ross on the phone to headquarters. Once she was alone, she took out her phone and sent a quick text.
Hearing footsteps behind her she slipped the phone back into her pocket and turned to see M in the doorway.
"You had best make Ross one as well."
"Right, of course." She said absent mindlessly, feeling the phone vibrate in her pocket.
Ignoring it; she took three mugs from the overhead cupboard and turned on the kettle.
"He is going to use my relationship with Tanner against me; isn't he?
"Most likely. If that is the case, both of you can't do anything foolish. I don't want to have to go through the process of appointing a new Chief of Staff or secretary. We have seen enough death this week."
She stood next to Moneypenny and placed three teabags in each of the mugs.
"Do you think we will get through this?"
"We always do. Men like Campbell are driven by revenge. He'll eventually slip up and God help him when I get my hands on the bastard."
'Not if James gets his hands on him first.' Moneypenny thought to herself as her phone continued to vibrate in her pocket.
/*\*/*\
James had just finished packing the last of supplies he would need when his mobile buzzed on the table. Seeing it was from Moneypenny he quickly opened it.
'Just received a mysterious parcel. Think it's from Campbell. Team is on their way. Get to the safe house.'
Not bothering to reply he called her number waiting for her to pick up. Hearing her voicemail he hung up and tried again. After the fifth try, he gave up and sent her a text asking where she was.
He assumed they were at either Moneypenny's or M's home, he could drive to both, but that would be a waste of time. Conflicted, he weighed up his options. He could ignore Moneypenny's order and go to her and M, least that way he knew they were safe or go to the safe house. Christ he wasn't even supposed to be in this country.
Grabbing his bag he left his house and made his way to his car, he would put his trust in Ross to keep them safe. It made him wonder how he found out where they lived, unless Campbell saw the walls in Ellis' room, which was more than likely. He probably knew M's address, but Moneypenny had nothing to do with this until a few hours ago. He was missing something, and until Moneypenny answered that damn phone of hers he was sitting with a blind eye.
He had just tossed his bag in the boot when his phone started to vibrate. Reading the text, he lets out a curse. At least he now knew how Campbell got her address. Starting the engine he headed to the safe house, there was nothing he could do at Moneypenny's. The team from Six would be able to handle it and no doubt, Eve would tell him the full details later.
/*\*/*\
The kettle had just finished boiling as Ross walked in the kitchen.
"A Team should be here in fifteen minutes Ma'am."
"That's something at least." M mumbled watching as Moneypenny poured hot water in to each of the mugs.
"You had best inform Tanner on what's happening Eve. The man will no doubt be worrying." M told her as she took out the teabags from each of the three mugs.
"I think he will worry more when I tell him Ma'am."
"There is that." M sighed.
"Which is why I think I'll wait and tell him face to face." Eve told her while pouring some milk in each of the cups.
"It's entirely your choice. But at least think about it." M picked up one of the mugs and handed it to Ross.
"I will." She took a sip from her own mug knowing her minds was already made up on the matter.
"I'm clearly missing something here." Ross looked from each of the women.
"You could say that." M tried not to smile at seeing the curious look on his face.
He took a drink of his tea, when his eyes widened realisation sinking in.
"You and Tanner?" He waited for confirmation from Moneypenny.
"Yes, no need to seem so surprised."
"I'm not, well I mean I am, but in a good way. He used to talk about you all the time."
"When was this?" M asked him, slightly put out he had never said anything to her, even though she had seen the way they acted around each other.
"When you were having your meetings with the Minister. We would talk and Moneypenny's name came up a few times."
"I see." M looked at the woman in question, seeing her blushing slightly.
"Along with yours and Bond's."
"What?"
"Forget I said anything Ma'am." He took another drink of tea hoping she wouldn't press further on the issue.
"No, if you and Tanner have been discussing me and one of my agents behind my back. I want to know about it."
Moneypenny gave Ross a sympathetic look, knowing M had been bombarded with the issue between her and Bond for the past few days.
"It was nothing bad Ma'am, just that… we, I mean myself and Tanner have noticed little things between the both of you. That's all."
"What things?" She could feel herself become defensive; she wondered how many others at SIS were gossiping about them behind her back.
