Chapter 13
One car pulls up and Bond identifies Gibbs as the driver immediately. Bond opens the door to allow him and his guest in.
"Good morning…I see that you have brought a friend."
"And I see you have a friend visiting."
M steps forward and extends her hand to the stranger, taking control of the room.
"Hello agent Fornell. I am M and this is James Bond and his good friend CIA agent Felix Leiter."
Fornell smiles down on the small older woman and then extends his hand to Bond and Leiter.
Felix then shakes Gibbs' hand and they move into the sitting room. Bond stands at the window so he can watch the front of the house at least.
Bond looks at Gibbs "Are your other agents on the way?"
"Tony and Ziva are parking on the next street and coming through the back."
M begins the debrief.
"I wanted to see you before we leave. It appears that Gunn is the nephew of Mr. White of Quantum and the complete level CIA involvement is unknown at this time. Felix and those he trusts are now investigation the level of insertion. MI6 has closed doors on our leaks and you have the Marine in charge and will hopefully be able to determine the level of infiltration in that organization. I do hope that we can trust you agent Fornell to look into your own organization."
"Yes ma'am…now that this problem has come to light I will be on the look out."
"Good…now if you excuse us Bond and I are going with Felix to find a safe place to spend the next few hours before we depart."
Gibbs frowns and Tony and Ziva enter from the back door and walk through Ducky's house.
"You're leaving now?"
"Yes, agent Gibbs. You took my insurance policy away so we must leave now."
"All clear Tony?"
"So far boss."
"M, I think that Gavlin has convinced Gunn to step down."
Bond frowns. "You don't have him in custody…therefore he is loose and dangerous as far as I am concerned and I am getting her out of here."
"To a CIA safe house? They have to know the locations of those."
"I will take her to the bloody cinema if it means we are gone from this house…come on M."
M looks to the members of NCIS and agent Fornell.
"It has been an enlightening trip. Thank you very much for the assistance you have provided us."
Felix is at the door when he sees movement in the bushes around the edge of the drive…the sound of distant dogs barking.
"We need another route buddy…they're here."
Bond grabs M's arm and moves quickly to the back of the house with his gun in hand, Felix following his friend.
Gibbs turns to Tony and Ziva with a look of exasperation on his face.
"Tony, Ziva go… follow them."
Gibbs sighs and looks to Fornell. "Ready to talk to the CIA?"
"I should have called in sick."
"But then you would not have met the head of MI6."
"True…she is quite…something."
"Later…over beers."
The two men open the door and raise their hands with their badges clearly on display as three camouflaged men walk around the car pointing guns at them.
The agent they have been looking for walks out calmly after his men.
Gibbs speaks first. "I am agent Gibbs and this is agent Fornell."
"I know who you are but I want to know where she is…I would like to see her now…just to talk."
"You can talk to us."
"No. I want M!"
Gunn walks up the steps onto the porch while his men stand on the drive blocking the car.
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Bond's grip on her arm is like a vice as they head to the kitchen door. Tony is beside Bond as they look out into the back yard.
"Where did you park?"
"Not close enough to run through them."
Tony points at the edge of the properties tree line and the three armed men that are being sheltered by the foliage.
"Bond could you please loosen your grip."
Bond looks down on her arm and releases her. M seems calm and he is anything but.
Felix looks at them. "I should not be seen by them if I can help it. I will take M up the back stairs and you find out what is going on out front."
Bond nods and lowers his face to M's and says very concisely. "Do not leave his side. Do you understand me?"
M shoots him a condescending look.
"Stop treating me like a bloody amateur Bond and do your job!"
Bond straightens and smiles knowing that she is ready to fight her way out of this if need be.
"Tony you and Ziva watch the back door and look for any breaks in formation while I go greet our visitor."
"All right. We will keep an eye out."
Bond leaves the kitchen and heads to the dining room. There is the picture of M in a bikini from 68 laying there with a note underneath…likely to Ducky. He wonders what is going on with those two…
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Gunn walks in the front door followed by Gibbs and Fornell.
"Beautiful home Doctor Mallard has here. Too bad he doesn't keep better company than this."
Gunn lifts his arm to indicate Bond who has just entered looking sever from the kitchen.
"To what do we owe the pleasure of entertaining Quantum lackies. Do your men know that they do not serve the US government but a terrorist organization?"
"That's rich coming from you Bond…you have thrown quite a wrench in my plans by showing up here in DC. Why I could have had a lovely chat with your charming boss days ago but you mucked up everything."
"What do you wish to talk to her about and I will pass it along?"
"No…no…no that won't do. You see my uncle would like to tie her to a chair…with a bullet in her right leg of course and then he would like to question her and perhaps take her on a wild car ride in the trunk of a Mercedes sedan to his home in Italy by the lake."
"That is not going to happen. Mr. White will just have to fantasize about that because he will never be in her presence again."
