Chapter 24

...

Safe house - few minutes prior

Q had M sit on one of the seats around the table in the middle of the kitchen, while he went over to the kettle to make some tea for them both.

"You should be resting, Q." M reprimanded him.

"Let someone look after you for a change. Besides, I'm only making tea. It won't exactly kill me," he muttered switching on the kettle, before turning to look back at her.

She inwardly sighed, "very well."

Q gave a smug smile, as he continued to make the beverages feeling M's eyes watching his every move. He doubted she had anyone take care of her for quite sometime, which would explain her reluctance to accept his offer. Though he expected there to be another reason. He didn't miss the tension between her and Moneypenny when they had entered the house. It made him wonder what had happened in the short amount of time since he had left headquarters.

"Why don't you just ask me what's on your mind, Q?"

The kettle clicked once it had finished boiling and Q pretended he didn't hear her question as he poured the boiled water into each of the mugs.

"Well, are you going to tell me, or just ignore me?"

He picked up the two mugs, walked over to the table and placed a mug of tea in front of her, before taking his own seat.

"What's going on between you and Moneypenny, M?"

M stared at her mug of tea suddenly finding the brown water fascinating. "Let's just say it's one more cock-up I can add to my ever growing list."

"What happened?"

"While we were at Eve's, she received a parcel from an unknown source. I had Ross call a team to check the contents. It turns out that Campbell decided to send Eve a dozen black roses along with a letter threatening Tanner's life as well as her own."

Q didn't know what to make of the recent turn of events. There was no denying Campbell was dedicated to making sure he got his revenge. It seemed the doctor was trying to turn themselves against each other to make his job that much easier of picking them off one by one.

"How does he know where Eve stays?"

"It seems that Campbell isn't short of surprises, Q. I received a call from HQ informing me that there was a break in at Tanner's home address. He managed to gain access to Moneypenny's personal file by using Ellis' codes." M looked over at Q. "With everything that happened, I forgot to disable them."

"This wasn't your fault M. Even if you had disabled Ellis' codes, Campbell could have found another means of gaining access to Moneypenny's file."

"It was an error on my part, Q. My actions caused confidential information on an employee to land in the hands of a mad man hell bent on revenge because we killed his psychopathic cousin," M told him bitterly.

"So, yes. It was my fault Q. Even Eve agrees that I'm to blame for our recent predicament."

"You know she doesn't mean that, M. That young woman has nothing but respect and admiration for you. Give her time, she'll come around."

She gave a scoff at Q's optimism, "Would you forgive me if it was someone you cared about that Campbell threatened?"

Q took a drink of his tea having a nagging feeling that they may be here for a while. He had never seen M this defeated. Even if she was at her lowest point, she would never show the cracks in her stern façade, but now the cracks were visible for all to see and it unnerved him. He wasn't going to let Campbell bring a strong willed woman down to her breaking point.

"Yes, I would. Besides, he and his cousin have already threatened the life of someone I care about."

M didn't know how to reply to Q's declaration. They were close, and he had become a dear friend to her over the years and she guessed in a way she had always known he cared about her well-being, but this was the first time he had voiced it to her aloud.

"In all our years of working together, M. I've never seen you this defeated, not even after those meetings with the minister."

"Yes, but the difference is Q, the minister isn't the one threatening the lives of the people I care about."

"Except Bond." Q looked at her knowingly.

"Yes, but the man brings it on himself most of the time and then I'm the one left to clean up his damn mess."

Q frowned knowing 007 had a tendency to go off the rails most of the time; by disregarding orders, not keeping in contact with M on mission updates, not to mention the destruction he caused every where he went. He hadn't exactly made her job easy over the years. Their little drink sessions after work always found themselves discussing 007 and his inability to follow his or M's orders. The man was a bloody menace, but M always defended him as well as all the other Double-0's against the minister, even though half the time they didn't deserve it.

"Do you want to know what the minister had to say to me at our last meeting, Q?"

Q gave a nod wondering what that stupid excuse of a man had done now.

"He thinks it's time I retire. There have already been talks about who will be my replacement."

"Why didn't you say anything, M?"

