Chapter 4

NCIS

Ducky drops by a restaurant and picks up some pizza before heading in to the office. The team is working late and Abby texted him asking where he was all day.

Although, Ducky cannot discuss what he has done today he can enjoy a meal with some of his favourite people. He is in a very good mood this evening and is looking forward to seeing M again tomorrow.

The office is dark as he enters but Tony, Ziva, and Gibbs are at their desks.

Ziva smiles at him when she sees that he has pizza with him.

"Ducky aren't you sweet."

"Well, I missed lunch with Abby so I thought I should treat you all to a meal."

Tony was the first to the pizza box as Ziva called Abby and Tim to come up from the lab to eat with them.

"So Ducky were were you today?"

"DiNozzo, he's entitled to some privacy…just eat."

"Sorry boss."

Abby and Tim exit the elevator and head to the pizza but Abby hugs Ducky instead.

"Ducky I missed you and was worried…I sent you a bunch of messages but your phone was off and someone must have removed the battery because I ran a trace on it and then Gibbs, well Gibbs told me you texted him and had a new number so I texted you again. Then you finally responded…thank god because I was going to ask Gibbs to go find you if you didn't call by 8 tonight…so where were you?"

"I had a private matter to deal with my dear and I am famished so let's eat shall we."

After they ate and cleaned up Gibbs stood.

"Let's hear it Abbs…McGee. What did you find so far on the car?"

Tim pulled up the images on the screen. "You see here the car struck something by this indention."

Abby smiled. "And that indentation was caused by a human…likely male over 6 feet tall and tough as nails. You see the indentation indicates that the car was not travelling very fast when it hit but the person is definitely injured and these indentations are from his hands where he slammed them down with enough force to dent the hood."

Gibbs frowned. "Did you check the hospitals and run the prints?"

Tim pulled up the prints. "I checked the hospitals and no 6 foot males with injuries from being hit by a car have been admitted. Yes, I did run the prints and they are not in the system…I will check Interpol next."

Ducky sighed. "Don't bother Timothy. Jethro can I speak with you privately."

Gibbs looks serious and nods. "Does Vance need to hear this too?"

"Yes…I think he might."

They go up to Vance's office and knock on the door. "Hello, how can I help you two…I was about to leave."

Ducky hesitates. Gibbs looks perplexed and frown.

"Ducky…you have something for us on this case?"

"Yes…but I am sworn to stay quiet about much of what I know."

Both men look confused and very serious.

"You're sworn to keep secrets from us…Ducky is this about that call you got this morning and ran out with a medical bag…Palmer mentioned it."

Vance sits back down and tents his fingers under his chin.

"Dr. Mallard if you have information about this case and withhold it from us you are impeding our investigation and shattering your obligation to us…what could possibly override that?"

Ducky slumps into a chair is wondrous mood suddenly falling to the floor.

"I cannot say...but there may be a solution. If we were to make arrangements to have an emergency drill tomorrow in the afternoon sometime leaving only Gibb's team and no camera surveillance then I could invite some witnesses that will be helpful in solving this crime. I am bound by the official secrets act not to say anything more on the matter."

"So the British SAS or secret service is involved…Ducky…we need to know what we are facing tomorrow so we do not go in blind."

"Some oaths director are older and predate my job here. Jethro you are going to have to trust me on this and clear this building…I will find a time and let the two of you know. As for what you are facing it was a pleasant surprise for me and it won't harm anyone here…this case has merged with that of...a friends."

Both men nod and Ducky picks up his special phone and finds her number.

"Hello…yes well you see I am at work...it seems that our two investigations have merged...I do need you to come in to our office tomorrow. When will you be free? By two o'clock... fine I will have the building cleared...you will enter through the garage and I will meet you there...Thank you for doing this."

Ducky looks at the two men and notices a smile on Gibb's face.

"I think I heard a very feminine British voice on that call, didn't you Leon?"

"I think your right Gibbs…now I can't wait until tomorrow."

Ducky is blushing in front of them and shifting from foot to foot.

"Let's call it a night Ducky…you need your beauty sleep for tomorrow. Will I have to keep DiNozzo locked in a cage?"

Ducky looked shocked. "I should hope not but if he gets too rambunctious maybe Ziva can pin him to his desk for us... because if she doesn't I know someone coming tomorrow who will."

They say goodnight as the others look suspicious and annoyed about staying in the dark until tomorrow.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Bond is tossing and turning, sweating in pain. Someone has taken M…she is gone…he has to find her. They want to kill her!

Bond leaps off the sofa disoriented and grabs his gun. He scans the room and does not see any danger. He rushes to her door and bursts in the room.

"M…M are you all right?"

Bond hear a groan from the bed as he crawls on the bed searching for M with his hands.

"Bond, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I had a nightmare…someone was here…they took you…I had to see if you were all right."

M sits up and flicks the table lamp on…James' eyes are wild and panicked his hair messy and he is giving off a lot of heat.

M puts her hand on his head…he is boiling up. "James you have a fever…I will get you some medication and water."

She goes and comes back to see him making himself comfortable in her bed. M shakes her head and sighs mumbling.

