Chapter 3
The team is back in office and Gibbs frowns after listening to Ducky's message on his phone. Abby suddenly moves into view.
"Gibbs….Gibbs…what is going on? I heard about the mysterious phone call and that Ducky is gone for the day…"
"Three days Abbs…he just left a message. He will be back in three days."
"I don't like this Gibbs there is something strange happening…things are not how they should be…Ducky would not miss a date without it being something bad. You don't think he is sick do you Gibbs?"
"No Abbs…Ducky will let us know if there is something really wrong. McGee anything come up on our dead Marine?"
"No…nothing. It looks like a robbery and his car was found and damaged…apparently it hit something. I am having it brought in so Abby can go over it with me."
Abby smiles. "I'll go get my jumpsuit and meet you in the garage Timothy."
"Meet you there soon Abby."
Ziva and Tony arrive with frowns on their faces.
"That was fun…and a complete waste of time."
"The CIA not helpful Tony…does that surprise you?"
"No…but you would think that they of all agencies would have the surrounding park and woods under surveillance."
Ziva walks forward and leans on the desk. "Tony is right. At Mossad headquarters there is intense severance within 5 kilometres."
Gibbs stands. "I am going to see Palmer, keep digging and find us something to go on."
"Will do boss…where is Tim? Shouldn't he be using his keyboard to find something?"
"McGee is with Abby and the stolen car. Get back to work DiNozzo and then go to his base…talk to friends…investigate."
"Ahhh, OK boss back to it. Working…this is us working."
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Bond grimaces as he climbs into Ducky's car. They drive to the place where M's meeting is taking place.
"Mr. Bond, how long have you been working with M?"
Bond looks at the man to gauge his trustworthiness. "Long enough."
"She seems a remarkable person…very charming…we had a lovely lunch at the café after I determined that none of your injuries were internal."
Bond blurted out. "She took you to lunch? Tell me Tanner made her take a guard?"
"Yes, he insisted. Why don't you tell me what is going on…not the mission if it is top-secret, but what is going on between you and M?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"You are very concerned in a very personal way for your boss. I do understand that she could be filling a maternal role in you life and you are protective because…"
"M! Maternal? You have not been around her when she's on fire yet have you?"
"I witnessed a concerned woman who patched you up herself and very well I might add. She was obviously very concerned for you in a motherly fashion…unless."
"Unless what doctor. You are very insightful for a forensic pathologist Ducky…and believe me I find great humour that she found an expat doctor that usually works on the dead."
"I also hold degrees in psychology and I am sensing more from you than an agent would usually broadcast but I know that you are on medication and in a great deal of pain."
"M is my boss and a highly annoying one at times but she supports me and defends me allowing me to get the job done. We have an understanding…a trust."
"Is that all you have?"
"What does that mean?"
"That…Mr. Bond you may have to discover on your own."
Ducky manoeuvres through the streets leaving the stubborn man to think on what he has said. Bond reminds him of a British Gibbs. The young man doesn't realize that his feelings for M are far from…"
M contained her obvious distress at his injuries and physically held herself back from contact…M understands the need for that control over herself and distances herself from her agents. The price is that she tramples down her feelings of empathy and comfort to maintain that control.
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M just nods in response to the constantly repeated questions. It's as if they are children and the only way they can learn is through constant repetition.
Tanner leans over to her and shows her a text from Q and one from Bond.
"What the hell is he doing up out of bed!"
The room goes silent for a moment as they stare at the two of them.
"I apologize. It is however, clear to me that upon my 4th retelling of what happened in Miami and the reason my agent was forced to blow up a truck to save an air-bus will not be understood by this panel. We do speak the same language but your questions have no direction other than to attempt to scold me and my agency for something that clearly saved lives."
M stands and Tanner does to. There are shocked remarks and scowls from the panel. The representatives from the CIA and FBI smile.
"Madame we do still have questions that we would like answered."
"I have been here 2 hours and heard nothing but lectures about foreign operatives on your soil and how wrong and shocking to you that we are also capable of hopping on a plane and coming here to your country. If you have more, new questions, I will return for a meeting tomorrow that you may email my assistant the details of. If not I will be at the banquet tomorrow evening for any last-minute questions before going home."
Tanner gathers his case and guides M out with a grin on his face. Tanner loves it when M puts men like that in their place.
"Who the hell do those prigs think I answer to? The President of the United States? Christ the only reason I'm here at all is because the PM ordered me. It has far more to do with making contacts at the banquet tomorrow evening than this….this organized hand slapping committee they want me to appear contrite for. The nerve of them…they expect a bloody apology! I could have a list of infractions from the CIA in Britain that would pile up to my waist."
