AN: For James and Saye0036 who give me the encouragement and motivation to continue. Thank you my dears.


Chapter 23

...

Ross parked the car outside the safe house, much to M's relief. Moneypenny had refused to speak with her, causing the atmosphere to become tense between them. M knew Moneypenny needed someone to blame, and she was the nearest target. If she hadn't insisted on Campbell going home to rest, then this full situation could have been avoided, and they would be continuing their lives as normal.

This was just another cock-up she could add to her ever growing list. Maybe it was time to call it a day and pack it all in. She was due her retirement. Perhaps it was time to let someone else take the reins and deal with the job. God knows she had been doing It for long enough.

"Ma'am, are you ready?"

M looked to the sound of the voice to see Ross holding the car door open for her. She looked over to the space beside her not even realising that Moneypenny had already left.

Getting out of the car, she looked at the safe house in front of her and started to head inside, leaving Ross to get their bags. Upon entering she walked down the hallway and into the first room to her left. She saw Moneypenny and Tanner in an embrace and couldn't stop the wave of sadness that suddenly overwhelmed her. A small part of her wished that James was here with her offering some comfort like he had done earlier at headquarters before she had ordered him to go to France.

Perhaps she should have stuck with her original idea and have James come to the safe house with them. She could only do so much in keeping them all safe, and who knew what Campbell had in store for them. As she looked back over to the couple, she noticed they were talking quietly with each other. No doubt Moneypenny telling him about the roses and the note. M saw Tanner's demeanour change from relief to anger and possible fear at what Campbell had done and what he may be about to do. It was a similar reaction she had seen in James, when she had told him about helping Q after the explosion or when he had seen her photo in Ellis' journal. He would do anything to ensure she remained safe, and it seemed Tanner was going to ensure he could do the same for Moneypenny.

"He cares for her, just the same as James cares for you."

M jumped slightly and turned to see Q staring at her with a knowing smile on his face.

"You only need to let James in, M."

She looked back over at Moneypenny and Tanner watching as they left the room. "That's easier said than done, Q."

"Is it? Because the way I look at it, you have already let him be apart of your life over the years without even realising it."

M turned back to Q, her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Let's go have a pot of tea, then we can chat... away from prying eyes." Q looked over M's shoulder causing her to turn to where he was looking to see Ross staring over at them.

"All right." She agreed her voice wary of what Q had to tell her that he hadn't already done at headquarters.

"I'm only doing this because I care, M. I would usually step aside and stay out of these relationship problems."

"Then why aren't you?" M turned back to look a him.

"I only want to see you happy. I've known you since you took over the position as Head of SIS. This job hasn't been exactly easy on you over the years…"

She gave a hollow laugh. "You think?"

He ignored her outburst and continued with what he had to say. "But it's time you gave yourself some happiness, M. You've put the job first for long enough, it's time to put yourself first for a change. Now, I think for this discussion to continue we need that tea, unless there is something stronger." Q mumbled to himself as he made his way to where M assumed was the kitchen.

Giving a sigh she followed after him, wondering what he had left to say, that he hadn't told her already.

/*\*/*\

Tanner led Moneypenny into one of the bedrooms and closed the door behind him before turning to look closely at Eve who has sat herself on the four poster double bed. She seemed withdrawn and wondered what else had happened since she had left headquarters. When she had walked into the safe house, Tanner saw the anger on her face which immediately disappeared when she had seen him. There was more going on than what she had told him.

"You may as well sit down, Bill."

"I will once you tell me the full story of what happened. This isn't just down to Campbell's threat. There is something else that is bothering you. So, either you tell me or I'll go and ask M. Which is it? "

Moneypenny buried her head in her hands in frustration that all of this was getting to her. She recalled her words she had said to M in the car when they left her apartment and felt ashamed that she more or less told the older woman that everything was her fault. Then she had left her in the car, when she saw herself that M was probably thinking everything over, and was probably blaming herself more than what she already was before she had said anything. Everything was a mess, and she knew she needed to apologise to M. That was if the older woman would even accept her apology for her outburst.

"Eve…"

She heard Bill's soft voice filter through her thoughts, feeling the bed dip beside her and an arm wrap itself around her shoulder in comfort.

"Everything is a mess and M probably hates me." She looked at him, trying to prevent the tears she could feel in her eyes.

"Why would M hate you?"

"After we left my apartment, I more or less blamed her for everything that was happening. I told her if anything happened to you... I would hold her accountable."

"You what?"

"It just came out. I didn't even stop to think about what I was saying. By the time, I did, it was already too late. The damage was done."

"M, probably understands Eve, and won't hold it against you." He tried to reassure her.

"I hurt her, Bill. I could see it on her face. She tried to offer me some comfort and I practically shoved it off and threw it back in her face."