"It's mostly little things. The amount of time the both of you would spend with each other during debriefings. Your debriefings with Bond lasted longer than any other agents…"
"Only because he is a loose canon." The excuse sounded flat even to her own ears.
"Then there are the looks between the both of you. I don't know if you've even noticed Ma'am, but when you're in the room Bond doesn't look anywhere else. His flirting with the staff at SIS is practically non-existent now unless he needs something for his own gain."
"It's true Ma'am." Moneypenny cut in. "He hardly gives me the time of day now in his eagerness to see you. Not that I'm complaining, it's actually quite amusing."
"Yes, thank you for that input Moneypenny. I see nothing amusing about the matter."
"The fact that you have made the great James Bond into a love sick puppy every time he sees you, it is very amusing."
Ross sniggered behind his mug at Moneypenny's words, but faded when M narrowed her eyes at him clearly unimpressed.
"Unprofessional more like."
"Says the one who…"
"Say one more word Moneypenny and I won't be responsible for my actions!" M snapped at her.
"Ma'am."
Once M had looked away she got Ross' eye and mouthed the word later, causing him to inwardly smile.
"Now, if you have both finished discussing my personal life can we turn back our attention to the problem at hand?" She placed down her mug on the counter.
"Of course Ma'am." Ross agreed not wanting to anger more than necessary.
The next ten minutes passed in silence, each of them lost in their thoughts only to be broken by Moneypenny's door once again being knocked.
"That might be the team." Ross put down his mug on the cabinet and made his way to the front door. M followed after him, to see the team from Six make their way into the living room.
"Package is in the bedroom. First door on your left."
The three men gave her a nod in acknowledgement before heading in the direction M had told them. They waited for another twenty minutes before they were told it was clear.
M and Moneypenny walked into the room noticing the box was now open. Looking inside, they saw the box filled with a dozen black roses.
"Did you find anything else?" M asked them tearing her eyes away from the box.
"There was a note addressed to Moneypenny, we need to test it for prints, but if this person wants to remain hidden it's doubtful we will find anything."
"Perhaps, or Perhaps not. If they are any prints I want a comparison with any found at Tanner's house."
"Ma'am."
"What does the note say?" Moneypenny asked fearing the answer.
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"If Campbell is making threats I want to know about it."
The agent looked to M who gave a nod of her head.
"Very well. It reads."
'Darling Eve,
My, my you have been quite busy. Imagine my surprise when I went to Tanner's house only to discover you were an item. I do wonder if our dear M knows what is going on between her secretary and her Chief of Staff.
As you now realise, I know exactly where to find you in your off hours. There is no way you can hide from me. Eventually I will find you unprotected and in those moments you can expect drama and pain to follow.
It will go easier if you stand aside and let me get to the one I want. That is not to say I don't find you disarmingly attractive and I would enjoy spending time with you alone. But then good old Tanner is in the way.
Perhaps I will have to do something about that?'
M looked at Eve seeing her face whiten with each word the agent read.
"I think, that's enough. Ross, grab Eve's bag. We're going."
"Ma'am."
She looked to the agent who still had a hold of the note. "Keep me updated on what you find."
"Of course Ma'am."
M guided Eve from the room, not wanting her to stay there any longer than necessary. She knew Campbell was playing mind games with them, but that didn't mean she would be taking his words lightly she knew a threat when she heard one.
The sky outside was darkening as they made their way towards the car. Ross put Eve's bag in the boot as the two women got in the back. M waited for Moneypenny to say something, the silence unnerving her a little, only imagining what must be going through the young woman's mind.
Reaching out, M took one of Eve's hands in her own, gently squeezing hoping to give her some reassurance that everything would be okay.
"Nothing will happen to Tanner, Eve. He will be monitored around the clock, along with you."
Eve looked at M narrowing her eyes. "I hope you're right Ma'am, because if he gets hurt in anyway, I'll be holding you accountable." She removed her hand from M's and turned to look out the window.
M looked away from her, knowing that Eve was lashing out from frustration and anger at how out of control the situation had become. There was a truth behind Eve's words; it would be her fault if anything happened to either one of them. The sound of Ross starting the car gave her a foreboding feeling that she may already be leading them to the slaughter. She just hoped for all their sakes, that the feeling was wrong.