"Bond is here M."
They enter the lobby with M sporting a look like thunder as she strides towards her wayward agent and his doctor accomplice.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? For christ sakes you're the reason I just sat through that counsel full of smug looking bastards and you…DOCTOR, I though the oath says do no harm not let someone who had been hit by a bloody car wander about and come to very place he should be an ocean away from. Tanner… have them bring the car around. I am going back to the hotel we will discuss this all there."
Bond could see she was in a fine mood after her meeting and smiles at the way M always comes alive when riled up.
"M… have them leave the car…we will go with the doctor who was good enough to drive me here. We need to discuss urgent safety issues so send the guards in the car and I am now your official bodyguard."
"Bond…I fail to see how you are upright at all let alone suddenly replacing two healthy guards…I'm safer on my own than with the lot of you."
Bond scowls and growls. "Remember Mitchell?"
M pauses and stares at Bond. "Yes…I remember. I'm not soon going to forget."
For a moment the men saw a flash of fear pass over her face to be replaces with her previously fearsome visage.
A man from the meeting rushes towards them and Bond intercepts him before he can come near M.
The man looks confused and peaks around Bond.
"Excuse me…"
Bond does not let him past and waves Tanner forward leaving M with Ducky.
"I am sorry for bringing him but he was determined to get to you for your safety and I can hardly argue against that."
"Dr. Mallard being manipulated by Bond is hardly the surprise but how is he even standing with the state of his body?"
"Where there is a will there is a way M. The lad is highly motivated when it comes to you."
M perks an eyebrow in question as the move to the exit together. "What are you saying doctor?"
"Ducky…call me Ducky. Bond is very concerned for you and has evolved a reciprocal relationship with you that for him is very…protective…you protect him as one of yours and he now feels that you are his responsibility also."
"That is absurd….he should just feel damn lucky that I don't fire him."
Bond and Tanner have now caught up to the older couple.
"What's that M…why fire me now. I haven't told why I'm here yet or is your new doctor friend here poisoning your mind against me for his own gain?"
Ducky turns to smile at Bond who grins back and nods at him. Bond is very astute and Ducky is obviously enamoured with M.
After their conversation on the ride over Bond has thought about his relationship with M and what Ducky wants him to find.
Ducky has now witnessed the aggressive masterful side of M and it is frighteningly different from how she acted with him earlier…even the distancing of formal tiles until he made a point of asking her to call him Ducky again.
It must have taken many years for her to cultivate that hard shell to insulate herself from what needs to be done and her personal self. The title that she hides behind…becoming M…he wonders what her real name is.
Ducky is glad he was able to spend time with and get a peek at M the woman not M the head of MI6.
Once they get to the suite and Bond inspects it with Tanner for listening devices they sit down. Ducky gets Bond some more drugs and water.
M begins as Tanner hands her a scotch and offers one to Ducky.
"Now…Out with it Bond."
"M are you sure…in front of outsiders? I am not entirely sure if it is above board to have a non MI6 doctor along for this journey. No offence Ducky but just because you sound like us does not mean that you are one of us."
"Ducky…you understand before me and these witnesses that you are bound by the official secrets act of Great Britain and your oath to serve in her Majesties forces is the reason that we will allow you to stay if you like."
Ducky nods in understanding.
"No offence taken Bond."
"Dr. Mallard's name is listed in a file that gets passed down to all M's giving numbers and identities of ex military patriots and their skill sets just in case something like this happens. I have a dentist listed in the area should you like me to arrange a filling while we're here. I will decide what is above-board and you should go get some sleep."
"I will…ma'am I will. First did you get the message from Q yesterday?"
"Eventually but not until just before you showed up broken…how you managed to make it to my room in time to collapse…I will never understand."
"The organization... that hired Mitchell…they have someone here…high up in the Marines. I intercepted him with guidance from Q and we had an altercation."
"He hit you with a bloody car…that is more than an altercation. Where did this happen and why?"
"He was in the car park messing with your car. I removed the device he had and returned it to him…he fought back and it got smashed. I know the face but we didn't get around to formal introductions. He is trying to kill you just like Mitchell."
Ducky is remaining silent observing their interaction and the details of the case. He sips a water and not the Scotch offered earlier and he hears his phone buzz. There is a text from Abby…the dear girl's worried about him.
Tanner hears a buzz and pulls out his tablet and shows M the schedule. "They want us back for more questions tomorrow and 10 am."
"Bond I do not want you showing your face in that room…I don't care if you are my newly appointed guardian if they catch wind that the agent that blew up part of the Miami airport is actually there we will never get out of this hell."
