Chapter 14
Ducky arrives back at his house. His lovely home is surrounded by ambulances and police cars.
Jethro and Fornell are on the porch sporting black eyes and bloody knuckles. Between them is the form of the CIA agent that Ducky met in the back of the ambulance and stabbed with a syringe.
"Ducky…we're fine but go see if you can help out back."
Ducky walks into his back garden to see the carnage of a triage set up with paramedics rushing around to stabilize the injured.
Ducky's medical training kicks in and he goes to work immediately. He tries to glance about to see any familiar faces but luckily does not.
Once the last man's stabilized and in an ambulance Ducky straightens up and looks around.
Ziva and Bond walk toward him and he's relieved to see them relatively unharmed.
"Where is M?"
Bond frowns. "We don't know…DiNozzo took her to get her away and we have not heard back."
"I am sure they got away unharmed but Tony is taking all this secret agent stuff too far and has cut off communication for fear he will lead the bad guys to them."
Bond turns and speaks to a man who Ducky does not know. "Felix are you taking Gunn with you or are the police taking him?"
"He is going with the cops but will be released to us later. Hello Doctor Mallard. James is a terrible one for introductions. I am Felix Leiter from the CIA."
Ducky smiles and shakes the man's hand. "Hello and I do hope you are not one of the ones that we need to worry about."
"No…just an old friend of James' that gets sucked into the trouble he causes far too often. I will be investigating Gunn and Quantum more closely after this fiasco."
"Gunn has admitted his role in all this then?"
Ziva nods. "Yes and he is heading in for questioning. I am sorry for any damages to your garden Ducky. I know how important it is to you."
"Never mind that my dear as long as no one was hurt. None of you are, are you?"
The three agents shake their heads and look a bit banged up but definitely the victors.
"None of the attacker died…I heard it from the paramedics. You showed fabulous restraint agent Bond."
"Yes…I assume they are all being fed improper information from a superior. It would not be right to kill them for it."
"Bond I was wondering if I could have a word with you privately?"
"All right."
The two men walk down to the edge of Ducky's garden and pick up the two bistro chairs that had been tossed around during the fight.
The two men sit in uncomfortable silence for a few moments staring off into the trees.
"This is difficult for me…I know that you love her but so do I."
Bond just nods his head.
"I don't want to see M hurt and well…I think she might be if you get close to her. I would like to marry her but she is not in the same place in our relationship as I am. I have waited my entire life to meet that woman and now…I don't know how to proceed."
"And you want me to tell you?"
"Yes. In a manner of speaking."
"First you need to move to London or tell her you are going to. That is the only way to continue. If you do not…then I will not wait and nor should she. Life is too short Ducky. How badly do you want her?"
"Very."
"I sense a but in that statement."
"But what if she does not want me?"
"You mean she wants me?"
"I think she may have feelings for you and if I suddenly pick up and move to appease her I may force her into a serious relationship that she is not yet ready for."
"Then give her time…I don't know what to tell you Ducky…I want her but I am not ever going to intrude if her heart is seriously involved elsewhere."
"Good to hear. However this morning she gave me the distinct impression that what we shared was a pleasant diversion but a one-off in her logical assessment of our living situation. I don't know if she ever plans on having another long-term relationship…like I would want with her."
"I don't think M does anything by halves Ducky and I would not characterize her as a woman who would have a one-off on a business trip...so she does cares for you…or you would not have spent the night in her arms."
"A night in which she disappeared downstairs to speak with you."
"I am her agent and I had just returned…consider it a debrief."
"Ahh but by the look on your face…it wasn't just a debrief was it?"
Bond sighs and curses that this doctor knows too bloody much psychology for Bond's liking.
"I was on your sofa…I thought something was wrong. I knew that you two had just…just...I thought you may have hurt her but I soon realized she was just curious and could not sleep. I did kiss her and it surprised her…I expected a slap but it did not come."
"You can say it Bond. The two of us had sex or made love because there were feelings involved."
"I know what you two did…I just…"
"Have you ever made love Bond?"
Bond glares at the man for a monument remaining silent as he thinks on it. Vespa…maybe…M…with M it would definitely be making love. There is no way that he could just have sex with her…M means too much for it to be something casual. The kiss he gave her last night sent tingles up his spine…there was nothing chaste in that kiss.
"Not sure."
"But it would be with her…I could see you acknowledge that to yourself moments ago."
"Yes."
"I began pushing her away as soon as we consummated the relationship. M does not believe that a young man like you could actually love her…a passing fancy she says. I know she has deep feelings for you but she's embarrassed by them and thinks they are all just the fantasies in an old woman's mind. I do want M to be happy but which one of us will make that stubborn woman happy?"