"Why can't anything with you be ever be easy Bond?"

James places his gun on the bedside table. He is panting and in obvious discomfort as M hands him the medication and lifts his shirt to see his bandages. They look fine but when she lowers his shirt she notices that Bond is staring at her strangely.

"Drink up Bond…you need the fluids."

"I need…I need"

Bond swallows as he looks at her all dishevelled and cute from sleep in black silk men's pyjamas.

M feels nervous under his gaze for a moment but shakes those ridiculous thoughts away… she is old enough to be his mother.

"Bond just lie back and you can sleep here…I do hope you don't snore too loudly."

"Are you...sure…I will...go back...you may have...to help me."

"You made yourself comfortable already…You will likely burst into the room every hour to make sure I'm still here if I send you back. I trust you will keep to your own side…it is a massive king sized bed after all."

Bond's eyes are already fluttering open and then closed as he begins to mumble to M.

"I cannot make any promises that I won't end up drawn to you…I always have been…drawn to you. Your doctor friend asked me about it…my feelings…he's a shrink too…I'm tired…he likes you...but so do I."

M is standing beside him staring at him…shocked by his admission. The poor man is far more hurt than he let on. Bond closes his eyes and is asleep in seconds.

M gets in the other side and lies awake thinking on what Bond said to her and hoping to hell he forgets it by morning, knowing for certain that she will be unable to.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

M wakes in the morning with warmth at her back and an arm draped over her…what the hell. She quickly moves away from…from Bond…oh, christ...it's only Bond. The memories of him bursting into her room rise to the surface of her memory. It has been a long time since she shared a bed with anyone. Nigel has been gone over 7 months now.

M put her hand to his head and he feels much cooler now. She quietly gets ready for her series of meetings and moves to the suite to find Tanner.

"Where did Bond go M?"

"He is sleeping in my bed and we will leave him there...he needs the rest."

Tanner's mouth is hanging open as he looks at his diminutive boss.

"Do close that before you catch flies Tanner…he was feverish and thought someone had kidnapped me and I got him his medication and he stayed there to sleep. You don't think that I would…or that he would even consider…come on Tanner let's be reasonable."

"Well, ma'am…no I don't think you would but…"

"But what…I'm old enough to be Bond's mother…that is a ridiculous assumption. I need breakfast before going to this...slap my wrists and scold me... meeting this morning. At least I have tonight to actually look forward too."

M manages to change the subject of Bond's nocturnal visitation to her bed and concentrates on other things.

Tanner opens the door for her and they ask Johnson to stay in the suite to watch over Bond while they go to the meeting.

"Tanner what is your opinion of Dr. Mallard?"

"He seems like a very nice gentleman M…what do you think of him?"

M quirks her eyebrow and smiles. "I think he is very nice also…it's too bad he lives on the wrong side of the pond."

Tanner chuckles as they sit down in the café to begin their day.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ducky arrives to work early and begins going over the paperwork from yesterday. Palmer did a good job of it but he takes a look at the young Marine anyway.

The day rolls along and Ducky finds himself becoming more excited at it gets closer to lunch. Abby and Tim are in the break room when he comes to join them.

"Ducky, you seem different today…right Abby."

"Yes…there is definitely something going on, and I do believe that it has something to do with a garment bag I saw hanging in your office. What is in that bag you brought in this morning Ducky?"

"If you must know my dear it is my dress uniform."

"What's the occasion Ducky?"

"I've been invited to a banquet tonight Timothy, and need formal attire."

Tony and Ziva walk in and sit down.

"You have a date Ducky, how wonderful."

"Thank you Ziva, and yes it is wonderful."

"Ducky you sly dog you…who is the lucky lady? Do we know her? Has this got to do with you being AWOL yesterday?"

Before Ducky can answer Tony, Gibbs comes up behind Tony and swats him in the head.

"Give the man some privacy and get back to work. We still don't know who killed our Marine."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Bond woke up and reached for the reassuring presence of M. The bed was cold and his head and body ache. His mobile is in the suite but the clock tells him that he slept like the dead. Noon…that's late…M and Tanner have likely been gone since 8.

There is a muted yell from the suite and a thud. Bond sees his gun beside the bed and leaps out standing still a quiet beside the door as it opens and a gun and arm poke through.

Bond grabs the arm pulling the man thought and knees him in the gut and bringing his arm down on the back of his head. He kicks the man's arm away…another bloody Marine…what the hell is going on and why do U.S. Marines want M dead.

"Who sent you?"

"Screw you…you and that bitch are terrorist!"

"Who the hell told you that?"

The man reaches for a knife in his boot and Bond kicks him again. He jumps up and begins struggling with Bond. Bond is sore and pissed off, he grabs a pillow and shoot his gun though it to muffle the sound.

The Man falls dead and bleeding. Bond removes the body into the tub and closes the curtain. He moves into the suite to find Johnson just getting up and holding his head.

"Where is M?"

"Left this morning for that 10am meeting with Tanner. Did you get him?"

"Yes. Go gather all of Tanner's things and clear your room. We are not coming back here. I will shower and get ready. Put do not disturb on the doors until I figure out what is going on. Wipe this place down. I will give you all the bags and you get a new car…clear it and pick up M and Tanner. Do not let anyone in uniform within arms length of her…I will text Tanner and let him know."