"I will wait outside the door and Tanner or you can text me as needed."
"What about the other guards?"
"Do you trust them anymore than you did Mitchell."
Bond, Tanner and M looked at each other.
Ducky spoke up. "I don't mean to pry but did this Mitchell character try to kill you my dear."
Bond bristled at his use of the term my dear but it could be their similarities in age that allow such pleasantries.
M gives Ducky a weary smile. "He was my bodyguard for more than 7 years and he tried to shoot me."
Ducky is shocked…7 years.
M adds. "That is all I will be saying on the subject."
Bond frowns and he and Tanner look at each other.
Tanner nods. "Well, we only have to make it two days and then we will be off home."
Ducky looks at the agents and stands up.
"I know that you wanted me here for the duration but I think I should go. There is an investigation that apparently needs my attention. I would like to offer that you come see me tomorrow and meet with the NCIS team as the man who assaulted Mr. Bond here was a Marine or appeared to be one, maybe we can work together."
The three paused and frowned.
"Ducky it is not bad idea but I cannot be seen going into a branch such as yours. An office full of people I would be too on display… I'm sure you understand."
"You just attended a conference with at least 20 people."
Tanner speaks. "They were cleared by us before and the building was full of many other things going on so as not to make our meeting a focal point of observation."
M adds. "At the banquet only those with the proper clearance will know who I am."
"I could arrange for the building to be ready for your arrival with the use of a fire drill and McGee can take care of surveillance. Think about it and call me on the lovely phone you gave me."
"I will Ducky, and may I ask you another favour?"
"Of course."
"I was wondering if you still have a dress uniform?"
Ducky smiles. "Of course, Kilt and all my dear."
"Would you do me the favour of accompanying me to the banquet tomorrow?"
"I would be delighted to."
M stands and walks him to the door smiling. "This trip will brighten up considerably with your company tomorrow doctor."
Ducky was beaming with happiness. "Until tomorrow my dear and please have Bond rest as much as possible."
"I will and thank you for assisting us in our time of need."
Ducky looks into her eyes and pulls her hand to his mouth to kiss. "It has been my pleasure lovely lady."
Ducky leaves and M turns around to see Bond and Tanner staring at her. Bond has a scowl on his face and his arms crossed in front of him. Tanner is smirking as he looks at her.
"What? Is there a problem?"
Tanner shakes his head. "No ma'am…no problem at all."
Bond rolls his eyes at Tanner and looks back at M.
"I can't believe you just asked a man you barely know for a date!"
"Really? This from the man who says 8 words to a woman and then smashes his latest earpiece because you're busy taking her up against a wall in the gents."
Tanner bursts out laughing but schools his features when he sees the expression on M's face.
"M…that is hardly the same thing I am on a mission and you…you are."
"What…what am I Bond…too old to have a date…not attractive enough to ask a man out or is it that I had the audacity to ask a man out for the evening at all?"
"No….you're defiantly audacious enough and not too old at all…it's just…you're M."
Tanner sits back down really wanting to hear where this goes. He understands where Bond is coming from. Tanner though it was odd to see her do that also but Nigel has been dead for a while now.
"I am M, but I am a person also…or do you not recognize me as a woman at all Bond?"
"It's definitely not that M…I have a hard time not thinking of you…nevermind…the drugs are making my mouth get me into trouble. Where do I sleep…back in that room?"
Tanner stands suddenly. "I will give you my room M and will bunk in with Bond."
"I was in your bed? Well, well M this is a fantasy come true."
"Bond…give it a rest. I will stay in my room and Bond since you are feeling well enough to be my bodyguard and tell me how to live my life you can take the bloody sofa."
M walks into her room and wheels out Bond's bag out of her room.
Tanner laughs. "You really stepped in it this time Bond."
"You were thinking the same bloody things Tanner I could see it in your eyes."
"Yes, but I have an internal sensor that manages what I say to her…yours is deluded by the drugs. Ducky is a fine man and a doctor…they are perfect for each other. Unless…what I detect is a note of jealousy in your voice?"
"Jealous…what…of him? Why would I be jealous?"
"Because Bond, if Ducky wasn't here you would be going to that banquet on her arm…that's why your jealous. M's distracted by someone else you should be happy not inciting her anger further by insulting her."
"I was not insulting her…it just doesn't seem right…she is…"
"What is she Bond? You're acting like a teen with a crush on the teacher…oh my god! My god...you do have it bad for M don't you?"
Bond looks at Tanning in shock and then shoots him his best glare.
Tanner retreats to his room before he provokes Bond any further.