"Maybe, neither of us Ducky. Maybe DiNozzo just took her away from both of us…I could tell there was something in his eyes…"
Ducky laughs. "Tony would flirt but never act on it I can assure you. He knows or thinks that she is mine and although he makes himself out to be a lecherous player he's loyal to a fault."
"Ducky…all in all it is her choice and the two of use will have to abide by her decision."
"Yes, we will."
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Tony helps M out of the car at the ice cream parlour and walks her the three blocks to Madame Rouge's lounge and burlesque club.
As they walk together Tony cannot help but notice the confident determined walk and look that M has on her face. This woman is a self-contained dynamo. The low-cut fitted jacket and slacks add to the power suit fantasies that clog his brain at the moment.
Tony opens the door to the establishment and ushers her quickly inside. He guides M to the bar and helps her up on the stool as he waves the bartender down.
The woman smiles at Tony. "What can I get you Tony? Is this your mother…oh no sorry you said she passed away when you were young."
"This is my aunt Emma from England and she will have a…."
"Gin and tonic my dear."
"Of course she will…is Scarlet in?"
"Yeah she is in the back go on and I will look after your aunt."
Tony looks at M.
"I will just be a moment…do not move…I would not survive the combined forces of an evil Ducky mixed with the intensity of James Bond should you even chip a nail while in my care."
M laughs as she sips her G&T that the bartender…Trish just handed her.
"Tony I will be fine out here with Trish and there is hardly anyone here…when does the show start anyway?"
Tony rolls his eyes and moves down the bar to the door at the end leading to the back offices.
Trish answers M's question. "The show starts around 3 for those that leave work a bit early. We run them every two hours or so."
"I haven't seen a burlesque in a very long time…this should be fun."
"It is unless we get surly drunks that expect the girls to actually take their clothes off. I just love your accent where do you live Emma?"
"London."
"I've never been…want to but travel is so expensive unless you have friends or family to stay with. Are you the wealth aristocratic aunt married to Tony's uncle that he was alway telling us about on that estate in England…Clive Paddington."
"Yes, I was married and he did pass away."
Tony returns with Scarlet who shakes M's hand. "Hello. I am Scarlet and you must be Tony's far…far too classy aunt."
M smiles. "Yes, I am Emma I was married to Tony's uncle."
Tony appears shocked for a heartbeat and then remembers speaking to the girls about that.
"Scarlet is going to look after you here until I can come get you…I am so sorry that I've been called into work at a time like this aunty."
"Oh dear boy, don't worry yourself I will enjoy the show and a few cocktails here with these lovely ladies."
Tony smiles at Trish and Scarlet. "Don't let her onstage or she will take over and cause the audience to go insane…her voice will drive them to distraction."
"Oh…you sing madame?"
"Well…I did long ago but I am far too old."
Tony smirks at her.
"Oh M you would slay them on stage…admit it."
M levels her most masterfully evil glare at Tony.
"Someone may die…that is for sure."
Tony pales and excuses himself to get back to NCIS or Ducky's to see what happened earlier.
Scarlet takes M's hand to give her a tour of the stage area when Tony takes his leave.
By the time DiNozzo returns to Ducky's the carnage has been removed and everyone in Ducky's sitting room is looking at him expectantly.
"M's fine…she is spending the afternoon with some friends of mine until the all clear is given and we can go get her."
Bond moves towards him. "Where and with whom?"
Tony shrinks back a bit from the intense look on the man's face. "What happened here…everyone fine?"
Gibbs answered. "Yes, and Gunn is in custody so we can go get M now and take her to the airport."
"Oh…all right….wait all of us or do you want me to get her and meet you there?"
Gibbs and Ducky frown. "Where is she DiNozzo?"
"M is with Ms. Scarlet at Madame Rouge's burlesque club."
Gibbs smiles as Ducky swats one of Tony's arms as Ziva swats the other.
McGee frowns. "Tony…the head of MI6…this is a new low for even you."
"Hey McGeek…she was loving it. M said she hasn't been to one in a while and Scarlet is trying to convince her to sing for them later. M reminded me that she lived through some pretty swinging times in one of the largest most important cities in the world."
Fornell laughs. "Who did you say she is exactly DiNozzo?"
"What you think I called her Mrs. Henderson of the Windmill or something from another movie like the Best Little Whor…"
Ziva hits Tony again as she sees Bond turning a dangerous shade of red.
"Tony!"
"Ouch…not so rough Ziva. I told her that she would rock a corset and that her voice is just…"
Gibbs smacks Tony upside the head as the group of them moves towards the cars. Bond gets in Tony's car with Ziva and Felix. Fornell, McGee and Ducky are with Gibbs.