"I can handle the minister, Q. But, after recent events, perhaps he is right for once. You know I had the minister in my office yesterday. He received a phone call with allegations made against me that I was having sexual relations with Bond. He all but accused me of not doing my job just because I put one agent above the lives of everyone in this country."

"Everyone with a brain knows that isn't true, M. The minister was never the smartest tool in the shed."

M gave a sad smile, "I know Q, but with those allegations and deaths caused by Ellis at headquarters and now this situation with Campbell, I can see myself being out of a job by the end of the month. This is just the type of evidence the minister needs to show that I'm unfit to run the department." M told him bitterly, "and the way I'm feeling at the moment, I would say he's right."

"No, he's not M. This isn't you. The M I know wouldn't give in or wallow in self-pity. The department needs you. You've done so much over the years, for both your agents and employees. They respect you."

"They've got a funny way of showing it," M muttered.

"Yes, I admit some of the Double-0's are…"

"A pain in the arse?" M suggested.

"I was going to say irresponsible, but that works as well."

Q reached out and placed his hand over M's, hoping to give her some comfort.

"Your predecessor put you in charge for a reason. If he didn't think you could handle the job, he would have given it to someone else. You're a role model for most of the female field agents and employees at headquarters. To see a woman in your position is rare, M. You're someone they look up to and hopefully be where you are one day."

"I wouldn't wish this job on any of them, Q," M said softly. "It isolates you. You have the life of every employee and agent on your hands day in and day out. You have to give orders that could end an agent's life just to make sure a mission is a success. Then it's me who has to inform their next of kin, to explain why their son, daughter, husband, wife won't be returning home. It's me that gets the accusations down the phone from their loved ones blaming me for their death."

Q looked at her in sadness, "You know it's their grief talking, M."

"Be that as It may, Q It doesn't make it any easier. It happened yesterday when I had to inform Thompson's wife that their new born baby would no longer have a father."

"Thompson knew the risks of the job, M."

"Yes, but I should have seen the threat from Ellis. If I had then all of this could have been avoided. I have to live with the consequences, Q."

"Ellis was responsible for his own actions. You played no part in it. You were in a hospital bed unconscious, because of that man. He tried to kill you, he nearly did, if it hadn't been for 007 and your clone. These events were out of your control, M. If the minister tries to get rid of you, do you honestly think that people at SIS will stand back and allow it to happen?"

"He's right, ma'am."

M looked towards the sound of the voice to see, Moneypenny standing in the doorway.

"Everything that has happened isn't your fault and I owe you an apology for my behaviour earlier."

"You only spoke the truth, Moneypenny."

Eve felt her guilt start to eat away at her heart at seeing no familiar spark in her blue eyes. She no longer looked like the powerful woman she had seen a few days prior. Now, she looked tired, weary and near breaking point.

"I'll leave the two of you to talk, M. I'll be with Tanner if you need me." He gave her hand a pat as he stood up and left the room.

"How much did you hear, Moneypenny?"

"Enough," she walked over to the table and sat down in Q"s recently vacated seat.

"So, what is it you wanted to speak to me about?"

"My behaviour…"

"Moneypenny…"

"Please, let me finish," she pleaded softly.

M merely nodded wondering what the younger woman had to say, that she hadn't already done.

"My behaviour in the car earlier was inexcusable. You were trying to offer me comfort and I practically threw it back in your face as if it meant nothing."

"You were frustrated and angry, Eve. I'm not going to lie, your words were a low blow, but I can't say I was surprised. It was only a matter of time before you would hold me accountable for this mess."

"I don't. None of this is your fault. I was angry and frustrated and you were the nearest target. I can only apologise, M, and hope you can forgive me, even though it's the last thing I deserve."

M studied the younger woman, whose head was now bowed, unable to look her in the eye. She knew deep down, Eve probably didn't mean to lash out at her in the car, but that didn't seem to lessen the blow.

"Apology accepted."

Eve looked up at her in disbelief. She didn't deserve her forgiveness, not after what she had done. She may not have betrayed M, but it felt like she had.

"However, I need you to promise me something in the future."