Johnson nods and gets to work. Bond gets ready in Tanners room after packing M's bag and giving it to Johnson.

Tanner says that they will stay there and wait for Johnson and meet Bond at the Naval yards NCIS headquarters by 2 pm.

Bond takes some more pain killers and heads to grab a bite hoping to see some Marines or any military officers walk through the hotel lobby or café.

The time is growing closer to when Bond needs to meet M when he sees an officer leave the hotel. Bond snaps a photo on his mobile and sends it to Q while Bond follows and watches him get into a car. Bond grabs a cab and follows hoping that he is not heading to where he thinks he is.

The uniformed officer drive in to the Naval yards. Bond hops out of his cab before reaching the gate and contacts Q.

"Q I have to get into the U.S. Navel yard without them noticing do you think you can arrange a distraction and some distortion of their video surveillance…I'll wait for your all clear."

Within 5 minutes Bond hears sirens and alarm blaring and large emergency vehicles headed to the base. Bond casually strolls through the gate while everyone's distracted. M will enter secretively from the rear of the base according to Q and Tanner who texted M's plan to him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ducky is watching the clock as he enters the office area. Director Vance is standing above looking down on the pit below and he nods to Ducky and to Gibbs as they look up. Ducky gets a text and looks at the phone.

Ducky nods to Vance and the drill begins…sirens emergency evacuation protocols Gibbs looks at his team and moves to sit down again signalling them to stay. Abby appears rather panicked from the stair well.

"Gibbs why did you text me to come here when there is an emergency somewhere…I mean I trust that you know what you're doing…you're Gibbs after all…shouldn't we make our way outside?"

"No Abbs not today…we need to stay here because of the case."

Tony, Ziva and McGee stand with Abby and Ducky as Vance comes to join them.

Vance looks at his watch. "Ducky how are we for time?"

"Five minutes out. Timothy could you and Abby please disable the security cameras at the rear of the building and in the garage. Would it also be possible to stop those in the rear hallways leading from the garage into the elevator to here and conference room 1."

Tim looks confuse and sees Gibbs and Vance nod at him. "I can…it will just take a few minutes."

Gibbs looks at him. "Abbs can you help because we only have 5 minutes. Ducky, the director and I will go to the garage the rest of you stay here…understand."

A chorus of… "Yes boss."

McGee and Abby disable security at the rear while Ziva and Tony watch the front security cameras and the security guards clearing the levels all except theirs.

Ziva looks at Tony.

"What do you think is going on?"

"I don't know but these are really secretive people who are dropping by if we have to clear the entire building."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The large black car drives into the garage and the door closes behind it. The two men in the front exit the car and they move aside to allow Ducky to the car.

Ducky moves to the car and opens the door. A small hand appears as the other door opens and a man exits.

A small crop of white hair appears and a woman exits smiling at Ducky. Gibbs has not seen a smile on the old man's face like that…ever.

Vance arches his brows at Gibbs as they both have knowing smirks on their faces. As the woman moves around the car door holding Ducky's arm they finally see the woman.

The woman is not much more than 5 feet tall with high cheekbones and startlingly blue eyes. She wears a white blouse cut low and a fitted navy blue jacket and skirt, power suit. The man with the brief case moves forward for the introductions.

"Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Director Leon Vance may I introduce you to M the head of MI6 and her assistant Mr. Tanner."

Gibbs extends his hand to the woman…shocked to say the least.

"Pleasure to meet you ma'am."

Vance does the same.

"Welcome M…Mr. Tanner to NCIS. Would you like to follow us to a conference room."

"I wish this meeting could be under better circumstances but it seems one of your cases has melded with one of ours. You two stay here and guard the car…I am sure we are safe her with Dr. Mallard and his friends."

"Of course my dear…I must say I am still looking forward to tonight."

M pats Ducky's arm. "So am I…if we can manage to solve yet another problem that has arisen."

The 5 of them move to the elevator.

Gibbs's pleasantly surprised the head of MI6 is a woman but even more so that she is this lovely. Ducky is all smiles and she seem genuinely happy to see Ducky. Maybe the two of them know each other from years ago.

Ducky looks concern. "What problem is that M?"

"There has been another attempt made and I'm afraid that there is another dead Marine…unless the uniform was all for show."

Gibbs speaks up. "Where, and attempt at what?"

Tanner speaks. "Two attempts on M's life since we arrived here in DC for some meetings and a banquet this evening."

M looks at her mobile for an update from Q branch. "I see that all the security is as requested…Bond is on his way and will meet us."

Vance looks concerned. "Bond? There will be no entrance to the building while these measures are in place."

Tanner smirks and chuckles until M silences him with a glare that cut the niceties in the air to leave them shattered. Gibbs and Vance were under no further illusion that this small older woman was nothing to fear.

Tanner straightens his tie and clears his that. "Bond is one of our agents. He will be here as M's bodyguard."

Gibbs and Vance frown but continue the journey in silence wondering how this Bond expects to get into the building.

To be continued...