"So intensely loyal…MI6 must have a more coddling approach to their agents because I for one would never think to protect my superiors with such…determination and vigour. Is it more than that? Does M give special rewards for good behaviour? The kind of rewards that leave you out of breath but satisfied."
Gibbs grabs Bonds arm to prevent him from beginning what could easily become a bloodbath in the middle of Ducky's home.
Fornell, interjects. "Now, now let us calm down and stop insulting the virtue of M. What is it that you want to speak to her about? Or is this all posturing to actually kidnap or injure the head of MI6?"
"All I really want is to speak with her privately and then she can go…but if she chooses to leave with me…then I hope the rest of you will obey her wishes."
Bond smirks. "Alone…not going to happen."
Gibbs nods. "That would be inappropriate but how about with just the four of us. A lot of witnesses."
"All right…I agree…bring the lovely lady in so we can speak."
Bond walks up the stairs silently cursing the situation. He goes to knock on Ducky's door to find M standing and staring out the window with Felix.
"Well, Bond what does he want?"
"He claims to only want to speak with you but I don't trust it."
"It doesn't look like we have much of a choice…there are three at the back and the same out front and no clear path to a vehicle."
"Felix can you be our ace in the hole? Stay here listening and watching…Tony and Ziva are in the kitchen still watching the back yard."
"Sure…I will jump to the rescue if needed."
"Stay near the back stairs because I think our best bet is out the kitchen door through the yard with Tony and Ziva to their car parked on the next street."
"Will do…and good luck you two."
"It was nice finally meeting you agent Leiter."
"The pleasure was all mine ma'am."
Bond puts his arm around M's shoulder and whispers in her ear.
"Are you OK?"
"Yes. I think so."
"Do you have your Derringer still?"
"In my pocket."
"Run as soon as you get the chance…don't wait for me…grab Ziva or Tony…they will get you out."
They walk down the stairs and Gunn stands and smiles politely at M.
"Well…so nice to finally meet the woman who sits on top of the SIS throne in Britain. You are lovelier that uncle let on…but he was in discomfort when he met you. He did describe you as a powerful presence…I however only see an old woman hiding behind men that get paid to protect her."
"We are all entitled to our own opinions Mr. Gunn and mine is that you are a two-bit thug that uses the agency he has sworn to serve as his own personal vendetta machine. How will it look on your next personnel review I wonder? I know that I will be issuing a complaint with director Wilkens as I am sure the NCIS and the FBI will also."
"Oh but you do have a mouth on you…what you do in the name of Queen and Country is disruptive to our organization."
"Which one Quantum or the CIA?"
Gunn smiles down on her.
"You should learn your place woman and let me finish…why on earth would they let a woman be the head of MI6…you Brits have more that a few screws loose after your fall to second class old school empire status."
"The great thing about being a woman is that we can multitask better and do not have to think or be manipulated by a lower appendage. It is my ability to cut through the bullshit that got me here and I do not believe you want to talk to me at all…kill me maybe…take me to your idiot uncle perhaps."
Gunn's face contorts in fury at her goading.
"Bitch!"
"Traitor!"
Gunn lunges for M but Bond pushes her out-of-the-way as the two men begin to wrestle.
"Go..M…now!"
M runs to the back of the house as Felix meets her and the two startled NCIS agents. They pause to see if the guards will move as they hear the ones from the front run into the house and a tear gas canister go off.
Felix looks at the two agents. "We need to get her to your car and get her out of here."
Felix runs out the door as he sees the armed men move closer. He shoots one as Tony runs out and hits another. Ziva moves out to help and M follows.
More men run from the other side of the house…they refrain from shooting…not wanting to hit their main target M.
Bond rushes out of the sitting room and out the back after M. He runs to her side and then turns to hit one of the attackers. The four agents are fighting off a stream of men as they come from inside and around the front of Ducky's.
The sounds of Gibbs fighting inside echos out to them as do the sound of sirens in the distance.
Fornell and Gibbs are dealing with two men and Gunn who is wrestling to get up off the floor to find his target.
Tony knocks one to the ground and looks back at the melee Ziva, the CIA agent, Felix and Bond are kicking and punching their way through armed men in body armour.
Bond locks eyes with Tony and yells. "Get her out of here DiNozzo!"
Tony runs and grabs M's arm pulling her through the underbrush to the fences that run behind the neighbourhood and a wooded area.
"Car is in a cul-de-sac up the way ma'am."
"Lead the way agent."
M does not like leaving the others behind and hears several shots fired out. Christ she hopes Bond and the rest are fine.
The sound of sirens is becoming overwhelming as she runs with the help of Tony to the car and climbs in.
Tony tears away from the scene and heads into the city.
"Where are you taking me agent DiNozzo?"
"I don't know yet ma'am…base?"
"No, I should not be seen there again…it may be bad for your organization when this is all done."
"There is a place I can leave you that will be safe but you may not like it."
"Where?"