"M, is strong, Eve. She has had worse thrown at her over the years…"

"Yes, but not by me! I'm no better than the rest of them." She shrugged off Tanner's arm from her shoulder and stood up.

"Campbell is trying to get into your head, Eve. This is exactly what he wants. Playing these mind games, trying to put us against each other, and you're letting him!"

"The things he said, Bill…"

"I know, but I won't let him lay a finger on you. You need to trust M, Eve she knows what she is doing. She needs all of us on her side, since Bond is away on his mission to France…" He trailed off, narrowing his eyes as Eve started to fidget.

"About that…"

"What have you gone and done, Eve?"

"If I tell you it stays between us, Bill. I mean it. M can't know… not yet anyway."

Tanner inwardly counted to ten, trying not to let his frustration show. "All right." He agreed. "Now, tell me what you've done."

Eve wrung her hands in nervousness wondering how Tanner would take this piece of information once she told him.

"I may have sent 005 in James' place, so he could stay and protect us from the outside should Campbell decide to attack." She quickly told him.

Tanner looked at her in disbelief. "So, let me get this straight, you went against M's orders and sent another double-0 agent in Bond's place without authorising it with your boss?"

"Yes, that's about the just of it." Eve told him sheepishly. "But I did it for James and M's benefit more than anything. He needs to know M is safe and the only way for him to know that was for him to be in the same country." Eve informed him defending her actions.

"I told him to watch the house at a safe distance and that he is not to inform or contact M. She can't know he is in the same country."

"And I suppose that makes it all right does it? You may have just ruined Bond's chance with M. If she finds out, she will place the blame with Bond, thinking he is the one who defied her orders! Did you ever think of that?"

"It won't! Once Campbell is captured I'll tell M it was my idea and James just went along with it because I told him to."

"And when M decides to contact Bond and 002 in France only to find out he isn't even there. How do you think she will take the news?"

"I'm sure 005 will ensure that it's 002 doing the talking and that James is occupied somewhere else…"

"Yes, because that won't sound suspicious giving Bond's reputation!"

Eve felt her own anger rise, "Give the man some bloody credit. It's part of his job and M knows he wouldn't sleep with any other woman unless the occasion calls for it! The first time, I walked in on Bond giving M a massage on her office couch, then the second time it looked like they were about to kiss!"

"They what?" Tanner asked Eve surprised with this new piece of information.

Eve gave a nod smiling. "When I was getting James' flight tickets and mission dossier ready, I wasn't thinking and walked into her office without knocking. It was only when I called out to her that M tried to create some distance between them. She looked slightly annoyed that I had interrupted them again."

"I'm surprised M would even let him to be honest, especially in her office."

"I know, but it means that M won't think the worst about what is keeping James occupied."

Tanner thought over what Eve had told him, and couldn't help but agree she was right to some extent, but that didn't mean M would let Eve off lightly for disobeying orders and going behind her back.

"Fine, but once all of this is out in the open. I hope you will be able to handle the consequences, Eve."

"I'll worry about it when the time comes, but first I need to apologise to her for my behaviour in the car earlier."

"Yes, you do." Tanner told her softly.

"Do you think she will accept my apology?"

"Yes. M isn't on for holding a grudge. Except maybe if you're the minister, then all cards are off the table." Tanner tried to humour her, with little effect. "But I have no doubt she has already forgiven you. She is probably blaming herself for your outburst more than anything."

Moneypenny knew that would likely be the case. It made her feel even more guilty about her actions.

"I'll go and see her. The sooner I get this over with the better we'll both feel."

"I think that might be a good idea. Do you want me to come with you?"

Moneypenny shook her head, "No. This is something I need to do myself." She saw Bill give her an encouraging smile which gave her some comfort and strength to complete her task.

Taking a deep breath, she left the room and started to search for the older woman, hoping that Bill was right and that M would be willing to forgive her. She wanted her relationship with M to be the way it was before this mess. Moneypenny just hoped she hadn't ruined the somewhat working friendship that she and M shared. She would never be able to forgive herself if that were the case, and James would probably have a few chosen words with her as well on her behaviour.

Looking around the living room, she saw no sign of M causing her to frown slightly.

"She was talking with Q. I think they headed in the direction towards the kitchen." Ross informed her from his position at the door. "Straight ahead to your left."

Moneypenny gave him a look of gratitude and headed to where Ross had told her. Upon approaching the room in question she could hear Q and M talking in hushed voices. Quietly walking towards the doorway. She stopped in her tracks and tried to listen in on what they were discussing, and what she heard caused her eyes to widen in shock. She had no idea that this was how M felt, she had always managed to hide it, and from Q's reply it seemed she had years of practice.

Moneypenny didn't know what to make of M and Q's little discussion, but she was determined to at least help in any way she could, even though she already knew, M would refuse.