Bond calls and updates Tanner telling him that Gunn is in custody.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
M enjoys the tour of the club and meets some of the girls getting dressed for the first show. The first show is more of a chorus line with the singer coming in the evening around 8 pm.
Stockings, corsets and feathers are everywhere as the girls don wigs and their make up creating their new appearance for the show.
Scarlet asks if M knows any show tunes as she guides her on stage. The man who runs the music from his computer nods to them as they enter the spotlight he creates for them.
There are only a handful of customers drinking at the bar as they turn to look at the women onstage and one whistles in appreciation.
M's certain if is for the lovely dark-haired woman in the red gown and black corset. She waves at them and smiles.
A yell is heard. "Give us a song!"
Scarlet looks to M. "What songs do you know?"
"I know some of the songs from Cabaret but I don't think…"
"Pete…Cabaret."
Pete punches a few buttons and the song springs forth on the speaker system. Scarlet hands M the microphone.
M looks shocked and takes it in her hand. She tries to remember the words but Scarlet pulls her forward to see a monitor at their feet by the floodlights and the words scroll up as the tune progresses.
M sings along for the rest of the song until it ends and the place erupts in applause. The girls are standing in the wings clapping and shouting for her to continue. The men at the bar are standing and whistling for her.
M blushes and takes a small bow curtsy and hands the microphone back to Scarlet.
"You are not getting out of it that easily…we need to get you dressed and ready for the show."
"I can't…I am not good enough to…"
"Cabaret was about Sally Bowles who was not a fantastic singer but she was rough and sexy and your voice has that in spades ma'am."
M smiles. "Only two songs…Cabaret and Don't Tell Mama."
Scarlet waves some girls forward and tells them to get M ready…she is going on first.
The girls swarm M and help her into a striped corset of blue and red. They try different wigs on M and she choses a bob cut in strawberry blonde and a red feather boa.
"I don't think I can pull off this look…I am far too old to be doing this…what is she thinking?"
Scarlet enters the room and looks her up and down. "You madame could stop traffic like that. The men will be very appreciative especially when they hear you sing."
"Are you sure they won't head for the hills?"
Scarlet laughs and holds her hand out to M. M grasps it as she stands and Scarlet guides her to the side of the stage. M peaks out to a half full room now.
The door opens to show Tony and Bond first followed by the rest of agents that M has met over the last few days. She turns to Scarlet panicked once she sees Bond and Ducky standing side by side looking towards the stage as Tony approaches looking for Scarlet and M.
"I can't do this."
"Too late."
Scarlet nods to Pete and the music begins to play and he announces the special guest singer the lovely Emma.
Scarlet gives M a shove to the stage as the audience claps.
Bond's shocked when the announcement's made and he smiles at Ducky who stares straight at the stage.
Gibbs and Fornell grab a table with McGee and Ziva while Bond and Ducky remain rooted to their spots just behind the table were Tony and Felix sit.
Bond is alert to any problems that could arise from the audience. Gibbs and Fornell are debating on who owes who a beer and whether they can get away with having one now.
Ziva shakes her head and orders them all virgin orange whips.
Bond declines his and orders a Scotch as does Ducky…they feel like they need it today as they look up at the woman on stage that holds such sway over their lives.
M smiles and begins to belt out the song Cabaret as the chorus line of women forms behind her. The house goes silent as her husky voice floats over them as they eye her in her costume upon the stage.
The audience knows she is an older woman but it is soon easy to forget as she becomes more secure and begins to strut upon the stage as if she were born to it.
Bond finishes his shot and orders another a double. M is devine…he takes a quick photo and videos her singing.
M begins to dance a little more during the second song spurred on by the applause from the first song.
The members of NCIS are smiling and singing along if they know the words. Felix smiles at Bond.
"That is one hell of a woman you have for a boss James."
"I know."
M takes a bow after the song ends and the group jumps to their feet clapping and cheering as do the rest in the audience.
Gibbs slides in beside Bond.
"Nice ginger wig...it suits her."
Bond smiles. "Yes it does, doesn't it. I will tell her you liked it."
M beams in the spotlight and looks straight across the room at Ducky who is cheering and moving to the stage. Ducky reaches up towards her and she leans down to grasp his hand.
M stands back up and walks to the edge of the stage and down the stairs into his arms for a hug.
"You were incredible my dear."
"I didn't think anyone I knew would see that…I'm so embarrassed. I need to go get changed…I take it that it is time to leave."
"Unfortunately yes. We have Gunn and everything is over…even us."
"Ducky…I told you…let us not regret anything…we are together when we are together. Come see me in London…soon but as for now…come with me now…I need help changing."