"Which is?"

"No matter how bad the situation gets, I need to know I can trust you to work with me, rather than against me. If we have any hopes of catching Campbell, we need to work together. These mind games that he's playing, are just another tool in the hopes to turn us against each other. It's exactly what he wants, and we can't let him win. If he does, none of us will be making it out of here alive."

"I promise, ma'am."

She felt another wave of guilt wash over her as she thought about her actions in regards to James. She had already broken her promise.

M gave a faint smile, "I'm glad that matter is cleared up. Did you manage to inform Tanner of the recent developments?"

"I have ma'am. He said a similar speech to me earlier."

"Well, it's good to know my wisdom seems to be rubbing off on people," M told her causing Moneypenny to chuckle.

"I have no doubt about it, ma'am. Q was right you know, people do respect and look up to you. Ross, Tanner, Smith, Davis and I are just a few."

"You didn't include, Bond in your verbal list. Why?" M asked seeing the wicked glint in Moneypenny's eyes.

"He fits into a category all on his own, ma'am."

"You can say that again," M muttered in amusement.

The sound of footsteps approaching caused M and Moneypenny towards the sound to see Ross standing in the doorway.

"What's the matter, Ross?"

"007 and 002 have arrived in France, ma'am and are awaiting further orders." Ross gave a sideways glance towards Moneypenny who shifted nervously in her seat.

"Tell them to remain where they are until I order otherwise."

"Ma'am." He replied.

"Oh and Ross. Once you've done that, I need you to take me back to headquarters. If Campbell does have men ready to take out the French Prime Minister, I want to be ready."

"Are you sure that's wise, ma'am?" Ross asked.

"I still have a job to do, Ross, and it wasn't a request, it was an order."

"Very well, ma'am."

M watched as Ross left the room, before turning to Moneypenny. "I need you, Q and Tanner to stay here with Smith and Davis. If anything happens, you contact me. Understood?"

"Of course, ma'am, but Tanner and Q won't like this plan."

"I know, but Campbell can't be everywhere at once."

"You're using yourself as bait?" Eve said in realisation.

M didn't answer, but rather stood up and followed after Ross. Eve watched her go, knowing nothing good could come from this plan.

Pulling out her mobile, she started to type a text message to James,

'M is heading back to headquarters. Make sure she's safe. Eve.'

Pressing send, she re-pocketed her mobile and followed after M.

/*\*/*\

Safe house - Western Side

James watched the safe house from a distance, wondering what was happening inside. He had seen Eve and M arrive with Ross twenty minutes prior, but he didn't have to be near to notice the tension between the two women. He wondered what had happened to cause the look of anger on Eve's face, and the defeated look on M's.

It wouldn't surprise him if it was linked to Campbell's threat. When Eve had informed him that Campbell had broken into Tanner's home and accessed Eve and M's files was unnerving. The man now knew every detail of their personal lives. It also meant that Campbell knew about Eve's relationship with Tanner. Their situation was getting worse instead of better. He had a feeling this was just the calm before the storm and it was only a matter of time before the storm found them.

Hearing his mobile vibrate against the top of the dashboard. He picked it and opened Eve's message. Quickly reading it he let out a curse.

"What the bloody hell are you thinking, M?"

Turning on the ignition, he saw M and Ross leave the safe house and back into the black BMW they had arrived in. Once the car was a safe distance in front of him, James started to follow after it.

As he kept his attention on the car in front, he failed to notice the black Ford Transit van parked in the shadows to his right containing two men one of whom was currently on his phone informing his boss of the latest development.

"What have you got for me, Ricco?"

"M has left the safe house, with one of her bodyguards."

"This may work to our advantage."

"There is something else you should know, boss and you aren't going to like it."

"And what's that, Ricco?"

"Bond isn't in France."

"Interesting, I thought she would have sent him to protect the French Prime Minister, but it seems I was wrong."

"Do we go after him and the woman, boss?"

"No. We'll let them come to us. I need you and your men to be ready. We strike tomorrow."

"Understood, boss."

"Our game is coming to an end Ricco, and we will be leaving no one alive."