"A little burlesque club, I know…the owner…no one would look for you there and the girls are very nice."
"How often do you spend time there agent DiNozzo?"
Tony smirks. "Not as often as I would like…it is not a cheesy strip club it is far more artistic. I would never take you somewhere that unsavoury."
"Why do you assume I have never been to unsavoury places in my day…just because I am older does not mean that everything is tea parties and knitting clubs you know."
"I'm sorry but you just seem like such a proper British lady…I guess my movies and TV have lied to me again."
"Don't fret about it agent DiNozzo…Downton Abby has had an effect on us all but rest assure I lived through the swinging 60's in London and I can assure you I have seen it all."
"I wish I could have seen that…it looked and sounded great. I love the music and the clothes."
M laughs and nods.
"The burlesque establishment sounds good enough for a while until we can regroup. I don't suppose they will make me sing and dance for the hospitality."
"I am sure they would not say no to you if you wanted to M."
"I am beginning to think that in becoming a male agent, regardless of country, you must become a cheeky flirt."
"Who…me…a flirt…you haven't seen anything yet ma'am…I am only just warming up."
M laughs despite the seriousness of her situation.
"So I am off to join a chorus line to hide out…ha. A woman of my age would be quite conspicuous don't you think?"
"Nah…I bet you can pull off a corset just fine and if that is not your cup of tea how about singer for the day?"
"Ha…I will find something to occupy my time. Has Ducky ever been to this establishment?"
"I don't know if I am at liberty to give you that information ma'am."
M looks at him seriously. "Could you tell Ducky…"
"Tell him what ma'am?"
"Ah…nothing…I…I don't have…the."
"I think I understand ma'am. I will tell him you asked about him."
M smiles at the handsome young agent as he winks at her and wiggles his eyebrows.
"Cheeky young man. Flirting with a woman old enough to be your mother."
DiNozzo smiles and nods and says with a sigh. "Age is only a number and I think that true beauty is something that surrounds and is within you…Emma Peel."
Christ he's as bad a Bond. M gives a playful swat to his arm as she begins to laugh.
"Has anyone ever told you how sexy your laugh is Mrs. Peel?"
M laughs again, smiling in her attempt to contain it from spilling out her mouth.
"Once or twice Mr. DiNozzo…once or twice."
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NCIS
Abby watches a Ducky putters about the morgue aimlessly. All his work is done but he seems lost and sad.
"Ducky, you can talk to me…about anything. I want to help you."
Ducky sighs and looks at one of his favourite people in the world.
"I don't know where to start? It is usually me that gives the sage advice about life and love to you younger people."
"Love…do you love her Ducky?"
"Yes…I think I do. M has stirred up emotions I have not felt about someone since I was in my twenties."
"What about her Ducky? Does she feel the same way?"
"M cares but not the same way I do and I think I scared her with how passionately I have fallen for her."
"Oh Ducky…are you positive she is not…in love with you…I mean how could she not be…I saw the way she looked at you and…well…It was nice…it felt right…you know."
"Yes, Abby. It did feel right but M is a widow."
"So what has that got to do with anything between the two of you?"
"M was in a loving relationship for 45 years and it has not been that long since his passing. That and there is another suitor also and he lives in England and sees her often."
"M is dating another man and she is here leading you on to get you to do her bidding…is she really an evil mastermind Ducky?"
"No…no my dear nothing like that. M did not realize that the other man is in love with her or will not accept it…he came forward and it is confusing things for her. I believe that M does care for me but not at the same level so soon."
"Oh my god…Ducky that is so sad…I'm tearing up again…this is an emotional roller coaster. First I thought we were going to lose you to England to be with M and now she is breaking your heart with another man."
"Really my dear it is not like M is doing all this on purpose…everything is happening at once and she has invited me to stay with her in London when I next visit…however we will likely only be friends."
"Who is the other man?"
"Agent Bond."
"WHAT!"
"Is that so hard to believe?"
"No…not at all actually…she is attractive and so is he but…why now? You were just getting to know each other."
"Bond's been motivated because of me…and how fast our relationship has progressed."
Abby's eyes widen in understanding and she begins to fidget more and blush profusely.
"Oh…I see…so last night…you and M…well you are adults…I guess."
Ducky chuckles at Abby's embarrassment.
"Yes, my dear…even older people have one-offs…or one night stands as you may call them."
"I'm so sorry Ducky…I didn't mean to imply that there was anything wrong…she is a beautiful woman and you are a handsome, sweet man…I should just stop talking now."
McGee enters the morgue with his phone and looks at Abby and Ducky.
"Things at your house have become very bad Ducky. Gibbs wants me to bring you home right away."
"M…is she?"
"M escaped with Tony and he has been silent for a while…they do not know where he is and his car's parked at an ice cream parlour in the city. I pinged Tony's phone but he has it off. Likely to prevent the CIA from tracing his movements."
"I will grab my medical bag, just in case."
To be continued….